We went around the adventurers’ guild, merchants’ guild and craftsmen’s guild to gather information.
・The survivors of the Scab village were living in the『Slums』located at the north of the town.
・Under the decree of the King, the aristocrats governing each town were to send the soldiers they have gathered to『Shinju town』.
・Because the soldiers have been gathered,『Shinju town』is on food shortage.
・Rumor has it that the organized military units will march in the next few days.
・Because the merchants were also gathered in anticipation for the war’s special procurement, all the inns were full booked.3
Such was the information we had gathered.
First, we decided to go to the『Slums』located at the north of the town.
But, on the way to the『Slums』, I noticed an abnormal thing.
「Aya, Elena, wait a moment.」
「Yes.」「What’s wrong, oniichan?」
「There is something that shows『Caution』up ahead. And a lot of it.」
「N? Monsters?4 But, inside the town?」
「I don’t know if they are monsters.」
「How many?」
「There are 1000 or more.」
「1000!!? You didn’t make a mistake?」
「I don’t know. But, let’s be careful.」
When we were advancing carefully, a bad odor filled the surroundings.
I know this smell. It smells like a rotten fish.
When we advanced deeper inside the area that smelled like a rotten fish, we encountered about five skinheads who walked slowly and blocked the road.
「You, what, business. Beyond this point, our town, if no business, turn back.」
「I’ve heard that the survivors of the Scab village are here. I want to talk to them, can you let us through?」
「Dunno, go home.」
Unapproachable.
I felt uncomfortable and tried to use【Appraisal】on these fellows.
「……Understood, sorry for troubling you. You two, let’s leave.」
「N? Leave?」
When I looked over my shoulders, they went back to the position which wasn’t visible―
「Those fellows are orcs!」
「Huh!? Orc?」
「Come to think of it, it’s the same smell as an orc.」
「They are disguised as human beings using【Magic stone of human transformation】!」
「Ee!?」
Using the【Magic stone of human transformation】that the goblins made, the orcs snuck into the human town? I wonder what they are up to.
「Perhaps, the『Scab village survivors』is just a deception and their true objective is to sneak into the town.」
「That……」
I summoned the lightning spirit and asked it to scout the『Slums』out with Aya’s beacon on.
「I specialized in attacking. Recently, it’s nothing but reconnaissance!」The lightning spirit complained.
I felt uneasy. I was almost certain that before long, the situation might turn into something where the lightning spirit needs to go on a rampage.
「Now then, let’s go back to the town and gather information about the『Slums』.」
「「Okay.」」
We went back to the town. I was able to hear something from the elderly staff of the merchants’ guild.
「So, the『Slums』gradually grew bigger a few years ago.」
「Aa, it is so. Since there’s an unpleasant smell, no one approaches it. It’s troublesome.」