Kojiin Tamer

'Shu, you do everything on your own, but we all have to work together, don't we? You have to listen to the other kids, right? And don't take your eyes off of Cruz.

On the morning of my departure with the bear peddler, I had been given a lot of attention by the Director. Well, since I have a criminal record, I'll be patient here and listen to him.

I thought it would be difficult to get permission from the Director since he didn't even let me practice staying overnight before, but my grandfather and the bear peddler bowed their heads repeatedly and managed to get the Director's permission to go. If me and my sister don't go, Sakuya-chan won't go, so it's only natural.......

''Hm? What, boys, aren't you going into the woods today?

He greeted his departure at the orphanage and reached the gate of the city, the gate in the opposite direction of the usual path to the dragon forest. There stood the usual gatekeeper of the city.

''Oh! We're going to peddle today!

Mr. Cruz replied excitedly to the trip.

I see, so the adventurers will be escorted by an old man? Hmm? You're a peddler, aren't you? So that means I'm with you.

That's what you've been doing for years? I'm just a gatekeeper. A few words from Cruz-kun seemed to give him some idea of the situation.

'Grandpa, I'm sure an adventurer like you can handle it, but don't let the kids get hurt! And, monks, you better listen to your grandfather and other adults and come home properly!

Mm, I got it!

""Yes!"

"Hee hee hee.

Won! ""WON!"

Oh, you'll just have to make sure your masters are safe.

The queen and the others, the gatekeeper was talking to them as well, patting them on the head as they asserted themselves as if we were there too.

Afterwards, we left the city, showing the guild certificate we had just received.

''Hey, Shu, you know that gatekeeper, right?''

'I know. That's why you were talking to me, right?

We left the city and had just walked a bit when we were approached by a group of adventurers.

''Have you guys never met that gatekeeper?''

Hmmm... no...?

He's always there.

Well, not a day goes by that I don't see you.

I'm always here!

Other than me, Cruz, Ilya, and her sister, I remembered, they're always watching it too.

As a matter of fact, we watch it all the time, too.

"? What does it matter?

Aren't you supposed to see him since he's at the gate?

Neither I nor Cruz-kun was quite sure what he was trying to say.

''So, you'll meet us when we go to the dragon forest and when we go to other cities as an escort!

"What?

That means that not only when we go to the dragon forest, but also when the adventurer group leaves the city, that gatekeeper is always there! Oh, my God, that's horrible!

The group of adventurers told me horrible stories, and I arrived at the halfway point of the square to the next village, where I proceeded in agony without solving anything. It's usually a day's walk to get here, and then arrive the next day.

We set up camp under the direction of the group of adventurers. The group of adventurers had done it before and we had practiced it before, so it didn't take long to get ready. We're not going to be camping for days in a row, so we're bringing our own, but we'll practice picking up wood and fetching water.

The meals are the same as usual, with soup, soft bread, and meat that the queens have been hunting.

'Something's not happening.

You're in big trouble if something happens!

'That's true, but aren't you going to be attacked by monsters or bandits?

At least not around here. It's nice to have an easy job as an escort, though.

Ilya and the adventurer's group replied to Cruz-kun's silly story. I heard that there aren't many monsters in this area due to the influence of the dragon forest, and bandits don't appear because of the heavy traffic. It is true that there are a number of carts and tents in this square as well.

The first thing to do is to go to bed. Then let's watch in the order I mentioned earlier.

Apparently, in these places you have to be careful of other merchants and adventurers as well as monsters and thieves. They are so-called thieves. Even though it's a request, all but the merchant group can fight, so they take their turn at night vigilance. My sister and Sakuya-chan are as far as they can go.

The next day comes without incident, and we finish cleaning up the camp and leave. Normally, it was supposed to arrive in the evening, but the carriage run by the servant was fast, and the bear peddler also walked earlier than expected, so he arrived at the village earlier than expected.