Canal's Heroics? (Part 1)
Salem’s Point of View
When we dropped by the Adventurers' Guild, Jessie at the reception desk called out to me, saying that Vice-Guildmaster Gavin was asking for me.
So I went to see him.
"Ah, Salem, sorry for calling you in. There's a designated request, so I had you come."
"Something that can't be discussed at the reception desk?"
"That's right. The request itself isn't difficult, though."
The request involved escorting the merchant Nat Bogarts to Shinana Village, as we did every month. Additionally, the Knight sOrder had discovered and exterminated an Orc General and twelve orcs in the forest near Shinana Village, and they wanted us to check the caves to ensure no remnants remained. Lastly, we were to retrieve a magic bag from the village chief of Shinana.
"Retrieving a magic bag?"
"Yeah. The Knights Order handed over all the orcs they defeated as food for the villagers. Since processing the meat takes time, they left it in a magic bag. We're to retrieve that."
It seems the local lord stopped by Shinana Village, learned about the situation, and sent knights into the forest to search for food, where they encountered the orcs. Since they couldn't stay until the processing was complete, they issued the request, offering five gold coins as a reward.
"If they’ve already taken down thirteen orcs, it's unlikely that any remain. Doesn't five gold seem excessive for just retrieving a magic bag and escorting a merchant?"
"Some of the villagers who were working in the capital are returning with Nat, and it's widely known that he’s purchasing a large amount of seasonings and other goods. That makes them a target for bandits. Also, there’s cargo from the village that needs to be delivered to the lord’s estate on the way back."
"Yeah, this isn’t something to discuss at the reception desk. Escorting to Shinana Village is routine, so I’ll accept the request. But why did the lord specifically designate us?"
"I heard from the village chief that you escort Nat to Shinana every month. It’s likely a reward from the lord for you guys taking on the village escort job at a low price, even though you're a B-rank group."
Our party, Golden Wings, is a five-person group that mainly operates in Westland’s dungeons and the vast forests. We consist of three men skilled in swordsmanship, though lacking in magic, and two women specializing in ice magic, healing, and defensive magic.
As B-rank adventurers, why do we accept the Shinana escort request for so little pay? It goes back to when we were E-rank. We once took a goblin extermination request from Shinana Village. Thinking we had wiped them out, we left, only for a remaining group to attack the village the next day.
Even so, the village still paid us our reward, stating that the goblin extermination was officially completed. If our request had been considered incomplete, we would have been in serious debt. We regretted not being more thorough in patrolling the forest that time, and ever since, we’ve wanted to repay the village for what they did for us.
"Mr. Salem, I've been working hard on my magic practice! If goblins or anything show up, I think I can be a little useful now!" Canal said, sitting beside me in the driver's seat of the wagon heading to Shinana Village.
"Is that so? Well, it’s better if we arrive at the village without incident. If nothing happens on the way, you can show me your progress once we get there."
"Salem, there’s a sizable group up ahead." Gregory, who was on the wagon bed, called out.
The women from the village sitting in the back voiced their unease, but—
"Calm down. Salem and his team, Golden Wings, are a B-rank adventurer group. Let's stay put and wait." Nat reassured them.
A short while later, about twenty bandits appeared.
"I’ll scatter them with magic—leave the rest to you guys." Allie declared as she unleashed a barrage of ice magic at the bandits.
"I’ll put up a defensive barrier around the wagon, so don’t worry!" Linka shouted.
The three of us men cut down any bandits who remained standing after the magic attack.
"More bandits incoming!" Nat shouted from the wagon bed. Just as he did, water magic surged toward the new wave of bandits from behind.
"Hot! It's boiling water! We’re getting burned!" they screamed.
Each time more water magic was cast, the bandits ran in panic, screaming from the heat. Some collapsed, unable to move after being scalded. Seeing the battle turning against them, some bandits fled, but we ignored them, instead focusing on restraining those who were immobilized.
"I’ve sent a signal for the city guard to retrieve the bandits. They should arrive soon." Linka said.
"We’ve gathered their weapons and tied them to trees. But with those burns, they wouldn’t be able to move even if we hadn’t." Will added.
Once again, the wagon resumed its journey toward the village.
Inside, Allie grabbed Canal by the shoulders and shook him.
"Canal! You were using water magic! Why did it turn into boiling water?! Boiling hot enough to burn people?!" she demanded.
Canal explained that he had been practicing with a boy named Reinhardt, who also studied magic. Apparently, Reinhardt had once managed to produce hot water using water magic. He told Canal that if he visualized hot water and said "Hot water, come forth," he could make it happen.
Canal had thought it would be convenient to always have hot water available for tea. And if he could make it even hotter, it would be perfect for baths. So he practiced diligently, hoping to supply hot water for the entire village once they arrived in Shinana.
"I never imagined it would come in handy for fighting bandits.” He added with an innocent smile.
What kind of logic is that?! Just by thinking "Hot water, come forth," you can turn water magic into boiling water?!
"… I’m so frustrated that I don’t have water magic." Allie muttered.
Linka nodded in agreement.
What do you think about this chapter?
