Gather Divine Coins and Gacha! - Chapter 178

 One day, about halfway through the rainy season, I was called to a room by Liesel along with Seriana.

We had been spending our days gathering and spreading rumors, so it seemed odd to be summoned this way. If Liesel had business with Seriana, there was no need to call me, and if it was me she needed, she could have called me directly or through Seriana.

"What could it be?"

"Who knows?"

If both of us were called, it must be something that concerns both of us. But what could it be?

"Liesel, I'm coming in,"

Seriana said, knocking briefly but entering without waiting for a response, with me floating along behind her.

"Ah, Seria, Sera. Sorry to summon you out of the blue,"

Liesel greeted us cheerfully, rising from his chair, showing no concern that we had entered unannounced. He was as breezy as ever.

In the room were the butler, Karlos, and the maid, Rose. There was also an unfamiliar older man. When our eyes met, he nodded in greeting. Who could he be?

"It’s your first time meeting, Sera. This is Auguste Duval. He served as the leader of a squad in the knight order of my mother’s family’s territory," Liesel explained.

A squad leader, huh? I wondered what he wanted.

"He's set to become the head of this knight order. With him here and the map of the outside world spread out, do you want to ask about the monsters?" Seriana suggested.

"Exactly! The Adventurers Guild has been reporting as well, but you have more detailed information about the bounty items, right?"

He pointed at us as he spoke.

Ah, so it's official business. I glanced at Seriana, who nodded back at me.

"Depending on what you want to know, I might have more detailed information than the Guild. What do you need to ask?"

"Well, let's start by sitting down. Alcohol... won't do. Rose, please prepare something suitable," Liesel said, moving us to the reception area.

It was my first time in this room. Unlike Seriana’s room, it wasn't connected to a bedroom, so it was more spacious. Liesel’s desk was at the far end, two sets of sofas and tables for meetings on the right, and a row of shelves on the opposite side.

"You won't find anything fun to play with here," Seriana commented, noticing my interest in the room.

"That's true..."

I wasn't here to play, but there wasn't much that caught my eye.

◇

"Alright, let's begin," Liesel started as we all took our seats.

Liesel sat in the single chair at the head of the table, with Karlos standing behind him. Seriana and I were on one side, facing Auguste.

On the table were simple maps of the town and the surrounding forest, which Seriana had also brought.

"Let me start. I heard that Sera’s blessing allows you to see through obstacles and assess the strength of creatures. On the route to the candidate site for the new base, were there any particularly strong monsters that you haven't defeated yet?" Auguste asked, pointing at the map.

He seemed to have mixed up the effects of the "Fairy’s Eye" with Akame’s ability. Who told him that? Seriana didn't correct him, so maybe it's fine to leave it as is?

"There weren't any particularly strong ones. They were all about the same level as those in the first forest. However, there was one observing from the base of this mountain, though I couldn’t gauge its strength due to the distance," I explained, pointing at the map as well.

Zighart had taken them down in an instant, but their strength was about the same as the ones in the first forest. Monsters in the mountains might be stronger, like those in the forest, but as long as the town’s soldiers and adventurers are cautious, they should be fine.

The plan seemed to be to clear a path to the candidate site during the winter, transport materials for the base in the spring, and use the town’s soldiers for protection, training them over the winter in preparation.

Auguste might eventually become the head of the knight order, but for now, they needed to train the soldiers properly since they couldn’t impose on the adventurers.

If I had known in advance, I might have investigated more seriously... but maybe it’ll work out somehow?

"I’ve heard a bit about the first forest too, but to think there are that many of that level around here... We’ll have to proceed gradually, coordinating with the northern and southern bases," Auguste mused.

"Yes, we don’t want to rush and end up with something half-finished and failing. We also have support from His Majesty now, and it’s expected to increase next year, right?" Seriana added.

"Exactly. Fortunately, we’re still young and have plenty of time," Liesel said, both of them smiling.

I think they were both sixteen? I don't know the average lifespan in this country, but it seemed they wouldn't rush to their doom. Reassuring.