Shop 56.1

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Chapter 56.1. The Rohas Elf In The Wilderness

"Why is everyone following along...?"

Maintaining a distance just on the verge of seeing or not seeing the filthy carriage, the carriage of the Veliero Company and its escort were trailing behind. The smell was intense as they approached, hence the formation.

"Isn't it bothering you? Akira-sama has made plenty of outrageous remarks before, but to call the filthy carriage a treasure trove... I must say..."

Cherina covered her mouth with a handkerchief.

"That's why I told you it's not certain yet, right? I'll go check it out, so you go back first."

"No, I can't imagine what might happen if we leave Akira-sama unattended."

"That's terrible... Well, Cherina's one thing, but Hagg, you can go back, right?"

Despite being a dwarf with short legs, Hagg was walking at the same pace as everyone else. I wondered if he wasn't tired from carrying that lump of iron on his back, but he wasn't even sweating in this scorching heat.

"No matter where we go from here, it'll be the same. Besides, it's irritating how only this damn elf over there seems to know what's going on."

"Well, that's quite a reason... Well, do as you please. Personally, I would've been fine with just Yaralai..."

"Yeah, you, the stinky dwarf, unnecessary."

Yaralai, the elf with little change in expression, seemed somewhat smug at that moment... or so I thought.

"What did you say?!"

"Wanna fight? Metal idiot."

The two poised with a hammer and a black needle.

"Hey, don't fight."

A bit indifferent.

After staring each other down for a while, Yaralai and Hagg separated, one to each side of the carriage. They get along so well.

I was walking outside, but Cherina called me back to the carriage.

"Could you tell us the reason soon?"

"No, it's still not certain. I'll confirm it first. Besides, to be honest, even I don't know, it would be good if Yararai understood."

"Yaralai-sama?"

"Well, after seeing the place."

The filthy carriage had been traveling straight on the highway for a while, but then it deviated onto a small side road with a small signboard. The signboard made of wooden planks read "Filth Dump Ahead." In Japanese.

Well, probably, but I think this is surely the local language of this area. When I published the technical book, I put a condition that it should be in the language of the region. Cherina and the others read it normally, but to me, it looked like Japanese. 

In other words, this mysterious translator translates everything, whether it's words or phrases, indiscriminately. It must be divine intervention.

After entering the side road, about 15 minutes later, there was clearly more greenery on both sides of the road. It would probably be grass that grows along the river as vegetation. I got out of the carriage and went to Yaralai.

"How is it?"

"Hmm. Good soil. Surprising."

"As expected."

I walked on the grass to feel the texture of the soil. It felt distinctly different from the brown soil around.

"Probably, for about 50 years, it's been collected in this land."

Yaralai and I nodded to each other.

About 15 minutes further on, it seemed that the filthy carriage ahead had stopped.

"Cherina, you guys wait here. It stinks here, and you might get sick if you're unlucky."

"Understood."

Perhaps discomfort prevailed over curiosity, as this time they obediently stayed here.

I bought two towels to cover my nose and mouth.

Towels = 200 yen

Remaining balance: 909,749 yen.

I tied the purchased towels around my face to cover my nose and mouth.

"Yaralai, use one too."

He nodded and did the same. Even with that, he looked cool no matter what he wore.

"Well, let's go."

I ended up looking somewhat like a bank robber, but I decided not to worry about it.

As we approached the filthy carriage, the smell became quite intense.

"This... is strong."

"You can sprinkle ash to mask the smell."

"Any kind of ash will do?"

"To some extent, choose. But, if you put ash, it's better as fertilizer."

"I see."

I pressed the towel against my nose and approached the filthy carriage. It seemed like they were dumping it into a large pit dug beside the road from the carriage's loading platform.

"Hello there."

As I greeted, a small, hunched middle-aged man shivered.

"W-What, what are you guys?"

"No, we're not suspicious characters."

Even I found my own persuasiveness lacking. 99% of those who claim they're not suspicious are suspicious. Besides, with my appearance, I look like a classic bank robber.

"Do you see that carriage over there? They're from the Veliero Company."

"T-The Vel... Veliero Company?!"

The man jumped up on the spot. Then he started trembling violently.