Chapter 6 - Failed Journeys and Encounters Part 2
"Your Highness Rei! The 3rd and 4th Conservation Troops have arrived!"
"Thank you for your hard work. Then I'd like to leave immediately… but let's go tomorrow. Looks like some refugees will be arriving here again tonight. So I'd like you to take them tomorrow morning. The rest of you, please accompany me for a while. Of course." ... I will meet refugees."
"I understand!"
The man who had come to report arrival to Rei returned to his unit as is. And when they reported that they would accompany Rei for a while, they cheered. The troops were happy to be able to accompany Rei even if only for a while.
The next day, the conservation unit with 578 refugees returned to Kuraki Country, and the remaining units accompanied Rei as is. The troops that returned were regrettable, but when Rei, unable to see them, thanked each of them and asked for refugees, then returned happily.
Rei who finally departed had to slow down due to the arrival of the protection unit, and was worried that the date and time of arrival at the Hero's Country would be later than planned and Hero God Alexander would be angry.
Over the next few days, Rei kept moving while protecting the refugees he encountered, but Rei quickly decided that there weren't enough units of protection to accompany the number of refugees that had been found regularly, and called in another unit of protection. The butler accompanying Rei sighed that it would take some time to move again.
"It took January to reach the shoreline as it is now. Better yet, why not ignore the refugees?"
"If I can do that, Kuraki Country won't be finished... Sorry, butler, this is nature."
"That's right. Don't sigh too much. Others will feel bitter."
"Ah… I'm sorry. What, Alexander seemed to be angry when I was so slow. No, I'm sure Alexander would be angry. Hmm… Oh, I'm sorry. I sighed again.…"
Everyone was happy to hear that Rei had never left refugees behind. They were slightly worried that Rei's complaints were caused by the protection of the refugees and that they were thinking of leaving them.
And today, the accompanying protection units exceeded the capacity of the refugees, so all units returned. The latter were forced aboard and sheltered some 5,500 refugees. However, refugees still appeared. Familiar decides to build another detention facility to protect the evacuees and waits for the new conservation force to arrive.
"Your Highness Rei, the number of refugees today has exceeded 400. It has exceeded 1000..."
"Is 400 people gathering in a day... There are quite many refugees around here. The next protection unit will arrive the day after tomorrow. Until then, I ask."
"I understand. Let's get back to work."
Rei was worried about protecting too many refugees. Thanks to smartphones, there were no problems with food, but if the number of people continued to increase, there was a risk that the Kuraki Country's land would be in short supply. A knight came to report to Rei, who sighed again with the feeling that various troubles might ensue.
"What? Did you come to take care of the refugees?"
"Yeah, I met dozens of people along the way and led them to this place where the signs of people gathered… This is also quite a ruse."
"Hmm ... let's hear a little."
Rei followed the knight who came to report. Along the way, the refugees happily ate food. Rei was also relieved that there were only a few vigilante refugees. Rei was careful not to be alert as it could make a lot of noise when someone on guard came.
After a while, upon arriving at the place being guided by the Knights, stood a sturdy man surrounded by thin refugees. It looks like a fine macho, but its muscles have been trained to suit your fighting style. Of course, that is quite a skill.
Rei approached while observing the man. Then the crest was carved around the chest of the garment. This was the first emblem he had seen, but somehow his memory returned.
"Were you the one who brought the refugee party? And the crest on their chest... So you're an adventurer?"
"Yes, I am Gaze, an adventurer. Are you at the top of this group protecting refugees?"
Adventurer. Unlike ordinary adventurers, they were those who traveled the world and investigated monsters and ruins. The Founder of the Adventurer's Guild, a group of people who support the aspirations of the God of Adventure, must be at least a quasi-demon lord class to become an adventurer.
It's hard to meet those moving around the world. After all, they have no particular base and often act alone, because they are not people they can meet to meet them. Rei also wanted to meet one day having heard about this before, but Rei didn't expect it to come now.
"Yes, I'm Rei Kuraki. So here you are. Gaze-san is also here. Please, let me treat myself to a meal as thanks for bringing them this far. And you guys indeed get to meet adventurers. It's not an experience."
"That would be fun. I feed them so I don't eat anything."
Rei was happy to be able to talk to an adventurer. No one is as familiar with this world as they are. The stories they hear will be informative.
The waitress served the food right away and recommended the bath. They were surprised that they could take a bath, but thanks to the refreshing body, they felt really good. Rei immediately asked Gaze to tell them about his adventures along the way but it was all interesting.
"Hey... the waterfall that rises to heaven... I want to see it someday."
"It's quite a dangerous area so I thought it was difficult, but it's worth a look because gravity is reversed and there are lots of floating islands."
"Floating islands... fantasy... anyway, why are you here? Even though many of the neighboring countries of the fire are having a hard time due to the continuing war..."
"I have something to do. I'm going to the special forest."
"Special forest? How about a cat forest? Why in a place like that..."
When Rei said that, a tickled air tingled. This is murder. This kill Gaze is flying against Rei, but you're not going to kill him. It has a stronger meaning of irritation than murder. However, if you are a strong man, you will feel your spine freeze even if you are irritated and awestruck.
"... Sorry, but don't peek too much."
"But I'm sorry. I wasn't in the mood to peep. But... If my goal is Nekomori and I'm going to see the cat god there, I guess that's difficult. Now the cat god. I'm out on business and won't be back for a while."
Rei answered hurriedly. This rush was not because Gaze had scared him off. The surrounding knights, who were escorting Rei because Gaze was killing Aura, tried to reach for their weapons.
"There's no cat god? Why? Nekomori is a land where magical powers are vulnerable, so there must always be a cat god..."
"Since the cat has been born and can be entrusted with the cat forest for a while, it seems that he will pacify other lands. Well, I only know this title... I wonder if you are disappointed for that purpose cat god..."
No, this is valuable information... Sorry for that. I was being rude to those who had been so kind... When my fellow adventurer talked about his previous destination, he misunderstood that there was a treasure. Had taken the lead in destroying land ... "
"No, don't worry. There are times when no one wants to be stalked. Oh, if you're headed to Nekomori, are you going to ride with the refugees? The goal is to be around Nekomori. So. If you accompany me, you guys will be the escorts and they will feel comfortable."
"I can't help you much... I'll drive you as much as you want. But is it around Nekomori... country around that... where is it?"
"Haha, it's fun to go. Sometimes adventures like this are good, right?"
After that, Rei and Gaze got to know each other, and sake came in and out, and the story came alive. Gaze didn't seem so wary anymore. Rei was relieved to see the situation. After all, Rei knew very well that the surrounding escort knights were rubbing their minds.
Even though Gaze was an adventurer, he wouldn't worry about talking to the dubious while being wary of the king, Rei, and occasionally getting massacred.
The next day, with Gaze's cooperation, they gathered the refugees around. The number of people had increased greatly, but the refugee protection team that arrived the next day protected them all and brought them to Kuraki Country. Back then, Gaze accompanied him to Kuraki.
Rei wanted to hear more about the adventurer but he was in a hurry. After that, they made it out to the shoreline while protecting the refugees. And finally got this far. From here, cross the ocean and traverse a turbulent empire to become a nation of heroes.