The Simple Job of Only Perishing to the Hero

Book 9: Chapter 13

Chivalric Order Member Screening, the final selection.

Its start, was quite lonesome.

The nameless mountain that was near Kashnart, which would be reached after walking a bit away from the large main road, was a place that people normally wouldnt enter. There was a small village on the way to the mountain, but even the villagers didnt approach the mountain all that much.

The final selection that was being performed on such a mountainthe Goblin extermination was a so-called the fastest one wins competition.

They would defeat the Goblins that were in the mountain, cut off the body part that would count as proof of its defeat, and bring those back. Their ranks would be decided by the number of those. That was all there was to it.

The fact that the participants would be entering the mountain from their respective different directions was so that there wouldnt be any Goblins that would escape. And then, at the same time, it was also a consideration so that the fellow participants wouldnt obstruct each other as much as possible.

A mountain, huh.

Kain advanced through the mountain where the grass had grown tall.

*Zaku zaku* His figure as he advanced while cutting the grass with his sword showed that he was quite an expert at it, but this was because this sort of technique was indispensable for an Adventurer.

If not for the fact that he had the inconvenience of needing to go through this route, he wouldnt create what was basically a path in the mountain. It was because the mountain path had poor visibility, and was dangerous when compared to flatlands.

However, it was easy for bandits and Goblins to make strongholds in places where peoples hands wouldnt reach. Eliminating those groups was an important job of Adventurers, therefore the ability to take action in the mountains became an indispensable ability for Adventurers.

Yotto!

Cutting down a branch that blocked his way, Kain advanced.

In cases of advancing through a mountain path like this, one would usually a tool dedicated for such an occasion, but Kain swung his personal swordthe Hard Sword Tilnok without any signs of worrying about it. It was because he knew that his sword wouldnt nick or chip from something of this level.

*Zaku zaku* Kain walked while firmly stepping on the ground, however, he made a bewildered expression.

This is, strange

Before long, Kain muttered that.

Coming to a stop, he looked at the path he had come through up until nowand the place that he would be advancing to from now on.

In front of him, there was tall grass and tree branches. Behind him, there was the path that he opened up and hardened.

After that, he slowly surveyed the surroundings, and gazed at the trees and grass that rustled in the wind.

At a glance, it was a mountain scene that seemed normal. And that is why Kain commented that it was strange.

Are there really Goblins, on this mountain?

Muttering that, Kain looked at a branch that was ahead of where he was advancing towards.

A branch that was slightly lower than Kains gaze swayed as if to obstruct his path. That was truly a sign that this was an undeveloped land.

However, it wasnt a land suitable for Goblins to live in. If Goblins were living here, it would be more

Thinking that far, a *gasa gasa, baki baki* sound could be heard from Kains right.

Kain put himself on guard thinking that it might be a Goblin for a moment, but what came into his gaze was a gigantic body that was unbelievable for a Goblin to have.

Nna?

AhH, hello.

Unconsciously, Kain returned a greeting.

It was a figure that had a well trained body that would cause fear for even Adventurers that were proud of their own physique, wore armor that was made of a material that felt different from metal, and carried a large sword.

Kain recognized that woman who was much burlier than the average male Adventurer.

That womanRosetta looked down at Kain, and nodded with an ahh.

ErmThats right, if I remember correctly, yer the shitty brat who has the most experienced movements despite being the youngest. What was your name again?

Its Kain. Hello, Rosetta-san.

Ou, good to see ya.

After breaking and throwing away the branch that was in her way, Rosetta came up until she was right beside Kain.

This is a bit sudden but. What do ya think?

What do I thinkwhat do you mean by that?

Oi oi, you aint blockheaded enough to not notice, right?

Hearing Rosettas words, Kain sharpened his gaze. It was because he understood that Rosetta held the same doubt that he did.

And that was why Kain gave a short reply without dodging the question.

Its strange. That is all I can say for sure.

Right. There probably aint any Goblins in the mountain.

Kain opened his eyes wide at how Rosetta suddenly said the conclusion without making any sort of strategy.

For an Adventurer, in cases like this, giving out your own information in small amounts was part of the basics.

However, maybe it was because Rosetta didnt like that sort of thingor maybe, she was thinking of a possibility similar to what Kain was thinking of.

Thats right, I think so too. But, the problem is whether or not the organizers side knows about this.

Hn, so that really is one to doubt huh.

Rosetta-san, since you doubted them, you searched for meno, for the other participants, right?

Pretty much. And in that sort of meaning, I was fortunate that it was you I found. Among everyone, you and that heavily equipped jerk were the best choices.

Hearing heavily equipped jerk, Kain recalled the heavy swordsman wearing full body armor, Zegius. He must be having a hard time in the mountain with that equipment.

There are several patterns that can be thought of. First, its the possibility that were jerks that have clogged noses and cant even notice the horrid stench of Goblins. Second, its the possibility that we just happened to have bad luck and ended up starting from a place where theres no trace of em.

If it was the latter, they would unfortunately end up having to hand over the top rankings to the other participants.

After nodding, Kain put up three fingers and continued Rosettas words.

Third, is the case that the fact that Goblins are here was a misunderstanding, isnt it.

In this case, it would end with an its great that Goblins werent here. It seemed like the final selection would have done another day, but it was the most peaceful pattern that could be thought of.

Fourthand this one is the worst pattern, but its the case that they knew and we were still sent here. But stillI cant read the reason to do that. Well need to be cautious of it, but the possibility of it is low.

Kain vaguely nodded at those words, but he didnt think that it was impossible.

After all, Kain and Ein were subordinates of Princess Celis who was Princess Narikas political opponent, and were even sent to assassinate Mazenda. For reasons to be targeted, there were plenty of them.

Thats true. But, what were you planning on doing by having that as the assumption?

Ah? Lets seeIt would be simple to assert that there werent any Goblins. But, I wouldnt be able to make an excuse in the one in a million chance that there were some.

And so?

Ya sure are bad at guessin, aint cha. If theres even one of them out there, thatll mean that there were Goblins. In that case, thatd mean that I was a jerk that was a blockhead thats even less useful than a scarecrow.

Kain thought about the meaning of Rosettas words.

In other words

For the time being, you were going to search the entire mountain?

Pretty much. Although its low, as long as I cant get rid of the fourth possibility, I wanna avoid messily walking around solo. I was lucky to have met up with you.

Kain made a wry smile at the nodding Rosetta.

At that instant*pakin*, a sound as if something was cracking resounded.

Ah? Uoh!?

Rosetta-sa!

It was something behind Rosetta.

Within the crack, it was a black hand that extended out from a richly colored airspace.

In order to cut apart that hand that grabbed Rosettas face and tried to pull her in, Kain readied his sword.

Ara, thats no good, Kain. Your written invitation is right here, you know?

With that voice that he recognized sounding from behind himKains body was grabbed by several black hands.

KuAH!?

With his balance destroyed, he was unable to properly resist.

Just like that, Kain was dragged into the richly colored airspace behind him.

Like that, in that place where everyone had disappeared from, a woman with pure white hair and wore clothes that looked like a red dress smiled.

Thus, our dear guests have gone to the party venue. Fufufu, fufu! Sorry, Mazenda! I will borrow them for a bit! But its alright, its fine! I will make things more funand delicious! Yes, Ispecialize in that sort of thing after all!

After the woman struck the air as if knocking on it, that place cracked and a richly colored airspace showed itself.

When that woman leapt in without any hesitation, the cracked airspace closed and returned to normal.

And then, only silence remained.

Without being noticed by the knights on the foot of the mountain, all of the participants of the final selection vanished from the mountain.