Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 281

After hearing Father Vasquez’s vivid description of the situation, I start to worry that my idea might be misguided, but I can’t give up just yet. 

I decide to go over things step by step, asking questions and verifying the facts.

“For instance, when a village is attacked by goblins or wolves, they would request an adventurer to exterminate them, right?”

Are villagers even making these requests to adventurers? When things get complicated, it’s best to go back to the basics and start with a simple question.

“That’s right. Villagers can fend off threats from behind the village fence, but it’s nearly impossible for non-adventurers to enter the forest and clear out the monsters’ dens. In those cases, they have no choice but to turn to adventurers.”

I confirm with Father Vasquez that villagers are indeed requesting adventurers. 

Next, I need to clarify how they go about making such requests.

“So, how exactly does a village make a request?”

“Hmm…” Father Vasquez thinks for a moment before responding. “First, we gather money from the villagers. They usually have some savings for emergencies or festivals, and we use those funds. We then entrust the money to an honest and swift young villager, who runs to the nearest city where the adventurers’ guild is located.”

Since requests are only accepted in cash, we confirm that money is used for payment, and communication relies on the villagers themselves.

“And then?”

“Then, the village stays on the defensive until the young man returns. Although monsters sometimes appear at night, they rarely attack during the day. However, it’s too dangerous to work alone outside the fenced area, so villagers have to reduce their time spent in the fields. It’s difficult, but manageable.”

Even if they rely on adventurers to resolve the situation, the village remains vulnerable to monster threats until then. Monsters generally only attack during the day when they’re agitated, so preparations for a prolonged defense are necessary.

However, there is another question I need to confirm: the success rate of these requests.

“This might be a tough question, but are the young people sent to call adventurers generally successful?”

“To be honest, it’s difficult. Some are too afraid of monsters to even go. Others reach the town but lose the money along the way, and even when we successfully request an adventurer, it’s often a useless one who can barely handle a fork, let alone a sword.”

“I see.” The success rate doesn’t sound promising.

“I can’t really blame those who squander the money,” Vasquez adds. “Villagers rarely need coins in their daily lives. Carrying that much money must get their blood pumping. In town, they end up spending it all, then panic and return home empty-handed. I’ve seen several young men do this.”

Shopping and money sense come from education and experience. For villagers who only know their small, rural world, bringing a large sum to the city might make them easy targets for certain types of people.

“What happens if the request fails? Is there a backup plan?” I ask next about what alternatives they have if the request fails.

“Our last resort is to petition the noble who governs the land. But since we’re a small village without an overseer, sending a petition to the royal capital takes even more time and money than hiring an adventurer. So, we typically go through the tax collector. They can contact the lord, who may then request nearby nobility with a standing army to send soldiers. But the cost is enormous, so the villagers try to avoid it if they can.”

Noticing some unease in Vasquez’s tone, I hesitantly ask, “How high are these costs?”

“The cost is such that one in twenty villagers would need to sell themselves. Still, it’s better than starving.”

That is Father Vasquez’s answer.