Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 298

It seems the Baron is determined to take matters into his own hands, but as a commoner, it feels awkward for me to refuse him directly. So, I signal Anne with my eyes, hoping she will handle the situation since she’s likely accustomed to dealing with such matters.

She picks up on my intention and speaks calmly to the Baron. “Baron, going outside the city walls yourself would be quite barbaric, wouldn’t it? Couldn’t you leave such matters to the people in your service?” she gently admonishes.

But the Baron, clearly excited by his own idea, is not easily deterred.

“No, Anne. I can’t leave this to anyone else. I want to see with my own eyes how the monsters move and hear with my own ears the sounds they make. For that, I’m willing to face the dangers outside the city walls,” he declares, thrilled by the thought. “Now that I think of it, weren’t you and Kenji acquainted with a certain mercenary group? The flamboyant man who leads them—what was his name again? Jilboa, I believe?”

Even the Baron’s casual mention of the Sword Fangs Legion shows how strongly Jilboa has left an impression on him.

“The Sword Fangs Legion, right? They’re the most skilled adventurer clan in the city,” I reply.

Then the Baron says something I can hardly believe. “That’s right. Perfect! We’ll have them escort me. With them, there will be no danger.”

“Baron, the Sword Fangs Legion would certainly accept the request, but I’m sure your household wouldn’t approve. Would you really allow adventurers to protect you?”

To my surprise, the Baron counters with a partially logical answer.

“Why not? My retainers have never dealt with monsters, so wouldn’t it make more sense to hire adventurers who are experienced in such matters? Besides, if they’re the best in town, it would be much safer.”

It’s frustrating that his reasoning, while simple, is somewhat sound. However, sending the Sword Fangs Legion to hunt goblins in rural areas feels like overkill—it’s akin to using a butcher’s knife to split a chicken. This doesn’t align with the Sword Fangs Legion’s strategy of carefully selecting requests that boost their reputation rather than taking on mundane tasks. Jilboa would likely be far from pleased with this arrangement.

I decide to approach this from another angle in hopes of discouraging the Baron from accompanying us.

“Baron, while having adventurers for protection is reassuring, they are commoners and can be quite inconsiderate. Outdoors, you’ll face harsh weather—rain, storms, and no shelter from the wind. If you venture deep into the forest, stepping over thickets in search of monster dens, you might get bitten by insects or sprain your ankle. You may not be able to bathe or even enjoy proper tea. Baron, could you please leave such unpleasant outdoor hardships to the common people?”

I emphasize the discomfort and inconvenience of traveling with adventurers, hoping to dissuade the Baron—who is accustomed to the luxuries of castle life. However, his response completely dashes my plan.

“I see, that’s very reasonable! In that case, we need to prepare a carriage and get everything ready!”

Anne gives me a look that clearly says, What now?

At this point, there’s nothing left to do. We can only respectfully nod and follow the Baron’s lead.