Roadside Service After the Rain
Even if I mentioned "low pressure" here, no one in this world would understand.
So, let's just say the reason I felt down today was because of the rain. That's what I decided to tell myself.
If I'm alone in my room, I just end up overthinking everything.
Times like this call for alcohol...but drinking can either put me in a ridiculously good mood or drop me into total despair, so it's always a gamble. Alcohol's best enjoyed when you're already feeling good.
So I figured the best way to distract myself was to fully devote myself to something I could concentrate on. If you're busy, there's no time to get depressed. Might as well force myself into work and call that a distraction.
Not that I'm a workaholic or anything.
「Oh, Mongrel. Just the person I needed.」
When I entered the guild, it was pretty empty. Most of the guild members must have already taken on missions and left for other places.
From the look on Mylene's troubled face, it was clear they were short on hands.
「What's wrong, Mylene? Did an urgent mission come in?」
「Yes. Actually, this morning, it seems like there was severe mud on Nektar Road by the South Gate...」
「Ah, it's been raining for days lately, after all. So? Are carriages stuck or something?」
「Well, there were some stuck, yes. That itself was resolved safely, but...during the process of forcibly moving a merchant's carriage to the roadside, it got caught in even worse mud...and now they're stuck for good. The merchant sent an emergency request.」
「Wow.」
Obviously, this world doesn't have anything like tow trucks.
Once you get caught on a weird path, it's a huge problem—especially for carriages without a proper engine. If they fell into some swampy spot...yeah, I wouldn't even want to imagine it.
「We just sent an Iron-rank party there, but I'm not sure they'll be enough...」
「So you want me to go as well, just in case. I don't mind. I'm more than happy to help with local muscle work.」
「Thank you. I'll handle the paperwork, so could you take this temporary certificate and head to the site? If you follow Nektar Road, it should be in a noticeable spot—the trouble's easy to find.」
「Alright, leave it to me. I'll head out right away.」
Sorry for the merchant who got stuck, but it seems I got lucky finding a job the moment I came to the guild.
Let's go rescue the carriage for some easy pocket money.
「Oh, you're the one helping the carriage, Mongrel?」
「Yeah. Is it far from here?」
「Nope, according to someone who passed by, it's not that far. But the Iron-rank guys who went to help haven't come back yet, so I was getting worried.」
When I left through the South Gate, the guard I knew looked slightly relieved to see me.
Apparently, they'd known about the carriage being stuck since morning, but it still hadn't been resolved—which had been bothering him. He's a kind guy, worrying about things outside of Regor too. It might sound rude, but he doesn't have the typical mind of a city guard.
「The carriage folks who passed by wanted to help, but apparently it was obviously a case where amateurs couldn't do anything. Use your brute strength and help out, Mongrel.」
「Uhaha... Me, help human...!」
「Gahaha, cut it out with the suspicious person act in front of me.」
「Yikes, scary. I'm heading out now—」
「Okay, take care—」
I dashed along Nektar Road, carefully stepping only where there were no puddles, heading for the accident site.
Since it was still daylight, I passed several carriages heading toward Regor, but none of them acted wary of me. Normally, someone lightly equipped and carrying weapons like me would be seen as a criminal and watched closely.
But since they'd seen the carriage accident, I guess they could guess my purpose.
「Whoa, look at that...that's quite the mess.」
After a bit of jogging, I found a carriage that totally fit the description of "that must be it"—looked pretty pitiful.
It wasn't blocking the road, true, since it had gone off the roadway, but the right side wheels were sunk deep into a soft fallow field, leaving it hopelessly stuck. No way it could get out on its own.
「Hey, I'm here from the Regor Guild to help!」
「! Oh, thank you—wait, Mongrel, it's you!」
「Yo, it's Mongrel of Bronze Rank 3. And you're...oh, Frank from 『Sunlight at the World's End』, aren't you?」
「Long time no see!」
Apparently, the people trying to rescue the carriage first were the new party 『Sunlight at the World's End』.
It's a young group, fairly well put together for their age, centered on their distinct leader Frank and his younger sister Chel.
There were five of them here. They seemed to be busy offloading the carriage's cargo. I guess making it lighter would help pull it out. Seems like the only logical solution.
「Ah, you're the guild member from Regor, I take it? Thanks for taking the request. I thought I moved out of the way without blocking the road, but...this happened.」
「You must be the client. I'm Mongrel, bronze 3 guild member. I'm stronger than these guys, so once you're ready, I'll get it out. Here's the guild certificate. If you're okay with extra hands, please accept it.」
「... Yes, this is in order. These folks are hard workers, but the wheels are really stuck. The horses got panicked when they slid down the bank, and now it's really sunk deep. Some passing carriages tried to help, but gave up in the end...」
The merchant looked exhausted as he gazed out at the grassy field.
Wondering what he was looking at, I noticed the horses—likely those that had pulled the carriage—calmly munching on grass by the roadside. Covered in mud and dirt, they were clearly enjoying this surprise break and bit of free-roaming. Cute creatures.
「We've unloaded anything breakable or heavy, I think. Mongrel, what do we do next? Should we all try to lift it together...?」
「No, let me try alone first.」
「By yourself? Let's do it together—」
「No, it's fine. I want to get into the mud, so if someone could get me some water to rinse my feet after, that'd be great.」
「Um, sure...we can manage that.」
「I'm counting on you.」
I took off my shoes and socks (not that many people wear them in this world), and stepped into the squelchy mud.
Wow, my feet just sink and sink. It feels both cool and gross.
But it's not a real bottomless bog, so I can still brace myself.
「Alright...hnnngh!」
「Whoa!」
「He's lifting it...?!」
Even with the cargo removed, the carriage was still heavy.
But with a bit of body reinforcement, lifting it from below was no big deal for me. Easy, easy.
「Okay...got it level for now... Now, guys, grab the sides and back and help me rotate it. We'll back it up at a right angle to the bank and bring it up to the road.」
「Yes, sir!」
「Impressive—he seriously got the wheels out alone...」
「We'd never have managed this on our own...」
After that, thanks to the assistance of the 『Sunlight at the World's End』 youngsters, we managed to get the carriage back on the road.
The horses, who'd been enjoying their little free-range time, got hitched up again and wore expressions that basically said, 「Huh? You want us to work again?」
But oh well—hang in there, guys. Regor is right nearby. Just finish the job.
「Man, my nails are caked in dirt. Gotta borrow some hot water at the inn later.」
On the way back to Regor, the merchant kindly gave me a ride in the carriage.
I managed to wash most of the mud off my feet with some water. Above all, I was glad everything ended safely.
「... I've wondered for a while, but Mongrel, aren't you way stronger than a Bronze rank?」
Lounging elegantly in the carriage bed, I heard Frank's voice as he followed behind.
He's as direct as ever. Not that I mind.
「In terms of skill alone, I'm definitely Silver or above.」
「I thought so. So then...」
「The reason I haven't ranked up is just because I find it a hassle. No deeper reason than that.」
「... Is that so? Well, that's fine then.」
「Bronze is great, honestly. Less trouble, hardly any weird requests either. You guys should work hard and become Bronze yourselves.」
「Of course! We'll definitely spread the name 『Sunlight at the World's End』 not just through Regor, but all across Halperia!」
「Hahaha, big dreams, huh. For now, focus on getting promoted to Bronze first.」
After that, we delivered the carriage safely to Regor and the request was complete.
Having earned a little quick cash in a short time, I did a quick city clean-up mission and finished my work for the day.
Really, throwing yourself into work helps distract the mind.
From now on, even if it's rainy, maybe I'll just do some mindless parchment-grinding jobs too. For the sake of my own mental health.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】