Bastard Swordsman

Guarding the Harvest Season Roads

The Halperia Kingdom had vast lands, mostly consisting of plains perfect for farming and livestock. The slight undulations were mostly gentle hills, and mountains were few and far between.

Despite these geographical quirks, a sizable river flowed right through the center of the country, blessed with an ideal location.

Its only notable weaknesses were the scarcity of mineral and stone resources. However, the steady supply of wheat mountains made these issues seem trivial.

True to its name and the design on its national flag, Halperia was a nation that thrived on the power of the scythe—a farmer's tool. Most of the populace was involved in agriculture in some form, and because of the large agricultural workforce, there was no disdain for farmers.

Many received generous subsidies from the government, and quite a few prosperous farms were surprisingly wealthy.

However, maintaining such extensive lands was inherently challenging.

As the pre-harvest busy season approached, those with unsavory intentions began to appear along the roads, lured by the bustling atmosphere and the lucrative-looking wagons.

「Mylene-san, can't I guard this road alone?」

「No, you can't. I said this last year too, remember?」

「Seriously? I have to form a group of eight or more? I'm not comfortable with a lot of people.」

「Road guarding during this season is partly to show force against rogues, so being understaffed doesn't effectively send a message. It's simply dangerous. Please accept the mission. If it's too troublesome, Mongrel-san, we can assign you to a group ourselves.」

I was a solo specialist. However, I couldn't do absolutely everything freely as a solo.

Because the guild was powerful. Unfortunately, I had no choice but to comply with the decisions of such a powerful organization.

Every year, entering the harvest season was like this. The military personnel and guild members would be dispatched to roads and sparsely populated villages for security and assistance.

In Halperia, it was often said that the harvest involved everyone, from adults to children—though the reality was that the entire nation became a workforce.

Not that it bothered me, really. Road guarding and patrolling around villages weren't particularly tough jobs.

But then again, being forced to partake in harvest festivals under the guise of village goodwill was rather cumbersome.

I was made to dance strange, incomprehensible dances.

Whenever alcohol was involved, strength contest battles almost always erupted.

I was stuffed full with feasts that weren't exactly my favorite flavors.

Why did the elderly in rural areas try so hard to feed you, even in another world...? My stomach was really reaching its limit at this age...

「By the way, there are two slots open in Artemis. You know people there, so should I place you there?」

「No way, it's all women there. Few men in a women-dominated group feels like a punishment, Mylene-san.」

「That's quite a harsh remark... Oh, what about joining Caspar-san's team in the Regol Guards? You know him, right?」

「Oh, there's a spot in Caspar-san's party? Perfect, can you organize that for me?」

「There's quite a distance to cover from Regol, you know.」

「It's work I have to do anyway. Might as well take a trip and enjoy some unfamiliar scenery. Mylene-san, any souvenirs you'd like?」

「The safe return of guild members is the best souvenir for us.」

I was slightly hurt by what was probably a refined way of saying, "I don't need a souvenir," likely told to countless men before.

「Hey, Mongrel-san. Been a while... glad to see you're well...」

「Oh, Caspar-san, long time no see... but aren't you looking emaciated again? Are you alright?」

Early morning. Caspar-san was among the elderly men quietly gathering on the bench outside the guild's archive room.

He belonged to the security team of Regol, notably a skilled healer.

But Caspar-san's body trembled slightly, and dark circles were evident under his sleepy eyes.

I honestly didn't know how many all-nighters it took to look like this. If I were a healer myself, I'd lay him on the bench for a rest, but unfortunately, Caspar-san was the healer.

Truly a case of "the physician who cannot heal himself".

「Yeah, there was an emergency from the noble's district last night... I wanted to rest for today, but it was someone I knew, and they specially came for my skills, so I couldn't refuse...」

「... Thank you for your hard work. Really, don't push yourself too hard. Are you sure you're okay for today?」

「Ah, we'll be riding the carriage, so I'll rest there... I'll be fine...」

Caspar-san looked like the most urgent patient, but oh well.

「Hey there, are you Mongrel-san? I've heard of you from Caspar-san. I'm Thomason, the leader of Team Three. It'll be a group of aged men, but I look forward to working with you.」

「Oh, hello, Thomason-san. I'm Mongrel. Caspar-san always takes care of me. I'm looking forward to working with.」

The vibe of Regol's patrol group, the town where I lived, was similar to a gathering of neighborhood uncles.

Familiar men would patrol in groups, full of camaraderie.

Of course, they were legitimate members of the security team; their strength was genuine—at least in their youth.

Their skills were more reliable than those slapped together by ragtag newbie guild members.

Even the nearly collapsing Caspar-san was once a top healer in the capital's church.

He was transferred to Regol after confronting the higher-ups about their fraudulence and embezzlement. Despite his gentle appearance, this history made him quite an edgy old guy. When asked about it, he just smiled softly, likely a testament to the truth.

I placed full trust in their abilities.

The carriage set off as scheduled, laden with essentials for the distant village and the nearly unconscious Caspar-san.

The wagon's pace was similar to a walking person. Including the elderly guards, we surrounded and walked before and after the carriage.

Well, walking speed as determined by the older men in full armor was leisurely.

Frequently, amidst their familiar jokes, they laughed boisterously. I knew it was best to stay on the fringes, enjoying their fun from afar without intruding.

「Lovely weather. Thank goodness it's not raining.」

「Indeed, indeed. Another bountiful year.」

Along the route, I spotted farmers harvesting wheat in distant fields.

A burly man in a straw hat wielded a long-handled scythe like a spear, slowly cutting down the standing walls of wheat.

Watching the unique motion of swinging the scythe after bracing the end against his waist, I mused about its inefficiencies, yet appreciated such sights as a kind of cultural experience.

Adorned with handles mid-shaft, the Great Harpe scythe...

Rumor had it that mounted knights in the capital sometimes adopted such scythes. It sounded far-fetched, but given this world, it was not unimaginable, which was unnervingly plausible. Well, I guessed it was a romantic weapon. Not too bad, really. Scythes were cool. Just not my preference.

「Ah, my back hurts. Sorry, but could I rest on the cart for a bit?」

「Gahaha, feeling your age, huh?」

Though we had delays—thanks to elder members needing breaks on the cart—we managed to reach the first checkpoint before dark.

We'd continue this for another two or three days. Traveling in another world was quite the ordeal, but the sights did make it entertaining.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】