A Misunderstood Mentor

“Takkun, you’re going on your own?”

“Yeah, on my own”

Late at night, after everyone was done eating, I finished preparing for the journey.
I still remember the route to the Demon Lord’s Labyrinth.
It’s not too far from this mountain.

“If I don’t encounter any monsters it shouldn’t take more that ten days”
“Once, I’ll only save you once a day okay.
If you push yourself too hard you’ll lose consciousness.
Are you sure it’ll be fine?”
“I’ll try to flee as much as possible.
I don’t want to involve everyone else”

This is my problem.
Honestly I want to leave Demon Sword Karna behind as well but I can’t really leave without a weapon.

“Can’t be helped then, I’ll aid you as much as I can.
I’ll alert you before any monsters come near”
“Thanks”
“W-What’s with that serious expression.
Takkun, you’re acting weird.
The idiotic expression you normally have suits you better”

While speaking to Karna in a low voice I leave the cave.
Without anyone noticing, I left for my trip.
Or so I thought.

“Going somewhere? Takumi-sama”

On the large stone, that Beastman King Miacis was laying on during the afternoon, the Goblin King was sitting.

“Yeah just a short stroll”
“Is that so.
I took that route just the other day.
Would you like me to guide you?”

If I recall correctly, the Hero End mentioned something at the Meeting of the Ten Greats.
The Goblin King met with Alice at the Demon Lord’s Labyrinth.

“That’s okay.
More importantly, about Reia…..”

I stop myself from trying to ask what’s written in Alice’s letter about Reia’s circumstances.
It’s not something that’s relevant to the current situation.

“No it’s nothing.
I’ll be out for a while so tell everyone that they can do what they want with the food”
“Understood.
Have a safe trip, Takumi-sama”

Being sent off by the Goblin King, I leave the cave behind me.
I’m concerned about the food stocks but that’s something that can be dealt with after the turmoil has been settled.

“It’s the first time we’ve been alone.
Don’t you feel a bit nervous?”
“Nope, not at all”
“Ahhh, I see! I see how it is! I don’t care anymore! I’m going to sleep!”

My last ray of hope, Demon Sword Karna, has suddenly gone to sleep.
Wait she sleeps.
I’ve learnt something new.
I don’t know why she’s mad but it shouldn’t be too dangerous descending down the mountain.
I’ll let her be for a while.

After getting a bit down the mountain, I look back.
I intended to live a slow life alone without ever leaving the cave.
How long will it be before I can return to those days I wonder.
While thinking such thoughts, I take the mountain path down.

Just as the sun was beginning to rise, I reach the town.
The morning glow paints the town in red and gold.

The small mountain I reside on is known as Mt Bolt.
At the base is a rural frontier town known as Nut.
Numerous plantations spread out before my eyes and here and there I can see people working in the fields.
Private houses made of stone can be seen in places and a wall of brick had been made to surround the town.

“Huh, we’ve reached the town? It’s been a while since I’ve been to Nut Town”

Karna, who woke up at some point, murmurs.
That reminds me, Karna was bought from a weapons shop in this town.

“Huh, Takkun, you’re not going inside the town?”

I really want to enter.
I need to obtain food and equipment from here.
But after seeing the sign at the entrance of the town, my feet freeze in place.

“Huh the sign’s changed.
What’s going on”

Karna’s noticed as well.
As expected I wasn’t seeing things.
The sign on which the town’s name is written, the name which used to read [Nut Town], has been changed.

[Takumi Town]

That was what was written there.

“It’s Takumi-sama! Takumi-sama has come to visit!”

I enter the town quietly but I meet the eyes of a farming old lady and she suddenly yells.
With speed unimaginable for her age, she disappears into the towns centre.

Only a moment later after that.
Although it was early in the morning, I was surrounded by enough people to think that the whole town had gathered.

“Takumi-sama, Takumi-sama.
Thank you for saving us from the goblins”

“I’m sorry I never realised you were watching over us from the mountain”

No I didn’t save you, nor am I watching over you.

“We’re planning to offer a virgin girl as a sacrifice to you once a year from now on.
Please, allow that to appease your anger”
“I’m not angry at all so please don’t do that”
“How benevolent of you, Takumi-sama.
Everyone, it seems that Takumi-sama will continue to protect us without pay from now on”

A great cheer sounded.
Everyone is bowing their heads to me.
No, I haven’t been protecting you up till now and I won’t be protecting you from here on either.

“E-Excuse me, I have some urgent business.
Could you sell me twenty days worth of food and equipment, along with a simple shield?”
“We wouldn’t dream of charging you.
Everyone.
Bring Takumi-sama food and equipment at once!”
“No I’ll pay.
Let me pay.
Please”

This is bad.
If I take these items for free it’ll become a big problem later.
If they do something like paying tribute to the mountain, I won’t be able to live peacefully.

“Takumi-sama, is the mou I gave you doing well? If you’d like, I can give you another”
“Ah aaah.
I’m fine for now.
More importantly, how many mou do you own.
You should probably give them a count”

I speak to the cattleman with a mou behind him.
The mou you gave me was the Goblin King!
I wanted to scream but that would cause a scene so I hold myself back.

“As expected of Takumi-sama.
It seems you’ve come to use that Demon Sword Soul Eater”

Next to speak to me was a father with a short mustache.

“If you’re looking for a shield then how about this.
Demon Shield Kingbomb.
After receiving a certain amount of damage, it’ll self destruct in an explosion that engulfs the wielder.
Do not worry.
If it’s you, Takumi-sama, you should be able to come out unscathed”

As if I’ll be unscathed!
Why are you selling such dangerous equipment.
What even is a kingbomb!1

“A normal shield is fine.
Also prepare a normal set of leather armour”

The weapons shop father makes a disappointed face.

“Takumi-sama please take our local specialty, this straw bundle”

I can’t walk around with something so heavy.

“Takumi-sama please take my daughter”

In a sense, that’s even heavier than the straw bundle.

“Takumi-sama, Takumi-sama, Takumi-sama”
“L-Let’s run, Karna”

Without being able to prepare any decent supplies, I run as fast as I can.

“Takkun you sure are popular”

As I thought, I shouldn’t go outside.
After everything is cleared up I’m definitely going to shut myself in on the mountain.

I swear to myself as I run from the town that bears my name.

Translator’s Notes:
1: This is a reference to the item king bomb in Super Mario RPG.

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