11-5 Part 1
The Wandering Shovel Man Pierces the
Mountain
- Stranded -
Translator : PolterGlast
However. After passing through the suburbs of the Imperial
Capital and deviating onto a forest path along the mountains for the
pilgrimage, the way ahead was congested with people and horses. Looking up at
the sky, the time was just before evening, around when the sunlight started to
turn a pale yellow.
「I'll go take a look. Kachua,
stand by on the wagon bed. Just in case, don't let your guard down.」
「Yeah, understood! You be careful too, Shinza.」
Leaving the guard duty to Kachua, I slipped through
the road blocked by people and carriages. Then, to my surprise, bandits had
arbitrarily set up a checkpoint and were skimming off the top—not exactly, it
was just that something more terrifying than bandits had tumbled down there.
「Sorry, but you can't pass here.
Please turn back.」
A massive landslide. Heavy, waterlogged soil and large
boulders had completely buried the narrow gorge path. An old, white-haired
Imperial soldier was repeatedly warning the stranded travelers to detour around
the road.
His appearance, with strangely old and battered armor, was
such that if you rubbed your eyes, he would look like a disgraced mercenary.
However, the old man's warnings were in vain, and the travelers were standing
still, reluctant to detour.
「We get it, so let us through.」
「I hear highwaymen are appearing on
the north highway, so this way is still better.」
「We're in trouble if it's not this
route. Let's all clear the dirt and sand!」
Merchant traders each have their own regular customers and
routes that form their theories of profit. With the old soldier warning a young
man who insisted he could go because he was on foot that he would fall to his
death, the head of the traffic jam was already at the height of chaos.
「Oi, you youngster over there, are
you listening to me! It's dangerous, so wait for the military's arrival!」
「I can't wait for something like
that. Besides, I'm used to this sort of thing.」
「A shovel...? You're a well-prepared
guy... No, wait, listen to what this old geezer is saying! Don't ignore the
elderly, you youngster!」
「Even though I'm offering to volunteer,
you're a noisy old man... Just be quiet and watch.」
「I agree with the white-haired bro too!
If we can't pass, we should all just clear it!」
However, the old man is stubborn. Just as I readied the Shovel
towards the dirt and sand, he stood blocking my way.
「I'm telling you it's dangerous!
Don't do unnecessary things, amateur!」
「That's right. It's dangerous, so you
all step back.」
「Are you hard of hearing like an old
hag?! I'm talking to you, Shovel Kid!!」
Shovel Kid, huh. Not a bad nickname at all.
「Enough with the arguments. Anyway,
just watch and you'll understand.」
I'm used to handling strong-willed old man. I slipped past him. However, this old man is even more
obstinate than Jii. He interfered with my civil engineering work again.
At this rate, is there no choice but to persuade him in order? But the other party is
an old man. How should I persuade a seemingly stubborn old man...
『Wait, old man.』
At first, I mistook those words for sarcasm directed at me.
Because that was Zirant's voice. That's right, Zirant. From the
shadow of the forest, Zirant, transformed into a human, appeared,
approached the old man, and showed him something.
「Can you not see this Inro
(crest)?」
「Inroo...? What does that... Th-This is—th-the General's...?!
Please forgive me! I truly didn't think you were affiliated with that person!」
The Dragon-sama, who does as she pleases, directed a cool,
sidelong glance at me and smiled faintly. I never expected Zirant to
intervene in such a manner.
「Umu. We are those close to General Georg.
Leave this place to the Hundred-Dragon Commander Zanshi over there. Now
then, I shall return to report. Zanshi, astonish them to your heart's
content with your skills.」
Saying only that, Zirant pretended to disappear into
the forest and returned into the book and me. However, Hundred-Dragon Commander
Zanshi (Shinza←←←), huh... I would have liked her
to try a little harder on the anagram there...
「Well, whatever. It'll be done soon,
so just watch from there.」
「Sir! If you are General Georg's
soldier, I have no complaints. I leave it in your hands!」
This was a small problem I could solve on my own. And yet,
rather than there being a deep meaning to Zirant taking the trouble to
show herself, it was probably the opposite.
She probably just couldn't bear only watching anymore. The
Hundred-Dragon Commander Zanshi, bathing in the attention of the people,
swiftly removed the blocking dirt and sand.
Discarding the soil into the valley and clearing the path
one after another, the people were taken aback and continued to stare blankly
at the magic brought about by the Shovel. Eventually, the removal of the
dirt and sand was completed.
By that time, I also realized that I had overdone it by
getting too engrossed in the work. But there was a harvest, so let's call it
good.
「This is good. I got this many
mountain yams; if you'd like, shall we all boil them and eat?」
「You mention the potatoes first?!」
It seems Kachua was watching my work. With restrained
strength, her retort pierced my chest. With that, it seems the consciousness of
everyone who was dumbfounded finally returned to reality.
「A-Amazing... The road, the road so
easily...」
「What kind of stamina do you have,
Hundred-Dragon Commander?!」
「Aaaaah, but with this we'll make it
in time for the deal!」
「As a local resident, I also want to
express my gratitude. If we can't pass here, we can't do our work...」
「Thank you! Thank you, Hundred-Dragon
Commander! As expected of Georg-sama's subordinate!」
Following that, I received high praise. I only cleared the
road for my own purpose, but being praised for my labor doesn't feel bad.
『However, was it okay to expose your
hand to the public eye? If this becomes a big rumor, things might get a little
troublesome, Hundred-Dragon Commander Zanshi.』
It's fine. No one will believe such a story. Besides, I
won't be staying in the Empire for long. This level of volunteering shouldn't
really matter.
「Kachua, I'll watch the condition of the road here. You return to
the escort.」
「Ah, that's true. See you in a bit then!」
When I sent Kachua back, taking that as a cue, the people and horses at the front began preparing to depart. Once stopped, it takes time to start up again. It will probably be a little while longer before the congestion clears.
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