Side Story 3: Paldi’s Exciting Nightmarish Dungeon Exploration Journal! Part 1
The story will be from the viewpoint of the Prime Minister assistant, Paldi.
It is much longer than I expected.
Ann turn will come after four chapters.
Chronologically, the story happened between the 10th and 11th day of the diary written by a (stupid) dragon in Chapter 2, episode 7.
So, there’s no Pururu and Una hasn’t gone outside yet.
TLN: Just a heads up, italic sentences is the monologue of the character.
_________
Paldi Raven, the secretary of Prime Minister Eclair, is a former adventurer.
Because of her adventurer skill, instead of office work, her main job is to be a bodyguard to the prime minister.
That’s right, she was an adventurer until six months ago.
She didn’t like it very much.
Frankly, the adventurer’s business is hard and not very profitable.
On top of that, there’s a high chance of dying.
It’s a job not a normal person will choose.
Still, this job is popular because it is full of dreams and romance.
And getting rich quickly.
Certainly, there’s no other occupation when it comes to that.
Also, anyone can become an adventurer regardless of their background.
Even those with a dark past like Paldi.
Thanks to her skill, she made it to rank A and lived a stable life. However, she still felt envious of townspeople who didn’t need to struggle to live.
That’s why she almost jumped in joy when she was approached by the Prime Minister and given the job.
To live everyday life without a battle, it was like a dream.
That is until now…
「Why should I have to work as an adventurer again…」
She tampered with her black-rimmed glasses in frustration.
In the first place, investigating the Eld Desert is not her job.
I’m his bodyguard, ain’t I?
It doesn’t make sense for me to leave.
Is what she thought. But since it’s an order, she wore her adventurer gear for the first time in a while.
「How nostalgic…」
She equipped herself with a well-worn black iron breastplate, a pair of enchanted boots that raise her agility and a black cloak with a green leaf embroidery.
Hanging on her waist is her cherished sword that’s been with her since she was an adventurer.
It was made from the best material humans can find, the earth dragon scale, which is rarely used today.
How many times have this sword saved my life?
After looking at her sword deeply, she went outside.
Where four of her comrades were already waiting.
They used to be in the same party before.
An A-rank party called the Silver Crow.
「It’s been a while. I hope everyone is doing well.」
「Hey, you don’t have to bow to us. We’re friends.」
「That’s right, Paldi. By the way, how have you been? Have you eaten yet?」
「Like always, you’re still wearing that boring outfit. Bet you still got no boyfriend yet, amirite?」
Everyone is excited to see her.
And she was grateful for it.
They still accepted her even when she left the party on her own six months ago.
However, the ranger with the last remark got himself physically kicked.
And the leader claps his hands.
「Alright, that’s enough of reunion.」
Then, Paldi looks at him.
He’s a man with short blonde hair in his mid-twenties.
Rail Verslaw, the leader of Silver Crow.
It’s been six months since I saw him.
「Rail, it’s been a while.」
「Yeah, same here, Paldi.」
That’s all they need to say.
No more words are needed between them.
Their trusting relationship remains even after they’ve been away from each other for six months or so.
The cheeks of the two people who look straight at each other became faintly red.
As always, a commotion broke out between the adventurers.
「Hey, they haven’t met for a long time, but they got really close.」
「Just a good-for-nothing bunch.」
「This is why you’re still a virgin.」
Suddenly, the ranger got beaten.
Paldi turned red and continued to kick him.
The ranger died.
Everyone was laughing at the sight of it.
The five moved to the guild assembly hall.
「So Paldi, could you tell me why you called us?」
Sitting at the round table on the first floor of the guild, Rail cut to the chase.
By the way, the ranger is in a trash bin.
No mercy.
「Actually, there’s something I want to ask from everyone. No, I want your help. 」
Honestly, I don’t feel like it, she muttered.
「With what exactly? 」
「Eld Desert investigation… 」
The next moment, all the members of Silver Crow left their seats.
「I’m sorry Paldi, I remembered I have something urgent to do. 」
「Sorry Paldi, I’m training my new magic after this.」
「Come to think of it, it’s about time the armor I ordered arrived. Well, guess I’ll be on my way to the weapon store then. 」
「I have some chicks to pick up.」
The Silver Crow heads to the entrance of the guild.
However, Paldi went around and blocked them.
Sorry, I can’t let you escape.
And before anyone knew, the ranger was already resurrected.
「Please wait! Listen to what I have to say first! No, please listen! Please!」
Paldi desperately cling to them.
After that, she told everyone about her situation.
「――――To sum it up, you were ordered by the prime minister to investigate Killer Ants that appears in Eld Desert, is that it?」
「I see.」
Fuh, sighed Rail.
「Why didn’t you send an investigation team? To begin with, if it is the Eld Desert, there’s already a specialized surveillance team located near the border, right? Why didn’t you order them? Why bother to ask us directly, who are adventurers, without going through the guild? Why would you want to go to that Eld Desert at all? 」
Rail questions it the most.
Eld Desert is a super-dangerous zone adjacent to Eld Mine.
However, because of the usefulness of the mine, the country constantly monitors the area near the border.
It is of course to reduce the damage done by Accurate Crow even a little.
「There are three reasons. First, sending the surveillance team alone isn’t enough.」
I see, Rail nodded.
No matter where the Killer Ants build their nest, it doesn’t matter.
After all, it’s the lowest class of monster.
If a nest was built near the town, it would be a subjugation target. However, it was made in that terrifying Eld Desert.
It’s no problem to leave it alone.
At best, it would just become food for the Accurate Crow.
「Second, it’s faster to directly ask you than going through the guild.」
Rail agreed with that point.
Understandable. After placing an order with a guild, a little lag occurs.
It’s faster to negotiate with the adventurer directly.
The third point however.
「And lastly…. It’s Mr Eclair intuition. He is very concerned about this report. That’s why I was asked to investigate it.」
「WHAT?!」
As expected, everyone was surprised about it.
「Intuition, you say… So, we’re going to that place because of his baseless intuition?」
Paldi took a sip of herbal tea that’s been sitting on the table.
「Yes. To be honest, it’s annoying. But you know, Eclair intuition is often right. To the extent, it had solved this country crises.」
I’ve seen it many times in the last six months, muttered Paldi.
Paldi put down the teacup she had in her hand and bowed to everyone.
「So please, lend me your help! I know it’s a crazy request. I know I can’t convince you to do so. But you’re the only people I trust…」
It was a sincere word.
Paldi is the secretary of the prime minister, but she still has no power in the royal palace.
There was no one she could rely on, except for her acquaintances she knew during her days as an adventurer.
「…..Have you asked Beldi about it? She’s much stronger than us. 」
「I don’t know how to contact big sis. I don’t even know where she is right now. The other person I know is Wald, but I can’t contact him either.」
「And that’s when you came to us, is that it?」
Rail turns sour.
The other members more or less made a similar expression.
They’re going to refuse it.
Is what Paldi thought.
She’s certain of it.
No one is going to accept a request as crazy as this—–
「….Alright. We accept.」
「What?!」
Paldi eyes become wide open upon hearing those words.
「C’mon, what’s with that reaction?」
「What’s the problem? Is it strange we agreed to go to a dangerous place?」
「Alright, I get it. But we’re never gonna believe that intuition or whatnot from Mr Eclair. 」
「After all――――」
Paldi involuntarily leans forward.
「But, you believe me.」
「Huh?!」
Suffocating.
「How long do you think you’ve been with us before? We always believe you. 」
Rail holds out his right hand.
「And we can have an adventure with you again. That’s enough of a reason for us to take the job. 」
Rail smiles.
The smile was really dazzling.
「Rail….」
The other members agreed as well.
She almost cried.
She was happy that they trusted her.
「Hey, Rail is not confessing to you.」
「You can say that again.」
「I’m just glad to be with Paldi again.」
「She’s gonna explode, everyone.」
The table was shrouded in laughter.
Both Rail and Paldi denied it with a bright red face.
「No! It’s not like that!」
However, there was not one member who listened.
Thus, Paldi headed to the Eld Desert with the adventurer party, Silver Crow.
They journey on as they yet to realize the nightmare looming ahead.
Ann/ Baby ants/ Golem: *noisily moving around*
Jiryuu: Zzz….