GILF Hunter

’Now, please come this way.’

’Th... Then, excuse me...’

Guided by a knight, Frenda walked inside hesitantly.

The base of the mercenary group where the Paladins resided. Frenda had paid a visit there.

It was a rather sudden request, but the knights readily accepted Frenda’s plea.

They weren’t strangers, and although it was out of the blue, it wasn’t an unreasonable request.

The knight in charge of guiding Frenda asked with a curious expression.

’Wanting to learn how to handle a sword all of a sudden. What’s the occasion?’

’Well, you see...’

Frenda hesitated, unable to answer easily. She thought it was a very strange request herself.

’...It’s because I need to build up my physical strength.’

’Physical strength?’

In the end, that was the only excuse Frenda could prepare.

The real reason she couldn’t tell the knights was... naturally because of the Holy Sword.

First of all, the voice of the Elf that was heard occasionally was acting very bothersome.

And Frenda also agreed to some extent with the words that she needed to get used to swords first to handle the Holy Sword properly.

Of course, Frenda wouldn’t suddenly jump forward and swing the sword herself just because she came to possess the Holy Sword. No matter how good the sword she held was, it was clear she would be worse than a knight with a wooden sword.

According to Ian’s brief explanation, just holding it would increase the power of her holy magic. It was enough even without knowing things like swordsmanship.

Nevertheless, shouldn’t she at least avoid things like being unable to even hold the sword and dropping it, or cutting her own hand while holding the sword...? At the very least, she had to get used to carrying the sword, no matter what.

’You said you need physical strength?’

’...Yes. Since I’ve been following expeditions recently, inevitably.’

’Is that so...?’

However, the knight seemed to understand Frenda’s excuse in some way, as he wore a smirking grin for some reason.

’Now, it’s this way.’

Then Frenda and the knight arrived at the training ground located right near the base.

It was a training ground operated by the guild.

It was a place used by no one except for a few diligent mercenaries who took separate time to train, but the knights were exactly the kind of people who belonged to those few exceptions.

The few people already gathered at the training ground were also all knights whose faces Frenda knew.

’Ah, you really came.’

’Is it true that you’re learning the sword?’

’Ye, yes.’

Welcomed by the knights, Frenda took a spot in the middle of the training ground with an awkward face.

It was nothing major, but standing directly on the training ground made her feel a bit of tension.

Swinging? Or... from simple swordsmanship?

While Frenda was pondering like that, a knight stood before her.

The knight in charge of teaching Frenda the sword today said in front of her.

’Now, then. First, run.’

’Pardon? What about... the sword?’

’Run.’

The knight said that to Frenda with a firm face.

And so, Frenda’s swordsmanship training began.

＊　＊　＊

A regular weekly meeting was being held in the city hall’s conference room.

While the last agenda of the day was already in progress, Lucia was still agonizing.

When should I bring this up...

At the very bottom of the numerous documents placed before the agonizing Lucia was the proposal Ian had submitted.

It was the thing that made Lucia worry the most lately.

When she received this request from Ian, Lucia had clearly stated that she would bring it to the meeting but couldn’t guarantee it would pass.

Ian also agreed since he wasn’t unaware of the detailed circumstances.

And this was close to a fairly unreasonable request. Ian would surely understand even if it failed.

However... that didn’t mean she could say her job was done just by bringing it to the meeting.

She had to at least try her best as much as she could.

’Then I will conclude today’s last report with this. If there is an agenda you would like to discuss here, we will accept applications for the next 10 minutes.’

The meeting was nearly drawing to a close.

Lucia lowered her gaze and peeked at Ian’s report.

This was an agenda that could never be passed if pushed blindly.

No matter how much matters related to city defense were the mayor’s inherent authority, this plan affected too many areas throughout the city.

The numerous workshops using the outer city as a base.

And the citizens in the residential area, and even the numerous guilds they belonged to.

Unless the consent of at least a majority of the citizens there was obtained, this plan couldn’t even start.

No matter how much she persuaded the city councilors and guild masters, they would have no choice but to turn their opinions if the backlash from citizens was fierce. She had to pull the citizens to her side first.

Lucia quietly gave up as she observed the atmosphere of the meeting.

At least today would be impossible.

’Wait. Could everyone spare a moment of your time?’

At the moment the meeting was about to wind down, someone stood up and brought it to a halt.

A middle-aged man who appeared to be an ordinary merchant at a glance. It was the former mayor, Hermann.

Sitting in one of the city councilor seats for the Merchant Association, Hermann smiled toward Lucia and nodded slightly.

Seeing that the mayoral election was hopeless, he had shrewdly bought a councilor seat from the Merchant Association and entered the city council.

Well, Lucia had expected that much. Considering that, he had been quite quiet lately, but it seemed he was planning to start something in earnest.

Hermann, standing up, began to speak toward the city councilors and guild masters gathered in the conference hall.

’Actually, I heard an interesting story recently. Mayor. I heard that Captain Ian... the captain of the mercenary group Airi belongs to, submitted a new defense plan.’

’...That’s correct. The details are still under review.’

...Is he planning to hinder it by nitpicking that plan?

Lucia answered with a slight frown.

Regrettably, that plan had too many parts that could be caught if one were to persist on them.

Hermann continued to speak with a benevolent smile.

’I also happened to see the contents of that proposal.’

’...It’s regrettable that a document under review has leaked. I will surely find and punish the person who carelessly leaked internal data.’

’Such things can happen when employees are working. I also had quite a headache with that when I was the mayor.’

The plan submitted by Ian had its contents checked and simulations run by several departments, including the staff office.

No matter how much it was a request, she couldn’t introduce a plan that was completely unfeasible or had major problems.

They had to first analyze from various angles whether it was a realistic plan that could proceed properly when actually applied, what problems would arise when executed, and how much the cost would be.

The staff office was still running repeated mock battles using that proposal.

Since that was the situation, Lucia tried to block it as much as possible, but information was bound to leak out in the process.

’It seemed to be a quite interesting plan.’

’That’s why we were reviewing it further. We are looking for improvements and points of agreement from various directions.’

To be honest.

No matter how precisely well-established a plan it was, the possibility of this being accepted by the citizens without resistance was close to zero.

To put it differently, a significant budget was needed to be accepted by the citizens.

No matter how much it was a plan to prepare for the worst, turning their own living base into a battlefield...

It was clear no one would accept it unless there were at least corresponding gains or solid measures to compensate for losses.

Hermann also seemed to agree with that... but suddenly began to add strange words.

’That is also a valid point. However... hasn’t Captain Ian brought numerous pieces of information for the city all this time? I also received a lot of great help when I was the mayor.’

’...That’s true?’

The former mayor also nodded as if understanding and spoke.

’So I believe the content itself of the plan submitted this time will be sufficiently valid. However, I understand the Mayor’s hesitation to use a large budget on such an uncertain matter.’

’...Would you tell me your point?’

’Therefore, I will contribute that funding. Please use the donated amount as the budget for Captain Ian’s plan.’

Everyone wore slightly surprised expressions upon hearing the amount Hermann promised to donate. Soon, applause began to flow from here and there.

Since he stepped forward to spend such a large sum for a great cause.

In a place like this, it was like a basic etiquette that followed naturally. Whether one liked it or not, it was basic to show respect if one witnessed an honorable deed.

The conference hall was instantly filled with the sound of applause.

’I will also contribute a little.’

’Our union will also gladly spend for the city.’

Aiming for that moment, people from the Merchant Association sitting nearby also began to join in one by one. Since the merchants of this city were people who had nothing but money, the budget needed for the plan gathered truly in an instant.

It was clear that up to this point was a plan Hermann had pre-arranged.

Lucia wouldn’t have had such worries if money were overflowing.

It was impossible to pull and pour the city budget into such a reckless plan at will, and it was naturally impossible to handle that cost personally.

Therefore, she had no choice but to adjust positions between the citizens and the councilors very carefully and delicately in many ways.

The merchant bastards with overflowing money had snatched away only the most profitable part of this troublesome plan. Only the part involving a very righteous grand cause.

Now this had become a plan proceeding with Hermann’s sponsorship.

’What a son of a—’

Fortunately, the aide next to her covered Lucia’s mouth before she could finish her sentence.

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