Kujonin Chapter 59

Story 59

"If a locust swarm breaks out, at the worst, we'll receive a 100,000nott, that is 1,000 gold coin, economic blow. Of course we're investigating it on our side, but currently we've made no breakthroughs."
I went to the governmental office and tried asking about locust hopper investigations.
I told them that we're a pest control company, and our company's monster researcher is looking to make an investigation into the desert for research as well.
"Really!!? Please, definitely do so as well! The alliance will give out a reward if we're able to secure an extermination method. It's just, we'd like to see what your company is capable of first… it's not like I mean anything by it, but…"
"Aa, that's true. N~ then, for instance, should I exterminate the masmascarl and bagroaches in this office?"
"Eh!? Is that fine?"
"Yeah, for a fee, though, ne."
So saying, I looked at the inside of the office with the Search Skill and began making preparations.
I got my usual sticky boards, rat poison dangos and pesticide dangos out. I put pesticide in the pump.
I'm using the bagroach pesticide, the stuff I had when I met Teyl.
It would be nice if this pesticide could defeat all the bug monsters.
I've already tried it on the mite ticks and locust hopper, but there's no effect. It doesn't seem to be going that well.
There are 2 stories to the governmental office, the bas.e.m.e.nt level is a storehouse.
I had intended to start from the top and place traps, spraying insecticide everywhere the nozzle can reach, but…
When I went to greet the office staff, going around to the rooms, they all said, "We'll clean up quickly, so come afterwards."
In the end, I'm starting on the storeroom, where no one is.
In one corner of the room, there were shelves with reference book-looking books and data lined up on them.
There was a single, short, elderly man reading the material.
Is he the manager of the storeroom?
"h.e.l.lo. It's the pest control company, but is it alright to start the extermination?"
"Aa, I don't mind."
The old man answered in a loud voice.
The old man's ears are a little pointy, so he might be a halfling.
After 10 minutes the work was done and I was going to leave, when he called out to me.
"What, you're already done?"
"Yeah, I finished putting out the traps and spraying all the suspicious places with pesticide, after all."
"Spray? Hm, you can eject that liquid in that apparatus? How interesting."
The old man stared with interest at the nozzle's tip.
When I explained how to make it and the structure, he had a good reaction, with "Amazing!" and the like.
"Man, you're the first person I met who understood the greatness of this device."
"This device is an extremely exceptional device. If I make a request, can you make me one?"
"Yeah, as long as I have the materials I can make it."
"Then I'll definitely ask it of you. I'm Riddle. The head of the Blacks house, Riddle Blacks."
Riddle offered me a handshake.
I grasped Riddle's hand and shook hands.
"I'm Naoki. The pest control company, Komura Company's president, Naoki Komuro. A house, are you a n.o.ble?"
"For what it's worth, I'm the cousin of the ruler of this region. Are you a foreigner?"
"Yes, While traveling, I'm running a company. That said, the company was started in this city, though."
"That's right. By the way, sir, are you interested in the desert?"
Riddle suddenly asked.
"Eh?  Aa, after this extermination is over, we intend on going. We're researching locust hoppers."
"My word! I see, what a coincidence! I was looking up locust hoppers just now myself. It seems like it rained in the desert a few days ago. It seems there's a high possibility of a swarm occurring after it rains. These are records from an investigation in the desert 30 years ago, though…"
So saying, Riddle showed me a parchment with something that looks like chronological notes.
There was written that several days after it rained the writer met with a flash flood, and after that the locusts swarmed.
"I also met a slave trader who said he encountered a flash flood yesterday."
"I see, it might be better to hurry!"

Riddle's movements became faster.
"Create a headquarters for countering locust hoppers abnormal outbreak! Contact each of the Guilds and gather information! Then again, it's not like a swarm is confirmed to happen. But if there's information, whether its big or small it doesn't matter, gather all of it together!"
At the words of Riddle, who suddenly appeared in the 1st floor hall, all the government office workers stared at him dumbfounded, but they immediately began to move in a fl.u.s.ter.
I also told all my employees through the communication bag.
"It's only a possibility, but it seems there's a high probability of a locust hopper swarm occurring several days after it rains in the desert. Please hurry on developing the insecticide and determining the origin of the swarm!"

["Roger! We'll go flower picking in the forest on our side."]
["Got it! My preparations are done. If things are like this, I'll leave the city and enter the forest. Naoki, bring me food later!"]
Ayl and Velsa responded.
"Roger! For now, make camp in the gra.s.slands near the desert today. Ayl's group as well, if you finish picking flowers, come to the gra.s.slands."
["Roger!"]
The communication bags really are convenient.
"What…!!! Is that!!?"
Riddle asked, with a shocked expression.
"A magic tool that can communicate with people who are far away. I just contacted my employees. All of them are heading towards the gra.s.slands, near the desert. Tonight they'll begin to monitor the weather at the desert."
"As Naoki said. We need your company's cooperation! Please!"
"Yes, of course. That's why we made our move."
"Good! From now on, listen to this man named Naoki and give him what he needs! This is an order from the head of the Blacks Household!"
"""""Yes!"""""
As for me, I told the staff that making an insecticide with the most urgent matter and asked them if they could think of anything. I was told that most of them haven't gone to the forest and that I should as the Adventurers Guild.
I've already made a request at the Adventurers Guild, so it looks like we can only wait for that.
I have them prepare things like the esophagus of a forabbit necessary for the pump and bug nets.
I'd like to make something as close to a fumigant pesticide as I can, so I asked them to gather metal goods that were no longer wanted, like pots with holes in them.
Using things bad for the environment in pesticides might make G.o.d mad, so I should take care, huh?
Thinking that way, plants and natural ingredients is really the best.

Riddles used a pigeon like monster and a.s.sembled all of the Blacks Household, it seems.

"Then I'm going to make a run to the gra.s.slands for now. Because I have to deliver food."
"I see! Got it! We'll ready a feehorse now."
As Riddle was instructing a staff member,
"No, it's fine. Running is faster."
And I stopped him.
"Wait wait, it's at least half a day's distance to the gra.s.slands."
"It's fine. It will only take 2, 3 hours, so please gather the things necessary for the pumps. And can you also go around to the florists? I'd like you to catch a number of locust hoppers. A, I'll leave this with you. If anything happens, put magic power into it and you can reach me."
So saying, I handed Riddle a communication bag.

I dashed out of the governmental office and bought up food at a food stall.
The Merchant Guild's Staff-san just happened to be eating at the food stall and asked, "Komuro-san, have you made posters?"
"Aa! Right now, that's not important…"
"I'm rooting for you. Good look!"
He encouraged, slapping me on the shoulder.
"Thank you very much."
I bowed my head and left.
When that Staff-san returns to the Merchants Guild, he'll probably understand why I'm busy, huh?
I left town and ran through the forest.
As I was running through the forest, I met up with Velsa.
I carried half the luggage.

"If Naoki runs seriously I'll be left behind, na."
She said, so I drew a wind magic circle on her shoes.
"I can't stop like this-!"
While listening to Velsa's screams, we ran side by side.
At this pace we'll get there just after noon, I guess.

Entering the gra.s.slands, we decided on a campsite and I quickly drew a barrier magic circle.
The sky is pretty much clear. But I can see clouds in the far sky.
It would be good if those aren't rainclouds.

When I got the tent standing, after that I immediately entered the desert, looking for locust hoppers.
I ran around the desert by myself, and even while using the Search Skill, I couldn't confirm whether the locust hoppers are swarming.
I guess it's safe for now.
A giant scorpion monster, the poison scorpion, and a stupidly huge earthworm monster, the sandworm, appeared, but I defeated them with a hit. I'm not particularly interested in them, so I took their magic stones and went off to search for small bug monsters.

There's the dangers of heatstroke and sunstroke as well, and the desert wind is strong, kicking the sand up so that visibility is bad.
Furthermore, when I opened my mouth it dried out instantly, and it feels bad when sand flies in.
A mask is a necessary item for the desert.
For now I returned to camp, Velsa, who brought bug nets, had secured a large amount of locust hoppers. I wish I had also bought them.
"This is probably what we call a band of them. There were a lot of them in the thicket near the desert in the gra.s.sland. Normally they'd only be one of them, but they're already swarming. Although they're not aggressive yet."
I drew a barrier magic circle on the ground and put them in it.
It's about the size of the ○ in the middle of a basketball court.
I took 5 of them and stuffed them into bottles, in order to return to the city.

"Recently I've been running a lot, na."
I grumbled while stretching.
"Isn't it fine? It's way healthier than when we didn't have work."
"That's true."
"Decide on the reward. If you're unclear about it, we'll we working for free, after all."
"That's true. Let me borrow the communication bag."
"N."
Velsa handed me the communication bag.
"I'm returning now, bringing along some locust hoppers."
["O,oh! Roger!"]
Riddle's bewildered voice replied.

"Will you return here at night?"
Velsa asked.
"Dunno. The scope of the extermination is too large this time, so we'll have to gather people somehow."
"We still have time. And also, contrary to belief, a swarm might not occur."
"That would be the best, I suppose. If we prepare for it, it will be useful someday. Then I'll call you later."
"Okay~ take care~"
Leaving behind Velsa, waving her hand, I exited the forest and ran towards the city.

Sorry for the belated post, so an extra chapter. Last week was just… *dies*>