Chapter 99 What is going on in this town?

Name: Laura Metrose

Age: 16

Race: Human

Level: 15

Occupation: Guild receptionist

Skills: Memory, Speed Reading, Monstrous Strength S.

Laura-san had vast knowledge and was fast at reading books. So I understand the former two. However, the third one surprised me.

「What’s wrong?」

「There is mo-monstrous strength S…」

「I don’t like such jokes.」

「It’s not a joke, I’m serious.」

Laura-san is quite shocked. Looks like she assumed that she is a frail girl and wanted it to stay that way.

However, looks like Luna-san who always was her close friend, had some points on her mind.

「Speaking of which, Laura is abnormally strong. To the degree that she once stopped store’s falling signboard with one hand.」

「That was, just a fluke.」

There is no one who can catch signboard by luck.

As a follow-up, I told her that she also has Memory and Speed Reading, which calmed her down.

「To have monstrous strength S without much training, it’s beyond amazing. Do you have any hints?」

「Actually, my father is a former adventurer, it was said that he was the strongest in terms of physical strength in the guild. Mother also had superhuman strength, and was second in strength…」

So she had a wonderful lineage. Talent is wonderful.

She also leveled up from defeating the monster right now so she became stronger. Then, Emma mutters.

「Just quit being a receptionist and become adventurer, that definitely will be better.」

「I don’t want to! I like being receptionist! I’m very fond of this uniform.」

It looked serious from the front but from the back, it was a sensational uniform with open back. Well, anyone would agree that it suits her quite well.

The disturbance settled down, and after that, we didn’t have any attacks from monsters.

The next morning we got the carriage running again and by midday reached a checking station.

We were questioned about the purpose of our visit and received belongings check. When Emma produced the proof of belonging to a baron’s house, their attitudes became milder.

Thus, on the second day, we successfully entered Rosette kingdom.

「It’s a good pace. By evening we will arrive at the town, let’s spend a night there.」

「Agreed.」

Perido-san keeps horses running. I guess I’ll take coachman-type skills someday.

Laura-san keeps worrying inside the carriage.

「You don’t have to force yourself to fight. We can deal with it.」

「…But I want to at least protect myself.」

「Well then, shall I give you hatchet of divine punishment?」

She will be able to use it way more effectively than I. But she still seems indecisive. It seems that she liked the weapon itself but didn’t want to carry it around. Indeed, it was crude and didn’t go along with her outfit.

「What should we do? Isn’t there some good way?」

「In that case, I can grant you a storage type skill.」

「Really?! That’s why I like you Noir-san.」

I’m quite indebted to Laura-san. This much of repayment is only natural.

If it’s only to store a weapon then【Subdimensional Storage C】should be enough… 400 LP to create. The problem is her compatibility. If it’s good then【Grant】can be done with less LP, if it’s bad then the required amount of LP will increase.

…450 LP, huh.

With a total of 850 LP, I can easily grant it. I gave her the power. When she tried it right away, she successfully used storage.

「To think you can improve even your comrades, Noir-san is truly superb after all, it makes me so excited.」

「It’s my gratitude for LP I’m always receiving.」

「Did you expend a lot right now?」

「Not that much.」

「When we get to the town I will『Pay』you back.」

Saying that, Laura-san turns her back to me for a moment. Smooth and beautiful skin comes into view, and now it was my turn to be excited.

How is she going to pay? Laura-san is a bold one.

For a while, I can’t get my mind of the gutter. While I was meditating thinking that this won’t do, we arrive to the city where we are going to stay tonight.

We get off the carriage. It’s still early in the evening so it seems we arrived earlier than scheduled.

「Noir-kun, let’s go to the gatekeeper.」

「Right.」

All of us walk up to the gatekeeper in order to report the number of people.

However, getting there, all of us stand and tilt our heads in confusion. There are no people anywhere. Only two statues stood near the entrance.

And, strangely, both were looking like they would start running any moment now.

◇ ◆ ◇

The town to which we came, Landan.

It is located at the southern edge of the Rosette Kingdom and it could be called a bridge to our country.

Although Landan has an outer wall to prevent invasion from monsters, it is not too tall.

There also appears to be only one gate.

「Why there are only statues, and no people around…」

「They were in the middle of carrying luggage… And came time for dinner?」

Emma guesses confidently. It wouldn’t be surprising if there was a national character that prioritizes food. But it is too early for dinner.

This is a reasonably big town, so it being occupied by bandits is very unlikely, but there is a chance.

「Let’s enter inside, be careful.」

「That is a good idea.」

We pass through the gate with me and Perido-san as a vanguard.

「There is no guards here as well. Could it be that there are bandits inside after all? No, in that case, it wouldn’t be odd if there were guards posted by bandits.」

「Please look, there is a lot of stone statues inside. Is that what this town is like?」

Though absolutely sure that it is not the case, I confirm with Perido-san.

「This is not Landan I know. It’s completely different.」

As expected, looks like the atmosphere was different from normal.

While keeping an eye on the surroundings we advance ahead. The number of stone statues was just huge. With plenty of variations with men and woman of all ages.

However, there is awfully a lot of statues of running people and people with twisted expressions.

Why are we witnessing such poor-looking statues?

「Can I have a moment.」

Touching a stone statue with a finger, Laura-san utters an unbelievable thing.

「Aren’t those statues the people of this town?」

「…Is it possible?」

Presented with my surprise, Laura-san does not reply that it is a joke. Thanks to that I digested the actual situation.

Those trying to run away from something, those with expressions filled with terror, those who tried to fight and had hands on the grips of their swords.

If they were originally humans then it all makes sense.

Just what happened in this town? Upon check, even people inside the houses were turned into stone.

「In my country, there is a monster that turns people into stones. Perhaps those people suffered that fate.」

「It’s a monster capable of turning several thousands of people into stone?」

「No, after all, it’s not that powerful. This is what makes all this even scarier…」

Did those monster attack in a large group? But what for? Perido-san frowns.

「Perhaps, we should report this to Hornest.」

「Before that, please wait for a moment,」

If they were originally humans… I appraise them. Without a single exception, all of them had【Permanent petrifaction】among their skills.

I tell others about that. Layla-san’s theory became more plausible.

「Huh? Noir, could it be, you can do it?」

「Emma, that is what I’m testing at the moment.」

「Testing? What exactly?」

Considering the current situation, I briefly explain my abilities to Perido-san as well. He was extremely shocked.

「Y-you have a legendary skill?!」

「One day, suddenly, by a stroke of luck it awakened…」

「He got an amazing son… Sorry for distracting you, go ahead.」

I use【Edit】on a statue nearby.

【Permanent petrifaction】

＜Petrifaction state, maintained indefinitely. ＞

No time limit…

Looks like it is quite a troublesome incident.