Chapter 21

"Hmm. ... It doesn't seem to be a forgery."

"Of course. Document forgery is a serious crime."

Sarena took out the letter and Alyssia stared at it intently. To me, it was impossible to tell if the paper was genuine, but according to Alyssia, it wasn't a forgery.

"... So, what does it say?"

I can read, but I don't peek. From what I've heard, this seems to be a letter from the Adventurers' Guild to the Reberio Knights, so I thought it might be a bit inappropriate for me to read it.

Even though I have a position as a special instructor, my standing within the knights is quite delicate.

I don't have any command authority over the knights. I'm just in a position to train them, and I don't have the authority to interfere with internal politics or troop deployment.

Naturally, my affiliation is now with the Reberio Knights, so it's up to the commander, Alyssia, or perhaps the deputy commander, Hembritz, to decide how to move the members.

The fact that the guild wants to borrow me is also a mystery, but if it's true, the decision to accept or reject it lies with Alyssia. The Adventurers' Guild probably doesn't have that much authority.

"They want to borrow your strength to train new and young adventurers. As a knight, there's no particular reason to oppose it, but there's no particular reason to agree either."

"Training newbies, huh..."

Hmm, training newbies. I'm not uninterested, but as Alyssia said, there's no reason to specifically send me, who is an instructor for the knights. Besides, for new and young adventurers, survival skills and such are more important than sword techniques, right? I can't help but feel that there's a mismatch between what I should teach and what they need.

Moreover, it's strange that the master of the Adventurers' Guild would specifically request me. I have no connection with the guild.

"... I doubt it, but... Sarena?"

"Of course, it's my recommendation."

"But it's not 'of course.'"

It's not 'of course.' Why are you looking so smug? I'm already full with Alyssia's smugness. Besides, what am I supposed to teach adventurers? It's an unreasonable request.

"Citrus, don't you think this is a good opportunity to deepen the relationship between the Adventurers' Guild and the Reberio Knights? I think it's not bad."

"I see, you can look at it that way."

Alyssia's face changes from that of a former disciple to that of a knight commander. She's probably considering the pros and cons of sending me as an organization.

"But I'm not sure what to do about training adventurers... It's a bit of a dilemma."

"Of course, if you don't want to, I'll decline it immediately."

"... You don't have to say it so forcefully."

Personally, I'm not uninterested. Since I've come all the way to the capital, Baltrane, I do have a desire to experience such things.

But when it comes to training newbies, I'm not sure what to do. It's different from teaching sword techniques at a dojo, and I have no idea what to do.

Besides, since it's a temporary arrangement, I won't be teaching them continuously. If I'm going to teach them, I want to do it properly for a certain period. But from the tone, it doesn't seem like that's the case.

"Actually, what will I be doing?"

"Mainly accompanying them on dungeon attacks. To confirm that they have properly learned the skills to fight and survive, and to serve as a combat force in case of emergencies."

"Dungeon attacks, huh..."

My face involuntarily darkens. I don't have many good memories of that.

Dungeon attacks. Literally, it refers to the act of entering ruins, dungeons, and caves scattered throughout the world.

In the Gallea continent where the Kingdom of Leberis is located, there are various dungeons of different sizes. They can be the remains of ancient ruins, magical spaces, or natural caves claimed by monsters.

There are various shapes and names, but all of these are collectively called "dungeons."

And this dungeon attack is the dream of most adventurers.

Simply put, the materials from monsters have a high exchange rate, and untrodden ruins can yield vast treasures. If successful, one can gain great wealth and fame in a single generation. Dungeons are truly the perfect target for a one-shot reversal.

"Is it okay? Since they are new and young, they are probably White or Bronze rank at best, maybe Silver at most?"

Of course, dungeon attacks come with significant risks. One can be killed by monsters, or die trapped by a trap in a ruin. Those who misjudge their own abilities and the danger of the dungeon will die.

"There's no problem. The dungeons under the guild's jurisdiction have been thoroughly investigated, and the monsters inhabiting them are known. With a suitable leader, there should be no issues."

"I don't think I'm a suitable leader..."

Why do both Alyssia and Sarena have such high opinions of me?

"With your strength, there's no problem at all... Hmm."

"No, there are plenty of problems."

I'm just an ordinary middle-aged man. I can barely protect myself, let alone take care of newbies while doing dungeon attacks. The bar is set too high.

Hmm. It might be safer to decline. If it were just education, I wouldn't mind, but I can't take responsibility for their lives. If I were strong enough to accept it immediately, that would be a different story.

"Sarena, I'm sorry, but this is a bit too much for me—"

"Hey, there you are."

Just as I was about to decline, someone's voice interrupted me.

"Lucy, hello. It's rare for you to come here."

"Aye, I was just talking with the master of the Adventurers' Guild."

The one who arrived was a young girl with dazzling blonde hair. Lucy, the leader of the Mages' Guild.

"Talking with the master? Could this be related to that?"

As she said this, Sarena showed the letter that the guild master had approved.

"Hmm? ... Oh, that's it."

Lucy, who was staring intently at the letter, read its contents and nodded calmly.

However, it's natural that these three are acquainted. As the commander of the knights, the leader of the mages, and the top adventurer, they probably know each other.

"I recognized the name. I also recommended you."

"Huh?"

Lucyyyyyy!!

"The master of the Adventurers' Guild, a Black-rank adventurer, and the recommendation of the leader of the Mages' Guild... It would be difficult to decline this."

"Wait, hold on."

Alyssia, please try harder. This is about my life and the lives of the new adventurers who will entrust their lives to me.

"It's settled then. I'll take the teacher for a while."

"Sure. I'll explain it to the knights."

Sure, it's not like that!

Lucy: "Smug..."

Man: "Fuming..."

Thank you for your comments and reports of typos. I appreciate them very much. I haven't been able to respond due to work and writing, but I hope for your understanding.