Chapter 6

My outfit and Nanashino's stand out.

Abicor is a fantasy world. It's not a typical isekai fantasy, but summoners generally dress in a way that fits the theme. Our outfits aren't particularly strange, but they are noticeable enough to attract attention as we walk down the street.

We bought sturdy, world-appropriate clothes and boots at a clothing store. The clothes we were wearing sold for a surprisingly high price, so we even made a profit.

Nanashino, who was wearing a school blazer, seemed a bit hesitant to sell it, but apparently decided it would be awkward to keep relying on me, so she ended up selling it.

The simple, gray outfit was plain and lacked any charm, but we could think about that later once we had saved up some money.

Most summoners tend to dress lightly. With Nanashino riding Iris's single knight, she looked like a proper summoner in appearance. Her black eyes and hair aren't rare, so if she can act naturally, she should be able to blend in with this world.

At least, she looks more like a summoner than I do with a flat, meaningless shadow on my head.

"I kept you waiting..."

When Nanashino came in front of me, she spun around to show off her long skirt and gray overcoat. She had a small pouch on her waist and no accessories, but the outfit suited her well despite its simplicity.

I nodded slightly and turned around.

"Let's head to the guild..."

§

In the end, Nanashino seems to have changed her initial goal to evolving Iris's single knight. She must really want to talk to it.

That goal is hell, but I nodded silently without saying anything. I can give her some information, but I have no intention of helping her achieve it. She can do as she pleases.

I can help her get started, but I can't take full responsibility for her. I can barely manage my own affairs.

The ancient city of Profondum is bustling as usual.

The sight of modern-like roads being walked by people in Western-style armor and carriages pulled by幻兽 is quite jarring, but I suppose I'll get used to it over time.

As expected, our presence seems to blend in with the scenery, and no one is paying us any particular attention.

The summoner guild building, when seen again in the daylight, still looks rather neglected compared to the larger buildings of the mage and swordsman guilds.

I don't remember much, but there were quests in the game that depicted conflicts between the summoner guild and the mage and swordsman guilds. It was probably convenient for quest creation to have powerful opponents.

Nanashino looked uncomfortable as she glanced around, but she followed me quietly when I opened the door.

The moment we stepped inside, I felt eyes on us.

Summoners are few in number, so it wouldn't be surprising if some of the people I defeated yesterday were here.

But I have no interest in them. I only fought them because they attacked me. I did take the opportunity to have Silent steal their wallets, but that was more like a nuisance fee.

Why would I be interested in nameless mob NPCs?

Silent moved from my head to my shoulder. I gave silent instructions with just my lips.

I just want to collect magic stones peacefully and have no intention of antagonizing anyone.

Killing is a no-go. Attacking first is also not good. Abyssal beings, also known as demons, are expected to lack a moral compass, so I need to give clear instructions.

The receptionist was the same stern-faced staff member from yesterday. He was on duty at night and now in the morning... In the game, guild staff were cute cat-eared NPCs, but times have changed.

When the stern-faced staff member saw my face, he frowned deeply, as if he had found a troublemaker.

"I want to take on a quest."

"Blogger. You have a message from the guild. ...It's about last night's incident."

A message from the guild master... Maybe I'll get a quest completion reward with a delay?

"Are you giving me a reward?"

When I asked hopefully, the staff member looked at me as if I were an idiot.

Then, he said in a scolding tone:

"...Given the circumstances, there will be no punishment. However, don't engage in combat in public places. The guild also serves regular citizens."

...So, no reward. I was disappointed. Well, I'll just have to be satisfied with the money I dropped.

I sighed and replied to the staff member:

"Got it. So, I want to take on a quest."

"Hold on a moment."

At that, Nanashino, who had been standing quietly behind me, spoke up in a trembling voice. She stepped forward, flinched at the sight of the stern-faced staff member, but then slammed her hand on the counter.

"Blogger was trying to help me—"

"No, I wasn't trying to help you."

I fought because I thought it was a quest and I could win. It had nothing to do with Nanashino specifically.

Nanashino, who was about to question me, stopped in surprise and stared at me.

"I just retaliated because they attacked first. I didn't make them disappear because it was the first time. I have no fault in this."

"Even if it was self-defense, it would have been a big problem if you had killed a familiar."

The staff member continued reluctantly.

"They were troublemakers. But when people gather, problems arise. Their power made it impossible to deal with them. This incident was a good lesson for them."

A good lesson. Nanashino bit her lip at the staff member's words.

But before she could say anything, I raised my voice.

I want to take on a quest. I don't care about the guild's internal affairs or the troublemakers.

If it comes to it, I'll deal with it then. I'm not skilled enough to handle multiple issues at once.

I just want to collect magic stones and, if possible, summon my next familiar. What value is there in a game where you can't summon? A game where you can't raise your familiar isn't a raising game.

"But... but—mumu..."

I covered Nanashino's mouth with my hand before she could protest. I smiled at the wide-eyed staff member and asked:

"So, I want to take on a quest. Something easy, without combat, that can be done in the city, please."

§

There are three main types of quests available at the guild.

The first is a delivery quest. You obtain a specific item and deliver it to the guild to complete the quest. The location is not specified, and the method of obtaining the item is not restricted, but you usually get the item by defeating monsters.

The second is a hunting quest. You defeat a specific number of a specific monster in a designated location.

The third is a miscellaneous quest. The first quest I chose to take was a miscellaneous quest.

A miscellaneous quest is different from the first two in that it is completed by spending a certain amount of time. The reward is small, but there is no combat and no risk, which is a significant advantage.

In the game, when you took a miscellaneous quest, your status would change to "working," and you couldn't move your character until the quest was completed. It was probably a measure to help people who couldn't play during the day, like working adults.

It didn't seem to be a popular quest, as the receptionist had a strange expression, but I managed to accept it.

As I stepped out confidently, Nanashino spoke to me with a sullen expression.

"Why did you stop me!?"

"I'm a pacifist."

The less conflict, the better. Even if I get a bad reputation, I don't want to waste energy.

I'm sure Nanashino is just hungry or something.

I bought two sandwiches from a stand and handed one to Nanashino after taking out a thousand ruf bill from the wallet I had secretly taken from a mob NPC yesterday. I gave her the bag of sandwiches I had just received.

Silent, who hadn't been given the other sandwich, snatched it away.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

It's not my money, after all.

I checked the contents of the wallet. A few bills and an unfamiliar card. The person was poor, but the inn wasn't expensive, so this should be enough for a few nights.

The card was a metallic, red-painted card with a beast-like design and no text. I didn't recognize it as an item, but it wasn't a membership card. I thought for a moment and threw the card away without Nanashino noticing. You shouldn't carry cards that can identify you.

With the money I dropped last night, I don't need to actively earn money for a while.

Silent is an unmatched familiar in the early stages, but fighting without a magic stone is dangerous.

Not so much dangerous as... unsettling.

Perhaps swayed by the egg sandwich, Nanashino asked in a slightly calmer tone:

"But... was it really okay? A warehouse cleaning quest..."

"Do you dislike cleaning?"

"Um... no, not really..."

Nanashino looked down, seemingly reluctant to say more.

I understand what she means. She said she wasn't very familiar with games, but she probably realizes that a warehouse cleaning quest isn't very fitting for a summoner.

"I don't really like cleaning either. I didn't do it much."

So, I tried not to make a mess in the first place.

"Then why...?"

"Because Silent will do the cleaning, not me."

"!?"

Silent, who was lying on my head, twitched.

The reason I took the cleaning quest is simple. It wasn't out of some noble intention to help the requester, who no one else would help.

There were also gathering quests where you collect specific items and hunting quests where you defeat specific monsters, which offered higher rewards, but it wouldn't be wise to take dangerous quests in my current situation.

A rare 15 familiar would almost certainly not lose in early-stage quests, but you can't be too careful. In Abicor, a slight lapse in attention can lead to irreparable consequences. For example, a powerful monster that shouldn't appear in early-stage quests might suddenly show up, so you can't be complacent.

With a warehouse cleaning quest, there's no risk of a powerful monster appearing and getting Silent killed.

"But... Silent is strong, right?"

"Of course! Master, I was not summoned to clean!"

The idiot duo started bickering.

But I didn't force Nanashino to come with me, and Silent is my familiar. Her words are not worth considering.

In any game, the standard approach is to start with easy quests.

There's nothing better than building up bit by bit. I 'returned' Silent to silence her.

After walking for about forty minutes, we arrived at a huge warehouse. It was roughly the same size as the Cola Guild. If one person were to clean it, it would take an unknown amount of time. That's why no one wanted to take the quest.

"I never thought... you would actually come..."

The elderly man who had been requesting the quest for a long time seemed more bewildered than happy to see me take it.

"I think it would be difficult without a mage..."

Indeed, it would be hard to clean such a large warehouse in a short time without magic. Nanashino also seemed overwhelmed by the unexpected size.

But I answered confidently:

"Don't worry. There's nothing Silent can't do."

I wonder what Silent would have said if she heard that... I'm glad I 'returned' her before meeting the requester.

I took the cleaning supplies and opened the warehouse door.

Inside, it was dark and very dusty. The wooden crates were covered in dust, and it looked like it hadn't been opened in a long time. There might even be rats.

It seemed to be a building that was no longer in use, and the contents were just junk. If there was anything valuable, I could check and take it if there were no issues.

Nanashino peeked out from behind me, her face contorted at the sight of the warehouse.

"Um... Blogger, actually, I haven't really cleaned much... I had a maid at home."

"Just try to mimic what you see."

A maid, huh? So, she's from a wealthy family.

But doing nothing at all would be too much of a hindrance.

I won't participate in the cleaning, but Silent will. If Nanashino doesn't want to clean, she should have Iris's single knight do it.

I quickly stepped out of the warehouse and 'summoned' Silent back.

As soon as she appeared, Silent clung to my leg.

"Ah, Master, to suddenly 'return' me like that, what do you think I am!?"

"Then, I'll leave it to you. I'll check at the end, so don't slack off. Here are the cleaning supplies."

"No explanation!?"

Silent has a flexible body and can easily clean even in her newly summoned state.

At my words, Silent looked at the cleaning supplies and said reluctantly:

"Master, I am actually... a 'Word of Lineage'?"

"Of course, I know."

'Word of Lineage'

A general term for familiars in Abicor with 'Word' in their name. They were introduced in the sixteenth major update and are known for their useful abilities. Silent, with the name 'Silence,' is one of them, with a minimum rarity of 15. Strategy guides recommend grinding until you get one of these familiars.

Apparently, Abicor users found it too troublesome to name their teams, given how easy it is to increase their numbers.

I petted Silent's frozen head and persuaded her.

"I'll buy you something delicious later."

"...I, I have no choice, do I?"

Silent agreed in a shocked tone.

Did she think I was treating her carelessly without knowing about her? If so, she's underestimating me.

I am fully aware and am using Silent for miscellaneous tasks.

I confirmed that Silent obediently extended her arm to take the cleaning supplies.

It seems Nanashino didn't approve of leaving the task to a familiar. She held a broom, and Iris's single knight held a mop. They didn't look like a summoner and her familiar at all.

I snorted and decided to take a break at a nearby café.

§

Silent came to call me about an hour later.

A small shadow, about the size of a cat, clung to my leg as I sipped tea and opened a new notebook on the café terrace, whining in a childlike voice:

"Aaaaaah, Master, that's so unfair!"

"Your name is Silent, so try