Chapter 38

After returning from the university, a little while after the night shift started and the shop had settled down, Cody came in.

Now that I know she is a woman, it’s not as if I would start serving her women’s drinks from the beginning. Cody is still dressed as a man, so her behavior in the shop hasn’t changed much.

“What’s up, you seem particularly cheerful today.”

Among the ducal families, the Vinzbruck family had been the one causing the most trouble for the knights. In the past, I had urged the king to reduce the nobles' interference with the knights. With the problematic ducal family’s power weakened, Cody’s worries must have been further alleviated.

However, that doesn’t seem to be the only reason. When Cody looked at me, she smiled brightly and said,

“The knights are being mobilized for the nobles’ affairs much less often now, so I might be able to take a half-day off this Sunday.”

“Great, that’s good news. Try to be as lazy as possible; it’s good to refresh from the usual fatigue.”

“The body, you know, can rust even if you don’t move for just one day. So, I take a certain amount of training time, regardless of whether it’s a day off.”

Cody’s seriousness is evident in such moments, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.

Our shop is open all year round. For someone who can use recovery magic, the fatigue of daily life is not even considered fatigue. I sleep six hours every day, even though four and a half hours would be enough, and my body is in good condition. Elves, who are full of magic, are even more resistant to fatigue, and their sense of time is different from humans. They apparently only need to rest every 72 hours. So, Verlene seems to find the current life as peaceful as a paradise.

“Since the magic university’s practical training ground is nearby, I’ve reserved it.”

“Training with you, I might get muscle soreness for the first time in a long time.”

“Yeah, I think I will too. But don’t worry, you can use recovery magic.”

“Saying it’s not a worry, isn’t that my line…?”

Why does she want to train with me so much? I know, it’s because there’s no one at her level.

However, what is my current combat evaluation in swordsmanship? I tried to measure it with a device a while ago, but the image of the broken device came to mind.

If the device can’t do it, I need to rely on someone with the skill to measure it. I’ve been too lazy to measure it, and I’ve forgotten about it. Probably, the other members of the Demon King’s extermination team haven’t been re-measured since five years ago either.

“…Your eyes changed a bit. Is there something on your mind?”

“Yeah, a little. Alright, I’ll join you for the training. Just don’t destroy the building.”

The power of the ‘Light Sword’ is immense, not just as a close-range weapon. It’s a terrifying combat skill that doesn’t struggle with close, short, medium, or even ultra-long distances. Unlike Miralca’s area-of-effect destruction magic, it’s not good at area attacks, but in linear attacks, there’s probably no one in this world who can match it.

My range of coverage is also diverse, but I can’t match the unique shooting performance of the Light Sword at ultra-long distances. It’s so impressive that I envy it. Even trying to reproduce the light bullets created by the power of the sword spirit, I can’t match the speed.

“I’m glad you’re motivated. It would be bad to make you do something troublesome.”

“On your side, is it okay to spend your precious vacation on such things?”

“There’s no better way to spend my time. As the head of the knights, it’s boring just to delegate tasks to my subordinates.”

“Ha… You used to be so busy that your eyes looked dead. It’s good to see that your workplace has improved.”

“Too much leisure time just makes me think about unnecessary things. Moderation is best.”

I completely agree with Cody’s opinion. I finish my ale and am about to order my third for the day when—

The doorbell jingles. A young man with dark blue hair, wearing a black cloak over hard leather armor, entered.

I recognize him. He is one of the five SS-rank adventurers currently staying in the capital, said to be among the strongest.

The man, with a scar on his cheek, approached Verlene and spoke without expression. From the counter, I could see that his physique was well-endowed, but his muscles were not overly bulky, rather they were lean and honed.

However, there is a wall that cannot be crossed between SS and SSS ranks. While others might feel overwhelming pressure, Cody and I don’t feel any such pressure.

“…Is the Guild Master of this guild here?”

“Excuse me, sir. We only operate as a bar at night….”

Verlene, undaunted, responded calmly. The man didn’t show any displeasure, just closed his eyes quietly.

His face, though expressionless, was well-featured, and the scar on his cheek only added to his strong impression.

“…Then, I have one message to deliver. I will not allow anyone to enter the ‘Ice Cave.’ If anyone from this guild comes, I cannot guarantee their safety.”

The Ice Cave—Cody has also had a drink from it. It’s the place where the ‘Eternal Ice Blocks’ used for ice drinks in this shop are obtained.

That place is where Rigel, our guild member, is heading to capture the ferocious beast that escaped from the animal merchant.

“Sir, if you only speak one-sidedly, it’s hard for us to understand immediately. Would you mind sitting at the counter?”

“…I don’t intend to stay long. There are rules among professionals, I suppose. Understood, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. But my message remains the same.”

He tells us to back off from this matter. As a drunk, there’s only one thing I can do.

I nod at Verlene and instruct her to serve the man an ale. The man, with no change in expression, looks at the ale placed before him.

“…You don’t seem to be trying to cover it up with alcohol.”

“Let’s take a breath first. If you have something to say to the shop, it can wait.”

The man gives me a quiet glance, not sizing me up, just a glance.

“You have some business in the Ice Cave, right? Why such a place?”

Cody, lowering his voice so the customer can’t hear, asks. The man, after drinking the ale, looks at Verlene, not Cody, and says,

She must see Verlene as an important figure in the guild. It’s clear from his behavior that he doesn’t consider me significant.

“It’s personal. I’m an adventurer, affiliated with the ‘Blue Archer Inn.’ The client seems to be trying to make the guilds compete to capture the escaped beast… but that’s a waste of time. I’m the only one who should pursue ‘it.’”

“Sir, may I see something to verify your affiliation?”

“…Is this enough?”

The man pulls out the guild tag hanging from his neck and shows it to Verlene.

A guild tag is a small steel plate with the adventurer’s affiliation and other information engraved on it. I could read it with a glance—SS-rank adventurer, affiliated with the Blue Archer Inn, Zect Crucifer, 22 years old, profession ‘Shadow Striker.’ He has been affiliated with the Blue Archer Inn for the past six months.

He must have been an adventurer in another part of the country and drifted to the capital six months ago. It’s not my place to say, but why did he choose to affiliate with a less-known guild on Eleventh Street?

The reason for this is intriguing, but the most pressing question is why he is so fixated on the beast capture request. The reward is not exorbitant, and it should be a fair price considering the danger.

“I’ve seen it. I can’t grasp the full situation, but are you trying to monopolize the request at the Blue Archer Inn?”

“…It’s personal. It has nothing to do with the Blue Archer Inn.”

“That’s not how it works. You’re an adventurer, right? It’s natural to work as a representative of the guild you belong to.”

“…Don’t butt in. I’m asking for the Guild Master of this guild.”

Cody shrugs, as if to say, “This isn’t getting us anywhere.” I decide to ask about a specific point through Verlene.

“Does this beast have any special meaning to you, sir?”

The voice, almost lost in the bar’s noise, reached Zect’s ears.

Zect doesn’t answer, just drinks the ale. After finishing the cup, he stands up silently and leaves the shop.

“…He didn’t answer. Is that the answer?”

“Yeah, that’s probably it…”

There are a few possibilities. One is that Zect is close to the animal merchant or has a grudge, and wants to capture the escaped beast himself.

Or, he might hate the beast that fled to the Ice Cave, or the opposite could be true.

While we don’t know much, one thing is clear: if Rigel’s party is seen as an obstacle by Zect, they will be in considerable danger. A Shadow Striker, despite the name, is more of a support role, but an average B-rank party would never stand a chance against an SS-rank adventurer.

“An escaped beast from an animal merchant… huh.”

“What do you want to do? Should I help?”

“No, that’s not necessary. Just enjoy your drink without worrying.”

This is a problem I need to think about. Cody seems to understand this and doesn’t say anything more.

I’ll ask for help when I really need it. But for now, it’s a problem my guild can handle on its own.

Why did Zect identify our guild as a competing guild? I want to honestly acknowledge Zect’s investigative skills, but I also have a thought.

“…I’m jealous. You look so happy. You didn’t look like that when I invited you to train.”

“Really? I’m looking forward to the training too.”

“Serving just ale isn’t enough to satisfy the customer… that’s what you’re saying, right?”

Verlene is right. In front of such an excellent adventurer, as a guild master, I think that if I could recruit Zect, it would bring a positive impact to my guild.

I don’t know why he is affiliated with the Blue Archer Inn, but if I can persuade him, it might be possible. The key lies in this request.

To avoid a confrontation with Zect, respect his purpose, and complete the request.

Recruiting an SS-rank adventurer would allow me to live a more retired life, but the quality of work in our guild is not inferior to the Blue Archer Inn, so Zect wouldn’t lose out either.

“Preparations are needed to tame the beast.”

That’s right—regardless of what Zect is thinking, there is one piece of information we need to know to decide our course of action.

The nature of the escaped beast. Using our guild’s information network, it wouldn’t be difficult to find out now.