Chapter 6

A-Rank Guild, Fenrir's Roar, was even more desolate than expected.

There was no one at the reception, which should have been overflowing with adventurers, and the ledger on the counter looked strangely worn out.

It was a matter of concern, but that was only until a maid in a maid's uniform brought tea.

She brought a teapot on a silver cart and slowly poured it.

Along the way, she asked if I wanted milk, lemon, or jam.

Ex, the holy sword, said,

"Put in rose jam."

Of course, her words didn't reach me, and since Ex is a sword, it can't drink tea.

So, ignoring Ex, I opted for a safe choice of lemon tea and added three teaspoons of sugar.

I took a sip.

It was delicious. The teacup was warmed, and it was adjusted to be enjoyable until the last drop.

The maid seemed to be born to serve tea, but who was she?

She couldn't possibly be the guild master.

If such a lovely maid were the guild master, the guild wouldn't be so desolate.

I might even visit every day just to see her.

As I was thinking this, Ex, hanging from my waist, started to make sarcastic remarks.

"Chrom, your nose is growing."

I instinctively checked, but a human body doesn't stretch like that.

Ex was probably trying to snap me out of my daze over the maid.

I wondered if even a sword could feel jealous, but I didn't say it out loud.

Instead, I called out to the maid to ask her to connect me with the guild master.

"Um, excuse me, Miss Maid..."

"My name is Karen. Please call me Karen."

It was a name that suited her perfectly.

"Okay, Karen, I want to join this guild. I came for an interview. Is this guild recruiting new members?"

The moment she heard this, Karen's eyes sparkled.

Her eyes moistened like a mushroom being cut.

"Oh, how wonderful. I never thought a new adventurer would come to Fenrir's Roar."

She welcomed me with open arms, something that had never happened before.

I felt a bit uneasy, so I decided to tell the truth upfront.

"First, let me be clear, I have never belonged to any guild before. I just reached level 3, and my stats are almost all D. My unique skill, 'Equip Anything,' isn't very useful."

Karen, upon hearing this, opened her mouth slightly and placed her hand there.

"Mr. Chrom, you are very honest. Usually, people try to make themselves look better and hide their weaknesses during interviews."

"There's no point in hiding it; it would be found out quickly anyway."

But I continued,

"I have a strong will to become an adventurer. I want to become a great adventurer like my grandfather and revive the Melville family, my real family."

As I said this, I got a bit excited and stood up slightly.

Karen didn't mock me but applauded lightly, saying, "That's wonderful. You have the kind of enthusiasm that would make me hire you immediately if I were the guild master."

But she continued,

"Unfortunately, I am not the guild master. I'm just a receptionist and maid. I don't have the authority to hire anyone."

"Is this a roundabout way of saying I'm not hired?"

"Of course not, I don't have that kind of authority or intention. On the contrary, I would love for you to join this guild."

"Then please introduce me to the guild master. I want to talk to them directly."

"Of course, but let me confirm again, are you sure you want to join this guild?"

"Is there something wrong with this guild?"

Karen glanced around lightly.

I followed her gaze.

"Indeed, it's not a very impressive guild. However, it's still an A-Rank Guild. If they are willing to accept a young adventurer like me, I will work like a horse."

"A-Rank Guild?"

Karen tilted her head slightly at this.

"This is not an A-Rank Guild, you know?"

"Is this not an A-Rank Guild?"

"Who told you that?"

"No, it says A-Rank on the sign."

Upon hearing this, Karen exclaimed, "Really?" and lifted the hem of her skirt, hurrying to the entrance.

She returned with the sign after a few seconds.

She immediately said,

"Of course. This is a prank by our guild master. If he keeps lying about the rank, we might get demoted again."

"Is it a prank?"

I asked, and she pointed to the sign instead of speaking.

"Look here. Look at this."

The sign clearly read "A-Rank Guild."

However, she pointed not to the A but to a small word next to it, which was almost invisible unless you looked closely.

It read,

"Former"

So, this guild was not an A-Rank Guild but a "Former" A-Rank Guild.

This explained why the guild was so desolate, but there was one thing I still didn't understand.

What rank was this guild now?

I recalled that it was B-Rank 12 years ago. Had it maintained that rank?

I looked around to observe.

The building was decently sized but old and lacked vitality.

Compared to the B-Rank buildings I had visited recently, this one clearly looked several ranks lower.

However, it wasn't dirty. The maid in front of me probably cleaned it daily, but even so, it didn't look like a B-Rank guild.

It might even be C or possibly D.

I thought this, but my guess was wrong, and in a bad way.

Karen cleared her throat and honestly told me the current guild rank.

"The rank of this guild is F. It's essentially a small guild on the verge of closing."

She then repeated her earlier question.

"Mr. Chrom, do you still want to join this guild?"

Her face, unlike her initial smile, now looked apologetic and uncomfortable.

Here, such things don't matter!

I thought, and a man would probably take her hand, but I didn't have the courage and wavered.

"Um, can I go back to the inn and think about it?"

"Of course, that's fine," Karen said, but I didn't miss her muttered words.

"...Ah, this makes the number of new adventurers this month zero. If this continues, the guild will be shut down by the Royal Capital's Guild Administration. I don't know what the guild master, Fenrir, plans to do."

I heard these words along with a sigh.

However, I couldn't immediately say I would join the guild.

As I mentioned before, my back carries the expectations of my clan.

I couldn't write to my sister back home that I joined an F-Rank guild.

I weighed my sister back home and the maid who served me delicious tea, and I chose my sister.

I might be called a siscon, but I thanked the maid for the tea and left the guild.

††

What a pity, a promising adventurer came.

Karen sighed, looking at the chair where the boy had been sitting a moment ago.

"I was rejected by the first adventurer to come in months."

While clearing the teacup, Karen thought about the boy, Chrom.

He was probably around 16.

He seemed to be an adult but still had a hint of innocence.

He was a bit handsome and might be to her taste.

Moreover, Karen didn't see him as just a boy.

He looked like a very promising adventurer.

There was something in his eyes that set him apart from ordinary people. He had a certain charm that drew people in.

And that burning passion.

Karen believed that was what an adventurer needed.

Losing such a talent made her feel down.

"...But, I have a feeling I'll see him again."

Karen muttered softly.

It was a wish, but her wishes often came true.

To make her wish come true, Karen decided to do a charm.

She dropped a petal into the tea she had made for herself.

If the petal sank, he wouldn't return.

If it floated, he would.

Karen watched the petal intently.

Five minutes later, the petal ——