Chapter 7

"Are you okay, Emily?"

"Yeah, I'm completely fine. I just need to sleep to recover my magic."

With the help of the guard, Nina carried Emily into the inn and laid her down. After a night's sleep, Emily woke up with a carefree look and said she was hungry. After eating a hearty meal, Emily said she was going to the Adventurers' Guild. She needed to report the completion of Nina's "escort request" and also apply for the move to a neighboring country.

"By the way, Nina, what about your identification?"

"Mine? I have a city worker's certificate."

On the way to the guild, they talked about such things. There was no such thing as a Maid Guild, and general servants registered as "city workers."

"Hmm. Then why don't you join the Adventurers' Guild?"

"Eh!? Me!? No way!"

"No, no, it's just for identification. If you're a city worker, you have to pay taxes every time you cross the border, right? With the Adventurers' Guild, once you register, it's valid in any country, and you don't need to complete any requests for a year. And while I'm with you, we can take on requests together."

"Well, that's... true. But I don't want to rely on you, Emily."

"—Come on."

Emily pulled Nina close, as if putting an arm around her shoulder.

"Considering what you've done for me, it's nothing at all... How long do you think I've dreamed of being able to use magic above the 2nd tier?"

"Emily..."

"Anyway, I'm looking forward to the meals on the way!"

"...Yes!"

The two arrived at the Adventurers' Guild. Many adventurers were already there in the morning, and the noise was so loud it could be heard outside the guild. When Nina and Emily entered, the noise stopped abruptly.

"?"

Nina wondered what was going on but followed Emily to the counter.

"Hey, can you register this girl as an adventurer?"

"Eh? A, ah, yes..."

The guild staff was surprised to see Emily and then Nina.

"Um... Is this lady a maid?"

"Yes. A maid and an adventurer. She will pay the registration fee and complete requests with me, so there shouldn't be any problem, right?"

"That's, yes."

Then,

"Hey, hey, who do we have here? It's Emily, the 'Eternal Rookie.'"

The male adventurer who had confronted Emily here two days ago approached.

"What? You're making the friend who guided you to the Clay Spring an adventurer? That's pretty low. No matter how much no one wants to form a party with you, that's not the way to go."

"..."

"Oh, right... Did you hear? Apparently, a mage who looks a lot like you defeated the Feral Garuda yesterday. Everyone thought it was you because of the resemblance. But that can't be, right?"

"...It was me."

"Huh?"

"It was me. I came here today to confirm what happened to that big bird."

"Hah... Ha, ha, that's not a funny joke."

"It's the truth, so there's no need to laugh. Besides, it's none of your business, so go away."

Emily turned her back and returned to the counter.

"Wh-What!? You!!"

"Ah!?"

The man grabbed Emily's shoulder and pulled her down.

"Emily! How can you use violence against a weak woman...!"

Nina stepped in between them.

"Ah!? I'm just educating this 'Eternal Rookie' for making false claims!"

"The one who defeated the giant bird was Emily. She can now use up to 5th tier magic!"

"Wh-What!? 5th tier!? Hahaha! Did you hear that, everyone? The 'Eternal Rookie' who can only use 1st tier magic is tricking an ignorant maid!"

When the male adventurer called out, a few of his companions laughed, but the other adventurers were watching the situation. The rumor that a mage who looked like Emily had defeated the Feral Garuda had spread, and everyone knew Emily had the potential for magic. She just couldn't use it.

"It's fine, Nina... There's no point in talking to this kind of fool. Let's just finish the procedures and leave."

"—Hey, 'Eternal Rookie.' Are you serious? Falsely claiming your abilities to form a party is punishable by the guild."

"Ignore him, ignore him."

"Hey, staff! This guy is breaking the guild rules! Revoke his guild license!"

"..."

"Hey, don't even register this little girl! Accepting such a small person would be a disgrace to the guild!"

Emily, who had been standing up and brushing off her skirt, glared at the man.

"What... What's that look for? Defiant, huh? You hit a nerve, didn't you!"

"...Staff."

Emily spoke to the flustered guild staff.

"Was there a bounty for the Feral Garuda?"

"Ah, yes, there was... 5 million gold."

"I was the one who defeated it. I'll prove it—lend me the training ground in the back."

A wave of anger, and more than that, a swirl of magic, rose from Emily.

"Even if it was just me, I could have let it go, but I can't forgive him for insulting Nina too."