Chapter 98

The Adventurer's Guild is like the epitome of fantasy. In other-worldly fantasies, it's a very gentle organization that gives identity cards to people of unknown origins, teaches them combat techniques, offers discounts at inns and weapon shops, and even withholds taxes. There are probably no spies or rebels in that world.

Sometimes, it has more power than the government, and there are strict rules that adventurers don't help in wars, and local residents can't fight to protect their town. It's truly a fantasy organization. Mii-chan thinks that it must be run by fairies and exists thanks to mysterious powers.

How would this be handled in a modern fantasy like "The Night of Magic"?

"Here, please have your guardian stamp this. Ah, the next window is number 32."

"Thank you, miss."

To become an adventurer, you need to submit various applications, get your guardian's permission, and provide proof of identity.

The Adventurer's Guild is like a government office. Of course, since it's state-run, it uses an entire beautiful building with many reception counters. There are departments for insurance, address registration, and so on... Yes, it's a real government office. It's part of the government. In reality, this is probably the easiest to manage.

Of course, the windows for monster dissection and request completion are different. There's a gym-like space attached. This is where clients, adventurers taking on requests, and ordinary people come for various applications.

Unfortunately, there's no bar attached. I was disappointed, thinking there might be a drink bar. There are no rowdy adventurers either. Of course not. Just because they can fight doesn't mean they're rough. Especially in this world, the best are nobles.

And there's no bar. Do you understand? The possibility of forming a party like in a game is limited to the old men in Odin.

Mii-chan's group is full of adults, so they come to the office timidly and are currently applying to become adventurers. The receptionist kindly and politely passes them around, and they bow with a smile and move obediently.

"It's the guardian's stamp, huh."

"It's not easy to become one, huh."

Tamao's fox ears droop, and she's disappointed. Hokchan and the others are also surprised and disheartened. I'm also disappointed. You need a certificate, huh.

The kids are unplanned. They're 10 years old, so it's normal to be this absent-minded. Their previous age? It's a faint summer memory. I don't count it.

By the way, Mii-chan is wearing a 'Disguise' ring from the earl's family, and she looks like an ordinary black-haired, black-eyed girl. This disguise only works on people who don't know her true identity, so it's very useful. Recovery mages are valuable, so if they don't disguise themselves, they get surrounded by both good and bad people.

"Mom is pregnant, so I want to leave her alone. Maybe I'll get the stamp from grandpa."

"Your grandfather, isn't he... not on good terms with your father?"

"Hmm? Grandpa Fudou lives in a distant annex. I guess we're not that close. But it's not about that."

Yami asks awkwardly, but it's true that my father and I are in a cold war. While eating the cookies Grandpa Fudou brings, Mii-chan doesn't participate in the discussion. It's apparently bad for her education.

Well, maybe their relationship has improved enough to have discussions? Honestly, I don't know, and I don't interfere in such matters. There are things only the parties involved can understand. Mii-chan is an adult, hehe.

I'm being raised carefully. I hug my father and act cute, saying his job is tough. My role is to guard my mother and the puppies so she doesn't overexert herself. And, of course, to be a good girl. My mother's belly is getting bigger every day, so I need to be careful.

So, it's not Grandpa Fudou. Maybe I'll ask someone else.

Looking around, I approach a man standing a bit away and show him the paper, making my request.

"Grandpa Matini, please stamp this!"

"Who's grandpa, who's! I'm only 32, and there's no way I'm stamping it! I'll lose my job as a bodyguard!"

"Can't we keep it a secret from Mom and Dad?"

"Of course not. Talk to them and get the stamp. Today, maybe a dungeon for ordinary people would be good."

Matini, still young, shouts, and Kongo-san, exasperated, taps my head. Yeah, I can't become an adventurer without telling them.

This is a joke about a beautiful girl. I'll give up today. By the way, Kongo-san, you mentioned something interesting?

"For ordinary people?"

Yami, who has keen ears, asks Kongo-san. Yeah, I'm curious too. What does that mean?

"Right, a few months ago, a company started using abandoned dungeons. They're very popular with ordinary people."

"Abandoned dungeons... If the dungeon core is destroyed, the dungeon should disappear, right?"

"That's right. Normally, it disappears. But apparently, a trace of mana remains, and a company has bought the surrounding land."

"Monsters spawn there! It's time to show Tamao's power!"

Tamao, the fox girl, flips her flared skirt and raises her fist, but Matini and the others just smile wryly.

"Well, crops grow well. It's perfect for a home garden. Fewer pests, less work, and the crops grow. It's actually true. Moreover, the crops contain a trace of mana, making them delicious."

"Huh. Just a home garden, huh."

I'm a bit disappointed, petting Tamao's drooping fox ears. Fox ears feel really good to touch. Can I touch the tail too?

"Maybe it's fun to try?"

"Yeah, the watermelon you grow yourself is delicious."

"I heard that home-grown watermelons are big but not sweet!"

I heard that growing watermelons is easy. They grow easily, but they're not sweet at all. You'll be disappointed when you eat them.

"Yeah, I heard that too. But it's easier to grow them deliciously than usual."

"There's also a kitchen attached. You can do barbecues."

"Oh, that sounds good, Mii-chan!"

"Barbecue, barbecue"

"Delicious meat~"

Hokchan and the others, who were disappointed, perk up at Matini's words and hug me. It seems the adventure is over for today. A barbecue, huh? It sounds fun.

In the open air, grilling meat and vegetables over charcoal, dipping them in sauce, and eating them. I want to do it. It seems like it will be a fun time with everyone.

"But, isn't it not very profitable?"

Tilting her head, Yami makes an uncharacteristically mature comment. Indeed, buying abandoned dungeon land for home gardens doesn't seem profitable... Ah, that's...

"Hmm, it's not very profitable because it's not a full-scale farm, just a small plot for home gardens. It's a venture company that started it."

"I know! Dad's restaurant! Um, um, something about increased sales? They started it together or something."

"Oh, is Mii-chan's family running it?"

"Um, um, something?"

Mih羽 (Mihane) frowns her adorable face and tilts her head. At first glance, home gardens and restaurants don't seem to connect, but they do.

Mii-chan, scratching her head, and Tamao and the others, sharing Mii-chan's worry, start to think. If drawn, they would be cute, worried girls. Yami, who has recently taken up photography as a hobby, takes a photo with a dreamy look, pressing her cheek.

One of the good things about this world is that even the extras are cute. The girls have extremely high beauty standards. The male extras are ordinary because the author thinks it's enough to make only the girls cute. So, I understand why Yami wants to take photos. She's making an album, so I might ask to see it sometime.

However, just as I was about to break the cozy atmosphere and start deducing, he appeared.

"It's part of an image improvement campaign."

Someone approaches our group without hesitation, and we turn to look at the speaker.

"It's a simple story. Dungeon-grown vegetables are expensive. The vegetables on the market are all grown with growth-promoting magic stones. Compared to the ordinary taste of magic stone-grown vegetables, dungeon-grown vegetables are surprisingly delicious. However, they are incredibly expensive, so commoners can't afford them."

He approaches Mii-chan and the others with a polite demeanor. It's like a detective's dramatic entrance.

"The 'Gald Farm' uses the land from abandoned dungeons to rent out small plots for home gardens. They claim that the harvested vegetables contain mana and are delicious."

As we listen to the continuation of the story, he continues enthusiastically, wagging his finger.

"The Takanoha Family Restaurant Chain uses the scene of people enjoying the vegetables they grew themselves at a barbecue as an advertisement and promotes it heavily."

Yeah, I know, I know.

"They emphasize that the vegetables are grown on mana-infused land, which is why they are delicious, and that the same soil is used in the farm. They also advertise that they offer affordable menus, which has turned their previously deficit business into a profitable one."

His words have a hint of something, but... No, it's the truth, so Mii-chan tilts her head innocently.

"Ah, I'm sorry. My name is Kamishin. I happened to meet you all, so I thought I'd introduce myself."

Noticing the attention, the black-haired, black-eyed boy smiles brightly and greets Mihane and the others.

His eyes, however, contain the light of 'Void,' which can see through any illusion.

...Just kidding. I've read about Shin's abilities in a novel. What's he doing with an extra like Mihane?