Chapter 93

After spinning the Step-Up Gacha, the next day came.

Today, I was preparing to go to the Adventurers' Guild to report.

"Lord Ohtsuka, I don't remember anything from yesterday, what happened? I remember eating cake up until a certain point... but I ended up sleeping in my room without realizing it."

"I just carried you to bed."

Yesterday, I entered Noelle's room to put her to bed because she was drunk, but the scene I saw there was terrifying.

Stuffed animals from the Gacha were placed all over the room, and I was startled the moment I entered.

They were all brightly colored and cute but weird, creating an eerie atmosphere...

"That's right... I'm sorry. More importantly, the cake I ate yesterday was delicious, so I want to eat it again—"

"No way!"

"Why not!?"

Noelle clasped her hands together and pleaded, but I firmly refused.

There are still a few slices left, but I don't want her to get drunk and go on a rampage again.

"Well, I guess we should go even though I'm feeling a bit heavy-hearted."

"Yeah. This should make us B-Rank, but will it be okay?"

"We've done a lot so far, but I'm nervous about what they'll say this time..."

Estelle looked worried as she muttered, and Noelle, who seemed restless, was moving her body nervously.

It was like when we half-destroyed the Frogman's pond, but this time it's an even more serious issue.

Honestly, I feel like running away and not going to report, but we can't do that if we want to become B-Rank and get the Magic Stone Fever.

"Everyone, please be careful on your way!"

"Yeah, why are you trying to stay behind? Sisaha, you're coming with us too."

"N-no way!"

She was trying to use her phone to move with a beacon, but Sisaha was smiling and waving goodbye.

Trying to escape on her own... There's no way I can leave her behind since there are talks of special treatment.

"We are a community of fate. We are comrades who have explored the dungeon together!"

"Please cut off that community! I'm still F-Rank, so I don't need to go!"

"I've already discussed it with them, so you can rest assured."

"Unnecessary interference!"

She shouted as I gave her a thumbs up. Unlike Luna, we need Sisaha to register as an adventurer, so leaving her behind isn't an option.

●

I forcibly brought Sisaha along and immediately headed to the capital's Adventurers' Guild.

Luna didn't seem to be waking up because she worked hard yesterday, so I set an alarm to prevent any trouble.

I'm not worried since she's the strongest home guard, but Sisaha looked concerned, so I did it just in case.

"Oh, Mr. Ohtsuka! Is this a report on the completion of the request?"

"Yes, that's right."

"You're as quick as always. Oh, Sisaha! I didn't get to greet you yesterday, it's been a while!"

"Yes... it's been a while."

We entered and went to Wizzy's reception desk. She greeted Sisaha, whom she hadn't seen yesterday, with her usual brightness. Sisaha, in contrast, responded with a dark tone. I understand how she feels since I'm in a similar mood.

"To complete the task so quickly... You guys are really amazing!"

"Ahaha..."

"Hmm? Is something wrong? Everyone seems a bit down?"

Wizzy tilted her head, noticing our dull and gloomy reactions. Thinking about what I have to say next, I can't help but feel down.

"First, let's confirm the proof of completion, the Magic Light Stone, and the proof of defeating the monsters in the ruins."

"Yes... here it is."

I handed over the items dropped by the monsters I defeated in the ruins. There shouldn't be any problems with the monsters.

"Sandworm, Mummy, and this... Flare Mummy!? So, the monsters inside were also abnormal..."

Wizzy confirmed the proof of defeat and was surprised by the yellow bandages of the Flare Mummy. If she knows about it, maybe it's in the Hajino Dungeon... I don't want to encounter it again.

Next, I need to show the Magic Light Stones. There are normal green ones, but I also need to show the blackened ones... I don't want to show them.

"And... this."

"...? Where did you get this?"

"From the Angori Ruins."

I took out two Magic Light Stones and handed them to Wizzy. She looked at the black one with a "What is this?" expression.

"It's clearly lost its power... Why are you showing this?"

"Well... all the Magic Light Stones in the Angori Ruins turned like this."

When I said that, Wizzy's eyes widened and she froze.

That's right... she can only react like that.

"Wait, what? What do you mean, all of them turned like this!?"

"Calm down! I'll explain why!"

Wizzy, who was in a state of shock, finally moved and leaned over the counter, shouting loudly. This caused other receptionists and adventurers in the guild to look at us. I quickly calmed her down and started explaining what happened.

"Exploring the Angori Ruins, solving the dungeon... How much did you do in just one day?"

"Was it really not a good thing?"

"Not good... It's unprecedented, and I don't know what to do..."

I told Wizzy about the dungeon in the Angori Ruins, how we solved it, and how the abnormal monsters disappeared afterward, causing the Magic Light Stones to turn black. Of course, I kept the secret about the entrance opening with my phone.

As I spoke, Wizzy's face started to sweat, then turned pale, and finally, she covered her face with her hands on the counter. The bright atmosphere from before was completely gone. I feel really bad about this. I'm also nervous seeing her reaction.

"Wizzy."

Just as the atmosphere was getting tense, someone called out to us from behind.

Turning around, I saw a man with brown hair. He looked old with deep wrinkles, but his short, spiky hair and sturdy build made him look young.

"Oh, G-Guild Master! Why are you here!?"

"Hello. I was passing by and heard a loud voice. Oh, you guys are..."

"Hello, I'm Ohtsuka Heishiro."

Wizzy, who had been covering her face, jumped and stood up from her chair.

This is the Guild Master... What!?

Why does such a big shot appear at this moment!

Please, spare me...

I immediately bowed and greeted him. Noelle and the others followed suit.

"I've heard a lot about your achievements from Wizzy."

"R-really... Thank you for always taking care of us."

The Guild Master smiled and greeted me. Just being called by him made me incredibly nervous. Maybe it's because I've never met a big shot since coming to this world?

Still, Wizzy talks about us a lot... I wonder what she says.

"So, what was that loud voice about?"

"Well, it's like this..."

Why did you shout so loudly?

Wizzy, with a stiff face, started to explain what I told her. I was already nervous about what she would say, but now it's the Guild Master... This is too much.

"Hmm... This is quite something..."

"I'm sorry! I didn't expect it to turn out like this..."

After listening to the story, the Guild Master frowned and thought deeply. I couldn't help but apologize.

It's not my fault! I wanted to say, but I couldn't.

I didn't expect the dungeon to be absorbing magic, and it was beyond my control!

But if this results in the cancellation of our B-Rank promotion... My glorious Magic Stone Road...

"Don't worry, I won't cancel your B-Rank promotion. It's in the past."

The Guild Master's words made my heart jump. Is this guy a psychic?

"Why do you...?"

"Hehe, you show your thoughts on your face and in your aura. The ladies behind you... not so much."

Looking back, Noelle and the others were looking at me, seemingly nodding in agreement.

I tried to communicate with Estelle through eye contact, and she nodded with a smile.

Really? Am I that obvious?

"Anyway, it's not good to talk here. Let's move to a different place. Wizzy, I'll handle the rest, so please prepare the B-Rank plates for them."

"Okay, I understand!"

Wizzy took the plates from us and quickly disappeared into the back.

"Let's go then."

"Ah, y-yes..."

The Guild Master headed towards the stairs leading to the second floor, indicating for us to follow. Oh no... Do I really have to talk to the Guild Master in a private room?

●

We were led to a guest room on the second floor. Inside, there were two sofas facing a large table, and we sat opposite the Guild Master. It felt like an interview, and I started to feel nervous.

"Let me introduce myself again. I am Christophe, the Guild Master of this Adventurers' Guild. Nice to meet you."

"Y-yes! I'm Ohtsuka Heishiro! Nice to meet you!"

The Guild Master, Christophe, greeted me and extended his hand. I responded with a shaky voice, stood up, and shook his hand.

"Lord Ohtsuka, you're too tense... I'm Noelle Fanya. Nice to meet you!"

"I'm Estelle. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Sisaha Alvi. Nice to meet you."

"Ah, nice to meet you. You have a lively party."

Noelle and the others followed with their greetings... but they're too casual!

Considering he's the Guild Master, they're greeting him as if it's a normal day. Especially Estelle.

Christophe seemed to be smiling and not bothered, but I'm still nervous.

"Anyway, congratulations on your B-Rank promotion."

"Thank you."

"I've been keeping an eye on you since I saw you fight Dius. I didn't expect you to become B-Rank so quickly, though."

"No, it's thanks to you, Christophe. You recommended us for B-Rank, right?"

As Wizzy said, we were really being watched.

I guess doing such a flashy job would attract attention.

Well, it's good that we got the recommendation.

"Yes, that's right. You didn't take many requests, but the success of the previous large-scale hunt allowed me to recommend you."

Indeed, we were mostly doing hunts and not taking other guild requests.

The success of the previous large-scale hunt was recognized.

Without that, even the Guild Master might have found it difficult to recommend us.

We need to take more requests in the future.

"Also, your recent actions might help us understand the recent anomalies. We might need your cooperation in the future, and it would be more convenient if you're a higher rank."

Christophe then explained the recent anomalies to us.

Monsters are being discovered in places where they didn't exist before, and more are moving away from their habitats.

There have been more attacks on people traveling by carriage, and the number of escort requests to the guild has increased.

We don't know if the dungeons are related to these anomalies, but it's a possibility.

Maybe I should mention the Goblin Dungeon in Brunne.

"Actually, there was a dungeon in Brunne recently..."

"Hmm, a dungeon in Brunne? Where did you find it?"

"In the deep forest where goblins and orcs appear. We went to the deepest part of the dungeon, defeated a large monster, and it collapsed. Here, this is something the monster dropped."

I told him about the dungeon in Brunne and took out Behemoth's horn from my bag, placing it on the table.

I wanted the guild to examine it but had forgotten about it.

The guild in Brunne said they didn't know what it was, so it's probably not a common monster.

"This... I've never seen this monster before. Can I keep it for now?"

"Yes, I intended to give it to you."

It seems even Christophe hasn't seen Behemoth's horn before.

I might not get it back, but I was planning to give one anyway.

I wanted to mix it in the synthesis machine, but since I have two, one is fine.

"Still, your party is quite interesting."

"Interesting...?"

Christophe looked at us and said that.

"I was surprised when I heard that a party with an E-Rank mage came to this guild for the first time."

"Oh, really? Is it rare?"

Estelle tilted her head and asked.

I remember, mages becoming adventurers are rare in this world.

I haven't even seen other mages yet.

"Not just rare, I've never heard of it since I've been involved with the guild. And for a girl like you to be able to use such powerful magic is surprising. Where did you learn magic?"

"Ah, that's a bit..."

"Do you have to tell?"

Dius asked before, and it seems he's still curious about where we came from.

Estelle is not only a rare mage but also strong and young.

Moreover, she's an adventurer, which is unusual.

I don't know what a normal mage is like, but she's definitely abnormal.

"I'd like to know, but I won't force you. And not just you, but the warrior and priestess ladies are also quite intriguing."

"Me, us too?"

"I'm just a regular priestess."

It seems Christophe has noticed that Noelle and Sisaha are also not ordinary.

Sisaha is trying to say she's normal, but where's the normal part?

"Even from