Chapter 64

Normally, when a D-rank adventurer tries to cash in such a large amount of magic stones at once, it would require complicated procedures. However, for some reason, the receptionist seemed to push through the process enthusiastically, allowing us to complete the exchange relatively smoothly.

And it seemed that during that time, she had also managed to arrange an appointment with the guild master. I had heard that he was a busy person, but fortunately, we were told we could meet him soon.

Lucy and I were led by the receptionist into the depths of the guild, stopping in front of the door at the very end.

It seemed this was the guild master's office. The receptionist knocked on the door.

"Ms. Harein! I have brought the adventurers I mentioned earlier."

"…What are you talking about? I haven’t heard of such a matter."

A displeased female voice replied.

"Eh…? Didn’t you hear from another staff member?"

"Well, never mind. Let them in quickly."

A sigh of exasperation followed.

"I'm very sorry, but it seems there was a slight mix-up… She is a very busy person, you see…"

The receptionist bowed to us. It seemed we had bad timing, or perhaps we were overlooked. We had been told that the meeting was already approved, but apparently, there was a mix-up.

"No, if we can talk, that’s fine…"

We entered the guild master's office. She was a beautiful woman with long blue hair. She closed the fan she was holding.

…This is Harein, the head of the adventurer guild in the city of Lacorina. Though slender, she exuded a commanding presence and an unusual aura of authority.

Harein's sharp eyes scrutinized us. Lucy, seemingly intimidated by her gaze, quickly moved closer to me.

"…A jester and a heavy knight. Quite an unusual combination."

Harein then looked at my armor and frowned. …Perhaps she had recognized it as low-level armor. I had delayed buying it, thinking I would replace it soon, but this was an unexpected consequence.

"Multida, who are they?"

"They are D-rank adventurers who have just arrived from the city of Rondalme…"

The receptionist answered. Her name was Multida.

"D-rank adventurers from Rondalme…?"

Harein glared at Multida as if scolding her for bringing such people.

"No, no, they have apparently cleared the 'Centipede Tunnel' at [Lv: 60]…! Their skills are among the top in the D-rank category, I believe!"

"Hmm? D-rank adventurers cleared the 'Centipede Tunnel'…? And with a jester and a heavy knight, no less. I thought those classes were quite disadvantageous for clearing 'The Master of Dreams,' but this is interesting. I’m starting to get curious."

Harein's gaze on us changed. Though the atmosphere was somewhat tense, it seemed we wouldn’t be dismissed so easily. When I heard that the arrangements hadn’t gone through, I was afraid that anything we said would be dismissed as the ramblings of D-rank adventurers, but she was properly evaluating our achievements.

…This woman has an extraordinary eye for detail. As expected of a guild master, she is well-versed in the affairs of adventurers. It’s a relief that she is straightforward, but standing before her, I feel as if she can see right through my thoughts. Lucy also seemed uneasy.

"However, for D-rank adventurers to challenge 'The Master of Dreams'… You claim to have the skills of C-rank adventurers, but it seems you are aiming higher and higher without much experience. Haha, are you a reckless person who lives fast and dies young, or do you have a lot of confidence in your class and information about 'The Hole of Dreams'?"

Harein smiled thinly.

…Before we even started talking, she seemed to be piecing together information about us. Is the guild master of a high-level 'Hole of Dreams' adventurer guild this shrewd? No, there seems to be more to it than that.

"Hmm, your bold and dignified attitude, and your refined features… If you are well-versed in 'The Hole of Dreams,' perhaps you are a noble? You mentioned coming from Rondalme, but did the lord there have a son around fifteen years old…?"

S, she can tell that much… I held my breath and tried to maintain my composure. Harein was clearly watching my reaction.

Am I really fooling her?

No, unless I show significant signs of nervousness, she shouldn’t be certain. For now, I need to keep up the act…

I glanced at Lucy. She was fidgeting, looking back and forth between me and Harein, and repeatedly playing with the ends of her hair.

I pressed my forehead and sighed. Lucy is too honest. She can’t hide anything.

"Hmm, I see."

Harein looked at Lucy and muttered. …I don’t know what she figured out, but it gave me a bad feeling.

"I am Elma… and this lady is Lucy. As you were told, we are adventurers from Rondalme. We encountered an unusual situation in the 'Centipede Tunnel' and felt it necessary to report it directly. Thank you for your time."

I bowed and said this.

I was feeling uneasy about letting Harein do all the talking, and I wanted to get to the point, but my words were also a declaration that I was just a commoner named Elma. If I were a noble, I wouldn’t have come without announcing my family name.

"There are things that concern me, but I won’t pursue them further. I am Harein Haulrod… the guild master of the adventurer guild in Lacorina. You seem to have already guessed, but I am from a branch of the Haulrod noble family."

I thought she was too well-versed in noble affairs. In the adventurer city of Lacorina, the adventurer guild holds more significance than in other cities. It seems they appoint a branch family member as the guild master to ensure smooth cooperation between the guild and the noble family.