Chapter 9

After confirming our love in the luxury inn from early morning and enjoying a late, lavish breakfast, Lillisia and I headed to the Adventurers' Guild.

It turned out that Lillisia was an angel sent to assist me, but our meeting was about 20 years too late.

Incidentally, the feathers scattered around the room disappeared when Lillisia folded her wings.

We walked down the main street.

Lillisia clung to my arm like a lover.

"But for now, we have no choice but to adventure together. We can't let that secret out."

Angels who appear to announce divine decrees are revered, but a fallen angel would only be met with suspicion.

They would likely be treated as monsters.

Lillisia, swaying her white nun's habit, nodded seriously.

"Yes, that's true... I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. But, if that's the case, is your equipment okay? It's good for a healer to have a way to protect themselves."

Then Lillisia said eagerly,

"Then, Master! I remember how to fight, so I want a weapon!"

"What kind?"

"A flail. It has a chain extending from the handle with a weight at the end... A morning star would also be fine."

"Then let's go to the weapon shop first, buy what you need, and then head to the Adventurers' Guild."

"Okay!"

In the morning sun, Lillisia's radiant smile was incredibly cute.

When we arrived at the weapon shop, we looked at the flails and bought the best one.

It cost 310,000 goats.

It was made of steel with a silver plating.

"That's a difficult weapon. Why don't you try it out a bit?"

"Yes, Master!"

Lillisia went to a corner of the shop with some space and lightly swung the flail.

She handled it as if she had been using it for years, swinging it accurately forward.

The fine chain and her long silver hair sparkled in the sunlight slanting through the window.

However, her face was clouded.

"I'm sorry for making you spend so much money."

"No, it's fine. We're on our own, so Lillisia's equipment is important."

"Thank you, Master!"

With a smile that showed her happiness, she clung to my arm again.

For such a cute Lillisia, I would do anything...

But our funds were running low.

—We need to start earning money seriously.

Lillisia and I left the shop and headed to the Adventurers' Guild.

Remaining funds: 21 large gold coins, 0 gold coins, 5 large silver coins, 1 silver coin.

2,105,100 goats.

◇ ◇ ◇

The Adventurers' Guild was crowded with people.

They seemed to be looking for lucrative quests.

We pushed through the crowd to the bulletin board and started looking at the posted quests.

"Herb gathering, goblin extermination... mostly ordinary quests."

"What do you think? Should we take a quest, or go to a dungeon?"

"Let's gain some experience. We'll complete quests today."

"Understood, Master. There are gathering and extermination quests."

"Let's take gathering and extermination quests in the same area. Lillisia, choose a gathering quest."

"Okay, understood."

"I'll choose an extermination quest... hmm."

We carefully examined the quests.

Goblin extermination, forest wolf extermination, troll extermination, wyvern extermination...

Most of them seemed to be in the forest to the southeast of the capital.

I won't take the goblin quest.

I've never fought one, not even seen one.

I want to take it eventually, but for now, I'll avoid monsters I don't know.

Wolves travel in packs, making them troublesome to deal with unless you have a large group.

Trolls blend into the forest, making them hard to find.

Wyverns can fly, making them troublesome.

From past battles, the one I can defeat alone is...

"Ah, this one. This is good."

The quest memo I held was for "Helrich Extermination."

Helrich is a high-level undead that uses magic.

It's the result of a mage who delved too deeply into the dark arts.

It moves slowly and doesn't leave a certain area, meaning it doesn't run.

If you take a hit from its magic when you get close, you can easily beat it to death.

This quest will earn us 7 large gold coins (700,000 goats), which is very profitable.

...The only question is, they usually appear in remote places like old castles in the mountains or dungeons in the desert, not near the capital where there are many people.

Lillisia looked at the memo I chose, her violet eyes widening.

"Master... this is a B-rank quest. Is it okay?"

"Yes, it's fine. This one is surprisingly weak."

"Y-You're amazing, Master."

Lillisia seemed surprised, with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

I thought it was exaggerated.

Well, Lillisia has never adventured, so it's understandable.

Once she fights, she'll see that Helrich is easy to defeat.

However, a mocking voice came from behind me.

"Hahaha! This newbie is taking a B-rank quest!"

I turned around to see a large man with an axe on his back. He was the one who hassled me on the first day.

He's annoying and weak.

I can ignore him.

There's no need to make a big fuss.

So I calmly replied,

"It doesn't matter what quest I take."

"Besides, Helrich! You can't beat it! Hahaha!"

"Helrich!?" "Is that the one causing trouble recently?" "This newbie is an idiot." "Undead are one rank lower." "But they're practically A-rank." "You're going to die."

The adventurers started murmuring.

I bluntly said,

"I don't need your concern."

"You don't matter! I'm just worried about the girl! Hehehe."

"Your concern is unnecessary. —Let's go, Lillisia."

"Y-Yes!"

I tried to pull Lillisia through the crowd.

Being insulted is annoying, but ignoring it is the best option.

—But then.

The large man grabbed Lillisia's shoulder and pulled her.

"Leave the girl and go alone!"

"Ow!" Lillisia winced and cried out. Her beautiful silver hair was disheveled.

At that moment, I lost my temper and swung my arm.

In my anger, my fist left a trail.

"—Don't touch my Lillisia!!"

Thud!

I infused my fist with holy energy and punched the gap in his armor, around his side.

—Holy energy is a healing power, so it won't cause serious injury.

But the pain is considerable, enough to make even a large man step back—

—But.

"Guhhh!"

The large man drooled, rolled his eyes, and collapsed on the floor.

"What... so weak!"

I was surprised, my eyes wide.

The other adventurers were also shocked.

"Wow!" "One hit!?" "What did you do!?" "Amazing... A-rank in one hit." "That guy is strong." "You just punched, right!?" "No way... broke through steel armor in one hit..."

—What? Can you become an A-rank adventurer even if you're this weak!?

That was even more surprising.

Then a voice came from the counter.

"What's going on? Fighting inside the guild is forbidden."

—Crap.

I was seen by everyone.

This could be a big problem.

I looked at Lillisia, who was also troubled, but she seemed to be trying to suppress a happy expression by biting her lip.

I desperately tried to think of an excuse.

Is there anything I can say?

While making up a story, I glared at the crowd.

"It looks like I slipped. Right?"

I didn't think this childish method would work.

Sweat trickled down my forehead.

—But.

The adventurers said casually,

"Varyal just collapsed." "Looks like he slipped." "He said he wasn't feeling well today." "Someone take him to the infirmary." "He's big and troublesome."

The adventurers didn't tell the truth.

They deflected the attention.

The receptionist said,

"It seems that's the case. No equipment is broken, and he's not dead, so we can leave him."

I whispered my thanks.

"Sorry. Thanks for the help."

"Heh, I don't want to make an enemy of someone who can take down Varyal in one hit." "You surprised me." "You're the one who broke the crystal ball." "That's amazing. Teach me that technique."

It seems Varyal was disliked.

—The bluff worked, and we were saved.

Then Lillisia and I took the quest.

The receptionist said,

"Are you sure about a B-rank quest for your first time?"

"It's fine."

"Well, just finding where it is and reporting it is equivalent to a D-rank mission, so come back if it gets too difficult."

"I see, thanks for the advice."

"—So, a two-person party for herb gathering and Helrich extermination."

She stacked our cards and put them into a machine like a press.

With a click, our party was formed.

"Then, the southeast forest, right?"

"Yes, Master!"

Lillisia, with a lover-like smile, linked her arm with mine.

She pressed her attractive curves against me more boldly than before.

She seemed very happy.

Feeling her soft, trembling body, we left the guild.