Chapter 31

As Eirida submitted the party application and was made to wait at the reception for an unreasonable amount of time, the branch manager, with his arms crossed behind his back, appeared from the back of the association.

"We can't let Eirida Bargain, who is about to become a three-star, lead a party and further complicate matters by forming a party. The party registration is not allowed."

Eirida raised an eyebrow.

"I don't think the association has that kind of authority. What's the reason?"

"Ah, don't misunderstand. We have prepared a request for the new recruit. That way, there's no need to form a party, right?"

"The association is preparing it, huh?"

"We won't give special treatment. Rules are rules. Therefore, I will have you take on eight-star and nine-star salted requests. If you complete a few, we might consider trusting the new recruit and changing the provisional registration to a full one."

Eirida frowned deeply.

The association can cancel the provisional registration if the recruit fails to complete requests, and if this continues, they can claim a lack of motivation.

Moreover, there won't be any competition with local hunters for proper requests, and the only thing that can lower the branch's evaluation is cleaning up the salted requests, so it's not a loss for the association.

"Let's start by assigning a request. You can think of it as a mandatory request."

Without waiting for a response, the branch manager dropped a bomb.

When a community is in crisis due to a monster attack or a rampage of magical beasts, the Hunter Association can forcibly summon registered hunters in the area. If a hunter refuses the summons without a valid reason, they will be penalized, and in the worst case, expelled.

"Is there a sign of a rampage or a monster attack? I haven't heard anything about it."

The branch manager slid a request form across the reception counter.

Eirida read the request form with suspicion, and her expression grew increasingly stern.

"Where is this a rampage of magical beasts?"

Eirida flicked the request form with her finger.

"From any angle, this doesn't qualify as a mandatory request for a rampage of magical beasts."

"I've never heard of treating this as a rampage of magical beasts. Besides, it's odd that the target is just Krand."

Eirida, who was getting increasingly frustrated, had veins popping on her forehead and throat.

The request form that Zangaru peeked at from behind read:

Nine-star recommended request → Free request based on regulations from the day of Blue Moon onwards.

Location: The large tree at the edge of the village.

Target: Mist Flock Starlings

Proof of completion: "Beak"

Deadline: No specific deadline, but within one week of acceptance. Consultation required.

Note: All Mist Flock Starlings must be eliminated. The large tree must not be damaged in any way.

Reward: 1 rod per bird, but only if all are eliminated.

"Eirida Bargain, read the request form carefully. The Mist Flock Starlings, a 'magical beast,' are forming a 'flock' in the city and 'attacking' the water source. Isn't this a rampage of magical beasts?"

"That's just a stretch."

"Or what? Are you saying the villagers aren't troubled by this magical beast?"

Eirida furrowed her brow.

From behind, Zangaru asked:

"I don't know these birds, so I want to ask. What kind of damage do they cause by being there in a flock?"

The branch manager, looking at Zangaru with a displeased expression, answered:

"...They roost in the large tree at the edge of the village, and the residents around it are troubled by the noise and droppings."

"What is the village chief doing?"

"What can the village chief do? Since he couldn't, the request came here."

"Hmm, then how do we distinguish the target birds from the others?"

The branch manager looked at Zangaru as if he were asking a stupid question.

"Let me explain. In the village, only third-level magic can be used. As a provisional ten-star, you are only allowed to use third-level magic.

You may not know, but Mist Flock Starlings always rest in flocks when it gets dark, and this is considered their territory. Therefore, if you eliminate all the Mist Flock Starlings resting in the large tree at the edge of the village, it can be considered that you have eliminated the entire flock.

You must eliminate them all at once. If you only kill one, the flock will double.

If you fail to eliminate them and even one escapes, it will form a larger flock and return to the large tree at the edge of the village. The current situation is the result of the village chief underestimating the birds and trying to handle them himself, killing them haphazardly. We can't let this get worse."

Third-level magic is primarily used for daily life and is categorized as non-lethal. Considering that in modern Japan, items like knives and cars, which have the potential to cause harm, are relatively easy to possess, this isn't too different.

"Can I get a fine mesh net from the association?"

"Hahaha, do you really think you can do it? Sure, I'll lend you as many nets as you need. But if you fail, that's the end. You won't have a place in the village anymore."

"Got it."

"Hey, Krand!"

Eirida looked at Zangaru with a worried face.

"I find this difficult even for me. Moreover, there are no hunters in this village who will cooperate with you. Think carefully."

Zangaru, with a calm face, said:

"Eirida will help, right?"

Eirida's face turned even redder, out of anger.

"The guide can only provide assistance. Besides, as I said, this request is difficult even for me. I can't be relied on."

"I have a plan. I thought it would be better than being alone. Besides, you must be curious about this request, Eirida."

Eirida opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out.

She sighed and said:

"You should recruit helpers, not do it alone. Don't think you can handle it by yourself."

"Well, in any case, this is a mandatory request for me, so there's nothing I can do about it."

Eirida had no choice but to remain silent.

This mandatory request occurred before Eirida and Zangaru formed a party. Even if they formed a party, the mandatory request wouldn't be withdrawn, and if it failed, it could affect Eirida's standing.

The branch manager might withdraw the request considering Eirida's rank, but that would make her look like she forced the issue, making future requests in the village more difficult.

Eirida, of course, didn't care about that. She was only concerned about the villagers' troubles.

Since the association's rules were being followed, there was nothing she could do, even if the application of the rules was unconventional.

"Thanks."

Zangaru looked at the stern-faced official.

Zangaru didn't need to insist on becoming a hunter at this point. However, considering the possibility that Maxim might not return, he had to endure to some extent.

Compared to his time as a contract employee with a fixed term in Japan, this wasn't too difficult. At least he wouldn't go hungry, and if things got bad, he could always run away somewhere.

The official processed the request form, asked Zangaru to sign, and gave him a copy of the acceptance form.

Zangaru read the copy.

"I can't tell if this is a mandatory request or a regular one."

The official looked at the branch manager.

"What does it matter? It's not necessary."

"It's not about whether it's necessary; I'm asking for it. Oh, and a large net too."

The branch manager, looking at the official with a troubled expression, nodded.

The official quickly went to the back of the association, brought another form, asked Zangaru to sign, and gave him a new copy of the acceptance form.

"Go to the back door for the net."

"Alright, this will do."

Zangaru left the association and went to the back door to borrow the largest net.

Zangaru and Eirida were heading to the large tree at the edge of the village. The unexpectedly large net was left at the association, as Zangaru said he might need it soon.

Eirida, with her arms crossed and a frown, asked:

"What do you plan to do?"

"I'll think about it."

Zangaru only thought that the borrowed net would be necessary. If he didn't use it, he could return it.

Eirida's face grew even sterner at Zangaru's immediate response.

"You said you have a plan."

"Can't help it; it's a mandatory request."

"...I've never heard of such a mandatory request."

Zangaru shrugged.

"Well, if it doesn't work out, I'll just run away."

"You..."

Eirida's stern face relaxed, and she looked exasperated.

"Since you live in the mountains, you can manage."

"...Are you asking personal questions? Do you have a family?"

"One... Ah, one and one."

Zangaru muttered, and before Eirida could say anything, he continued:

"But if I fail, I hope Eirida will use a sea of people to handle it. If mandatory requests are possible, the entire village could be mobilized, and third-level magic could be used illegally. The branch manager might think this would get more money from the village chief."

Eirida was intrigued by Zangaru's detached expression, as if he were watching from a distance.

"Do you not want to become a hunter?"

"...No, in that sense, I feel bad about it. If there were no obstacles to registration, I might have become one smoothly, but this is too much trouble."

"It's fine if you don't. I've never seen such a terrible branch before."

"I have to stay here for a while for a reason. But even if I don't become a hunter, I'm considering it. I'm really sorry to Eirida, who offered to be my guide."

"Do you plan to go to another city? I don't know where you live, but this is a frontier. There are only one or two villages between here and Tansku, and no association. The same goes for Blueorda in the same federation."

"Is that so? I've never left the mountains. Can you show me a map next time?"

"I can show you a map anytime, but... you live in the mountains?"

Zangaru recounted the fabricated history with Maxim. Apart from being summoned, it wasn't far from the truth.

An orphan who had never left the mountains and was picked up by Maxim.

"An orphan... That must have been tough. Still, if Maxim Dahl recommended you, he should have taken care of you until the end."

Eirida believed it without doubt and was indignant.

"Do you know him?"

Eirida made a face as if she had bitten into a bitter bug.

"...I had a youth, too."

Zangaru, intrigued, made a curious face.

"Do you have something to say? Hmm?"

Eirida, seeing this, had a vein pulsing on her temple and glared at Zangaru.

As they talked, the large tree at the edge of the village came into view.

It was already making an unpleasant chirping sound.

A large tree stood against the village's earthen wall. It wasn't very tall but spread out wide.

It looked like a bundle of mangrove trees tied together into one.

"The capricious goddess's tree. The fruit is bitter when blue, sour when yellow, and sweet when red. It's good for hangovers and helps maintain good health during long expeditions."

The fruit was still blue.

Under the shade of the fruit, countless small birds were perched, and below them, droppings were scattered.

The birds were about the size of a chicken egg, slightly larger.

"This is creepy."

Eirida rubbed her goosebumps.

"This is another impossible task. Why is this a nine-star request?"

"Because... they probably couldn't offer much for the request."

Eirida, who was scolding Zangaru, sounded exasperated.

"I'll think about it a bit. I'm going to the general store."

Zangaru turned back and headed to the general store on the main road.

"If you come with me, it'll be boring. What will you do, Eirida?"

"A guide can't let a new recruit run away from a request out of fear, right?"

Eirida smiled.

When she smiled, she looked like a fierce beast.

Before Zangaru could say anything, the unsettling Eirida, smiling only with her mouth, mercilessly hit him on the head with her fist.