Chapter 10

When recruiting party members, the most effective method is to post a job ad on the bulletin board in the central square. Alternatively, you can request to have it published in the newspaper's classifieds.

Adventurers looking for a party will scrutinize the information, conditions, and benefits provided by the recruiter, and if they find a match, they will proceed to the interview.

The interview location I specified was the Boar Demon's Club.

It's not that I want to conduct the interview while enjoying drinks and food, but because there are entry restrictions for adventurers based on their level in the adventurer's tavern. By specifying a place where they can enter, I'm implicitly conveying that this is the minimum requirement.

It was eleven o'clock in the morning. There were already many customers, but it wasn't too noisy, and there was no hindrance to conducting the interview. All that was left was to wait for the applicants to show up—but—

"Of course, no one will come."

Sitting at my table without permission and spouting nonsense was Wolf, the leader of the Purple Lightning Wolf Gang.

"You've been noisy since just now. You're disrupting the interview."

"Interview? That's why no one is coming. After all, there aren't any adventurers who can enter this place and aren't already in a party or clan."

"That's just what you know, right?"

"Well, there's a possibility that there are hidden talents, but the chances are low. If there are, they probably have some kind of trouble. Most solo adventurers are like that. It's a known fact."

"That's not your concern. Now, get lost."

"Don't say such cold things. Noel must be lonely, right?"

Wolf casually draped his arm over my shoulder and flashed a friendly smile.

"So, why don't you come to my place? We'll welcome you."

"……Sigh."

How many times have I sighed now?

In short, Wolf is disrupting the interview because he wants to headhunt me for the Purple Lightning Wolf Gang. He's been like this ever since he entered the tavern, and no matter how many times I refuse, he stubbornly sticks around.

I'm fed up. I don't even have the energy to push his arm away.

"Cut it out, Wolf. Noel is bothered, you know."

A exasperated voice came from the neighboring table.

The speaker was an elf woman. She had the dignified beauty typical of elves and her golden hair was styled in a two-sided updo. She was one of Wolf's companions.

Perhaps she had great confidence in her evasion skills, as she was dressed in a sleeveless blouse and skirt, with only a leather chest plate as armor. She was Reisha, a renowned archer in the Boar Demon's Club.

One by one, voices of agreement rose from her companions.

"You said you could handle it, so I let you, but this is harassment, not headhunting. No one will join with such an invitation."

"Wolf's brain is pitiful. He has no strategy other than brute force."

"Poor Noel. Wolf is creepy."

"That's why he got dumped by the florist's daughter."

They were all Wolf's companions and members of the Purple Lightning Wolf Gang. They had been watching the situation from the neighboring table, and they must have decided that leaving it to Wolf would be futile. I wish they had realized it sooner.

"You guys, be quiet! And don't casually reveal that I got dumped! My negotiation skills are just getting started!"

Eh, it's still going on? Spare me...

"……Wolf."

"Hey, what's up? Are you considering joining us?"

"I've changed my mind. I might join you, depending on the conditions."

"Wow, really! Look, guys! This is my negotiation skill!"

As Wolf stood up and rejoiced, Reisha kicked him down.

"Ouch! What are you doing!?"

"Wolf is in the way, so lie down there."

Reisha coldly dismissed Wolf and turned back to me.

"So, what are the conditions? We really want Noel, so we'll do our best to meet them. Adding an excellent tactician to our current members will make us invincible."

"It's not a difficult condition. It's simple."

"What, what? Tell me, tell me?"

Reisha bent down and leaned in close.

Why is she leaning in so close? Is this an elf communication style? Seriously, she's too close. I can count her eyelashes.

"The condition is just one."

"Hmm-hmm."

"I will become the leader of the Purple Lightning Wolf Gang."

"Sure, that's fine? Everyone, is that okay?"

Reisha's words were met with nods from the other members.

"It's fine with me."

"It's fine with me too."

"It's fine with me."

"It's fine with me."

Everyone answered immediately, and Wolf hurriedly stood up.

"Why are you all answering so quickly!? What about my opinion!? I'm the leader! You can't just decide without me!"

"Well, Noel is smarter than Wolf. We don't really care who the leader is. See, there's no problem."

Reisha's assertion was followed by a nod from Wolf.

"Since you put it that way... Indeed. ...But, there is a problem! I'm the leader! I founded the Purple Lightning Wolf Gang!"

The room erupted in laughter at his rebuttal, and Wolf was further teased.

His companions weren't neglecting him. Rather, it was a playful act born out of trust. No one was seriously considering replacing the leader.

But for me, it was a serious condition, not a joke.

My resolve not to serve under anyone should have been clear to Wolf. As evidence, Wolf no longer bothered me and was joking around with his companions while drinking.

"That's a shame. I wanted to adventure with Noel."

Reisha, who didn't return to her seat, rested her chin on the table and pouted.

"But, what will you do if you can't gather a party?"

"In that case, I'll switch to headhunting."

"Headhunting? Do you have someone in mind?"

"Well, sort of."

There are issues to resolve before making them a companion, but if the headhunting is successful, they will be a significant asset. After all, they possess power that rivals the legendary Azure Outlier, all by themselves. It's nothing short of extraordinary.

Puppeteer—Hugo Coppelius.

No matter what happens, I must get this man.

"Heh, what kind of person? Do I know them?"

"Trade secret."

"Hey! What's that! You could tell me, you cheapskate!"

Wolf isn't as bad, but this woman is also the type who pesters me...

While I was thinking about how to get rid of her, a whisper-like voice suddenly sounded.

"Are you Noel Stollen?"

"Whoa!" "Ah!"

The voice was so sudden that both Reisha and I jumped in surprise. There was no presence at all. It was as if the person had appeared with the voice. In front of me stood a short person in a hooded robe.

Well, it's not just me; even Reisha, who is skilled in detecting presence, didn't notice. It's possible they came from another dimension.

"......I'm Noel. Who are you?"

"I am—"

The hood was removed, revealing silver hair with a purple tinge.

A woman. Her lustrous silver hair was cut to her collarbone. Her sun-kissed wheat-colored skin. Her face was as finely chiseled as a porcelain doll. Her left eye was sapphire blue, and her right eye was amethyst purple—heterochromia.

She was quite short, almost like a child at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, she exuded the charm of an adult woman. The sharpness of her cheeks and the straightness of her nose were features that wouldn't be found in a child who hasn't fully grown.

"Alma. I came because I saw the recruitment notice in the central square."

Indeed, an applicant. I had a feeling it would be so, given the situation.

But, a woman... Considering the previous incident, it's not ideal. If including a woman leads to another love triangle, it would be problematic.

I intended to form a party of men. If I had to include a woman, I planned to do so after the party functioned properly. But the first applicant is a woman.

I should have specified male-only in the recruitment notice. Since female adventurers are rare, I thought it wouldn't matter much if I didn't specify it.

Well, it's too late now. Sending her away just because she's a woman would be a problem. If our conditions match, I should accept her as a new companion, regardless of her gender.

Besides, not specifying male-only might have been a good decision. While it's not confirmed yet, her sudden appearance and demeanor suggest she is a strong individual.

"Alma, thank you for coming today. Please, take a seat."

"Okay."

As I gestured, Alma sat down in front of me.

"Hey, are you starting the interview already?"

Reisha tilted her head and whispered to me.

"This girl isn't an adult, right? She can't be an adventurer, can she?"

"No, that's—"

"No. I'm not a child. I'm a fully grown adult."

Alma, who must have heard Reisha's whisper, shook her head and denied it. Then, she held up two fingers with her right hand and one with her left.

"Twenty-one years old. A proper adult."

"Five years older...?"

She was an adult, but I didn't realize she was five years older. What a surprising woman.

"Hey, hey, at what age do humans become adults? Is twenty-one really an adult?"

Reisha asked a silly question, but I ignored it.

"I have a few questions. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

"Then, first—"

"What's your favorite food?"

"Strawberries."

"Wolf! Don't just barge in!"

I had no room for error. Just as I was about to ask a question, Wolf, who was supposed to be at the neighboring table, returned and started asking questions.

"You're the leader of another party. Why are you asking questions? Besides, what will you do with her favorite food?"

"Come on, don't be so serious. She's an interesting applicant."

"I'm not playing around! House! Wolf, House!"

"What's your favorite book?"

"Elisabeth Greese, '100 Techniques to Turn a Tough Guy into a Girl.'"

As I desperately tried to get rid of Wolf, Reisha started asking questions. Not only that, but other members of the Purple Lightning Wolf Gang joined in.

At this point, there was nothing I could do...

"What's your hobby?"

"Herb gathering."

"Can you save money?"

"Somewhat."

"What are your three measurements?"

"90, 53, 82."

Why are they asking such irrelevant questions...? And Alma is answering them diligently. It's too much trouble to stop them. I might as well join in and ask my own questions.

"What are your skills and rank?"

"Scout. C-rank."

A scout. Not bad. In abyss exploration, scouts and archers with strong danger detection skills are useful. It's ironic that a person I didn't have before is now here.

"Are you interested in fashion?"

"Average."

"What's your past experience? Have you been part of any other parties?"

"No. I just finished registering as an adventurer. Until recently, I was training with my grandfather in the mountains."

No experience as an adventurer? That's a problem. But what's more concerning is that she has been training all this time. What kind of training did she do until she was twenty-one?

"What's your motto?"

"Leave for tomorrow what can be done tomorrow."

"Last question. Why did you decide to become an adventurer?"

"I'm not interested in being an adventurer. What I'm interested in is—"

Alma's finger pointed at me.

"The grandson of the Immortal Demon, you."

"......A relation of my grandfather?"

My grandfather is a famous hero, but he wasn't an adventurer. It's questionable whether he knew someone who lived in the mountains. Therefore, it's more reasonable to assume that Alma herself or a relative of hers had a connection with my grandfather.

"Not me, but my grandfather said he fought with the Immortal Demon."

"Hmm..."

"My grandfather has no right arm. It was cut off by the Immortal Demon."

I subtly touched Silver, making sure Alma didn't notice.

"You don't mean to avenge him, right?"

But my worry was unfounded.

"No. I won't do such an unproductive thing. I was just curious about the grandson of that hero."

"O-Oh, I see... Well, I'll apologize on behalf of my grandfather. I'm sorry. Since my grandfather is already dead, I hope you can accept my apology as his."

"My grandfather passed away last month, so there's no one holding a grudge. The past is the past. No apology is necessary."

Alma said it as if she truly didn't care.

However, a man who fought the Immortal Demon... There are too many to guess who it could be. My grandfather was a wild child in his youth.

"By the way, what's your grandfather's name?"

"Alcor Iudicaire."

The moment I heard the name, I felt goosebumps. The members of the Purple Lightning Wolf Gang, who were nearby, also widened their eyes in shock.

Alcor Iudicaire, a name associated with absolute terror.

In the underworld dominated by the largest criminal syndicate, there exists a certain secret society. The Assassins' Guild, an organization that makes assassination their livelihood.

Their cruelty, which would kill even a baby if given a contract, is even worse than that of the criminal syndicate, and they are feared by everyone as someone they never want to make an enemy of.

The founder and first guild master of this organization is the legendary assassin, Alcor Iudicaire.

He is famous for being commissioned by the Pope to eliminate an opposing religious organization and accomplishing it alone. It's said that the number of people he killed then easily exceeded a thousand.

His untouchable status in every aspect is so formidable that even mentioning his name in public is taboo. Yet, Alma claims to be his granddaughter.

Is she really the granddaughter of that Alcor?

I, too, have had trouble being believed as the grandson of the Immortal Demon due to my appearance, but even so, it's hard to believe at first.

But if she is genuine, she would be a rare talent