Chapter 41

When they arrived at the adventurer guild of the city of Kama, Lena and Muga headed to the reception where Colette was, as planned.

"I want to report on a quest."

"Yes, let me see... The quest Muga's party took on was to slay the Goblin General. It looks like you successfully completed it, doesn't it? ♪ Lena, wasn't it a good experience for you to take on a quest with a different party for the first time?"

"...It was a good experience, but not in the way you think."

Colette, who had a question mark floating in her head, stiffened when she confirmed the part of the Goblin King that Muga had presented as proof.

"Goblin... King's ear!? Could it be that the Goblin General you reported on had leveled up?"

"That's exactly it. I believe the rules state that even if the target monster has leveled up, the reward is still given, right?"

"Of course! However, in the case of a Goblin King... I need to report this to the guild master, so please wait a moment."

With that, Colette left without waiting for a response. The adventurers around them were murmuring, reacting to the words "Goblin King." Normally, a monster that E-rank adventurers could defeat, and the reward for it, would be far from the danger level of a Goblin King, which was in a different class even among rank 4 monsters, with a reward comparable to that of a rank 6 earth dragon, as Larit had said.

After a while, Colette returned. She wanted to hear the details in the guild master's office.

"Are Yu and the others not coming?"

Colette was surprised that Yu, Nina, and Larit were not coming, but when she was told that they had only come to pick up Lena and had not participated in the Goblin King's slaying, she looked suspicious but took Lena and the others to the guild master's office.

After about five minutes, Colette returned.

"Can we come back in?"

"I was only told to bring you, so I have fulfilled my duty. There should be no problem. Probably..."

Colette's voice grew weaker and weaker, which was concerning, but I decided to proceed with my business.

"Colette, I heard that the guild also helps adventurers find homes."

"Indeed, high-rank adventurers earn enough to afford larger homes, which we introduce to them. However, Yu is still an E-rank adventurer, right?"

Well, if an E-rank adventurer said they wanted to buy or rent a home, they would probably be laughed at or thought to be joking. But unlike ordinary adventurers, I don't incur expenses for consumables. I can make potions, antidotes, and mana potions, so the rewards from quests and the sale of materials are pure profit. Staying in an inn continuously is more expensive than buying or renting a home. Fortunately, thanks to grandma, I can cook basic meals, so household chores are not a problem.

"I can prepare 5 million Madoka as a down payment, so could you find a few options for me? The location doesn't matter as long as it's in the suburbs, and the bigger, the better."

Colette's smile disappeared for a moment at the amount I could afford, but she quickly regained it.

"Understood. I will prepare a few options for you."

"Yay, our own home! I'm so happy ♪"

"Eh? Do you want to live with me too?"

"Eh? Is there any other choice?"

Nina looked at me as if it were obvious. Nina and I manage our money together. I had tried to split it, but it was pointless.

Lena and the others, who were taken to the guild master's office, were explaining the details of the Goblin King's slaying.

"So, you took on the quest to slay the Goblin General, entered the Great Forest, and found that the Goblin General had leveled up to become a Goblin King?"

"...I've been saying that over and over."

"You went with a party of four, but two of them ran away. What happened to them?"

"I've explained that multiple times! How would we know what happened to the two who ran away while we were fighting the Goblin King?"

Morphis was not convinced by Lena's explanation. The Goblin King, with its individual differences, had a minimum skill level of 5 in weapon skills and the unique skill 'Subordinate Followers.' Even if the number of E-rank adventurers increased from four to ten, they would not stand a chance against it. Morphis was certain that the adventurer Yu was involved in this matter. However, even if he brought Yu in by force, Yu would not speak willingly.

"Did the Goblin King use its unique skill 'Subordinate Followers'?"

"No, I think it used it just before it died. If it had used it from the start, we wouldn't be here, would we?"

Lena had prepared an answer for this question, which she had expected to be asked.

"Don't be so cocky, young man...?"

Muga, who was glared at by Morphis, stiffened from the intensity of his gaze. Lena, standing next to him, maintained her usual expressionless face, as if she had nothing to do with it.

"And you, little girl."

Morphis directed pressure at Lena, just as he had with Muga.

"...The report is finished. I want the reward paid quickly. I want to go home... This old man is troublesome."

"Grumble... The last part about the old man being troublesome was unnecessary!"

Instead of cowering, Muga was unexpectedly scolded, and Morphis's heart was a little hurt.

"Finally back, huh? It took quite a while, didn't it?"

"...That old man was being a pervert."

"!? !?"

"C, come on! I was being interrogated about the Goblin King."

"You can't expect me to believe that easily..."

"Anyway, the reward is 100 gold coins. Are you really going to take only half, 50 coins?"

"Well, you did slay it... What's with that smirk, Lena? You're creepy."

Indeed, Lena had been smirking since she returned.

"Is your stomach hurting, Lena?"

"Do you smirk when your stomach hurts?"

"...Haha, I've become a D-rank adventurer."

"Huh? Don't joke around. You just became E-rank, didn't you?"

I can't believe I was surpassed by this kid!?

Muga also looked at me apologetically. Could it be...

"I've also become a D-rank adventurer. Apparently, the Goblin King is a special monster, and the reward and guild points are off the charts, even among rank 4 monsters."

"Hahaha, you beat me to it. I can't afford to be complacent."

Larit, who is currently D-rank and about to become C-rank, responded maturely, congratulating Lena and Muga. He's too kind-hearted.

"Hmph, I'm not at all jealous."

"Ahaha, Yu, 'jealous' is written all over your face."

"Shut up!"

When Lena and the others left the guild master's office, Joseph came out from the back room.

"Hmph, let's hear the details!"

Morphis was still angry about the earlier incident. Joseph placed a cloak, mantle, bracelet, ring, and pendant on the desk. All of these items had concealment skills or skills that interfered with detection skills and magic.

"What is this?"

"If you want to hear the details, you'll have to buy all these items."

"What are you saying?"

"They cost 300 gold coins in total. These items were necessary to track Yu."

In reality, Yu had known about all of them. These items were completely useless, but he kept that a secret. The veins on Morphis's forehead were clearly visible.

"Are you kidding me?!"

Morphis's angry voice could be heard from the 3rd floor guild master's office all the way to the 1st floor reception counter. Joseph, who had been scolded, didn't seem to care and started drinking Morphis's alcohol. Morphis was still yelling, but Joseph's mind was preoccupied with how to train Yu.

As of June 19th, the number of favorites was around 315, but it had grown to an incredible number. I am very surprised and grateful for everyone's comments and warm feedback. The story will continue, so I look forward to your comments and feedback.