Chapter 12

I see.

So this is the Swordsman Guild where Mother used to be.

"Can I ask you something?"

"…What is it?"

"Do you know the name Farah?"

The woman—apparently named Lilia—suddenly brightened up.

"Could it be Farah, the 'Sword Maiden'!? Of course I do! She was the female swordsman who built the golden age! Back then, she and your father were the top two in the guild, always competing for the title of the strongest in the city! When I was little, she played with me a few times! She was very beautiful and kind… Unfortunately, she got married and returned to her hometown…"

It seems I have the right place.

"You said your name is Lilia, right?"

"Yes?"

"I have no choice. I'll join this guild."

"R-Really!?"

This is the guild where Mother used to be, and I have no memories of it.

So, I don't really care if it collapses, but as an unemployed person, it seems unlikely I can join any other guild right now.

If it does collapse, I can just transfer to another guild.

By then, if I show my strength in tournaments and prove that even as an unemployed person, I can match the skills of other swordsmen, I won't be turned away.

"Thank you! Then, please sign this 'Membership Contract' this time!"

Lilia quickly handed it over, as if she always carries it with her.

I wrote my name and, since there was a space for occupation, I filled that in too.

Lilia took it with a smile,

"So your name is Alair, huh, hehe. Your occupation is… huh?"

Her smile froze.

"…Um, are my eyes playing tricks on me? No matter how many times I look, it says 'Unemployed'…"

"I think your eyes are fine. It's exactly as you see."

"Hehe… Alair, you have a good sense of humor, don't you? But this is a contract, so you can't put false information on it."

"It's not a joke. It's the truth."

I showed her the appraisal document.

"…"

Lilia, still with a frozen smile, silently drew the sword at her waist.

"What are you doing, suddenly drawing your sword? This is dangerous."

"…………………………………………Alair."

"What?"

"If you don't want to die, can you please cancel the contract immediately…?"

"Why? I joined because you insisted."

"Who the hell would think a new member with such an arrogant attitude would be unemployed! Damn it!"

Her way of speaking changed.

"Besides, to join the Swordsman Guild in this city, you need at least a basic class like 'Swordsman' or 'Knight' who can learn the 'Sword Skill'! I thought it was just to make up the numbers, but 'Unemployed'!?! This is a joke! If we let in an unemployed person, the already fallen name of Dragon Fang will plummet to the bottom of the earth! We'll be a laughingstock forever!"

Lilia's angry shouts echoed through the empty lobby.

Then, she fell to her hands and knees,

"…Ah… I thought I finally found a new member… This treatment…"

"Cheer up. I'm sure something good will happen eventually."

"It's your fault, you damn bastard!"

At that moment, someone else came in.

This time, it was a woman.

"Lilia? What's going on? I heard your voice from outside…"

"Rinaaa! Please listen to meee!"

Lilia clung to her.

The girl called Rina was about my age.

She had long, fiery red hair tied back in a single braid.

I've seen this hair color somewhere before…

She was tall and slender, with long, elegant limbs.

On the other hand, her chest was more than adequately developed, and my eyes were naturally drawn to it.

Hmm, indeed, a large chest is a good thing.

"Thought we finally got a new member, but she's unemployed!"

"Unemployed…? —Wait, you…!?"

The red-haired girl widened her eyes when she looked at me.

Then, for some reason, she raised the corners of her mouth and let out a laugh,

"I never thought you'd come to this city."

"Huh? Rina, do you know him?"

"Yeah. This guy is from my hometown."

…Hometown?

"The humiliation I felt back then, I still haven't forgotten. After all, I left that town and came to this city because of the shame of losing to you."

I tilted my head.

"Who are you?"

"What!?"

The red-haired girl looked shocked.

"You can't say you forgot!?"

"Well, I did forget, so I can only say that."

"Don't kid me! You and I had two matches, didn't we!?"

"I don't remember."

"The first time, I won decisively, but the second time, I lost to you!"

"…?"

"Damn! You really don't remember!?"

That's what I've been saying.

"Besides, I don't think I could forget someone as beautiful as you."

"B-b-but…"

"…Now that you mention it, there was someone with similar hair color."

The boy who taught me the 'Dual Blade Slash' and showed me that I could use similar techniques without a skill.

I haven't seen him since then.

"He was the son of the vigilante leader."

"…No, daughter!"

Huh?

"The vigilante leader Evans has no son! He has a daughter! …That's me!"

…Seriously?