Chapter 22

Having a leisurely breakfast is wonderful—after eating heartily at a café off the main street, Jill went to work at the Adventurers' Guild.

Eating breakfast at a café in the morning is something only those who earn a considerable income can afford. In fact, the receptionist at the Adventurers' Guild is a high earner. This is because, to pacify the rough adventurers, one needs either "strength" or "beauty," and it was already known that the number of disputes within the guild varied depending on whether the receptionist was beautiful.

In other guilds, such as the Merchants' Guild or the Alchemists' Guild, there is no such requirement for the receptionists to be beautiful, and their salaries are not particularly high.

To become a receptionist at the Adventurers' Guild, being attractive is a must. Moreover, there are plenty of women who are just pretty. What is further required is intelligence—being competent in one's job.

In short, being a "receptionist at the Adventurers' Guild" and "having breakfast at a café" is a very fulfilling way for Jill to spend her time, which fully satisfies her self-esteem.

"Good morning."

"...Good morning, Jill."

There was already a receptionist at the guild counter. It was a beautiful woman with a somewhat shadowy aura who had been on a business trip to the capital with the sub-master.

"Aurora, did anything unusual happen?"

That beautiful woman, Aurora, lowered her head, her shadow deepening.

"...Mr. Unken wants to see you."

"? Mr. Unken?"

What could be happening so early in the morning? Jill put her personal belongings in the locker and changed into her uniform. The guild was moderately busy, but with Aurora there, it would be fine. Jill headed to Unken's office—the guild master's office.

"...Jill, come here."

There was a guest seating area, but she was called directly to the desk. Jill felt relieved, thinking it was something that could be discussed while standing.

She didn't think she had done anything wrong, but being called like this was nerve-wracking, especially since Unken looked grim.

"Do you need something from me?"

"There are two things: one to convey and one to confirm."

"Okay."

"The thing to convey is—two days ago, the escort mission taken by Nogusa's party, 'Faraway Kira Star,' failed."

"...What?"

Of course, she remembered Nogusa, a C-rank adventurer. The highest rank for adventurers in Pound was D. She had been curious about what kind of person he was and was disappointed when she saw him. He wasn't much different from the adventurers in Pound.

However, he was still a C-rank adventurer.

A C-rank adventurer failing? The missions they usually take on are quite difficult—like defeating monsters that the Pound guard squad can't handle or becoming a retainer for a noble.

"Did they get attacked by bandits on the road? Or perhaps by a suddenly mutated, vicious monster?"

"No."

"...Could it be that they themselves disappeared? Or kidnapped a young lady?"

"No. —Well, I think that's the most likely possibility, but for now, it's not the case."

"Then what is it? Just tell me already."

"...Jill, this is a blunder by the Adventurers' Guild."

"I understand."

"Then why are you looking so excited! Are you a gossip lover?"

"No, Mr. Unken. I don't have such bad tastes. Come on, tell me quickly. It will spread soon enough, anyway."

It's a big news story in the morning.

To Jill, it didn't matter what happened to Nogusa, and he was dispatched by the capital's Adventurers' Guild, which has nothing to do with the people in Pound.

Such big news would quickly become known among the adventurers.

(I'll tell Hikaru. He was worried about it. Hehe, I wonder what kind of face he'll make~?)

Unken sighed.

"Well... It's better than a serious face. According to Nogusa's testimony, it went like this: 'During the second short break, when we peeked into the carriage, she had vanished like smoke.'"

"Vanished? Wait, did Nogusa and his party testify? So they went to the capital's Adventurers' Guild?"

"Yes."

"Even though they would be the first to be suspected? People don't just turn into smoke."

"Indeed. If Nogusa had let the escort target escape, it wouldn't make sense for him to go to the capital and give such a ridiculous testimony. It's too childish."

"Right... Where did the young lady go?"

"If we knew, we wouldn't be struggling."

"That's true."

"There are two things complicating the matter. One is the testimony of the driver. It seems Nogusa and his party demanded the carriage key."

"? Why would they do that?"

"...It's about them. They probably became interested in the escort target."

Jill understood from the way he said it. She could read Unken's emotions with her special senses.

"They're idiots."

"Idiots, but C-rank adventurers. The capital guild's reputation is in tatters."

"Then, what's the other thing complicating the matter?"

"Yes... Do you know about the security situation at the Morgstadt Manor?"

"Yes. Special knights were dispatched. The knights' failure to prevent the murder has tarnished their reputation!"

"That's why, why do you look so happy... Anyway, one of the knights said, 'Adventurers can't be trusted,' and started tracking Nogusa and his party after they set off on the escort mission."

"They must have been quite disliked."

"However, the knight couldn't meet Nogusa and his party. He was attacked by bandits."

"Bandits... between the capital and Pound? That's rare. What happened to the knight?"

"He's fine, but his bones were broken in specific spots. He was picked up by a passing caravan and brought to Pound, where he is now in a treatment facility. The investigation officer from the capital was there and heard his story. I was not allowed to join the meeting."

"Hmm... That's quite mysterious."

"Indeed."

Jill, who is not just any receptionist at the highly competitive Adventurers' Guild, had some questions after hearing this story.

"Knights are skilled, right? And yet they were easily defeated."

"Indeed. Moreover, according to the knight's testimony, the attacker was a 'child.' A 'child' who 'sniped' him."

"Whaaat!?"

"...That's inappropriate."

"Ah!"

Jill covered her wide-open mouth.

"But, it's strange for a child to defeat a knight. ...This seems similar to Nogusa's testimony. They're testifying seriously about something 'impossible' like vanishing like smoke..."

"What do you think? Are these two completely unrelated incidents?"

"Statistically, they should be, right? I'm surprised, but sometimes there are geniuses in combat... even among children. But would such a child become a bandit? Or perhaps a short adult?"

"Hmm."

"Considering that, the combination of a 'combat genius' and a 'young lady who vanished like smoke' doesn't seem to have any common ground. Did the young lady, who vanished like smoke, realize the knight was pursuing her and attack?"

"No, the knight said the 'child' was a 'boy'—your thoughts are almost the same as Aurora's."

"Probably separate incidents, then. But, Mr. Unken, are you concerned?"

"Yes... I can't help but be."

"Is that the 'conveyance' and 'confirmation'?"

"No, not exactly. The 'confirmation' is, Jill, are there any skilled young boys in this area? Not just adventurers, anyone."

At that moment, Hikaru came to mind for Jill.

But Hikaru was reading documents the day before yesterday when the young lady was escorted.

"I can't think of anyone."

"Alright... I'll ask Gloria too. The result will probably be the same."

* * *

Lavia and Hikaru left the inn. To be precise, Hikaru went out first, then activated "Stealth" and returned, and they left the inn using "Group Concealment," a cumbersome method.

They couldn't take two rooms because to do so, they would need to show "Guild Cards" or "Soul Cards." Lavia had a "Soul Card" issued by the temple, but showing it would reveal her name. Her status as a fugitive murder suspect was affecting even this.

Faking cards or borrowing one from someone for money was an option, but it wasn't necessary to go to such lengths when they could just endure the inconvenience.

"..."

They walked out of the inn and proceeded together.

It was already a time when many people were active.

Pound is a city on a plain and, being a satellite city of the capital, it was developed systematically.

The streets are flat and laid out in a grid, making it hard to get lost while walking.

"...This is a city, huh."

It might be the first time Lavia walked through a city on her own.

Hikaru didn't say it out loud, but everything must have looked fresh to her. Lavia walked around, looking around curiously. The housewives gathering at the well under the great tree, the elderly walking energetically with shopping baskets, the apprentice being scolded by the shop owner, the man pulling a cart loaded with jars—everything.

"Hikaru."

"Hmm?"

"...That person is looking at you very intensely."

"...Yeah."

It was a hot dog stand.

The muscular owner was crossing his arms and glaring at them.

As they approached, he extended his thick palm.

"60 Gilan."

"...Are we buying two by default?"

"I want to try it."

Lavia's first-person pronoun was "ore," which was a bit too much, so she settled for the same "boku" as Hikaru.

Hikaru paid and received two hot dogs, handing one to Lavia, who looked very interested.

While thinking, "This looks exactly like a Japanese hot dog..." he took a bite.

"!"

Hikaru's eyes widened.

"How is it!?"

"Spicy."

"...Spicy?"

"Too spicy, you idiot!?"

He shouted.

It was so spicy that he almost blurted out something silly like, "This hot dog is really hot."

His body temperature rose, and sweat started to form on the back of his head.

The watery texture of the ketchup had settled. Even though it had settled,

"What did you do to the mustard?"

"..."

"Answer me."

"...I was curious about the spices the peddler was selling."

"Why would you do that?"

"It's your fault! You didn't come yesterday! I fed it to another regular, and he said it lacked spiciness!"

"Don't blame me! Ah, this is so spicy... Let's go. It's better not to eat this—huh?"

"?"

Lavia looked at Hikaru with a puzzled expression.

The hot dog in her hand was already half gone.

"This is delicious."

"..."

Hikaru looked at the owner with suspicion. The owner shook his head, meaning it was the same as Hikaru's.

"...Are you a spicy food lover?"

"?"

Lavia tilted her head.

"Let's walk around the city—uh, Rinkuro."

"Okay."

Hikaru and Lavia started walking. The hot dogs were too spicy to finish, so they returned them to the owner. Lavia was full after just one. The owner said, "This is nothing!" and ate it while crying.

Rinkuro was a pseudonym. "Lavia" was too obviously a girl's name. When asked what pseudonym would be good, Lavia herself said, "Rinkuro is good." It seemed to be the name of a protagonist in an adventure novel.

Lavia, being called Rinkuro, seemed to be in a good mood and hummed a tune with a straight face.

"That's 'Dodrono Armor Workshop,' where I bought your clothes. It's an armor shop, but they also sell regular clothes."

"That's an armor shop...!"

"The owner is a bit eccentric dwarf."

"Dwarf...!"

"That's 'Renewood Weapon Workshop,' where I bought my short sword."

"That's a weapon shop...!"

"The owner is... a bit eccentric elf."

"Elf...!"

Both seemed to be exciting points for Lavia.

Since it was unclear how far Lavia's escape incident had spread, they didn't enter the workshops today. Lavia promised to "come back someday" and just looked from the outside.

"That's the Adventurers' Guild."

"———"

"Lavia?"

"—I've dreamed of this..."

I've dreamed of this? How much did you want to be an adventurer?

Hikaru thought, but the atmosphere didn't allow for such a comment.

"...Hikaru."

"Yes?"

"...I'm glad I'm alive..."

"Y-Yes."

"...If I go in there, will I be asked, 'What's a kid doing here?'"

"......That's one aspect of it."

Hikaru, who was also often questioned, couldn't say much.

"Let's come back another time for information gathering."

"! Can we go in!?"

"I'm a working adventurer, so eventually people will know we're together. It would be strange to not bring you to the guild."

"I want to go in!"

"Sure, next time."

"Next time..."

"Within a few days."

"Okay!"

Lavia, who looked like a scolded puppy, showed a bright smile at the words "within a few days."

(—That's unfair, if you show such a smile, I'll want to go right away.)

Of course, he couldn't bring her until he had gathered enough information, so he held back for now.

"Want to walk around the city more?"

"No, I have something I want to do. —Want to go outside the city?"

"An adventure!?"

"...Well, preparation for an adventure."

Hikaru scratched his cheek.

"I want to check the power of your magic."