Chapter 7: The Adventurer’s Guild

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/8/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

Clatter clatter, several hours of being shaken in a coach from morning.
At last we arrive in the royal capital, Eucria.

First impression. Huge.
The castle, the streets, the gate. Everything’s huge.
The gate guard is huge too, while we’re at it. I could hang off that arm.
…No, maybe I’m just short.

Anyway, everything I can see is big. How many times my town is this.
A place this amazing must have lots of delicious food too.
I’m looking forward to it already… no. The goal is the Adventurer’s Guild. That’s important.
…Well, a little detour might be all right.

This is where I part with the people from the same coach.
They were all good people. Nobody asked about my black hair. I’d like to travel with them again if I get the chance.

At goodbye, everyone thanks me for the food, pats my head, and the girl gives me baked sweets.
…Look. How old do people think I am.
I’ll have you know I’m fifteen.

As for the leftover orc meat, we talked it over and decided to give it to the merchants.
There’s no way we can eat that much, and better they sell it than it rot.
As thanks, they gave the girl and me candy, and copper coins to everyone else.
…I mean, I don’t mind.
I just feel like I’m not being treated as the same age.

I’m a bit put out, but I pull myself together and go to the gate guard.

“Excuse meee. Which way is the Adventurer’s Guild?”
“The Adventurer’s Guild? Straight down this road and you’ll get there.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you.”
“Ou, you’re a cute one, miss, so be careful.”

The young man waves hard.
A good person. I wave hard back as thanks.

Straight down this road… that, then. There’s an especially large building.
Some slightly grim-faced uncles at the entrance; I think that’s the one.
When I go right up to it, it’s a very imposing building.
Grey stone, ivy crawling on it.
A bit scary, but I screw up my courage and creak the swinging doors open.

Everyone inside looks this way at once.
Well, unfortunately, I’m used to being stared at, so it doesn’t bother me.
I know perfectly well that my hair and eyes are an unusual color.

I ignore them and head for reception, and a beautiful older girl with a large chest smiles at me.
Her blouse is stretched tight; the buttons look ready to fly.
Ooh. As expected of the capital. The level is high.

“Hello. Is Glad in?”
“My, miss, what business do you have with the guildmaster?”
“I received a letter, and I have questions about that letter.”

I take the letter out of my bag and show it, and her manner changes.
She looks at the letter with a very serious face, then at me.
Eyes like she’s taking my measure. But I’m used to this too.
I used to get this look a lot.

“That’s certainly the guild’s brand. Please wait while I confirm.”

She says that and withdraws into the back.
Look, even if you say please wait.
This is incredibly uncomfortable.
Scary-looking uncles are staring like crazy.
Is this hair that unusual? I’d think there’d be others in the capital.
Maybe I should have worn a hood.

…Oh. A scary uncle is coming this way.

“Oi, miss. What’s your business at the Adventurer’s Guild?”
“Eh? Ah, I have a little business with Glad.”

His voice is kinder than I expected.
Did he see I was unsettled and come talk to me?

“Glad? The guildmaster? What kind of business.”
“I got a letter I don’t understand, so that.”
“Haan? A letter from the guildmaster? Let’s see it.”
“I already gave it to the receptionist.”
“That so… miss, you alone? Where are your parents?”
“I don’t have any. I’m an orphan.”
“…I see. Well, it looks like you’ve got circumstances, but if you’re in trouble, say so without holding back. Most folks know me if you say Gordon, caravan escort.”

A big, knobby hand pats my head.
…Yep. I’m being treated like a kid.

“Thanks. Gordon, your face is scary but you’re a good person.”
“That’s one comment too many. Well, take care of yourself.”

Gordon waves loosely and leaves.
When I notice, the stares from around us are gone.
…I see. He spoke to me to keep the others in check, too.
He really is a very good person. Though his face is scary.
I feel like all the scary-faced uncles are kind.
The bakery owner is a good person too.

I’m wondering whether Glad has a scary face as well when the beautiful receptionist comes back.

“Thank you for waiting. The guildmaster says he’d like to speak inside. This way, please.”
“Yes, thank you.”

I’m shown into a room behind reception, and the ringleader of the villains is there.
A face that looks like it’s definitely killed several people, a body so muscular you can tell through his clothes.
He’s grinning, an unlit cigar in his mouth.

“Hello. Are you Glad?”
“Yeah, that’s me. And you’re the miss?”
“Yes. I’m Ouka. I received the letter.”
“Hohh… I wondered what kind of brat you’d be, but I’ll be damned. You’ve got guts.”
“Ah. I get that a lot.”
“They say adventurers aren’t what they look like, but… still, that build of yours, huh.”

Shut up. Don’t talk about my height.
Also, I’m not an adventurer.

“So. The letter, was it.”
“Yes. What was that?”
“…Aah? What, you don’t know?”
“I have no memory of it.”
“That’s a problem… no, I just got asked to send the letter and the parcel.”
“Eh. Asked… by who?”
“A Hero, miss. Two months ago, was it, they showed up at the guild out of nowhere.”
“…Ha? A Hero, like the Ten Heroes in the picture books?”
“Ou. That’s the one.”

No, no, no. That doesn’t make any sense.

I’ve seen the story of the Ten Heroes of salvation who defeated the Demon King in picture books too.
Five years ago. When humans and demonfolk were at war, ten heroes came from another world.
Thanks to those heroes defeating the king of the demonfolk, peace returned to the world. That was the story.
It’s one of my favorites. I begged to have it read to me over and over.

And they’re actually still in this world, Sister Naria said.
They’re still helping the kingdom recover, apparently.
Yes. She did say that.
But why would people like that send me a letter.
I’m just a town girl.

“…Meaning?”
“Well, that’s the thing. The talk was just write it and send it, so I didn’t ask the details.”
“Ehhh… no way.”

I thought I’d understand something if I came here.
Then there was no point coming.

“Sorry. That one’ll have gone back to Asura by now, too…”
“Uwahh. Asura, the port town? That’s insanely far…”

From the capital to Asura is about a month by coach, I think.
Go? Spend a month, to Asura?
That’s too much, isn’t it. Asura is too far no matter how you look at it.
But going home without understanding anything is also… nnh. What do I do.

“…Can’t something be done.”
“Might be able to send a letter by wyvern post… that would be about a week round trip.”
“Ooh, I see… still, a week, huh.
Uwahh, the lodging costs…”
“…An? You’re an adventurer, aren’t you? Just knock out a few requests.”
“No, no. I’m just a town girl.”
“Haa? With that huge whatsit hanging off your hip?”

I’m reminded of the handguns behind my hips.
…Ah. Right. I can fight.
As I am now, if I just register as an adventurer, I might manage.
I remember Sister Naria saying that besides monster subjugation and escort requests, there are gathering requests for medicinal herbs and the like.
Fighting monsters is scary, but if I earn money gathering herbs I might get by.
I can send a letter to the church.

…All right. I’ve decided.

“Glad. I’m registering as an adventurer. Then I’ll earn money and write a letter.”
“Ooh, I don’t mind, but…”
“…So. How do you register as an adventurer?”
“From there, is it. All right, then, to reception.”

He’s going to show me.
Scary-faced people really are kind, it seems.