Chapter 11 – The Streamer Makes His First Request

We headed to the Explorers’ Guild. This time, I made sure to tie a ribbon around Dori’s neck, just in case. 

The last time we came, she drew a lot of attention, likely because she wasn’t wearing a choker or anything to signify her bond to me. 

I didn’t want to resort to putting a collar on her, so I opted for a ribbon instead. It’s cute and suits Dori well. This time, I chose a red ribbon to match the color of her eyes. 

「Excuse me, how do I go about making a request?」 

I approached the receptionist, a woman who, upon seeing us, waved at Dori. It seemed she remembered our previous visit. 

「What kind of request would you like to make?」 

「I’d like to request some magic stones, but I’m not sure about the price range. Preferably green or ochre ones, if possible.」 

「Green and ochre magic stones are relatively inexpensive, but there’s currently a shortage in the guilds across the region. It might be faster to make a request than to have them ordered in.」 

Magic stones are often sold in bulk to companies or stored in guilds across different areas. 

Normally, guilds allocate a set amount of magic stones for corporate use, but right now, it seems like there’s a shortage everywhere. 

This was a little different from what I had expected based on the comments I’d read. Perhaps the commenter had anticipated this timing and suggested making a request instead. 

「So, what quality of magic stone are you looking for?」 

「Quality?」 

Apparently, magic stones vary in quality, with more vivid colors indicating a higher rank—and, of course, a higher price. 

「For instance, how much would a mid-tier stone cost?」 

The receptionist showed me a price list, and I was shocked. Even a standard C-rank magic stone costs several tens of thousands. 

「Need some magic stones? I could bring some for you.」 

The voice belonged to the explorer we’d bumped into last time. 

His sudden approach caught not only me but also the receptionist off guard. His timing, along with his confident demeanor, gave off the vibe of someone skilled in sales. 

「Ah, that would be helpful, but my viewers specifically asked me to make it a public network request.」 

Some of the viewers had insisted on using the network request system so other explorers could take the job as well. 

「Got it. Well, if there’s another chance, let me know.」 

With a dazzling smile that revealed perfectly white teeth, the explorer waved and walked away. Even his retreating figure seemed to shine. Was he really an explorer? He looked more like a celebrity. 

「Sorry for interrupting so suddenly.」 

「Oh, no, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.」 

For some reason, he felt the need to apologize. 

「Back to the topic, using the network request system means any gathered magic stones can also be sold directly to the guild. Plus, since it’s a nationwide request, you might get results faster.」 

「Then let’s go with that.」 

After some discussion, we decided to request C-rank magic stones. The payment terms were simple: the cost would be calculated based on market prices at the time the request was fulfilled, and the stones would be delivered to me. 

If I couldn’t pay in time, the stones would simply be handed over to the Explorers’ Guild, making it a low-risk arrangement. 

「Oh, one more thing. If the magic stones arrive and it’s convenient, could you include a bouquet as part of the reward?」 

I handed over a bouquet made from the flowers Dori had gathered. The arrangement featured orange calendulas and pink cosmos, a strikingly beautiful combination. 

Grandma had practiced flower arrangement, so while the selection of flowers was modest, the bouquet looked professional—good enough to sell. 

「Wow, this is beautiful! I’ll make sure to include it as a reward for the first person to complete the request.」 

「Thank you. If the flowers start to wilt, feel free to keep them for yourself.」 

「Huh…?」 

「Alright, please proceed with the request.」 

I handed her the paper with my name, address, and contact details and prepared to leave. 

「Wait… does this count as a confession—」 

「Stop dreaming. By the way, can I take that man’s request?」 

「What?! Lady… are *you* taking this request?」 

「And why not? Even a *noble lady* can take a request if she wants to.」 

「Alright, but… wait a second. We’re getting an unusually high number of inquiries about this request.」 

「Tch! So they figured it out from the bouquet reward. Fine, I’ll go get the magic stones myself!」 

Little did I know, the Explorers’ Guild’s network request system would turn into a battlefield over this job.