After getting a refill of coffee, I casually asked about the Count Rydand Territory.
「It seems a Roselan has taken up residence at Mirand Pass, and caravans are being attacked」
That was what he told me.
A Roselan is a humanoid monster about four meters tall, and apparently even silver-rank adventurers struggle against it.
No thanks. You should have said that sooner! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have agreed to escort anyone!
「Hasn’t distribution with Rydand been affected?」
「I’ve heard it’s been reduced by half」
Isn’t that a crisis for the Margrave Territory? Distribution is being disrupted, you know? Do something about it!
「Well, disruptions caused by monsters are fairly common. People just wait for adventurers to deal with it」
To people living in a world with monsters, is this about the same as a landslide?
「I see. I hope that’s the case」
There are about five days until my appointment with Dyne-san. According to Kainzel-san, preparations are progressing smoothly. If it hasn’t been dealt with in those five days, then we’ll probably be the ones handling it. That’s how this is going to go……
「Are you heading to the Count Rydand Territory, sir?」
「Yes. I’m going there as an escort」
Haaah. I should stop by the Adventurers’ Guild on the way back and ask about the Roselan’s situation and any available information.
「If you don’t mind, may I ask whom you’ll be escorting?」
「I’m sorry, but I’m not sure whether it’s appropriate to share that for business reasons, so I’ll refrain」
We haven’t signed a contract yet, but confidentiality matters. It wouldn’t be right for me to talk about it.
「Fufu. My apologies」
Hm? Was I being tested? But why? We only met today.
「Takato-san. I’ve finished choosing」
Pulled out of my thoughts by Miriel’s call, I paid and loaded everything into the Pioneer.
「Please come again」
「Yes. I’ll be sure to do so」
For some reason, all of the shop’s employees came out to see us off, and we left the store. What was that about?
It was already past three o’clock, so instead of visiting other shops, we left the Second Walled District and headed for the Adventurers’ Guild.
I was allowed to park the Pioneer beside the guild, moved the purchases into Home, then went back after buying some donuts.
「Miriel, wait in the Pioneer. If anything happens, don’t hesitate to shoot or retreat into Home. I’ll handle the rest」
Right now, I have connections to people in power. Unless it’s a really serious opponent, the Guild Master should be able to smooth things over.
…Don’t say things like, “That’s just leaving it to others”, okay…?
「Yes, I understand」
Leaving Miriel behind, I entered the building with a box of donuts in my arms, and the instant I did, I felt every female clerk’s eyes snap toward me at once. Wh-what!?
Before I could turn around and run, two female clerks appeared at my sides as if they’d teleported. Scary!!
「Takato-sama, welcome. Please come this way」
Before I knew it, I was led into a private room, served tea, and given a smiling look that clearly said, “All right, hand over the donuts already.” Seriously, terrifying!
「Uh, um, please share these with everyone」
「Thank you very much! I’ll call Sierra right away」
Then call her from the start! I didn’t have the nerve to say that, so I just nodded silently. Man, that was scary.
I reached for the tea and finally relaxed. Ah, that’s good. This might actually go well with whiskey.
After a while, Sierra and the Guild Master came in. Why the Guild Master too?
「I’m training the next Guild Master right now. I’ve left my office to him」
「So you really did have a proper candidate」
I’d heard that people with a one-man leadership style rarely raise successors, but it seems the Guild Master was different.
「When I became Guild Master, I brought a capable fellow with me. I won’t have any trouble finding a successor」
I could say that if that’s the case, he should just assign the work properly. But I won’t. There are things outsiders wouldn’t understand.
「So, what brings you here today?」
「I went to the Second Walled District, and while I was there, I heard that a pair of monsters called Roselans have settled in the mountain pass leading to the Count Rydand Territory. I wanted to ask if you had any information on them」
「Ah, Roselans. We’ve had Silver-ranked adventurers dealing with them, but they’re apparently quite cunning, so they’re having trouble. What, are you heading to Rydand?」
「Yes. I’ll be escorting an acquaintance who’s a peddler. I also thought it would be a good chance to learn about lands outside the territory」
If it were just information about outside territories, I could ask the Guild Master and get answers. But just hearing about it wouldn’t give me a sense of the surrounding terrain. You only really understand an area by walking it yourself.
「I see. Then I’ll give you a Silver Token」
After I explained things to a certain extent, the Guild Master said that. A Silver Token? What’s that?
「Takato. I’m promoting you to Silver rank. The Silver Token is proof of that. Of course, the guild won’t force any requests on you. If you’re going outside the territory, you should take it」
In other words, it’s better to have the guild backing me. I can only hope nothing happens.
「Is the Silver Token just for me?」
「One Silver Token is enough. Go to the Adventurers’ Guild in Count Rydand Territory and register your companions. I’ll write a letter as well, so present it to the Guild Master over there」
He wrote something on a fine sheet of parchment, sealed it with wax, and pressed his ring into it.
「Come back again before you leave. I’ll have the Silver Token and detailed information ready by then」
「Understood. Thank you for everything」
The Guild Master surely has his own motives, but even so, getting information like this is a huge help. Being dragged into trouble without knowing anything is truly a pain.
「It’s nothing. I want to stay on good terms with you. I’ll offer whatever help I can」
That kind of shrewdness really makes you think you don’t want him as an enemy.
After receiving some goblin sighting reports, I left the Adventurers’ Guild.
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