The Duchy of Bardenhawk’s Adventurers Guild had become more self-sufficient. The number of local employees had also increased, and training made them fine staffers. With less and less to do, it was time for those of us from Lahti to go home. At the moment, the only people left from the Felind Kingdom were me, Branch Manager Iris, and Milia. The rest were all Bardenhawk employees.
“Sir, about this quest—”
Many staffers were training under me now and often relied on my knowledge.
“Teach, this quest is marked as D rank, but this one is the same and is an E rank …”
Milia, who was “Teach,” looked rather flustered as she compared the quest stubs. The nickname had likely come from her taking charge of the rookies’ education.
“Huh? Th-that’s odd…”
It was rare to see Milia being called teacher, given that most people saw her as still a girl herself.
“M-Mr. Roland, do you know anything about this problem…?”
Milia approached with the two conflicting quest stubs, looking frazzled. A rookie employee behind her seemed much the same.
“They look similar, but the ranks are different…”
“Really…?” I compared them myself.
Both were merchant-caravan guarding quests from the same client. Even the destination was identical. The only difference was the proposed route.
“Ah, I see. Miss Milia, there is a large difference between E- and D-rank quests. Think it over.”
“A difference?” Milia thought about my words for a moment. She had to know. She’d likely taught this vital point to the new employees.
I didn’t wish to embarrass her in front of a student, so I whispered, “Combat is guaranteed for one.”
“Ohh!”
A smile spread over Milia’s face as she clapped her hands together like it had clicked into place. I didn’t know whether it was because of her personality or how her warm demeanor made guild work a little more enjoyable, but I couldn’t find it in myself to chide her.
“The proposed routes differ,” I explained. “The D-rank one cuts through a place that often requires battle. However, the E-rank quest plans to take a longer way around.”
“Thank you so much!” Milia turned around and explained the same thing I’d just said to the new staff member.
As for Iris, she was training the branch manager who would soon be replacing her, having selected a staffer who seemed to possess the qualities necessary for the position. With guild management proceeding smoothly, the three of us wouldn’t need to stick around much longer.
Initially, no one had understood the concept of a guild for adventurers, yet now the work had become a regular facet of life. The Adventurers Guild had earned approval in the public eye.
“Sir! Would you mind checking this quest stub for me?”
I was handed another inquiry written on a quest stub by one of the junior staffers.
“…”
This one also dealt with merchants. It was a request for guards to protect dealers transporting wares obtained in the capital that were meant to be sold elsewhere. This merchant had previously been associated with the Welger Company, the very organization I’d been dealing with of late. It seemed they could now do business without going through that troublesome corporation.
This likely resulted from the Bardenhawk Adventurers Guild growing and becoming more recognized as a legitimate entity. Guards were indispensable in a nation where thieves and monsters were common. If a trader put in this same request with the Welger Company, there’d be extra charges that would hurt their profits. Submitting a guarding quest at the guild got them protection at a fraction of the cost.
The greatest advantage was that they could continue their trade with fewer expenses without relying on a company. I checked in with the junior staffer who collected the information from the client to make sure nothing was missed.
“I see no problems,” I said.
“Thank you so much!”
The junior staffer headed back to her seat, looking very cheerful.
A few days ago, I’d received a letter from King Randolf about Almelia. He’d heeded my warning and also given Almelia the same advice. However, she was the hero—a very self-confident hero, at that. It had surely been difficult for him to convince her to listen.
King Randolph had assigned Frank Lanperd, one of the imperial knight captains, to guard Almelia. I knew Frank was the right person for the job, but I couldn’t help but worry, knowing they were up against Amy. In my mind, she was still the same all-powerful master she was back in the day. I couldn’t even imagine how to defeat her.
My only hope was that she’d decided to withdraw from the matter after finding out her client, Barbatos Guerrera, had been executed, but that was very unlikely. Growing up, I’d only known her as a parent and a teacher. In the time since, I’d heard rumors of her activities from the little information I’d managed to gather.
She specialized in demanding jobs and wouldn’t ask about pay. I was already well aware that my master was a very unusual assassin. She lived to kill powerful targets and was addicted to the work. That was how she seemed to me, at least.
Had I not done the job, I trusted she could have killed the demon lord. A job like assassinating Almelia, the so-called greatest military asset, would surely have appealed to her.
That she had lost her client, and reward, likely didn’t matter.
I’d heard that the person who had kidnapped the fake Maylee was a woman, one who’d seen through Rila’s cat form. Amy must have signed up thinking the kidnapped would be amusing. Victor, the man with the Invincible skill, had told me that once her part was over, she’d left immediately.
Then Victor turned up dead a few days after. When I’d found his corpse, the stab wounds gave me goose bumps.
Guild Master Tallow had informed me he saw Amy in Bardenhawk, and now I knew he was right…
“…”
No matter how many times I played out the battle with her in my head, I only survived two minutes before falling.
“…Only if I face her directly, though.”
Closing time came arrived, and as I cleaned up my desk, I decided to go see Almelia.
Thanks to a Gate I’d set up earlier within the Felind Kingdom’s castle, I could easily slip into the place. I searched for Almelia’s familiar presence.
“Ugh, I feel so smothered. By both you and your men.”
“Come now, don’t say that. This is our job. His Majesty was very insistent.”
Almelia and Frank were talking in the dining room.
“But I’m stronger than you,” the princess asserted. “Is there even a point to you protecting me?”
“There’s strength in numbers, isn’t there?”
It seemed Frank was having a rough time dealing with the headstrong princess.
There were two of Frank’s men at the door, and they stood at attention upon seeing me. Perhaps they remembered me from when I’d shared a meal with King Randolf. Neither protested as I opened the door and headed in.
“Hey! You were supposed to be guard…ing?”
“Roland! Y-you should give us notice if you’re visiting! Seriously! You always drop in unannounced.” Almelia stood, looking quite joyful.
Frank still had his short, thin goatee.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your meal,” I said.
“What are you here for, Roland? Are you protecting her, too?”
“No, but I thought of something that might be helpful.”
“R-Roland, are you here to keep me safe?” Almelia asked.
“Weren’t you boasting about how powerful you are a moment ago? What happened to that haughtiness?” Frank smiled, though it was forced.
“I believe King Randolf told you to keep your schedule irregular, right?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’ve avoided going to the orphanage, staying in the castle, training, or anything that would give me a pattern.”
I nodded. “There is only one way to ensure you’ll never repeat the same actions.”
““What’s that?”” Almelia and Frank asked together.
“Become an adventurer.”
“Fine by me!”