Two days later, the Serafin I remembered finally made an appearance.
By then, my work as a lecturer was complete.
“Mr. Roland, I’ve finally finished drinking.”
Serafin entered while I was having tea with Almelia in the castle.
“Sera… You don’t smell like booze!”
“Miss Almelia, that’s not something you should say to a lady.” Serafin laughed. She was back to her usual self at last.
“Roland, what in the world did you do? I thought Sera was set to become a monster forever lurking in the castle basement.”
“I used the same trick I used on you.”
“To me? Y-you mean a-a k-k-kiss?!”
“Huh?”
Serafin strode right up to the table Almelia and I were sitting at.
“Of course you go right to making it into a whole love affair. That’s just like you, Miss Almelia.”
Serafin looked a lot better. She’d consumed three times her body weight in water. There probably wasn’t a drop of alcohol left in her system.
After chatting for a bit, Serafin and I bid our good-byes to Almelia. Serafin had deduced my connection with the demon lord earlier, but I wasn’t sure if she still remembered that. She was pretty inebriated when it happened.
Rila’s shadow followed at a cautious distance, evidently worried. Rila probably assumed it would confirm Serafin’s suspicion.
Serafin was tenacious and sharp, after all.
It was best not to mention the subject. I didn’t need unnecessary trouble.
“Where are we headed?”
“To Tallow.”
“Mr. Tallow? You mean the adventurer?”
“He’s the chairman of the Adventurers Guild now… The guild master.”
“I had no idea.” Serafin sounded wholly different sober.
When I asked how long she’d been in the cellar, she told me since the end of the war.
“I want you to help Tallow,” I explained.
“Hahhh… Help him, you say?”
During the trip to the guild headquarters, I told Serafin about the relationship between the Adventurer Association’s upper management and the guild master.
“I see… You know, Mr. Roland, there’s something about this I don’t get.”
“What’s that?”
“Aren’t you just an ordinary guild worker…? Why do you have to do all this for Mr. Tallow?”
Yes, why indeed.
“Tallow’s no good at the diplomatic stuff. He worked his way up as an adventurer. If he’s unseated, the nobles will do as they please with the guild. The organization will likely become corrupt, and bribery, crime, and cronyism will run rampant. And if that happens… Well, I’m sure you’ve caught on.”
“Client dissatisfaction will lead to fewer quests…”
“Yes. And as a consequence, only those employees who brownnose the higher-ups will remain. Any who don’t fall in line will be bullied into quitting.”
Serafin shook her head.
“You’re rather good at knowing what the nobility wants, Mr. Roland.”
“Knowing isn’t the same as liking it or even tolerating it.”
“I suppose you have a point,” Serafin replied.
“So you picked a past-her-prime virgin priest like me to help out, figuring I have nothing better to do?”
“That’s exactly right.”
“You didn’t even bother to stop me from putting myself down! Only you could be so fantastically horrible, Mr. Roland!”
I’d never been praised quite like that before.
Once we arrived at the guild headquarters, we went to Tallow’s office.
“Do you really believe I’ll be able to assist?”
“I’m sure you won’t have any problems.”
“Well, if you say so, Mr. Roland.” Serafin flashed me a grin.
When I knocked on the door, Tallow’s voice called, “Come in.”
Inside, the man himself was reading some documents with a troubled expression.
“What’s wrong? That frown doesn’t suit you.”
“I can’t help it. There’s an executive meeting at headquarters… Hmm?” Tallow had raised his gaze from the documents and finally spotted Serafin.
“Hello, Mr. Tallow.”
“Our Saint of Protection? What brings you here, my lady?”
Right, that’s what they called her during the war. The title brought back some memories.
Serafin and I sat at a low table surrounded by sofas.
“I’m just a lowly guild employee,” I said. “I doubt nobles will listen to me, so there’s no point to my dealing with them. I’m not cut out to be a negotiator. Serafin, on the other hand, will do well in the position.”
“Oh-ho… Sounds like someone I can rely on.”
Tallow stood and joined us at the table, sitting on the sofa opposite us.
“She’s pretty sharp and competent, and very good at thinking on her feet.”
“Oh, you’re embarrassing me.”
“Well, if you’re willing to talk her up that much, Roland…”
“Mr. Roland, does that mean you’ll marry me?”
The shadow, which had made its way outside of the window at some point, was staring holes in me.
“Serafin, you need to stop equating praise to a marriage proposal.”
Tallow glanced at Serafin, then looked away.
Serafin’s, Elvie’s, and Almelia’s looks didn’t sway me after spending so much time in a party with them. However, they were much prettier than average, and each was popular for it. Lina was too young to be counted.
I understood why Tallow was so flustered.
Milia and Iris were also lovely, and they were better suited to him.
“Why don’t you let her give it a shot at your meeting?” I suggested.
“All right, but the next one might be better. This one’s about to start.”
I looked at Serafin, and she smiled.
“If you’ll permit me, I’d like to read your documents to get a better understanding of the situation. I’d also like to know what outcome you’re aiming for based on the data. I should be able to attend the meeting with that information.”
“All right, then.”
Tallow spread the papers out on the table and talked through his thoughts on the situation. He quickly explained the demands he expected from the aristocrats hoping to oust him.
The nobles’ discussion was focused on the expenses accumulated during the Bardenhawk broadscale quest.
I had my own opinions on how to shoot down their demands, but nothing would come of me voicing them. I’d probably throw the place into chaos, so it was better that I wasn’t attending the meeting.