We headed straight for one of the monster tamers’ homes after leaving the Adventurer’s Guild.
I was walking alongside Suama as the sun was gradually setting over the town. I could’ve just given her a ride on top of me, but we weren’t very far from our destination. Plus, we didn’t want to stand out too much.
“Still, I kinda feel that you get way too much just for changing your religion. Like, you can become an adventurer just like that? It’s way too easy,” I said.
“But if you do, you won’t be able to live a normal life anymore. Aren’t there a lot of people who’d consider it a pretty big con?”
Adventurers were bound by a ton of rules. As you could probably guess by their name, they were forced to go on adventurers and fight. They wouldn’t be able to live peacefully.
“Oh well. Even if it’s easy to become one, most adventurers die right away anyway. I guess that’s how you weed them out; like, survival of the fittest and all that.”
In that respect, they were similar to monsters. Both sides kept producing low-level fodder and throwing them into battle with the expectation that they’d die. That way, any who survived would be a pleasant surprise.
But wait—wouldn’t that mean those with money or status could hire guides to protect them while they explored? Oof, the world sure is unfair!
Anyway, Suama seemed a little excited after getting her card, so I had to jump in before she got carried away. I had absolutely zero intention of letting Suama gain any achievements as an adventurer. Even our trip to the tamer’s house was to perfect our cover.
“Oh, but don’t get the wrong idea, okay? We’re not going to actually be adventurers. This was just part of our disguise so we can blend into human society. One of my goals is to kill adventurers to level up. Don’t forget that you’re the one helping me, Suama. That’s right—you’re the one who fell for a mimic’s sweet whispers! You’re a soldier for the forces of darkness now!”
Though, from what Lord Aldora told me, there’s at least two of these forces!
“Yes, I know. I’m prepared.”
Well, I guess I wouldn’t mind letting her go once I reach my destination.
The extent of my plan so far had been to find a human conspirator, because it’d make traveling through the central continent much easier. There would be no point in taking her to the northern continent with me.
After we’d walked a little more, we quickly reached the residence of the monster tamer, Dolhoi.
“Wow, it’s fancier than the village chief’s place!”
We were in front of a chic-looking mansion.
Apparently, adventurers tended to go wherever their escapades led them, so it was rare for one to have a permanent home. Though, to be fair, I suspected many didn’t have a place because of a lack of money. The owner of this mansion was a silver-ranked adventurer, so it seemed that he’d managed to collect an unusual amount of money and vault himself up through social strata.
We passed through the front garden to the entrance of the mansion proper. When Suama used the door’s knocker, it opened right away.
There was a maid on the other side of the door, but she was strangely tall. It immediately stood out to me, so I looked down at her feet. She didn’t have any.
She was a lamia, a species of snake-like monster.
I see. So he’s leaving the housework to the monsters he’s tamed.
“The guild has told us about you two. Please, come inside.”
Oohh, she has the Human Language skill! Nice going!
The lamia showed us to a parlor room, and we obediently filed inside.
As we walked through the mansion, we spotted a harpy, a centaur, a mermaid, and a dryad. They were all in maid uniforms too.
“Umm...all these monsters are female, aren’t they?”
“Yeah, I noticed that too.”
His preferences are really showing, aren’t they? Whatever, it’s not like I care what he’s into.
We waited on the sofa for a little while until the door opened.
A man with a delicate, slender build and noble attire entered. He was clearly Dolhoi, and—if we were to believe the receptionist from the guild—he was an incredibly talented monster tamer.
“Hey! So you’re the girl who’s aiming to become a monster tamer, are y—GYAAARRGHH!”
As soon as Dolhoi entered the room, he jumped right back out of it.
Hm? What’s up with him?
“Umm...are you okay?” Suama stood up and walked out into the hallway, so I followed her.
Dolhoi had fallen onto his ass. “Wh-Wh-Why’s there a level 102 abomination in here?!”
Oh. He’s talking about me. That reminds me—I still haven’t bought an Appraisal-type skill, so I don’t know what the average level for an adventurer is. But if mine’s too high, then why hasn’t anyone else made a big deal of it?
“Umm...please don’t be afraid. Harumi’s the monster I tamed, so...”
“D-Don’t lie to me! That one’s wild! She isn’t tame—no one would be able to do it!”
Ohhh, he can tell that too. But that’s a problem... It looks like he’s figured us out. We can’t even talk to him now.
I walked right up to Dolhoi.
“Hello, hello! I’m Harumi, the mimic! If you don’t tell me what I want to know, I’ll kill you. You okay with that?”
“O-Okay, I get it! I’m not too sure what this is, but I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you anything!”
Negotiations complete!