“An adventurer is a shield that protects people. An explorer is a sword that saves people,” Ashley murmured while she swirled the glass in her hand.
“What?”
“It’s an old saying by the founding king of the Kurtmelga Kingdom. He also said that ‘nobles are those who lead from the front.’”
Perhaps sensing the quiet exchange between Ashley and me, the waiter placed the hors d’oeuvres in front of us, briefly mentioned their names, and left without further explanation.
“Being an adventurer is a harsh profession,” she continued. “That’s why many people form parties. The beasts and demi-humans they face are fierce, cruel, and formidable. So, they strive to increase safety where they can.”
“That’s true.”
I’d seen the reality of adventurers firsthand. They headed into the field with scant intel, battled monsters that devoured lives without hesitation, and sometimes they lost lives. But sometimes they saved them, managing to protect people from the evils scattered around them—like a shield.
“Why did you become an investigator, Ashley?”
It was a question that suddenly came to mind. She was Ashley Zeparnel, not just an ordinary person with a name. She was likely from a noble or royal lineage, and so desk work at the guild would be expected. Investigators went out into the field where the danger lurked.
When I first met Ashley, she had been captured by a group of goblins. So, obviously it was a perilous gig.
“I initially joined the guild because I was ordered to.”
“Ordered?” Was it by a family head or a patriarch?
“Four years ago. My parents fulfilled their duties as nobles, and I needed to follow in their footsteps. So, I was entrusted to the guild in here in Balga. I worked as a receptionist for the first year or two.”
Duties as a noble? Is that what she meant by leading from the front? But more importantly, Ashley has been a receptionist?!
“Ashley as a receptionist... I imagine that was a long line at the counter.”
“Oh, it stretched out the door.”
“What?!”
“Just kidding.” Ashley blushed at her own joke.
The atmosphere had been formal, but now we were loosening up. As I nibbled on the hors d’oeuvres and sipped the wine, I asked why she transitioned from being a receptionist to a guild investigator, a role that required going out into hazard zones.
“Office work wasn’t enough for me. I don’t look down on the receptionist’s job, at all. There’s a ton of things you need to know and tasks to perform. You have to be knowledgeable about beasts and demi-humans, the local geography, and how to arrange various supports for adventurers.”
Indeed, when accepting requests, receptionists were really helpful, and I’d never seen them falter when answering questions. How much knowledge must they have on hand?
“Receptionists send adventurers off with the support they need for success. But as I continued working, I began to realize that many of the adventurers I sent off didn’t return. There are various reasons for this, but one is the shortage of guild investigators. Investigators don’t just conduct post-request investigations. They also verify information submitted to the guild and conduct preliminary investigations for request forms. They scout the field ahead of the adventurers. You know first-hand how dangerous that is, Schwarz.”
I was at a loss for words listening to her story. The numerous request forms I casually browsed on the bulletins, I had no idea that each one meant that someone from the guild had also risked their lives.
“So, you chose to ensure adventurers’ safety at the destination rather than just supporting them during the preliminary stage?”
“Yes.” Her eyes met mine. “Here’s some advice based on my experience, Schwarz. You need companions. Sure, you demonstrated sufficient combat ability during the D-rank promotion test and were promoted with ease. I get that. But adventurers and explorers need more than just combat skills.”
“Ashley, I’m a dud, but—”
But I possess an inexhaustible body, one that regenerates wounds like a monster. With the power of VMB, which doesn’t exist here, I’m an anomaly in this world.
“That’s not true. I don’t know where you come from, and what it was like there, but its reality has made you pessimistic.”
“What?”
“You’ve proved yourself as an adventurer and explorer and have met so many people here in the process. No one cares that you’re a dud. They like you and will stand by your side. At least—I believe that.”
What was my face doing? I felt my eyes widen, and I couldn’t look away from her eyes. I stared into them so hard I forgot to blink.
“I’m sorry. That was more than just one word—” Ashley blushed. Perhaps my intense gaze embarrassed her. She looked down, and twirled pasta around her fork.
“Thank you. Hearing that makes me feel better. You are right. Forming a party and completing various quests is challenging, and having companions would help me accomplish my goals. I should have known that already...”
I recalled my teammates from P0wDer. FPS game tournaments typically involved small team battles. While game rules provided various ways to determine victory, simply defeating opponents wasn’t common. There were territory battles, map objectives skirmishes, and missions with specific success criteria that varied by game title.
However, all rules shared the need for team coordination and unity. FPS tournaments weren’t about individual skills. They were team sports, requiring players to work together and strive for victory as one.
It was true in games, and it was true in reality. When pursuing a goal, individual strength eventually hits a wall. With only one person’s perspective, the goal’s path appears narrow and difficult. That’s why people seek companions, friends, and partners to walk beside.
“What are your goals, Schwarz?”
I placed my empty glass on the table. The waiter, who had been keeping an eye out, quietly approached and refilled the wine.
“Thank you.”
He smiled and stepped away from the table to make way for the main dish, now being served. It resembled acqua pazza, with a whole white fish on the dish. The rich aroma of white wine and herbs created a vibrant fragrance, and the contrast of seafood and tomato-like ingredients made for a colorful presentation. I picked at the plate with my fork and took the first bite.
“A goal, you ask?” I finally responded to Ashley.
In the Wolf Fang Labyrinth, I’d realized that my body was not that of an ordinary person. That made me feel something deep within my heart. There was a reason for having this unusual body, a reason I fell into this other world, and a reason that I was still able to manifest VMB’s power. Perhaps those reasons were all so that I could conquer the labyrinths and stop them from spreading harm in this world. That felt like my current purpose, my reason for living, and was now my goal.
It’s not about becoming the hero who conquers the labyrinth.
It’s not about becoming the sword that saves the people of the kingdom.
It’s not about becoming a savior who rescues this other world.
As an FPS player, I will live in this other world.
“Of course, I have goals. There are things I want to do and to achieve. Here in Kurtmelga, I met you, Remi, and Marta. I became an adventurer and met peers younger than me, but higher-ranked. I saw adventurers who were ranked far higher than me fall so easily. The path I aim for is not easy. I might die as easily as those adventurers. Even so, I...”
I couldn’t put the rest into words. I didn’t want her to know that I was a freak in this world. I also didn’t want her to know that I was entertaining the reckless idea of conquering the labyrinth alone.
Yet... Even so, I...
Ashley gently placed her left hand over my right hand, which was resting on the table. Our eyes met unexpectedly. Her eyes glistened as she struggled to speak.
“It’s okay.”
Ashley’s words were not in the Orland Common Language; they were in Japanese, the language I first spoke upon falling into this world.
“It’s okay,” she repeated. “It’s okay.”
Hearing those gentle words almost made me cry. She lightly pumped my right hand. I returned the gesture, gently squeezing back.
“Thank you,” I finally said.
I had never felt so grateful in all my life.