“The fly in the ointment is that flies, and other bugs, are attracted by sweet scents,” Cormeca said. “Anyway, back to the subject. If you aren’t doing a quest at the moment, could I bother you with collecting some large-spotted venomous moths?”
“Hold on a sec! Explain yourself,” I said.
Interestingly enough, we had encountered a large-spotted venomous moth, or at least the larva of one. Leen had used the little caterpillar to win over a giant mole and get it to bully Rudolf back in Rydea. Like their name suggested, they turned into venomous moths whose scales could cause headaches, vomiting, or even paralysis if inhaled. As they always flew out of sword range, they were tricky monsters to deal with. If you ventured into their habitat, then you’d need antidotes at the ready.
“Explain myself? I want to mix their scales with oil to make a beautiful purple paint,” Cormeca replied.
“Yeah, and won’t anyone who comes into contact with that paint get poisoned?”
“Ha ha... No, no, the poison won’t spread once the paint dries. And I’ll make sure to coat the work in varnish afterward.”
So it would be fine then? No, this seemed dangerous and a pain in the ass. What mattered was if the cost was worth it. In my opinion, I wanted to hurry up and leave Esma and get to Clovel. Unfortunately, it was Leen who called the shots now.
“Hmm, I see,” Leen said.
I wanted Leen to just decline right away, but it looked like she was mulling something over. I wondered if she thought that playing assistant to an alchemist was better than heading back to the guild and having an annoying quest forced on her by Erifell.
“If you have any quests, could you please issue them via the guild?”
My concerns were washed away in an instant. A clear, calm, and well-pitched voice cut through the air. It was the person in question: Erifell.
Erifell wasn’t in the typical hooded apron that the guild receptionists wore, instead wearing, to my surprise, a smart dress—that I imagined was something personal of hers. It only made her shabby leatherwork necklace seem even more out of place.
“Oh, hello, Erifell. How are you?” Cormeca said with a smile and a wave to Erifell, who had appeared out of nowhere and made no attempt to hide her displeasure.
“Good morning, Cormeca,” Erifell replied. “You seem well.”
“Of course. You, on the other hand, look rather tired. Are you doing okay? You should relax at home if you ask me.”
“I don’t need your concern. More importantly, were you just trying to issue a quest without going through—”
“Yes, yes, I know. I wasn’t going through the proper channels. We were just making small talk. Should I go and issue the quest properly now, hmm?”
Erifell didn’t respond.
“Oh, what a dreadfully terrifying expression! I’d rather you not give me that look. I want to get along with you.”
Whew, talk about scary...
Erifell radiated indifference when she worked through tasks, but now I could sense hatred for Cormeca. Why else would her eyes look so cold? For the third time today, I felt a cold chill down my back. If someone stared at me like that, I’d probably run for the hills. The fact that Cormeca could stand strong under Erifell’s gaze was pretty impressive. All I could do was keep my mouth shut and avoid the sparks while praying that Leen didn’t say anything stupid.
“Oh! Are you two friends?” Leen said.
“Does nothing scare you?”
My prayers were all for naught.
“Yes, we are. Erifell was often at the reception when my and Allen’s party took on quests,” Cormeca said. “She even prioritized quests for us and said that Allen shouldn’t keep taking on quests to Leston out of personal fe—”
“Could you not bring up pointless things?” Erifell said in an evidently angry tone.
“Who cares? I’m just reminiscing. Or would you prefer I didn’t?” Cormeca looked up to the sky wistfully. “Will you not even permit me to remember him and honor his memory that way?”
Erifell again fell silent.
This wasn’t good. A fight was brewing from an angle I hadn’t been expecting. I didn’t know what their history was, but I didn’t want to get involved. I carefully began to stand up, trying not to be noticed, when Leen grabbed my sleeve. What was she doing?
“Yes, it was quite a shame...” Cormeca said.
“What do you mean?”
“The incident in Leston! What a tragedy. It was like a second home to me. I’m serious! I went there so often, after all.”
“This has nothing to do with you.”
“Don’t be so disheartened. But it is quite the task ahead. Who knows what will happen unless they purify that place? They’re going to light up the whole village and burn it to ashes, aren’t they? I’d love to see it once they’re finished. I think it’ll really stir up some inspiration! I’m sure I could make a great painting out of it. Oh, I know, I’ll title it The Tragic End of the Village of Leatherworkers...”
“Is that all you wish to say, Cormeca?” Erifell cut off Cormeca with a single sentence. “If you want to issue a quest, go to the guild. That’s all I have to say.”
“Is it really?”
“What else would there be?”
“You seem awfully out of breath, and your little knight isn’t with you! Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Why are you speaking of someone who isn’t here?”
Both the women fell silent and glared at one another for a good half minute. One was expressionless, the other was smiling—but both of their eyes were cold.
“Hm?”
It wasn’t either of them or even Leen or I who broke the silence. It was a slight rumbling. I readied myself, wondering if it was an earthquake, but then I noticed it was the bench we were on that was shaking. It quickly stopped and didn’t start up again. Leen shifted her body weight from side to side to check the bench.
“This bench must be getting old! Maybe a screw came loose. I’ll tell the authorities later,” Leen said.
“Pfft...” Cormeca spluttered another laugh again—she must have found Leen’s statement funny—then looked at us and bowed. “Sorry, sorry. The mood just got so serious! I’ll be leaving now.”
“R-Right,” I said.
“Do you know the Parapetter store? My exhibition is being held there, so drop by if you have the time. I’d love to see you there.”
I had zero reason to keep her here so I just nodded in response. I hadn’t heard of that store and didn’t feel any need to go. My thoughts were only focused on the fact that I’d finally be free of this awkward atmosphere.
“Oh, right,” Cormeca said, stopping as she passed Erifell.
“Huh?”
Cormeca suddenly poked Erifell’s forehead. Erifell, being a regular person, couldn’t react to the swift movements of an adventurer quick enough. She tipped over slightly, but didn’t lose her footing. When she looked up again, placing a hand on her forehead, Cormeca was already walking away, waving as she went.
“Let me warn you,” Cormeca said. “I wouldn’t do whatever it is you’re thinking of doing, Erifell. No one will benefit from it and it’ll be dangerous for you.” As she said those last words, she turned around and sneered. “Get plenty of rest, okay? Bye.”
Erifell was unable to say anything in response and merely glared as Cormeca walked away.
Left in this awfully tense atmosphere, I didn’t know what to do. It was painfully awkward.
“Wanna make a run for it?” Leen whispered.
“I wish,” I said back.
As for Erifell, after making sure Cormeca was gone, she took a number of deep breaths. She then turned toward us and bowed deeply.
“I apologize for showing you such an unsightly side of me,” she said.
“You said it,” Leen replied. “I was a bit scared! Oh, would you like a bite, Erifell?”
“Just what goes through your head?” I muttered. Why would Erifell want to eat something that Cormeca had been involved with after that? However, Erifell’s expression didn’t change.
“Thank you for the other day,” she said, completely ignoring what Leen said.
“The other day?” Leen replied.
“The quest in Leston.”
“Oh, right. Why bring that up now? Usually you say, ‘I appreciate your work, but I will not thank you. Receiving payment for services tendered is natural in a job. If you require thanks, then talk to your client.’”
Erifell maintained her stony expression as she fell into a momentary silence. She adjusted her glasses.
“Do I say such heartless things?” she said after a pause.
“Well, yeah!”
I was surprised that Leen was bringing this up now, of all times, but to be honest, I was on her side on this one. Erifell fit the image of a receptionist who—for better or worse—was cold and levelheaded, bureaucratic and official, fair and unequivocable with her adventurer clients, working solely on reason and fact.
“I see... Well, I suppose you’re right.”
“I am right! Please be kinder to me! I’d like a job that isn’t a hassle. Or one delivering goods overseas.”
“It’s my responsibility to make sure appropriate jobs are given to the appropriate adventurers,” Erifell said, adjusting her glasses after brushing off Leen’s requests. “By the way, are you familiar with an adventurer called Jiray Esma?”
I was surprised to hear his name be brought up, and it seemed Leen was too from the sound that escaped her lips.
“Jiray? I met him recently and spoke to him once or twice. How about you, Hakura?”