If we were going to save Lucika, we would need to temporarily join Lucil’s guild—or rather, Soulgros would have to. Since I was Yerkchira’s guildmaster, I was unable to leave without risking open revolt from the other members. I was soft on my daughters, if nothing else.
At first, I was somewhat guilty about forcing Soulgros into such an awkward position, but after promising I’d do whatever she asked, her attitude took a sharp turn.
“What?! Ah, such glorious words! I shall hunt the Elixir by any means necessary for those humans!”
I hastily apologized for saying so much, since there were very real limits on what I could realistically do.
With that squared away, we returned to the guild Soulgros was provisionally registered at before. As soon as we entered, however, she was greeted by cries and catcalls from all sides.
“Hey, Soulgros-chan! You done with that quest yet?!”
“Damn, you can barely see anything of her, but you know she’s got a dynamite bod under there!”
“I got a new quest for you, baby! There’s a raging serpent in my pants I need you to put down!”
Beside me, Soulgros sighed. “Fools, all of them. I couldn’t care less for their childish insults.”
It was a horrible place, for sure. Lanky, scarred warriors were stooping over filthy tables left and right and chugging cheap-smelling booze, cackling madly. The second catcaller was right, however—Soulgros was indeed incredibly cute.
That last comment, however, was outright harassment, and I felt I needed a word with that wretch. I smiled coolly at him, and he instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
“G-Geh?!”
That seemed like a bit of an overreaction, as I really did want nothing more than to talk to the man.
Soulgros’s eyes grew wide with admiration. “Oh, to think thou wouldst cover for me… What bliss! I was overcome with jealousy for Laladie-dono before, but now I realize the true extent of her ecstasy…”
This group of ruffians were all members of the gray guild I had requested Soulgros infiltrate. While legal guilds tended to have thorough vetting processes for new members, gray guilds played their membership fast and loose by design. They’d barely looked into Soulgros’s past at all when she attempted to join. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was that it would be such a den of ruffians and depravity. If their crudeness or cruelty rubbed off on Soulgros even a little, I’d have to get angry. Even now, she looked up at me with warmth. I needed to protect her.
She tugged on my sleeve. “Now, Master, let us attend to our business here.”
I blinked. It seemed rather like she expected me to lead the way.
“Naturally.” She nodded firmly when I asked. “How else could I watch thy back?”
I didn’t think it was that obvious myself, but it wasn’t worth arguing over. I made for the back of the building, where I vaguely recalled the reception desk was located. It wasn’t a large building by any measure, but there were catcallers and ruffians everywhere we looked intent on getting in Soulgros’s way, so it took an annoyingly long time to reach the back. My smile was feeling significantly less genuine by the time we arrived, and I was surprised Soulgros still had a spring in her step. She was likely used to it, having infiltrated several such guilds already, but that only made me worry for her more.
Soulgros stepped up to the counter. “I have slain the lizardmen, as requested.”
“Oh yeah?” the filthy man behind the counter sneered at her. I had no doubt the standard pretty receptionist wouldn’t last a day in a pigsty like this. “You’d better have some proof for that, girlie. If not… well, we could put the light out, and if I like what I see, we’ll call it even.”
“I have thy proof and will not be accompanying thee anywhere.” She held out a bloody pouch, the scales within clacking together metallically. “Wouldst thou care to see the scales now?”
He scowled and waved her off. “I don’t wanna see a bunch of monster blood. You’ll get my desk all fucked up. I’ll check ’em later or something.” He grabbed a small purse of coin from under the table. “Here’s your money. Don’t be afraid to share, sweets.”
“Thank thee kindly.”
She gave the bag a quick shake to confirm the number of coins within, no doubt to make sure the receptionist hadn’t helped himself to her winnings already. She nodded with satisfaction at the sound before passing the bag to me.
I hesitated. It was her reward, I told her, and it didn’t feel right to take it from her.
“My accomplishments are thine,” she asserted, with a look not unlike a loyal dog.
I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I simply thanked her and stroked her hair. She let out a pleased little growl before turning back to the receptionist.
“Ah, one more thing. I shall be quitting thy guild, effective immediately. Farewell.”
With that, she gave him an offhanded wave before making me lead the way out. It felt a tad too brief, however, and I was surprised it was so easy to quit.
There was a long moment of silence before the guild erupted.
“Huh?!”
“You can’t quit! You haven’t let me hit it yet!”
“Yeah, me neither!”
“At least go out with me once before you go!”
The men sounded more horny than sad, and I felt an odd twinge of parental pride that she was so popular. Of course, that was only superficial, and I was prepared to beat back anyone stupid enough to lay so much as a hand on her. Luckily, they let us pass without trying to physically interfere.
“It seems I was right to murd—er, slap the most persistent of them on the wrist upon my first visit,” Soulgros remarked. “No man shall ever be allowed to approach me save thee thyself, Master.”
It was good to see her stand up for herself. I was a tad concerned she’d kill them, but that would’ve been a step too far, and she knew better than to cause such a scene. I’d also have to remind her later not to call me “Master” in public. All that really mattered was that she’d demonstrated her strength to the point that none of them would try to stop her now. It’d take a special kind of cruelty to try to retain its members by force, anyway, and surely not even a gray guild would do such a thing.
“Hold it right there.”
No sooner than I’d thought that, however, our path cut off by someone intent on just that.