AFTER everyone worked together to save the city, Aki and the rest of the Hero Party had to run various errands with no time to celebrate each other’s achievements on the battlefield.
First, Elias and Louis split up to search Port City for any potential holes or weaknesses in the barrier. Meanwhile, Johann headed straight to Sanctuary’s local church to report on the events of the day, while Leo pushed his tired body to do the same at the Academy’s Port City Guild Branch.
Since Aki wasn’t affiliated with anything, she was put in charge of reporting to the Adventurers’ Guild with Mina and was currently sitting in a meeting with the local guildmaster.
“Gahaha! What a story! I heard of your heroic deeds from the young guild members who joined the raid. Thanks for protecting our city!” the guildmaster exclaimed, his voice booming through the guild house as he whacked Aki and Mina on the back.
This guy is intense!
This was Aki’s first time meeting the middle-aged guildmaster with a scraggly, gray beard. After smacking the girls on the back, he kicked back in his leather chair, crossed his muscular legs on the table of his private office, and raised a mug of beer in his bearlike hand.
His intimidating appearance and cheerful laughter gave the impression he was a fatherly guildmaster capable of uniting the gruffer Adventurers and commanding respect. He exuded an aura of charisma that naturally drew people to him.
“I worked hard too, Guildmaster! I played a pretty big role in protecting the city!”
“Ooh, I heard you earned your keep too, little Mina. I’m proud to be your guildmaster.”
They seemed to be on good terms as the guildmaster ruffled Mina’s hair when she circled the table to claim credit. He freed her from his noogie and looked up at her with affectionate eyes.
“Let me congratulate you once more for joining the Hero Party. You became an Adventurer because you wanted to be a hero in your own right, yah? I’m proud beyond words to have watched you grow from the girl I picked up in the slums to the woman who has achieved her dreams. Your hard work has paid off in so many ways,” he said emotionally.
Mina’s eyes misted. “…Thank you,” she murmured.
Hearing a little about Mina’s past made Aki realize she knew next to nothing about her friend’s background. She didn’t believe in prying into people’s pasts until they felt comfortable bringing it up themselves, but she had just learned a bit about her without meaning to.
If the slums here are anything like my world, then Mina has likely lived through a lot of hardship…
Aki’s heart stung a bit as Mina smiled at the guildmaster, feeling as if she had just glimpsed a fragment of the darkness her always cheerful and kind friend kept buried.