“‘Catch a hundred monster bugs’? What kinda request is that?”
The sun sets early at this time of the year, and we’re already close. As I offer a sorcerer several requests to choose from, he points at one of them and makes a fuss in a loud voice.
Catch a hundred monster bugs and bring them in alive. That’s all the request says. I can’t blame a sorcerer for freaking out about this, to be fair, because normally they’re tasked with killing those things rather than catching them. Even I’ve never seen anyone in person who wants them alive. And this sorcerer looks like he’s seen more than me over the years, so it must be a really unusual request if it surprises him this much.
Last year the bugs underwent a massive population explosion, and now the kingdom’s requesting mass culls from the local sorcerers. Most folks are used to that type of request by now.
Monster bugs have white, elliptical, transparent bodies and are about the size of a man’s foot. They’re not the prettiest sight. They’re basically docile, and though touching one with bare hands would give you a bad rash, they don’t cause any direct, purposeful harm to humans.
However, they live in attics and in the grass, and if their population is left unchecked they appear to start sapping the life out of everyone around them—people in such neighborhoods fall ill at far greater rates, with unpredictable severity. And so, regardless of their benign behavior, they’re still vermin. If only they didn’t multiply so quickly...
“This request was filed by a doctor who appears interested in the potential healing properties of the monster bugs’ transparent bodies,” I explain.
“Oh, really?”
The client name field says “Petros.” Indeed, he’s the one who lodged this request. In the past he’s relied on us at Harré to procure dragon scales and such for his medicines, and by now he’s a regular who frequently makes new requests.
“If this is from him, I’d better get on with it,” says the sorcerer enthusiastically as I inform him of the client’s name. He accepts the request and leaves.
Dr. Petros’s medicines are quite popular in town. The man himself is held in high regard by the townsfolk as a much better chemist and physician than those quacks that advertise themselves to nobles. What’s more, he gives generous rewards and he’s a pretty genial guy, which is why quite a few sorcerers accept his requests on the spot.
With the man gone, I get up from my seat to take the note regarding Mr. Petros’s request off the notice board. I’ll need to think up something new to put there instead. Now, how do I move this board so it’s not in the way...?
“Hey, would you mind taking my place as the secretary for the next meeting?” Zozo asks, putting her hands together in a pleading manner. She’s just come back from her break.
Does she have plans?
“Sure, no big deal, I’ll take care of it.”
I don’t mind taking on a secretarial role in those meetings. I really like writing and summarizing things.
“Sorry! My father keeps pressing me into seeing partners for marriage, you see. I’ve been ignoring him on the matter until now, but then I told him I’d go just once, and I forgot we had a meeting on the day!”
“Partners for marriage?!”
“Hey, keep it down!”
“I’m really sorry.” Seeing Zozo’s look of anger, I frantically apologize and cover my mouth with my hand.
They’re making her see partners for marriage? Didn’t she have someone she liked...? It’s just guesswork on my part, but having seen her care about Lady Merakisso’s love fortune-telling so much, I’d have a lot of questions if it turned out otherwise.
“It’s Alkes, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“The one you love.”
Dumbstruck, she blinks several times in rapid succession before her face turns completely red. She couldn’t make it more obvious.
Cheena, Miss Harris, and many of my other coworkers know too, by the way. Pretty much the only ones who don’t know are Alkes and the other male employees. The other women are evidently quick to pick up on such things, and Zozo being extra talkative with Alkes has been a heartwarming sight for us this whole time.
“We all know.”
“No way!”
Just how did she end up having to see strangers instead?
“Zozo says she’s being pressed into an arranged marriage,” I whisper into Miss Harris’s ear, having beckoned her over as she happened to be passing by.
Zozo apparently didn’t expect this of me, and she ends up standing there with her eyes wide open and her mouth agape.
“What?!”
“An arranged marriage?”
“Are you serious, Zozo?!”
Information spreads quickly among Harré’s female staff. Miss Harris immediately casts a spell to telepathically inform the ladies of an emergency meeting. Is that the best use of her magical powers that she’s found...?
“Why did you tell them, Nanalie?!”
“I’m sorry!”
“A ‘sorry’ is not gonna cut it!”
The two of us go running around the guild as Zozo chases me, and we both get a good scolding from the director later. When Miss Harris tells her about Zozo’s situation, she finally gives us the time of day and asks with sparkling eyes to join our meeting, but that’s a whole different story.