The next day. I headed to the Delvers' Guild right on time.
When I asked at the front desk, a receptionist guided me.
"This way."
"O-okay."
The door she led me to was the double doors at the corner of the third floor.
The plate above read "Guild Master's Office."
"This is... the place?"
"Yes. Everyone is waiting for you."
"O-okay."
I bowed and opened the door.
"Oh my. You've arrived."
"Pardon the intrusion..."
Right away, an elven man — the Guild Master, Alanse — came to greet me.
So this was the Guild Master's office... Yep. It was definitely an office.
It had a reasonable amount of space, a reasonable set of furnishings, and a reasonable atmosphere.
First, there were sofas and a table for visitors.
Bookshelves and document shelves lined the walls, and behind a stately desk hung thick, red curtains. A practical sabre and an ornate staff were displayed on the wall.
And next to the desk, there was a pure-white tea table.
At that white table, a beautiful girl dressed entirely in white was having tea from a white teacup.
Hmm? Something felt off...
Wait, a white tea table? A white teacup? A girl in all white?
The witch was there too. The all-white girl set down her white teacup.
"La la lirii. As always, your herb tea is utterly extraordinary."
"Ha ha ha, ha ha ha, Shiro. Say that name again and I'll make you drink nothing but herb tea."
"I misspoke."
"?"
What kind of situation was this? What on earth was going on with her?
And why was there a conspicuously out-of-place white tea table in an office?
Then the witch turned around.
"Well, well, young Wof. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Y-yes, it has. I apologize for the absence."
The witch was smiling. That la-la thing from earlier — better not to ask.
"So you're Wof-kun."
The all-white girl looked at me.
A white hat. Long, flowing white hair that reached past her waist. She wore a white rose hair ornament.
Pure white eyes. Snow-white skin. A blank white expression. Stark white features. Even her lips were white.
From head to toe, she wore a billowing, pure-white dress.
Combined with the white tea table, it was almost blinding.
"Y-yes. I'm Wof."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Shiro. Shiro = White = Weiss = Blanche = Album = Sephido. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Huh?"
"Didn't you hear? Shiro = White = Weiss = Blanche = Album = Sephido. Pleased to meet you. You can just call me Shiro."
"O-okay. Nice to meet you, Shiro-san."
What a long name...! Sure, it was shorter than Picasso's, but still long! And who even was this person?
When I made that expression, Alanse answered for me.
"Oh my. She's a Class I delver. Known as the 'Undying White Rose Princess.'"
"And also, also, Shiro is an expert on death dungeons too."
"Death dungeons..."
So there actually were specialists for that.
"Now, I imagine you're wondering why I'm here." Shiro asked in an elegant manner.
It wasn't so much wonder as confusion — especially about that white tea table.
"Well, yes. But before that, where are Juicy and Agaro?"
The two of them were nowhere in sight.
"Oh my. I informed Agaro and Juicy of the results and paid their rewards yesterday."
"Wait, you did?"
So why was I and the witch summoned only today?
"There's a reason we split it up. Shiro, if you would."
"Then I'll go first, Wof-kun."
"Yes."
Shiro stood up and positioned herself in front of me. She was slightly taller than me.
Shiro was staring intently at me. Not silver — her white eyes had a strange iris.
"Is something wrong?"
"So this is the witch's apprentice."
"?"
Shiro pulled a scroll from the white rose pouch at her waist and unfurled it.
"— Wof, age 13. We hereby acknowledge your many achievements. Upon reading this document, you are granted the special status of Class VI delver. Delvers' Grand Guild, Grand Guild Master, Alhazard Abramirin." — Here. This is your Class VI delver tag."
Shiro handed me the tag.
"...Huh?"
I took it and stared blankly.
Wait? A delver? Me?
"Oh, that's right. Alanse, I'll be borrowing that desk."
"Oh my. What are you going to do?"
"You'll see when you look."
Shiro placed a crystal ball on the desk.
The crystal ball glowed and projected an image.
After several streaks of static, a blurry figure appeared and gradually came into focus.
"I am Abramirin... Grand Guild Master of the Delvers' Grand Guild. Alhazard Abramirin."
The figure that appeared was a black panther with a magnificent, pure-white beard.
"...!?"
Not an elderly leopard-tribe man with black leopard ears.
An elderly man with a black panther's head and a white beard. Human?
The witch made a distasteful expression.
"My my, you must be busy, old Alhazard."
"Witch. Thank you for releasing the Tomb of Death."
"Ohohoho, I only did what I was told. Did you really use a precious Legacy like a Projection Magic Orb just to say that?"
"You never change. This matter was something I should have handled sooner."
"Yes, yes. I would've liked this settled a few hundred years ago."
"...My apologies..."
He lowered his head in apology. The witch clicked her tongue. Then he looked up and turned to me.
"Boy. So you're the witch's apprentice."
"Yes. Um, there's something I absolutely must ask you."
"What would that be?"
I never imagined I'd get this kind of opportunity.
"Why did you turn your own son into a dungeon's defense mechanism?"
"Oh my. How bold."
"My, my, now now."
"..."
Alhazard Abramirin looked at me.
He wasn't glaring, wasn't studying me, wasn't fixating on me.
He simply gazed with his ashen-brown eyes. That alone was enough to make me feel the pressure — my body wouldn't move.
This sensation... it was similar to when I faced King Hargan of Death. But I had to ask.
"I have to know the reason. No matter what."
"And why is that?"
"...Because his beautiful blue eyes said, 'I thank you,' to me at the end."
"Mmm... He thanked you, did he... Those blue eyes of his resembled his mother's... I see. So it was you. Is that how it was. Then I shall answer. My son was strong. He was already renowned as a Class I delver, and he also served as the commander leading the Kingdom's Seventh Knight Order. Yes, strong. Stronger than anyone in that great subjugation. That is also why he died. I made him into a defense mechanism so that he would remain strong even after death. That is the sole reason."
Alhazard Abramirin spoke in a calm, detached manner.
It was the truth, I was sure. I could feel it.
"I understand. Thank you."
"Was my son strong?"
"Yes. He was stronger than anything. I lost."
"...I see."
Alhazard Abramirin nodded slowly, as if savoring my words.
Somehow, I felt as though he had been saved.
While I was at it, I decided to ask one more thing.
"Um, may I ask one more thing?"
"Go ahead."
"I live in a warehouse with a tower. I found something there."
"A warehouse with a tower... Don't tell me. The Second Tower?"
"Oh my. What could this be about?"
"My oh my, whatever could that be about?"
"Yes. The Second Tower. It had the words 'Forever, the endless dream continues...' inscribed on it."
"Precisely! I see... I see. So it's been found at last. Someone has finally found it and appeared to challenge Hyarne's dream. Will you take it on?"
"Yes. I intend to."
"Then I shall issue you a commission from me personally. Explore Hyarne's dream. And by accepting this commission, you are hereby elevated to Class V delver, effective today."
"What."
"Oh my. This is unexpected."
"My my, promoted on the spot. As expected of young Wof."
"Is that really okay? Alhazard?"
Shiro asked.
Alhazard Abramirin smiled.
"It's fine. 'Forever, the endless dream...' — It's been a long time since I've heard those words. Witch's apprentice. Wof, was it?"
"Yes."
"I have high hopes. I'll give you the reward when the time comes. In due time. I look forward to it."
"Yes. I'll find it. You have my word."
The image vanished with a soft whoosh.
Phew... What an incredible person he was.
If I ever met him in person, he'd probably have so much dignity and intimidation that a conversation like this would be impossible.
Still, going up to Class V in an instant — was that really okay?
Hm. I sensed a presence behind me. I turned around and regretted it.
"Now then, young Wof."
"How do you explain this."
"Won't you explain this for us?"
The witch, Alanse, and Shiro — all three asked with smiles on their faces.
None of them were smiling at all.
After that, I was subjected to an absolutely brutal interrogation.