A few days after receiving information from Rauno.
Tahnia had come to visit the manor. I decided to receive her myself, but since only Damian's Automaton was around, I had its Number Two prepare the tea this time.
But either she had no interest in my rather particular tastes, or she simply poured a different kind of tea from what Monica usually served. I suspected it was Damian's preference.
Tahnia sat upright on the sofa. However, she hadn't touched the tea. Her tone was more detached than usual.
I activated a Skill. The Sixth Generation's — Search — displayed Tahnia's reactions in yellow and red.
She might have been wavering. If so, that meant she already knew the details of the situation. Tahnia was someone from the Guild's side. She would probably prioritize the Guild, as expected.
"Laiel, we've received an urgent commission. You may have heard the rumors, but—"
"Cartafus?"
"...So you already knew. That was quick. Regarding Cartafus, there have been recent signs of unrest. We've also received a commission from Cartafus's affiliates at Baim, and we've determined it requires urgent attention. Therefore, the Guild would like to commission you, Laiel, for this matter. I can promise a reward of fifty thousand gold coins upon success. The commission is to rescue the captured Queen."
They had prepared several thousand gold coins just as an advance.
Since they had no intention of paying any success reward, they apparently wanted to make the deal look quite generous.
From within the Jewel, the Fifth Generation's voice spoke.
"Several thousand gold coins is nothing to sneeze at, hm? The Adventurers' Guild certainly has some nerve. It's not a bad sum for a preparatory payment, I'll admit."
I looked over the documents.
"The advance is quite lavish, I'll admit. However, our entire party consists of women. Wouldn't that make this commission a no-go, given the details?"
It seemed there were reports that Larque's Skills were particularly powerful against the opposite sex. And apparently, this was also part of a plan to separate me from my companions.
The Seventh Generation looked over this and spoke.
"Did they think they could handle things by splitting us up? But this time, the Guild should be playing their trump card as well... If we underestimate them, it could be dangerous."
The Third Generation laughed at the Seventh Generation's assessment.
"So isn't that just fine? Laluk, was it? Poor kid, really. They probably have no idea they're being used by us and by Baim. Oh, right, Lail... just as planned."
Tahnia seemed to have already considered the reasons I might refuse.
"I've determined the task can be accomplished by a single individual. Also, the part about it being only women was a lie, wasn't it? Maxim, Damian... both of them have already completed their adventurer registrations."
She was going for a thorough takedown, even dragging out Maxim's name. I skimmed the documents.
"...There's also a Dungeon subjugation request on file. Would it be all right to handle that first?"
Tahnia said, looking troubled.
"It's urgent, so sooner rather than later would be preferable. And if it's absolutely impossible, the Guild can send reinforcements."
Hearing that, I broke into a smile. It was a scenario I had anticipated. And the adventurers they'd send would almost certainly be planning to ambush us.
"That would be a help. Reinforcements for my side?"
"We wouldn't go quite that far... But they've also dispatched adventurers from Baim over there. I can arrange for you to receive cooperation on that end."
I tilted my head at what she said.
"Is that so? How strange. The well-known parties should all be tied up with other requests. Did you send people from outside the Eastern Branch?"
In the dispatch-style guilds outside the Eastern Branch, adventurers sent out by Baim would most likely come from the Southern Branch's mercenary unit. Tahnia's expression remained as manufactured as ever.
"That's just how urgent it is. In that case, we'll go ahead and send reinforcements for the Dungeon."
I nodded and was about to sign the documents when I stopped myself.
"Oh, right. I've got all sorts of errands to take care of too, so would it be okay if I asked an acquaintance at the Eastern Branch for some work? ...There's a few things I'd like help with."
Tahnia heard me out, thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile.
"Be my guest. Just be careful not to ask anyone too capable — they'd find it troublesome, and I doubt they'd agree to take on menial tasks."
I signed the documents as I spoke.
"Yeah, don't worry. I've got a couple of people in mind who'd be more than happy to take it on."
I hung my head and thought.
(Tahnia, you're too soft. Didn't you think we could cut loose any adventurer willing to take on nothing but odd jobs?)
Once Tahnia left, I called Damian and Maxim—who were both at the manor—into a room and spoke with them.
It was about Cartas's request. I also informed them that the current situation was looking rather grim.
Damian removed his glasses and wiped the lenses.
"Hm, and? Rael has some kind of plan, doesn't he?"
Maxim, on the other hand, was visibly tense. The complete opposite of Damian.
"This is bad. Losing Baim's support is going to affect our future plans no matter how you look at it."
It seemed Maxim had been under the assumption that I would continue receiving support from Baim—from the Trace family. And it appeared Adele had been acting on that same assumption.
I offered my apologies.
"Ah, let me apologize in advance. I'll be vacating this place too. Actually, the Trace family will likely be making its own moves before long, and I've already started groundwork at the location where we've been pushing dungeon clears—so that'll be our base of operations going forward."
Damian looked displeased.
"Aw, I really liked the basement here though."
"Have them build you a place to your liking over there. In fact, I'm thinking it's time we got serious."
I laid out the plan for the two of them.
It was a plan to deal with the anticipated adventurer assault at Cartas, rescue the queen to earn favor, and have a northern superpower keep Banseim in check.
Upon hearing this, Maxim spoke.
"…If everything goes well, it's certainly a fine plan. But the risks are enormous. Besides, being away from my lady's side while she's in danger…"
As expected, he didn't want to leave Adele's side. Damian, meanwhile, looked thoroughly exasperated.
"Three Automatons, huh. I suppose we could get some Golems ready too, but how does that stack up in terms of firepower? Can we actually win? Adventurers who've honed their skills in Dungeons are, frankly speaking, monsters."
I declared to Damian and Maxim, full of confidence.
"We'll win. If we lose here, there's no way we'd ever beat a monster like Ceres. Oh, and one more thing. There's a movement in Baim to oust the Trace family — well, technically the current head, Fidel. Apparently several other merchant families are being driven out too. So I'd like to resettle them in the land we're developing. Damian, do you think you could convince Old Man Ratat?"
Damian put on his glasses, took a cup from Automaton Unit One — his personal maid — and sipped his tea.
"I think it's possible. He's a craftsman through and through, for better or worse. As long as there's a place and work to be done, why wouldn't it be? He doesn't seem to mind Baim's bustle either, though he did say he missed the countryside since he originally came from a rural area. Besides, the Valkyrie improvements seem to sound like fun to him — he doesn't look like he wants to throw in the towel."
So we could bring Old Man Ratat on board. If that worked out, we could reach out to other connected craftsmen and merchants and invite them south to Baim.
Mireia chimed in, looking delighted.
"Let's have Eva spread the rumor — fortune awaits in the southern lands!"
She was clearly enjoying herself too.
Then Damian turned to look at me.
"...You're going to take in merchants who've lost their value? I mean, you're Lyle, so if you play it right, you could probably get along fine with the merchants who stay behind in Baim."
I shook my head.
"Sorry, but I've got a sense of duty. I can't betray people who've helped me."
At that, Maxim shot me a skeptical look.
"...That's not what I'd call a sense of duty."
...How rude. The merchants who supported me — I was going to rescue them from Baim's collapse. That was perfectly honorable.
I visited the Eastern Branch of the Guild and requested Marianne in a private room on the third floor.
Normally any receptionist would do, but this time I specifically needed Marianne.
I absolutely needed a staff member who'd been with the Guild for a while and couldn't bear to abandon adventurer acquaintances.
Well, I couldn't say it was an absolute necessity, but I requested her with the intention of putting her to use nonetheless.
Marianne came into the room with a smile, carrying documents and such, when she heard I was waiting in the private room. And the moment she saw my face —
"How unusual of you to make a specific request. I almost want to think it's a misunderstanding, so if possible, I'd like to hear your reason…"
Marianne, who had been joking, took one look at my expression and became serious.
"This doesn't seem like the time for jokes."
Saying that, she placed the documents on the desk, prepared drinks, and sat down in a chair. I took a sip of my drink and then made my request.
"I'll be heading to Carthafus. For the ship, I'll be using one from the Trace family. And on top of that, I've also hired an adventurer party I can entrust with odd jobs."
Marianne's expression didn't waver.
"I see. It sounds like it will be difficult, but if it's Lael-san, I'm sure you'll accomplish the quest—"
That's when I put on a smile. I made the best, brightest smile I could, and I loathed myself for it. This was the only kind of thing I kept getting better at.
"So, I'd like to see the files on the adventurers who headed to Carthafus. The detailed records the Guild keeps on file… you have those, don't you?"
Marianne's drooping eyes narrowed further, glaring at me.
"Leaking information is strictly prohibited. You can't just ask me to do something like—"
"But you handed over my information, didn't you? Someone at your level would know exactly what kind of situation I'm in, wouldn't you, Marianne? I heard you've also done new recruit training, so you're quite well-versed in how the Guild works, aren't you?"
Marianne stood up from her chair and moved to leave the room.
"…I'll call another staff member. And beyond that, there's nothing I can say."
Still wearing my smile, I relayed the matter of the adventurer party I'd hired.
"This time, I asked Erhard's party for their help. They accepted willingly. It is a large commission, after all. On another note, I heard you got angry on behalf of Erhard and the others. You tried to stop them from taking a quest where they could lose their life, and even caused a scene at the front desk… You know, I really like kind people."
When Marianne turned around, she shot me a fierce glare. And then, after a long moment, she looked down—and that said everything.
She had known. About my situation, and about what Baim had done.
"So you knew everything, and you still chose to go to Carthafus. You're quite bold, aren't you? From my perspective, it would be a relief if you'd just run away."
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Baim has things that are important to him too. I believe that if it's to protect what matters, a certain degree of action is justified. Now, Marianne, I know this doesn't offer you much benefit, but could I ask you to hear my request?"
When Marianne came back, she sat down in the chair and fixed her gaze on me. It wasn't the same atmosphere as before — there was a certain severity to it.
I figured she'd been through her share of experiences to develop that kind of presence.
"...Adventurer intel, right? Certainly, this is a proposition with minimal upside for me. After all, there's nothing but downside. Still, I'll prepare information on the adventurers who went to Carthafus. And on the adventurers planning to attack your remaining companions. In exchange—"
What Marianne demanded in return was—
"A guarantee of safety for Erhard and the others. No — bring them back to Baim unharmed. Once you enter Carthafus, every single one of Laiel's companions becomes a target. They won't overlook them just because they're doing grunt work."
I nodded and asked Marianne how soon the information could be gathered. It sounded like it would come together fairly quickly, and I was genuinely impressed. Her competence as a staff member must be quite high as well.
Once we arranged the method of delivery for the intel, I decided to ask Marianne something.
"You're going to great lengths to side with Erhard and his team. Is it romantic feelings?"
At that, Marianne laughed as if I were being ridiculous. Then she looked at me with a hint of sadness.
"Half right. Erhard and the others are more like... adorable little brothers, I suppose? A bit naive, but earnest and hardworking... When I see kids like that among the staff, it warms my heart. They put in steady effort, grow little by little, and then come running to report their progress with such joy. ...Rather than some prodigy who handles everything perfectly without a shred of charm, I much prefer cheering on kids like that."
It wasn't as though Marianne reporting to the Guild would have caused any problems. The estate was already in the process of being vacated, and preparations were well underway.
Still, hearing her words, I had to admit — from a staff member's perspective, I probably didn't offer much in the way of entertainment compared to Erhard and his team.
"So you're lending me a hand just for that small a reason?"
Marianne lowered her gaze, her voice dropping little by little.
"...He reminds me of an adventurer I used to like. I was new too, and fairly popular back then, so I was riding high. And then this earnest adventurer from the countryside pushed himself too hard because of me."
Hearing that, I could guess most of what came next. Just as I expected, Marianne continued the story.
"He died. Left me his entire fortune, even... He really was a fool. After that, I transferred to the new recruit intake desk. I would've preferred the new recruit training division, to be honest, but it was rewarding work, so..."
I listened to the full account, and then I stood up.
"...I will bring Erhard and the others back to Baim. I promise you that."
Marianne glared at me as she spoke.
"If you don't bring them back, I'll hold a grudge against you for the rest of my life. After making you go through all this, if even one person is missing... I'll teach you what it means to have the Guild staff as your enemy."
That intensity was genuinely terrifying, but I forced a smile so she wouldn't see through my true feelings. Then I stepped out of the room and heaved a sigh of relief.
——Eastern Branch.
At the first-floor reception desk, Ryuen was handling Erhard's paperwork.
Erhard then spoke to Ryuen.
"Sorry, but the next job — I'm going to pass on it this time."
Hearing this, Ryuen found it unusual and sought confirmation from Erhard.
"What's the matter? Normally you'd be checking the next commission and scheduling your work. Is someone feeling unwell?"
Erhard shook his head, saying that wasn't it. He was calmer as an adventurer than before, fulfilling commissions just as Marianne had taught him.
He was starting to round out his equipment, and with his companions, he'd been taking down Monsters out in the field — his life as an adventurer was improving beyond what the lowest-ranked ones endured.
"I'm going to help out at Cartafus on an acquaintance's request. It's mostly errand work, but the pay is decent, and since it'll be a long-term commission, I won't be able to take anything else for a while."
Ryuen listened to that, then looked at Erhard.
"Even if they're an acquaintance, having a named referral shows they trust you. You've all really become proper adventurers. Oh, that reminds me — I'm expecting souvenirs, you know! You have to tell me all about what kind of adventure you went on!"
Erhard let out a sigh.
"Pastries or something would be cuter, you know. Say the same thing to everyone and you'll regret it later. But since I'll be seeing you pretty often, I'll at least bring back one souvenir."
Ryuen glanced away slightly and said in a small voice.
"...I won't tell anyone else."
Erhard stood up from his chair.
"What was that?"
"It's nothing. I'm counting on you, Erhard."
Seeing Ryuue's smile, Erhard let out a bitter chuckle. He still thought Marianne had tricked him, or perhaps he still had a lingering trauma around female staff members—