We made our way back to Baim.
I had come with Clara today to report to the Guild.
In the bustling lobby of the Guild, Tahnia was at the reception desk, at the head of a formed line.
She pinched the frame of her glasses with her fingertips, adjusted them, and looked at us.
"Oh my, you've returned quite early. Or, is the commission impossible to fulfill?"
Knowing full well we had completed the mission, she said this as a joke while gesturing for us to sit in the chairs.
I handed over the necessary documents. Tahnia checked the envelope, carefully opened it, and examined the papers inside.
She read them right before us, held the documents in her left hand, and with her right hand resting on her chin, nodded several times.
"The rating is 'B'. However, they've noted the meticulousness of the job. I'll proceed with the payment as planned."
When I presented my Guild Card, Tahnia took it and continued the procedure.
Without pausing her swift notation on the papers, Tahnia asked me to confirm.
"From the job description to the travel, that's one way, five to six days. That's quite fast. Did you use a horse? If you're a registered adventurer with the Guild, you can rent one cheaper after some paperwork. Did you know about that?"
Seeing her smile at me, she was likely checking whether I had done my research or confirming it.
I was surprised it was a service not offered outside of Baim, but I...
"I'll be sure to use it next time."
At that, Tahnia let out a soft sigh and returned her gaze to the documents. Her desk was behind the counter, so I couldn't see its surface.
However, I heard what sounded like her stamping some papers.
She returned my Guild Card along with the documents, and then Tahnia left her seat. Presumably to bring the reward.
Clara.
"Is that alright? Won't that question affect the evaluation?"
I shrugged.
"It's fine. We finished the job within the deadline, and the evaluation wasn't bad. If we perform too well, we'll just get used, and we don't have the strength to refuse that. Pushing ourselves for a high rating would only limit our movements."
Hearing my opinion, Clara seemed relieved. Being trusted by the Guild was, after all, an honor.
We'd get preferential treatment over others in terms of services, and above all, our reputation would be different. But I had no intention of being worked to the bone by the Guild.
Especially in Baim, a staggering number of commissions came flooding in. With more jobs than they could possibly handle, we—the convenient, easy-to-work-with party—were exactly the kind of team they'd kill to have.
Movement speed, and adaptability.
Every single member was capable, able to handle most things on their own. That was why I thought our evaluation should be kept at a moderate level.
"I did some adventuring over in Aramsass, but Baim is on a whole different level. The atmosphere is one thing, but the quality of the staff is something else entirely."
I nodded along with Clara's sentiment that the Aramsass Guild had been terrible, and then the two of us shared a brief laugh.
Tahnia came over carrying the reward on a metal tray and set it down on the counter.
"Now then, please verify the reward. Also, I assume you understand about the Eastern Branch, but from now on, you'll be expected to take on commissions regularly. When you have spare time, you're welcome to tackle the Dungeon or handle Monster subjugation around the city. Just remember to observe proper etiquette."
I checked the amount, accepted it, and looked to Tahnia for confirmation.
"Having no freedom is a bit of a concern, though. How often are we expected to complete commissions?"
Tahnia pulled out a thin metal plate with characters engraved on it and used it to explain.
"It depends on the commission's content and difficulty, but for something like today's, once a month would be fine. For simpler jobs, however, we'd need you to complete two to three per month."
With settlements only a day or two apart, it seemed that Monster subjugation jobs alone would require us to work two to three times a month.
From within the Jewel, a voice called out. It was the Fourth Generation.
*"The Knights aren't here, so they have adventurers handle the Monster subjugation instead. In other words, soldiers who sustain themselves through their own earnings... I want some of those."*
A group that required no overhead and would spring into action the moment rewards were offered must have been quite appealing to the Fourth Generation.
The Seventh Generation refuted that.
*"Those kinds of soldiers aren't necessary. Using people whose abilities are unknown is something best saved for when mercenaries are needed during wartime. I don't ever intend to use them again."*
The Seventh Generation's dislike of adventurers was quite severe.
"What's the penalty for not completing it?"
When Clara asked, Tahnia smiled gently.
"There is none. Please rest assured that we won't be taking any action on our end whatsoever."
Watching that smile, I thought to myself.
(In other words, if you do nothing, the Guild won't do anything special either — including arranging Dungeon subjugations, I suppose.)
For the Guild's side, finding adventurers who cooperated with them must have been more important than forcing work on people.
It meant they couldn't be bothered with adventurers who had no motivation. After all, the Guild was also an organization that held the rights to Magic Stones.
At the same time, managing adventurers might not be something they were truly invested in — an added bonus, perhaps, but not where they put their real effort.
Managing the adventurers who collected Magic Stones was necessary, but from their perspective, arranging jobs for us was practically a courtesy.
"Also, when a request is completed, taxes are deducted from the reward. You may already know this, but the completion of a request is considered a contribution to Baim."
Completing quests meant prosperity for Baim.
Even when selling off Magic Stones and the like, they apparently didn't collect taxes on those transactions. That seemed to be Baim's policy.
Clara looked somewhat exasperated.
"In any case, most of the money adventurers earn gets spent within Baim anyway. In a place like Baim with no lord, that's probably what matters more."
Tahnia smiled.
"You're quite sharp. But it's better not to say that out loud too much. You never know where a **Sweeper** might be listening."
The Guild acknowledged their existence but they never appeared in public — those were the Sweepers. They dealt with adventurers who were more powerful than ordinary people, so you had to be exceptional to hold that role.
In Clara's Place.
"I'll be careful. Though I'd hate to think the Sweepers are so short-tempered that they'd target someone over something this minor."
Tahnia spoke to us after we'd completed the quest.
"Well, who knows. Now then, congratulations on Baim's first quest completion. I look forward to seeing more from you, Lail. And you too, Clara."
Having received everything I needed, I learned that I wouldn't have to take on any more quests this month. I decided to register May as an adventurer starting tomorrow, so I stood up from my chair and left the Guild with Clara.
Having collected my reward, I stopped by a food stall on the way back to the inn with Clara.
Rather than being hungry myself, I was picking up souvenirs because May, who eats a lot, was waiting. Although Aria and Shannon would probably eat them too.
Walking down the busy street lined with stalls, Clara and I picked out food for souvenirs together.
"Meat skewers? May and Aria would be happy with those, but Shannon probably wouldn't be too thrilled."
"Huh, really? Doesn't she eat everything?"
When I said that, Clara looked at me and shook her head.
"I think that's a bit of a misconception. She does eat a lot, but she's also quite picky, and she prefers sweet things."
When she put it that way, I remembered she was right. Still, meat skewers would definitely make her happy too.
"Then maybe some candy? No, what about fried sweet potato slices — like a snack? What about you, Clara?"
"Me? No, I don't really need to eat much outside of meals."
As an adventurer, Clara ate a fair amount, but compared to the other members, her portions were on the smaller side.
I recalled that sweets were good when you needed to think, so I bought some sweet candy being sold nearby with a large copper coin.
I handed the bag to Clara.
"Candy lasts a long time, so you can suck on it while reading a book. It won't get in your hands, either."
Clara took the bag, nodded a few times, and looked down slightly.
A voice came from the Jewel. It was the Third Generation.
'Oh my, looks like Lyle is making a move to curry favor with Clara here!'
The Fourth Generation chimed in matter-of-factly.
'Hmm, well, setting aside little Shannon, who already bought that pendant, that leaves seven... This is going to be tough!'
It made me want to punch the Successive Heads, who were all laughing while saying "tough, huh?" — but I still hadn't managed to land a single proper blow on them.
I was seriously thinking I'd like to land at least one hit on them today.
Just then, I heard voices.
It was the sound of adventurers arguing. It sounded like a fight among members of the same party.
"You're saying this is MY fault?!"
When I looked over, I saw Erhard with a greatsword strapped to his back. As always, I couldn't make sense of his outfit — a tank top on top only.
Wasn't he cold?
Clara clutched the brown paper bag full of candy and watched Erhard and his group.
"It looks like they've come back from their request."
Erhard was holding the same type of envelope I'd received, crumpling it in his grip. The party members who used to be Erhard's companions — or rather, his lackeys — wore expressions of displeasure.
"That's right! I mean, arriving in a single day without even checking things out first... It took us four days! And on top of that, you definitely angered the client, so our rating is low! We barely have any money as it is, and now you're cutting into our income too?!"
It sounded like he had angered the client and lowered their evaluation.
I spotted Erhard and his group from a distance and decided to keep a certain amount of space between us. I was also curious why they were fighting in a place like this.
"So what if I bought a single skewer from a food stand?! You're overreacting. Once a request worthy of me comes along, I'll make us loads of money, so just shut up!"
It seemed he had been the only one to buy food from a stand, despite their financial troubles.
From inside the Jewel, I heard the voice of the Sixth Generation.
"No matter how you look at it, that's just not okay."
Erhard seemed exasperated, but the Third Generation was laughing.
"Hmm, everyone leads people differently, but that's just not going to work. He's not the charismatic type who can pull people along, yet he's all 'follow me'… Has he already forgotten losing to Lyle? Well, it's an entertaining spectacle, but getting involved would be a pain. Lyle, let's get out of here right away."
If Erhard spotted me, he might challenge me to a rematch right here and then. That would be a problem — or rather, just troublesome — so I decided to take Clara's hand and leave the area.
The Fifth Generation spoke from the Jewel in an exasperated tone.
"Naïve, and reckless on top of that. Well, adventurers might actually grow more with that kind of attitude. Lyle, on the other hand, is almost too well-mannered."
The Fifth Generation said that to succeed, you need that kind of recklessness. I had to agree — there was some truth to that.
But one wrong step would mean ruin.
Things might work out well, but a person's temperament would affect their future too.
It wasn't impossible to climb up from here and establish a style to live by as an adventurer.
I might technically be his senior, but I was just as much of a rookie.
(That's because I had Novem and my ancestors giving me advice… If not for them, I might be the one getting laughed at right now.)
Around Erhard, there were townsfolk who looked annoyed. And among them, fellow adventurers who were watching with amusement.
The two of them didn't care about any of it, hurling insults at each other at the top of their lungs.
Looking at Erhard, I realized that I honestly couldn't bring myself to mock him.
——In a room at the Guild.
There, Tahnia was reporting to her superior about adventurers.
Several documents had been submitted, with Tahnia's evaluations written on them.
Her superior was sipping tea while looking through the profiles of the new adventurer party operating out of the Baim Eastern Branch.
She was originally not an adventurer but rather a competent type who managed Magic Stones. However, she was also a superior who listened to on-the-ground opinions regarding adventurer affairs, so she was well-regarded by her subordinates.
"So, what does Tahnia think? Among them, are there any standout talents?"
Her superior called her Tahnia by that name, but Tahnia didn't correct him. She held two names.
Tahnia was her name as a Guild employee.
And Tahnia was her name as a Sweeper.
"Yes. Several parties could prove beneficial to us. Also, the party led by Laiel—"
Her superior searched through the documents, picked one up, and nodded.
"They've earned a commendable evaluation. Not top marks, but far from poor. At this rate, we could send them into the Dungeon before long."
Tahnia nodded in agreement.
"Yes, it's an excellent evaluation. Though it does feel somewhat deliberate."
Her superior looked at Tahnia.
"Do you have some kind of complaint?"
"Not at all. Skilled adventurers are a Guild's most valuable asset. I believe he—and they—could become precious assets of the Eastern Branch."
Her superior, who had briefly worried Tahnia might have uncovered something shady, took a sip of his tea and relaxed.
"Then isn't that fine? All we need to do is support them. If they handle quests at a reasonable pace, arrange some Dungeon extermination assignments for them. If we only use them, they'll leave for somewhere else before long. You need to feed them the right amount, so to speak."
Hearing this, Tahnia nodded and reported back to her superior.
"Also, this next one is on the rather unfortunate side—"
Her superior turned his attention to the documents he'd been avoiding. He showed little interest, as was typical. Every year, this type of adventurer showed up.
A rowdy bunch of young upstarts who'd become adventurers without so much as a clue about the world.
"Same as always. Steer them in a direction that benefits the Guild, and if they're hopeless, just leave them be. If they end up going somewhere else because of it, that's even better."
Problematic adventurers were kept at arm's length even within the Guild.
Those adventurers were none other than Erhard and his group. But the Guild wouldn't abandon them right away. Adventurers like them existed in a certain number, and plenty of those who eventually grew from such beginnings went on to achieve real success.
The Guild also had its own methods for turning such adventurers into presentable, cooperative members.
"Hmm… Tahnia's too capable for this. Why don't we assign a receptionist with a nurturing personality instead? With this incident, we can justify it as a penalty and make her their dedicated receptionist."
They had enough staff on hand to make that work.
A single beautiful receptionist would handle multiple parties, drawing out their enthusiasm in the process. In that way, she could manage them and use them to the Guild's advantage—plain and simple.
What happens when a beautiful receptionist who genuinely cares about them is in a bind because no one's picking up her requests? Adventurers who feel indebted to her, or who've developed a crush, will volunteer to take on those jobs first.
Adventurers who've built up their skills elsewhere will avoid such requests the moment they think it might put them at a disadvantage.
That was precisely why they needed a certain number of adventurers like Erhard.
"There's a tool for every job, or something like that, right? Once they've matured into real adventurers, it benefits the Guild too. And it's a huge gain for them as well. Nah, really, this should be a relationship where nobody loses—Guild and adventurers alike."
Facing her grinning superior, Tahnia nodded, collected the documents from his desk, and neatly tidied them up.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
As Tahnia turned to leave the room, her boss called out.
"Good luck with the front desk, Tahnia!"
And with that—.