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Chapter 21 – A Consultation from the Guild
“Oh. It feels good to fly in the sky on a sunny day.”
“It’s true, there’s an exhilarating feeling that you can’t get anywhere else. When I was a child, I dreamed of flying in the sky like a bird.”
“Ahaha. I’ve wanted to fly in the sky too. I never thought I’d fly on a broomstick, though.”
“Really. You never know what’s going to happen.”
–Clare and Selena were having this conversation while flying over the plains on their brooms. The girl doll on their shoulders put her hands over her eyes and turned her head as if enjoying the view.
Rona spoke while watching the two of them fly from a little behind.
“Selena’s flying has gotten to a level where it doesn’t interfere with travel. It would be good to practice more advanced flight training while traveling.”
“I understand.”
“Then, please follow me. We will start with sudden acceleration and braking. I will prepare a safety line.”
“Yes, Lady Clare.”
The three of them stopped by the usual village, then went to the capital to sell materials and crafts, and were on their way. Selena’s flying on her broom — although she is still not fast or able to fly at a high level, she has become skilled enough to travel with Clare and Rona without any problems.
In the hermitage, she could only do basic flight training, flying around the grounds because she could not get high enough to reach the treetops, but she can try movements that she was unable to do in the Great Sea of Trees. Therefore, the journey was also used for flight training.
Go as fast as possible and slow down with as short a braking distance as possible.
They held the handle of the broom in front of them to avoid being thrown off when they slowed down, and then they repeated rapid acceleration and deceleration, gradually incorporating movements such as turning, ascending, and descending.
They continued to practice like this as they flew over the plains on their brooms – and before long, the three arrived at the capital.
“Ah…! Clare and Selena…!”
They were now familiar with the soldiers guarding the gate. Unlike before, they were able to enter the capital smoothly.
They decided to meet up later and parted ways, and Clare and Selena headed to the Adventurer’s Guild. The receptionist greeted them with a smile, clapping her hands in front of her chest as if to say that they had come to the right place.
“Hello. Selena, I’m here to report on the requests you have completed. I’m here to sell the materials I have collected and the items I have made… but. Hmm?”
“Did something happen?”
The receptionist nodded at the dolls of Selena and Clare, who tilted their heads.
“Actually, there is something I would like to ask you two and the witch. I won’t bother you, and I’m thinking of offering a reward in some cases, but before that, I will proceed with the purchase as usual.”
The two looked at each other when the receptionist said this.
They were led straight to the dismantling yard at the back of the guild, and first the materials they had brought in were traded. As Clare took out a number of monster materials from her bag and lined them up, the receptionist let out an impressed voice.
“A lot of them were brought in this time again.”
“The quality is good, too. As always, the preparation is done carefully.”
The guild staff member in charge of dismantling said as he inspected the materials.
“It’s also training, after all. There are some things we make here.”
“You can do more now, too.”
Preparation is important because it affects the outcome of the materials. The two were taught how to process them, but this is also because their teacher Rona had connections with adventurers in the past.
“And these are the materials for Selena’s request. The pelts, fangs, claws, and meat of the wolf.”
She takes out the items from boxes and bags from her bag and arranges them. The wolf materials have also been pre-processed and sorted by type. For the slaying, you can tell how many members of the pack were hunted by counting the number of pelts. The particularly large and impressive pelt belongs to the pack leader.
“It’s been drained of blood as well… It’s been chilled to keep it fresh.”
“The pelts have been processed to the pre-processing stage.”
“Understood. It doesn’t seem like there’s no work at all.”
“The number of pelts is well above the required number. The request is complete.”
The receptionist counts the pelts and nods, then looks at Clare.
“Why don’t you register as an adventurer, Clare? We can sell the items you bring in at a higher price.”
“I’m more flexible without the restrictions of being an adventurer. I don’t need a lot of money currently.”
When you register as an adventurer, you may be called upon to join in emergencies involving monsters.
There are other rules, such as completing a set number of requests, receiving requests from the guild, and having to report, and you are bound by those rules.
However, as for your status, you are trusted as Rona’s disciple, and because of your origins, Clare wants to secure her freedom of action, so she is cautious about registering as an adventurer.
“I see. Well, if you feel like it, please do. You are always welcome, Clare.”
“That’s — thank you.”
Clare smiled at the invitation.
After receiving the items they brought and made, and the money for completing the requests, Clare and the others were led to another room.
“So… what is it that you want to ask?”
“There is something I would like to ask about the Great Sea of Trees. In fact, the royal family and the Margrave have requested that we investigate the Great Sea of Trees, so we have decided to gather information before proceeding with the investigation.”
What the receptionist said made sense to Clare. If she wanted to ask about the Great Sea of Trees, she would first ask Rona and Clare, who live there.
“If it’s something you know or can talk about. I’ll have to ask my master first, but not right away.”
“Thank you. Of course, I’m assuming you’ll talk to the witch first. Actually, it’s about the monsters that appear in the Great Sea of Trees. I’d like you to tell us about the threat level, or where the monsters are distributed, and what we don’t know. Especially… the domain lord.”
“Domain lord…”
“I’ve heard that there are many places with domain lords near the ruins in the hinterlands, but you’re not planning to defeat the domain lord to investigate the ruins, are you?”
Selena asked, furrowing her brow a little anxiously.
Selena didn’t know what the royal family was thinking when they decided to resume the investigation. But if it were to provoke the domain lord and put Clare and her friends in danger, it would be an unwelcome idea. Selena said this, intending to subtly warn Clare, who didn’t know much about the world, and the receptionist nodded seriously and began to speak.
“Yes. That’s not the case. The guild has received a request for cooperation in investigating the Great Sea of Trees while ensuring safety by avoiding contact with the domain lord as much as possible. Whatever we do, we need to start by carefully gathering information.”
Clare ponders for a moment before asking.
“So that’s why we want to understand the type of monster, the threat level, and the approximate location of the domain lord?”
“Yes. There are many areas where we don’t know the distribution of monsters in the depths where adventurers usually don’t go.”
“I see…”
The type and distribution of monsters are important. Even if it’s a monster that can be defeated, depending on its nature, there is a possibility that it will stimulate other monsters and domain lords nearby in a chain reaction. Getting information on that is a matter of life and death for the investigation team.
“Then I’ll let my master know. It may take another day, but I’ll come again later.”
“Thank you. If it’s tomorrow, the guild master can be present.”
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