Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: "Guild Rank? Give Me the Highest One!"
Gokigenyou. I am Violia Nico Fortesia. Right now, I am riding my horse with a suitable severed head and a large quantity of jewelry.
In the few days since I decided to go to the Guild, several other Rank 3 adventurers came and were stripped of their belongings and buried in the mountains. Thanks to that, I am quite well-off.
The bandits were sad to see me go, but I have the goal of revenge. I can't stay a bandit here forever.
While being missed... and at the same time, being a bit relieved, I left the bandit hideout and headed for the town.
"It's been a while since I've been in a town."
I arrived at Elsemarin, the town where the Academy is located. It's a glamorous port town full of dreams of trade and adventure.
...Well, it's a perfect town for both acting and hiding from now on.
The elegant noble district, the glamorous trading district. The adventure district full of romance, and the Cathedral with its weight of history.
And, the back alleys open only to those who know of their existence.
...Yes.
Elsemarin is a scenic town frequented by nobles, with academies for noble daughters and a large port, but behind that glamour lies a wild and dirty world.
The back alleys of Elsemarin, which we were forbidden to approach at the Academy. I plan to sell some of the jewelry I received from the noble marks without submitting it, and if I'm going to sell it, it'll be at the black market in the back alleys.
For now, the first place to go is the Guild. If I can get a Guild card, I can get discounts on inns, and above all, the Guild is the perfect place for me to earn money.
So, I arrived at the Adventurer Guild.
Since it was before noon, the crowd was moderate. Many adventurers head out first thing in the morning to handle quests that take all day, so it's most crowded first thing in the morning.
...However, from the moment I entered the Guild lobby, I've been drawing quite a bit of attention. It might be my overflowing elegance stealing their gaze... but well, it's mostly likely because of the severed head I'm hanging and the furs I'm carrying, or perhaps because of the armor and helmet I've kept on to hide my face. Yes. A full-face helmet is convenient at times like this!
"I'd like to request a buyout, if you don't mind?"
I immediately placed the furs on the counter. The receptionist has a surprised face, but well, that's that.
Next to the furs, I piled up fangs and other things. If you stay in the mountains, you'll encounter monsters to some extent. You can harvest a lot of fur and fangs.
"Killer Grizzly fur and fangs, is it... there's almost no external damage, did you take it down with magic?"
"Arrows and magic."
While making sure not to say too much, I answered a few of the receptionist's questions. By the way, I lied and said the reason I was staying in the mountains was 'for training.'
"I see... hmm, then the buyout price will be about this much."
...The amount presented was 3 gold coins.
Hmm, is this high or low?
If it were the black market, I'd grab the buyer by the collar and shake them because it's a rip-off, but this is, after all, a formal Guild buyout. However, even including the bounty for subjugating the monster, this amount is... hmm, it's a measly sum.
Well, fine. For now, I can survive to some extent with 3 gold coins.
I agreed to the buyout price and received the gold coins.
...Now, the problem is after this.
"About this severed head."
"E-eh."
While placing the severed head on the counter with a thud, I lined up the jewelry next to it.
"It's from a bandit. These items seem to be things this bandit had been hoarding. I wonder if this hasn't become a quest?"
After that, the receptionist ran off to check and finally found the corresponding quest.
"I've confirmed it. From the crests engraved on these accessories, we've identified the client. This bandit is likely the one for whom a request was accepted here."
"Oh, what luck."
I'm acting as if I didn't know this was a quest, so I gave a suitable reply and waited for the receptionist's words.
...It's a case where multiple Rank 3 adventurers failed. It's at least Rank 3, and maybe it's been upgraded to 2!
Or so I thought.
"Since this request was Rank 4, I will pay you 5 silver coins as the bounty."
The receptionist said such an outrageous thing with a smile!
"Wha..."
The receptionist is smiling... but this is no joke!
Me, Rank 4!? This is right after I crushed several Rank 3 adventurers! Even though it was such a request, only Rank 4!? Is this woman out of her mind!?
...I thought that much without letting it show on my face at all, but seeing the receptionist hide the paper with the quest details under the counter, I suddenly understood.
This receptionist is 'lying' to me!
In other words... this receptionist is skimming!
There's no way 'I' should know that Rank 3 adventurers had been accepting the bandit subjugation quest and failing. Why? Because it would be strange if I had been the bandit boss stripping the nobles!
I am innocent! Yes, I shall claim innocence! I have no relation to bandits whatsoever! So... it's frustrating, but I have to act as if I didn't know this quest was high difficulty.
And naturally, the higher the difficulty of a quest, the higher the bounty.
...In other words! This receptionist! This 'bandit subjugation' quest, which wouldn't be strange even if it were Rank 3 or at worst upgraded to 2! By falsely lowering the difficulty! She pays me a bounty appropriate for a Rank 4 quest! And behind the scenes, she's secretly pocketing the difference from the original reward amount!
What a thieving cat! While smiling, what she's doing behind the scenes is skimming! It's unforgivable!
But right now, it's not a good idea to complain here. After all, I am a fugitive. I cannot afford to stand out.
The only thing I can do is follow this receptionist's plan and settle for Rank 4 being skimmed...
"Then, congratulations on completing the Rank 4 quest. here is the bounty."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
While smiling at the receptionist who handed over a clearly insufficient amount (though she probably can't see my smile because of the helmet!), I decided.
I'm going to make this Pin-Hane Girl eat her words!
"Then, here is your Guild card."
What the hateful receptionist brought out was a Guild card. Since I naturally used a pseudonym, the name is 'Ayle Kanone.'
And the rank is a humiliating 4. At the very least, give me a 2, you thieving cat! It's incredibly infuriating!
"I'd like to see the quests immediately, if you don't mind?"
"Let's see, for Rank 4 quests..."
"No, show me quests that are not Rank 4."
When I made the request, the Pin-Hane Girl looked puzzled.
"Then is it Rank 5 quests? Or Rank 3...?"
"You're wrong. Show me the Rank 1 quests."
The Pin-Hane Girl didn't seem to understand my words, so I told her again.
"Show me the Rank 1 quests. A quest suitable for me!"
'A quest suitable for me.' The moment I said that, the Pin-Hane Girl's complexion turned a bit pale. Did she really think I hadn't noticed the skimming? If so, she has a considerably low-capacity brain.
"Now, hurry up and bring them out. Rank 1 quests in this vicinity!"
"B-but, for a Rank 4 adventurer to suddenly take Rank 1, that's..."
"There shouldn't be a rule that a Rank 4 adventurer cannot complete a Rank 1 quest, should there!? A Guild rank is supposed to be the Guild's evaluation of an adventurer's ability! Other than being a standard for adventurers to choose quests suited to their own abilities, it should only be used when a client nominates an adventurer or when forming a party!? Eh!? Am I wrong!?"
"T-that's true, but... but..."
The Pin-Hane Girl's position and complexion are only getting worse.
I am not saying anything wrong. Unless the client specifically requires an adventurer of a certain rank or higher, taking on a quest is up to the adventurer. Incidentally, it's also up to the adventurer to take on a quest beyond their means and die in a ditch because they couldn't complete it. That's not something the Guild side can stop even if they wanted to.
Because isn't that right? Even I, who didn't have a Guild rank, ended up completing a Rank 3 or 2 quest by jumping in. Even if the same thing 'happened' to occur with a Rank 1 quest, it's not something the Guild should stop, is it?
"I am telling you to bring out the Rank 1 quest forms! Bring them out!"
"Hiee... I-I don't care what happens to you, okay?"
And so.
"The quests on this board are all Rank 1 or Rank 2 recommended quests."
In the end, the Pin-Hane Girl ended up showing me the Rank 1 quest forms.
Well, naturally, the ones where the client specifically requested 'only Rank 1 adventurers' didn't come out. For example, escort quests.
However... for quests where the Guild has estimated and assigned a rank, I can naturally see them and accept them.
...This time, there's even a subjugation quest for 'Violia Nico Fortesia.' Fortunately, there are no sketches or anything. It just has my characteristics written on it. With this, if I keep wearing the helmet... well, it'll buy some time.
However, it's a bit irritating that my subjugation quest is Rank 2. Well, I don't mind being underestimated... but it's infuriating to be looked down upon!
Well, pulling myself together.
"Oh. This one looks good."
I found a quest form that seemed just right.
"A-are you... are you serious!?"
The Pin-Hane Girl is trembling. It serves her right. Actually, I love seeing people who have made light of me bug out their eyes.
"Yes. I'm serious. I'll take this one, if you don't mind?"
The quest form I chose. It was the 'Dragon Subjugation' quest.
"This is a public quest. So, another adventurer might subjugate it before you do."
"I know."
"Also, it's dangerous. It's a dragon. You might die, you know?"
"I know."
"Furthermore, as the Guild, we have a policy of preventing low-rank adventurers from dreaming of becoming a Dragonslayer and taking on impossible quests..."
"I know, so just shut up already. I'll sew that mouth shut."
I glared at the tedious Pin-Hane Girl to silence her and received the quest form.
...This kind of public quest, in other words, a 'quest where a rank is just assigned as a guideline and anyone can do it,' naturally cannot be monopolized. It's first-come, first-served. Well, with a dragon as the opponent, there probably won't be many people aiming for it.
However, well, just being a dragon subjugation quest will draw attention.
Even now, there are several adventurers looking at me. If I turn toward them, they look away casually.
...And, just as this Pin-Hane Girl said earlier, it's a fact that there are an incredibly large number of 'adventurers who dream of becoming a Dragonslayer.' Even now, there's a young master whose eyes are sparkling as he looks at the dragon wanted poster I took from the board. This is it. This kind of thing never ends. I can understand why the Guild wants to stop me.
"By the way, has another adventurer already accepted this?"
"Hmm, this quest has been out for two weeks, and several people have already taken this poster home, but..."
"No one has achieved it yet. Oh, I see. Then there's no problem."
Well, it's a groundless fear.
...If by some chance another adventurer was aiming for my prey, well, I'll just make them dragon bait. There's no way to prove a fight outside of town. I'll just make it out to be the dragon's doing.
"Then, I'm off. You, don't be surprised when you see the dragon's head I bring back, okay?"
"E-eh...?"
After declaring that to the Pin-Hane Girl, I leisurely left the Guild.
Now then.
What shall I do now?
I've been camping out for a while. I'd like to stay in a proper inn soon. I have some small change I earned from the bandit business, so I could get an inn.
However, if I delay my departure, I'm worried about the dragon being snatched away.
I don't intend to fall behind some dreaming novice, but just in case, it's not impossible.
To make that hateful Pin-Hane Girl eat her words, I suppose I'll have to push through by camping out.
"U-um!"
While I was pondering, someone called out to me.
When I turned around, there was...
"Oh. You were in front of the board earlier..."
The young master who had been looking at the dragon poster with sparkling eyes seems to have some business with me?