137 - Chapter 9: Prologue
The labyrinth subjugation in Beime.
Once that great task was finished and I returned, it had begun to get warmer, though there was still a chill in the air.
My breath would turn white in the mornings and evenings, but during the day, it wasn't like that as long as the sun was out.
Feeling that spring was approaching, I opened the window of the inn I was staying at—
—and closed it immediately.
"It really is cold."
The one mocking my actions was Monica, the automaton who slept and stayed in the same room as I did.
Monica, the blonde twin-tailed automaton, was dressed in her maid outfit again today, taking care of my needs since she activated.
There was absolutely no compromise in that regard.
However, she had a foul mouth.
"Trying to create a refreshing morning atmosphere, only to close it immediately because it's cold... As expected of my chicken coward. I want to air out the room, so please leave it open. Oh, and please wash your face first. I have your clothes ready."
As always, her preparations were perfect.
I glanced at the prepared clothes and reached out to change.
"Please wash your face first."
She pointed toward the washroom and looked at me with a smile.
The inn in Beime was reasonably expensive, but it was well-equipped. It seemed many adventurers used it, but merchants visiting Beime and others did as well.
I had used it often since arriving in Beime.
However, as an adventurer, relying too much on this kind of inn was a problem. After all, the accommodation fees were not insignificant.
My party consisted of nine people, including myself.
Me.
Novem, the mage with a side-tail.
Aria, the warrior with a spear.
Clara, the petite, glasses-wearing support specialist.
Miranda, who recently manifested a skill and was skilled with traps.
Shannon, who possessed a Magic Eye, but that was her only merit.
Eva, the elven singer who was proficient with a bow and arrow.
Mei, the Divine Beast Kirin disguised in human form.
And finally, the sharp-tongued maid automaton, Monica.
It was a quite biased party, with everyone except me being female.
As I silently headed toward the washroom door in the room, Monica spoke.
"You're young, so you mustn't use hot water. Please wake yourself up immediately with cold water. Today is the day we go to the guild."
When I washed my face with water, I thought it was still cold.
I took a towel, wiped my face, and saw my bedhead in the mirror. My blue hair was messy and needed styling.
(I'll do it later.)
Thinking that, I stepped outside, where Monica was waiting with a brush and other tools. She held a brush and a tool that looked like a failure of a gun.
"W-what is this? And why are you holding a weapon?"
As I stepped back, Monica looked exasperated.
"A weapon? This is a hairdryer, are you not used to seeing one? Well, you've only just returned and have never used one. I didn't have one before, but now that this Monica has the full option... there's nothing I can't do, chicken coward!"
She told me to sit in a chair, so I sat in silence. Warm wind blew from the gun, and Monica styled my hair as she went.
"How is it? It's a high-performance tool that can fix terrible bedhead in an instant!"
She spoke with full confidence, but...
"...Couldn't I just take a shower and dry it?"
When I said that, Monica shook her head with a look that said, "This guy really doesn't get it."
Once the styling was finished and I changed my clothes, I left the room and headed to the first floor. The inn's dining hall was there, where breakfast could be eaten.
When I descended to the first floor, Novem was just about to eat.
"Starting now?"
"Yes, Liel-sama. Would you like to join me?"
Invited, I accepted the offer from Novem—my party member and former fiancée—and we ate together.
It was a luxurious meal of bread, soup, and salad.
There was even thinly sliced bacon, and it was delicious for the price.
While eating, I discussed today's schedule with Novem.
"I'm going to the guild today to check what kind of requests are available. We've only just returned, so I'm hoping for some leeway in the deadlines if possible."
The guild I belonged to in Beime was a deserted guild called the East Branch.
It was a guild that primarily processed requests for adventurers, and it often took the form of dispatching adventurers elsewhere.
Being a hub for adventurers, there were many requests coming from outside, and there were adventurers registered there to handle them.
However, no one wants to take on tedious requests. Therefore, the East Branch offered reasonable rewards.
Only the East Branch was given priority for the lucrative Labyrinth Subjugation requests.
To receive those, the adventurers of the East Branch continued to process the requests that flooded into Beime.
Novem finished her meal, carefully wiped her mouth with a table napkin, and answered me.
"It is important to complete the usual requests. However, it might be better to rest a bit more. The entire party has just experienced 'growth,' and there's a possibility that mistakes will increase if we jump straight into actual combat."
In the previous labyrinth subjugation, most of the party members had undergone growth. Growth that improves abilities... the danger of that is when one overcomes a major wall and pushes themselves too hard.
Many adventurers fail after pushing themselves too hard following growth.
"I'll use that as a reason and maybe test our skills around Beime for a bit. That's right... challenging the labyrinth managed by Beime would be good too. We don't have to dive deep, we could just do it to loosen up."
It wasn't that adventurers of the East Branch couldn't challenge the labyrinth managed by Beime.
However, it was also true that they couldn't challenge it with full focus.
The managed labyrinth, which must not be subjugated, was even said to reach the hundredth basement floor. No one had confirmed it, but it was said to be impossible to reach that far.
Novem said to me,
"I'll leave that to you. Aria-san was scheduled to accompany you today, right?"
Hearing Aria's name, I let out a sigh.
No, it's not that I dislike Aria. It's just that in these negotiations—I wouldn't call them that, but when checking requests at the guild—bringing her along wasn't helpful.
She was reliable in combat, but she wasn't good at using her head.
(Well, since I have Novem, Miranda, and Clara, the intellectual duties naturally fall to them.)
Despite that, why bring Aria along?
It was simple.
A voice spoke from the blue Jewel Orb hanging around my neck.
It was the Sixth Generation.
'Liel, don't make such a displeased face. If you don't teach Aria how to do this kind of work, a time will come when she'll be in trouble. We can't let her become a boar-girl who does nothing but fight.'
The evaluation of "boar-girl" was a common consensus among the successive heads recorded within the orb.
She was excellent, but because she was in an environment where those around her were exceptionally outstanding, Aria ended up looking inferior.
While the other comrades handled work easily, Aria looked clumsy by comparison.
The voice of the Third Generation spoke.
'She has the will and the talent. We can't take it slow, but we have to train her. In various ways.'
I almost responded to the Third Generation's suggestive tone, but I held back.
I said to Novem,
"Well, I'll teach her various things. If I only let Novem and the others handle the support, Aria might feel dissatisfied if she doesn't understand what's happening."
Novem chuckled.
"What?"
"No, it's just... I'm relieved to see that Liel-sama is also worried about Aria-san."
Being told that by Novem...
(I can't exactly say it's because the successive heads in the orb told me to.)
I felt a sense of guilt.
The Beime East Branch Guild.
When we arrived at the guild we called home, it was full of vitality as usual.
Adventurers entered and exited without pause, and although the first-floor lobby was wide, it was packed with adventurers waiting their turn.
Several staff members were lined up at the counter, handling the crowd.
Aria, whose red hair had flicking ends, was touching the tips of her hair with her fingers, perhaps mindful of it.
While standing in line and waiting for our turn, there was nothing to do.
Aria took her fingers away from her hair and looked around.
"Haa, there are so many people at this hour. If they're going to work, they should come earlier. It takes so long when it's crowded."
Internally...
(It's better to keep quiet about the fact that it became a crowded hour because Aria's preparations were slow. I've come to understand that recently.)
Aria was partly responsible for oversleeping, but we weren't in any particular hurry this time.
We were just visiting to see what kind of requests were available.
I decided to listen to the surrounding voices and catch some rumors.
The rumors of adventurers.
Not all of them were reliable, but there was no harm in listening.
"Is the story about that Alette getting married true?"
"No way. She's probably just returning to her country earlier than planned."
"Flaminia-chan at the flower shop was beautiful again today. I ended up buying flowers again."
"...I heard Flaminia-chan is getting married next week."
"...You're... lying..."
"Did you hear? Apparently, Zain and Rolfis are going to clash again."
"They're always glaring at each other anyway. There's a certain number of mercenaries involved, so it has nothing to do with us. Even if it happens, only the folks from the South Branch will make a fuss."
"Isn't there a rumor that Albano got seriously injured? Or maybe he messed up in a labyrinth?"
"Would that Albano make such a mistake? If he really got injured, imagine how many people would be happily throwing a banquet in the pubs right now."
All of them were stories with little relation to me.
If anything, it just meant there were many adventurers who wished Albano-san would get injured.
From within the orb, the voice of the Seventh Generation spoke.
'Hmph, they can only use clumsy methods that build up resentment toward themselves. That is why adventurers and mercenaries are hated.'
I decided to ignore the Seventh Generation's opinion. Or rather, the Seventh Generation hates adventurers and mercenaries, so it was nothing more than an emotional opinion.
The calm voice of the Fifth Generation was heard.
'However, rumors never really change regardless of the era. Romance, war... it's not much different from my time.'
The Fourth Generation laughed.
'It seems to change, but in reality, it doesn't... somehow that's interesting. I wonder if being able to feel this way is a privilege of us who were recorded?'
While listening to the voices in the orb and the voices around me, I waited my turn.
As the adventurers in front of me decreased, the counter drew closer.
It seemed that Marianne-san was the one in charge this time.
(Oh, that's rare.)
Marianne-san was a guild staff member who usually handled rookie adventurers. I found it strange that she was performing regular reception duties.
When my turn came and I sat down, I asked Marianne-san to check the requests.
She seemed to know me.
"Good work on the labyrinth subjugation. Also, the requests we would like you to take are as follows."
The documents she handed over were more numerous than usual.
Aria, sitting next to me, spoke.
"Hey, there are more than usual? Don't tell me we're taking all of these?"
I denied it while picking up one of the documents.
"No way. We decide which requests to take from here. If the travel distance is short, we have to take several. However, if it's too far, it takes too much time. I want to discuss that after we go back... but there are a lot this time."
Marianne-san shrugged her shoulders. The way her large breasts seemed to shake was likely due to her modified uniform.
When I let my gaze wander, Aria stepped on my foot.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"It's rude, so I gave you a warning."
Watching Aria as she looked away, I endured the pain in the top of my foot and turned my attention to the documents.
Marianne-san was smiling slightly.
What was provided was a general list of requests, but five pages were presented. Several had lines drawn through them, and I understood that other parties had already taken those requests.
(The ones with good conditions have been erased. I suppose that's only natural.)
After checking the list, I confirmed with Marianne-san once more.
"Aren't there more than usual?"
"Since it's after a labyrinth subjugation, there are many parties that aren't struggling for money. Also, there are parties with members who experienced growth and can't move easily. Furthermore, a new pioneer group is being organized, and since manpower is being allocated there, requests aren't being processed as usual. There's also various things happening at headquarters, and staff are being moved there, so even I'm on normal duties. Ah..."
As if remembering something, Marianne-san asked me.
"Have Erhart-kun and the others been involved since then? They're reckless, but they're good kids at heart. I'm just worried because they have such a strong tendency to try and solve everything with force."
Aria, sitting next to me, looked as if she remembered something upon hearing Erhart's name.
"That tank-top guy with the greatsword? Now that you mention it, I haven't seen them since then."
Aria hadn't seen them, but I had spotted them at the guild several times.
Whenever we crossed paths, they would make a dissatisfied expression but quickly leave for somewhere else.
"Not recently. But it seems they're disliked."
Marianne-san gave a wry smile.
"I see. I've given them proper warnings, though. Now, what will you do? The requests with reasonably good conditions will be taken. Will you take the documents home to consider?"
I told her I would consider it, took the documents, and left the counter.
—Guild Headquarters.
Those gathered were high-ranking staff from each branch.
Tanya, the Sweeper... Tanya was also accompanying them as a guard for those staff members.
The headquarters' conference room was incomparably wider than the branches.
An executive staff member conveyed the contents of the meeting to the gathered staff.
"To confirm the current problem once more, skirmishes have already begun on the border between Zain and Rolfis. This isn't unusual for this time of year, but the spark happened at a bad time."
Everyone's gaze turned toward the East Branch staff.
What Alette Baie—the knight of Rolfis—had obtained was the rare metal mithril.
That was about to become the trigger for war.
However, the guild did not place much importance on the war itself.
The problem was the impact on the guild.
A staff member from the South Branch raised their hand and spoke.
"In the South Branch, many mercenary groups have already begun to move. Consumption of armaments, food, and consumables will likely increase."
A female staff member from the North Branch spoke.
"War at this time? That's a bit troublesome. Since it was unexpected, changing the schedules will be difficult. So, is a war really going to happen?"
The staff member from the West Branch smiled slightly.
"It's reliable information. Apparently, the current Saint also seems to love war. The High Priests also seem to be in agreement."
Tanya's superior looked dissatisfied while looking at the materials in hand.
In a low voice.
"Honestly, even though we just made a profit from the labyrinth subjugation, we're already consuming the magic stones we obtained. And yet, when adventurers get busy with war, the price of magic stones skyrockets."
They complained that they would have to purchase magic stones from surrounding guilds even if they were overpriced.
The executive staff member conveyed the guild's policy.
"As always, the guild will cooperate with both camps. We will accept requests, but there is such a thing as balance. We will have you move in a way that doesn't favor one side too much and doesn't result in a loss for the guild."
Tanya thought.
(That's the hard part. It would be troublesome if a country were to be crushed carelessly.)
The staff member from the West Branch raised their hand and asked the executive staff member.
"So, what scale does the guild predict this will reach?"
Scale.
Whether it was a skirmish of a few thousand between countries or border lords.
Or whether the countries would seriously mobilize their people and fight on a scale of tens of thousands.
If it was a skirmish where a few hundred soldiers fought, those existed normally even without the guild responding.
Or if it was a skirmish of a few dozen people, it was impossible to keep track of.
Countries weren't just Zain and Rolfis.
The executive staff member spoke.
"Zain is undergoing a change in leadership, and out of a desire for fame, they will likely move on a scale of tens of thousands. According to the merchants, they've already begun gathering that much supplies. In contrast, Rolfis's movement is slow. They've been inferior in national power from the start. Rolfis will likely become the battlefield."
The guild predicted it would be a defensive war for Rolfis.
Tanya predicted that the interior of Rolfis would be ravaged.
She had spoken with Alette at the reception a few times, and she wasn't a bad person.
(...Alette-san will probably return in a hurry.)
As an acquaintance, she didn't want her to die, but the reality was that the guild was thinking of profit by utilizing Alette's home country.
Tanya watched the meeting without letting her expression waver—.