180 - Guild Staff
Having visited the Trace residence, I was drinking tea in Vera's room.
The mansion was luxurious, and even in the densely populated city of Beime, it possessed a spacious garden. Moreover, unlike the mansion I had bought, it was not located in a poor area.
It was a mansion built to be as conspicuous as possible, situated in a prime location where all the conditions were ideal.
As for what I was doing in Vera's room—
"About this list. We could get these things here, but since they're specialized tools, it might be better to buy them in bulk from other shops. If you're buying this many, I think they'll give you a decent discount. I'll prepare a letter of introduction, so go with Professor Damian."
I received from Vera a list that the automatons had organized for easy reading, based on the notes Damian had written.
"Is buying in bulk more cost-effective?"
"The Trace Company doesn't handle such specialized tools. They might have one or two, but it's better to buy them all together than separately. You can just buy your tools there from now on, too. As for the shops that carry them..."
After consulting with Vera, she told me the best places to buy the tools Damian had requested.
"You're well-informed. Do you remember all this?"
Vera laughed when I asked her that, as if she had memorized every merchant house and shop in all of Beime.
"No, that's not it. There are few specialty shops for these kinds of tools and devices. Even I don't know every single one."
Once that was explained, I was satisfied, and she agreed to prepare the letter of introduction. The Trace name was quite effective in Beime.
The voice of the Fourth Generation echoed from the orb.
"Lariel, let's have her introduce us to some craftsmen as well. Like craftsmen who can handle rare metals."
Apparently, the skeleton of the golem Damian was creating—which Damian called a Valkyrie—required the use of rare metals.
However, the processing of those metals, the selection of materials, and the creation of tools required the skill of a craftsman. It was necessary to be introduced to such specialists.
"While we're at it, I'd like to know if there are any craftsmen who can process rare metals. Specifically, is there anyone who can handle materials from Tracy? Damian says they're quite impressive."
According to Damian, who had seen the materials from Tracy, they were excellent metals. However, he had neither the tools to process them nor any acquaintances among craftsmen who could.
Vera sat on the sofa, resting her chin on her hand and looking down slightly.
"They're mostly unknown rare metals and materials, right? There are plenty of craftsmen in Beime who can process metals, but beyond that... a craftsman who is experienced enough that nothing is impossible. There is one, but he's incredibly stubborn. Why not substitute them with metals that are easily obtainable?"
I had thought of that too, but the problem was that gathering them would take time. It would also cost money, and I wanted to use up the surplus of Tracy's materials.
"I've considered that, but Damian is more particular than I imagined. He says it's because he can apply it to his own research."
Vera laughed, as if she found it amusing.
"Researchers and craftsmen are like that, aren't they? He should just compromise. Fine. I'll arrange things for that as well. But you'll only be able to meet him if I'm there. He's a craftsman who sometimes refuses even my father's requests."
"Is he that amazing?"
I was surprised that there was a craftsman who would refuse a request from the head of the Trace family.
However, once I heard the explanation, it made sense.
"He's a dwarf. Because of his long lifespan, he's like our exclusive craftsman; even my grandfather couldn't be too forceful with him during his lifetime. Also, the most important parts of the Vera Trace were made by him."
He sounded like a reliable craftsman.
(I'll try meeting him. If it doesn't work out, I'll have to look for someone else.)
As I continued talking with Vera, there was a knock at the door. The person who entered was Vera's younger sister, Gina.
She had red hair and, unlike Vera, she was ample. —In the chest.
"Sister, I'd like to talk for a moment... oh."
"What is it?"
As Vera drank her tea with a slightly dissatisfied look, Gina-san looked at me with a somewhat troubled expression.
"A-actually... it's about Roland, just a little."
That name, if I recalled correctly, belonged to Vera's first love. Now, he was apparently the younger sister's lover.
The Seventh Generation let out a subtle voice from the orb.
"I wonder. When one... knows various things, it makes me want to tell them to choose their confidants carefully."
Mireia-san sounded amused.
"These kinds of maneuvers and messy stories are interesting, aren't they? In the Walt family, the older and younger sisters used to play romantic games over a single man. Well, in the end, the one who won the man was an unrelated younger sister."
The Fifth Generation sounded surprised.
"...I never heard such a story. Or rather, did that actually happen?"
Vera let out a sigh, stood up, and apologized to me.
"Sorry. I think that's all for today."
I stood up as well.
"No, it was good to talk about various things. I'm sorry that it was mostly my talking, though."
"It's fine. Also, make sure to receive the souvenirs later. I've told them to give them to you."
In reality, it had been mostly my talking. Out of the two hours, there were perhaps only a few dozen minutes of pleasant conversation with Vera.
The Fourth Generation said to me,
"Since before was too terrible, this is actually an improvement."
Hearing that, Mireia-san added,
"It was even worse before, then. I would have loved to see that."
(...I think the 'kind younger sister' the Sixth Generation mentioned is definitely a lie.)
――After Lariel left the mansion, Vera was in Gina's room.
They were sitting on the sofa, facing each other.
Strong light streamed into the room, but other areas remained dark.
Vera lowered her voice slightly.
"You don't have to be wary of me. Lariel has no intention of taking over the Trace family."
He had no intention of taking over. However, Lariel himself had told Vera that in the future, he was considering regulations for Beime.
(If anyone else said it, it would be like, 'What are you talking about?', wouldn't it?)
Hearing this, Gina reacted with a twitch, and after a while, she spoke.
"I... I understand that, but I wonder if it's right for an adventurer to succeed the Trace family. Even if Sister has no such intention..."
Listening to Gina's argument, Vera grasped the general situation.
(Since I'm not marrying the heir Father is preparing, she's trying to secure the house. She's wary of Lariel too.)
Vera knew that Gina was moving in earnest to welcome Roland as a son-in-law.
In fact, Vera had long understood this calculating side of Gina. Gina also knew that Vera liked Roland.
Because she knew, she had moved first and started dating him.
"Father has no intention of letting anyone succeed him either. It doesn't matter who takes over. Besides, I have no intention of touching the Trace family's money. All my money is my own."
Gina seemed worried that Vera would become obsessed with Lariel and eat through the family assets.
"But, to go that far..."
Gina likely had a side of her that worried about her sister. But to Vera, that was a nuisance.
"...Gina, I won't interfere in your business with Roland. If you want to succeed the Trace family, then do it. So, don't interfere in my business with Lariel. I'm not causing any trouble."
(For now.)
Vera thought to herself—.
After leaving Vera's mansion, I showed my face at the Beime East Branch Guild for the first time in a while.
I had planned to do so from the start, but as soon as I appeared, I felt the surrounding gazes. I had felt them since returning to Beime, but it seemed I was indeed standing out.
In low voices.
"Hey, it's the Holy Knight."
"Huh? Isn't he the Knight of Love?"
"That's the one who supposedly seduced not only the Saint but the Princess as well..."
Hearing the voices of the adventurers, I felt indignation at why so many of the rumors about me were so terrible.
Then, I saw a familiar group.
It was Erhart and his companions.
The Third Generation inside the orb was slightly surprised.
"Oh, they've changed quite a bit."
It was no wonder the Third Generation was surprised. After all, while the tank tops remained the same, their equipment had become substantial.
I had the impression that only Erhart was equipped, but the other companions also had brand-new equipment befitting rookie adventurers.
Marianne-san was in the line for the reception, remaining relatively quiet. Erhart and one other were in line, while the other companions waited in the corner of the lobby.
Then, noticing me, Erhart pointed his finger.
"Ah, it's you!"
I thought he had become a bit more decent, but it seemed the inside hadn't changed that much. I had been deceived by appearances and thought the opponent had grown.
"It's been a while. Have you been well?"
When I responded with a smile, Erhart was as hot-blooded as ever. He glared at me, but when a companion grabbed his shoulder, he regained his composure.
"Hah! It seems you've become a bit famous, but we'll catch up to you soon. No, we'll overtake you in no time!"
He was confrontational, but he no longer tried to punch me immediately.
(I wonder... I can feel a bit of growth even in this. Perhaps because I've seen the adventurers of Cartaphus, these guys are starting to look normal.)
"I'll look forward to it."
As I said that and tried to go up the stairs, it seemed Erhart and the others' turn had come, and they were talking to the staff member, Marianne-san, with looks of admiration.
As I watched them and gave a wry smile, for just a moment—
(Huh? Marianne-san, why does she look a bit sad?)
—I thought.
The third floor of the guild.
In a private room, I confirmed future requests with a staff member; the person handling me was Tanya-san.
Tanya-san was a capable woman with black bobbed hair and glasses. Talking with her, I considered my future course of action as an adventurer.
At the East Branch, which is a dispatch-type branch, a considerable amount of time is inevitably spent on travel. Therefore, it's difficult if one intends to earn a lot.
However, adventurers recognized by certain guilds are introduced to high-difficulty, high-paying jobs in private rooms like this.
Tanya-san confirmed the requests I had chosen.
"Then, the next one is this request. While you're at it, could you clear some cheap requests as well? They're located along the way."
When asked to handle several errand-type requests, I checked the contents.
"These aren't 'along the way,' are they? It's a bit of a detour. Well, it's fine, though. I want to participate in the next labyrinth subjugation as well."
When I added a bit of sarcasm, Tanya-san gave a wry smile.
"Lariel-kun and his group are excellent, after all. I'll be sure to let you know when the time comes. Speaking of which, Alette-san and the others have returned; have you met them yet? It seems they missed you due to bad timing."
I tilted my head.
Alette Baie—the female knight who had been called the next vice-commander of Rolfis—I thought she would be living a life chased by work in the expanded territory of Rolfis.
I didn't understand the reason for her return to Beime.
"Despite her own country being busy, I'm surprised she could be dispatched to Beime. I feel like the financial situation wasn't that bad."
"...I won't ask why Lariel-kun is so knowledgeable about Rolfis's financial situation. But they're probably here for Lariel-kun."
Unable to understand again, I looked down slightly as if thinking.
Then, the Seventh Generation spoke.
"I don't think they intend to be hostile, or perhaps they want to keep him close? If they were to kill Lariel here, it would spark a conflict with Zain. It's also unlikely they would cooperate with Zain to try and kill Lariel."
The Fourth Generation laughed.
"The domestic situation is pretty much an open book! If they come to kill, I'll just crush them in return."
(Scary. But I do have quite a few means.)
Having worked in Zain, I understood the weaknesses of both Zain and Rolfis. I understood where to attack to deal a heavy blow.
(Both only have one successor. Zain has Selma-san, but it would be difficult for her to return now.)
Tanya-san said while organizing the documents.
"Well, it doesn't seem like you've been targeted in a bad way, so if you have time, why not try meeting them?"
I nodded and began to think about when to meet.
It was then. I suddenly remembered Marianne-san's lonely expression.
"This is a completely different topic, but there's Marianne-san who is in charge of Erhart and the others, right? Did something happen between her and Erhart's group? She seemed a bit sad... I wonder if those guys did something?"
Tanya-san looked slightly surprised. However, she soon seemed to realize something and spoke to me.
Since she spoke, it meant it was something she could talk about.
"They are surprisingly serious compared to the beginning. They've come to consistently receive high evaluations for doing errands. Well, since it's Lariel-kun, there's no problem saying this, but their graduation is near."
"Graduation?"
"They no longer need to be under exclusive supervision. Of course, we'll still handle them normally from now on. Even so, when watching an adventurer become full-fledged, even staff members feel things. Marianne is especially kind."
Graduation.
Adventurers who completed requests, saved money, and equipped themselves.
Young adventurers who prepared thoroughly like them had a high probability of surviving as long as they didn't overdo it.
Moreover, Erhart had a skill.
He should be fine even against the monsters around Beime.
"How should I put it... I thought they were more black-hearted."
Hearing that, Tanya-san directed a slightly sharp gaze toward me.
"...I won't deny that there are staff members like that, but Marianne is different."
When told, I apologized, and Tanya-san apologized as well. Then, she organized the documents, put them in an envelope, and handed them to me.
Finally.
"Well, staff members have their own various things, too."
That is what she said.