32 - Hoping for a Reunion
Nearly three months had passed since I arrived in Darion.
As the contract period with Zelfie-san came to an end, we met in a private room at the guild to confirm the completion of the contract.
Hawkins-san was present and handed me some documents.
He was asking for an evaluation of Zelfie-san as an instructor.
The highest rating was [A], but filling that in meant that additional compensation would be paid.
Normally, a rating of [B] was the limit, no matter how good the performance.
Facing each other across the desk—me, Novem, and Aria—we looked at Hawkins-san and Zelfie-san sitting before us.
With a serious expression, Hawkins-san explained to me.
"Please enter the evaluation that you truly feel, Lariel-kun. If she were to hold a grudge and cause harm because of this, the guild would impose severe punishment, so please rest assured on that front."
Zelfie-san didn't say anything in particular.
She just sat there.
Aria, perhaps feeling conflicted, was looking at Zelfie-san as if glaring at her.
Even after taking on the emergency request, we had gained the necessary knowledge and experience as adventurers under Zelfie-san's guidance.
I never felt that these three months were a waste.
On the document, I entered the highest rating, [A].
"...The highest rating, is it? You understand what that means, right?"
When Hawkins-san said that, Novem placed some money on the table.
Inside the small leather pouch were three gold coins.
Hawkins-san took it and checked the contents.
When the requested amount was large, the amount of additional compensation needed to be correspondingly high.
Of the three gold coins, the guild side would take one.
"Confirmed. Now then, I will hand over the two gold coins of additional compensation to Zelfie-san."
Having received the two gold coins, Zelfie-san stood up and attempted to leave the room just like that.
"Honestly, what a tedious job. I'm never doing this again."
Since taking the emergency request, Zelfie-san had maintained a curt attitude toward us.
No, the curt attitude was specifically toward Aria.
Watching Zelfie-san leave the room, Hawkins-san said.
"She's not very honest, is she? Even though everyone already knows."
Novem agreed.
"If we didn't do it this way, she wouldn't accept the wedding gift, after all."
That's right.
Everyone knew why Zelfie-san was acting so curt.
Aria knew it too, which was why she felt conflicted.
Zelfie-san was retiring as an adventurer to marry an ordinary man.
Our additional compensation also served as a wedding gift for her.
Novem touched Aria's shoulder.
"Aria-san, I believe Zelfie-san is still nearby. Please go and speak with her one last time."
"B-but... she hasn't even talked to me lately."
As Aria grew depressed, Novem shook his head and spoke again with a serious gaze.
"You'll regret it if you don't go now. We are leaving Darion. There is a possibility we may never meet again... Go."
Told by Novem in a tone stronger than usual, Aria left the room.
It was to speak with Zelfie-san.
Then, Hawkins-san placed a different set of documents on the table.
"This is the guild transfer request. And this is the guild card that the guild will keep. You're really leaving so soon, aren't you?"
Looking lonely, Hawkins-san joked that now the number of adventurers coming to him would decrease again.
I knew that since an executive had left the guild, Hawkins-san's name had come up to fill that hole.
"We can't stay too long. It might cause trouble for Zelfie-san, Hawkins-san... and even Bentlar-san."
My family home, the Walt family, was still eerie, showing no movement.
Not knowing what they might do was terrifying.
Furthermore, Bentlar-san—the lord of Darion—was a man who would hand me over if it came down to it. I wouldn't say that was wrong.
Considering the protection of his territory, it was conversely only natural.
Darion was small in scale compared to the territory of my family, the Walt family. The same applied to its influence over Central, the royal capital.
"...It seems Lariel-kun has various circumstances, so I won't ask deeply. However, I hope we can meet again someday."
"I agree. Hawkins-san, thank you for everything."
I filled out the documents.
After submitting the home guild transfer requests for myself, Novem, and Aria, I received documents from the guild. These were documents to be submitted to the next home guild.
When I stood up, Novem stood up as well.
Then, Novem also thanked Hawkins-san.
"Thank you for everything. Stay well, Hawkins-san."
Hawkins-san nodded.
I felt like he was slightly teary-eyed, so we left the room.
I was able to learn at the very end that he had a sentimental side.
In the guild corridor—.
"Zelfie!"
Aria found Zelfie and ran toward her.
Zelfie scratched her head awkwardly and averted her gaze.
"What? I'm going out for drinks now."
Faced with the curt attitude, Aria didn't know what to say.
However, Aria had decided to leave Darion together with Lariel and the others.
She had already vacated her home and bought tickets for the linked carriage to Central.
"...Thank you for everything, Zelfie. I was naive and caused you so much trouble... and I didn't even know how you felt."
The words didn't come out well.
Aria had been disappointed when she saw Zelfie scavenging the bodies of adventurers and stealing valuables.
However, she later heard that Zelfie had handed those valuables over to the bereaved families of the deceased adventurers.
Without thinking too deeply, she had even blamed herself for being disappointed in Zelfie.
Aria wanted to tell such a Zelfie not to worry anymore.
"I'll be okay. I think I'll find my own kind of happiness. So... please be happy too, Zelfie."
Aria looked at Zelfie's face.
Then, she saw that Zelfie was crying.
"...I'm sorry. My lady. I... I couldn't do anything... I could do nothing but watch..."
Aria hugged the tearful Zelfie.
She called her as she did when they played together at the mansion long ago.
"Thank you, Big Brother... I'm okay now. So, Big Brother, please be happy too."
Zelfie hugged Aria back.
Aria noticed that there were many scars on Zelfie's body.
The scars on her body were evidence that Zelfie's family, after being kicked out of the mansion, had struggled to survive in Darion.
Even while going through that, Zelfie had acted for her own sake...
As a reward for cooperating with the lord, she had the House Rockwood family, who had been expelled from Central, welcomed into Darion.
She had gone through various hardships in places unseen...
"Zelfie, thank you for everything. I'm okay now."
Aria hugged the person she had once looked up to as an older sister.
—She was finally able to tell the sister who had protected her until now that she was okay.
Waiting for Aria inside the guild, Novem and I noticed the trio we were indebted to approaching.
"Rondo-san!"
"Lariel-kun!"
Among the adventurers we had become friendly enough to converse with, they were particularly close.
Rondo-san had finished a dagger using rare metals obtained in the labyrinth.
Larf-san was using them for a new spear.
Rachel-san was using rare metals for a part of her staff.
The three of them wore brand new equipment that had just been finished.
In particular, Rondo-san's dagger had a hilt, guard, and scabbard designed the same as his prized sword. I remembered how happy he looked when he first showed it to me.
"Did you all finish your procedures too, Rondo-san?"
When I said that, Larf-san gave a wry smile.
"We came earlier than Lariel and the others, but we were held back and it took some time. It's because adventurers with a certain amount of power keep leaving Darion."
That was a characteristic of Darion.
Darion was a place that was kind to beginners, and where one could earn well through many chore-like jobs.
On the other hand, it was a place where it was hard for adventurers who were no longer beginners to earn.
However, for the Darion guild, which wanted to secure skilled adventurers, it must be a headache-inducing problem.
"Are Lariel and the others departing now too? Where's Aria-chan? ...I bet she slipped away."
Rachel-san, as usual, immediately spoke her mind.
I shook my head.
"Unfortunately, she hasn't slipped away. We're waiting because there's another matter. More importantly, is the carriage departure time okay?"
Then, Rondo-san's voice grew louder, as if he had just remembered.
"You two, it looks like we don't have much time to talk."
Larf-san also began to panic.
"That's right! Well then, let's go. Give my regards to Aria-chan."
Rachel-san spoke to Novem.
"Novem, I'm counting on you to look after Lariel. He's unreliable."
Novem chuckled and nodded.
"Thank you. Stay well, Rachel-san and the others."
Then, Rondo-san said while waving his hand to me.
"If we can meet someday, let's make a fuss together again. Lariel-kun... let's meet again!"
I waved back at Rondo-san as he departed refreshingly.
"Yes. Let's meet again!"
The trio left the guild.
Then, Novem muttered.
"They were pleasant people, Lariel-sama."
"They were. I want to see them again. I have to become a more splendid adventurer for the sake of our reunion."
Looking forward to the next time we meet, Novem and I waited for Aria.
—That was on some highway.
Covered in blood, Rondo, Larf, and Rachel lay collapsed on the road.
Rondo's prized sword had been shredded, and his dagger had been stolen.
Both his arms were gone, and he was barely breathing on the ground.
However, Larf and Rachel were already not breathing.
"W-what... was that monster..."
The monster, terrifying just to remember, was not a vicious magical beast.
—It was a human.
Moreover, a young girl.
Crawling on the ground, Rondo looked at Rachel.
A large burnt hole was open in her chest, and her eyes were vacant, with traces of tears remaining.
Looking at Larf, he was in a worse state than Rondo because he had stepped forward to let the two of them escape until the end.
Approaching such a Larf, Rondo bit into a part of Larf that had become light—his hair—and dragged him to where Rachel lay.
Behind where he crawled, Rondo's blood soaked into the ground.
His sword techniques were completely useless.
After all, there were three of them with magic tools, yet they couldn't even touch the little girl.
The cause happened while they were on the linked carriage, having almost reached their destination, and were on the way to the town they had decided as their next home guild on foot.
A luxurious carriage had stopped near them.
It was a carriage used by nobles, and from its appearance, it was clear they were no ordinary nobles.
"Rachel... Larf... we'll be together forever."
When he reached Rachel's side, Rondo released Larf's hair and pressed his forehead against Rachel's forehead.
They had met just as they became adventurers, hit it off, and had worked hard together as a trio for several years. They had begun to gain skill and had obtained the magic tools they had longed for.
Just as they were about to move forward... they were targeted by that monster.
The words the monster girl spoke were unbelievable.
"I'll make you mine. I don't need the one with the spear or that woman. Go away."
The nonsense of a noble girl who had taken a liking to Rondo.
That's what he thought, but the reaction of those around them was different.
The girl's parents, who were in the carriage, began to get angry that Rondo had wasted the girl's favor.
This was because Rondo had refused, saying he already had a girlfriend named Rachel.
Then, the escort soldiers following them took up their weapons.
He thought he could get through that much.
He had confidence in his arms. And he had magic tools.
"That... monster..."
However, the girl first circled behind Rachel and released magic just like that. It happened in an instant.
What Rachel muttered while shedding tears was Rondo's name.
Enraged, Rondo and Larf took up their weapons, deciding they wouldn't forgive her even if the opponent was a noble girl.
However, the moment they drew them, Rondo's both arms were blown away, and his prized weapon was shattered to pieces.
The sword that could be called his partner was shredded as if it were a piece of paper.
The girl held the dagger in her hand. She grabbed it while it was floating in the air, and she even held the scabbard that had been at Rondo's waist.
He couldn't understand what had happened.
Then, Larf stepped in front of Rondo and shouted for him to escape with Rachel.
Such a Larf was also quickly covered in blood.
Perhaps having lost interest, the girl left the scene.
Even now, Rondo remembered the conversation from that time.
"Honestly, wasting Celes's favor."
"Celes, there's blood on the clothes I went to the trouble of buying for you! Goodness... we have a party after this. Even if you change over there, you must pay attention to your appearance. You must prepare clothes for Celes."
The man and woman who seemed to be her parents weren't even looking at them.
They were only concerned about the small stains splattered on Celes's clothes.
"Clothes for Celes? As if I'd let her wear clothes prepared around here! Celes is the treasure of the Walt family."
The girl named Celes was smiling, even though she had held a sword and killed people with magic just a moment ago.
"Father, I want to choose different clothes once in a while. I want to try shopping and such, you'll forgive me, right?"
Hearing Celes's spoiled voice, the parents were convinced.
It was a scene that felt quite wrong for parents listening to their cute daughter's request.
Rondo realized that the family wasn't looking at their surroundings at all.
They only saw their cute daughter.
The nobles who had whimsically taken their lives just headed somewhere.
Rondo gathered his companions, who were collapsed separately on the ground, into one place, and then, as if satisfied, he began to lose his strength.
He muttered one last thing.
"...I couldn't keep my promise."
Quietly, Rondo closed his eyes—.
After getting off the linked carriage, we arrived in Central.
It was my second visit, but this time the purpose was to do some shopping in Central.
In Darion, the variety of sabers I use was small, and at the same time, it was necessary to decide on the place that would be the next home guild.
Since it was easy to move from Central, we visited.
"Well, we've arrived, but shall we spend some time at an inn for a while?"
Novem replied.
"It might not be bad to spend some time in Central for a while. However, we can't stay long enough to make this our home guild."
Central was cold to adventurers.
Or rather, it didn't need adventurers very much.
Even if monsters appeared nearby, the knights or soldiers would be deployed.
Chore-like jobs were in a state of being fought over in Central, which was overflowing with people. Unlike Darion, it was not a suitable place to make a home guild.
However, being the center of the country, it was a large city where goods and information gathered.
Aria had a complicated expression.
"I was kicked out, so I can't even be an adventurer here. I can stay for a bit, but if it comes to living here, permission won't be granted."
For Aria, the daughter of House Rockwood who had been expelled from Central, living here seemed not to be permitted.
"Shopping and information gathering, then. We'll aim to get whatever is necessary."
Most of the necessary things were already gathered.
I had weapons, but I wanted to possess a weapon that didn't consume magic power.
I could turn the Orb into a greatsword when necessary, but situations would likely arise where that alone would be insufficient.
"Will Lariel-sama be visiting weapon shops?"
Novem asked, so I answered.
"I'll look around at armor shops too. I want to stop by a bookstore as well."
The bookstore was a request from my ancestors.
I touched the Orb.
The Orb, quieter than before, was likely because the First Generation was gone.
He was always a noisy person.
"Then, shall we look around the shops in Central? Aria-san, are there any famous shops? Whether it's weapon shops, armor shops, or books... if there's anywhere that would be helpful, I'd like to hear about it."
Novem asked Aria if she had any ideas.
Then, Aria listed a few shop names she had heard of.
"Since it's Central, there are many skilled craftsmen for weapons and armor. But the prices... as for bookstores, there's one with a good selection. There's a library too, but as expected, the time..."
Hearing about the library, I thought for a bit.
(If I had time, I'd want to stay for a while, but staying too long isn't great either)
Central, above all, consumed money.
It had everything, but in exchange, the money going out was more than elsewhere. Prices were high.
While I was worrying, Novem gave me advice.
"As for libraries, [Alamsars] is said to be the best in the world. It's famous as an academic city."
Aria also nodded.
"I know. If I recall, it was a city that gathered many talented young people. But that place didn't have a lord either, right? I heard that the scholars of that city chose representatives to decide various things. I wonder if it's the same as Beim?"
Beim was a free city, a city run by merchants.
Since there was no lord, it had become a city that was easy for adventurers to live in.
"Alamsars or Beim... whichever we go to, let's decide after gathering information."
Saying so, I took the luggage and began to walk to find an inn to stay at today.
"Wait, I'll carry my own luggage."
Aria hurriedly tried to take back her bag, but I refused and walked ahead.
"It's fine, let's go. Novem, stop laughing and come along."
"Yes, sorry, Lariel-sama."
Hurrying Novem, who was laughing at the interaction between me and Aria, I walked the streets of the royal capital.
When I remembered the royal capital of the past that I had walked with the First Generation, there were indeed remnants left.
However, unlike the old days, it had become cleaner.
"This place has changed too."
When I muttered that, Aria tilted her head.
"Huh? Have you been here before? I mean, this area hasn't changed much. Lariel, are you okay?"
I gave a wry smile to Aria, who was directing a suspicious gaze at me.
"Ah, it's been about two hundred years, I guess."
When I said that, Aria looked at me with half-closed eyes.
"It's a joke. This is my second time. Before, I just stopped by before coming to Darion... that's all."
The sky of the royal capital remained clear and blue, just as it was when I walked with the First Generation.