9 - Zelfie, the Veteran Adventurer
On the morning of the third day after learning that the House Walt ancestral precepts had actually begun from a misunderstanding.
Novem and I were on the third floor of the Adventurers' Guild, meeting the female adventurer who would become our instructor.
The adventurer Hawkins-san brought us to was named Zelfie-san.
She was characterized by short, purple hair with a bit of a curl, and she appeared in the meeting room dressed casually. Scars were visible on the exposed parts of her skin.
Her gaze was sharp, and she radiated the aura of a skilled adventurer.
"Zelfie-san, these are the two rookie adventurers I mentioned."
"Nice to meet you."
"Y-yeah, nice to meet you."
As we greeted her, Zelfie-san looked at the two of us and nodded a few times.
"...I thought it was a joke when I heard rookies were hiring me, but I guess they're some kind of nobles."
I was a bit surprised to hear that.
The Third Generation was in charge today, and he seemed a bit surprised as well.
She's the type you shouldn't underestimate just because she's a woman. Or rather, are there many female adventurers these days? I suppose it's just the way of the times... Still, it feels strange.
(Strange?)
I almost tilted my head at the Third Generation's words, but I stopped myself.
However, Hawkins-san cautioned her.
"Zelfie-san, asking too deeply into the other party's background is..."
"I know, I know. I won't cause any trouble for you, Master Hawkins. However, I'll be setting a few rules for my teaching. Especially if they're children of nobles. I can't do things halfway. If you don't like that, I'll step down as instructor. I can't take responsibility otherwise."
I looked at Novem.
Since she nodded, I decided to listen to the rules.
"I understand. As long as they aren't unreasonable."
"Is that so? Then first, no complaining about my teaching methods. Which means do as I say. Second, I'll hammer the basics into you in three months. No picking and choosing which jobs you like. Third—"
Everything had been normal up to this point. We waited to hear what the third rule would be.
"Third, increase your party by at least one more person. Even a temporary member is fine, but make sure you can work as a group of at least three."
At Zelfie-san's rule, we looked at each other.
Hawkins-san shared a similar opinion.
"Indeed. If there are three of you, it will be easier for us to request work for you."
I hadn't thought about companions. I figured I could recruit some after I learned the basics.
Hmm, she probably has her own reasons. We're amateurs when it comes to adventurers, so it's better to just follow along here.
It wasn't just because it was the Third Generation's opinion, but I decided to agree to those three conditions.
"I understand the conditions. We have no objections."
When I said that, Zelfie-san smiled.
She was a more attractive woman when she smiled than when she had that intimidating expression.
"Alright! In that case, I'll take this request. I mean, I was surprised to hear rookies were hiring me, but you're surprisingly honest."
Novem asked Zelfie-san.
"Is it really that unusual?"
"It's different from the norm. Basically, everyone is broke, so they save up steadily at first and then hire a mid-tier instructor like us. They pool together two to three gold coins per person and make a request to the guild. If they have ambition, they usually do it."
Hawkins-san supplemented Zelfie-san's opinion.
"There is quite a lot of work here, and it's a place where it's easy for rookie adventurers to find jobs. The Darion Adventurers' Guild has adopted this instructor system."
"Once people reach a certain level, many of them hit a plateau and start overdoing it. That's why they learn the basics from lower-ranked adventurers first, and then receive guidance from mid-tiers like us."
I heard that this system exists in only a few branches, including Darion.
One could say these are the branches that put effort into training rookies.
"Well, while it's different from the norm, Zelfie-san is a veteran in her twelfth year as an adventurer. She's experienced and her conduct is beyond reproach. Please make her your role model... except for her language."
When Hawkins-san said that, Zelfie-san complained.
"I'm still in my twenties! Stop calling me a veteran, Master!"
"Now then, please use this room to decide your future schedule today. I expect you to learn the necessary knowledge and experience as adventurers from a veteran and become excellent adventurers."
Watching Hawkins-san leave the room with a smile, Novem and I were left to be instructed by Zelfie-san.
In the guild's meeting room, Zelfie-san drilled into Novem and me the things necessary as adventurers.
"—Now then, I've taught you the basics, but the most important thing is your companions. If you don't understand this, no matter how talented you are, you'll fail, so be careful."
The basics included how to take requests from the guild, and what to be careful of when bringing monsters and such into the guild.
If you take a request and fail to achieve it, it's recorded on your Guild Card. That way, the request completion rate and any problematic behavior of the individual or party are written down.
Be careful with your everyday attire.
Don't do things you can't do.
Adventurers must not 'adventure'.
That's what I was taught.
And finally, she began to teach us the importance of companions.
"Simply put, numbers are power. The reason thugs gather is because that in itself simply makes them stronger. Keep that in mind."
Then, Novem asked a question.
"Um... regardless of numbers, do you not care about quality?"
Zelfie-san shook her head.
"Quality depends on what you prioritize. Would you want someone who is strong but has a lot of problematic behavior as a companion?"
I couldn't agree with that, so I denied it.
"I wouldn't."
However, from the Jewel Orb, the Third Generation—
Things and people are all about how you use them.
(This person is a bit dark...)
"Right? Even if there are some issues with strength, depending on the content of the request, a sincere person can be better."
Zelfie-san added that it also depends on what goal they are aiming for.
"Defeating monsters outside and selling them. Taking requests and completing them. Diving into labyrinths to seek treasure. Those are the jobs of an adventurer, but there are few individuals or parties who can do all of them. Think carefully about how you're going to earn a living, and look for the companions necessary for that."
She added that it's also important to know what they are aiming for and what they are lacking.
She also told us that if a necessary skill exists but takes time to acquire, we should either hire someone or make someone with that skill a companion.
"There's a limit to what a human can do alone. Aiming to be first-class is fine, but if you misunderstand that point, you'll make a huge mistake someday."
Hearing Zelfie-san's teachings, both Novem and I nodded.
"Alright! Then let's talk about work. Though, experiencing it is the fastest way."
Saying that, she placed the documents she had prepared in front of us.
"Um... Zelfie-san?"
Novem looked troubled.
Or rather, I was troubled too.
"What's wrong?"
To the smiling Zelfie-san, Novem said.
"This request form says 'Ditch Cleaning' in the city..."
"Yep, exactly! People who don't take these kinds of requests will never take them in their whole lives, so I thought I'd let you experience it now."
Zelfie-san was smiling, but she muttered with a smirk.
"You wouldn't suddenly break the rules I set, would you? Trust is important for adventurers too."
And so, our first job as adventurers was decided to be ditch cleaning.
Inside the meeting room of the Jewel Orb.
When I went to sleep, the Sixth and Seventh Generations were leading the opposition to my first job.
T-h-a-t's why! I'm telling you, I can't let Riel do something like ditch cleaning! Listen, regardless of the current situation, he's the heir to the House Walt! I mean, Fifth Generation, please persuade these people!
The Sixth Generation had a wild appearance, but his later reputation wasn't very good, being called devious among other things.
His grandfather, the Seventh Generation, agreed.
Are you all okay with letting Riel do such a thing!
However, from the First Generation up to the Fourth, they seemed uninterested. Or rather...
Whatever? As long as Novem-chan doesn't get dirty, there's no problem.
The point the First Generation cared about was whether Novem would get dirty from ditch cleaning or not. I am also a man.
Since it would be terribly dirty, I decided to ask Novem for indirect help. Zelfie-san had also said that a man who can be considerate of women is highly rated.
Of course, that was the opinion of my ancestors.
Well, actually, it's better to let Riel study the world a bit through this. I think that adventurer called Zelfie is a great find.
The Second Generation appraised Zelfie-san highly.
However, the Sixth Generation disagreed.
I told you he's a noble regardless of the current situation! Unlike you all, Riel is the real deal! He's a real noble!
To the excited Sixth Generation, the Third Generation said.
Treating him as a fake is cruel~. But what's the difference between the real thing and the fake?
The Fourth Generation was the same.
Only the Fifth Generation seemed uninterested. Or rather, the Fifth Generation has basically maintained a neutral position toward everything so far.
The Seventh Generation began to talk about my birth.
Riel carries the blood of the Marquis family, who was my wife! Listen, to put it simply, he is a child who carries the blood of the royal family that existed before the Kingdom of Centras!
...That's quite a massive bomb to be holding.
The lineage that the Third Generation called a bomb—
"Eh? This is the first I've heard of it."
The place became a bit chaotic at a fact that even I didn't know.
The Third Generation looked at me and confirmed with the Sixth Generation.
...It seems the party involved, Riel, doesn't know either?
Hearing that, I nodded.
"I haven't heard such a story from my father."
Then again, I've been treated coldly since I was ten. It might just be that important stories weren't passed down.
There are facts that cannot be brought to light! In our time, former royals plotting a restoration took advantage of corrupt politics and started a civil war!
The Third Generation had participated in a war with another country and died in battle.
However, even after that, the heads of the House Walt had gone to the battlefield for skirmishes.
Among them, the Sixth and Seventh Generations were the ones who participated in skirmishes, civil war unrest, and wars with other countries.
Things are calm now, but I've heard that my father also participated in a war when he was young.
The Seventh Generation explained about my grandmother.
The blood of the former royal family—the Centras royal family—is, of course, passed down to the current royal family as well. However, they couldn't openly bring them in. After all, the surviving clan are descendants of Agrissa, who caused the civil war.
Agrissa—the woman the First Generation mentioned, the last queen of the Kingdom of Centras and a beauty that topples nations.
"Eh? Grandmother... if that's the case, Grandmother Zenoa is..."
As someone called a wicked woman and a beauty that topples nations, she was a person who monopolized the king's affection. In other words, a descendant of Agrissa equals a direct line of the former royal family.
Wow... it makes it feel more natural that Celes is a monster.
When the First Generation gave his impression, the Second Generation was exasperated.
Are you still talking about that?
The Seventh Generation continued his explanation.
Vanseim is distantly related to the royal family, but the noble blood remaining now is limited. Riel is one of them... do you understand?
The Sixth Generation explained the reason why the former royal family couldn't be completely eradicated.
On the surface, the flow was that the civil war succeeded and everyone was purged. I had heard that the only survivors were clan members who had been exiled from the royal family.
"Um, I was taught that the survivors of the former royal family were distant relatives? I heard that everyone was purged."
Are you an idiot! Do you think the royal blood, polished over a long history, can be crushed so easily! On the surface, they were disposed of, but the survivors were discreetly sheltered.
The reason mages are nobles is because they connected that blood among those with magical power. They evolved from humans with magical power into mages.
As a result, the royal family was born.
It is a bloodline that remained even after perishing and being reborn.
The king of my generation also intended to make Zenoa an adopted daughter of some house and welcome her into the royal family, if nothing had happened. However, relatives who were disgusted by the corrupt politics rose up... and after that, other countries took advantage of it!
From there, the Seventh Generation began his stories of hardship.
Everyone was listening—no, they were letting it wash over them. Since I've heard it many times, I left him be and talked to the other ancestors.
"What were we talking about again?"
The Fourth Generation said, pushing up his glasses with his index finger to adjust their position.
Ditch cleaning. However, it's become quite a grand story starting from ditch cleaning. Or rather, it's a surprise that royal blood entered the House Walt.
The Third Generation agreed.
Indeed. Yet, I wonder why Riel has so little magical power?
"It's because you guys are making such a fuss! I'm telling you, for someone my age, this is on the higher side! And yet, the Jewel Orb keeps taking my magic power—"
As the conversation derailed, the Fifth Generation, who let out a sigh, joined the conversation.
He seemed exasperated by the reactions around him.
Don't get so heated over ditch cleaning.
B-but, Fifth Generation.
Perhaps because he is his father, the Sixth Generation couldn't be strong with the Fifth Generation. It was the complete opposite of the relationship between the First and Second Generations.
Whether it's royal blood or not, he's been kicked out of the house and has become an adventurer now. An adventurer instructor? If she wants Riel to do ditch cleaning, then that's fine, right? Rather, since she hasn't told him to commit a crime, there's no reason to complain.
The Seventh Generation countered.
B-but, Riel's position—
I'm telling you that position is currently an adventurer. It's a good experience. It'll be a plus for Riel, and it won't be a minus.
Hearing that, the First Generation and the others nodded.
However, the Second Generation seemed unable to keep up with the change in situation.
I never imagined a descendant would carry royal blood. I mean, for a descendant of this barbarian to carry royal blood...
What?
The Second Generation turned his gaze toward the barbarian clad in animal furs and shook his head.
Then, the Fourth Generation declared the end of the meeting.
Then, it's decided that Riel's ditch cleaning will proceed as planned.
(Why did ditch cleaning become such an exaggerated story?)
The unconvinced Sixth and Seventh Generations were grumbling.
After all the hardship we went through...
Zenoa, I'm sorry...
The others seemed uninterested. Rather, the fact that royal blood had entered their lineage seemed more important.
The next day.
From the morning, I was cleaning the ditches of Darion.
To put it bluntly, it was filthy. Trash was thrown in, and in the worst cases, even excrement—
"T-this is rough..."
I had a cloth wrapped around my mouth and was dressed in rubber work clothes.
"Riel-sama, it's already noon. I'll take over for you."
"...The thought is enough."
Novem, worried about me, offered to take over the work. However, I couldn't let Novem do this kind of work.
More than that, there was a problem—
Hey, hey! And you say royal blood is in there! Put more effort into your work!
The overly energetic First Generation was making a fuss.
Royal blood in the House Walt... just becoming a Count's family was already a dream...
The Second Generation was muttering and lost in thought.
By the way, Seventh Generation, what was the reason that Zenoa married in? I feel like there's no necessity to it.
The Third Generation apparently wanted to know the circumstances of how the royal blood entered.
Ah, I thought that too. She could have just married into the current royal family. I think trying to expand forcibly only leads to bad things.
The Fourth Generation also seemed uninterested in me. All four of them seemed to think there was no problem as long as Novem didn't get dirty from the work.
The circumstances are different from your time. Once the scale gets larger, troublesome things will come your way whether you like it or not.
The Sixth Generation agreed with the somewhat philosophical Fifth Generation.
Political corruption was severe. It was an era where if you didn't have a certain amount of power and just stayed secluded, it wouldn't be strange to be targeted for extermination under some pretext.
The Sixth Generation grumbled, perhaps because it was an era of considerable hardship regarding the surrounding situation.
The plan was to marry Riel's child or grandchild into the royal family, or welcome a royal daughter and be promoted to Marquis to ensure the surroundings couldn't touch us...
The Seventh Generation seemed to have had such intentions.
Or rather, Grandmother Zenoa was also a person who had cleared the House Walt ancestral precepts.
It seems that when she was about to be disposed of during the civil war unrest, the Seventh Generation took her in and kept it vague.
Thinking about it, the frontier is convenient in that regard.
(That aside... you guys, don't make so much noise!)
My breathing became heavy.
Physically there was no problem, but the mental fatigue was prominent.
That's because the Jewel Orb continued to drain my magical power!
Zelfie-san, the instructor, looked at me and seemed a bit exasperated.
"You have less stamina than I thought. At this rate, defeating monsters outside will still be a long way off. For a while, let's handle these kinds of requests while doing some training."
"Eh, no... if possible, I'd like to go outside and defeat monsters immediately..."
I opposed Zelfie-san's opinion, but Novem seemed to agree.
"That's right. We mustn't overdo it, and above all, Riel-sama's safety comes first. This kind of work is also experience, and I'll do my best too."
When Novem expressed her intention to participate, the people in the Jewel Orb started making a fuss.
Stop it! Novem-chan doesn't have to do such a thing!
Riel, come on, do your best! Because Novem-chan is worried!
As expected of my sister's descendant. She's well-behaved. But we really can't let her do this kind of work.
Show some guts! In front of a girl, a man should push himself!
First, Second, Third, Fourth Generations—
(I-it's because you guys are making such a fuss...)
But it didn't end there.
Are you still planning to make him do it! Enough is enough! What's the point of continuing this!
Calm down. Since it's safe, we should actually welcome it.
The Fifth Generation was restraining the Sixth Generation.
How did it come to this... I really should have hit that stupid son of mine! Also, you all, don't make so much noise! Riel looks like he's suffering!
The Seventh Generation also seemed excited.
I was happy that he got angry for my sake. But at the same time, let me say this.
(Please just be quiet!!)
A simple ditch cleaning had its difficulty increased because of my ancestors.