kscans

Chapter 311 - Report at the Tamer Guild

Since Hayato and the others were heading to the Tamer Guild, the members at the base were dismissed to do as they pleased. The Genesis Dragon members decided to go sightseeing in the Royal Capital, and Ren was all smiles.

"Alright, we’re going shopping together. I’m going to look for some cursed items!"

"Got it. Be careful."

"Oh, come on, Hayato-san. We’re Genesis Dragons, you know? If we get serious, we won’t lose!"

Ren struck a pose, making a muscle with her right arm and exclaiming, "Mun!"

"Ah, yeah. That’s not what I’m worried about. It’s just that the hardline Genesis Dragons went on a rampage in the Royal Capital before, so I was wondering if it would be okay."

It was when Hayato had logged back in after six months. The hardline faction hadn't just gone on a rampage, they had destroyed major facilities. It was highly likely that the NPC residents resented them.

"…They didn't attack in their human forms, so I don’t think we’ll be recognized. Suien-san and Agres, please don’t transform into your dragon forms, okay?"

"Like I’d do that in the middle of the city. But, yeah. When you put it that way, I guess the Elves and Dwarves in the Spirit Country hate me. I’ll have to apologize next time…"

As Agres said that, Pat nodded in agreement.

"You should apologize soon. Randa-chan and I got surrounded by Rosalie-chan and her group on the airship. It wasn’t bad getting to feel like a star, though."

"Their gazes were filled with killing intent, you know? If we hadn’t apologized, there was a high chance they would have thrown us off the airship!"

Agres and Suien had rampaged during the defense of the World Tree. They weren't wanted criminals, but they hadn't gone to apologize either, so it was highly likely they were disliked. Agres in particular had rampaged in his human form, so the Elves and Dwarves would have recognized his appearance. Pat and Randa had interfered with material gathering during the Stampede to prevent the defense and had become hostile towards Ney, Rosalie, and their groups. Being surrounded by the members of the Black Rose on an airship with no escape, it went without saying that they had apologized profusely.

"The Royal Capital should be fine. Still, Ren, you haven’t changed. Looking for cursed items. Kilika had some strange—no, very strange—quirks too."

"Why did you change ‘some’ to ‘very’…? But I welcome that kind of talk!"

Ren pressed Suien for more details on his words. Ash seemed to be the same, as he was eavesdropping. He probably wanted to know anything he could about his mother, Kilika.

After they had talked for a bit, Ash approached Hayato.

"Alright, we’re heading to the Royal Capital. Is there anything you want us to buy?"

"If it’s not too much trouble, could you buy some materials for potions and food?"

"Got it. We’ll be off for a bit, then."

With that, the Genesis Dragon members headed off to sightsee in the Royal Capital. Esha, Cecil, and Noat decided to stay at the base. The three of them were consuming the snacks and drinks on the table at a considerable pace.

"Honestly, Esha-chan and Cecil-chan, you two really work people to the bone."

"You’re the one who usually works people to the bone, Noat. Rose was complaining with a smile on her face."

"Rose-chan wouldn’t say something like that. She’d only think it in her heart."

"No, that’s the same thing, ain’t it? Oh, and just so you know, we’re taking you to the Eastern Country too."

Noat gave a rare, normal nod at Cecil’s words.

"I’m actually interested in the hot springs. Just carry me there in my futon like always."

"…I wish there was a magic spell to summon Noat anytime, anywhere."

"For once, that’s a great suggestion, Cecil-chan. Please develop that spell. And one that can summon a futon anytime, too."

"Please make one that summons food for me."

"I can’t develop magic, you idiot. But if I could, I’d start by summoning you to a volcano crater. As for you, Esha, you’ve got Hayato, don’t ya? If you ask him, he might summon some food for you."

"Now that you mention it, that’s true."

"I will not."

The conversation had veered towards Hayato, so he immediately denied it. The three of them continued their unrestrained conversation, but Hayato thought that it was just proof of how close they were.

A short while later, Maris and Surya returned from the second floor.

"Hayato-san, we’re ready. Can we go?"

"Sure. Let’s go, then."

Hayato told Esha and the others that he was leaving and then departed from the base. The Tamer Guild in the Royal Capital was bustling with activity. Hayato had visited the Tamer Guild a few times before, but most tamers had their favorite small pets with them. It was a place where someone like Hayato, who didn't have a pet with him, was actually the odd one out.

Like the adventurer's guild, the Tamer Guild had quests, most of which involved bringing back specific monsters. There were also quests to prepare pet food or to check on monster habitats. By completing these, players earned contribution points. Once they earned a certain number of points, their rank would increase, and they could keep more pets in the stables. Another benefit was receiving information about monsters.

Maris and Surya were said to be the aces of their Tamer Guild branch. Naturally, their ranks were top-tier, and their fame was so high that the moment they entered, a stir went through the crowd. But this time, the commotion was far greater than usual. That was, of course, due to the presence of the Pteranodon. Rumors of dinosaurs had been circulating for a while. To have a real one show up as a pet was an immeasurable shock to the tamers. The sounds of awe and speculation about it continued unabated.

Hayato felt good about it. It was a natural human desire to want to stand out like this once in a while. Maris and Surya, perhaps used to it, paid no mind and headed towards the counter with their pets.

The female receptionist was beaming. She spoke to Maris before Maris could say a word.

"Maris-san, this is amazing! Is that a dinosaur!?"

"Yes. I’ve brought some information, so I’d like to make a report."

"Of course, I’ll take it. Before that, would you like to put everyone in the stables?"

"Yes, please. Surya, is it okay to leave Garland here today?"

"Yes, I plan on taking it easy today. Oh, right, I’m leaving some Nekomanma Deluxe, so please feed this to him."

As Surya handed it to the receptionist, Maris also handed over a considerable amount of Nekomanma Deluxe, saying, "Me too, please."

"Certainly. I’ll let the person in charge know. But Maris-san, and you too, Surya-san, where do you get five-star Nekomanma Deluxe? You bring it in quite often, don’t you?"

At the receptionist’s question, the two of them glanced at Hayato. Of course, the highest quality Nekomanma Deluxe was made by Hayato.

"That’s a secret!"

Maris said, but anyone with a bit of intuition would figure it out from the way she had looked at Hayato. The receptionist also stared at Hayato for a moment, but then she smiled and nodded.

"I understand. There’s something special going on. Well then, would you mind if we heard your report in the private room over there?"

Guided by the receptionist, Hayato and the others headed to the private room. The commotion in the guild hall didn't die down, but no one tried to rush them. The tamers here must be gentlemen and ladies, Hayato thought as they entered the room.

After a short wait, three Tamer Guild employees, including the receptionist from before, entered the private room. With Hayato, Maris, Surya, and Sieg, there were now six people and one cat in the room. It was a good number of people, but it didn't feel cramped. The room was often used for pet transactions, so it was large enough to accommodate even large monsters.

The conversation between Maris, Surya, and the guild employees continued. Hayato also explained about the floating island as the habitat of the dinosaurs and then took out the miniature airship. The Tamer Guild employees were surprised by that as well, but they looked a little disappointed that since it required an airship, only a limited number of people could go.

"Ah, about that, it might be possible to go to the floating island without an airship."

When Maris said that, the employees leaned forward over the table, closing in.

"It seems that the Pteranodon doesn’t have a flight ceiling. If we had about four of them, like the Griffon Courier Service, they might be able to carry us to the floating island."

Hayato and Surya had heard this from Maris before, so they weren't particularly surprised, but the employees let out cries of admiration. Flying monsters had a limit to how high they could ascend. You couldn't reach the floating island by riding a Griffon, but the Pteranodon was originally flying near the floating island and had a very high ceiling. They had tested it, and while the Griffon, Lancelot, couldn't go outside the floating island, the Pteranodon could leave and fly around. From this, they had hypothesized that if they had several Pteranodons carry a gondola, like the Griffon Courier Service, they might be able to get there without an airship.

"That’s amazing, Maris-san! We don’t know if it’s actually possible, and gathering four of them would be difficult, but information like this is a great help! We’ll increase your contribution points to the Tamer Guild!"

"In that case, please share them with Surya and the Bandit clan tamers who helped with the verification. To be honest, the idea came from a suggestion by a tamer from the Bandit clan. Oh, and Hayato-san’s share too, please."

"I’m fine. I don’t have any pets to leave here. You and Surya-san can split my share."

"No matter how you look at it, Hayato-san is the one who contributed the most…"

Surya muttered, and Maris nodded in agreement. Even so, for Hayato, the points were pretty meaningless. He had no reason to raise his rank, so he thought it would be more valuable to give them to Maris or Surya. After some back and forth, Hayato’s points were divided among Maris, Surya, and the Bandit clan tamers. Not only that, but the Tamer Guild also arranged to provide Hayato with various conveniences.

It was unclear if he would ever use them, but Hayato gratefully accepted.

After that, they conveyed some more detailed information, and the report from Maris and the others was finished.

"That’s all, then. We will review the information you’ve provided and then make it public. And actually, Maris-san, there’s something I’d like to ask of you…"

Just as Maris finished her report, the receptionist brought up a request for her. In short, they wanted to open a branch of the Tamer Guild in the Eastern Country and wanted her to check on it. Since Maris was already planning to go to the Eastern Country, they wanted to piggyback on her trip. With Maris registering the yokai Kyubi at the Tamer Guild, the number of tamers going to the Eastern Country had increased. But since there was no Tamer Guild in the Eastern Country, many opinions had been raised about it being inconvenient.

"You don’t have to think too hard about it. We just want you to check if the guild can buy land in the Eastern Country."

"Understood. I’ll ask Benny-san then."

"Benny-san?"

"Benitsuru-san, the princess of the Eastern Country. I know her, so I’ll ask. She’s an animal lover herself, so we might get a good response!"

The receptionist and the three employees were wide-eyed.

"Huh? I told you when I brought Max the Kyubi here, didn’t I?"

"I’m sorry. I was so excited about the yokai that I might not have been listening. But is that so, Maris-san, you’re acquainted with the princess of the Eastern Country…"

"Well, it’s thanks to Hayato-san, though!"

The receptionist looked at Hayato and smiled.

"Would you like a job at the Tamer Guild? It’s a stable job where you can play with animals!"

"No, I have my own shop."

I might be the first player to be invited by an employee before even joining the guild, Hayato thought. After that, the receptionist and the two other employees went on at length explaining the good points of the Tamer Guild. Eventually, Maris, Surya, and even Sieg joined in trying to persuade him, and Hayato was quite tired by the time he managed to refuse.