CH ss - 18

[Alfine: Now, to the Demon Forest]

※Alfine’s POV

It’s been a week since I became an adventurer of Youg Hannotes.

Because of the uproar I caused in the Adventurer’s Guild, I was made to complete requests free of charge, and although I was an iron rank, a receptionist was exclusively put in charge of me.

That person was called Rebecca, and before me, she was in charge of ‘Crimson Magic Swordsman Frick’ who had caused various problems in Youg Hannotes.

The ‘Crimson Magic Swordsman’ that Rebecca was in charge of seems to be a young man with red hair and red eyes, a genius in both sword and magic, and possesses a magic sword with a deep red blade.

When I heard the story from Rebecca, I understood that the male adventurer who I passed by when I first came to this Adventurer’s Guild was Frick.

According to rumors collected by Meila from adventurers in the waiting room, while he could fire even large-scale magic in rapid succession, that Magic Swordsman Frick was also a master of swordsmanship; he seems to be an amazing adventurer who defeated the Demon Beast Cerberus almost by himself.

Hearing such a story, I once again felt the vastness of the world.

Many of the magic swordsmen I saw in the royal capital had half-baked sword and magic skills; I, who thought that swordsmanship is the best, prejudiced magic swordsmen.

However, hearing the rumor of the Crimson Magic Swordsman Frick in the frontier city of Youg Hannotes, I began to think that I should reconsider my thoughts.

If both his sword and magic skill are first-class, I think that his true strength is higher than me, who could only use sword and had no magic talent.

In order to crush the false image that I created, I took a magic power measurement that I had been avoiding, and learned that I had no magic power. Now, I seemed to be able to see my own capacity a little more honestly.

For that alone, I’m glad I came to Youg Hannotes.

“Al-sama? Are you listening?”

While I was thinking, Rebecca at the reception counter peeked at my face.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was just thinking about something. What was it?”

“I said, the lord has entrusted the Adventurer’s Guild with the Abyss Walker search request, and we received a directive from the Guild Master that he wants those who have good sword skill to participate in the search regardless of their rank.”

“Ah, un. I kinda feel like heard I’ve heard that story.”

“I would be grateful if Al-sama could participate in the search. Because he is a powerful person who can deal with a silver rank adventurer lightly after all!”

Rebecca said excitedly, as if to appeal me to participate in the search.

Even though finally, I’ve completed the requests imposed to me as my punishment, and about to collect information on Finn…

However, I’ve been going around, asking information about Finn when I’m free, but I can’t get it all.

Although there are adventurers who knew the name of Sword Master Alfine in this Youg Hannotes, no one knew the name of her companion, the Swordsman Finn.

And there was another reason why gathering information about Finn did not progress.

The reason was that I found several familiar knights of the Royal Guard Knight Order came to Youg Hannotes.

Still, they don’t wear the armor of the Royal Guard, so it seems that they are the pursuer who were sent out by Gile to search for me.

Therefore, Meila stopped me, saying that it is better to stop actively collecting information about Finn for now.

It may be better not to be in Youg Hannotes until those bunch of the Royal Guard Knight leave the city.

Rather, it may be better to participate in the search for Abyss Walker in that place called the Demon Forest.

I suppress the urge to look for Finn.

Until now, I had prioritized myself and did things as I pleased, but I was beginning to realize that there were things that I couldn’t get by just doing that.

I’m sure that the current me can put up with it…

I have understood a little about how much trouble it causes by moving as I pleased.

I killed the desire to search for Finn at once, clasped my hand tightly, and faced Rebecca.

“Is that mean that I can participate in the search in the Demon Forest?”

I saw Rebecca’s face shining brightly.

I heard from Rebecca that there aren’t many skilled adventurers of the monster subjugation type because they were hired as knights of the Frontier Count.

To the outside, I was only an iron rank, but to think that they would go the extent to scout me as a skilled person for the high difficulty request.

“You would like to participate!? No, thank you! The amount of the request fee presented by the Lord-sama is exceptional, and the monsters that were subjugated during the search in the Demon Forest will purchased at a high price, so you can get rich quickly, you know!”

Rebecca immediately presents the Abyss Walker search in the Demon Forest request slip before me.

It seems that she had prepared it in advance.

“Al~, if you are going to the Demon Forest, can I also take request for myself?”

“N-nee-san?”

Meila, who was in the waiting room, stood behind me before I knew it.

“Receptionist-san, is there a ruin investigation in that area? I’m a silver rank.”

Meila showed her badge to Rebecca.

“Ruin investigation, is it…? Youg Hannotes only has a few ancient ruins in the first place. It’s just, there is a request to investigate the Abyss Hole, but… That is not a ruin.”

Rebecca has a troubled face.

“Ah~, that. The source of the ‘Great Invasion’! I wanted to see it once. Show me the request.”

“Eh? Ah, yes. Here.”

Rebecca put out the Abyss Hole investigation request in front of Meila.

The ‘Great Invasion’ was a catastrophe that robbed me and Finn of our parents.

I remembered that when Finn heard the story of the ‘Great Invasion’ from the adults in the village and the director of the orphanage and his wife, that it had robbed him of his precious parents, he was indignant.

I also felt resentment for the ‘Great Invasion’ that robbed my parents. But it also gave me the chance to meet and live together with Finn. When I think so, I also have a feeling close to gratitude…

Hence, I’m aware that I have less resentment towards the ‘Great Invasion’ than Finn.

I mocked myself that was honest with my desires, and almost leaked a smile.

“Hmm, why is it prohibited to investigate in the hole and only limiting the investigation in the circumference?”

I asked Rebecca about the part that I was interested in from Meila’s request slip.

“Err, there were people who investigated the hole after the ‘Great Invasion’ ended, but they continued to disappear when they dived to a certain depth, and then the Lord-sama prohibited to investigate the inside. So, the request is only to investigate the surrounding area.”

“People disappear inside the hole… I wonder if there is a kind of transport device in there… I’m curious.”

“You can’t investigate the inside of the hole you know. As expected, I shouldn’t give you the request.”

Rebecca grabbed the request slip from Meila who was curious about the Abyss Hole.

However, Meila takes back the request slip without a moment’s delay.

“First of all, I’ll take this request, so please. It’s okay, maybe I won’t investigate the inside of the hole. I also treasure my life after all. There is also a possibility that the Abyss Hole is an ancient ruin or perhaps a secret entrance.”

Meila handed over the request slip that she had stolen to Rebecca while winking.

“A-Al-sama. Can you prevent Meila-sama from going out of control?”

Rebecca asked for help as if she was troubled.

In the worst case, if she tries to get down into the hole, I will detain her.

I silently nodded.

“T-then…”

“Mou, Al and Receptionist-san are such worrywarts. Even I wouldn’t do such a reckless thing-”

Meila is swelling her cheeks and looking angry, but I’m a little worried that she will really do it when she gets there.

“It’s okay. I’ll stop Meila Nee-san.”

To reassure Rebecca, I promised to stop her again out loud.

“I understand. Well then, I’ll issue the acceptance proof immediately, so please wait for a moment.”

Afterward, we received the requests, then decided to leave the city of Youg Hannotes, and head for the Demon Forest where the Abyss Hole is located.

Realized that we actually don’t know much about Meila. Is she perhaps a hidden expert?