Book 1: Chapter 8: Part 2

Book 1: Chapter 8: Part 2

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Part 2

By the way, Iris was still asleep on my back, but I heard that one of the guilds dormitory rooms was open, so I decided to let her sleep there for the time being.

Now that I was free, Milia took me to the reception room.

The reception room was covered with red carpet, with a black table in the center and a large sofa on either side of it. All of them had an air of luxury about them.

Please feel free to sit down. The sofas here are very fluffy, you know.

As Milia had said, the sofa was extremely comfortable. I almost fell asleep if I wasnt attentive.

Id like to hear your report, but before that, Id like to tell you one of my secrets.

Milia said and took out a small silver metal plate from her uniform pocket.

It was an adventurers guild employee identification card. Just like the adventurers registration card, it contains information such as name, age, and gender.

She seemed to be embarrassed to let me know her age, so she covered it with her finger.

But what caught my attention more than that was her position.

Assistant Branch Manager, Adventurers Guild, Aunen Branch.

I couldnt believe my eyes when I read this; it was so unexpected.

Assistant Branch Manager, thats quite a high position, isnt it?

Fufu, Im glad you were surprised, Kou-san. Im actually the second most important person in this branch. Right now the branch manager is on a business trip, so I am also the acting branch manager. So Im practically the head right now.

Youre the head of the branch, and youre still working as a receptionist?

The receptionist job is more like a temporary position to hide from the public eye, or rather, Im just helping out. Once the manpower shortage is solved, things will be a little easier for me.

Milia stretched out as she sighed.

She looked like an innocent little girl, and to be honest; I couldnt believe that she was the assistant branch manager.

Ah, theres no need to be so formal. Please just treat me as you usually do, as Milia, the receptionist. It is my sincere intention to reveal my identity to you. Thank you very much for subjugating the Black Spider. If it werent for you, not only Iris-san but many other adventurers would have lost their lives. On behalf of the Aunen branch, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude.

Milia stood up from the sofa and bowed her head deeply and profoundly. Her face was dignified and composed, and she exuded the air of a top executive.

She was a totally different person than she was a few minutes ago.

Now, that is enough with the formal introduction I mean, ahem, well, well, lets end the formal introduction!

Milia cleared her throat and put on her usual friendly smile.

I guess that meant she switched from the assistant branch manager mode to the receptionist mode.

Kou-san, please tell me about your activities today. Im really looking forward to it.

Okay, its going to be a long story.

I went on to explain what had happened since I left the guild this morning.

Milia had a pile of papers in the reception room and took careful notes of what I was saying. Halfway through, when I started talking about the pack of Lonely Wolves, Milia tilted her head.

Its kind of strange, isnt it? They are called Lonely Wolves because they dont form packs Maybe it has some unknown traits. I think I should report it to headquarters.

Agreed. Do you need any information to report it?

How many were in the pack, and how many did you take down, Kou-san?

I killed every last one of them. The total number in the pack was probably more than two thousand.

Two thousand!?

Milia shouted in surprise.

Well, of course. If I were in her shoes, I wouldnt be able to believe it either.

You fought them alone? Im sorry, can I check your subjugation records?

Of course. Check it out.

O-okay. Please wait a moment.

Milia got up from the sofa and walked out of the reception room.

She returned about five minutes later. She held a bundle of black paper in her left hand and a purple crystal ball in her right.

When she returned to the sofa, she spread out one of the sheets of paper on the table. It was about the size of an A4 sheet of paper.

She then placed the crystal ball so that it was in contact with the top edge of the paper.

Kou-san, can you put your hand here?

Like this?

Following Milias instructions, I touched the crystal ball. Then, with a buzzing sound, my whole body was enveloped in purple light.

Thank you very much. Please stay like this for a while.

The crystal ball shook slightly, and white letters appeared on the black paper. It was my subjugation record.

Lonely Wolf (Male), 2048.

Dont mind it. By the way, wheres that guy that was with you?

He was looking forward to meeting you, Kou-san, but he got completely drunk

The girl glanced to her right. I also looked in the direction. The swordsman boy was leaning against the wall of the restaurant, comfortably asleep.

The girl and I looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders with a wry smile.

The atmosphere was friendly at first, but from then on, it was very hectic.

After all, I was currently the topic of conversation as the Bear Killer. The adventurers came to see me one after another.

Ive heard a lot about your work. Well, have a drink.

You beat the Black Spider all by yourself, right? Thats really impressive.

Fufu, they call you that, but youve got a nice face. Do you want to play with Oneesan here? Eh, twenty-nine years old? Youre older than me! E-e-excuse me!

Although I had never talked to any of them before, I was able to get to know them quickly, probably because we had all been drinking.

It may sound a bit abstract, but I felt as if I was accepted as a member of the city.

We had a good time, and when the clock on the restaurant wall turned 11 in the evening

Iris appeared at the entrance of the restaurant. She must have been asleep in the guilds dormitory, but she seemed to have woken up earlier than expected.

Immediately, the restaurant went silent. Everyone had a puzzled look on their face.

It seemed that its true from what I heard about Iris being avoided.

Now, what should I do?

I got up from my seat and shook the sleeping swordsman boy from his seat by the wall.

Mmm? Eh K-Kou-san!? I-Im sorry. I drank too much

Thats okay. Iris is coming. Shes the one who saved you from the Black Spider, right?

Oh, y-yes! Im going to go say my gratitude to her!

The boy hurriedly stood up and rushed over to Iris. The priestess followed suit.

Iris-san, thank you very much for today!

T-thank you so much!

The two of them bowed together.

Iris was not expecting this development, and her gaze wandered around as if she was confused.

I thought I should give them a helping hand. I picked up my glass, a clean glass that no one had sipped from yet, and with a bottle of wine I headed over to Iris.

Iris, thanks for your help today. Anyway, have a drink.

Eh? Ah, yeah

Iris still didnt seem to understand the situation, but I forcefully handed her a glass and poured her a generous amount of wine. I poured the rest into my own glass and turned around to look around the restaurant.

The adventurers and residents were all looking at me.

Everyone, listen up!

I shouted, feeling nervous under their stares.

Im not the only hero today. Iris was the only one who helped them escape from the Black Spider by taking on the role of a decoy. Cheers to her courage!

I shouted and downed my glass of wine in one gulp, and the people also shouted, Cheers!

Hopefully, this will be a good opportunity for Iris to be accepted by everyone in the city.

* * *

An hour or so later, at midnight, the drinking party was over. Other adventurers and residents were also talking to Iris, so I could say that it went just as I had planned.

However, there was one thing I didnt calculate. It seemed that Iris was not a strong drinker, and her gait was suspicious.

When we toasted, she drank all the wine in her glass, which was apparently fatal. I was worried that she might not make it home safely, so I decided to walk her home.

Im sorry. I owe you again

I dont mind this much. Its not far from your house, is it?

I appreciate the walk, but thats not all. You took care of a lot of things for me just now, didnt you?

I wondered if she was referring to the toast I had just made.

Thank you. Ill never forget what you did for me today.

Iris house was an elegant single-family home. It seemed to be a rental property owned by the adventurers guild.

After we parted at the door, I decided to walk back through the vicinity of the adventurers guild.

The lights of the building were already dimmed. Milia must have finished her work and gone home. It seemed like a tough job to be the assistant branch manager, so I might as well give her a gift some other time.

When I returned to my room at the inn, I felt a rush of exhaustion.

I couldnt even muster up the energy to take a bath.

I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes.

Good night, and see you tomorrow.