CH 67

Episode 67 – The Reason Behind the Angry Wolves’ Attack 

Approaching the usual receptionist lady, we exchanged the routine greetings.

“Welcome. This is the reception desk for reporting quest commission completion statuses, how may I help you?” (Receptionist Lady)

“Actually, I put in an escort quest commission. However, due to an accident, we had to return midway through the request, so I came to report that.” (Lewin)

“Returned midway through the request…? I am terribly sorry to hear that!” (Receptionist Lady)

After I replied, the receptionist lady gave the same exact reaction and sincerely lowered her head in apology. I said this so many times before, but seeing the receptionist lady, who did absolutely nothing wrong, apologize to me like this made me feel bad. I mean, this time, no one was at fault in this matter. [Iron Gear] took the very best course of action the entire time, and the Adventurer’s Guild was the one who recommended them to me in the first place. I just came to get my bag back and the compensation for the two remaining days in the commission, and I wasn’t looking for an apology at all regarding this matter.

“Receptionist-san, please raise your head. This time, I was properly escorted so I should even be thanking you for that.” (Lewin)

The receptionist lady slowly raised her head and timidly looked up at my face to confirm my expression. I was smiling broadly at her.

“I’m not here to complain or anything like that. My visit today is just to recover something that I had left behind and to receive compensation for the two days left in the escort commission. If you don’t mind, could you please call over the Guild Chief?” (Lewin)

“… I very much appreciate your consideration. Yes! I will call over the Guild Chief, so please wait just a moment!” (Receptionist Lady)

As she said that, she ran off to the back room. Okay, it seemed like I’d be able to speak with the Guild Chief without incident. I wanted to report that the members of [Iron Gear] did a great job and to thank him for recommending such an excellent party.

As if the receptionist lady ran into him as soon as she went to the back room, the bald Guild Chief came out just a moment later. There was an indescribable expression on his face.

“Lewin, thanks for coming out here to make a report. Yesterday, I heard about the situation from [Iron Gear].” (Guild Chief)

“It’s good that you already heard the details from them, that’ll make things quick. Has my bag or anything else arrived yet?” (Lewin)

“Yeah, it’s here already. As soon as I heard about what happened, I commissioned the A-rank party [Azurite] to go and investigate the cause of the situation on Mount Cornello and retrieve your items. To think that after the last time, when you were abandoned in the middle of your quest commission, you were met with yet another failure… I’m so sorry ‘bout that!!” (Guild Chief)

…That was a super loud bang, is this guy’s head gonna be okay…?

“It was true that we had to return in the middle of the quest commission this time, but I don’t think of it as a failure, so there’s no need to apologize! The members of [Iron Gear] responded well to the accident and did a perfect job of escorting me.” (Lewin)

When I told him that, the Guild Chief, who still had his head lowered in apology, fleetingly glanced up at me.

“…Thanks for saying that. You’ve already shown me such kind forgiveness twice now, Lewin. I don’t think I can raise my head for now.” (Guild Chief)

“No, this time, rather than that, it’s more like… gratitude. Next time and hereafter, I am planning to request [Iron Gear] on my quest commissions.” (Lewin)

“If those are your true feelings, then the Adventurer’s Guild is happy to hear that…” (Guild Chief)

“I really mean it. That’s why I don’t need you to pay me any reparation fees or anything like that, but I seriously hope you’ll raise the evaluation of the members of [Iron Gear] for this matter.” (Lewin)

“You’re such a great guy, Lewin! Then, in accordance with your wishes, I’ll be greatly increasing the salary for [Iron Gear]. And of course we’ll be giving you the appropriate amount for the failed commission, but we’ll also be paying you a consolation fee for this matter. It won’t be as much as last time, but it’ll still be 5 gold coins!” (Guild Chief)

“N-no! It’s really fine–” (Lewin)

“This is a matter with the Adventurer’s Guild’s reputation on the line, so I’d be troubled if you don’t accept it. Also… this is the bag that [Azurite] handed over to me. Is this yours, Lewin?” (Guild Chief)

“Y-yeah. This bag is mine, but you really don’t have to pay the consolation f–” (Lewin)

“If you don’t accept it, I’ll really be inconvenienced. So, aside from the matter of the consolation fee, is there anything else you want to ask me?” (Guild Chief)

I explained it to him already, but in my books, this quest commission was a success. But… the talks had already proceeded to this point, so I decided to just obediently accept it.

“Sorry. Then I will gratefully take you up on it.” (Lewin)

“That much is to be expected, there’s no need to apologize or thank me for it. So, Lewin… do you have something you want to ask me?” (Guild Chief)

“Ah, yes. I wanted to hear what exactly is happening on Mount Cornello. Why were we attacked by a pack of Angry Wolves? I would also like to know if it would be okay to go to Mount Cornello to gather plants and herbs in the future.” (Lewin)

What I wanted to know were the answers to these two questions since it would greatly influence my movements in the future.

“I understand. Lemme explain it to you. As for why you were attacked by the pack of Angry Wolves– the Angry Wolves were constantly fighting with the Anchor Bears over territory, but since someone killed the boss recently, it seems that the power balance between the two has collapsed. For that reason, the movements of the Angry Wolves have become unpredictable, which is the most probable cause for last time and this time’s attacks.” (Guild Chief)

Just as I thought, the Anchor Bear that we ate on the first plant and herb gathering expedition turned out to be the boss of the Anchor Bears. I mean, that Anchor Bear that Ahmed defeated…it was just so freaking big.

“Of course, as a result one might suffer an attack occasionally… that possibility was certainly there since you were attacked twice in a row. This is what [Azurite] reported, and the Adventurer’s Guild believes this is the most likely scenario.” (Guild Chief)