CH 217

“So this is Guardian Sword’s assembly hall…”

I say assembly hall, but in a way it’s more like a fort. There are strong, tall walls around it that look like they could take a direct hit from a magic attack and not budge. Magic Energy Detection tells me there’s some sort of magic energy effect attached to them too.

What kind of effect is it? Appraisal is vague about it. Not that it really matters.

“Welcome to Guardian Sword. I will take you there.”

Our identities are checked at the entrance, and when we explain at the reception desk why we’re here, a clerk takes us to a training area. Why?

The clerk points somewhere, and I see ten people, including Jake and Ash. I recognize some other faces, and I’m pretty sure they’re the ones who caused trouble in the boss room.

I can feel bloodlust rising from Hikari and Sera, but let’s just calm down, all right?

“Thank you for coming. Sorry, we were just training them a little.”

Says Jake as he walks this way.

Training… It doesn’t look like training to me…

“Hou, so this is that one…”

As I talk with Jake, a bearded old man also approaches us and looks at me like he’s sizing me up.

“Sorry. This is Gabin, one of our senior members, and someone who fights in the front line.”

“Yes, I’m Gabin. How about it? Do you want to try facing me for just a bit?”

“If you called us here, can I assume you have what I asked for?”

“Yes. Ash, can you bring it here?”

I ignore Gabin’s proposal, and he starts laughing.

“Hahahahaha… This guy’s interesting. You guys seem full of life, especially this young lady. You look like you’d give me a good fight.”

Jake is surprised to hear that, as the people crouching on the ground composing their breaths twist their faces in fear.

“But that’s too bad. If you really are that strong, I’d really like to have you with us.”

“You need to have a better eye for these things, and I need people that’ll make my life easier. Hey, break’s over, get up.”

Gabin says as he taps Jake’s shoulder twice, and forces the people on the ground to get up.

“I see. So that’s someone who fights in the front line…”

His level is about the same as Sera’s. I get the feeling that people being protected and guided by that giant back would feel pretty safe exploring. Does his confidence come from his experience? That’s the feeling I get from him.

“And here you go.”

Jake receives ten magic stones, all precious ones that can only be obtained from the thirtieth floor down. That was a pretty unreasonable request to compensate for causing problems before.

I take the high quality magic stones, and I’m pretty happy with them.

This being a nuisance fee means I get them for free.

“Then you can have this.”

I hand him a return stone.

“What is this?”

“It’s to compensate for the return stone you spent before. I was unconscious, but I heard that you ended up using yours.”

“…You’re an honest guy.”

“…And I don’t think I’m going to use it.”

“…I see.”

That said, I still have one in the Item Box. I don’t know if I’ll ever use it, but it might come in handy one day. I can also sell it if I ever need money.

“When are you leaving?”

“We’re planning to leave in a few days, depending on when the mithril is delivered.”

“Did you ask Will?”

“Yes. I really want a mithril sword.”

“Yeah, I get that. I really want one when I get back to active duty too.”

Ash whispers, sounding jealous. A mithril weapon really is a mark of excellence, isn’t it?

Then they go back to the training area, and enter the circle after being called by Gabin.

The ones being trained are falling to the ground, completely spent, and forced to get back up. Part of me feels that’s pretty harsh, but Hikari seems pretty happy with it.

“That’s too bad. I wanted to be the one to do it.”

That’s kind of troubling, Hikari. Sera smiles awkwardly, but she doesn’t reject that idea either.

It’s getting pretty heated again, so we should go before sparks fly this way.

“Still, I heard what you did in the Holy Kingdom, so I figured there was going to be a bigger fuss when you had trouble with Guardian Sword. Did that not happen this time because of the magic stones?”

“Well, I guess. I wasn’t planning to explore the dungeon too deeply, and they’re a clan that fights on the front lines. I figured they’d have magic stones that are difficult to get, and they’re nice to have in case I need them.”

Sera is exasperated, but I don’t know if I could’ve gotten them even if I could pay for them. Having that opening increased the chances of getting them.

“Master, you’re wicked.”

That stings, Hikari. At least call me crafty or something.

“Let’s go meet up with the other three and eat somewhere.”

The moment Hikari hears that, she starts listing off names of stalls and talking to Sera.

The way she seems to know a lot about this city really makes me feel like we’ve been here for a while.

I can keep things fresh in my Item Box now, so it might be a good idea to stock up on a lot of things. Hikari is happy when I tell her that, and pulls me by the hand as she runs forward.

The stalls aren’t going anywhere, you know?

I look at Sera, and she’s smiling awkwardly, but also looks kind of happy.

“Come pick things too, big sister Sera!”

Sera runs after us after Hikari called her, and holds her hand. That means the three of us are now holding hands, but Hikari looks happy, so oh well.

We move to the side of the road so we don’t get in the way, and Rurika makes fun of Sera when she sees us walking like this, but anything she’s trying to say or do is eclipsed by Hikari’s fully unleashed appetite.

We end up spending a lot of money on food. Too much even. But we’re going to travel, so I guess I can think of it as a necessary expense?