Chapter 12: In the Royal Capital – 04
That night, as I lay in bed, there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” I called out, and in walked Mariane.
She was dressed casually for bed, but her neckline was quite revealing, which made my heart skip a beat. Her figure was more sensual than any woman I had seen back in Japan.
“I apologize for intruding, but I need to speak with you, Soushi-san.”
“The fact that you didn’t mention it earlier suggests it’s something private?”
“Yes, for now, it’s information I wish to share only with you, Soushi-san.”
I gestured for Mariane to take a seat, while I propped myself up on the bed and crossed my legs.
“Go ahead.”
Mariane lowered her gaze for a moment before looking up to begin speaking.
“I mentioned earlier that ‘Soul’s Guidance’ has been attracting attention from the guild, but in fact, the Grand Master himself is quite interested. Moreover, his interest is primarily directed towards you, Soushi-san.”
“The Grand Master is interested in me?”
“Yes. While I have conveyed most of the achievements of ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ aside from what you requested to keep confidential, it seems he is particularly intrigued by the abnormal rate of rare encounters. He has realized that you are at the center of these rare encounters, especially since you single-handedly defeated a member of the ‘Kin of Twilight.’ He is also paying attention to the skill training methods you shared with me the other day.”
“I see… Given that, it’s only natural for him to take notice.”
“Furthermore, regarding the recent events in the ‘Wandering Dungeon’ and today’s ‘Sacred Beast,’ he is eager to summon you to discuss them.”
“He’s quite enthusiastic, isn’t he? I would imagine the Grand Master is incredibly busy.”
At my comment, Mariane made a slightly awkward expression.
“Well, the Grand Master is quite an eccentric individual, and he tends to leave most of the practical matters to the Sub Master… He often becomes engrossed in whatever piques his interest…”
“Is that how the Grand Master manages to fulfill his role?”
“He has a solid track record. He was the one who created the guides that improved the survival rates of adventurers.”
“I see. If I have the chance, I would like to meet him and express my gratitude. By the way, is he currently in the royal capital?”
Mariane shook her head.
“No, the headquarters of the Adventurers’ Guild is located in the northern Aldebaron Empire. The Grand Master is there as well.”
“The northern empire? That’s quite…”
I had heard that the Adventurers’ Guild was an international organization, but I never expected its headquarters to be in a neighboring country. Given that the northern empire is the largest power on this continent, it makes sense, I suppose.
“In any case, if you’re going to the empire, it would be wise to aim for B-Rank, or preferably A-Rank. That way, it will reduce the complications when crossing borders.”
“Hmm… If an A-Rank adventurer leaves the country, I feel like the kingdom might have something to say about it. Is that alright?”
Becoming an A-Rank adventurer would mean I was a significant asset for national defense. It wouldn’t be surprising if I were treated like a strategic-level weapon…
“Historically, there have been various issues between the guild… or rather, adventurers and the ruling class, which has led to the agreement that adventurers should not be hindered in their movements.”
“I see, so there’s a history behind it.”
I found the system of the Adventurers’ Guild quite fascinating, but upon reflection, it was clear that it couldn’t have been established overnight. There must have been countless struggles by many individuals to secure the freedom of adventurers. I couldn’t help but feel a deep respect for that.
“Understood. Once I become A-Rank, I’ll go meet the Grand Master.”
“Is that alright with you?”
“I’m personally a bit curious. After all, he’s not someone you can meet just anywhere, and sharing information is essential.”
Since becoming an adventurer, I had encountered ‘Demons,’ ‘Kin of Twilight,’ ‘Wandering Dungeon,’ and ‘Sacred Beasts’ in quick succession. These seemed to be significant matters for this world. While I pondered why I was getting involved in all this, it was clear that I couldn’t ignore it as long as I lived in this world. It would be best to cooperate with influential figures as much as possible to help resolve the situation.
However, the problem was that it was certain we would face complications when that time came.
The next day, I spent the day shopping for various items. Regarding my damaged shield, I had considered ordering a custom-made one, but with time running short, I opted for the heaviest ready-made option available. I was able to purchase something equivalent to what I had before, so I had no complaints, but honestly, I already felt a bit unsatisfied, so I might go for a custom order next time.
I also formally accepted a request for Mariane’s protection at the guild. I was informed that I had become B-Rank, but since I had already known about it, I didn’t feel particularly moved. Normally, it would be something to celebrate, but I realized that I was becoming numb to the rapid pace of my promotions.
That night, we had a modest celebration for my rank-up, and early the next morning, we departed from the town of Barbadoza. It would take us a week to reach the royal capital, but since we would be passing through another town, it felt less daunting.
“I never thought I would be going to meet the king in the royal capital. Frei, have you met him before?”
As we walked along the highway, Larni asked her usual blunt questions. However, it seemed Freinir had become somewhat more open and didn’t seem particularly bothered.
“Yes, I met him a few times when I was little, and most recently when I was chosen as a candidate for the Saint.”
“What kind of king is he?”
“I only remember him being kind to me. There was a princess who was three years older than me, and he treated us like sisters.”
“Hmm, so Frei really was a noble after all. Meeting the king is quite impressive.”
“I was just born into that kind of family… But this will be my first time meeting him as an adventurer, just like everyone else.”
At Freinir’s words, Sfenia smiled and Mariane nodded silently.
I nodded along but decided to ask something that had been on my mind.
“If the princess is three years older than Frei, then the king must still be quite young, right?”
“Yes… I believe he ascended to the throne six years ago, and at that time, he was 38 years old…”
“44 years old, huh? That’s not too different from me. He seems quite young for a king.”
When I thought of a king, I usually imagined a dignified old man with a grand white beard, but it seemed the king I was about to meet was different. I was glad to have learned this in advance when I noticed Larni, Freinir, and Mariane staring intently at my face.
“Huh? Did I say something strange?”
“No, it’s just that hearing your age again makes me realize you look quite different from your actual age.”
Mariane’s words were met with nods from Larni and Freinir.
They were implying that I didn’t look my age, but I couldn’t recall anyone saying I looked particularly young or old in my previous life. I remembered that while there were mirrors in this world, they were said to be a luxury item, and since coming here, I hadn’t seen one. I only shaved using the feel of my hands, so I hadn’t looked at my own face in a while.
“Ah, how do I look?”
“You look younger than you are. In fact, you might have even looked younger than when we first met.”
“Now that you mention it, I do feel like I seemed older back then.”
Freinir and Larni said this, and Sfenia and Mariane nodded in agreement, indicating that it was indeed the case.
“I won’t know until I see a mirror. I do feel like I’ve become sturdier since becoming an adventurer, and that might be affecting my appearance.”
“It’s been said that higher-ranked adventurers tend to age more slowly. Perhaps if you awaken at a higher age, it could lead to rejuvenation as well.”
Mariane’s hypothesis was quite intriguing, but I felt that if I expected too much, I might end up disappointed.
“There should be mirrors in the royal capital, so I need to confirm with my own eyes. If there is a rejuvenating effect, that would be wonderful, but…”
“If there really were such an effect, women might start wanting to awaken just for that,” Larni said with a laugh, and Mariane nodded knowingly.
“In reality, there are those who express a desire to become adventurers if they wouldn’t age. Most of them hesitate once they learn the reality of being an adventurer, though.”
“After all, whether or not one awakens is entirely a matter of luck, right? Plus, becoming a higher-ranked adventurer is even more challenging.”
While we were somewhat numb to the idea, it wasn’t easy to even reach C-Rank. It was a profession where one could easily lose their life if they pushed themselves too hard, and it wasn’t something one should pursue with the goal of not aging.
If I said that, it would completely come back to bite me.
“If you, Soushi-sama, are getting younger, then I should age a bit more to match.”
“That’s true. As long as I look young, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Elves generally don’t care about age, anyway.”
“…This is an important topic for ‘Soul’s Guidance.’ It seems we will need to observe for an extended period.”
I couldn’t help but feel a bit curious about the comments from the other members, but I was sure they didn’t mean anything inappropriate. I simply replied, “That’s true,” and decided to change the subject.