Chapter 13: To Oz – 17
That day, everyone slept like the dead at the inn.
The next day, I decided to spend the day training and then just lazing around. However, for Mariane and Shizuna, that wasn’t an option; they each headed out to the guild and the Great Spirit Shrine, respectively.
They had their duties and responsibilities, so it was understandable. The High Priestess and the priests must have been working tirelessly, almost without rest.
Thinking about that, I realized that being an adventurer wasn’t exactly a carefree job either. After all, we were risking our lives fighting monsters.
As I rolled around on the tatami mat until the afternoon for the first time in a while, I couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease.
What kept pricking at my mind was the matter of that “Demon.”
Rumors suggested that they had begun to appear in various places, and there were towns like Gal-Oz that had suffered significant damage.
For a moment, I even doubted my relationship with Mecalinan, but if she could summon such a creature, there would be no need for someone like Mazero. Besides, based on my experience in battle, I couldn’t believe that a human could control something like that. I concluded that it should be treated as a completely separate issue.
So what should I do…? As an adventurer, my options were limited. But still, I felt I should do something as much as possible. If such creatures began to roam the surface, humanity itself could be driven from the land.
“…Maybe I should go to the guild and see if there’s any information.”
In the end, those words slipped from my lips. It seemed I had fully adopted a blackened mindset in this world as well.
“I’m going to check in at the guild. There might be news about a rank-up.”
When I said that, Freinir, Larni, and Sfenia ended up coming along. It appeared that everyone was starting to develop a blackened mindset. This was something I needed to consider as a leader.
The guild seemed to have returned to its usual operations, with no particularly frantic atmosphere. However, it seemed that the recent appearances of the Flesh Golem and the Demon had sparked various rumors among the parties.
Mariane, who was at the counter, called out to us, “You’re just in time.”
“Thanks to your efforts, Frei, Larni, and Sfenia have all been promoted to B-Rank.”
“That’s great news! Congratulations to all three of you.”
“Thank you very much. It’s all thanks to you, Soushi-sama.”
“It feels a bit too easy, doesn’t it?”
“It felt like it took a long time to reach B-Rank, but once we joined ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ it all happened so quickly.”
Freinir and Larni were their usual selves, but Sfenia seemed quite moved. It made sense, considering how long it had taken her to reach C-Rank.
In fact, Freinir and Larni’s reactions might be considered unusual by general standards. However, given how special ‘Soul’s Guidance’ was, perhaps that was to be expected.
“By the way, Mariane, didn’t you get promoted?”
“Thanks to your support, I also became B-Rank. I’ve also been promoted to a special class staff member, which means I can support you all even more.”
“Oh, that’s good to hear… but what does it mean to be a special class staff member?”
“It’s a position directly under the Grand Master. In terms of rank, it aligns with that of a branch manager. I will have stronger authority to oversee adventurers and guild staff than before.”
“That sounds like a title that might be quite bothersome.”
“Indeed. However, since I am primarily a dedicated staff member of ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ I don’t intend to meddle too much. Now, if you could hand over your Adventurer Cards.”
Mariane said this and took the Adventurer Cards from Freinir and the others before heading to the back to process them.
As we watched her leave, Larni’s tail twitched excitedly.
“Ah, now that we’ve been promoted, I really want to dive into a dungeon! Soushi, we’re going tomorrow, right?”
“That’s the plan, but first, we need to see if Shizuna can move. The next C-Class dungeon is on the fifteenth floor, so we need at least one night’s stay.”
“Then we’ll wait until Shizuna gets back today. But two chances for treasure chests… I hope we get something good!”
“Aside from Larni, Frei and Sfenia have both leveled up, so they might be feeling a bit underwhelmed with their weapons. Is it time to upgrade our armor too?”
“Soushi-sama, how about using the dragon scales we obtained before to craft something?”
Freinir’s suggestion reminded me that I had kept the scales from the Dark Flare Dragon. Now that we were a B-Rank party, wearing dragon gear wouldn’t draw too much attention, and it seemed like the perfect timing.
When I replied, “That’s a good idea,” Sfenia chimed in.
“There are only a limited number of craftsmen who can handle materials from higher-tier dragons. There might be some in Gal-Oz, but I also have acquaintances in the Inner Elf Village of Ardolf.”
“Can we enter the Inner Elf Village?”
“There are certain conditions to meet for entry, but you all should have no problem.”
“Hmm…”
I had visited the Elf Village of Marulo, but the “Inner Village” seemed to be a different kind of place. If we could go, I certainly wanted to check it out.
“By the way, Elves and High Elves are long-lived, right? Are they knowledgeable about history?”
“Yes, there are those who take pleasure in weaving history, and in the ‘Holy Tree Hollow’… which is akin to a government office here, there are departments that have recorded history longer than anywhere else.”
“Can we talk to historians or something?”
“Of course, if you wish. Is there anything specific you would like to know?”
“Well, I think it would be good to investigate the ‘Demon’ a bit more. From what Frei said, it seems the church treats it as a fact.”
“If there’s a possibility of fighting in the future, it’s wise to know about the ‘Demon.’ Indeed, Ardolf might have information that hasn’t been passed down to humans.”
“Then after we finish our business in Oz, it might be a good idea to head to Ardolf.”
“Soushi-sama, I want to go too! I’ve heard it’s a place that’s hard to visit.”
“I agree! There might be some rare dungeons there as well.”
With Freinir and Larni eager to go, it felt almost certain that we would make the trip.
“How do we get to Ardolf?”
“We’ll take the route we used before from Euron to Marulo, and then head further east.”
“Sounds good. Let’s keep that in mind as our next destination.”
Just as we casually decided on our next journey, Mariane returned.
After handing back the Adventurer Cards to the three of them, she turned her gaze to me.
“Soushi-san, actually, I have a direct request from the Grand Master.”
“That’s a significant matter… What kind of request is it?”
“It seems that the ‘Demon’ that attacked Gal-Oz came down from the western mountains, and they would like you to investigate where they originated from by following their trail.”
“That sounds like a necessary investigation, but wouldn’t the country handle that? Access to the mountains is likely restricted.”
“Since Shizuna, the priestess of ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ is with us, we might be able to get permission under the guise of a request from the country. Perhaps you could consult with the High Priestess?”
“I see, with Shizuna, we can maintain the pretense that the country is conducting the investigation. I’m curious about it as well, so I’ll discuss it with the High Priestess.”
While it was a somewhat troublesome matter, it aligned well with my current mood. Investigating the ‘Demon’ seemed absolutely necessary, and with requests from both the Grand Master and the country, it would be a significant achievement for our party.
If it was an investigation, it would be best to start moving quickly. The longer we waited, the more the traces of the ‘Demon’ would fade.
I confirmed with Freinir and the others that we would accept the request and then headed straight for the Great Spirit Shrine.