Chapter 10: The Twilight Kin 05
The day before our departure, I called out to Mariane in the evening, and she guided me to the usual private room.
“Now, let me explain the request. The task is a protection mission, and the person to be protected is me, Mariane. The destination is the Bartran Adventurers’ Guild.”
Bartran is the name of the town we are heading to.
“So, does that mean you will be transferring to the Bartran Guild, Mariane?”
“Yes, that’s correct. The transfer will only be for the duration of your stay, Soushi. By the way, when you and your party, ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ move to another town, I will submit the same request again.”
Hmm? Could it be…?
“I’m sorry if I’m mistaken, but does that mean you will effectively be our dedicated staff member, Mariane?”
“Yes, that’s right. Considering the uniqueness of ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ I submitted a request, and it was approved by the Grand Master of the Adventurers’ Guild. I look forward to working with you.”
Mariane stated this with her usual expressionless demeanor, but it was clear that this was a rather special arrangement.
“Um, may I ask why such treatment…?”
“Based on your past activities, it was deemed necessary to provide special support. Of course, this is an exceptional measure, but there are precedents, so it’s not solely for ‘Soul’s Guidance.’”
I see, so it’s a special exception for parties with unique skills or particularly high abilities.
The fact that ‘Soul’s Guidance’ has a high encounter rate with rare monsters must have been deemed valuable by the guild. It’s also advantageous for us to conceal the ‘Bad Luck’ skill that likely contributes to that trait, so there’s no reason for us to refuse.
However, it seems that the backgrounds of Freinir and Sfenia might also play a role in this arrangement…
“Understood. I look forward to working with you from now on.”
Thus, we became a C-Rank party with a dedicated staff member. This would certainly stand out if it became known, but perhaps it’s time to accept that.
The next morning, we met Mariane in front of the guild and set off on foot toward Bartran, a journey that would take about four days.
I thought there would be some hassle involved in going to another noble territory, but it seems that C-Rank adventurers are generally completely freed from such troubles. That alone speaks to the level of trust associated with the C rank.
“I never would have guessed that Mariane was a former adventurer. Did you know about this, Soushi-sama?”
As we walked along the highway, Freinir looked up at me and asked.
Yes, I learned this just that morning—Mariane was apparently once an adventurer.
As if to confirm this, she was currently dressed in a dark purple outfit that resembled a stealth suit. Despite being a stealth suit, it clung closely to her body, revealing a figure that was quite feminine—something that was hard to imagine from her usual demeanor.
She wore a short sword at her waist and donned lighter armor than Larni, allowing for greater mobility. In game terms, she looked like a Scout or an Assassin.
“No, I didn’t know either. I thought I could usually tell if someone was an adventurer.”
“I thought so too… I can usually tell with others, but I couldn’t with Mariane.”
Mariane’s face remained expressionless, though she seemed to be listening intently.
“Mariane, do you perhaps suppress your presence in everyday life?”
Larni, fearless as always, pressed the question. Mariane raised an eyebrow slightly before responding.
“Yes, I do possess such a skill.”
“Oh, could it be that the reason no one approaches you is related to that?”
“I can’t say for sure. I don’t think it’s that, as I don’t get approached much even when I’m acting normally.”
It’s scary how casually she asks questions that skirt the edge of a minefield. I felt quite anxious, so I decided to ask something that had been on my mind.
“Um, Mariane, why did you become a guild staff member? Is there a specific condition for adventurers to transition to staff roles?”
“Yes, that’s correct. While it’s not widely known, acquiring certain skills allows adventurers to pursue paths outside of adventuring. Many skills that adventurers acquire are useful beyond just fighting monsters. For example, the ‘Item Box’ skill that you possess, Soushi.”
“I see, the ‘Item Box’ skill could indeed be useful for business.”
“Yes. In my case, I was scouted as a guild staff member because I possess the ‘Appraisal’ skill.”
“‘Appraisal’ allows you to understand the effects of tools and equipment, right?”
Larni jumped in immediately. I was curious about that skill too.
“Yes, it allows me to determine the authenticity and value of materials, as well as whether they are cursed. Most larger branches have at least one person with this skill.”
“Is it really okay for someone as valuable as Mariane to be dedicated to us?”
“…I was originally meant for that purpose. As an adventurer, I’ve reached my limits, so I want to assist those who can rise higher.”
A hint of sadness flickered across Mariane’s profile as she answered my question. For some, giving up on aiming higher as an adventurer could be a shadow that follows them indefinitely.
Perhaps sensing the mood, Sfenia, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
“By the way, Mariane, since you will be accompanying us as staff, will you be able to enter the dungeon with us?”
“Yes? Well, it is possible, but I don’t think I can keep up with your party, which is currently C-Rank. I was a former C-Rank, but I haven’t entered a dungeon in quite some time.”
“I see. Have you ever conquered the dungeon in Bartran?”
“No, I haven’t. I’ve been to the guild there once as a staff member.”
Upon hearing this, Larni perked up, looking at me with an eager expression. I could tell what she wanted to say. After a moment of thought, I nodded at Larni.
“Oh, then, Mariane, let’s enter a dungeon together once. It’s important for a staff member to understand the capabilities of the party they’re assigned to, right?”
“Ha…? Well, that’s true, but… Is that really alright?”
Mariane looked at me.
“If it doesn’t interfere with your work, I think it would be beneficial for you to see us in action. It’s also necessary to regularly confirm whether we deserve special treatment. I assume you need to report to the Grand Master of the guild periodically, right?”
“Y-Yes. Thank you for your consideration. In that case, I would be happy to join you once.”
And so it was decided, but Mariane probably wouldn’t realize that this was part of our plan to integrate her into the guild staff.