Chapter 53: Bee-chan and the Others’ Fury
After selling a few kills, I was enjoying an ale as usual when the reception area started to get noisy.
I couldn’t see the reception from my seat, but I could hear an arrogant, booming voice.
“Sub-Master-dono, it has been over ten days since we made the Designated Request. Yet, we have heard nothing. I would like to hear the reason for this.”
“Butler-dono, when the Adventurers Guild receives a Designated Request, we convey it. We do nothing more. Whether to accept or decline the request is up to the Adventurer. This time, you didn’t present the request details or the reward, and just ordered him to report to the Earl’s Residence. That’s a ridiculous demand. Any normal Adventurer would ignore it. In fact, I conveyed it to him directly, but he told me, ‘I want nothing to do with a Designated Request that doesn’t even show the details or the reward.'”
《Hey, did you hear that? ‘I want nothing to do with a Designated Request that doesn’t even show the details or the reward.’ Some gutsy guy, huh?》
《Of course. Only a complete idiot would show up when summoned by a noble without knowing the reward or the job.》
《No doubt. I hear the lord of this land is called the ‘Stingy Earl.’》
《Then there’s even less reason to answer a Designated Request summons.》
《More importantly, did you hear? He arrogantly said he’d hire a Healing Magic user on the cheap, and got beaten half to death and sent packing.》
《Serves him right. I’d do the same.》
《Huh? You, who struggles with Goblins? No way.》
《Hey, they can hear you, quiet down!》
From the direction of the reception, knights wearing matching breastplates came stomping over, glaring around the dining hall with furious expressions.
《Who’s been saying whatever they please?!》
《Mere Adventurers, talking this and that about our master. You’ve got some nerve!》
《The one who was just talking, step forward! I’ll deal with you!》
The dining hall fell silent, but the Sub-Master came over and faced the knights.
“What do you think this place is? Getting all high and mighty over Adventurers’ drunken ramblings. Are you underestimating the Adventurers Guild?”
“No, Sub-Master-dono. Even if it was a place for drinking, their words were too much. Please forgive our outburst.”
“Hey! You there, the one with the cat on his lap!”
“Deios-sama, there he is!”
Ah well, they found me.
Stomping heavily, an old man in a frock coat appeared, followed by knights. He looked vaguely familiar.
“Hmm, Shinya, is it? Why have you not responded to the Designated Request?”
“Weren’t you listening to what the Sub-Master just explained? We Adventurers have the right to refuse even compulsory requests. Let alone a Designated Request that doesn’t state the details or the reward; no Adventurer would be foolish enough to accept that.”
“Are you saying you refuse Earl Lingan-sama’s request?”
“Of course. You probably intend to use me on the cheap anyway, so I want nothing to do with it.”
“You cur! How dare you speak to Deios-dono in such a manner!”
《Little ones nearby, if you can hear me, help me out. But don’t sting until I give the word.》
《Master is calling!》
《Master is over here!》
《Let’s gooo!♪》
《Don’t sting the furball. If I get attacked, you can sting the one who did it.》
《What about the others?》
《Hmm, just once or twice. Don’t sting them more than that!》
“Knight-sama, I’m an Adventurer, not a subordinate of the Earl-sama or the Butler-sama, so I can’t use the kind of language one uses when serving a master.”
“I told you, don’t speak so insolently!”
With a roar, a hand swung down. There was a sharp 《SMACK》, but I pulled my head back slightly to deflect the impact.
The gong for the start of battle had been sounded.
《They attacked Master!》
《Unforgivable!》
《Goooo!》
Just as I thought I heard the buzzing of wings, Bee-chan and the others came flying in one after another, and a deep hum reverberated throughout the dining hall.
《Ouch!》
《What the-?!》
《GYAAAAAA!》
The man who hit me was swarmed by Bee-chan and the others, collapsing covered in Bees, and then they attacked those around him.
《Only sting the ones dressed the same!》
《Killer Bees!》
《Get down!》
《Ouch!》
《Idiot! Run!》
《He-helppp meeeee!》
Amidst the pandemonium, it was a surreal sight with bee-covered figures rolling around.
I theatrically held my cheek and sat up, and my eyes met with the Sub-Master, who was cowering with his head in his hands.
《Ouch! Idiot! Make them stop! Are you trying to kill us?!》
Ah well, the Sub-Master got stung too.
This should teach them what happens if they lay a hand on me.
《Thanks, everyone. I’ll call you later, so could you leave for now?》
《We got the one who attacked Master!》
《I stung him a lot too!》
《I haven’t stung anyone yet~!》
《I stung someone!》
《Yes, yes. I’ll give you meat later, okay?》
《Okay~!》
《Master’s meat!♪》
As the buzzing faded, the dining hall looked like a field of corpses. The Adventurers were alive and getting up, but everyone was wincing in pain.
The ones who remained down and weren’t getting up were the knights; their faces were dark and contorted in agony, dead.
Only the butler, Deios, was staggering with a pale face. He too seemed to have been stung in several places, grimacing as he fled outside the Guild.
“Shinya! What are we going to do about this?!”
The Sub-Master yelled, pointing at the fallen knights, but he should be saying that to the knight who attacked me.
“Don’t yell. Bee-chan and the others might swarm back in.”
My words made his face change color, and he lowered his voice.
“Why didn’t you stop them?!”
“Why, you ask? I was knocked down. By the time I came to, Bee-chan and the others were already furious. If you have a complaint, tell it to the knight who hit me.”
“Ah, I’d love to complain, but it doesn’t look like they’re in any condition to hear it.”
He muttered in a bitter voice, looking at the fallen knights.
“Are you the one controlling those Bees?!”
“I got stung in three places! What are you gonna do about it?!”
“Damn it, why are we getting attacked by Killer Bees inside the Guild?!”
“Pay for our Potions!”
“All of you, quiet down! Or the Bees will attack again! If you have complaints, tell them to the Earl’s knight who hit this guy! Well, not that they’re likely to listen to your complaints. What a troublesome escort detail, honestly.”
“We can’t go to work like this!”
“First things first, gotta drink an antidote Potion, or I can’t do anything.”
“Hey, lend me some money.”
“What, you don’t even have money for a Potion?”
“I was planning to go earn money for Potions today.”
“Hmph, got stung before you could, huh? You idiot!”
Ah well, the reception is totally congested with everyone rushing for Potions.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
Having returned to Earl Lingan’s Residence, the butler Deios endured the pain and headed to the office to report.
“What’s with that face?”
“Master, we were attacked by Bees… by a large swarm of Killer Bees.”
“That insolent brat!”
“Well, when one of the knights struck Shinya, a huge swarm of Bees rushed into the Adventurers Guild… It was a terrifying sight.”
“What happened to the knights?”
“They are likely dead…”
“Dead?”
“I escaped when the Bees went outside for a moment, but the knights were all down and none of them were moving.”
“To cause the death of my retainers… Unforgivable! Gather the knightly order, storm the Adventurers Guild, and bring me that brat!”
“Master, it’s impossible. Both knights and Adventurers were attacked by countless Bees, and no one could resist. I had seen them before, but I never imagined they were that terrifying.”
“Are you saying we can do nothing, looked down upon by mere Adventurers?!”
Earl Lingan stomped his feet and raged, but remembering the swarm of Killer Bees he had seen before, he shivered and couldn’t say anything more.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
The next day, the Guild Master of the Adventurers Guild visited the Earl’s Residence and demanded they retrieve the bodies of the deceased knights.
“Earl Lingan-dono, do you intend to make an enemy of our Adventurers Guild?”
“I cannot let that pass! Eight of my retainers have been killed, and you say we are at fault?!”
“As you are also aware, the Adventurer named Shinya has the Divine Protection of the Tamer God, and you should have known that Killer Bees serve as his escorts. Because your retainer struck that man down, your men died, and Adventurers also suffered greatly as collateral damage. This happened because you routinely look down on Adventurers and treat them arrogantly. Let me be clear: if you continue to disregard us any further, I will report this to the headquarters in the Royal Capital.”
“I-I understand. I will thoroughly instruct my subordinates.”
When the Guild Master left, the Earl’s eyes became fixed, and he ordered Deios, “Summon that man.”
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
Ever since that commotion, the Guards no longer approach me when I enter or leave the town, and even when I visit the Adventurers Guild, people keep their distance.
Despite that, today when I entered the Guild, I could hear shrill voices coming from the direction of the dining hall.
I had planned to sell my spoils and quietly head home, but if it’s the person I’m waiting for, I have to see their esteemed face.
For now, I called out to Bee-chan and the others and had them stand by.
After putting the appraisal form into my Magic Pouch, I went to the dining hall, received an ale and a bread roll with filling, and sat at an empty table.
The source of the shrill voices was a woman leaning against a man at the back of the dining hall, laughing foolishly.
I felt a sense of déjà vu, and thought I’d observe them while drinking my ale, but the man, while flirting with the woman, didn’t take his eyes off me.
Feigning ignorance, I drank my ale and bit into my bread.
Two Magicians and five hangers-on. It seemed to be Mirage without a doubt, but just as I was wondering how to confirm it, he approached me, ale mug in hand.
“Hey, I heard you killed that gutless Earl’s knight.”
“And you are?”
“Me? I was told some bullshit about hiring a woman for 3 Gold Coins, so I beat the crap out of his knight and ended up being resented for it. You seem to have guts, and I like that you killed the Earl’s knight and aren’t being hunted down.”
I don’t know what he arbitrarily took a liking to, but it’s none of my business.