Tier VI Seeker ②
The next day, I arrived at the Seeker Guild on time.
When I inquired at the reception desk, the Receptionist guided me.
“This way, please.”
“O-Okay.”
The place I was led to was… a double door in the corner of the third floor.
The plate above it read, ‘Guild Master’s Office’.
“This… is it?”
“Yes. Everyone is waiting for you.”
“O-Okay.”
I gave a slight bow and opened the door.
“Oh my. You’ve arrived.”
“Excuse me…”
Right away, the male Elf, Guild Master Alance-san, greeted me.
So this is the Guild Master’s office… Yep. It certainly looks like an office.
A decent size. Decent furnishings. A decent atmosphere.
First, there was a sofa and table for visitors.
Bookshelves and filing cabinets lined the walls, and behind the impressive office desk hung thick, red curtains.
A practical Saber and an ornate staff were displayed on the wall.
And next to the office desk was a pure white tea table.
At that white table, a beautiful girl dressed entirely in white was enjoying tea time with a white teacup.
Hm? Something feels off…?
Wait, a white tea table? A white teacup? A beautiful girl dressed all in white?
The Witch was there too. The girl in white placed her white teacup down.
“Laa-la-li-ly. As always, your Herbal Tea defies all reason.”
“Hahaha, hahaha, Shiro. Say that name again, and I’ll turn you into Herbal Tea.”
“My apologies for the slip of the tongue.”
“?”
What exactly is this situation? Who is she?
And why is that jarringly out-of-place white tea table in the office?
Then, The Witch turned around.
“Well, well, young Wof. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Y-Yes, it has been some time.”
The Witch was beaming. That Laa-la— better not ask about that.
“So you’re Wof-kun.”
The girl dressed in white looked at me.
A white hat. Silky white hair flowed down past her waist, adorned with a white rose hairpin.
Pure white eyes. Skin as white as snow. A white, expressionless face. Pure white features. Even her lips were white.
Her clothes, too, were a frilly white dress from top to bottom.
Combined with the white tea table, it was making my eyes sting a little.
“Y-Yes. I’m Wof.”
“Nice to meet you. Shiro is Shiro. Shiro=White=Weiss=Blanche=Album=Sephide. A pleasure.”
“Eh?”
“Did you not hear me? Shiro=White=Weiss=Blanche=Album=Sephide. A pleasure. Shiro is fine.”
“Y-Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Shiro-san.”
What a long name…!? It might lose to Picasso, but still, so long! And also, who is she?
Seeing my expression, Alance-san answered.
“Oh my. She is a Tier I Seeker. Known as the ‘Undying White Rose Princess’.”
“Incidentally, Shiro is also an expert on the Dungeon of Death, you know.”
“The Dungeon of Death…”
So there are experts like that.
“Now then, I imagine you’re wondering why I am here.”
Shiro-san asked with an air of elegance.
I’m more confused than wondering. Especially about that white tea table.
“Well, yes. Before that, where are Juicy-san and Mr. Agaro?”
The two of them weren’t here.
“Oh my. Agaro and Miss Juicy were informed of the results yesterday, and I gave them their rewards.”
“Eh, is that so?”
Why were only The Witch and I called today?
“There’s a reason we separated you. Shiro. If you would.”
“Very well, from Shiro to Wof-kun.”
“Yes.”
Shiro-san stood up and came to stand before me. She was slightly taller than me.
Shiro-san stared intently at me. Not silver. Her white eyes had irises of a strange color.
“I-Is something wrong?”
“So this is The Witch’s disciple.”
“?”
Shiro-san took a Scroll from the white rose pouch at her waist and unfurled it.
“——’Wof, age 13. In recognition of your numerous achievements, as of the writing and reading of this document, you are hereby granted the rank of Tier VI Seeker as a special exception. Seeker Grand Guild, Grand Guild Master, Alhazardo Abramelin’——Yes. Here is your Tier VI Seeker tag.”
Shiro-san handed me the tag.
“…Eh?”
I accepted it, dumbfounded.
Eh? A Seeker? Me?
“Ah, right. Alance. I’ll borrow that desk.”
“Oh my. What are you doing?”
“You’ll see.”
Shiro-san placed a crystal ball on the office desk.
The crystal ball began to glow, projecting an image.
After several lines of static flashed, a blurry human figure appeared, gradually coming into focus.
『…I am Abramelin… Grand Guild Master of the Seeker Grand Guild. Alhazardo Abramelin.』
What appeared there was a black leopard with a magnificent white beard.
“…!?”
It wasn’t an elderly leopard beastman with black ears. It was an old man with the head of a black leopard, complete with a white beard. Was he human?
The Witch made a displeased face.
“My, my, aren’t you busy, old Alhazardo?”
『Witch. Thank you for your efforts in liberating the Grave of Death.』
“Yeah, yeah. Kon just did what she was told, you know. Are you using a precious Legacy like a Projection Orb just to say that?”
『You haven’t changed. This matter was something I should have handled sooner.』
“Uh-huh. I wish you’d dealt with it centuries ago, you know.”
『…My apologies…』
He bowed his head in apology. The Witch clicked her tongue. Then he raised his head and looked at me.
『Boy. Are you The Witch’s disciple?』
“Yes. Um, there’s something I absolutely must ask you.”
『What is it?』
I never thought I’d get an opportunity like this.
“Why did you turn your own son into the Dungeon’s defense mechanism?”
“Oh my. How bold.”
“Oh dear, oh dear.”
『…………』
Alhazardo Abramelin looked at me.
Not glaring, not scrutinizing, not staring intently.
Just looking with those grayish-brown eyes. That alone exerted pressure, making my body freeze.
This feeling. It’s similar to when I faced Hargan, the King of Death. But I absolutely have to ask.
“I absolutely must know the reason.”
『And why is that?』
“…Because his last words to me, spoken with beautiful blue eyes, were ‘I thank thee’.”
『Ngh… Thank me… His blue eyes resembled his mother’s… I see. It was you. So that’s how it is. Then I shall answer. My son was strong. He had already made a name for himself as a Tier I Seeker and was also the Knight Commander leading the Kingdom’s Seventh Knight Order. Yes, he was strong. Stronger than anyone in that large-scale subjugation. You could say that’s why he died. He remained strong even after death, which is why I made him a defense mechanism. That is the only reason.』
Alhazardo Abramelin spoke dispassionately.
That must be the truth. I could feel it.
“I understand. Thank you very much.”
『Was my son strong?』
“Yes. He was stronger than anything. I lost to him.”
『…I see.』
Alhazardo Abramelin nodded as if savoring the words.
For some reason, I felt like he had found some salvation in that.
Since I had the chance, I asked another question.
“…Um, may I ask one more thing?”
『What is it?』
“I live in a warehouse where there’s a Tower. I found it there.”
『A Tower… Don’t tell me. Is it the Second Tower?』
“Oh my. What are you talking about?”
“Well now, well now, what could this be about?”
“Yes. It’s the Second Tower. It was written… ‘To continue dreaming an endless dream someday’…”
『Precisely! I see… I see. You finally found it. Someone has finally found it and appeared to challenge Hayyarn’s dream. Will you challenge it?』
“Yes. That is my intention.”
『Then let this be a request from me. The exploration of Hayyarn’s dream. And by accepting this request, you shall be a Tier V Seeker starting today.』
“Eh?”
“Oh my. This is unexpected.”
“My, my, promoted already? As expected of young Wof.”
“Is this alright, Alhazardo?”
Shiro-san inquired.
Alhazardo Abramelin laughed.
『It is fine. An endless dream someday—— It has been a long time since I heard those words. Disciple of The Witch. Wof, was it?』
“Yes.”
『I have high expectations. I shall give you your reward then. Eventually. Well then, I look forward to it.』
“Yes. I will find it.”
Fwoosh. The image vanished.
Phew, he was quite an imposing person.
If I met him in person, I probably wouldn’t be able to speak like that due to his dignity and intimidating presence.
Still, is it really okay that I became Tier V in an instant?
Hm. I sense presences behind me. I turned around and regretted it.
“Now, now, young Wof.”
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Would you care to explain?”
The Witch. Alance-san. Shiro-san. The three of them asked with smiles.
They weren’t smiling at all.
After that, I was absolutely bombarded with questions.