Kays Translations

Chapter 27

Melt and her group safely returned to the General Guild.

However, the atmosphere was completely different from when they had left. People hurried about in a frenzy, and the air was filled with tension, urgency, and shouted orders. It was a scene one might call a battlefield—or even a living hell.

“W-What the heck…? Did something happen or what…?”

“Hmm… it looks like the Adventurers’ Guild and… is that the Alchemists’ Guild? Both of them seem to be in a rush.”

“Oh, it’s not just them. I just saw someone from the Royal Knights go into the reception area! If the Kingdom’s involved, this might be something big… really big…”

As the three talked with the detachment of onlookers, Melt calmly lowered her basket and brought it to the Adventurers’ Guild counter.

“Um… Sigurd, right? We finished the request. I picked up a few things along the way too—could you appraise them?”

“Huh!? Oh, it’s you, Melt. Sorry, but as you can see, I can’t sit down and properly appraise anything right now. Just report the request completion and leave the goods at the drop-off station, okay?”

“Um… okay. I’ll go tell the others.”

“Sorry about this, especially on your first mission.”

“Did something happen?”

“Yeah… something big. I can’t tell you more than that.”

“Got it. Then please appraise the stuff next time.”

“Yeah, you got it.”

Melt withdrew without complaint, while the Adventurers’ Guild—currently overwhelmed—could barely carry out normal operations.

Sigurd felt guilty for brushing off the earnest young girl who had come to report the completion of her first mission. But there was no helping it.

After all, information had suddenly surfaced regarding the “mysterious monster and the organization behind it” that the guild had been secretly pursuing.

They had only half-expected anything useful—maybe just a clue about the creature’s features.

At the same time, they had let a certain man—an aspiring adventurer—roam free, suspecting he might be connected to the monsters. There was hope they might get information from him.

But to think that not only had someone brought back potentially key intel about the mastermind, but also defeated the monsters, and even delivered multiple samples of the abnormal species…

It was a breakthrough, and it had thrown the upper management and related guilds into a full-blown frenzy—like someone had stirred up a hornet’s nest.

“He’s the real deal… We might be getting a serious monster into the guild…”

“A pleasure to meet you. I’m one of the directors governing the capital, Lindblum, and the head of the General Guild—Burke.”

“I’m Silent.”

As expected, someone high-ranking in the guild made contact.

What I’d brought back to the guild included part of a corpse and, probably, a man connected to the mastermind.

Remiya explained the situation, and I was immediately taken to the upper floors of the General Guild.

Now, before me stood an older man—the top of the General Guild, apparently.

Clearly someone in a position that would normally intimidate others.

But Silent’s memories and experience kept me level-headed, letting me speak as an equal.

This strength of mind—I want to keep it. This unshakable confidence is one of the best skills to survive in this world.

“I’ve heard the details from Remiya. To have overcome such an extreme challenge and brought back results of this magnitude… I sincerely thank you. A formal reward will be arranged at a later date.”

“That’s not important. Can I become an adventurer or not? Did I pass your test?”

“Without a doubt. We’re planning to issue a formal statement to the other guilds and grant you the Sapphire Rank. Of course, the evaluation will take time, and we need the opinions of the other guilds as well.”

Seriously? I mean, yeah, they did say it’s awarded to people who contribute greatly to the guild…

“Then Ruby Rank is fine for now. I’d rather not be unemployed while waiting for Sapphire.”

“Yes, that’s a reasonable request. So… is it really impossible for you to tell us about your past—where you’ve been and what you’ve done?”

“That’s not something I can discuss. I kill, I complete the request. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“…I see. I won’t press further. Remiya has told me that you seem to have a good nature.”

“Glad to hear it. So, are we done? Then give me something like an ID tag. I need to find lodging before I end up sleeping outside.”

“Ah, yes… You arrived in the city this morning, didn’t you?”

“Did the gatekeeper report me?”

“He did. Asked if ‘a dangerous-looking man came to the General Guild today.’ I knew immediately it was you.”

“That’s rude. I’ll have to thank him later.”

Thus, I was officially accepted into the Adventurers’ Guild and sent back down to the front desk amid all the chaos.

“Phew… I’m tired. And starving…”

I hadn’t eaten since morning… and I was running on no sleep… I was truly at my limit.

All I could think of was meat, booze, and nuts.

So Silent likes nuts, huh…

“Ah! It’s Silent!”

Just then, as I was receiving my guild tag at the counter, I heard a voice from behind.

When I turned around, I saw Melt, beaming with a bright smile—and a trio of unfamiliar young men with her.

Why are the three of you looking at me like it’s the end of the world?

“M-Melt… you know this guy…?”

“Yeah, I do!”

“Right, we know each other. Just acquaintances, right, Melt?”

I made sure to stress that we were only acquaintances—not close friends.

If people thought Silent and Melt were close, that would be… inconvenient, given her ties to Same.

I stared at her, silently pleading: “Please play along.”

And then…

“…Yeah… just acquaintances… I guess… yeah…”

Not at all! She totally didn’t get it! And now she looks incredibly dejected—like her heart just broke.

I’ve gotta fix this… Got to say something to avoid suspicion…

“Where’s your partner, Melt? Are you working solo for now?”

Please let her understand this time! I’m trying to say “I’m acting alone” and that “Melt’s real partner, Same, is still around.”

“Ah! Oh! I get it! Yeah, my partner’s out working right now!”

“I see. Then you’d better work hard too—don’t make your partner worry. You’re still far too naïve about the world.”

“Yup, I will! Sorry to bother you, Silent!”

This time, it seemed to get through. She walked away with an obviously cheerful smile on her face.

…Whew. Yeah, I had to help her out. Both emotionally, and for Silent’s sake too.

After all, when she made that end-of-the-world face… I just couldn’t leave it be.

“Hey, Melt… was that person the one who took care of you…?”

“That appearance… he’s probably not just a skilled adventurer, but maybe a mercenary… Could he have participated in the large-scale subjugation mission that might’ve happened today?”

“He had this overwhelming presence… just being near him made my skin tingle or something…”

Since they couldn’t sell their gathered items, Melt and her group deposited them in the guild’s storage and left, heading toward the adventurers’ den.

As they walked, the three questioned Melt about Silent, the man they had encountered at the guild.

“Nope, he’s just an acquaintance. We just happened to walk the same path for a little while.”

“Is that so…? Still, I’m surprised you could talk to him so casually.”

“Yeah, he was talking normally with the person who’s been looking after me, so I don’t think he’s a bad person.”

Feeling it was necessary, Melt decided to tell a fabricated version of the truth.

“Maybe the reason the guild was so chaotic today was because of that subjugation mission? Let’s go back tomorrow and have our items appraised.”

“Good idea. Still, just from delivering that Axebreaker branch, we got a pretty decent payout. It’s not enough to upgrade our gear yet, but it’d be nice to go out for a good meal now and then.”

“Oh, totally! Melt, you were interested before we left—let’s get some pie!”

“Oh, you remembered. What kind of dish is pie? I’ve never had it, so I’m curious.”

Melt, now fully absorbed by thoughts of dinner, completely forgot about wondering what Silent would do next—or when he might return as Same.

“You’ll know when you see it! A place that serves pie… where is it again?”

“That tavern in the back of the den, right? They’re famous for seasonal pies.”

“Jangari-an,” huh? Strange name, but that place never disappoints.”

“I heard the owner used to live in Hamsterdam, right? I wonder if we could ask them about it.”

“Wait, is that true? Is Hamsterdam even real?”

Previously, Melt had explained to Same that “Hamsterdam” was the name of a nation where hamster-type spirit beings lived. But apparently, it was considered almost a fairy tale, and Kash seemed to doubt its existence.

“I’ve heard it does exist… supposedly. But you need trust, credibility, and achievements in surrounding nations just to go there. And supposedly, hardly anyone who enters the country ever comes back. So… the rumor about the tavern owner being from there is probably just that—a rumor.”

“Aw man… Hey, Melt, do you think Hamsterdam is real?”

“Yeah, it’s real. My late grandma used to be a researcher there—or so I heard. We even had some of her papers at home.”

“What!? So it does exist!? With spirit creatures that come out of faucets and stuff!?”

Rikka got excited at Melt’s words, and naturally, Kash joined in too.

“Th-then are there really spirit creatures that hide in your pockets without you noticing? I heard if you slap your pocket, they split into two!”

“I heard one where you open an unused pot lid and it’s packed full of spirit creatures. Probably just a bard’s joke though…”

“They’re supposedly real. Spirit hamsters are said to sneak around humans, multiply on their own, and then disappear just as freely.”

“Heh… s-so they’re real… hamsters…”

“I wonder what they look like?”

“Well, famous spirit beings like fairies are humanoid… maybe they look similar?”

“Eh? From what I saw in illustrations…”

Melt then crouched by the roadside and started carving an image of a hamster into the dirt with a knife. But, not being very artistic, after several attempts…

“…What is this? A squashed dinner roll?”

“Looks like a slime variant or something.”

“Hm… a deflated ball with eyes?”

“Huh? That’s weird… I thought they were cuter than this… I’ve barely ever drawn before…”

With a dissatisfied expression, Melt wiped away the bean-paste-like scribble with her foot and started walking again.

“Let’s go, let’s go! Time to eat pie!”

“Haha, yeah.”

“I wonder what kinds they have this season?”

“I hope they have dessert pies. Like apple pie!”

The adventurers’ den, now bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

They walked off, chatting happily as they headed for dinner—a warm, peaceful scene.

And as she experienced such a moment for the first time, Melt truly thought, from the bottom of her heart—

“I’m really glad I left the forest.”

———————-

Um, I’m about to collapse from hunger, so could I please eat something soon?

Why am I still being detained at the guild anyway…?

“—That concludes the list of personnel currently guarding and monitoring the man. Silent-sama, we would greatly appreciate it if you could join the security team as well. Of course, you will be compensated.”

“…I see. Then first, bring me something to eat. I haven’t had anything since this morning. And I’m sleep-deprived. Prepare something nourishing, and something that’ll help me stay awake. I was planning to get a room and sleep.”

“My apologies… we failed to consider your condition. We’ll prepare a meal in the guard station by the dungeon. We’ll also arrange some stimulants to help with drowsiness.”

Why do I have to work under these harsh conditions!?

But… I did say something like “I’ll get information out of the assassin” myself!

Apparently, until the knights officially arrive from the royal castle next to the city to take him into custody, the man has to be watched at the Adventurers’ Guild. And somehow, I ended up being assigned to the guard detail during that time.

Well… if we’re aiming for maximum security, putting me on the job is probably the best option…

“This is pretty clean for a dungeon.”

Descending a small staircase from the courtyard of the main guild building, I found that the underground area wasn’t the dark, musty stone prison I had imagined.

Instead, it looked like any other floor—well-lit with several light fixtures, and so bright it was hard to believe it was underground.

A guild staff member, most likely, was already stationed at the door that held the suspect.

Apparently, there were no other ways in—no ventilation shafts or windows connecting to the outside.

That means… the assassin will definitely have to come in from the front.

“…They might try to knock him out with drugs, like he tried to do before I hit him with a paralytic… or maybe they’ll blow up the whole dungeon. Those are the most likely options.”

Muttering that to myself, I thought I heard the staff member on guard let out a small gasp.

Brace yourself. This case seems like it’s got some deep roots… wouldn’t be surprising if someone just erased us outright.

“Silent-sama. I’ve brought your meal. Please enter this room over here.”

At that moment, Remiya arrived, carrying a tray of food.

Ah… I can finally eat…

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