Chapter 545: Support Quest Accepted

Tauro and his party decided to accept three quests at the Adventurers’ Guild: gathering rare medicinal herbs, subjugating the newly identified Olog-Hai, and joining as one of the support teams for an expedition seeking to defeat the guardian of a newly discovered ancient ruin.

All three quests were located in the Antas Mountain Range, which stretches across the border between the Kingdom of Sart and the northern Empire, making them a good fit for Tauro and his companions.

It wasn’t unusual for other high-ranking adventurer teams to take on multiple long-term quests at once, so it wasn’t that Tauro was being greedy.

While undertaking one quest, it was common to encounter the target of another quest along the way.

One might think they could simply defeat such a target and accept the corresponding quest afterward, but if another adventurer team had already accepted it, that could easily cause trouble.

Depending on the circumstances, adventurers might have no choice but to subjugate such a monster anyway. In that case, however, no quest reward would normally be paid; their only income would come from selling the monster’s magic stone and usable parts.

That was why it was generally worthwhile to accept quests within one’s planned area of activity if there was a reasonable chance of completing them.

Of course, taking on too many quests and leaving many unfinished would damage one’s reputation with the guild…

For that reason, long-term quests were comparatively easy to accept, and high-ranking adventurers often handled several at the same time.

With that in mind, the guild arranged for Tauro’s party to meet at a diner near the branch with the A-minus team Blue Thunder Beast, the client for the ancient-ruin guardian quest, which was recruiting support teams.

A local B-minus team called Silver Twin Mages was also participating.

“I’ve worked with Silver Twin Mages several times, so I know them well, but this is our first time working with Black-Gold Wings. We’ve heard there was a famous impostor team until recently, but we were away on a long expedition and don’t know the details. So let’s start with introductions. I’m Jack, leader of the A-minus team Blue Thunder Beast, and I use claw swords.”

As he introduced himself, Jack slipped a weapon with three long steel claws onto his right hand to show them.

He continued:

“The others are Longa, who uses a longsword; Akku, who uses a battle-axe; Bomarne, a blast-fire mage; and Fores, a forest priest. There are five of us in total.”

Jack introduced his teammates.

“Then it’s our turn. —I’m Gemma, the older twin and leader of the B-minus team Silver Twin Mages. I use water magic, and—”

“…I’m her younger sister, Gemis. I use flame magic.”

The twins, identical in appearance and dressed as mages, introduced themselves.

Gemma continued:

“The other two are Jimin, who uses a one-handed sword and shield, and Budar, a ranger who’s also a pharmacist. There are four of us. We once took a quest together with the previous Black-Gold Wings—the group now said to have been impostors. They were very capable… so are you sure you’ll be all right?”

Gemma eyed Tauro’s group—the ones claiming to be the real Black-Gold Wings—with suspicion.

It seemed the impostor team had earned trust as Black-Gold Wings not only through [Charm], but through actual competence as well.

“Yes, you don’t need to worry. We were the ones who captured that impostor group and handed them over to the military. And we’ve built up a fair number of achievements ourselves.”

Tauro answered confidently, perhaps deciding that allowing himself to be underestimated from the outset would only make things harder later.

“Hey, hey, Gemma, don’t provoke them. —So, could you introduce your team as well?”

Jack, leader of Blue Thunder Beast, stepped in to keep things from turning hostile before the quest even began.

“Then I’ll start. —I’m Tauro, leader of Black-Gold Wings. My specialties are short swords and bows, and I can use [Magic Storage], so I can carry large amounts of baggage if necessary. I’m also an honorary viscount, but please don’t let that concern you. And—”

“I’m Aeris, a mage and healer. My specialties are lightning, water, wind, and healing magic.”

“I’m Ankh, a greatsword user. I can also use wind magic.”

“I’m Ragune. I use a spear and shield, and I can cast support magic.”

“I’m Zion. I specialize in unarmed close combat and support using light magic.”

They deliberately kept their introductions to the bare essentials.

Beyond what was necessary for coordination, there was no need to share more.

“…Hmm. I thought you had quite a few front-line fighters, but it’s useful that almost all of you can use magic. And the lightning magic from your mage there will be especially valuable. —All right. We’ll have Black-Gold Wings join this quest. I look forward to working with you.”

Jack, leader of Blue Thunder Beast, seemed satisfied that Tauro’s team would be useful.

“If Jack says so… fine. Our team’s okay with it too.”

Gemma, leader of Silver Twin Mages, reluctantly accepted Black-Gold Wings’ participation.

“Then we look forward to working with you. —We’re leaving tomorrow morning, correct?”

Tauro confirmed the departure time with Jack.

“Yeah. We’ll meet tomorrow morning at the east gate. Make sure you’re ready by then.”

Jack didn’t disclose any details about the ancient ruin or its guardian.

Because the information was extremely valuable, they hadn’t even shared much of it with the guild yet.

Discovering an ancient ruin was exceptionally rare, and the team that found one received the first right to explore it.

Because of that prestige, Blue Thunder Beast planned to disclose detailed information to the guild only after completing their first exploration.

Of course, the guild would issue later exploration quests, but the honor of the discovery itself would remain attached to the name Blue Thunder Beast.

At this stage, Blue Thunder Beast had shared the information with its familiar local allies, Silver Twin Mages, but newcomers like Tauro and the other members of Black-Gold Wings wouldn’t receive the details until they reached the site.

“Just because Jack-san approved you doesn’t mean your abilities have been recognized, you know? Even among teams at the same B-minus rank, there can be a world of difference. We’ll show you!”

With that declaration of war, Gemma led her teammates out of the diner.

“Maybe they really got along with the fake team.”

Tauro said, guessing that was probably why they were being antagonistic.

“That might be it. And since we’re outsiders who were accepted immediately, they may not like that either.”

Aeris added, agreeing with him.

“No one here seems bothered, so it’s fine. Ah, youth.”

Ankh made a remark that made him sound like an old man.

“Heh. Looks like going through the Dragon’s Den gave you some composure.”

Ragune teased him.

“Yeah. If this were the old Ankh, he’d probably be shouting, ‘What’s their problem!?’ by now.”

Zion chimed in.

“Hey now. I’m the oldest on the team—can’t I talk like an adult once in a while?”

Ankh replied with a troubled grin.

Seeing that, Tauro and the others couldn’t help but laugh.