Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 297: The Branch Manager Returns
Thanks to Tauro’s efforts, Salaman returned to the Dragonfolk Village Adventurers’ Guild branch for the first time in several months.
When Tauro visited the guild the following day, the request board had changed dramatically. In addition to his regular [Spatial Transfer] transportation assignment, it now displayed requests for dungeon magic stones, material collection, monster thinning, mapmaking, and the live capture of monsters for research.
“There are finally more requests! Excellent… Wait. These are all A-rank and B-rank quests.”
Tauro’s initial excitement vanished when he read the details.
“Those are the tasks we usually perform in the dungeon. I decided to assign some of them to other people and post them as requests.”
Salaman emerged from the back room and explained the new notices.
“You only returned yesterday, and you’re already working today? Shouldn’t you rest for at least a few days?”
Tauro stared at the branch manager in disbelief. Salaman had spent an extended period trapped in the dungeon under severe mental strain. Even for a dragonfolk, no one would object to a proper recovery period.
“I’m perfectly well now. Ha ha ha!”
Salaman laughed cheerfully.
The branch manager did indeed appear completely healthy. The dragonfolk’s unreasonable toughness was becoming increasingly difficult for Tauro to process.
“But who’s supposed to accept these requests? I’m currently the only adventurer registered at this branch.”
“Everything requires a beginning. Ryuko explained that if there are no requests—no demand—then no adventurers will appear to meet that demand. Dragonfolk usually handle everything themselves, so we never properly understood the purpose of this branch. But if we keep requests posted, someone may eventually arrive and decide to accept one.”
Tauro nodded, impressed by the reasoning.
With nothing offered, no adventurer had a reason to visit. A functioning request board might gradually attract people willing to work in the village.
The difficulty remained absurd, however. Almost every notice belonged to the A-rank or B-rank band.
Among humans, A-rank was reserved for a tiny number of elite adventurers who had invested enormous time, talent, and effort into their careers. In the dragonfolk village, warriors of comparable strength were commonplace. Their standards were simply too different.
“Would you like to try one, Tauro? In an emergency, a branch manager may convert a rank-restricted request into a free quest. Ha ha ha!”
Salaman’s fiery red hair and beard swayed as he laughed.
“That would be reckless… Hm? This one requests Minotaur subjugation, together with its magic stone and materials?”
“Yes. It’s a B-plus quest. Would you care to attempt it? I can use my authority as branch manager.”
Salaman was joking. Although Tauro was clearly unusual, he was still a thirteen-year-old boy, and the branch manager didn’t expect him to accept.
“Would completing it qualify me for a promotion?”
“Tauro, no. You’re currently D-minus. This is dangerous, and the branch manager is only teasing you. Please ignore him.”
Ryuko hurriedly intervened.
“D-minus? Hmm. If Tauro actually completes it, I can promote him directly to D-plus under my authority.”
Salaman grinned as he made the promise.
“Branch Manager! What will you do if Tauro takes you seriously and attempts something reckless? Tauro, you absolutely mustn’t accept it.”
Ryuko warned both men in mounting alarm.
“Then please convert this request into a free quest.”
Tauro answered without hesitation.
“Very well. I shall abuse my authority and make it a free quest!”
Calling it an abuse of authority himself hardly inspired confidence, but Salaman removed the notice and stamped it with the branch manager’s seal, converting it into an urgent free quest.
“Ryuko, please register my acceptance.”
Delighted internally, Tauro handed the amended request to the receptionist.
“Wait, Tauro! It truly is dangerous. Oh, honestly… This is your fault, Branch Manager!”
Ryuko reluctantly completed the procedure.
“Now that my acceptance has been registered, please receive the proof of subjugation.”
After confirming that the paperwork was complete, Tauro withdrew the Minotaur’s remains from [Magic Storage].
“You continue to surprise me. That’s unquestionably a Minotaur. Did you and Tsugumu’s escort team defeat it yesterday during the search?”
Salaman stared at the carcass in genuine astonishment.
“No. I encountered it after becoming separated from the escort team, so I defeated it alone. It took me nearly an hour, though.”
Tauro smiled awkwardly. After hearing that Tsugumu could defeat one in roughly three minutes, he felt embarrassed by how long his battle had lasted.
“Tauro… not even a dragonfolk child your age could defeat a Minotaur alone. You truly are extraordinary.”
Salaman marveled at the human boy whose abilities had already surpassed every expectation.