Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 320: Recruitment
Having accepted a named request from a B-rank team, Black-Gold Wings was scheduled to leave the Royal Capital early the following morning.
The expedition consisted of the B-rank Silver Goblin Hunters, who would lead the operation, one C-rank team, and four D-rank teams.
Three carriages had been prepared to carry them.
“Black-Gold Wings, would you ride with us?”
As everyone boarded, a man who appeared to be the leader of Silver Goblin Hunters called out to Tauro.
“Certainly. Is everyone all right with that?”
A leading team had requested them by name, so Tauro saw no reason to refuse. Once his companions agreed, Black-Gold Wings entered the same carriage as the B-rank team.
“We’ll be traveling together, then. I look forward to working with you.”
The leader shook hands with each member of Tauro’s team.
“My name is Hulk.”
He introduced himself with a pleasant smile.
“I’m Tauro, the leader of Black-Gold Wings.”
“I’ve heard a great deal about you. Over the last three months, your names have spread among the Royal Capital’s leading teams, and your reputation is excellent.”
That reputation was apparently why Hulk had nominated them.
The carriage set off and began swaying along the road.
“By the way, I hear people often try to recruit members away from your team.”
Perhaps Hulk intended it as casual conversation, but it wasn’t a subject Tauro particularly enjoyed.
“Ha ha… My companions do seem to receive those offers rather often.”
Tauro answered with a strained smile. Hulk had raised the matter with remarkable bluntness.
“I doubt anyone intends to insult you. That sort of recruitment is common among the Royal Capital’s leading teams. When we first arrived here, one of our most capable core members was suddenly poached, and it caused us considerable trouble.”
“I see.”
Tauro politely kept the conversation going.
“A team that gathers excellent talent and succeeds in the Royal Capital can attract sponsors easily. Once sponsors become involved, even more people come looking to join, so every team is desperate to secure good members.”
“Is that so?”
Tauro offered another noncommittal response.
How long was this conversation going to continue? He’d have preferred to discuss the quest, but Hulk continued explaining the Royal Capital’s adventuring scene.
“As our name suggests, Silver Goblin Hunters became famous through Goblin subjugations. We specialize in higher species like the ones involved in this quest, but we also accept ordinary Goblin exterminations. Such requests exist everywhere, so we’re expanding our organization. Several lower-ranked teams are already affiliated with us.”
“I understand.”
By now, Tauro was only half listening.
“So… what do you say? Would all of Black-Gold Wings like to join our organization?”
The entire conversation had merely been a long preamble to that proposal.
“What?”
Only then did Tauro realize that Hulk had been trying to recruit them.
“If you train under us, I believe you could reach C rank in no time. Silver Goblin Hunters is well known among B-rank teams, and you’d be free to make use of our name. We could also supervise your training personally. An offer to accept an entire team from a B-rank organization is rare. What do you think?”
Once Hulk reached the main subject, he pressed it enthusiastically.
Aeris and the others had listened in silence, but now they sighed as though thinking, Not this again.
Apparently, they had received similar proposals while Tauro was away.
“Hulk, was it?” Aeris said. “We received a comparable offer before and declined it. That team was B-plus.”
Her meaning was clear: they had already refused a team ranked higher than his, so he shouldn’t expect a different answer.
“Hmm… But we can teach you how to earn promotions, so you should rise quickly. No matter how talented you may be, you’re still D rank. Having higher-ranked adventurers close by would give you examples to learn from—”
“I understand that you think highly of Black-Gold Wings,” Ankh interrupted, “but why don’t you first judge our abilities with your own eyes?”
His tone carried an unmistakable edge.
“Listen carefully. This quest is against a Goblin General and its army, and Goblin subjugation is our specialty. Are you claiming your team is better than ours?”
“Come on. Nobody said that. Stop trying to recruit us before the quest has even begun. I’m only telling you to watch us during the operation and judge us afterward.”
Ankh showed no fear of the higher-ranked adventurer.
“Ankh, don’t provoke him.”
Tauro cut in before the argument worsened.
“…Very well. I thought it would be best to make the offer early, but this quest can show me whether the rumors are true. Just don’t regret it later. We intend to invite other teams as well, and if you fail to meet expectations, an opportunity this generous may disappear.”
It appeared Hulk had been sounding out every team Silver Goblin Hunters nominated.
The operation had probably been planned as a recruitment opportunity from the beginning: Silver Goblin Hunters would display its strength in its specialty, persuade promising teams during the journey, and bring them into its organization on the way home.
Tauro sighed. This was apparently no longer a simple Goblin General subjugation.
At the next travel break, Black-Gold Wings left the carriage and exchanged places with another team.
The atmosphere inside had become unbearable.
“Ankh, you’re an adult. Please don’t act like that again.”
Being reprimanded by a child, Ankh lowered his head obediently.
“I’m sorry, Leader. I just couldn’t stand the way they looked down on us.”
“They’re B rank, so they should be stronger than we are. Still…” Tauro glanced at his companions. “Compared with all of you, they certainly didn’t seem as overwhelmingly powerful as Hulk made them sound.”
Even while cautioning Ankh, Tauro couldn’t entirely disagree with him. More than anything, the exchange reminded him how highly he valued the strength of his own companions.