Chapter 485 – My Beloved Branch Chief

Tauro, along with Aeris and the others, left the crowd and moved to an empty room inside the estate.

”It’s been a while. You’ve really grown in these three years, Tauro.”

Branch Chief Leo gave Tauro a once-over, visibly impressed and nostalgic.

”You think so? Ah, well, I guess I’ve gotten a bit taller.”

Tauro smiled, gesturing to compare his height with Leo, who was even bigger.

”Judging by how you’re traveling with the Saint’s entourage, I suppose the rumors were true. You’ve been adopted by a noble, haven’t you? Are you happy now?”

Leo, observing Tauro’s maturity, asked sincerely.*

Branch chief Leo confirmed this by looking at Tauro, who seemed to be growing significantly.

”I don’t know what rumors you’ve heard, but… yes, I was adopted by Count Graunewald. And yes… thanks to everyone, I’m doing well.”

Tauro replied a little shyly.

Back when Leo had taken care of me, I was nothing but a homeless vagrant with no idea what the future held.

But when I remembered that time, I felt embarrassed.

”Looks like you’ve also found good company. That’s a relief. I’m sure Nei will be happy to hear this too.”

Leo nodded, glancing at Aeris and the others standing quietly behind Tauro. He then mentioned Nei, the receptionist who had looked after Tauro like a younger brother.

”Nei-san… How is she doing?”

”She’s still working as a receptionist at the guild. She cried when she found out you’d left without saying a word… but every time we get even a scrap of news about you, she lights up with joy.”

”I see… I’m glad she’s doing well.”

“Mauve had come back here once, but you two just missed each other.”

Leo then mentioned Mauve, the man who had made Tauro into an adventurer.

”Wait, Mauve-san came back!?”

Tauro had been hoping to run into him while traveling, so he was shocked to hear Mauve had returned to Saishi.

”His party, The ‘Silver Sword’, has been getting famous as a B-rank team. But they recently lost a member. He came back here to recruit someone new and to upgrade their gear. He stayed for a while, but they’ve set off on another journey again.”

”I see… Well, as long as he’s doing well, that’s good. How about everyone else?”

”Everyone’s doing well. The shops you helped boost are thriving, and your curry place is as popular as ever. Some of the adventurers have moved on for other places, but many are still going strong here. Of course, being an adventurer is a dangerous profession— and some haven’t been as lucky—but all in all, our guild members are doing okay.”

Leo spoke with pride about the adventurers under his branch.

For a little while, they enjoyed reminiscing over old memories, but then the Saint arrived and things started to get noisy outside.

”Ah, right. I’m still the Branch Chief of the Saishi Guild, so I should be out there to welcome the Saint. The Crown Prince is here too, right? Our territory is currently under the care of the royal family, we don’t know who the next lord will be. I don’t want to offend the royals and end up with some awful person in charge.”

With that, Leo gave Tauro’s head a fond pat.

　

”You’re probably busy too, so I doubt you’ll have time now, but stop by the guild once in a while, yeah? Just say hi. Take care.”

And with that, he left the room.

“was that guy your mentor when you were a rookie adventurer, Leader? He’s strong—probably as strong as a dragonkin!”

Ankh said, impressed.

”I thought so too… No wonder Tauro could become a top adventurer at such a young age.”

Aeris added, clearly sensing Leo’s strength.

”Among all the humans I’ve met, he’s one of the most exceptional.”

Ragune gave her own high praise.

”As expected of Tauro-sama’s mentor!”

Zion beamed.

”Well… most of my training actually came from Daz-san, the combat instructor. But Leo-san and Daz-san were both former A-rank adventurers, so yeah, I’m sure they were both amazing.”

”That Saishi guild is outrageous!”

Ankh exclaimed in disbelief.

”Back then, I didn’t really grasp how amazing they were… But now meeting him again after I’ve grown , I can feel it clearly. I realize I had been taken care of by someone truly extraordinary.”

Tauro smiled warmly, touched by the reunion with his former mentor.

”Even if it was just for a little while, I’m glad you got to see someone who looked after you.”

Aeris replied with a smile, clearly happy at his happiness.

”Yeah. These three years went by in a flash, and I didn’t have much time to look back… But meeting him again like this—it brought it all back. It’s a good feeling.”

Tauro replied with a smile, then added:

”We’d better go too—don’t want to get into trouble!”

then dashed out of the room.

The Saint’s entourage had only stopped in Saishi to stay the night on their way to the Haragura Marquisate, so after a simple welcome ceremony, the gathering was quickly disbanded.

It seems that some of the town’s influential figures did manage to have an audience with the Crown Prince to petition about the future of the city, but of course, Tauro and his group were left out of the loop, so they didn’t know the details.

That night, Tauro decided to take a walk through the town of Saishi.

We’re set to leave in the morning.

Before that, he wanted to take one last moment to reflect on the place where his journey as an adventurer had begun.