Chapter 35: The Lord’s Invitation

The receptionist of the Adventurers’ Guild, Canaria, was going about her usual duties, neither standing out nor failing, when a party that had recently been the talk of the town arrived.

“Ah, Shifa-chan, you’ve come at just the right time,” Canaria said with a bright smile.

“?” Shifa tilted her head in mild confusion.

“Actually… there’s someone who’s very eager to meet you.”

Canaria herself had been surprised when this message had trickled down from above. Even as a B-rank adventurer, Shifa was still young, inexperienced compared to the seasoned veterans who usually received such attention.

Canaria paused slightly for dramatic effect, and Shifa’s expression shifted to one of curious anticipation, silently asking, Who could it be?

“The lord of the territory,” Canaria finally revealed.

“The lord!?” Anii’s voice rang out, startled.

Unlike Shifa, whose expression remained calm, or Sena, who seemed more indifferent, Anii’s genuine shock brought a small sense of satisfaction to Canaria.

“Yes,” Canaria continued. “Your recent exploration of the volcano area and the discovery of an effective strategy for it have been highly praised. The lord wishes to welcome you at the castle.”

The volcano area had become the most popular exploration site at the moment. Rare materials obtainable only there had begun circulating in the market, revitalizing the local economy.

It was likely these indirect contributions, as well as the strategic insights, that had led to this unexpected invitation.

“About the Ice-cool Potion… well, that’s more thanks to the alchemist who made it than to us…” Anii said, her voice tinged with awkwardness. In truth, it was also due to Geo, who cultivated the Hiyari Grass, but revealing his methods would have been problematic, so they kept it secret.

“That’s why the alchemist has probably been informed as well,” Canaria said. It seemed Merlin would be invited too. Anii’s mind immediately conjured an image of the shy alchemist at the castle and she worried quietly, Will she be alright?

“It’s sudden, but they want you at the castle for lunch in five days. Will that be okay?” Canaria asked.

“Okay?” Shifa repeated.

“I’m fine. How about you, Sena?” Anii asked.

“Huh? Probably okay~” Sena replied lazily, still recovering from their recent underwater expedition. After that grueling mission, they had planned to take a well-earned break, so this timing worked out perfectly.

“Then, please, do your best… and absolutely no rudeness, understood?” Canaria said, her gaze landing on Anii.

Me? Anii thought, but she realized that among the three of them, she was indeed the most responsible one, and she nodded with quiet resolve.

Oblivious to the subtle exchange happening beneath the surface, Shifa focused on her main purpose for coming to the guild today, taking charge like the party leader she was.

“Canaria, I have a report,” Shifa announced.

“A report? Um… what is it?”

“We’ve cleared the underwater area.”

“…Excuse me?”

It went without saying that this would immediately be escalated to the guildmaster.

◇　◇　◇

“Exhauuuuusted…”

The moment she stepped inside, Sena collapsed in the hallway in a thoroughly undignified manner.

“Welcome back. You’re later than expected,” I said.

“Had a lot going on~” she mumbled, her face pressed to the floor.

For some reason, Milk climbed onto Sena’s head, resting her front paws there, and looked at me with a triumphant expression.

“Heaavy~”

“You’re lying there like that because you want to. Dinner’s ready.”

I carefully lifted the increasingly heavy Milk and carried her into the living room.

Ever since the previous incident, I’d been taking precautions, barricading my room door with a desk every night. Thankfully, there had been no repeat attacks from the bald man. I silently hoped they had given up.

I asked Sena, who wandered in dizzily, “Will you be staying out for a few more nights?”

“Nope. We’re taking a break for a while~”

“I see.”

I decided I should explain the previous attack to my younger sister, just to be safe. Even adventurers could be caught off guard if assaulted while asleep.

I recounted the encounter with the bald men the other night.

“Eh!? Were you okay, Onii-chan!?”

“Yeah. Milk woke me up in time, and after escaping to the garden, the golem drove them off.”

“Ni~!” Milk made a proud chirp.

“Wow… we should be more careful, huh.”

“You too, Sena. They might know you live here. It’s possible they could attack outside the house too.”

“I’ll be fine~ Unlike Onii-chan, I can fight~”

“Even so, if multiple attackers come at once, you won’t stand a chance. You’re still a beginner adventurer, after all.”

Sena chuckled wryly. “Even so, I was super helpful though~”

Then her expression brightened suddenly, as if remembering something important.

“Oh! Oh! We’re going to meet someone amazing… the lord of the territory or something~”

“The lord?” I asked, eyebrows raised.

The lord was the ruler of this region—a person so far above ordinary folk that it was like speaking of someone in the clouds.

“Eh? Did you do something wrong?” I asked.

“Nope! Shifa-chan and Anii are coming too. We were invited to the castle!”

“So… the party got invited to the castle?”

“Yep! They recognized our achievements~”

“That’s incredible!”

Shifa really was amazing. To be a B-rank adventurer at her age was impressive enough, but to be invited by the lord himself… she was becoming someone untouchable, a presence that seemed to drift farther from ordinary reach with each passing day.

“…Onii-chan, don’t forget I contributed too~” Sena said.

“Well, you’ve done your part enough not to hold anyone back. But don’t get the wrong idea—it’s thanks to the other members, and you’re just along for the ride,” I said.

“Boo~” Sena pouted.

Though she seemed dissatisfied, as her older brother, I had to make sure she understood. Overconfidence was a deadly enemy for adventurers—even if I had never actually adventured myself.