Chapter 4 – Adventurer's Guild

“Excuse me. How much is this?”

After picking up a magic staff and checking its balance, I asked the white-haired old magician who was sitting at the shop counter smoking a pipe.

The store was crammed with various items like scrolls, crystal balls, dried lizard specimens, and so on, giving it exactly the atmosphere you’d expect from a magician’s shop.

After traveling along the highway and arriving at the regional city called Silrun, we temporarily parted ways with the Forestbird members. They said they were going to sell the ant jaws at the guild branch. After that, they’d purchase supplies and other things before we meet up again and depart for Termwills.

They seemed curious about my circumstances but apparently held back. They didn’t press too much about Grace either, so it’s good that we can likely maintain a good relationship going forward.

There must be what’s called a “taboo among adventurers.” Since everyone has their own circumstances, those who unnecessarily pry into others’ pasts tend to be disliked.

I think it’s because I mentioned disliking my family home and leaving, so they’ve probably imagined various scenarios. After all, if I were capable, there’d be no reason for a noble house to let me go.

Or perhaps it’s from the empirical rule that meddling in noble family affairs tends to bring trouble.

Either way, if asked, I can only say that I learned staff martial arts and magic mostly through self-study.

While I did study martial arts as part of noble education, that was just an excuse for Byron and Daryl to beat me up, so it was a problem regardless of talent. I even refused to let Grace accompany me on martial arts training days because I didn’t want her to see it.

“Hmm? That one might be a bit too large for you, don’t you think?”

Comparing the staff I brought with me, the elderly magician shopkeeper adjusted his monocle and tilted his head.

“I’ll be using staff martial arts too, so it’s fine. If it’s too small, I’ll have to replace it as I grow anyway.”

“Oh? Staff martial arts, you say? It’s rare for someone so young to be considering the future and aiming for staff martial arts.”

“Though it’s self-study, referencing documents and other martial arts. Some aspects can be used as extensions of sword or spear techniques.”

“Indeed. That’s true… but for self-study, you’re quite knowledgeable. Most young magicians tend to be drawn to flashy things like fire magic.”

Given how his mood visibly improved when I mentioned staff martial arts, the shopkeeper seems to be quite capable himself.

Thrust and it’s a spear, sweep and it’s a naginata, hold and it’s a tachi—was that it? That’s a fairly well-known saying from a certain Japanese staff martial arts style. It succinctly demonstrates the versatility, usefulness, and nature of staff martial arts.

I glanced back slightly at Grace, who was looking around the shop’s items with interest. I get the sense she’s also trying not to ask too much about my circumstances.

I wonder if she thinks it’s the result of my secret efforts, or if she’s decided to wait until I talk about it. Or perhaps it’s her stance as a servant not to pry. Either way, it seems clear that “it’s because she trusts me.”

At least with Grace… I hope there comes a time when I can properly talk about things.

Even though I can’t explain well myself why things turned out this way, so it’s still impossible at this stage.

“However, that one’s for beginner practice. The quality isn’t very good. If you’re using staff martial arts, there are more suitable ones available?”

“Ah, no. I plan to use it until it’s completely worn out. So, could I get several of about the same quality?”

“Oh ho. Quite diligent in your practice, aren’t you?”

That’s not exactly it, but I deliberately didn’t correct the misunderstanding.

Among the staffs displayed in the shop, those suitable for staff martial arts are probably higher quality than what I obtained in the Count’s territory, but whether they can withstand full power is rather doubtful.

Since these are probably the shopkeeper’s own creations, he might take offense if I say they’ll break. This isn’t a situation where I need to be completely honest.

Magic staffs aren’t cheap either, so I’m thinking of these as stopgaps until we reach Termwills. I had three magic staffs wrapped and left the shop.

“Grace, is there anything you want to buy?”

“No. The Forestbird members said they’ll purchase all necessary supplies.”

“Then shall we head back for now?”

When we returned to the stable where we’d left our carriage, everyone seemed to have finished their business and returned. Hmm? But they said they had weapon maintenance and various other tasks, so this seems rather early for having completed all those errands.

Somehow, there are unfamiliar faces. A middle-aged man and two young men. Plus a young woman. The three men are wearing matching surcoats over light armor.

“Theo-kun. This is Garrison Captain Oslo and—”

“Nice to meet you. I work at the guild reception. I’m Beryne.”

Oslo maintained a dignified stance, while Beryne introduced herself and bowed.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Theodore Gartner. What can I do for you?”

The fact that they were waiting for me like this—probably means they have business with me.

I did tell them they could say all six of them fought and defeated the ants from the beginning, since they said they didn’t like receiving credit they didn’t earn.

What could it be? Did some trouble occur with the jaw sale?

“Hmm. So you’re the other magician? My, you really are just a child.”

“Captain Oslo. That shouldn’t matter, should it? As the guild, we wanted to express our gratitude for defeating the Killer Ants before they could cause major damage to the area. Given the significance of the achievement, we were discussing providing a special bonus…”

“And this garrison captain here happened to be around and is making a fuss, suspecting it might be fraud aimed at that money.”

Taking over from Beryne’s words, Fitz, the warrior from Forestbird, shrugged his shoulders.

“Making a fuss, you say? How rude! Are you claiming that mere six people took down that many Killer Ants?”

“Captain Oslo is right. Don’t make fools of us.”

“We didn’t even ask for the bonus, right? We’re saying we’re fine with just the normal sale price if we’re going to be suspected!”

“The mere possibility that you might have attempted it is problematic in itself.”

“If you want to see the ant remains, there are charred carcasses you can check.”

“I have my subordinates riding out to do that right now!”

“And to ensure fairness, we’ve also sent personnel from the guild.”

When Beryne concluded with that remark, Oslo clicked his tongue.

…Yeah. I pretty much get the situation.

Beryne is on our side. And she seems quite capable.

“First of all… why is a garrison captain interfering in guild internal matters?”

I interjected with this question.

While the adventurer system is national policy, much of its autonomy is left to the adventurers themselves.

The guild is a place where requests can be freely made from both the state and private parties, but its establishment was primarily for state convenience initially.

Originally… long ago after a war ended, when the problem arose of what to do with surplus mercenaries, the idea emerged that they could still be useful for monster countermeasures.

The guild established relatively strong autonomy because… there was an example of someone rising from adventurer to establish a kingdom in one generation, and that king created the guild with adventurers governing themselves.

Since adventurers receive preferential treatment, talented individuals gather there, allowing his country to easily recruit excellent personnel. As a result, surrounding nations had no choice but to follow this method… and it has now become the standard format.

The reason there are somewhat common rules across borders is because agreements have been made between nations, since without certain standards for payment guidelines and treatment of adventurers, all the excellent adventurers would concentrate in one place.

Through this history, the guild became a place with strong independent spirit, but being independent doesn’t mean they’re resented. They’re actually valued by the state as well.

Firstly, they can reduce the number of bandits in two ways, improving public safety. And since information about talented individuals gathers there, headhunting becomes possible. Character can also be assessed, so information about dangerous persons can be collected.

And most importantly, they excel in cost-effectiveness.

Since the quantity of recovered monster materials and financial transactions are scrutinized by the state, reward money for state requests only needs to be paid for work actually completed. Labor costs are also limited to just some guild staff.

Even if adventurers get injured or die, the state doesn’t have to take care of them, citing autonomy and agreements, making them cheap to use.

From the adventurers’ perspective, since the state guarantees their adventurer status, travel between towns becomes easier, and since no particular qualifications are needed, they can operate relatively safely as long as they choose their jobs carefully. They don’t have to worry about making a living either.

Considering all these factors… it’s clearly strange for a mere garrison captain to interfere.

“I’m acting not as garrison captain, but as a concerned citizen trying to crush potential fraud!”

“That’s what he says, but what do you think, Beryne-san?”

“Well, you see. The lord here doesn’t particularly like adventurers. And Captain Oslo is responsible for guarding and managing that forest.”

“Ah… So if it’s seen that he was slacking on monster extermination duties.”

“That’s exactly it.”

Beryne showed a mischievous smile and made a neck-cutting gesture, while Oslo’s face turned bright red.