My na is Mikel.
Well then, after the adventurers’ guild building was destroyed, we were detained by the city guards.
Naturally.
However, since the princes were present, we were not thrown into a jail cell but placed under house arrest at an inn, which was a relief.
An associate of Mother, whom I had contacted, arrived swiftly, and we were released at once.
Leaving the aftermath in their hands, Alfred-kun and I, along with the four mbers of Luminous Butterfly, set out again.
I prepared myself for a journey of thirty days……
Yet we arrived at our destination in just two days.
Why?
It was because we received assistance from soone acquainted with Alfred-kun, a plump rchant-like figure who called himself a Round-Face Fox.
「Acquainted might be too strong a word. I only know of him one-sidedly. I have seen him from afar several tis」
After a brief conversation, Alfred-kun beca convinced that the man was connected to his father, the village chief.
Taking our eting as good fortune, Alfred-kun asked whether there might be a shortcut.
It seems Alfred-kun rely hoped to be shown the routes the Round-Face Fox tribe used, but the Round-Face Fox contacted the Silver Fox instead.
We were permitted to use a secret road controlled by the Silver Fox tribe, allowing us to reach our destination in astonishingly little ti.
How convenient.
However, it seems the places one can travel to are fixed, so it is not as though one can go anywhere freely.
A pity.
-0-
As for the wyvern that had taken up residence near Luminous Butterfly’s dicinal herb fields…
He was not soone Alfred-kun knew personally, but matters were resolved through discussion.
Apparently, he was an acquaintance of an acquaintance.
He was quite humble… no, extrely humble.
He even bowed low before Alfred-kun.
After negotiations between the wyvern and the mbers of Luminous Butterfly, the wyvern promised not to harm those in or near the dicinal herb fields, and the matter was settled.
All’s well that ends well.
……
A welcoming banquet of the Luminous Butterfly?
They say they cannot possibly fail to entertain the son of Lulushi-sama.
W-well, I cannot say I do not understand.
Since Alfred-kun intends to accept, I will not interfere.
I shall participate quietly from a corner.
Ah, as we must consider the return journey, the Round-Face Fox will also attend.
It seems he will remain in a corner with .
-0-
Night fell.
Sohow, the gathering turned into a banquet with around a hundred vampires in attendance.
I had no idea there were this many vampires.
Also, ordinary food and alcohol were laid out in abundance.
Do vampires not prefer blood?
They do, apparently, but individual tastes are so particular that it is not served at banquets.
I see.
As for Alfred-kun… he does not drink blood.
He once tried to act mature and drank so, but found it unpleasant and vomited.
After that, he upset his stomach and was bedridden for three days.
I-I see.
Perhaps it simply does not suit his body.
-0-
Alfred-kun was summoned to the center of the banquet by the vampires who ca to greet him.
He is conversing smoothly with all manner of people.
Impressive.
It is hard to believe he is younger than I am.
Ah, perhaps being vampires gives them common ground.
They seem quite animated discussing poses and the proper way to handle a cloak.
I would like to assist Alfred-kun, but there is nothing I can truly help with.
So, I raise a relaxed toast together with the Round-Face Fox.
The prepared dishes are…
Not bad, though there seems to be a great deal of vegetables.
Perhaps they grow vegetables alongside the dicinal herbs.
In any case, I shall partake gratefully.
Oh, and now the customary song of a banquet has begun.
A chorus.
It sounds solemn, as though one might hear it in a church or temple.
Ah, though the lyrics praise the darkness.
It is fine.
The Korin Religion does not deny others’ faith or doctrine, so long as it causes no harm.
There is no need to mind .
Though, if possible, I would appreciate a light near .
You extinguished them at the very mont the chorus began, did you not?
The vampires and the Round-Face Fox seem untroubled, but for , it is rather dark.
-0-
While Alfred-kun was away, I took the chance to confirm sothing with the Round-Face Fox.
It seed like we had t by coincidence… but could it be that he is actually Alfred-kun’s guard?
「Haha… I cannot hide it from you, can I」
Then?
「Rather than a guard, I was dispatched to assist him. I was told to help Alfred-sama when he finds himself in trouble」
Dispatched… by Alfred-kun’s father?
「No, no. Village chief does not know. This is sothing we are doing of our own accord」
I am not sure how wide the aning of we extends… but I suppose I should not press further.
He also told that while he is not exactly a guard, there are others who have been sent as guards.
I will not tell anyone.
「Thank you very much」
By the way, you are able to go to Alfred-kun’s holand, correct?
「Yes」
And in a short amount of ti.
「It is even faster than traveling by horse or ship. What do you wish for?」
It seems Alfred-kun has been struggling to secure cooking ingredients.
「Ah, simply bringing supplies in is not enough, is it?」
Right.
Alfred-kun brings them regularly, but the princes and their guards request so much that they run out in no ti.
「Understood. We shall make arrangents on our end」
Sorry.
I am counting on you.
「And regarding the quantity…」
Ah, the quantity… I wonder how much would be needed.
I would also appreciate it if the cost could be kept as low as possible.
「Haha. It would be impossible to hide such matters from Alfred-sama, so we will consult him regarding both the quantity and the price. Please rest assured. We will propose it in the form of a sales offer from our side」
…That makes sense.
Could you perhaps fra it as though you noticed the issue during casual conversation with ?
「Understood. We look forward to a good relationship with you from here on as well」
Of course.
-0-
After the vampires’ welcoming banquet ended, we used the Silver Fox’s secret road once again and returned in the blink of an eye to the town near the border…
The princes and the noble young ladies were still there.
Apparently, they had been handling the operations of the Adventurers’ Guild that they had destroyed.
Well, destroyed might be an exaggeration. I only wrecked the building…
Ahhhhh, so there really had been corruption.
And on a large scale, at that.
Almost everyone involved had been arrested, leaving the Adventurers’ Guild effectively shut down.
When a guild of that size suddenly closes, chaos is inevitable. So, they had been managing things temporarily to keep the situation under control.
They had already requested assistance from the Adventurers’ Guild in the royal capital, so this was only until reinforcents arrived.
Ah, good luck with that.
We decided to head ho first… but one of the princes’ guards grabbed .
You cannot possibly an…..?
「Please help us. We beg you!」
The princes themselves asked.
And they did so with their pride cast aside, bowing deeply in earnest appeal.
It reminded of that wyvern.
Still, though.
I have never been involved in Adventurers’ Guild operations!
Until recently, I did not even know how registration worked.
Even if I wanted to help, I could not.
When I said that, one of the noble young ladies muttered quietly,
「Do you truly believe the princes are capable of handling Adventurers’ Guild operations…?」
…………
I helped.
I worked hard until reinforcents from the royal capital’s Adventurers’ Guild arrived.
-0-
For the record, Alfred-kun was in charge of the als.
I think that food was the only reason we managed to endure it.
-0-
Summary of thought-provoking conversations along the way
Mikel: 「We’re short on ingredients.」
Round-Faced Fox: 「Understood. However, regarding Alfred-sama…」
Mikel: 「Ah, I see. It wouldn’t be good to prepare everything in advance for him.」
Round-Faced Fox: 「He would not learn otherwise. I will raise the topic myself and guide things forward naturally.」
Mikel: 「Sorry. I’m counting on you.」
Round-Faced Fox: 「Not at all. Though, if I may ask sothing in return…」
Mikel: 「I know. I’ll cooperate with your side’s activities as much as I can.」
Round-Faced Fox: 「As much as you can?」
Mikel: 「As much as I can. If sothing’s impossible, it’s impossible.」
Round-Faced Fox: 「…You are a tough one.」
Mikel: 「That makes more reliable, doesn’t it?」
Round-Faced Fox: 「Very well. I look forward to working with you from now on.」
Mikel: 「Likewise.」
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