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A certain place in Pelneet.
“Mother, everything is ready for the eting.”
“Okay, good work. I’ve received word that Adolianne-sama is headed this way, too.”
“The war seems to be intensifying. Is she going to co here through the southern route?”
“That’s what I heard. She might also use the opportunity for so business in the capital and Lalarbuin. Anyway, what about the inn where the Eight Lights are going to lodge?”
“Perfect. This year we also booked a special inn exclusively for them, using the power of our religious organization. The goods for the auction are in the middle of trickling in as well. Still, the number of goods we put aside is sowhat bigger this year, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. It happens each and every ti, but things will be bought up before the auction even starts. The maneuvering of the enterprises has beco fierce, too.”
“Yes. When are we going to contact Shuuya-sama…?”
“Mirai, I’m sure I told you to build so connection with him?” Kazane glares at Mirai sharply.
“…I’m terribly sorry. A chance to do so…”
“Mirai, get it done as soon as possible.”
“As you wish, Mother.”
◇◆◇◆
“Yo, I’m back.” I make my usual greeting, loosely lifting a hand.
“Welco back~” Rebecca answers cheerfully.
“Nn, welco back.” Eva follows.
“Guildmaster??”
l and Benett are also present, standing behind Veronica. I wonder whether Veronica still hasn’t shared her blood with them.
Kaldo isn’t present. He seems to be busy with the preparations for his own journey.
“Shuuya, I’ve heard about so of the events that took place on the 20th floor, but I’d like to get so more details.” Yui requests while shouldering her Legendary Fierce God - Spirit Wind.
“Could you tell a bit more about those silver horns you got?”
“The monsters that dropped the horns are definitely the predator-type on the 20th floor. The horn’s quality seems to be fairly decent.” Viine says next to Misty.
“…”
“Guildmaster, the reports in regards to the dark guild…” l makes an effort to speak as calmly as possible.
Only Benett is bowing her head deeply. I guess this is about the matter of them going to Hekatrail with Yui as escort.
After showing all of them the Tiny Orbital, I concisely explain what happened on the 20th floor. Everyone reacts differently. The one reacting first to the orbital is Mysty, the bespectacled beauty――
Full of energy, she briskly moves, getting close to the orbital. Her eyes are bloodshot due to her excitent. She even allows for her vampiric face to show as she keeps touching the orbital’s tires, engine, and the tal of the nozzles with her slender hands.
“It feels nice and cold.”
“Don’t disassemble it, okay?”
“…Don’t worry, I won’t.”
“Nn, I’m going to touch it as well.” The other tal lover in my little party, Eva, joins the fray while smiling angelically.
She moves her magic wheelchair next to Mysty and the bike, touching the thrusters in the back with her fingers.
“Nn, is sothing going to co out of here?”
“I don’t know since I can’t see it myself when riding, but probably.”
Given that it’s a square tube, she might have considered it a weapon.
“It’s a mysterious magic tool vehicle, but it looks like several people can ride it.”
“Around three, I’d say?”
Rebecca and Yui whisper amongst each other. It sure appears that the battle over the seats has already started.
“Of course, the front seat suits .”
“I wonder. I’d say that it’s better for to sit there as my small fra won’t obstruct the front view during the trip, wouldn’t you agree?”
Sparks fly between Viine and Rebecca as they stare at each other.
For a while, the girls get all riled up, talking about the Tiny Orbital.
“…Alright, I’m going to put it away now.” I put a stop to it, storing it away into my item box.
Next I tell them about the white mist, the sacrifices, the Goddess of Chaos Libas Arua-sama and her golem Ishytes who are related to the matter of saving Dawk and Towa.
Everyone seriously listens to . Especially, when I reach the point of talking about the beautiful, three-eyed Towa and Ishytes…their looks definitely beco stabbing.
Suddenly Hel appears from my left eye, crossing atop the table as she heads to her ditation zone. This causes everyone to calm down at once.
I elaborately recount my encounter with Crazy Eye Togma, giving a vivid display of how he stood on my Magic Halberd with gestures, as if the battle is being carried out once more now and here. However, everyone’s interest in this is far weaker than I had expected. They all look as if it was a very natural outco.
“Figures that it’d turn out like that,” Wearing a good-looking, long dress, Rebecca-san, who’s been recently striving in her martial arts studies, blurts out arrogantly while pressing her hands against her waist, seemingly intending to act like soone experienced enough to make such a judgnt.
While chard by her outfit…I tell them about the Dofuadon hunt, and the souvenirs. Using that opportunity, I place a large amount of at, silver horns and claws on the table. A part of the fresh at I pass to the maids.
The sll of blood hangs in the air, but no one minds it. The maids pass the raw at to the kitchen staff, and while carrying it together, give detailed instructions.
Blood is still flowing out of the lump of raw at left in a pile atop the table. It forms trails, and then drips off the table, but imdiately vanishes thereafter.
Yep, my
are snatching it, competing over who sucks up the blood quickest. However, even they don’t go as far as directly going for the at itself.
On the other hand, Mysty examines the claws and silver horns without concerning herself with the blood sucking.
“This is tallic, huh? Maybe it’s sothing that can also be used with Refined Gold.”
Mysty doesn’t have an appraisal ability. But I think it’s possible for her, as soone who’s spent a lot of ti on research, to ascertain whether a tal is usable for sorcery dolls.
My other tal lover stares at the at and the silver horns, as if comparing both of them. The horns might be of use as tal for her legs. And she should be pondering right now whether the at can be used at Dee’s restaurant.
“――Rollo wolfed down the at while looking very happy, but it might be better to cook it first.”
“Nn, if it’s at similar to guniguni, I want to give it to Dee.”
“I don’t know its taste since I haven’t eaten it yet, but we secured lots of it, and although it’s still not clear how it’ll work as an ingredient, I’d be happy if you used the Dofuadon at for a new restaurant dish if it proves to be delicious.”
Hearing , Eva smiles, says her thanks, and imdiately stores the at appearing to belong to the Dofuadons’ legs away into her item box.
Then the maids carry away the remaining at to the kitchen.
“Well then, Yui, I got the rough gist from your blood ssage, but can you tell the details of the events in Hekatrail.”
“Sure. We ran into a leader of 【Bloody Long Ears of the White Whale】, an elven woman called Clydossus. Since I’ve properly marked her with , leave her to if we’re going to fight them.”
Going by Yui’s expression, she looks ready to assassinate her at any mont, kinda? Least that’s the feeling I get.
“Clydossus as a leader, huh? I recall having been invited by her in the past. If I rember correctly, it was around the ti I t Paulsen and Angie for the first ti.”
“It looks like Clydossus has been instructed by her boss to keep an eye on the Remains of the Moon office we just set up in New Town.”
“Speaking of Hekatrail’s New Town, it’s a slum…”
Of course it’d draw attention if we built a brand new office over there. Though I believe l deliberately set it up in a place where it wouldn’t matter even if it got destroyed, additionally to the cheap price for land there.
“That’s true. We chose this place since the harbor is close.” l supplents.
“Tell your assessnt as vice-guildmaster then.”
“Okay. 【Bloody Long Ears】 doesn’t seem intent on picking a fight with us. Just as you’ve heard from Yui, they’ve been obviously turning a blind eye on our office. Clydossus talked about it, hinting that we should see it as us owing them, but…since she also ntioned that Bloody Long Ears has other enemies as well, it’s quite possible that they don’t actually intend us to get indebted to them, but instead don’t wish to fight us for real. At the current point in ti, that is.”
I see. I guess that’s more convenient for wars and various shady concessions.
“Why do you think so?”
“It fits the current situation. Currently Oseberia is at war with the western Radford, and has had various skirmishes with the eastern Zamalia.”
“I’m also acquainted with Galkiv who had been dispatched to the western plains.”
He’s a cat-loving, muscled old man. He’s a guy, but I don’t dislike him.
“Guildmaster, you’re not only close to that Great Knight, but also the second prince of Oseberia. At present, the second prince isn’t just busy with the war, but also works hard at breaking apart the noble factions in the capital. He has so montum. And, Bloody Long Ears has ford an alliance with Oseberia, and they haven’t expanded towards Pelneet as they apparently had a pact with 【Owl’s Fangs】, a guild with deep connections to Oseberia’s nobility.
She’s right. Fran, the secret agent of the second prince and little sister of Great Knight Remrona, has connections to Bloody Long Ears as well.
In the past, Fran said, 『…Got it…I’ll start from having received a direct request by Clydossus, the leader of 【Bloody Long Ears of the White Whale】‘s 【Hekatrail】 branch. The content was for to get close to the adventurer Shuuya, and probe for information about him. Moreover, I received the instruction to kill him if he proves to be detrintal for the influence of 【Bloody Long Ears】』
The second prince and Bloody Long Ears might be in touch through that connection.
“Of course, they’re likely cooperating closely with the first prince during the war, and as a matter of course, the second prince is staying in contact with Hekatrail’s Chardonnay through them, I think.”
“…Furthermore, even at Senapua, the base of Bloody Long Ears, they’re in a power struggle with the councilors. Add to that, conflicts with other dark guilds, and disputes over their interests through Heim River’s river route, and Tandarl’s land route, connecting the cities in their sphere of influence - Hekatrail, Senapua, and Halphonia.”
“Interests, eh? Well, it sure looks like they are deeply involved in many things. I suppose that’s the very reason why Clydossus said that she wants to talk with .”
“Yep, you can call Bloody Long Ears the strongest dark guild in Southern Mahaheim, but it also ans that they have many enemies. I made that conclusion after putting all of those circumstances together and going by the fact that they wish to get directly in contact with you, Guildmaster, which also suggests that they plan to peacefully participate in the underground auction held in this city.”
“Vice-guildmaster, you’ve analyzed them quite well.”
“Also, because we made so profits with the ship trade, I’ve earlier passed your share to Isabell-san.”
Once I turn my eyes at Isabell, she politely nods in silence. I’m pretty sure that she’ll handle the money properly.
Eva nods as well. Co to think of it, she’s been supporting the idea to turn Isabell into my bloodkin. However…unlike Mamani and the other combat slaves, she’s originally a maid. I’m still not decided on whether to add her to my family as bloodkin.
“Master, would it be fine to take these so that I can examine them in my workshop?” Mysty’s reddish-brown eyes are sparkling.
I think it’s how she looks when she wants to try out sothing she’s co up with.
“…Sure.”
“Thanks. Well then, I’ll go to my workshop since I’ve also got my academy work to prepare.”
“Roger.”
“Nn, I’ll co to your workshop as well.”
“I s’pose I’ll take a little peek then as well. Only until my Kulbul training starts, though.”
I can understand Eva, but I get the feeling that Rebecca just wants to play around a bit until her training begins.
“Okay.” Mysty flashes a smile at the two, stores the silver horns in her item box, and heads out of the room.
After watching the girls leave, I walk over to the living room’s shelf. Let’s place the stone I got from Ayra there as a decoration. I think I’ll put it next to the stone I got from Akemi-san.
“Master, it’s starting to beco a collection of pretty stones, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
The two Twin Stones look so great next to each other that they fascinate Viine. It might be a nice idea to collect so more of those. Even the super-thin steel plate, laying on a cowhide sheet, seems like an object of art, and is perfect just like this.
Oh, right, I also got . an ability allowing to create trees of the evil domain with mana. Maybe I should make new furniture, using the wood of those trees. It might be a nice idea to fiddle around a bit with the mansion’s interior design.
Just when I’m pondering whether I should show to everyone that I haven’t only inherited spearmanship from Master Achilles, Remrona with her red, semi-long hair appears at the entrance door.
“It’s Lady Great Knight. I think it’s about what Viine ntioned.”
“…”
“I…I’ve been chased around by her a few tis…”
“Fufu, Benett, you’ll be fine.” Yui laughs at the jittery Benett.
“Sheesh, don’t be such a scaredy cat, Bene-ane.”
“Who you calling a scaredy cat!?”
Veronica and Benett start to bicker over sothing trivial.
“Okay, the eting is over then. Feel free returning to your own things.”
I call the eting’s end, seeing how Remrona has co over as a guest, too.
“I’m going to return to my dark guild work. There’s reports from our scouts over at the port’s Warehouse District, and the southern Lalarbuin.”
“I’ll go back together with l, helping her with the work. There’s many hoodlums lurking around in the Warehouse District and downtown.”
“I gotta visit the stores under my charge, which are late in paying the levy. Now that I was told, “Benett-samaaa, please protect us,” as there seem to be going on many disputes over there, I have to do my best.”
“There are surprisingly many stores in the lower city, relying on your help, aren’t there Bene-ane?”
“Vero-cchi, you’re going to help ?”
“Why not. I also have to turn the two of you into my bloodkin!”
“That has to wait for a bit longer. Including the matters concerning the auction, we’re currently swamped with work. I think it’s also high ti that a ssage will co from Kazane through Guildmaster.”
“Okaaay.”
l, Benett, and Veronica chat while leaving the room. I fix my eyes on Remrona, who’s standing over at the entrance. The instant the core mbers of 【Remains of the Moon】 pass her, the atmosphere seems to beco sowhat heavy, but nothing happens.
As usual, Remrona wears her special mask that covers her mouth and throat. Despite her small stature, the white cloak of a Great Knight suits her.
Moreover, a black, a yellow, and a black-white cat are loitering around at her feet. The three cats are bumping their small heads against Remrona’s shins and calves as she stands there dauntingly. The cats over and over again move their heads up and down, single-mindedly rubbing their whiskers against the surface of the hard-looking greaves covering her lower legs. The kitties seem to be bothered by her unfamiliar scent. All three of them are in the middle of expanding their turf, it seems.
“…Remrona-sama, I have heard that you would visit my mansion soon.”
She nods at , and approaches while ignoring the cats gathered at her feet. Rollo’s little corps apparently thinks that Remrona is trying to escape, and chases after her. They’ve still not satisfied their rubbing urge?
At least that’s what I thought, but the cats don’t ddle with Remrona any further…pass her, and jump on my shoulders. Three cats have now seated themselves on my shoulders.
“Nya.”
“Nyaa.”
“Nyaoon.”
As if competing with each other, the three cats bump their heads against my cheeks. It’s an adorable gesture of courting. This cat paradise…is irresistible.
At that mont, the yellow cat slides off my shoulder alongside my leather strap, loses her balance, and falls off my shoulder on the floor. Unlike Rollo, she has no tentacles. But she still manages to pull off a splendid landing. As might be expected of an animal of the cat family, no, a magically created life-form.
After gently stroking Alray’s head, I pick up the leather strap off the ground, and put it back on.
Remrona watches and the cats playing around for a bit, before saying with a serious look, “――On this occasion, you don’t need to add “-sama” to my na, nor do you have to use formal language with . Leaving that aside, Shuuya, I’ve got two important matters to discuss. First, about the war…mmh?”
Her freckles are cute. Suddenly her mouth stops moving. She stares at the shelf I’ve been using as a playground for my fingers, her reddish-brown eyes widening.
What’s up…? Does she have a finger fetish? Or is she curious about the cowhide sheet on the shelf?
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