Touring the Imperial Capital (2)

I bought a [Permanent Fountain Pen] at the magic tool shop and put it in [Storage].

When I get back to the dungeon, I'll have Nerune investigate whether we can make something similar.

After that, we looked at various shops while wandering around.

"Next, let's see… shall we head to the Adventurer Guild? The quest rush should have settled down by now, so it'll be less crowded."

Once again guided by Haku-san, we headed from the commercial street to the adventurer street.

There stood a large stone building with a huge sign — the Adventurer Guild headquarters. It has warehouses and a dismantling area attached.

Compared to the Adventurer Guild in Tsuia… it's like the difference between a mansion and a shack. And our dungeon's branch office? That would be a doghouse in comparison.

When we boldly walked in through the entrance, the interior looked like a refined city office with a cafe attached. There are adventurers drinking since midday in the cafe section, which somewhat ruins the atmosphere though.

"Oh, cute kids there… faces I haven't seen before. And a sleepy-looking nii-chan too, huh."

"Hoh, they're going to grow up into beauties, aren't they?"

Nearby adventurers walked over to close the distance.

I braced myself, thinking they might be picking a fight… Um, Haku-san, why are you grinning while hiding behind me? Rokuko, what's with that "Go get 'em!" expression? Niku, put away the knife. Right, keeping your hand on the handle is okay.

"Hey, boy. This is the Adventurer Guild."

A particularly rugged, leader-looking man called out to me.

… I have Golem Assist, but I don't feel like I can win. What should I do…

While I was at a loss for what to do, a hand was placed on my shoulder with a clap.

"Take your time. As the eldest, you've gotta protect these young ladies properly. Here, I'll give you some candy. Share it with everyone."

"H-here it comes—! Tokoi aniki's candy—! The honey candy that's a favorite of the Don Mercenary Group!"

"The ultimate technique that aniki developed because he loves kids but they're scared of him — the candy! As expected of aniki, who donates most of his personal earnings to orphanages—!"

"He's used to kids being wary of him because of his scary face—! He's smiled at kids and made them cry over a hundred times and counting—!"

"Oi, shut up Karubi, Harami, Rosu."

Turns out he's an incredibly nice guy. I accepted the paper bag with four candies in it.

"Um."

"… Sorry, did I scare you? Oh, I-I'm not suspicious or anything. I'm a B-Rank adventurer, and my name's pretty well known. Feel free to ask the guild staff if you want."

"Ah, yes… then, just to be safe."

When I asked a guild staff member to confirm, everything the three followers said turned out to be true. A B-Rank adventurer with a scary face who loves children and takes good care of people, and is also a mercenary group captain.

What a waste of my nervousness.

"You… actually went ahead and confirmed with the guild staff without hesitating… no, well, that's fine. Since it's our first time meeting, confirming is the right thing to do. Haha, that's right, that's the way to do it… you're a good guardian protecting the children, aren't you? Hahaha."

With a voice that sounded like he was about to cry, he said "If anything troubles you, feel free to rely on me" before the burly man and his followers left.

"… What was that about?"

"He's a famous adventurer who's become something of a fixture at this guild. One of the [usable] pawns this time. Meeting him by chance was fortunate… Oh, if you do use him, please handle the negotiations yourself."

That was the response I got when I asked Haku-san.

… I see. So the "call in adventurers to fight on the day of" strategy was within Haku-san's expectations too. And since he's a mercenary group, they can be hired with money. Whether I use them or not, I'll keep that in mind.

"Now then… shall I introduce you to the Guild Head here? Follow me."

"Hm? Isn't the Guild Head… Haku-san?"

"I'm the Grand Master. I usually leave things to my subordinates."

Saying that, she headed behind the counter. Without being stopped by any staff, she climbed the stairs and arrived at the Guild Head's office. Haku-san lightly knocked and waited for a response.

However, even after waiting a while, there was no response, so Haku-san calmly opened the Guild Head's office door.

"Supyaa… supii… nyafufufu…"

In the Guild Head's office, a pink cat-eared girl was slumped over the desk, asleep.

… The soft sunlight and warm interior would make for a good nap. I want to sleep too.

Wait, don't tell me she's the Guild Head?

Haku-san nonchalantly produced a wooden mallet and swung it down on the sleeping cat-eared girl's head.

Godzun — a dull, painful-sounding noise, and the cat-eared girl bolted awake.

… Hitting someone when they're sleeping so peacefully. What a cruel thing to do.

"Pigya?! W-what, an enemy? An attack?! Oh, Haku-sama!"

"Good morning, Misha. How's work?"

"Yes ma'am! No problems whatsoever! There was a fight but no issues!"

She gave a crisp salute, but there were traces of drool around her mouth and on the desk. The one on the desk was more of a puddle.

"Rokuko-chan, Kehma-san. This should be your first time meeting her, so let me introduce you. This is the werecat Misha. She's one of my party members. She's also a dungeon monster."

"I'm Misha! I'm a werecat, but I pass as a cat beastkin at the guild!"

"What a lively cat! I'm Rokuko!"

"Kehma. Nice to meet you?"

She looked like a cute girl with cat ears and a cat tail.

I wonder what the difference is between a cat beastkin and a werecat.

"This is my humanized form, you see. If I revert, my arms get covered in fur all the way up to my elbows? I get much more fluffy."

Oh, so she can do something like that. And fluffy, huh.

Also, being a monster, there should be a magic stone somewhere in her body.

"Despite appearances, Misha is still an active A-Rank adventurer, so just having her stationed here is effective. She has combat ability too… Though I can't entrust her with much else beyond that."

So those are the circumstances… the right person in the right place really is important.

"How rude! I'll have you know I'm a strategist. After all, I solved that [Easy] problem that even Haku-sama couldn't crack on my first try!"

"…"

"Ow?! Haku-sama, stop pinching meee!"

Ah, that riddle from the first Dungeon Battle. "The answer to this problem is [Easy]" — a problem that the smarter you are, the more you overthink it… so she's the one who solved it.

It's a problem that's easy to solve as long as you don't think too deeply about it… yeah, I'm convinced.

"… Since you were sleeping on the job, I'll punish you later."

"Hiii?! I-I'm sorryyy!"