Chapter 7
Since Anais was here, I decided to use the Water and Grass Inn for the time being.
Now, what should I do? It seemed like a good idea to take on relatively simple tasks I could handle alone and broaden my experience as an adventurer.
There were two reasons I was leaning that way.
First, in this other world, there was the concept of levels, and since killing monsters allowed you to grow, it was worth taking some risks.
But I knew my own limits.
For a modern person, facing a life-or-death crisis was far too terrifying.
So I needed reliable companions who could handle dangerous combat for me, and that was the second reason.
The conditions for what I considered a reliable companion were quite demanding.
With someone I would only meet a few times and never see again, a simple keyword was enough to get the job done. But someone I kept by my side at all times was different.
Frequent hypnosis and delicate correction were necessary.
A keyword like “Become my slave,” which completely stripped away the other person’s free will, was too powerful, and with a single phrase, it was highly likely to erase that person’s individuality or charm.
They would never betray me, but I wouldn’t be able to shake the feeling that I was traveling with a doll.
To me, hypnosis was something enjoyable.
I had to approach it with pleasant thoughts.
For that reason, finding a woman who fit the conditions was a task that required a great deal of patience.
It would be nice if one appeared before me like destiny, but how would reality turn out?
First, when I went out to the plaza, I could see so many biological women they were practically underfoot.
I stayed for about an hour, scrutinizing the faces of the women passing by, but there were far too many who fell short of my standards.
“How much could the number of monsters possibly increase?”
“Who knows? Maybe even Marne will become dangerous.”
Then I happened to overhear two men talking in a serious mood.
“Subjugation missions have been increasing lately.”
“Even we might have to go out and fight.”
“No, we have the Hero. That won’t happen.”
The Hero, huh. Leira had told me about that.
She had said they sent agents to worlds in need of salvation. If so, someone bearing a grand title like Hero was very likely the agent of another god. Depending on my starting options, I might have been called something like a Hero too.
If the Hero really was a god’s agent, then they were the existence I needed to avoid most in this world.
But if you asked whether they would get in my way, that wasn’t the case.
The Hero could take care of this world’s crisis, and I would focus on enjoyable things.
That would be ideal.
I stopped observing women and went to the Adventurers’ Guild.
Just like yesterday, there were quite a lot of people.
Today, I had come here as an adventurer looking to accept a mission.
There was an especially large crowd gathered in front of the mission board.
“Looking for support members for a Bordeaux Dungeon exploration party.”
“Looking for someone to carry luggage for a party of three. There will be a share.”
“Anyone going goblin hunting? We need one person.”
This seemed to be a place not only to decide what mission to take, but also to recruit people needed for parties.
When a party leader called out the personnel they needed, adventurers who were interested stepped forward.
That kind of exchange was taking place actively.
I first went close to the board and looked over the various missions.
“Herb Gathering”
Rank D-
Recommendations
No level restriction, possession of search skill
“Bordeaux Dungeon Exploration”
Rank C-
Recommendations
Level 8 or higher, at least two members possessing combat skills
“Find a Cat”
Rank D
Recommendations
No level restriction, possession of tracking skill
There were quite a few missions, but most of them were truly trivial. Was it because the town was small?
The most popular one seemed to be goblin extermination, but I had already done plenty of that yesterday. I didn’t want to do it again.
Dungeon exploration, huh... I did want to try it once. As it happened, my level was 9, and I also had a combat skill, so I thought I could join a party.
“We’ll be going to the lowest floor of the Bordeaux Dungeon today. We need one combatant. If you’re confident, come this way!”
Someone happened to be recruiting a party.
Everyone started talking as they looked at the handsome young man.
“Oh, isn’t that Salic?”
“Looks like he’s planning to finish it.”
“No one’s made it all the way through Bordeaux Dungeon yet, have they?”
“It was discovered recently, after all. If someone completes the exploration, a promotion to Silver is practically guaranteed.”
The atmosphere was good. Salic already seemed to have several experienced partners with him.
Should I try joining too?
“I’d like to participate.”
I raised one hand casually and approached.
“Haven’t seen your face before.”
Salic’s expression wasn’t pleasant. Why did I get the feeling he was hostile toward me?
“I registered as an adventurer yesterday.”
“Pfft, hahahaha!”
What the hell. Everyone started laughing.
“Some dimwit comes out of nowhere...”
Salic made no effort to hide his disgust.
“You show up dressed like that, without any tools, without any equipment, and you registered as an adventurer yesterday?
There’s no place for a fool like you here. Go gather herbs or something first.”
“Hey, Salic. That’s enough. The newbie’s going to cry.”
“Isn’t it fine as long as I do my part?”
Salic grabbed me by the collar and yanked my face close as he spoke.
“You look like a clueless brat at first glance. Don’t take this line of work lightly. Spend a year gathering herbs first, and until then, keep your eyes down when you walk around.”
How absurd. What, did he want to fight?
At first, I had been thinking that if I got rejected, then it would be his loss.
But this was far too unpleasant.
“Let go.”
Salic snorted.
“Why don’t you make me?”
“Oh, they’re fighting!”
“Salic and the newbie are about to have a bout!”
If he wanted to ruin his own life like this, I had no choice but to oblige.
I was just about to snap my fingers, accepting that a few people might see it.
The door of the Adventurers’ Guild opened, and everyone looked that way as if drawn by something.
“Hah...”
“Good heavens.”
It happened at a moment when everyone had been making so much noise that it felt as if no one would notice whatever happened.
The woman who opened the guild door and walked in at that exquisite timing, for no reason other than her pretty face, made everyone shut their mouths.
She had a small face with delicate features and a youthful look that still made her seem like a girl, but her eyes were provocative, and her slender jawline gave her a catlike appearance.
Her elegant platinum-blonde hair was tied and draped down one side, and she had a slim figure.
At the same time, her unusually plump thighs and well-developed hips instantly drew the eye.
The unpleasant experience from just moments ago flew somewhere out of my head. I had found a woman who met my conditions.
Rather, her appearance exceeded my imagination. She was on the same level as Beleira, whom I had described as a perfectly feminine beauty.
I had never thought I would be able to meet such a woman again.
“Could that person be...”
“No, there’s no mistake.”
People whispered as they pointed at the girl.
“She’s a Diamond-rank Hunter.”
“Why is the Aloof Hunter in a town like Marne?”
“It’s my first time seeing her in person.”
I had only been surprised by her face, but judging by the reactions of the people around me, the girl’s identity seemed even more astonishing.
A Diamond-rank Hunter.
Someone who, by all rights, should not be here.
As such talk flew back and forth, the girl, as if she were used to being the center of attention, paid it no mind and strode toward the receptionist.
“H-how may I help you?”
Facing the flustered receptionist, the girl spoke.
“I have come by order of His Majesty the King. This is an emergency mission directive.”
“An emergency mission...!”
The crowd stirred. What was that supposed to be? Let me be surprised too.
Whenever the girl opened her mouth, the Adventurers’ Guild went dead silent.
“The selection of the next Hero candidates has begun.”
“Do you mean...”
“Shall I state the mission details here?”
“J-just a moment! Guildmaster!”
As quickly as the receptionist ran off, the guildmaster came running out.
“I will escort you this way.”
The guildmaster led the girl into an inner room.
Even after the girl left, people could not hide their excitement as they chattered.
I had no idea what was going on. Was the Great Age of Pirates about to begin or something?
Salic had also turned around and was excitedly talking with his companions.
“An emergency mission! This is our chance. We could aim straight for a promotion to Gold!”
He already didn’t even have me in his sights.
Well, fine. Fighting him wasn’t what mattered right now.
Gather herbs for a year? I hadn’t been an adventurer for long?
None of that meant anything to me. Diligently building up achievements was something I could make these guys do.
What I had to do now was clear.
I would subordinate the Diamond-rank girl who had happened to come to this town.
While everyone was busy talking, I quietly slipped out of the guild.