Chapter 4: Adventurer's Guild
"Excuse me. How much is this?"
The white-haired old wizard, who had been smoking a pipe while checking the handling of a magic wand, was asked by the counter of the store.
The store was filled with various items such as scrolls, crystal balls, dried lizards, and so on, giving it a truly magical atmosphere.
After passing through the city road and arriving at the local town of Shilun, the Forest Bird members temporarily split up from me. They were going to the guild branch to sell ant mandibles. After that, they would procure supplies and meet up before heading to Termwills.
Although they seemed to want to hear about my situation, they held back. They also didn't delve too deeply into Grace's situation, so it seemed that we could maintain a good relationship in the future.
There is a so-called "taboo among adventurers". People who are curious about other people's past without a reason are disliked because everyone has their own circumstances.
I had talked about leaving home because I hated it, so I think they imagined various things over there. If someone is talented, there is no reason for a noble family to give them up.
Perhaps it is also due to the experience that getting involved in the circumstances of a noble family can lead to trouble.
Either way, if asked, I can only answer that I learned cane techniques and magic mostly by self-study.
As a noble pastime, I also learned martial arts, but it was a place where Byron and Daryl would beat me up while pretending to be training, so it was a problem before the presence or absence of talent. I refused to go with them on the days of martial arts training because I didn't want to show it to Grace.
"Hmm? Isn't that a bit too big for you?"
The old wizard at the shop counter adjusted his glasses and tilted his head as he compared the wand I brought and me.
"It's okay because I use cane techniques as well. If it's too small, I'll have to replace it as I grow."
"I see. You're planning for the future at such a young age with cane techniques. That's rare."
"I learned it by self-study, referring to literature and other martial arts. It can also be used as an extension of swords and spears."
"I see. That's true, but...for someone who is self-taught, you speak quite well. Most young wizards are often attracted to flashy things like fire magic."
When I talked about the art of staff fighting, the shopkeeper's mood visibly improved, and he seemed willing to talk.
"Thrust with a spear, sweep with a naginata, draw a sword - that's it." This is a well-known phrase in a certain Japanese school of staff fighting that succinctly illustrates the versatility, usefulness, and nature of staff fighting.
I glanced back at Grace, who was browsing the items in the store with keen interest. It felt like she was trying not to pry too much into my business.
Perhaps she thought of it as the result of my unacknowledged efforts, or maybe she had decided to wait for me to talk to her. Alternatively, she might have taken a stance of not prying into the affairs of her master. In any case, it was clear that she trusted me.
I hoped that someday, when the time was right, I could explain everything to Grace properly. But at this stage, I couldn't even explain it to myself.
"However, this one is not for beginners. It's not very good. There are more suitable ones for staff fighting, you know?"
"Oh, no. I intend to use it until it falls apart. So could you give me several more of the same quality?"
"I see. You are an enthusiastic learner."
Although it wasn't entirely true, I didn't bother to correct the shopkeeper's assumption.
If I were to choose a staff from the ones on display in the store that were suitable for staff fighting, I thought that they were of better quality than the ones I obtained in the earl's territory. However, I was a bit dubious if they could withstand my full power.
I suspected that the staff was the shopkeeper's own creation, so even if I told him it would break, it would probably hurt his feelings. This was a moment when it was okay not to be completely honest.
Magic staffs weren't cheap either, so I considered them to be temporary measures until we reached Termwills. I wrapped three magic staffs and left the store.
"Is there anything you want to buy, Grace?"
"No. The necessary supplies are being purchased by the people of Forest Bird."
"Then, shall we head back for now?"
When we returned to the stable where we had left the carriage, everyone had apparently finished their business and returned. But wait, didn't they say they had various tasks, such as maintaining weapons? It seemed a bit early for them to be done.
Some unfamiliar faces had appeared. Two men, one middle-aged and one young, and a young woman. The three men wore lightweight armor over matching surcoats.
"Teo-kun. This is the security team leader, Mr. Oslo--"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Berine, the guild receptionist."
Oslo acted casually while Berine introduced herself and bowed her head.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Theodore Gaertner. How may I assist you?"
This means they were waiting for me to arrive - they must have had something they needed to discuss with me. I had said I didn't want to take all the credit, and it was fine to say we fought and defeated the enemy with the six of us from the beginning.
What could it be? Was there trouble over the sale of the jaw?
"Hmm. You're the other magician, right? Really, are you a child?"
"Captain Oslo, that's irrelevant. As for the guild, we'd like to express our gratitude for repelling the Killer Ants before they caused significant damage in the neighboring areas. Due to the magnitude of your accomplishment, we discussed giving a special reward, but..."
"Then that security team leader over there happened to be there and is grumbling that it's some kind of fraud."
Fitz, a Forest Bird warrior, shrugged his shoulders as he took over Berine's words.
"Grumbling? How impolite. We only killed that many Killer Ants with just six people, so what's the big deal?"
"Oslo-sama is right. Please don't make fun of us."
"We didn't even propose the reward in the first place. If we're suspected, we're okay with just the usual sale price!"
"Just the fact that they might have attempted is a problem."
"If it's ant corpses, there are burnt remains that we can show you."
"I'm having my subordinates run to check on it now!"
"To ensure fairness, the guild has also sent one person to assist."
Finally, Berine closed the conversation in that manner, and Oslo clicked his tongue.
...Hmm. I've got the gist of it.
Berine is on our side, and she's quite capable.
"By the way...why is the security team leader getting involved in guild affairs?"
I interjected.
The adventurer system is a national policy, but a large part of its autonomy is entrusted to the adventurers themselves.
The guild is a place where both the government and private citizens can freely submit requests, but the origin of its establishment was primarily due to the government's convenience.
Initially... long ago, when the war ended, the issue arose of what to do with the leftover mercenaries. Eventually, it was suggested that they could be used for dealing with monsters.
The guild established relatively strong autonomy... due to an example of a adventurer who made a name for themselves and built a kingdom in one generation, and the king of that kingdom created the guild in the form of allowing the adventurers to govern themselves.
As adventurers were given preferential treatment, talented individuals gathered there, and the king was able to easily recruit exceptional talent. As a result, neighboring countries had no choice but to follow suit with that method... and it has now become a standard practice.
The reason there are common rules across borders is that if there are standards for the treatment of adventurers and the amount of money paid by the guild, then talented adventurers would only gather there, and that is why agreements have been made between countries.
Through these historical events, the guild became a place with a strong sense of independence, but it is not detested for being independent. It is valued by the country.
Firstly, the number of thieves can be reduced in two ways, so security improves. And because information about talented individuals is gathered, headhunting is possible. Personalities are also considered, so information about dangerous individuals can be collected.
And above all, it excels in cost-effectiveness.
Since the number of monster materials collected and the amount of money coming in and out are scrutinized by the country, the reward money for requests from the country only needs to be paid for the amount of work done. Even labor costs can be covered by only a few guild staff.
If adventurers get injured or die, the country won't take care of them due to the agreement on independence, so it's cheap to use them.
On the adventurer side, since the country guarantees their status as adventurers, it becomes easier to travel from town to town, and since no particular qualifications are required, they can move around safely to some extent as long as they choose their jobs. That's why they don't have to worry about making a living.
Considering all of these factors... it's clearly ridiculous for the security team leader to have a say.
"I'm just a good-natured citizen trying to nip corruption in the bud, not a security team leader!"
"Even so, what do you think, Ms. Berine?"
"Well, you see, the lord of this territory doesn't like adventurers very much. The security and management of that forest is also handled by Captain Oslo."
"I see... so they might have been slacking off in monster extermination."
"That's right."
Ms. Berine showed an evil grin and shook her head, and Oslo's face turned bright red.