The dragoness didn't understand why, but I gave the order, and she complied. Gently lifting them both by the collar, she waited for further instructions.
"Krito! What are you doing to them??" Katrina immediately rushed to their defense.
"I just want to find out something, and they don't seem to be resisting much."
Indeed, despite the rough treatment, Algo and Leira hardly resisted and just stared down at their feet.
"Let's go inside the house; we need to question them."
Seeing our dispute, Levris quickly dismissed her students and followed everyone inside the house.
The Lady and the Swordsman sat on the couch surrounded by us.
"Leira, I can see that you're hiding something. Resisting is futile," I pressed her, hoping to get an answer. "If you don't want to talk, then let me tell you what I've understood. You and Algo are urgently summoned to your parents' estate. At first, I thought they were arranging a marriage for you, but then, why would Algo be involved? Most likely, your family is facing some danger, and your parents are gathering everyone who can protect the city. In that case, they cannot ignore your strength with him. Am I right?"
Leira lowered her gaze. "Yes, you're right."
"Then why did you hide it? You should have asked for help; I would have gladly helped you both!" Katrina intervened in the conversation.
"I can't do that; the royal family has already denied us help."
"But I thought we were friends; I would have gladly helped you," Katrina said, naming someone a friend for the first time, but there was sadness in her voice.
"I can't endanger a princess's life."
Was it really that serious?
"Then we'll go as a guild. Even the king has no right to interfere in guild affairs," I suggested.
"No. We don't have the money to pay for your services."
"What are you talking about? I heard from my teacher that he comes from one of the oldest and most respected houses in our country. Your family couldn't have gone bankrupt that easily."
Tears welled up in Leira's eyes.
"I heard that you were the country's largest suppliers of mythril and products made from it," Kurone intervened in the conversation. "Has the mine run dry?"
"No," Leira sighed. It seemed like she had finally decided to tell the whole story. "About five years ago, unknown monsters appeared in the mine. We couldn't find them in any monster catalogs and had no idea how to fight them. My father ordered to block the mine exits, and that's how we managed to contain them. Our lands are in a rocky area, and the main source of prosperity was the mine. My father spent all his money just to ensure the survival of his people. We bought irrigation equipment, even cultivated part of the land for crops. That's how we managed to save our people from famine. Due to this, our family has no money left. My older sister stayed to manage the family affairs, and my parents sent me to the academy. But now the monsters have returned. My father wrote that they have been attacking the village near the mine for several days, and several people have disappeared. I have to go back, and I'm sorry for making you worry."
Leira got up and tried to leave, but I blocked her path.
"Katrina, look: people are in trouble, unknown monsters are besieging a poor village, and there's no one to help them. This mission seems to match our 'epicness.'"
"You're right; that's what I've been looking for," it seemed like the princess would purr from pleasure.
"But I'm telling you: I won't have anything to pay you with..."
"On that matter, I already have a couple of ideas," Kurone said with a mysterious smile. "I just need to discuss them with your father."
"Done!" Katrina stood tall, puffing her chest out proudly. "We'll help our friend Leira and her family!"
"As usual, I'll have to clean up after you," I grumbled under my breath and averted my gaze.
"S-shut up! I'm the GM! And I decide what to do! Onward!" Katrina covered her eyes and set off to the door with a proud stride, but as soon as she opened the door, she was immediately thrown to the opposite end of the room with a scream.
Several minutes earlier, in front of the guild headquarters:
Rizel stood hesitantly before the door. Still lacking courage, she fidgeted in place, using her staff as a shield.
"Oh dear, what should I do? Mr. Krito was right; I need to show the application to the GM, but I don't even know how to approach her..."
She had been mustering her strength for several days just to come to the guild. At first, Rizel only wanted to stand near the house until someone noticed her, but unfortunately, today, everyone seemed to be gathered inside.
"Uuu, I need to knock. Mmm."
The necromancer slowly approached the door with her staff, still hesitant to use her fist. And then the door unexpectedly swung open, catching Rizel off guard. She pressed her staff to her face and blurted out:
"I... I want to join your guild!"
Well, if a flying skull started talking to me, I would be scared too.
I helplessly slapped my forehead and said, "Rizel, you can't pick such a moment!"
"I'm s-s-sorry," and even though only a glowing green eye was visible under her hood, it seemed like she was about to burst into tears.
"No-no-no-no-no. Skulls don't fly or talk. I'm asleep; I'm just asleep, and this is all a nightmare. Krito will come and wake me up, and everything will be fine," the princess sat in the far corner of the room, curled up in a ball, covering her face with her hands.
"Your Highness! Are you still with us? Our new member wants to join, and you're not very polite to greet her," I nudged Katrina lightly on the shoulder, and she finally snapped out of it.
"Huh? What? Did the ghost fly away already?" Only now did the princess notice the figure in the cloak holding a staff with a skull.
"I-I'm s-s-sorry," the poor shinigami started bowing intensely.
"Come on, Rizel, Katrina just jumped at you unexpectedly too."
Katrina's mad impulse to rush to Leira's aid was halted by new developments.
We settled into our seats again, surrounding the new recruit. Under our attentive gazes, the necromancer trembled with fear, attempting to hide behind her staff.
"Mmm, I know you; you're our new classmate!"
"Ragni, you're just a genius!" I wanted to make a snide remark, but life was more valuable.
"Yes," Rizel replied with a trembling voice, "Well... uh..."
She handed a small piece of paper forward and obediently bowed her head. It looked like an offering to her god.
Katrina carefully studied the contents of the note.
"So, you want to join our guild? I got scared for a moment," murmured the princess, averting her gaze. "I thought death had come for me with a scythe."
"Yes, I've heard a lot of good things about you and am so grateful."
"That's strange. How did you hear about us? We've only completed a couple of missions, and besides the Academy students, not many people know about us."
"Well, you see, I'm originally from Velenwood, and I'm so grateful to you for saving us."
"Oh, well, that explains a lot."
Hmm, I don't remember there being such powerful mages there. Maybe she was hiding from everyone?
"But you know that we take on dangerous missions? And now we're about to embark on one."
"Of course, I know. You are heroes! You fought for the salvation of people you didn't even know, and if I can help you in any way, then I'll live my life meaningfully!"
A passion ignited in her eyes; she was very devoted. However, our heroic deeds are done for money, and her words confused me a bit.
"I'm glad you're so enthusiastic, but we're unlikely to help you develop your abilities, as there are no necromancers among us. And if you're not sure about your current abilities, maybe you shouldn't take the risk?"
"No-no-no, no way! I am completely confident in my abilities and ready to follow you even into hell."
Such dedication; there was no trace of her former shyness. I thought that necromancers traded their feelings for power, but I was mistaken.
"Then, if no one objects, I happily accept your application."
"Wait a minute," Seleria interjected, "Can you show your face? I'm simply dying of curiosity."
"Well," it seemed to me that the darkness under her eye reddened slightly, and the necromancer adorably brought her index fingers together, "It's embarrassing. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay under the cloak."
"Mmmmm," Seleria grumbled discontentedly.
"Oh, come on, every girl has her secrets," I tried to stop her. "You're not going to forcibly remove her cloak, are you?"
Seleria raised her eyebrows at the unexpected guess and then started to break into a smug smile.
"Okay, stop, stop! Don't scare away our new member!"
"Tch, it's alright, I won't back down until I get what I want," the disgruntled princess muttered under her breath.
"Then welcome to our guild. We've only just begun our journey, but I promise we will become a great guild."
Katrina shook Rizel's hand, and... surprisingly, nothing happened.