Chapter 1-16 : The Return Of The Warrior (part 2)
As soon as we returned to the adventurer guild, we exchanged the monster materials we got for cash in the reception, and then headed to the guild’s dining hall for dinner.
The food here is not as good as the one in fancy restaurants in this town, but it’s cheaper.
We still have to pay off our debt to Kako ojou-chan, so we need to save as much money as possible.
By the way, because the food is cheap, the dining hall in this guild is popular among novice adventurers who can only make a little money from clearing low-ranked quests.
However, many newcomers, especially those who were broke, got fed up with the cheap menus because they were not that tasty. Because of that, senior adventurers would treat them to more expensive menus. They then told them to do the same once they became veterans someday.
Thus, buying food for broke newcomers became a common practice for senior adventurers in this guild.
Of course, you don’t have to buy newcomers food every single day. You just have to do it sometimes when you have extra money, and since we have to save money, we don’t do it today.
While we were enjoying our food and beers, I looked around.
The surrounding people were whispering to each other for some reason. I can’t hear them, but I think I know what they’re talking about.
「Hahh… They seem to be still talking about your arm.」(Maitena)
Maitena, who was sitting next to me, let out a sigh and muttered while looking at the surrounding people.
Not only the people in this guild, but the townspeople were also talking about me when we walked down the main street today.
It seems that she starts to get annoyed by that.
「Well, I lost an arm, and then I returned with a ‘new’ arm. It’s only natural that people would talk about it. It’s a miracle after all.」(Izack)
「I understand, but still… It’s annoying…!」(Maitena)
Just after Maitena said that, someone I knew approached our table. He is the Vice-Guildmaster.
「Yo, how’re you guys doin’?」(Vice-Guildmaster)
Right after he greeted us, he shifted his gaze and looked at my right arm curiously.
「Yo, Vice-Guildmaster. It’s rare to see you here in the dining hall. You usually eat in the guild’s office, right?」(Izack)
「Sometimes I go here to grab some beers, you know?」(Vice-Guildmaster)
Just as he said. He sometimes shows up in the dining hall, but I’ve never seen him here at this hour.
「So, you came to grab some beers?」(Izack)
I don’t think he came for beers though.
「Well, I was thinking of celebrating your return.」(Vice-Guildmaster)
「You? Nah, do you think I believe it?」(Izack)
I know this person. He doesn’t like something like parties or celebrations that much.
「Haha! You see through me. Izack, can you come with me to the drawing room for a moment?」(Vice-Guildmaster)
「You have something you don’t want to talk about in public, huh? Alright. Guys, I’ll be back in a moment.」(Izack)
「Ou.」(Martz)
「See you later~」(Palfi)
「Hmph.」(Maitena)
Martz and Palfi waved at me. Only Maitena looked away and puffed her cheeks.
Seems like she realized the reason why the Vice-Guildmaster wanted to talk with me and got annoyed by that.
「Hm? What’s wrong with her?」(Vice-Guildmaster)
「Ahaha… Don’t mind her. Let’s go.」(Izack)
We left the dining hall and entered the drawing room at the back of the guild.
This room is usually used as a private place to negotiate business or talk about important quests or secret quests that cannot be heard by other people.
「Take a seat.」(Vice-Guildmaster)
I sat on a sofa, and then the Vice-Guildmaster sat on the sofa across from me.
「So? Why did you take me here? Do you have an important quest for my party or something?」(Izack)
「Oh, come on. You know why I took you here.」(Vice-Guildmaster)
「Do I?」(Izack)
「Hahh… It’s about your arm. How did you heal it?」(Vice-Guildmaster)
Just as I thought. I knew he would ask about it the moment he glanced at my right arm.
「I received a blessing from the god worshiped in the church where Palfi came from.」(Izack)
「Huh? Stop playing dumb already.」(Vice-Guildmaster)
He stared at me with a serious face. Seems like I can’t easily fool him.
「Alright, alright. I was kidding. But… I’m sorry. I can’t tell you. I can’t tell anyone. Not just me, Maitena, Martz, and Palfi can’t tell anyone either. That’s the condition we have to fulfill in exchange for this arm.」(Izack)
「…I see.」(Vice-Guildmaster)
「Oh? You give up already?」(Izack)
I felt relieved when he decided to give up. I thought he would persuade me further.
「Hmph. Do you think I don’t know anything about you people? If you guys promised not to tell anyone about it, then you won’t tell anyone about it no matter what. You would hate me and leave this town if I forced you to tell me, and I don’t want that to happen. We still need strong people like you in this town.」(Vice-Guildmaster)
「Hahaha! I knew you were a wise man.」(Izack)
「Honestly, I’m curious as hell, but I won’t ask you how you heal your arm anymore. However, you should be careful because there are bad people trying to find out about it and make a fortune out of it.」(Vice-Guildmaster)
「I know. Thanks for the warning.」(Izack)
Seems like the real reason why he took me to this room was not to find out about how I fixed my arm but to warn us about those people.
He doesn’t look like it, but he’s a good man just like the Guildmaster.
After we finished talking, I returned to the dining hall to continue enjoying my dinner with my friends.
「Welcome back. He asked you about your arm, didn’t he?」(Maitena)
「Yeah, but then he warned me about some bad guys who are sniffing around us, trying to find out about our little secret.」(Izack)
「I see… It makes me worried…」(Maitena)
「Are you worrying about me? Hehe, you can be cute sometiー」(Izack)
「ーNot you! I’m worried about that girl!」(Maitena)
Maitena slapped my head and yelled at me.
「I’m just joking. Geez.」(Izack)
「Maitena’s right. I’m worried about her as well…」(Palfi)
Palfi seems to be worried about Kako ojou-chan too.
「That catto-chanー I mean, her guardian looked strong, but I’m still worried. I don’t want something bad to happen to her. Can we do something for her?」(Palfi)
「If only we could protect her somehow…」(Martz)
Kako ojou-chan is my benefactor. I would never be able to continue living as an adventurer if it wasn’t for her.
In that case, it’s my duty to save her from those people.
「Hmm… For now, let’s finish our dinner and go back to the inn. It’s not safe to talk about it here.」(Izack)
Everyone replied to me with a nod and continued eating.
◆◆◆
The next day, when we were talking about Kako ojou-chan in my room, unexpectedly, the person herself came to visit us.
She said she wanted to learn how to use a dagger.
「Eh? You want me to teach you how to use a dagger?」(Maitena)
「Yes! You gave me this dagger but I don’t know how to use it. I want to be able to protect myself. Maitena-san, I want you to train me!」(Kako)
「Umm…」(Maitena)
Maitena folded her arms, thinking. She then looked at us, hoping for some advice.
I think this is the perfect chance for us to protect Kako ojou-chan. She will be safe as long as we are around.
Martz and Palfi glanced at me. They seemed to have the same thought as me.
「I don’t see why not. It would be great if Kako ojou-chan can protect herself from bad guys.」(Izack)
「You’re right! Well then, Kako, I will be your master!」(Maitena)
「Yay! Thank you, Master!」(Kako)
Nice. Now we can protect her and have a reason to be around her.
People will think that she is just Maitena’s disciple and will have less suspicion toward her.
In the first place, I don’t think anyone would guess that this little girl was the one who healed my arm.
While Kako ojou-chan is learning how to fight from Maitena, I think we should do something about the people who are sniffing around us.
「Fufu~ I’m a master now~ Ahh, I never thought I would take a cute girl as a disciple~」(Maitena)
She looks so happy…
Well, I understand her feelings, but I hope she doesn’t forget our main purpose.
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Whelp I can see this plan backfiring. Namely others they try and fail to get info out of the party so they end up targeting the “disciple” and threaten the party with her well being. Assumedly after having kidnapped her.
Thank you for the chapter!