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“…good lord. Just when we are finally getting more members. People will say that Tenebrae Nemus is a danger zone, and more and more adventurers are likely to hesitate to join us.”

Chief Eraldo griped, but Ms. Christy immediately snided at him.

“Hmph. That’s old news. In fact, statistically speaking, there’s a high rate of unreturned guild members in this area.”
“The statistics say 5 percent at most! That is still much lower than a dungeon.”

I don’t know who he was making excuses to, but Chief Eraldo sounded desperate when he made that argument. His gaze turned to Bruno, the young boy staring at his feet, looking somewhat restless.

“Speaking of which… Bruno, was it? I recall you aspired to become an adventurer. Considering your age, we can’t register you right away, but I think you can join us as a trainee. I will give the word if it’s okay with you.”

A color of surprise painted Bruno’s face. He would have said yes on the spot if the offer had come to him two days ago, whereas today he only turned his head down again in silence, clearly hesitant.

“Chief, too soon!” Caldina pursued, scorn in her eyes.

“Yup. I understand your feelings, and it does sound a lot for a child like him, but it’s not like we will put him in danger right away. I am planning to open a kind of technical school where retired adventurers can teach the ropes to trainees and newbies. Of course, for him, we won’t charge the tuition… well, brashly put, you can say that it’s where the hush money goes.”

I see. It doesn’t sound like a bad deal for Bruno. According to Bartholomew, “He’s quite good for a 12-year-old. His talent is on par, but he is bold and can easily grow.” With a place to learn the knowledge and practice of being an adventurer, perhaps the day Bruno became a full-fledged adventurer wouldn’t be so far in the future.

“I’m… still confused, and I don’t know… what’s good for me. Can I take my time thinking about it?” After a moment of agony, Bruno lifted his gaze, then replied, albeit stumbling with his words.

“Of course. You can tell Caldina at the counter anytime.”

His soft smile was then turned to me.

“I’ve had the chance to see the scene myself. There were a total of 17 skeletons, and except for one that was broken into pieces, they were all cleanly exterminated, leaving only equipment behind. Should I assume it was due to your magic, young lady? I’d expect no less from the daughter of Lady Christianne.”
“…the one that was broken into pieces was due to my handiwork. Though perhaps I had been a little too easy on it since it still retained enough shape to be recognized.”

Chief Eraldo looked at the Death Knight, who had, for some unknown reason, become defensive. To Eraldo, the Death Knight seemed like a rare sight —though, by all rights, a Death Knight was and should indeed be a rarity. Unperturbed by this unusual situation, Chief Eraldo decided not to let it bother him and continued talking.

“By the way, from what I heard from Caldina, your affinities are Fire and Water. I couldn’t find traces that suggest the use of either affinity on the site, so it made me wonder how you dealt with the other 16 skeletons. Would you please tell me, even if for academic purposes?”

He was smiling, but I sensed that he was trying to glean information from my reaction. I was at a loss for words for a moment, but thankfully Ms. Christy interrupted, her tone a bit sharper.

“No magician is foolish enough to reveal their cards to strangers. The secret of our art is our lifeline; don’t go and blabber it to other people!”
“M-, my deepest apologies!”
“My apologies as well, Lady Baroness.”

Ms. Christy’s help gave me a breath of relief, but that was when the guild’s branch chief stood to his feet, walked closer, and offered me his hand.

“Thank you very much for providing us with your time. Should there be a time you are in need of our help, our branch will do our best to be of assistance. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.”
“…I doubt a time like that will ever come.”

As a weed striving to live in the shadows, I’d rather not run into any more troubles.

“Well, just for caution’s sake. After all, we might need to borrow your help for the safety of the people.”

…Quite the sly dog for a babyface, aren’t we?

I shook his hand, answering his smile with mine, but inwardly, I let out a heavy sigh.

♢♦♢♦♢

“…so, what are you going to do?”

After our guests from the guild had left, Eren and I (and Bartholomew who took the chance to once again stalk my shadow) walked with Bruno and his emu to see him off back to the village.

“I’m thinking…”
“Thinking your butt, you almost died yesterday and you still say you want to become an adventurer? Look, I’m saying this for your own good, but you’re better off taking over your dad’s business or staying in the village as a farmhand.”
“Buzz off, you don’t get to tell me what I want!”
“Maybe, but I wouldn’t say it if you weren’t off trying to kill yourself.”
“Now now, don’t get it into your head, the two of you.”

As much as it sounded like their usual bicker, I could tell the tension between them, so I put a stop to it.

“I understand your feelings, Eren, but Bruno’s feelings are what matters the most…not to mention, only a day has passed. We can’t expect him to make the decision right now. He needs time to think.”
“You’re right, but, how do I say it, when I see him wishy-washy like this…”

After reining in Eren, I spoke to Bruno next. “Come to think of it, I don’t think you’ve told me why you want to become an adventurer.”

Bruno stayed silent for a while, but then he slowly opened his mouth. “The adventurer I saw when I was a kid was cool.”

“Hmph. Well, I guessed as much.” Eren snided, inviting an irk from Bruno.

“One time I got abducted by some guy who owed money from my old man, and it was an adventurer he hired who saved me. That’s why I want to be a cool adventurer like him. That’s all.”
“…hmm.”
“I see..”
“I wasn’t cool yesterday. I was in tears and snot and ran around like an idiot.”

Bruno laughed at himself, and Eren and I respectively responded with “pretty much,” and “you weren’t.”

“…this is b̲u̲l̲l̲s̲h̲i̲t̲.” Bruno looked up at the sky, muttering to himself. Before long, he turned to us, determination in his eyes. “Now I see I was being a haughty idiot. I’ll stop chasing a dream that doesn’t fit my size.”

“…I see.” Eren nodded, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“That’s why I’m gonna take the offer and start all over again with the basics.”

““EEH?!””

I thought you’d say you’d quit becoming an adventurer… Both Eren and I had already expected those words to come out of his mouth, so now we could only look at each other with puzzled faces.

“That’s how I’ll become the cool adventurer of my dream, just you watch!”

Bruno clenched both his fists, resolute. Looking at him, Eren and I smiled at each other, relieved, or perhaps deflated from the tension.

Translator’s note:

Who’s here who thinks that Eraldo only gave Bruno that offer to tie down Jill to the guild using her personal relationship?