Chapter 293 - The Guild Master

Mercury walked after the receptionist with his cane tapping against the floorboards of the 2nd floor or the guild, he was eventually shown to a door at the end of a hallway, the receptionist knocked on the door before a voice from inside the room spoke out

"Come in"

The receptionist stepped aside and gestured for Mercury to open the door, Mercury walked up to and opened the door, as he did time slowed down around him, fist he was confused as to why but then he decided to trust his instincts and raised his cane as he tapped it with his finger several times which caused it to shoot off parts of the compressed rock in the form of thin needles which successfully hit several blunt crossbow bolts which were in mid-flight, but due to the fact that Mercury hesitated he failed to both counter-attack and intercept the last two bolts which he was forced to dodge at the very last moment, just as he was about to draw his sword and retaliate a clap sounded out from inside the room

"Very well done mister Mercury"

Mercury sheathed his half-drawn sword again as he showed a frown and looked at the person that stood and swung what looked like a magazine-fed crossbow around, she wore leather armor that seemed to be just the right size but still showed off her hourglass figure, her hair was drawn back in a ponytail, overall she seemed to be a very mature looking woman in her 30's, except of course for that childlike smile that seemed just like a child that had successfully pulled off a prank

"You saved me a very annoying trip and a very lengthy spider hunt"

Mercury showed a slight smile as he joked

"Then why don't you buy me a drink instead of firing crossbow bolts at me?"

The guild master smile widened as she spoke

"Careful, you don't want to get out drunken by an older woman, or perhaps that's your plan? To get me drunk?"

Mercury shrugged before he tapped the cane against the floor which made the stone spikes fly over and seamlessly mend back into the cane, the guild master showed an intrigued smile as she sat down in her chair, then she laid the crossbow on the table and gestured for Mercury to take a seat in the chair in front of her desk, Mike walked over and sat down before he crossed his legs and leaned back in the chair before he asked

"So… You wanted to see me?"

The guild master leaned forwards slightly as she spoke

"Julia, not you"

Mercury gave a nod and repeated himself

"So you wanted to see me, Julia?"

"Very good, yes I wanted to see what kind of adventure that could take down a red spider queen, plus that was that little test too..."

Mercury showed a slight frown as he asked

"So you call shooting crossbow bolts at people for a test?"

Julie showed a pout as she complained

"They were blunt, besides they weren't aimed at any vital places"

"Fine I'll forgive you for that but only if you buy me a drink"

"Yay! Anyway Mercury, how long have you been an adventurer?"

"For about a week?"

"...Why are you asking me? Are you not sure?"

Mercury was about to explain that he didn't have any memory past the last week but then he remembered what had happened with Molly and remained silent, Julia showed a slight frown as she saw him remain silent then she spoke to the receptionist that stood at the door

"Leave us"

"Yes guild master"

The receptionist gave a nod and walked out of the door before she closed it after her, then Julie leaned forwards in her chair as she asked

"Is it something you can't say?"

"It's… No, not exactly… it's just… Well you won't believe me anyway"

Julia's frown deepened slightly before she asked

"Who says I won't believe you?"

Mercury was a little taken aback by her apparent anger before he muttered

"Well, she didn't believe me… And I wouldn't either"

Julie narrowed her eyes even more before she stood up from her chair and walked over to Mercury and kneeled down to match his eye level before she spoke

"If it's something you can't say then it's fine, but don't look down on my resolve by saying I won't believe you… Why don't you try me?"

Mercury sighed before he looked into Julia's eyes and spoke

"I don't have any memories from past a week ago"

Julie nodded before she asked

"So you don't remember anything?"

"No"

Then Julia raised her hand and… patted Mercury on the head with a soft look in her eyes as she consoled him

"That must have been scary"

Mercury felt touched by Julia's counseling for a few moments before he showed a smile and joked

"Well I am kind of a badass so nothings that scary to me"

Julia showed a smile and stood up again before she walked back to her chair and sat down before she waved at Mercury

"That' is that you can go now, I am sure you have some requests to do… Oh and be sure to be back here to pick me up tonight"

Mercury stood up before he asked

"What for?"

Julia showed a child-like smile as she answered his question

"Drinks of course"

As Mercury walked out of the room Julia's smile vanished before she called the receptionist in and asked her something

"Investigate Mercury's origins"

"Yes guild master"

Julie leaned back in her chair as the receptionist walked out and looked up into the ceiling as she muttered

"Hopefully I am just paranoid… Well I better keep a close eye on him anyway, he's just my type too"

Mercury returned to the ground floor and began looking for a request and soon found one he was suited for

-Hunter working request-

-Required rank: any-

-Description: Help repair the eastern walls, skilled earth mages paid double!-

-Location: The east gate-

-Reward: 500 cel-

'Well, it is not combat… But it'll do for today, besides, with the reward from the red spider queen I have plenty until I have to leave town...'

Mercury gave a nod and walked out of the guild he then looked up at the sun to determine which way was east before he walked along the streets with his cane tapping along the cobblestone as he reached the gate he simply looked to either side and found a place that looked like a building site on his right

'Looks like that's it…'

Mercury walked off the path and out onto the loose sand, not finding the terrain very good for his cane (and thereby alleviating the pressure on his injured leg) Mercury simply hardened the sand under his feet as he walked until he reached the building site and looked up at the wall, the wall itself was carved inwards in multiple places and there were several large cracks along the entire wall, overall it seemed like it was about to crumble in some places

"Wow… That's some damage"

"Yeah, a desert wyrm came by and wanted to snack on the townspeople, you here to help?"

"Yeah, names Mercury, I am an earth mage"

"Oh that's welcome, names Tom, why don't you start by compressing some sand into blocks?"

"Sure"

Mercury got working at once, it was tough work, but not for Mercury which didn't need mana to use earth magic due to his [Earth magic, lv10] skill, he got along well with the workers and even made them a rest spot by making an overhang of compressed sand to give them some shade when they weren't working, overall in the evening Mercury was satisfied that he chose this request and after declining the workers request to go drinking and he received his pay of 1000 cel he walked back to the guild and found Julie standing outside the guild building, unlike in the morning she wore a pair of jeans and a loose-fitting T-shirt (that was a little tight around her chest of course) she stood and played with her hair while she stared off into space until her ears picked up Mercury's cane tapping against the cobblestone pavement and she looked over and showed a calm smile

"Ready to go get some drinks?"

Mercury gave a nod

"Yeah... lead the way"

The two of them walked along the streets with a comfortable distance between them

"So what request did you take today Mercury?"

"I helped repair the eastern wall, that Wyrm sure did a number on it"

Julia showed a smile as she nodded

"Yeah… We sure could have used your help then Mercury… It was horrible, I wasted so many of my best bolts on it too…"

Mercury gave a nod as Julia seemed to switch gears as she pointed towards a street sign that read 'The drunken scorpion'

"We're here"

"Then let's get some drinks!"

"You got it Mercury"