CH 22

22 - The Old Man From The Countryside Is Doubted

It was on the way from the Knight Order’s Headquarters to the Adventurer’s Guild.

I and Selena were walking, and with Lucy coming along, we made 3.

Was Lucy a slacker? She’s the Head of the Magic Division, isn’t she?

“I’m grateful your for help, Master,” Selena said.

“Hah, hahaha… is that so? But how useful can I be?”

From the way Selena speaks, she’s clearly very happy.

It’s safe to say that she’s a courageous beauty, and though she’s usually a tomboy, she can also look like this.

I used to compare Kuruni to a dog, so Selena would be a well-disciplined hound. Although, I don’t think it’s that simple.

“But, Sir, aren’t you being a little too humble?” Lucy asked.

“No way,” I said. “I’m going to recognize my power as it is.”

Lucy seems to be making some complaints against the decision.

She even claimed it was being too humble.

I’ve got a decent level of swordsmanship but I don’t have any outstanding physical strength. I’m just a little stronger than average.

I was able to win against Henblitz, the Vice-Captain of the Knights of Revelio, because of a favorable match-up, but Lucy was an overwhelmingly advantaged opponent that almost defeated me.

I don’t think you could say I was strong no matter how far you stretched it.

“Well, that is one of your strengths and good points, Master,” Selena said.

“… Yeah, you know, let’s go with that,” I said.

“Haa-haa,” Lucy chuckled, “it seems you love Sir Beryl a lot, Lysandera.”

Selena is still blind to who I am.

It’s awkward for a Black Rank Adventurer who’s been around the world to sing an old man’s praises like this. Objectively, Selena is superior in social status and her abilities.

Ah, for Pete’s sake.

This old man just wants to live leisurely.

Moreover, because of both Selena and Lucy, the looks we get from passersby are uncomfortable.

Maybe I should get used to it but I’m uneasy because I feel so out of place.

Fortunately, the Adventurer’s Guild is just around the corner from the Knight Order’s HQ.

While we were walking and chatting, we arrived almost immediately.

Selena marches confidently as she knows what she’s doing, Lucy and I follow behind her.

No, what did Lucy really come here to do? I wonder if the Magic Division allows such freedom for its staff.

“I’m here,” Selena said as she headed straight for the counter. “Is the Guild Master in?”

“Yes, please wait a moment,” the receptionist said.

It seemed they were already used to this and they immediately withdrew to the back.

“Hoo-ho, did I keep you waiting?”

After a while, an old man with conspicuous white hair emerged.

And there was also a tall man in glasses that seemed to be his companion.

“Master,” Selena said, “I’ve brought my recommendation, Sir Beryl Gardenant.”

“Umm, I’m Beryl Gardenant,” I said. “Looking forward to working with you.”

“I’m here too, you know!” Lucy yelled.

Is this how greetings should go for the moment?

And Lucy needs to back off a bit.

“Well, well, how polite,” the white-haired old man said. “I am the Master of the Adventurer’s Guild’s Revelis Kingdom Branch, Nidas. The person next to me is Meigen.”

“… My name is Meigen,” he says. “A pleasure.”

I nodded lightly at their greetings.

Nidas is probably as old as my father. His pure white hair and beard as well as the deep wrinkles carved into his face tell me his age.

Although his words and his expression were gentle, he’s got a solid body and gait, and I can see that he’d conditioned himself or was still training.

He is the Master of the Adventurer’s Guild, so maybe he was an Adventurer in the past.

On the other hand, the tall man beside him, Meigen, gave me a very unsubtle suspicious gaze after his brief greetings.

He’s a little younger than me. He’s got neatly coiffed indigo hair slicked totally back, and sharp eyes I can see through his glasses.

Hmm, this gaze. I remember it when I first met Henblitz.

Well, even if I was recommended by Selena, you would wonder if an old man like me suddenly pops up out of nowhere.

Moreover, the matter was training new adventurers.

They were looking at me to determine whether they could entrust the precious lives of their adventurers to me, some of whom could become quite important. Whether or not I fit the bill in Meigen’s eyes, it seemed justified for me that he’d shoot such a gaze at me.

“If you are the recommendation of the ‘Dragon Sword’ Lysandera and the Head Magus, it is not my place to comment,” Nidas said. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Ah, I see…” I said.

No, I want you to comment.

You seem like you’ve got something on your mind for a while. I’m just worried here.

“Please wait,” Meigen said.

We were exchanging greetings with that anxiety building up inside.

And Meigen just spoke so coldly.

Nidas sighed. “Meigen,” he said, “is something the matter?”

“It is great that he’s been recommended by two distinguished figures. But we, the Adventurer’s Guild, have yet to see the power of Sir Gardenant ourselves,” Meigen said. “We rely on uncertain information for our precious adventurers, I’m a little concerned about leaving their lives to him.”

Meigen simply states the facts.

Good on you, Meigen. It’s just the way it is.

“Hey, you, are you saying you can’t trust my master?” Selena asked.

“Ooh?” Lucy snapped. “Aren’t my words credible, Meigen?”

Selena’s aura changes. It looks like she’s about to punch someone’s lights out.

And on a related note, Lucy started to radiate disturbing energy.

Please stop. I don’t want anything like this.

“Not at all,” Meigen said. “I’d just like Sir Gardenant to tell me, simply, whether or not he is qualified.”

However, even under pressure from these two top dogs, Meigen’s posture doesn’t break.

His gaze pierces straight through me.

I’m not scared but from his eyes, I can see he has his fellow Adventurers in mind than hostility.

“Hmm. Meigen, what would you have him do?” Nidas asked calmly, remaining neutral by Meigen’s side.

Nidas and Meigen seem to be exact opposites but that’s probably how they acted so well as the Adventurer’s Guild’s Heads.

It seems the two of them have come to terms with their differences in opinions and each other.

“I heard that Sir Gardenant mentored the ‘Dragon Sword’ Lysandera,” Meigen said. “If you can arrange a duel between the two of them, I will come to understand Sir Gardenant’s abilities.”

“Huh?” I ask reflexively.

Seriously?

I don’t feel like I had a hope of winning against a Black Rank Adventurer. Well, it may have been a good show to test my abilities but I feel sorry for cutting down their high expectations.

“Ooh, that sounds good,” Lucy said. “I want to see that, too.”

Lucy, don’t go along with this, you bitch!

“If that’s what makes you feel better, I don’t mind,” Selena said. “I can’t help it if it’s a duel with my master. I’ll give it my all.”

Stop. Don’t give it your all. This old man is dead.

“I see,” Nidas said. “Would that be alright with you, Mr. Gardenant?”

“… Yes, it is,” I said.

I’ve got no choice but to say yes.

The air doesn’t let me refuse. Selena is also motivated.

Fucking hell. How did this happen?