Act 1: Chapter 48: First Cash

Act 1: Chapter 48: First Cash

After returning to Aarburg City with Pomera, I turned over the proof of subjugation to the Adventurer’s Guild for the monetary reward.

「S-So much... I mean, how did you two hunt so much in less than half day?」

The Adventurer Guild’s staff was looking at Pomera and I both in wonder.

「Y-You two are... F-rank adventurer, right?」

The staff member asked while counting the pile of Goblin ears we’d submitted.

Her hand suddenly stopped for a moment, her entire body shivering upon laying her eyes upon an ear that was differently colored than the rest.

「I-Is this the ear of a Goblin Leader? And there’s three of them too! No matter how stro–」

「... It looks just like common Goblins, is there really different between the two?」

I asked casually since all of those Goblins were instakilled by me. I didn’t notice anything different about them aside from their colors.

The staff member showed an even more confused and bewildered expression upon hearing my question.

「You two... are you really the one who fought these Goblins? Didn’t you notice something unusual when you fought them? I mean, they’re not the kind of opponent that can be defeated by F-rank adventurers but...」

「Ah... nay, how should I say...」

Pomera stepped forward to chime in when she saw that I wasn’t able to answer the staff’s question.

「Y-Yes! Ehm... Kanata-san might have just registered herself but her strength is the real deal. T-That’s why... we came back faster than usual but, there might be a Goblin’s nest in the Southern side of the city...」

Pomera spread out her map on the counter and pointed out a location for the guild staff.

「... Sure enough, there are reports of abnormalities around that area. I see now... thank you very much for providing this information.」

Though the staff member had yet to be convinced by Pomera’s explanation, it seemed that she’d decided to not pursue the matter any further.

T-That was a close one...

As I thought, it’s hard to deceive someone who really understands the situation. I’m really glad to have Pomera’s assistance.

「Kanata-san, are you a former member of a private army or alchemists before you become an adventurer? I mean, based on today subjugation alone, you’re at least a D ra— nay, you might even be able to become C rank adventurer with ease.」

Though I don’t particularly care about my Adventure Rank, it might be a good idea to make that as one of my goals.

Though I’m not all that familiar with the merits and standards for the rank, let’s aim to become a C-rank adventurer for the time being.

「Trying to inflate your achievements, huh. Such good-for-nothing ba*stard.」

I turned around when I heard someone speak up from behind.

I saw the adventurer who was lined up behind me but, they quickly averted their gaze when it met mine.

... First that b*stard Octavio, then Roy, and now this guy. Why are there so many short-tempered guys around here?

「You again huh... so, what’s the matter with that?」

「I mean, leaving that kind of summoned spirit as it is without any regulations is a heavy crime in every city! And there’s no way its summoner spread their summoned spirit just to waste their mana! It’s definitely 《Evil God Apostle; Notes》’s familiar which he released since he can’t stroll around outside! That’s the only possibility, right! and yet... what in the hell is the meaning of this lack of vigilance just because you say that Notes’ appearance is a misinformation!?」

There was a man who was banging on the receptionist’s desk as he yelled loudly. Meanwhile, the receptionist continued to respond half-heartedly to the enraged man.

「As I’ve said before, this is the decision from the city lord... please don’t misunderstand, even we can’t do anything about his decision. Even if there are eyewitnesses, it doesn’t erase the possibilities that have said eyewitnesses only mistook someone else for Notes. I mean... is the reason you’re this scared because you see Notes with your own eyes?」

「... What did you say?」

The man looked like he was about to grab the receptionist by the collar at this point.

《Evil God Apostle; Notes》 ... a dangerous being who was certified as a 《JinMaRyuu》, huh.

Sure enough, the wanted poster that was previously pasted on the guild wall had already been taken down.

At that moment, two soldiers entered from the guild’s entrance, walking straight towards the reception desk and grabbed the enraged man from both sides.

「W-What’s the matter, you two!」

「It’s you again huh... please stop spreading false rumors everywhere which will disturb the citizens of this city... It seems you still don’t understand even after the previous warnings. Now you have to come with us.」

The man was then taken by the two soldiers towards the exit of the Adventurer’s Guild.

「Y-You’re going to regret your negligence! You guys, don’t you think that this is strange!? Any city that where 《Evil God Apostle; Notes》 appeared is annihilated in the blink of an eye! And yet, that sh*t for brains of a city lord, Garland, decided that the sighting of Notes is just a misinformation! At this rate, everyone in this city will die!」

The man shouted in rage.

The adventurer guild became noisy again.

Even I became nervous when hearing that.

Though I feel relieved upon hearing that the sighting of 《Evil God Apostle; Notes》 was a misunderstanding, I ended up wondering what his aim would be if he really had infiltrated this city.

「SHUT UP! STOP SPREADING BASELESS RUMOR THAT WILL ROUSE MORE ANXIETY!!」

The man was then knocked back by the soldiers. Before he had the chance to stand back up, he was dragged out of the guild while he was still flat on his back.

Even Pomera couldn’t help but show an anxious look on her face while gripping her cane tightly.

「... Is that person called Notes really that dangerous?」

Pomera blinked her eyes as though she couldn’t believe what I’d just asked her. It seems that she’d never expected that I had no idea about what that Notes was at all.

「《JinMaRyuu》 is... not a human. It’s a metaphor to illustrate how terrifying their power is that they can destroy a city with ease. Though that person from before told us to make a counter-plan... I don’t think it’ll work even if we know that Notes is in this very city. I mean, amongst the known 《JinMaRyuu》, some of them can massacre ten of thousands of people. Some can even destroy a country.」

They’re such dangerous creatures, huh...

In this crooked world that’s ruled by levels, the difference between levels was akin to the difference between a small man and a giant.

That’s why, catching 《JinMaRyuu》 wasn’t a simple matter.