Bonus Short Story

The Crown-wielder Turned Adventurer

“I’d like to register as an adventurer.”

“Hm?”

Misha, the catwoman receptionist of Brunhild’s adventurer’s guild, found her ears twitching towards the sudden voice from in front of the counter. Funnily enough, however... she couldn’t see anyone. At least not until she peered down, and noticed a small girl standing there.

“I’d like to register as an adventurer!”

“Huh?”

The voice belonged to what seemed to be a five or six-year-old girl. She was standing next to a small knightly-looking creature that stood about the same height as her. It was a girl and a Gollem. The girl was named Norn, and her Gollem was the Crown, Chronos Noir.

“Uhm... H-How old are you?”

Strictly speaking, the guild had no formal restriction on the age you had to be to apply to join. Hypothetically even a baby could sign up if they paid the fee. But as a general unspoken rule, most receptionists barred entry for anyone who looked under twelve. Misha herself clearly saw this child as entering potential danger, and was trying to ward her off.

“I’ll have you know I’m fifteen years old.”

“...Are you?”

The girl folded her arms and began to grumble. Misha wasn’t quite convinced by her words. Meanwhile, a bearded patron of the guild stumbled over with a grin on his face.

“Gahaha! Why don’t you go home to mommy and help with her chores? Leave adventuring to people who can handle it, kiddo.”

In a flash, the little service bell atop the counter was swiped by the girl and launched into the man’s face. He didn’t take that especially well.

“Y-You little... What the hell was that?!”

“I could ask the same of you, asshole!”

“Shut it! Don’t go takin’ us adventurers lightly!”

“Gah...”

A couple angry-looking guys stumbled up from their chairs. They seemed to be companions of the man who’d been struck in the face. Among adventurers, there were those eager to prove themselves, and some of them would even go so far as to challenge children.

“You little shit! Get outta here!”

One of the men violently lumbered over to Norn, intent on grabbing her.

“Ghh... Noir, suppress these morons!”

“...Affirmative.”

The Black Gollem let out an electronic-sounding sigh as Norn drew a magic gun from her waist. This weapon, known as a spellcaster, could launch bolts of lightning at enemies with the pull of a trigger. That’s exactly what she did to the man chasing her. He fell to the ground, lightly toasted. Noir then ran towards the remaining ruffians and punched each of them in the belly, knocking them to the ground easily.

“Wh-What the heck...? You’re a crazy powerful kid...”

Misha looked on in confusion. The men that had just been so easily dispatched by this child were all blue-ranked adventurers: they were pretty experienced.

“Hm... You flatter me.”

Norn grinned, holstering her spellcaster before patting her hands together.

“My, my... What’s this?” A voice rang out.

“G-Guildmaster?”

Much to Misha’s surprise, Guildmaster Relisha had appeared in the room. The gorgeous elf was clearly curious about the little girl and her companion, given the way her eyes scanned the duo.

“Are you the boss here?” barked the small girl.

“That I am. What do you want?”

“I came to register as an adventurer. Can you help? I know the Grand Duke personally.”

Norn’s words caused Relisha to grin and raise an eyebrow. She turned to the receptionist.

“Misha, get her registered, would you?”

“E-Eh?! I-Is that okay to do...?”

“You saw how she and her little friend pushed around some blue-ranks, right? This is fine.”

Relisha grinned again, and Norn returned the expression with a fearless glare.

“Glad you’re reasonable. Now, what’s the best kind of job to get a lot of money, fast?”

“If it’s money you want, then you should delve into the dungeon islands we’ve set up. We’ll buy anything you find in there at a reasonable price.”

“Alright, then. After I finish registering, point me in the right direction.”

“N-No problem! Uhm... Here! Fill in this, and... This...”

Misha started showing Norn the forms to fill out, but there was a problem. Norn was from another world, and didn’t speak the common language of the world she was in. In the end, Misha had to fill it all out for her.

From the next day onwards, an absurd amount of raw materials started being brought into the adventurer’s guild on a daily basis.

Bonus Column

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

Merry Christmas!! Probably? It might well be Christmas when you’re reading this, but I can’t be sure. At the very least, in Japan, by the time this volume releases things should be kicking into the festive mood. Right now, at the time of writing, there isn’t any snow or anything, though. Frankly I prefer the cold to the heat... So I’m waiting quite eagerly for Christmas.

Hm... Christmas, though... I used to work in a bakery, just as a part-timer. We always got busy around the holiday season. I obviously wasn’t the one doing any of the baking, but it was still tough for me too! Christmas turned that little bakery into a warzone... Do you know how many pots I had to scrub? Over, and over again?

I also worked wholesale once, and toy sales just skyrocketed around Christmas, even as soon as November. We sent out crate after crate to stores all over the place, but the orders just kept coming in... Another fierce battle, I’ll have you know.

I always worked part-time jobs around the holidays, and my actual Christmases always ended up being a bit understated and lonely... I’m a stay-at-home kinda guy. Sendai has this yearly event called the Pageant of Starlight. On December 12th, they light up the whole city in beautiful sparkling lights. I’ve never actually been to the switch-on event... I always just sit at home watching it on TV, remarking about how pretty it is. Unfortunately, much like the Tanabata Festival, I’m too much of a shut-in to go out to events like that...

Time goes by fast, though... There’s only about a week between the end of Christmas, and the beginning of New Years. At the beginning of this year I had my fortune read, and the reading said I’d have great luck. Looking back on everything that happened, I’d say that was pretty accurate. Well... There was that time I got hospitalized, which wasn’t so good... There was also this other incident where I came down with a serious sickness and my friend had to take me to the emergency clinic. Turns out I had the influenza virus, which I was not vaccinated against. Oops.

I’m not exactly a superstitious man, I don’t put a lot of stock into having my fortune read, but I do see patterns sometimes... I suppose that’s how they’re made, though. Either way, I do enjoy it... I remember on that day I also bought a keychain at the shrine, and told myself that I’d start collecting keychains... But it didn’t take me long to give up, ahaha...

That first shrine visit of the year was still fun, though. I’d like to go again next year. I’d offer up a prayer to God, but maybe he’ll just reprimand me for not sticking to my resolutions.

Regardless, if it’s the season where you are... Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year! Let’s keep on enjoying In Another World With My Smartphone far into the future!