Volume 7, Chapter 22 – Laxyphinia

I thought the adventurer’s guild would be a rough-and-tumble place like a tavern, but it’s surprisingly formal?

Unlike the more common stone buildings of this world, the three-story building before them was constructed entirely of dark brown wood, giving it a striking appearance. Furthermore, since the guild’s doors were open, Yisi could clearly see the interior layout—spacious and bright. On the left was a notice board area with various quests posted, and on the right was a counter for handling business. Neither the walls nor the floor had the deep black color characteristic of old wooden floors; everything was kept quite clean.

In the notice board area, a large group of adventurers were loudly conversing and freely enjoying drinks provided by the host. It seemed that in addition to allowing adventurers to accept and complete quests, the guild also served as a recreational space for them.

“As I thought, they’re all celebrating yesterday’s victory.”

Although she had already expected as much.

Muttering to herself, Yisi led her companions into the bustling adventurer’s guild.

“A toast to Lord Dominic!”

“A toast to the treasure of the thirteenth floor! Hahahaha!”

As soon as they entered, cheers reached Yisi’s ears. The low-level adventurers gathered on the first floor were divided into two groups. The first was on the periphery, consisting of ordinary adventurers not exceeding level 10. The second group, surrounded by the first, consisted of the adventurers who had participated in last night’s subjugation. These returning adventurers were enjoying a hero’s welcome, regaling the crowd with tales of their battle with the Frost Spider. Their audience’s expressions shifted from relaxed to tense, and then from tense to relieved as the stories unfolded.

In addition, just like the adventurers Yisi had seen in the city of Antonio, their equipment was very simple. Although they weren’t carrying weapons, a single glance at their thin armor, which offered almost no defensive effect, was enough to tell that being an adventurer was indeed a very poor profession.

Of course, Yisi liked such scenes. When she was running the Margaret tavern, if it weren’t for the need for blood, she would have chosen to recruit many people like this who loved to boast about their adventures. It would bring a lively, vibrant feeling to the tavern.

“It stinks.”

Clicking her tongue, Camilla covered her nose and leaned closer to Yisi.

Just as Camilla said, the adventurers exuded a foul odor of sweat and beasts. Water was extremely scarce in Gota, and most people only bathed twice in their entire lives. Although these adventurers might encounter water sources in the labyrinth, their slovenly habits meant that even if they washed their bodies, a lingering smell of sweat always remained. So when this group of people gathered in the adventurer’s guild, the smell of sweat became even more concentrated. To make matters worse, they were drinking, and the aroma of alcohol combined with their body odor to create an indescribable, stomach-churning stench.

“There’s nothing to be done about it…” Mary said with a bashful expression, as if feeling embarrassed for the adventurers, or perhaps making excuses for her past self. “Back in Celtic City, everyone smelled like this. Other than you, Master, I’ve never met a second person who could bathe every day…”

“Do you bathe every day now, Mary?”

“Eh?” For some reason, a guilty look flashed in Mary’s eyes, and her purple gaze darted to the side. “Y-yes, I do.”

“She’s been washed clean.”

Tiffany puffed out her chest with great pride.

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Guessing what Tiffany meant by “washed clean,” Yisi’s expression stiffened for a moment. Although Tiffany, as a slime, was indeed very talented at cleaning, did those two little ones do that every day?

Pursuing this further might turn into a public execution. It was better not to ask too many questions. For Mary and Tiffany, it was probably just childish play. When they grew a little older, they would realize the existence of shame… right?

“If it weren’t for that Blood Clan lady, we would have all died at the hands of the guardian. Not a single one of us would have escaped.”

“Really? Not even with Lord Dominic?”

“Would I lie to you? Lord Dominic was almost eaten by the spider. Luckily, the Blood Clan lady intervened in time and saved him. That guardian, which we all struggled to even scratch, was nearly vaporized by a blade of fire that flew from her flaming sword—I’m sure it was a Crimson Gold-grade magic weapon! She just waved it casually, and the guardian was in so much pain it almost ripped up the floor!”

“Teuton’s bragging again. I heard from the others who came back that Lord Dominic used the power the Marquis gave him in this subjugation. It must have been the Marquis’s power that defeated the guardian. The pureblood you’re talking about was just an assistant. My brother said that if there was a magic weapon that could vaporize a guardian with one sword strike, he’d eat his own iron hammer on the spot.”

“Isn’t Simon’s brother a master at forging magic weapons? If even he says so, it must have been Lord Dominic’s achievement, right? Speaking of which, I remember Lord Dominic had an agreement with the Marquis that if he used the power the Marquis gave him, he would have to leave Gota and return to the Marquis’s side to inherit the family business. Sigh, Lord Dominic was the best city lord I’ve ever seen. I’m really sad to see him go.”

Noticing that the topic had unknowingly strayed, the adventurer named Teuton’s face turned red as he argued.

“I-I saw the Blood Clan lady kill the guardian with my own eyes! I’m not lying! Lord Dominic did use the power the Marquis gave him, but he couldn’t kill the guardian. He even caused the guardian to use a powerful magic that nearly froze us all into ice sculptures. Lord Dominic even apologized to us on the way back, saying he almost got us all killed.”

“Teuton’s talking nonsense again. Let’s just ignore him and talk about the treasure. I saw the angel-like woman when I came in. A delicate thing like that looks like she has no strength. I don’t know what use she could be. Lord Dominic must have taken a huge loss.”

A huge loss?

Yisi, who had been walking, stopped and tilted her head in confusion.

Could it be that the reward wasn’t split evenly among everyone, but that Dominic had hired the adventurers, and the treasure belonged to him alone? If that was the case, then she could rest assured. Dominic was the righteous protagonist type; he would never do anything inhumane to the angel.

“Heh, you don’t know, do you? In places like the royal capital, they love these white-skinned, weak-looking women. If her chest was a little bigger, tsk tsk, she could definitely sell for this much.”

The man held up five fingers.

“Five gold coins?”

“You’re underestimating her. This is a genuine angel with wings. The people from the Church would definitely go crazy and buy her to worship.”

“She just has wings. Don’t harpies have wings too?”

“Can you even compare harpy wings to an angel’s? You haven’t seen an angel. Those white wings almost blinded me. They’re nothing like the dirty feathers of a harpy. I’m sure of it, that’s definitely an angel golem from the myths, the kind that can destroy an army on its own, a relic left by the gods. The number I’m talking about is five platinum coins. If the Church gets involved, it could even be five gem coins.”

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So they really are going to sell the angel.

Yisi sighed internally. If the angel was really going to be sold, she might as well buy her herself. Leaving aside whether she was related to the gods, it would be a terrible waste for that supreme, holy being to become a noble’s plaything. It felt like watching a historical artifact be destroyed before her very eyes.

Putting the adventurers’ conversation out of her mind, Yisi led her companions to the counter of the adventurer’s guild. Unlike a tavern’s cash register, the counter here was very similar to a bank teller’s counter on Earth. Although there was no glass panel separating the adventurers from the staff, the rest was basically the same.

Due to the celebration, there was only one young female staff member behind the spacious counter. Yisi walked up to her.

“Hello, we would like to register for an adventurer’s certificate. What procedures do we need to follow?”

“Eh?” As if witnessing something incredible, the female staff member’s eyes widened. Her gaze swept over Yisi’s group, and after a long pause, she stammered, “Y-you must be present in person to apply for an adventurer’s certificate.”

“We are the ones who want to apply.”

“Aren’t you noble young ladies? Miss, becoming an adventurer is not a game. If your families find out, they will surely reprimand you.”

With a troubled expression, the wry smile on the female staff’s face deepened.

A few adventurers sitting nearby also tried to dissuade them.

“Lafe is right. Being an adventurer is no fun job. If it weren’t for the money, we wouldn’t be doing this.”

“Yeah, noble ladies should go learn to dance. If you want to be an adventurer, take a look at this first.” The adventurer who spoke rolled up his sleeve. He was the only one present who was wearing a shirt. “See? This is a wound from when I first became an adventurer years ago. The flesh that was torn off still hasn’t grown back. Monsters don’t care if you’re a noble lady. It would be terrible if you got a scar on your face.”

What a kind group of adventurers.

If they were from somewhere else, they might have taken the opportunity to mock them. But they were mistaken; she was not a noble.

Yisi couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“Except for this companion of mine, none of us are nobles. We’ve already undertaken an adventure quest with a Mithril-rank adventurer back in the Hermion territory.”

“A Mithril-rank adventurer?! Isn’t that the same rank as Lord Dominic’s party?!” the adventurer who had rolled up his sleeve exclaimed. “Even I haven’t had such an honor. Have you young ladies already surpassed level 10?”

“I’m level 15~”

Mary replied to the adventurer’s question with a radiant smile.

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“Hahaha, that’s amazing—huh? Wait, level 15? This young lady is level 15? A girl who doesn’t even look like she’s of age is level 15?”

“It’s all thanks to My Lord.”

As if struck by a huge blow, the man’s mouth hung open for a long time. Of course, he couldn’t be blamed for overreacting. It was just that Mary’s talent was too high. Most of the adventurers on the first floor were below level 10, and most of them were already over thirty years old. To be faced with a girl who looked like she hadn’t even come of age but had already reached level 15, it was perfectly natural to be shocked—more than shocked, it was a feeling of shame.

“Uh, in that case… please state your names and your team’s name. An adventurer team starts at Wood-rank. Only after completing a certain number of quests can you apply to become a White Iron-rank adventurer. After that comes Mithril, Orichalcum, and Crimson Gold. The higher the rank of the adventurer team, the more privileges you enjoy in the adventurer’s guild. The simplest example is being able to enter the higher floors of the guild. In Gota, Wood-rank and White Iron-rank adventurers can only operate on the first floor. Mithril-rank can enter the second floor, and Orichalcum-rank can enter the third.”

“There’s no fourth floor for Crimson Gold-rank?”

Edith frowned, and the female staff member looked troubled.

“Crimson Gold-rank masters don’t come to a small place like ours…”

“Is that so.”

As if losing interest, Edith pursed her lips. Yisi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing Pepe didn’t say something like, “We’ll become Crimson Gold-rank one day, so you’d better start preparing,” otherwise it would have been too embarrassing.

However, although Yisi had dodged one bullet, she couldn’t avoid another unexpected incident. Because the adventurer who had rolled up his sleeve had spoken too loudly, all the conversing adventurers in the hall turned their gazes towards them. After sizing them up for a moment, their eyes focused on Pepe.

“A pureblood?”

Especially the adventurer named Teuton, who, with a look of immense gratitude, threw himself at Edith’s feet.

“Ooh!!! It must be the Blood Clan lady from last night! The long, silver hair, the wings at her waist! Although I couldn’t see her face because of the mask and cloak, her figure is almost identical! Lady, thank you for saving us yesterday!”

“Hmm?”

Edith raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion in her azure eyes. But Teuton didn’t notice this detail. Instead, he reached out, preparing to hug her leg. A look of disgust flashed across Edith’s face, and without hesitation, she kicked him in the chest. The flying Teuton sent a pile of tables and chairs crashing down.

“A mere domestic animal dares to touch me?”

This is bad.

Pepe had been so well-behaved recently that Yisi had let her guard down. But on second thought, it wasn’t that Pepe herself had changed, but that no one had provoked her, which was why she appeared so approachable.

Yisi quickly stepped forward, but Teuton ignored her outstretched hand. On the contrary, the joy on his face deepened. He scrambled to a distance just out of Edith’s kicking range and kowtowed repeatedly.

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“It really is the Blood Clan lady from last night! Even her tone is exactly the same! My wife was with me in the labyrinth yesterday. If you hadn’t intervened in time, our whole family would have died there. Thank you so much!”

“Um…”

Yisi was at a loss for words. Should she be relieved, or should she feel embarrassed? Her tone yesterday had indeed been very impolite, but that was to fit the persona. Unlike her, Pepe was genuinely cold. If this continued, who knew if Pepe would put Gungnir to the man’s neck. At that point, it might provoke a reaction from all the adventurers.

Frowning at the man’s strange behavior, as if remembering something, Edith looked up and nudged her chin towards Yisi with an annoyed expression.

Even if Pepe didn’t say it, Yisi could read the meaning in her eyes. It was saying, “You did this?”.

Her gaze involuntarily avoiding Pepe’s, Yisi coughed twice and stepped between Edith and the man.

“Ahem, sir, have you mistaken her for someone else? We haven’t even registered for an adventurer’s certificate yet.”

“What’s going on?”

Right after Yisi’s voice, Dominic and his team members descended the stairs from the second floor. But it wasn’t Dominic’s appearance that caught Yisi’s attention the most. What set off alarm bells in her mind was the maiden with angel wings and gem-like blue hair who followed behind him. Even without looking at the angel, Yisi could feel her scorching gaze fixed on her.

Have I been discovered?

If she were to be recognized here, it was hard to imagine what would happen.

But the more you don’t want something to happen, the more likely it is to happen. The angel-like maiden spread her snow-white wings and flew straight towards Yisi.

Ten meters.

Five meters.

One meter.

However, just as Yisi looked away, preparing to accept her fate, the angel did not stop in front of her. Instead, she brushed past Yisi and stopped in front of Pepe, who was standing behind her. She folded her wings, lowered her head, and knelt on one knee before Pepe.

“Trino Type 10043, Third-Rank Angel, Laxyphinia Trino. I am so glad to see you again, My Lord.”

Huh?

This time, it was Yisi’s turn to be frozen on the spot.