A restaurant in Gaun Country.
It had been a long, arduous journey. One step forward, and the grilled skewers would disappear; two steps, and the meat buns would vanish. The provisions only increased with each stop to resupply, yet the Goddess’s momentum did not wane. Upon arriving at the restaurant we had reserved, an indescribable sense of accomplishment washed over me. Honestly, I had underestimated Melfina’s potential.
“…Even so, she’s still eating a lot, isn’t she?”
“Mofya? Fa-n-fa-fe-fyo?”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
Dishes were brought out in a flurry by the staff, and a mountain of plates piled up on the table. Melfina, no longer showing any signs of embarrassment, was happily devouring the food with her usual cheerful smile, savoring every bite. This was a restaurant we had asked the Guild to reserve in advance, one of the top establishments in Gaun Country. Not only were their signature meat dishes excellent, but they also had the vegetables Dahak had requested. The chefs were all top-tier in their field. It was also a place highly recommended by Ange, who was currently working hard. Just like with the Spirit Song Inn, Ange’s recommendations never failed.
“Still, I thought I was used to it after seeing it in the Grand Canyon, but seeing Mel’s eating habits again after so long is astonishing.”
“Sabato, you’re saying another rude thing…”
“No, I’m not being sarcastic! I’m actually impressed!”
“It’s true, Mel-nee today is eating more than usual. Were you that hungry?”
“I expended more energy, so I got hungry. But in the end, I’m happy I could eat so much.”
Yeah, seeing that smile makes it obvious. However, I wish she’d rein it in a bit. It’s not a problem financially, but still—
“Oh, hey. Isn’t that ‘Smile’ Mel over there?”
“Smile? You mean the one rumored to be challenging all sorts of eating contests at restaurants?”
“Yeah, apparently she got that nickname because she never stops smiling, no matter how much she eats. Her win record is perfect, and she’s undefeated, so people are saying she might be the strongest ever in that scene. Still, that amount is insane…”
“Her pace isn’t slowing down; it’s actually speeding up… And she’s got a great smile! That nickname ‘Smile’ isn’t for nothing!”
—The attention of the other customers was completely focused on our table.
“Bro, should I shut them up?”
“Stop it, it’ll just cause more of a commotion.”
I immediately rejected Dahak’s ominous suggestion as he munched on raw vegetables. His behavior patterns are starting to resemble Nagua’s.
“By the way, Mel, what were you doing somewhere I didn’t know about? What were you ‘challenging’?”
“…Huh?”
Ah, her smile wavered.
“Um, well… I was just taking a walk around town, and I ran out of money, and I got a little hungry, so I just…”
“Wait, wait. I’m sure I gave you plenty of money. What happened to that?”
Financially speaking, I periodically gave her enough allowance to buy the highest-quality items at an arms and armor shop. Sera would use hers for fishing and musical instruments, while Efil used hers for sewing materials. However, Melfina’s room had only the bare minimum of furniture, and we provided the materials when she made decorations. There shouldn’t have been anything that would cost so much that she’d run out of money. It’s not like she could spend that much on daily necessities alone. What was she using it for?
“I was just buying snacks, and before I knew it, it was all gone…”
“You spent all that money on food? Just how much do you usually eat outside…?”
“There are days when I occasionally get overwhelmingly hungry. It’s embarrassing…”
So, on top of eating that much, she was also eating massive portions at the mansion during our three meals a day… What can I say? Seeing how much she ate today, it’s a believable story.
“I’m not angry, you know. I just want you to consult me if you ever have trouble.”
“You…!”
It’s a matter of life and death for her, after all. Besides, well, I’m about to become her husband. As a man, I want her to rely on me. For now, I’ll have Efil increase her daily food portions. At this rate, Melfina will gain renown as a competitive eater.
“Hey, hey, I’ve been wondering about this for a while, but… haven’t all of your titles become a bit unusual? Like Mel-nee’s ‘Smile’ that the other customers mentioned, and my title changed to ‘Black Meteor’ too.”
“Oh, Rion too? My title also became ‘Empress’ without me realizing it.”
“Hmph, mine has changed as well. Hmmm, ‘Sword Elder’?”
“Older Kel! Does this mean what I think it means?”
Rion looked up at me with hopeful eyes. Well, perhaps it does. I only noticed that Rion and the others’ titles had changed after their evolutions were complete. They were likely changed while I was asleep. The ones who received this change were Kuro, Gerard, Efil, Sera, Rion, Alex, and Melfina. My publicly acknowledged allies. This means—
“Yes, this might be it, Rion-chan!”
“Whoa, you startled me!? Ange, since when!?”
Ange, who should have departed for the Gaun Guild, was now behind my chair without me noticing. Even though I was caught off guard, being ambushed from behind again, after Pars… It’s truly amazing that Ange doesn’t possess the ‘Stealth’ skill. It’s a waste to have her as just a Guild receptionist.
“Fufufu, Sera noticed, but Kelvin, an S-Rank Adventurer, is still slow, isn’t he? Oh, waiter, another bottle of wine, please.”
“That’s right. Kelvin is always lacking in some area. I’ll have another juice, please.”
“Shutra-chan and I will have refills too!”
“Ryuka-chan, I’m already full.”
“Don’t worry, Kelvin! I’m used to surprise attacks happening all the time. Mostly from Goma.”
Ouch, Sabato’s kindness stings my heart.
“G-g-g-going back to the earlier topic, you were fast. Did you finish your appearance at the Guild?”
“Yep. Well, the real purpose is different. It’s exactly what Rion-chan was talking about… Here, look at this.”
“A book? Um, the Adventurer’s?”
“That’s right! This is something the Adventurer’s Guild publishes around the time of naming ceremonies, and it lists famous adventurer parties. This time, you, Kelvin’s party, have been successfully included!”
Hmm? I don’t quite understand, but is that something amazing?
“You did it, Kelvin! As an S-Rank, it’s expected, but being listed in this directory is an honor for any adventurer! Even A-Rank adventurers are only listed if they’re truly famous!”
“It’s placed in Guilds all over the world, so you might even get requests from faraway lands.”
Faraway lands? Could they be coming from the Western Continent? Speaking of which, I wonder how Touya and the others are doing. I haven’t detected any response from the pendant I gave them, so they should be safe, but…
“Which brings us back to what I was saying earlier, with the recent Demon King incident, Efil-chan and Rion-chan have been officially recognized by the Guild for their sufficient abilities. They’ve been given titles! Naturally, this book also explains them.”
“Older Kel, hurry up and let me see! The titles!”
As soon as Ange finished explaining, Rion sat on my lap, ready. Even though her own Status already listed her title, she seemed incredibly curious about its origin.
“Whoa, they’re introducing us. This is quite emotional, Ojō-san!”
“Ah, um… This was edited before Dahak-san was recognized as a member of Kelvin’s party, so Dahak-san isn’t listed…”
“Th-that’s right. I don’t really mind, so it’s fine. Yeah…”
“E-e-excuse me… I’m really sorry…”
The mood suddenly turned somber. Did he want to be listed, Dahak?
“Well, well, why don’t you take a look. This is usually sold after the naming ceremony, but you’re considered ‘related personnel,’ so it’s special for you.”
When Ange handed me the directory, my companions, full of curiosity, naturally gathered around me. In the end, everyone’s curious about it, aren’t they? I can only pray that everyone’s titles don’t have unfortunate origins like Melfina’s.
As I casually flipped through the pages, I saw names of adventurers, their characteristics, and even explanations of their titles. …The word “danger level” caught my eye. This isn’t a bounty list, is it?
“Ah, I knew you’d be curious about that. For higher-ranked adventurers, their combat power is immense. It also serves as a warning to prevent various countries from doing foolish things.”
—Treated like explosives?
