The girl who introduced herself as Suzu had black hair and wore clothing similar to the Chinese dresses that Sera often wore. Not only her hair color, but her clothing was also unusual. Was she from Traage? However, Chinese dresses are extremely rare, with the only ones seen being those made by Efil. How could she have one? No, more than that, the name Suzu sounded familiar…?
“Yes, she is the adventurer I chose as the final candidate, Suzu-chan. She kindly took time off work to come all the way from the distant Eastern Continent for this very day? You should be thankful!”
“No, no, no, no! It was originally me who made an unreasonable request to the Boss. Please don’t worry about it at all! Besides, they even sent someone to replace me…”
It seemed Boss Shin and Suzu knew each other. Even so, she came from the Eastern Continent? If she’s such a skilled adventurer, I should know her… Hmm, I still have no recollection. But I have a feeling I’ve met her somewhere before, and heard her name. Let’s see, where was it?
“Hey, hey, Boss Shin! Did you choose such a thin, small girl as a candidate?! I couldn’t help but worry if she’s eating properly! Eat more meat, meat!”
“Uh, umm…”
“Oddrad-kun, please don’t scare Suzu-chan too much. While her small stature and timid personality might make her seem a bit unreliable, she’s actually a top-tier adventurer, you know? Well, she’s currently in charge of the Guild Master’s job in Traage.”
“Huh? The Guild Master of Traage? Traage, you say? Is that a major country on the Eastern Continent? At that age, to be the head of a branch in a major country…?”
“Yes, that Traage. Suzu-chan, like me, is one of the few active adventurers. She has more legal restrictions than ordinary adventurers due to her position, but she possesses skills that more than compensate for them. I guarantee it.”
“Tch, even with your guarantee, Boss Shin, that girl will probably be troubled.”
“Hmm? Did you say something, Paul-kun~?”
“Don’t come at me with a smile like that! It’s going to give me trauma!”
It seemed the three top adventurers also didn’t know Suzu. Well, neither did I, a resident of the Eastern Continent. That’s natural—wait, the Guild Master of Traage? In that case, is she the successor to Guild Master Mist?
“…Ah.”
That’s right! I knew I heard that name somewhere. I heard it when Guild Master Mist was appointed to the Adventurer Guild in Pars! I see, that explains it. Alright, I’ll go say hello.
“Guild Master Suzu, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard about you from Guild Master Mist. They say you’re a very promising individual.”
“N-no, no! I’m nowhere near Kelvin-sama, and I’m just a lowly A-Rank adventurer! Please don’t use such formal language. Just call me Suzu…!”
“No, but…”
“Please!”
“Ah, yes… No, I understand, Suzu.”
Hmm, hmm? Is this reaction not strange?
“Hey, hey, hey, is it okay for the Guild Master of a major country’s jurisdiction to be like that?! And why are you acting so submissive to Kelvin?”
“Fufufu, compared to that, Oddrad-kun is quite bold to call you by your name from the start. Well, that’s understandable. Suzu-chan is an enthusiastic fan of Kelvin-kun.”
“F-fan~~?!”
I involuntarily harmonized with Paul-kun and the other two.
“A-are you a fan of Kelvin-san? A fan of Kelvin-san, not me?!”
Suzu was not the only one flustered; Shinjir was too. Don’t worry, I’m flustered too, so we’re even.
“A-actually, yes. Um, do you remember this autograph?”
Suzu gently presented a piece of colored paper she was holding to me. On the paper, clearly my name, written as if unaccustomed to signing, and the phrase “To Suzu-chan” were inscribed. Both were in my handwriting.
“Th-this…!?”
“That’s terrible. I’m confident I can write better than that.”
“No, I can write the most valuable autograph. I bet on it.”
The bystanders were incredibly loud. However, this was irrefutable proof that I had given Suzu an autograph. From the look of it, written for the first time, the timing must have been very early on. In that case…
“—Perhaps it was from when I was promoted to A-Rank?”
“Y-yes! That’s right! That was when I was Suzu! You remembered!”
“U-uhm. I’m sorry, but I only know *that* Suzu…”
When I was promoted to A-Rank, I think it was around the time I fought Victor and made Sera an ally. I can’t believe it was before Rion was even around. It feels so nostalgic.
“Back then, I was on an assignment in Pars as an adventurer from Traage. The moment I saw Kelvin-san, something clicked…! I had to return to Traage afterward due to my ongoing request, but I couldn’t forget about Kelvin-san. I confirmed the completion of my request in Traage and rushed back to Pars… but…”
“To Pars? Umm, I think we headed to Traage after that, don’t you?”
“That’s right. Unfortunately, we must have just missed each other…! I searched for you discreetly around Pars and, swallowing my pride, asked at the Guild, and only then did I learn that Kelvin-sama had gone to Traage…! I then returned to Traage again…”
“Ah, um, I think I get it. You missed each other there too.”
“Yes…”
Suzu’s shoulders slumped. Yeah, I don’t have any memory of meeting Suzu after that.
“After that, I didn’t give up and traveled to various places to meet Kelvin-sama again. Just chasing you felt a bit embarrassing, so I flew around taking on requests as well. When I heard Kelvin-sama went to Gaun, I went to Gaun, then to Trisen, Delamis, and back to Pars again— I visited all the countries and dungeons Kelvin-sama visited. But my luck seems to be truly terrible…”
“Th-that much? Hmm? No, wait a moment. You’ve been to everywhere I’ve been? Even Pars’s ‘Shrine of Puppets,’ Traage’s ‘Dragon Sea Cave,’ Delamis’s ‘Heroic Spirit’s Underground Mausoleum,’ and so on?”
“Eh? Ah, yes. I explored those areas too. Getting permission in Delamis was quite difficult, so I did it under the guise of an investigation as Guild Master. After that, Gaun’s ‘Grotto of the Divine Beast’ was after I became Guild Master. However, I knew Kelvin-sama wouldn’t be there at that time, so I went on some of my rare days off for a pilgrimage. I even tried hunting monsters and using them as ingredients in the place where Kelvin-sama and his companions are said to have grilled meat— I really enjoyed it!”
S-pilgrimage…!? Well, they are the highest-level dungeons in their respective countries… And her methods are quite wild. How is this timid? Could this girl be an incredible talent, despite her appearance? No, wait. There’s still something I need to confirm.
“From what you’ve said, I don’t hear any mention of a party. Did you perhaps tackle them solo, Suzu?”
“Of c-of course! I couldn’t possibly form a party for a trip to chase after someone, it would be too embarrassing!”
…Could this girl be S-Rank in terms of skill?
Her first appearance was in episode 39.
