The discussion about what to do with the Fox Inn’s specialty products resulted in us deciding to head to Gazenran Tower once more.
This was because, for Silvia to create cosmetics, the Aeris Water found in Gazenran Tower was deemed the best ingredient.
While the final product would be entirely up to Silvia’s discretion, it was rare for her to confidently take on such a task, so no one was worried about it.
However, even for Silvia, new cosmetics wouldn’t be created overnight.
Therefore, we decided to stay in the tower to procure materials whenever needed.
Shurein, Silvia, and Floria were this time’s members, and Wanri was accompanying them.
Naturally, with Kousuke participating, Kouhi and Mitsuki were with them as well.
Since a considerable period of stay was anticipated, Peach, who was pregnant, and Colette, who was in the midst of child-rearing, would be staying behind at Amamiya Tower this time.
There were several places within Gazenran Tower where Aeris Water could be collected, but this time, we decided to collect it from the spring in the temple on the 70th Layer.
The biggest reason for this was that there were no adventurers capable of reaching that floor.
In addition, there was the objective of using the temple as a temporary base.
It was too daunting to spend multiple days merely with tents set up in a place where high-level monsters appeared.
With a building like a temple, we could utilize it to create a permanent barrier using magic tools that Kousuke had made.
It would be far too much trouble to stay at an inn in the town at the foot of the tower and travel back and forth to the 70th Layer numerous times.
For these reasons, Kousuke and the others passed through the teleportation gate with various tools loaded into the carriage, but they were immediately met with a setback.
Soon after entering the entrance, which had been made larger to accommodate the many adventurers who tackled the tower by carriage, some adventurers who were waiting in line for the teleportation gate started to make a commotion.
“Hey, hey. Aren’t those guys from the ‘Fang of the Divine Wolf’!?”
“Whoa!? No way!”
“What are you guys doing here? You’ve been awhile. Were you in Amamiya?”
Upon seeing Kousuke, or rather, Kouhi, they started saying such things, and the place was soon enveloped in a minor commotion.
Then, an employee of the branch, noticing the disturbance, stopped Kousuke and the others, who were trying to pass by with an innocent expression.
“Um, excuse me!? Are you truly members of the ‘Fang of the Divine Wolf’!?”
It was a slight miscalculation that they were noticed so easily, but Kousuke had no intention of hiding, so he readily nodded.
“Yes. We are?”
“U-um, I’m terribly sorry! Could we have a moment of your time?”
Kousuke tilted his head at the employee’s words.
He didn’t understand what they could possibly need with them, who had just arrived at Seichun.
Seeing Kousuke’s puzzled expression, the employee hastily added, “Um, actually, we were told to stop everyone when you arrived… We should be getting word any moment now.”
As the employee spoke, he glanced at another employee. That employee then hurriedly ran off to another location.
Sensing that they were acting on orders from above, Kousuke looked around and suggested, “It’s fine to wait, but wouldn’t it be better to move from this spot first? You’re blocking the teleportation gate.”
The spot where Kousuke and the others were currently positioned with their carriage was at the entrance/exit of the room with the teleportation gate.
Even though it was made larger, it wasn’t wide enough for multiple carriages to pass each other.
“Ah!? R-right. Please come this way.”
Perhaps due to being flustered, the employee finally realized this and guided Kousuke and the others to a place where the carriage would not be an obstruction.
Soon after, another employee hurried over to Kousuke’s carriage.
“We apologize for making you wait! Also, we’ll take responsibility for looking after the carriage here.”
“Is that so? Thank you.”
“Yes!”
Kousuke found it a bit strange that all the employees seemed so rigid, but he ignored it for the time being and entrusted them with the carriage.
Then, he walked through the branch building as they were guided.
It seemed that word of Kousuke and the others’ arrival had already spread, as everyone they passed was paying attention to them.
Judging from the conversations they overheard, it appeared that Kousuke and the others, who had formed the ‘Fang of the Divine Wolf,’ were being lauded as an incredible group at the Seichun branch.
After all, the guild that preceded the branch was the ‘Fang of the Divine Wolf,’ so in a sense, it was only natural.
In that regard, this commotion could be considered Kousuke and the others’ fault for showing up so casually without anticipating the situation.
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Kousuke and the others were shown into the Branch Manager’s room, all the while being the focus of the adventurers’ attention.
The man appointed as Branch Manager after Kousuke’s departure was named Donovan.
His imposing physique made it clear that he was a man who had lived his life on the front lines as an adventurer.
Standing beside him was a slender woman, Adele, who served as the Deputy Branch Manager and Donovan’s assistant.
After exchanging introductions, Donovan, without any preamble, got straight to the point.
“Well, I apologize for making you come all this way. Normally, we would be the ones visiting you.”
Kousuke could only offer a bitter smile at his words, which clearly implied that he was about to ask for a big favor.
After all, the Seichun branch was established due to the conspicuous actions of Kousuke and his group.
Even if it wasn’t the original entity, their considerable strength was already known to some extent.
“No, bringing the Branch Manager himself would only amplify the commotion, so please refrain from doing so.”
“Haha, that’s true as well.”
Satisfied with Kousuke’s response, Donovan nodded several times and turned his gaze to Adele, indicating that she would provide the detailed explanation.
Once everyone had settled onto the sofa, Adele began speaking.
“There are two reasons why we asked Kou-sama and the others to come here: one is a request, and the other is something we wish to discuss.”
While the request was one thing, Kousuke felt that once he heard the other matter, there might be no turning back, but he nodded and urged her to continue.
“The request is quite simple. We would like Corry-sama to go to the Arena Guild and participate in matches.”
“Corry?”
“You may have forgotten, but Corry-sama is still the number one ranked player. Even if the regulations allow it, some people are getting impatient with Corry-sama’s continuous absence and are demanding that the rank be relinquished…”
“Ah, I see.”
Kousuke understood the situation somewhat and nodded deeply.
Frankly, for both Kousuke and Kouhi, the Arena Rank was merely a tool used to establish the branch, and they wouldn’t mind relinquishing it at any time if asked.
However, judging by Adele’s tone and expression, it didn’t seem like something they could agree to so easily.
“For starters, would it be alright to just show his face?”
“…To be honest, I don’t think that will be enough, but could we at least try that for now?”
Kousuke returned a wry smile to Adele, who had an indecipherable expression on her face.
Even if they rejected the Arena Guild’s demands as a matter of personal preference for an adventurer, the Arena Guild had been making requests repeatedly.
Adele, who understood the Arena Guild’s circumstances to some extent, felt that some sort of resolution was needed if possible.
“Understood. Corry, is that okay with you?”
“If Kou-sama says so.”
Seeing Kouhi nod easily, Adele visibly relaxed.
And so, it has been confirmed that we will be inadvertently caught up in a commotion immediately upon our return to Seichun.
First, the Arena Guild. Kouhi will be handling this matter primarily by herself.
The other matter will be discussed in the next chapter.
