There were many requests to collect magic stones at the Adventurer’s Guild. I hoped for other adventurers to participate and for the duration to be about a week.
The White Lily Corps, while I don’t like to brag, lacks coordination. In other words, their individual combat abilities are so high that they can’t synchronize with others and, at worst, will consider anyone in their way an enemy without distinction. I’d get a stomachache if something like that were working at a desk next to me.
However, I can’t just keep having a stomachache, so I want the members of the White Lily Corps to learn, even forcefully, the importance of risking their lives for others.
Guild receptionists are always either old men or beautiful women, by design. Without hesitation, I chose the old man who looked like he had a lot of experience. The old man chose a duration of about a week, ten people, and payment by commission.
No problem. Four of us are participating, and three others have already expressed interest. If we don’t reach the quota by today, we’ll still go out with seven people. It feels surprisingly vague, but is that a prejudice against adventurers? A captain shouldn’t think like that.
When I returned to the inn, I told Alana that the collection would take more than a week, and I gave her a parting gift from my pocket. It’ll be lonely not seeing her for a while, but Alana won’t cause any trouble, so I hope she takes her time and dotes on her parents.
One change in plans was that Sophia was refused for medical assistance. They said they had enough manpower, but that just means there are many people who can use healing magic. Magic stones are profitable, and if this Lord is increasing the number of mages by giving back resources like that, he’s a fine person.
I’ll have Sophia come with us. Since it’s commission-based, adding one person should be fine. I’ll have Sophia do her best to make up for it.
After breakfast at the inn, we handed over the carriage to Alana, Orietta went to the alchemist’s, and we headed to the meeting place at the Castle Gate. Koatotemites has a warm climate and the weather is good today.
I’m excited, with a mixture of slight anxiety and great anticipation, about learning cooperation and consideration for others as the White Lily Corps.
When I arrived at the meeting place, five men were already waiting. Three were an adventurer team, and two were clients. The clients told us to call them Captain Dan and Vice-Captain Dennis. Both wore seasoned armor, carried short swords and small shields, and were about Priscilla’s height, which was frustrating as I had to look up at them.
Both had short hair and looked like friendly, dark-skinned men with gentle eyes, like people you’d find in southern countries, but their occasional sharp gazes hinted at their adventurer status.
The trio looked like youngsters. They were probably around my age. Their equipment was brand-new, and they had the look of recién minted adventurers, handsome men. They didn’t seem frivolous; instead, they had a dignified aura that suggested they would carry the future of adventurers on their shoulders. They’d look good standing next to Christine. Though I won’t give her away…
We formed a circle as the White Lily Corps and had a small girls’ gathering while I listened to Dan talk about adventurers. Indeed, there are many differences between adventurers and mercenaries, and just listening is educational. Dan, Dan, I have a better impression of this Dan.
The circle behind us was getting a bit noisy. I glanced back and saw the trio talking to Priscilla over her shoulder. Was it a pickup line? I didn’t think they were the frivolous type. I sensed a subtle shift in Christine’s expressionless face.
How to handle this situation…
“Christine, look over here. Look at me…”
With Godspeed, I cut into their girls’ gathering and stood in front of Christine, trying to get her attention focused on me. Even though I was standing right in front of her, she was so focused on the pickup artist as if she couldn’t see me at all.
At times like this, a kiss would be enough to draw her attention, but I’d rather not be turned into a bloody mess! I cupped Christine’s cheeks with both hands, making her lips pucker like a fish. Even her silly face is beautiful.
“…Cap, Captain.”
She finally looked at me. Ignore the pickup artist and look at me. Good-looking guys are disappointing when they don’t talk.
“Don’t get in the way.”
Pushing Priscilla aside, the disappointing guy entered the circle and grabbed my shoulder from behind, refusing to let go. Stop it, this is a circle of death!
“Get out of here.”
What! Priscilla, what did you just say!? Was that really Priscilla’s voice… was that really Priscilla’s voice!?
I trembled with joy! Priscilla spoke to me. Priscilla, who I thought only thought of attacking, is holding a conversation. This could be a turning point for the White Lily Corps. Years from now, I’ll remember Priscilla’s conversation today and think, “Ah, that was…” I’m in history now! I’ve grown. I’m so happy I could cry.
“Captain seems happy.”
That’s right, Rufina. Priscilla is learning to communicate. Priscilla, who I thought only considered attacking, is having a conversation. There’s nothing that makes me happier.
“Yes, I’m very happy…”
“Ah, my hand slipped.”
With a light impact on my shoulder, a black shadow fell between me and Rufina. We both looked to see whose hand it was.
“Three-second rule.”
Turning around, I saw the disappointing guy, contorted backward and bleeding from where his left hand used to be. Priscilla… was whistling, as if she had nothing to do with it.
Was the conversation just a hallucination? Her hand didn’t slip. Besides, she drew her sword, cut upward from below, wiped off the blood, sheathed her sword, and then her hand “slipped”? No lawyer could get her acquitted.
“Rufina! Pick up that hand…”
I saw her pick it up. But I didn’t see her sucking blood from the cut. Is this idiot? Don’t eat fallen hands. Even children during the post-war food shortage wouldn’t suck blood from a fallen hand.
“It’s not tasty.”
I snatched the hand from Rufina and pinned the flailing, screaming disappointing guy to the ground. If we reattach it quickly, it’ll be fine.
“Sophia, hurry and fix it!”
“What!?”
The conversation isn’t making sense. If I went to a hospital and told someone to fix it, they’d say “What!?” That “What!?” means “Why should I have to fix it for you?” doesn’t it?
“Sophia, quickly!”
I handed the severed hand to Sophia and, covered in blood, held down the disappointing guy who was screaming in pain.
“You’re so noisy.”
Sophia said quietly while helping me press her foot firmly against his face.
“Be quiet. You should consider yourself lucky you weren’t killed by the Captain when you attacked her hand.”
Sophia’s voice was lower than I’d ever heard, sending shivers down my spine for a different reason.
“It’s fixed.”
Sophia said, her voice like a bird’s chirp. …Which one is your true self?
The trio fled without thanking her for the fix. Wait, wait a minute.
“Sophia, wasn’t that disappointing guy’s palm facing the wrong way?”
“Yes.”
“Will it heal?”
“If I cut it off and reattach it, it will be fine.”
What did I come here to do again?
