Our dragon suddenly dived steeply from high above the town.
When I wondered why, I saw that there were many dangerous monsters dancing around us.
There were monsters with black shadows and wings, and gargoyles with enormous fangs, and many others.
(The sky above the town is sparkling. Is it a barrier?)
Indeed, the monsters couldn’t enter.
However, they were spitting something like acidic saliva, so it seemed we weren’t completely safe. But the Crystal Dragon dodged them gracefully.
“Watch out for sudden acceleration and stops!!”
With rough accelerations and sudden maneuvers, we landed on the rooftop of a reasonably impressive building in the town center, though it wasn’t that grand. It seemed to be a guild.
“Phew, we’ve arrived safely.”
“Thank you for your service. We appreciate it.”
“So, what about the return trip?”
“No, that’s fine.”
“Hmm?”
I see, normally one would book the return trip as well.
If there are no dragon tamers here, then that’s how it would be.
“Well then, I’ll go see if we have any guests.”
After dropping us off, the dragon went to rest at the rooftop water trough, and he headed inside.
Since there was only one path, we naturally followed, or rather, he headed to the toilet.
(I’m not going that far with you!)
It seemed to be a two-story building. On the first floor, there were two simple reception desks.
It wasn’t for heroes and general reception. There was one person at each.
Nina approached the woman first. She looked around thirty.
“Excuse me, we’ve just landed on the rooftop a moment ago.”
“Oh, then you must be heroes. Please, come in.”
“What is this reception for?”
“It doesn’t really matter which one anymore.”
Is there that little presence of people?
There’s a party of five, worn out, in the lobby.
“First, please tell us the current situation.”
“Yes, six months ago, the Demon Lord’s Castle, which normally doesn’t come here, descended. Normally, the Demon Lord’s Castle is a popular hunting ground, but its entrances are tightly closed.”
“You can’t get in?”
“The conditions for entering are posted, but…”
“Posted?!”
The Demon Lord would go to such lengths?!
“What is the text?”
“It seems to change every time. You should see it for yourselves.”
“I see. We understand. What about the situation in this town?”
The man at the neighboring reception came over.
He looked to be in his late thirties. Was it okay for him to leave his post?
“Welcome to Zazam. I am Amay, the Guild Master of the Adventurer Guild here.”
“Excuse me. I am Nina, the leader of Nina Starlights.”
When I showed them my golden Adventurer Card, they both looked at each other in surprise.
“Excuse me… this is incredible.”
“You’ve already dealt with one of the Seven Great Demon Lords…!!”
They were astonished after holding the card up to the reception’s crystal and reading the records.
I handed over Clarice’s and my cards (I had two)…
“I see. Minister Takepi mentioned skilled heroes from other countries. So it’s you.”
“Please, please save this Zazam.”
“Tell us the situation. We heard something about a Kraken.”
What could be happening in this port town lined with villas?!
“Regarding that, my wife, Hazukki, the Sub Guild Master, will explain.”
“Yes, shortly after the Demon Lord’s Castle settled here, it began emitting an ominous aura and strange odors, and strong enemies started appearing. Fortunately, Sage Sufma from the Imperial Capital came and created a magic defense wall around the town’s grounds, making it safe. However, the area with villas and the sea beyond the port were not covered, so we are trapped.”
So that’s why we had to dive from so high above the town.
“What about the residents?”
“Those with money escaped via dragons specially arranged by the Imperial Capital. Others fled by carriage or on foot, escorted by high-level adventurers. But those who are attached to Zazam, those who don’t want to leave, and those without money are still here.”
“Are they able to live?”
“Relief supplies arrive regularly. It’s not enough to be completely satisfied, but…”
Is that old tamer from earlier playing a big role?
If they are Item Bags provided by the Imperial Capital, they could hold quite a lot of supplies, but if it’s unsolicited aid, it probably wouldn’t be unlimited.
“What are the future prospects?”
“We are waiting for the Demon Lord’s Castle to fly away, or for an adventurer to solve the mysterious posting and go inside to defeat the Demon Lord…”
The reception couple stared intently at us.
Ah, so they want us to defeat it.
“We understand the situation. Did the Kraken also come because of the Demon Lord’s Castle’s odor?”
“Yes, it should normally be far out at sea. Therefore, we are having trouble going out to fish. We can barely catch some fish in the bay, which is protected by the defense magic, but our customers are eating them.”
“What? Are there some rich people staying at the inn?”
“No, they are customers who took refuge in the port.”
Perhaps they are staying on a luxurious cruise ship, and there are guests there who can’t go out? But I didn’t see anything like that from above… then Clarice spoke.
“Could they be from the Mermaid Race?”
“Yes, there was a village on a nearby island, but they were affected by the Demon Lord’s Castle’s odor.”
There are such people!
Her husband, Amay, also joined the conversation.
“The Kraken proliferated and the village was devastated. They sought help and fled to Zazam’s port. That’s why most of the fish in the bay are being eaten by those customers.”
Well, I guess it can’t be helped.
Are they still getting enough? Since it’s a village, there must be quite a number of them.
Nina pondered for a moment, and when she finished organizing her thoughts, she moved on to the next topic.
“We understand about the sea. What about my villa?”
“Hazukki, my wife and the Guild Master of the Commercial Guild, is taking care of it.”
“You’re the Sub Guild Master of the Adventurer Guild…”
“Yes, I handle both.”
So, Hazukki is the Guild Master of the Commercial Guild and the Sub Guild Master of the Adventurer Guild. She must be very busy.
Nina seemed to be staring intently at the reception desk.
“I see. Now that I look closely, this is the Commercial Guild’s reception, and that’s the Adventurer Guild’s reception. They are in the same building.”
“It’s a small port town. By the way, Amay is also the Sub Guild Master of the Commercial Guild.”
“Are you two managing it?”
“No, there are three of us, with my sister helping. She’s off today, though.”
And yet, three people, and a family at that!
“Wasn’t the villa area dangerous?”
“It’s safe inside. The buildings are designed that way, with magic defense walls above the roofs, balconies, and terraces that you can’t see.”
“As expected of high-class villas.”
“We didn’t anticipate the Demon Lord’s Castle moving in next door, though.”
Then it should be safe to go inside without seeing it.
Still, if I could, I’d like to go inside at least once.
“What about cleaning?”
“I do a simple cleaning. Enough so that dust doesn’t accumulate.”
“You can go?”
“Yes, by running.”
“Ha, ha, ha, running?!”
Oh, Nina is showing a rare amused reaction.
Where did the cool beauty from earlier go? Well, she did have that “tehepero, forehead tap” moment.
“Actually, my husband, my sister, and I are all from Kogatan, the third largest city in the Shamanias Continent.”
“Nichi, Hazukki’s sister, never left Kogatan, but Hazukki and I were adventurers. However, our leader, the hero, died. We’d had enough of that place and fled here.”
“I told my sister that she might be able to become an adventurer on another continent, but she said it was impossible for her, who is so ordinary in everything.”
I see. Amay, with his black hair, is one thing, but Hazukki with her unusual green hair must be from the Shamanias Continent. That explains running. Perhaps she’s been defeating enemies while running?
“So, in the end, the Adventurer Guild, or rather, the Commercial Guild as well.”
“A lot has happened.”
Hmm? Clarice, who had been watching from a step back, approached Amay.
“Um, Amay-sama, are you perhaps a Sage?”
“You figured that out quickly. That’s correct.”
“And your religion?”
“It’s the Sease Church from the Shamanias Continent.”
“Oh, I- I see. My apologies.”
Why is she so disappointed?
If it were a rival religion, there might have been some friction, but when the opposing party is a religion from a distant, unknown continent, she might not know how to react.
“I am Clarice, from the Church of the Goddess.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am suited for defense and recovery. I can maintain barriers, but I’m not good at defeating strong enemies.”
“I understand. I will help in any way I can.”
While they were talking, the old tamer descended.
Amay returned to his reception desk and began to attend to him.
Nina resumed her conversation with Hazukki, who was now alone.
“I’m curious about the town, the port, and the sea, but first, my villa. I’d like to go in.”
“Yes, I’ll bring the key. However, I was barely able to avoid the enemies…”
“What is your occupation, by the way?”
“Assassin.”
I see. So she specializes in speed.
(That’s how she was able to manage the villa. It makes sense.)
And so, we finally headed to the villa we had purchased.
