“I’m home!”
Anju’s voice rang out as we entered Shifrin’s Adventurer Guild. I looked around, surprised at how clean it was. The usual dingy corner had been tidied up and was now a common rest area with sofas and tables. “Where did all those people who used to hang out there go?”
(The Adventurer Guild is so peaceful now.)
I had avoided the crowded hours, coming after a late breakfast. Although, I was also up late last night being loved in bed!
“This way!”
Anju floated a little lower than usual as we moved. For your information, I didn’t bring any of the otherworlders with me. I wonder why? Maybe it’s just Anju’s mood. I had asked the two of them to come along for security, just in case.
“Nataira, please be on guard.”
“Yes, I’m so happy to be able to act together with Derus.”
“And your sister?”
“Protecting Kaito.”
“I see.”
A tanned girl, though she’s not that young anymore. Anyway, I had two of them accompanying me. Or rather, I was accompanying Anju here. As I thought that, I stepped out and followed them.
“Ah, what’s this!”
“A magician, an information broker of sorts!”
Next to the Adventurer Guild, a new three-story building had appeared. A large sign read “Shifrin Magician Dispatch Center.” There were even six congratulatory wreaths at the entrance. “Where did they all come from?”
‘Congratulations on Your Opening! S-Rank Adventurer Nina Starlights’
‘Congratulations on Your Opening! Movermas Continent Adventurer Guild Association’
‘Congratulations on Your Opening! Mu Mu Empire Emperor Zukki Fegotin’
The Empress’s name, no way!
‘Congratulations on Your Opening! Movermas Continent Commerce Guild Association’
‘Congratulations on Your Opening! Dwarf Country Blacksmith Guild Mariu’
‘Congratulations on Your Opening! Graduate Illusionist Anju Avakarne (Provisional)’
“Provisional!”
And Anju’s name is listed twice! Nina Starlights… and Mariu’s tentacles too!
“Heeeeeere weee goooo!”
Ah, Anju just barged in! At the reception was a neat young man, or perhaps a boy.
“W-welcome, Ah, Owner!”
“I’m here! I brought your groom along for a ride.”
“Ah, hello, I’m Derus.”
“I am Nataira.”
I don’t think I’ve been dragged around yet.
“I’m Tamus, the receptionist!”
“Yes, it’s written on your name tag.”
“What kind of magician are you looking for?”
Anju handed him a candy.
“Today, I’m here to explain things to my husband!”
“Is that so? The Master and the Director are in the back.”
“Are they working?”
“The Master just woke up, and the Director is busy with administrative work!”
Um, the Master is probably… I remember reasonably well, so I should probably confirm.
“Um, what are the names of the Master and Director?”
“The Master is Master Miro!”
“As expected.”
“The Director is Eliza!”
“…Who?”
I don’t know the latter. I’ll probably remember her when I see her. Like with Ruanko from before, names often come to me when I see the person.
“Well then, let’s go!”
Anju floated down the hallway.
“Maaaaassster! Where aaaare yoooou?”
Oh boy, the way she said that! A well-dressed boy pointed towards the cafeteria. Come to think of it, everyone’s wearing neat clothes. Is it so they won’t be embarrassed if seen?
*Creak*
“Did you eat?”
“Oh, Anju! We were just about to start.”
“Ah, sorry to intrude during your meal.”
“Derus-dono, it has been a while.”
Although, it hasn’t even been half a year, has it? So much has happened that my sense of time is off… at least a season has passed.
“It’s been a while. I heard you were creating a magician training facility.”
“Yes, it’s the result of doing everything I can. Anju offered to fund it.”
“So this building is…?”
“I’m hopeless at management, so I’m just in the position of ‘Master’.”
“Like a surrogate master, then?”
That’s correct, isn’t it?
“This is Nataira!”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Nataira, a dancer.”
“You have quite a bit of magic power.”
“Yes, I mainly use attack magic, but I can also use healing magic.”
I know she learned some from that grimoire, but apparently, dancers are divided into attack magic and healing magic users. The Princess Sisters were both attack-focused, so it’s a relief that she also learned overall healing magic.
(With just the Princess Sisters, we could probably clear a normal dungeon now.)
And there’s Miro-san, enjoying his breakfast. It’s a buffet, and the food looks really good. The cost of meals is important, especially with so many growing children.
“Huh? Miro-san, is this perhaps also an orphanage?”
“Saying it’s an orphanage outright would be problematic, so we call it a training facility for promising magicians.”
“A pretext, but what about the children with little magic power?”
“They’re future staff members here.”
“I see.”
An orphanage for children who have aged out of official orphanages. Anju picked up a cherry tomato.
“Hmm, that Yuua-chan over there, her older sister has magic power, but her younger brother, Kacchan, doesn’t, so maybe they’re future staff.”
“You’re thinking that far ahead, Anju-chan. That’s great.”
“Just because they’re staff doesn’t mean they can do anything they want.”
Of course. Anju, who was so cruelly treated in the past (in the Adventurer Guild hangout spot), saying this carries weight.
“So you took in siblings?”
“That was Eliza’s decision.”
“Uh, the Director?”
“I heard that you’ve had conversations with Derus-dono before.”
Um, was she an Adventurer Guild staff member? I think there was a receptionist with that name. No, that’s not right. I’ll probably remember when I meet her.
“Derus-kun, do you have any more questions?”
“Yes, Miro-san, you’ve returned to being an adventurer, haven’t you?”
“That’s right, primarily for the purpose of training disciples.”
The magician children here.
“Are they developing well?”
“Yes, we aim for them to at least reach D Rank before they leave.”
“That’s great.”
“There are rumors that it’s faster to come here than to enter a Magic Academy.”
Because it doesn’t cost money. Rather, if room and board are included, a clear division of roles would be good.
(Rich and highly talented go to the Magic Academy, the poor go to the Magician Dispatch Center.)
What will we do if this place eventually becomes larger than the Magic Academy?
“Derus-kun, ‘to raise’ and ‘to let fly’ are different, you know.”
“Yes, I understand. To raise and then let them fly, right?”
“It’s about sending them off.”
“So, Miro-san, are the aspects you were worried about covered? Such as disposable or enslaved people?”
To recap, when children without a place to go (including Anju) were gathered in a corner of the Adventurer Guild, Miro-san was watching over them to make sure they weren’t picked up by shady characters. He was also a well-known figure in the Adventurer Guild, wasn’t he? He was semi-retired back then.
“Eliza will explain that.”
“Ah, yes. Please excuse me for interrupting your breakfast.”
“After eating, are we hunting?”
“That’s for the training of Yuua and the others.”
“And Kacchan?”
“He’s staying behind. He won’t be fighting.”
Anju floated towards the siblings.
“Kacchan was sick, and Haitou-san’s magic cured him.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“And Yuua-chan earns money through adventuring to pay the medical bills later.”
“That’s why you’re here.”
“The payment is… we’ll leave it to you.”
“That’s quite difficult.”
Paying for treatment later and leaving it to someone else. From one perspective, it’s incredibly generous, but from another, it’s like being bound by invisible chains.
“Kacchan doesn’t fight, but he’s working hard helping out with cleaning here.”
“Haha, yes. People like him are very important in a place like this. Keep up the good work.”
“…Thank you. The Director also told me when I was cleaning the toilets, ‘There is no job cleaner than dirty work’.”
Kacchan speaks with such maturity. He’ll probably be in charge of reception in the future, once he grows a bit more… He’s also petting his older sister, Yuua. If things had stayed as they were in the past, what might have happened to her now…
(This place now would never let that happen.)
Speaking of which, the Director says some profound things. I definitely need to meet her and express my gratitude.
“Well then, I’m going to go see the Director.”
“Yes, she said she’s looking forward to meeting you, Derus-dono.”
“Judging by the name, she’s a woman, right?”
“Of course.”
With that, I left the cafeteria and headed for the hallway.
“I’m glad Miro-san seems to be doing well.”
“He’s a bit careless with money, so the Director takes good care of him.”
“A female Director, huh?”
“Ah, Derus-san… ever since Anju-chan arrived here, that child has been watching her intently from hiding.”
…Yeah, that’s Anju’s ex-boyfriend.
“Nataira-chan, ignore him.”
“Y-yes.”
“It’s okay, Anju-chan.”
“When I talk to her, she cries.”
“Ah, yeah, let’s just leave her be.”
“Looking is free, you know.”
What does that mean? As I pondered that, I arrived at the Director’s office.
(Somehow, I’m reminded of Lady Shucco Cheer and Lady Strena of the Empire.)
Now then, I wonder what kind of enchanting female Director is sitting in there…?!
*Knock, knock*
“I’m here!”
“Oh my, Anju-chan, please come in!”
…What is this incredibly seductive voice?!
