Published: July 30, 2025
This time, five episodes are updated simultaneously.
This story is the second episode.
When I returned to the Guild, the female receptionist who had explained and accepted the quest was still at her post.
“Excuse me.”
“Oh, you’re the one from this morning…”
“I’ve come to report the completion of the quest.”
“Huh? Completed? It hasn’t even been two hours since you accepted it. Did you give up?”
“No, it’s completed.”
I said that and handed over the quest sheet.
“…Really, it shows the quest as completed. And the reward has even been increased… You’re amazing. This quest wasn’t difficult, but the smell was strong, and many people gave up because of the trash flowing in from the hole.”
“That’s because I had some conveniently usable magic.”
“Ah, that’s right. Good work. The completion report is finalized… Here, 30 silver coins as your reward.”
The receptionist placed the silver coins on a tray and brought it in front of me.
Hmm? That’s quite a bit more than the amount written on the quest sheet…
“I heard the reward was increased, but isn’t this too much?”
“Since people stopped coming, the client, Miya, has been raising the reward to try to get someone to accept the job. On top of that, there was an instruction to increase your reward, so this amount is fine.”
“I see. Understood.”
“Also, the guild master told me to have you come to his room once you returned, so could you come with me?”
“The guild master, huh?”
It wasn’t the receptionist who answered my question, but a man who was handling paperwork at the counter next to us.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. It’s the usual.”
“What do you mean? Oh… I’m Ryoma Takebayashi.”
“I’m Jeff Grange. That old man (the guild master) is a busybody, always checking on new adventurers and those under 13 like you to lend a hand. He helped me a lot when I was new, too. His face looks more like a thief than most thieves, but there’s no need to be afraid.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
Just then, the guild master called out to us from behind the counter.
“That’s right. No need to thank him.”
“Ah, guild master.”
“Geez! Old man!”
“Don’t shout ‘Geez!’ when you see someone’s face… And whose face looks more like a thief than a thief, huh?!”
“Your face looks like a thief’s to anyone!”
“Shut up! My rugged face can’t be helped! But it doesn’t look as sneaky as a thief’s!”
“If you meet girls or children in the dark at night, they’d scream and run away…”
“Grr… Not in this town.”
“That’s only because everyone’s used to it!!”
“Ugh! …Enough… Ryoma, come with me.”
The guild master, wounded by Jeff’s words, clutched his chest and headed inside while calling me. I greeted Jeff and the receptionist briefly and followed the guild master. We were taken to the guild master’s room where I had been yesterday.
“Sit anywhere. By the way, what’s that basket? It’s really eye-catching.”
“Excuse me. I keep my summoned beast inside that basket.”
“Are you a beast tamer? I thought you were a hunter or something.”
“I only have slimes as my summoned beasts, and I’m just an apprentice beast tamer. I’m basically a hunter who can use beast taming magic. I set traps using sticky slimes and coat arrows with poison slime’s poison.”
Hearing that, the guild master grinned and said,
“…You have quite a ruthless combination there.”
“You think so? After all, they’re just slimes, right?”
“You know better than anyone since you use them yourself. Ordinary slimes might be nothing, but don’t underestimate the higher-tier ones.
Many adventurers lump regular slimes and higher-tier slimes together and think they’re weak… Well, most slimes are weak even at higher tiers, but if you get hit by acid slime’s acid, your equipment gets damaged. If you fight repeatedly, your brand-new gear could be ruined by the time you get back. If you get poisoned, your life is in danger. Sticky slimes are a pain, and if you can’t move and another magical beast shows up, you’re done.