Published: August 15, 2025
Today, two chapters are posted simultaneously.
This is chapter one.
This chapter is a side story. You can skip it without any problem.
If you want to continue from the previous chapter, please proceed to the next story.
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On the night of the day Ryoma had a match with Reinbach and the others... at an Adventurers' Guild branch in a certain town, an elderly, surly man and a sharp-eyed man were seated on a sofa, facing a relatively young and nervous-looking man. In the tense atmosphere, the nervous man broke the silence.
"What brings both of you guild masters here together at such a late hour?"
"Apologies for barging in so late at night. There was something urgent we needed to confirm."
"Feild, you have an idea, don't you? We realize it's sudden and late, so let's get straight to the point."
"Any idea... Henry, Charles, is it something serious enough for both of you to come personally? I have no clue."
After a brief pause for thought, the nervous man answered smoothly. He was Feild, the guild master of the Adventurers' Guild branch that caused trouble with Ryoma.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the two men changed in contrasting ways. Henry from the commercial guild kept his sharp gaze but smiled faintly, while Charles, who had rushed over from Teresa's Adventurers' Guild, showed a scowl that went beyond surly to openly unpleasant.
"Are you hiding something really well, or do you genuinely have no idea?"
"Feild, we're here for a serious talk. Don't say such foolish things. That boy, Ryoma Takebayashi, came here, didn't he?"
"Ah, that boy... yes, he did come here, but why would you be involved? Did he cause some problem?"
Charles' face flushed as if saying "I knew it" and he seemed on the verge of shouting. There was an obvious difference in attitude between the two. Seconds later, Charles' angry voice, which he'd tried to suppress, broke out inside the room.
"You idiot!!"
Feild flinched briefly but immediately glared back at Charles.
"Charles, shouting out of emotion like that makes one doubt your dignity as a guild master."
"I don't want to hear that from you! If you're going to talk about dignity, first do your job properly!!"
"I carry out my duties every day faithfully. It's outrageous to say I'm neglecting my work."
"You—"
"So you still haven't apologized to him."
Feild showed no sign of guilt, and just as Charles was about to lose his temper further, Henry calmly intervened.
"Apology? We simply responded appropriately. Whatever they might have told you, there were clearly suspicious points in the information recorded on his Guild Card. When suspicious, doubting foul play and conducting an inquiry is part of our duties, and responding to it is the obligation of the adventurer."
"I don't intend to contest that. The commercial guild also viewed his subjugation of magical beast materials and spoils of war from bandits with suspicion when purchasing them.
He likely had the extraordinary ability to defeat them with unreasonably high efficiency, but it's understandable to be suspicious."
"I'm glad you understand."
"However, his explanation was consistent. Also, by examining the deterioration and scars on the submitted magical beast materials, the commercial guild judged that his story was credible. Further investigations sent people to towns in his records, confirming much supporting information.
From all this, while he seemed suspicious, it was premature to assume fraud. I think there could have been better methods. Also, I want to know how you responded afterward. Depending on the situation, this could be something the commercial guild cannot overlook."
Hearing this, Feild sighed wearily.
"We did respond properly. Since his goal was the promotion exam, we allowed him to take it. After demonstrating ability beyond the passing criteria, he was promoted. I heard the receptionist conveyed apologies for the trouble caused."
"Is that all?"
"Is that enough? As I said, we guild staff did our duty. If we deem it necessary, adventurers have a duty to respond to inquiries. No apology is necessary, and we must maintain a firm stance."