Published: July 4, 2025
"Is this really the place?"
"This is the location that was described to us."
Ryo and Abel had returned to the continent and arrived at the place indicated by the townspeople as the 'adventurers' mutual aid association' building.
In front of them stood the building of the adventurers' mutual aid association.
However...
"It's not that big, is it?"
"Is it because of the recession, perhaps?"
What stood before them was an ordinary house.
Well, it might be slightly larger than an average home, but it was still only about the size of two houses at most.
Compared to the Royal Capital Crystal Palace and even the adventurers' guild in Run, it was surprisingly small.
"Well, Run is the largest city in the border region, after all."
Abel must have felt the same way as Ryo.
That's why he intentionally pointed it out.
"What should we do? I mentioned wanting to take a peek, but it would be inappropriate for us, who are not related, to go in..."
"We would definitely be approached..."
Both of them were imagining the kingdom's adventurers' guild.
Specifically, the large, spacious ones in the royal capital and Run, bustling with people.
They thought they could take a look inside without drawing attention if it were such a guild...
"But if we don’t go in here, it would be disrespectful to the townspeople who told us about this place, especially considering Abel's sacrifice."
"Don’t put it that way as if I intimidated them into telling me..."
"Shall we go in?"
"Let's go."
Abel made the decision in response to Ryo's question.
As expected, it was the duty of his majesty the king to make decisions.
The two opened the door and stepped inside.
"A café?"
That was Ryo's first impression upon entering.
It wasn't a café in the modern sense.
It resembled a traditional Japanese coffee shop from a bygone era.
With wooden floors, wooden walls, and a wooden ceiling and beams.
Naturally, the establishment run by an elderly couple had wooden tables and chairs.
And there was a counter at the back.
Ryo imagined a place that wouldn’t compromise on coffee quality, with delicious spaghetti napolitan... but actually, the ginger pork set was the most popular, attracting suit-clad businessmen even during weekday lunchtime... such a coffee shop.
Of course, all of this was merely Ryo's fantasy.
The interior of the adventurers' mutual aid association bore a resemblance to that imagined café.
However, there were no customers enjoying spaghetti napolitan or chowing down on ginger pork sets.
The aroma of coffee did not waft through the air.
In fact, no one was seated on the chairs.
"Welcome."
From behind the counter, an elderly woman—yes, she could definitely be called an old woman.
A woman who appeared to be in her eighties spoke to the two of them.
It seemed she was the only one there.
"Excuse me. We were told this is the adventurers' mutual aid association."
Abel politely inquired.
"That's right, this is the adventurers' mutual aid association."
The old woman spoke in a somewhat curt tone.
She might have been an adventurer in her youth.
"Are you travelers?"
Even without being told, it would be apparent that Ryo and Abel were not from the Free City.
"Uh, yeah."
Abel replied but stumbled slightly over his words.
It was easy to tell that they weren't adventurers here to take on requests.
Of course, it was also clear that they weren't affiliated with this place...
"This Free City doesn't have many adventurers. The security is good, and monsters don’t appear on land. There are no tyrannical nobles, nor is there a king who issues unreasonable orders. The only ones with power are the merchants, and they naturally have their own fighting strength. They don’t request from this mutual aid association. Because of that, the adventurers who come to this Free City quickly head to the grand duchy or the federation. Especially now, as the federation is in a civil war. Every faction wants those reckless adventurers, even if just a little."
The old woman spoke with a slightly sad expression.
Ryo and Abel exchanged glances.
That wasn’t the kind of sad story they wanted to hear.