The Guild’s Cheat Receptionist Vol 1 Chapter 2

The Dragon

The country neighboring Rondéville, Filéamis.

In the eastern part of a forest, three youths were walking.

One of them, a young racc.o.o.n beastkin, raised the bag in his hand and smiled wryly.

“That Firehound was pretty strong.”

“Only since you underestimated it.”

“Ow-”

Poked with the scabbard’s tip, the racc.o.o.n beastkin almost stumbled.

Though he scowled at the youth that looked like a bird with eyes of protest, he knew that he couldn’t deny it, laughing jokingly instead.

Watching the two from the side, the otter beastkin mumbled a complaint as he looked up towards the clouds pa.s.sing overhead.

“Really though, there hasn’t been any tension recently…”

The three youths were from the same generation of the town. Knowing each other from childhood, they’ve lived their day-to-day lives as members of the mercenary guild together for a long time.

Demon hunting was exciting at first, and even though they could even do a D-rank commission nowadays as long as they didn’t relax their guard, it felt lacking in something.

Still, they didn’t have the fighting spirit nor craving to strive for ranks higher than that, living day by day in a habitual fas.h.i.+on.

“It’s fine, isn’t it? We’re still young, something good will happen sooner or later.”

“Yeah… Hey, how ’bout going to the red-light district with our earnings this time?”

“Aaah, I want moneeey, I want wooomen.”

While talking leisurely, the three people advanced through the forest.

This path was the shortest route to the town and was an animal trail filled with weeds and tree branches extending into it in many places.

Naturally, there were many blind spots. But they were fighters, not neglecting to keep searching for enemies.

After a few minutes, the young birdkin stood still.

“What’s up?”

“… That thing there, what is it?”

Looking towards the direction he pointed out, there was a pure white oval buried in the tall gra.s.s.

The group of three exchanged looks with each other and carefully drew closer to the object.

“This is…”

“… An egg?”

It was an egg slightly smaller than a basketball.

When they moved their hands towards it to pick it up and get a closer look, it s.h.i.+ned a wondrous seven-colored light. Before they knew it, the three were entranced by the egg.

Just then, they clearly heard a loud sound resounding from far away. Fl.u.s.tered, the three checked their surroundings.

“… Is something there?”

“N-no, there’s nothing…”

The three once again focused on the egg.

“Not sure, but… isn’t this rare?”

“… Might be expensive, we should probably sell it.”

They all smiled at the racc.o.o.n beaskin’s words.

Good luck had unexpectedly rained down on them.

Without saying anything else, the three hurried towards the town.

Changing time and location, now to the east of Rondéville.

“What are you two doing next?”

A Balta Fort sentry greeted the two women.

Unlike the sentries that wore full body armor, the two wore relatively lightweight equipment. But due to the weapons they carried, he could tell the two were guild members.

Though the sentries were all male, he didn’t call out to them with a bad motive. In a short period of time, the two shared an action with each other in understanding. Unable to guess the significance of the gesture, the tiger beastkin inclined his neck.

“What did that mean?”

“Lodging. Can we stay at the fort?”

Saying that, the beastkin woman looked at the human woman next to her.

The two turned towards the sentries simultaneously, the human woman opening her mouth to speak.

“Though that was our plan… is something wrong?”

Towards her concerned expression, the sentry denied it by waving his hand and giving a strained laugh.

“Heading southwest from here would lead you to a town named Lunéville though you know? If you’re planning on staying a while I recommend heading there.”

“Lunéville?”

Speaking of towns near Batla Fort, Pinéaville and Harville were well-known.

As Pinéaville was the closest port city to the Akradist Kingdom’s border, it was famous for its flouris.h.i.+ng s.h.i.+pping and fis.h.i.+ng industries. In contrast, that liveliness lead to poor security in some parts.

Harville was an inn town that connected the royal capital and Pinéaville on the main road. Gathering many people coming by s.h.i.+p from Akradist and Pinéaville, their lodging and food costs were increasing.

But with the information the women purchased before coming to this continent, they had never heard of a town named Lunéville.

“It’s a good town. Lodging is cheap and the public order is good.”

“No matter what, the food is delicious!”

Another sentry leaned forward and said that.

“Food? That’s it?”

“Yeah! They have really interesting food there!”

“It’s also nice to interact with the children there.”

“Yeah! Everyone is so sociable, and that elf receptionist kid’s listless expression—”

Despite the sentries starting to get on a different topic, the two women exchanged looks.

“Shall we?”

“Hmm…”

The human women looked at the sentries.

They weren’t people who would deceive others to earn money, they understood that from the sentry’s conducts thus far. In addition to that, to her who had left n.o.bility, she could easily see through a person’s expression into their true character behind the darkness.

“I think going there is fine.”

“It’s settled then. As for me, I want to see the elf.”

“That’s why!?”

Her motives aside, the tiger beastkin, Katia Maiski belonged to the mercenary guild. The human woman, Elivia Granka, belonged to the magic guild. Their destination changed to Lunéville.

“Heeeh, it’s pretty big.”

“I was pretty anxious when the main road ended midway, but now I’m relieved.”

No longer worrying about having to sleep outdoors, the two walked headed Lunéville in high spirits.

The main street was properly paved and water could be seen flowing under the street from the central park in the distance, producing a refres.h.i.+ng sensation.

Used to seeing Akradist’s uniform bright white townscape of slanted roofs facing the sea, Lunéville and Balta Fort’s townscape looked very ordinary.

However, the Branch in front of them stood out.

Though it didn’t change away from the bilateral symmetry it shared with the other buildings, with its steps and porte-cochère projecting from the entrance way supported by stone pillars, looking up at its design from the front gave a solemn and profound feeling. Though it was by no means picturesque, there was a sublime beauty within its admirable harmony. [1]

But of the few people walking nearby, none stopped to view the building.

“I wonder if everyone is used to seeing it?”

“… Maybe.”

When their eyes met those of people pa.s.sing by, they were given amiable smiles. They hadn’t experienced that for a long time, recalling that they were countrymen, the two smiled at each other.

“… Go in?”

“… Yeah.”

Asking each other to try and prepare themselves to enter, they opened the wooden doors that gave a dignified feeling. Looking inside the Branch, they stiffened at the view once again.

A large number of people were in the dining hall.

There were people talking excitedly, people engrossed in eating, as well as staff running to and fro serving tables. Despite being a reasonably large town, the amount of people on the street felt strangely small. It wouldn’t have been wrong to think all of the town’s people were crammed in there.

“Welcome.”

A clear voice reached their ears, returning the two who had stopped moving to their senses.

Not needing to search for the owner of the voice, their gazes were attracted to the girl standing behind the reception desk.

With long and radiant golden hair, the girl had snow white skin and deep blue eyes that were reminiscent of the ocean. She expressed a beautiful smile that shook their hearts, her beauty had magic that made it hard to resist and stop looking.

They saw long ears on the sides of her small face.

Though their knowledge wasn’t too precise, there was no mistaking that appearance.

(That’s…)

(The rumored elf…)

The same as just a moment earlier, their feet moved forward on their own as though lured in.

They wondered if the people making noise nearby were used to the girl. Or perhaps, they were drunk from her magical power?

While Elivia was suspicious of their surroundings, and while Katia considered her to be a magician, they started a conversation with the elf girl.

“You guys are pretty successful here.”

Letting those words slip out unhindered, Elivia was surprised at herself.

With a smile that filled her whole face, the elf girl responded with a simple, “Thankfully”.

From that single word, the two were already charmed.

Despite being members of the same s.e.x, the two unconsciously embraced feelings of jealousy, not to mention envy. It was a longing similar to veneration, so to speak.

“Are you two here on a mission?”

There were two reasons for them coming to the Branch first.

Accept a commission to earn travelling expenses, as well as to collect information while accepting the commission.

“No, we were recommended to this place by sentries at Balta Fort.”

“They said if we were going to stay somewhere, Lunéville would definitely be better than Pinéaville or Harville.”

With the two unhesitatingly answering, the elf girl seemed to be convinced.

“Oh, you girls here for the first time?”

“Welcome to this place then.”

Katia and Elivia were aware that their appearances were ordinary.

But even so, they were two women and it wouldn’t be unusual to be a.s.saulted, and had even been stared at with dangerous eyes several times before. So when the two men seated at the counter gave them words of welcome, they became more vigilant. In order to stop it from happening.

However, despite their vigilance, the men seated at the tables started talking to the guests.

“Please.”

Prompted by the elf girl, the two sat in empty seats.

Looking over the dining hall again, most of the tables were filled with smiles. Of the guilds they’d visited so far, there was the same level of success, but the hustle and bustle wasn’t as harmonious as this place’s.

“Have you decided on an inn to stay at?”

“No, I decided to come and eat first. The sentries at the fort said the food here was delicious.”

Saying it somewhat provocatively, Elivia was surprised.

(It happened again.)

Before she knew it, she had no vigilance or tension towards her like when she talked with Katia, her companion. Her mental state speaking with the elf was amiable.

She thought it was strange, but didn’t think anything was suspicious.

The elf girl’s expression softened a little further at Elivia’s words.

“I don’t know whether or not we will be able to meet your expectations, but… Elizah—”

Calling out in a clear voice, a fox beastkin dressed in the same clothes as the elf girl came over.

Though many fox beastkins’ eyes were tsurime, hers didn’t seem to be. If anything, they felt gallant. She had swaying light brown hair and large ears with a big tail tipped white. Together with her garments, she produced an adorable atmosphere.

“What’s up, Ilya. Ah—”

Saying up to there, Elizah saw the two girls sitting at the counter and realized why she was called.

“Welcome. You’ll have your menus in a moment.”

With a refined smile that didn’t feel forced at all, she bowed. Taking menus from the stack of them next to the counter’s hatch, she immediately returned to the two.

Looking at the menus in their hands, the two’s eyes opened wide.

Each item listed had realistic pictures next to it. Written along with that was each dish’s effect and the way to cancel it.

Even more so than the amount of items on the menu, just looking at the various pictures caused their stomachs to feel empty, distracting them from being able to choose.

“Let’s seeee. Our gold is a bit spotty, guess we need work…”

While the two were worrying next to the counter, several men and women who were sitting paid their bill and stood up.

One man and woman had a sword, one man had a bow, and a woman had a spear. Belonging to the mercenary guild, their vanguard and rear guard was balanced.

The group stood in front of the bulletin board, talking with each other as they looked through the commission charts. Before long, they picked one.

“Ilya-chan, this one please.”

They brought a commission chart with a demon subjugation written on it.

“Certainly.”

Receiving their registration cards along with the commission chart, the elf girl, Ilya, began registering the subjugation as accepted.

Not noticing the temperature of the girl’s smile abate somewhat, the group were roused about the commission’s subject.

“Pavel, isn’t this one even easier?”

“Oi oi, that Rondébear we hunted the other day was pretty high leveled y’know? Though even if there were a lot of them, it’d be an easy win. Right, Ilya-chan?”

Ilya looked at the commission chart. Similarly, so did Elivia and the others. The subjugation target was a Laoloa Boar. A huge wild boar that inhabited the Laoloa continent’s mountains. As the swordsman named Pavel said, the Rondéville Boar that lived near Rondéville had weakened abilities and const.i.tutions.

Since they weren’t doing any harm in particular, the subjugation amount of ten was probably to decrease their numbers in preparation for the oncoming harvest season.

As Ilya was thinking that looking at the group of men and women, she nodded without hesitating.

“That’s right. So long as you bear in mind to not get surrounded, I expect you won’t have any problems.”

“See!”

“However, since their second breeding season has just finished, please make absolutely certain you avoid chasing them too far. When they’re protecting their young, even the non-aggressive ones will be driven into a frenzy.”

“Ah, seriously…? Got it…”

The Laoloa Boar had the habit of chasing something indefinitely once enraged.

They didn’t rebut her tone of certainty, instead not only embracing it as useful information but as rea.s.suring advice.

Completing the registration while having such a conversation, Ilya presented their registration cards and the commission chart on the counter back to them.

The man with the bow turned his gaze towards Javier.

“So long as Javier-san watches our backs from the rear we’ll be alright. Well then, please give my registration card back.”

“Ah, right! Understood!”

Judging by the strength of his response after hearing his name called, Javier was all fired up.

The women in the surroundings, Katia and Elivia included, obviously s.h.i.+fted their focus to see what happened as usual. However, that wasn’t all this time.

Since the person was Ilya, one couldn’t help but to have a look of compa.s.sion. Still, this person was given looks of envy as they wanted to talk to her themselves.

“Please note that subjugation outside of the appropriate area does not count… Good luck.”

When Ilya bowed as though she didn’t mind the situation unfolding in front of her, Orlette, the swordswoman, dragged the man back by the nape of his neck.

“Yeah yeah. Cya later, Ilya. We’re coming back to eat here when we finish the job!”

“I’ll look forward to it, Orletta-san.”

After watching the four exit, Ilya turned back towards the two people sitting at the counter.

“Are you ready to place your orders?”

“Ah, not yet.”

Even though Ilya’s eyes and hers met when she turned, she didn’t seem to be fazed by being watched. Guessing that Ilya was aware of them watching her the entire time she was accepting the registration, Katia hung her head in shame. Elivia laughed in embarra.s.sment.

“It’s my first time seeing an elf, but it’s true that they’re worthy of being called beauties.”

Even when complimented, Ilya almost didn’t show any reaction at all.

Considering that she was in an occupation where there were many chances to meet people, it was easy to imagine that people would say things like that over and over again to someone like her. In truth, Ilya just accepted compliments as though they were for someone else since she knew what made her body when she reincarnated, but Elivia didn’t know that.

(Maybe it seemed like flattery…)

As Elivia was regretting it just a bit while reflecting, Katia noticed her mumbling something.

“The staff here are polite… Elivia, can’t we make this our base for a while?”

“I really want to, but…”

Elivia looked at the bulletin board filled with commission charts.

Though there were subjugation commissions among the list of orders, they were all a ways away from Lunéville. They’d heard people in carriages say that Lunéville was peaceful on their way, but considering that they were doing jobs for the mercenary guild, the distance from the base to the area for the commissions were too far away.

“And so, it’s only fine if you take commissions with big rewards like those people earlier.”

“Ah… so that’s it…”

Muttering her consent, Elivia looked around the dining room.

The number of guests was unusually high, and much like the previous group of people, they stayed around to spend their incomes over and over.

Saying it another way, the only merit to do that is this town… or rather, this Branch.

Taking that into consideration, Elivia turned and gave a wry smile to Ilya.

“Ah, umm… Ilya, was it? For a few reasons, we’ll be troubling you for a little while.”

“My name’s Katia. This one here is Elivia.”

“Katia-san and Elivia-san, is it? I’ll do my best to support you.”

After that, the two people forgot about their fatigue from travelling and lost track of time, talking with Ilya about various things.

Rumors like Orbwight Kingdom’s arena being closed due to racket about fixed matches or an Ice Dragon seen northeast Akradist Kingdom, things like that.

They talked about a wide range of things, but Ilya was a really good listener… up to the point the two girls came dangerously close to saying they were a Windia n.o.ble and a commissioned officer’s daughter.

The matter dealing with the arena was also a blunder for the guild. Though the information had also come to the Branch, it was too late for etiquette by the time they had the opportunity to listen to the nation’s side of the story, getting caught up in the moment was also one of the reasons.

One of the things Ilya had a particular interest in was the story concerning the Ice Dragon. Contrasting the disaster designated demon, the Tyrant Spider, that recently appeared near Lunéville, this was a calamity designated divine beast. Snow falling in the surroundings could be a matter of life and death for many people.

[Clairvoyance] [Mind Reading] [Eidetic Hearing] [Prophetic Dreams] [Star Memory]

If Ilya freely used those skills, she could be aware of the world’s past, present, and future. They were difficult to use though.

If she said she knew things imprudently, she would be asked how she knew of them and doubted. After that, working would become difficult since it would put the cart before the horse.

And so, Ilya decided to wait until she came across new information.

People visiting Lunéville, like Katia and Elivia, often bring gossip to hear.

(If people keep coming from the cities, it looks like we’ll need to increase the size of the Branch…)

While thinking about such a thing as that, Ilya fell asleep.

Around the time that the people of Lunéville were falling asleep.

A figure wrapped in darkness ran in the forest to the west of Rondéville.

“Hah…!! Hah…!!”

The scorching pain in his throat was worsening, but his body needed air to keep coming.

Though he kept getting tripped up from his foot being caught by projecting tree roots and coiling weeds, he concentrated solely on running.

“Gaul! Stop!”

“-!?”

His name called out, the racc.o.o.n beastkin, Gaul, scowled at the owner of the voice.

Though there was a possibility they could lose their threat in the darkness, he couldn’t believe that he gave away their position willingly.

However, the birdkin youth Gaul was scowling at grabbed his shoulder, forcibly stopping him mid-step.

“Oi, are you sane!? Ruben! Run!”

“It’s alright! That guy isn’t coming anymore!”

“Eh…!?”

Looking around while breathing heavily, he saw an otter beastkin running over.

However, his speed was far from his top speed, if anything it was due to being more vigilant toward his surroundings.

“… Hah~”

Gaul sat down hard on the spot.

Catching up, the otter beastkin hung his head when he looked at the thing Gaul carried.

“The egg… this is all because we didn’t get rid of it…”

“W-we were able to get away somehow! It could have been more dangerous to throw it away!”

“How?”

Gaul groaned at the birdkin youth’s, Ruben’s, bitter grumble. The tense air faded the otter beastkin’s bitter smile.

Their breathing in order, the three looked around, a.n.a.lyzing the their surroundings, collecting themselves.

“… Where are we?”

“I have no clue since we’ve been running all around… Ruben, can you fly?”

“Yeah. I’ve already recovered my magical power, I’ll go.”

Saying that, Ruben flew off clad in wind.

Normally, people needed to cast magic in order to fly. However, birdkin were able to achieve the same results as flight magic while omitting the chant.

While looking up at his friend flying around in the sky, Gaul asked his other friend a question.

“Teemo… did you see that strange horse?”

“… No.”

In their minds was the image of a horned horse with what looked like scales instead of fur. The three of them had ran away because that horse attacked them.

“But, that didn’t seem like the egg’s parent… it chased Ruben and I as well.”

“… Well, horses don’t lay eggs to begin with.”

“It could’ve been a demon though.”

“A demon?”

Gaul tried to dismiss it as him being stupid, but recalled that the horse had been using magic.

Saying it was a demon since it used magic was surprising by itself, but it was more realistic than an ordinary animal using it.

“… Are demons born from eggs?”

“No idea…”

The next moment, an unnatural sound reverberated through the air, cutting through the languid conversation

Scared, they sprung up and looked around. Then, bang. The sound of something huge falling echoed through the air.

Stiffened by the sudden unexpected event, they realized what it could have been after a moment.

“” Ruben!? “”

They pushed their way through the gra.s.s to the origin of the sound.

“D-don’t come!!”

“” -!? “”

“That’s… blood!”

When Gaul looked at him in response to Teemo’s words, a figure was clinging to the birdkin’s body.

He couldn’t make out the figure’s ident.i.ty. However, its arm extended awkwardly.

“Teemo!!”

“-!?”

Feeling he should push Teemo away first in order to ward it off, he felt a dull pain in his upper arm.

However, immediately following that was a sharp tearing pain in his upper arm, drowning everything else out.

“Aguah—!!”

“Dammit!!”

Red scattered… faster than he could see, its dagger was wet with blood. Gaul tried to draw his sword from his waist, but he couldn’t move.

Looking at his right arm for the first time, Gaul noticed a dagger sticking out of it.

“Gu-…!!”

Frigid pain running through his mind, Gaul broke out in a sweat.

Sinking to the ground due to terror and pain, he saw the black figure that had been standing behind Teemo right in front of him.

Fwoosh, the sound of air being sliced. Guessing that was brandis.h.i.+ng its dagger that sliced through Teemo–

“Uwaaaaaah!!”

In order to defend himself, Gaul immediately proffered the egg held under his arm.

Then, there was a momentary pause.

The attack didn’t come?

As soon as he thought that–

“Uwaaah!!”

“-!”

He heard a dull sound, the figure was blown away before his eyes.

Following the figure’s path, he understood seeing Teemo covering the figure.

However, the binding didn’t last long, it kicked off Teemo and tumbled.

“Gaul, quick!!”

Teemo immediately stood up and pulled Gaul’s arm.

“Ruben too! Can you stand!?”

Ruben stirred slightly after hearing Teemo’s voice.

But seeing that he couldn’t stand, Teemo quickly carried him on his back. During that time, his face tightened at his wounds but started running without caring.

“Idiot… b.a.s.t.a.r.d…!”

“I’m fine being an idiot!!”

Ruben gnashed his teeth at his friends’ excessive dialogue.

Then, he started thinking about their opponent while being carried.

At first he thought it was a bandit. However, with his throwing skills and not killing him when he was down, he didn’t think a simple bandit would use tactics like that to lure his comrades.

But if it wasn’t a simple bandit, why were they being targeted?

“… I think his target is this egg.”

Gaul interrupted Ruben’s train of thought.

Teemo was the one to answer.

“Definitely, when he, almost cut, the egg, he panicked!”

“Then if we hand over the egg…”

“… That’s useless.”

Ruben interrupted Gaul.

“Useless!? Why!?”

“If the egg was his only purpose… don’t you think aiming at me, who was away from the egg, was strange…”

“Y-yeah…”

“But when the time comes, use it as a s.h.i.+eld… Definitely don’t part with it…”

Saying up to there, Ruben thrust himself from Teemo’s back.

“Ruben!?”

“You’re burdens, sorry.”

With those words, Ruben reigned in his friends that were shouting in anger.

I’m sorry for you being burdens, but I’m even more sorry for your deaths.

“It’s unfortunate, but I’ll be going ahead.”

When his body floated at that moment, they understood he used flying magic.

Something like him escaping by himself, neither Gaul nor Teemo thought that’s what he was doing.

“… Don’t die.”

“You too.”

“Absolutely, make it back alive…!”

However, as soon as Ruben took off into the sky, a dagger pierced his foot.

“Wh, at…!?”

The dagger was thrown from the direction they were running. Was there more than one enemy?

“Dammit…!!”

Drained of energy, he absolutely had to call for help.

Enduring the pain with sheer willpower, Ruben focused his magic.

While hearing the far away sounds of weapons. .h.i.tting weapons, he cut through the sky like a blade.

Early the next morning. Due to the sound of intense knocking at her door, Ilya woke up.

“Wake up, Ilya!”

Equipping herself in a hurry, she called out to Ria on the other side of the door.

“What’s the matter?”

“An injured person! It’s serious!”

Among those who complete their requests or those who report their failures, there were naturally those who get injured during the mission.

Though the guild was obliged to have someone who could use recovery magic in each Branch, their abilities were just to fulfill the requirements of first aid.

Therefore, in the case it didn’t stop with first aid treatment, they would have to get medical treatment at a hospital or a technique user of the church.

However, since Lunéville wasn’t a major city like the royal capital, it didn’t have a hospital. And due to the thieves guild from a little while ago, talks about building a Lottévester Faith church were at an impa.s.se.

Inevitably, Ilya couldn’t help but a.s.sist the critically injured cases.

“As usual, it’s at the private room on the second floor.”

“Got it!”

Without saying anything else, Ilya heard the sound of her running.

After she finished changing her clothes, Ilya descended the stairs from her private room and headed towards the closest stairway connecting the second and third floors.

Three people were lying in beds.

One male birdkin and two male beastkins. The birdkin’s foot had started to become necrotic, but thankfully it hadn’t been torn off.

(… Normal recovery magic should be fine.)

Checking the three men’s injuries, Ilya determined so.

Though it was imprudent, she was prepared to use revival magic even if it caused others to become aware of a part of her cheat abilities. She was grateful for this miscalculation.

“Ria, please clear everyone out of here.”

“Un, leave it to me!”

Entrusting it to her to usher everyone from the second floor’s hallway and into the eatery, Ilya closed all of the room’s curtains and concentrated on their treatment.

Taking down the [G.o.d King Barrier], she began the recovery magic’s chant.

“—Light of recovery, sweep away the darkness of destruction—”

Interchangeable with the top ranked fire-type healing magic, ‘Heal’, it was the light-type healing magic–

“—Healing Light.”

A ma.s.s of light appeared above Ilya’s head, reacting to the bodies of the three people.

Light concentrated on the parts where they were wounded. The sphere of light disappearing before long and the light covering the three softened.

With not even a single scar able to be found in the places the light disappeared, the treatment ended successfully.

Putting off restoring their physical and mental wounds with recovery magic for now, Ilya went down to the first floor after putting the barrier back up to explain the situation.

“What did that…”

It was unusual for her to directly speak her thoughts.

“Ilya, did it go well!?”

“Ah, un. It’s alright.”

Not just Ria, but everyone gathered in the hall appeared relieved.

Usually, she would find so many people worrying about strangers heartwarming, but right now she was far from thinking about that.

“That, there… how…?”

Following her gaze, it was the large egg about the size of a basketball.

Ria answered her question while stroking the egg.

“Ah, this egg? Those three from before brought it. I wonder if they were attacked by this thing’s parents while moving it…”

“That’s… I don’t think so…”

Due to her skill, she knew the egg’s name–[Egg of the Dragon G.o.d].

Who was the Dragon G.o.d? It was the alias held by the ruler of the skies, a descendant of G.o.d with a dragon element. What was a divine beast that was a G.o.dlike beast? It itself was a special G.o.d, something ordinary humans couldn’t fight against.

Then, given the ability of those three from before, they would have easily been turned to cinders the moment they tried to steal it.

Stifling a sigh that was about to come out at the evident trouble, Ilya turned to Ria.

“Those three’s registration cards?”

“I’ve held on to them. Here.”

“Thanks.”

That the three belonged to the mercenary guild was marked on them.

She saw that they had accepted a demon subjugation commission, as well as the amount of the stipulated amount to subjugation they’d achieved.

(They happened to just find the egg by chance… maybe?)

Though that was the greatest possibility, in that case, how did a Dragon G.o.d that should have been in the Heaven Palace drop the egg? It was a complete mystery.

At any rate, although it was unfortunate for the three that carried it to the point they were injured, they couldn’t afford to sell off the egg.

(If things go poorly a city could perish. Ahaha…)

Now that she’d decided to deal with the egg, she noticed the gazes from those around her. Sensing they were waiting for her judgement, Ilya informed them.

“Postpone matters regarding the egg. Desiree-san.”

“Yes~”

“The commission that the three registered for, could you look into it please?”

“Goooot it.”

“Ria, since I’m going to wake Frank-san up, could you look after the egg for me?”

“Got it!”

Ilya immediately went up to the third floor, knocking on Frank’s private room.

“Branch Manager, please wake up.”

The door opened before long with Frank appearing, not wearing his uniform and still afflicted by bedhead.

His appearance may have disillusioned a genuine girl, or maybe have made her heart throb, but with her previous life’s memories she would never be perturbed by it.

“… What is it?”

“I need to consult something with you.”

In order to explain the current circ.u.mstances with Frank, she opened her mouth.

Just then.

“Ilya—!”

Ria’s shout echoed through the Branch.

Apologizing to Frank, she immediately headed downstairs.

“What’s wrong?”

Ria looked around in silence towards Ilya’s question.

On the Dragon G.o.d Egg.

Tiny cracks ran along the rainbow-reflecting oval-shaped egg.

It shook. Each time it did so, the cracks would extend and the sh.e.l.l would peel off little by little.

“Pi.”

“Hiii-!”

Surprised, Ria clung to Ilya.

Though she would have separated her from herself any other time, right now she didn’t have the composure to do so.

In order for eggs of named dragons to hatch, they needed to absorb the appropriate elements.

For Flame Dragons, the Fire Drake for example, the element was fire. For Lightning Dragons the elements were both fire and wind. There was a gigantic translucent stone called a Crystal Pillar for each elemental attribute. The Dragon G.o.d’s eggs get the wind element from the Crystal Pillar of Wind in the Heavenly Palace floating in the sky. After that, the Heavenly Palace would absorb each of the other elements by floating around the world.

Towards dragons whose upper limits of magical power were removed, having all attributes symbolized the power of the Dragon G.o.d.

Consequently, though the Dragon G.o.d’s egg was finally hatching after absorbing enough elements of all attributes, there weren’t any Crystal Pillars of any attribute near Lunéville either. Although fragments of Crystal Pillars exist everywhere as buildups of minerals, producing and releasing elements from those buildups wasn’t as effective.

That’s why Ilya couldn’t make light of the egg hatching.

(The main cause its absorbing elements… main cause?)

While thinking, she came up with a possibility.

“Sorry Ria, I need to return to my room for a moment.”

“D-don’t go, Ilya!”

“It’s alright. It’s a Dragon’s egg, not a demon’s. You won’t suddenly be attacked, unless maybe its parents see you and misunderstand.”

Several people became restless at the mention of parent dragons.

Many Flying Dragons and Land Dragons accompanied animal trainers, so people were relatively familiar with them. Let alone the hatchlings, not many people feared them. Still, being accompanied by Dragons other than Flying Dragons and Land Dragons was difficult, requiring more power to obtain and was held in prestige.

(Only since it’ll be troublesome this time, I should probably stop it.)

In order to prevent confusion, she didn’t speak her thoughts. Having now returned to her room, Ilya suddenly threw open the window.

Then, she looked towards the sky and used [Clairvoyance].

However, she didn’t see the Heavenly Palace’s landmark or a ma.s.s of c.u.mulonimbus clouds at Rondéville.

Continuing to look search after that, she found the Heavenly Palace about four countries away in the skies above Tekyareru Desert. She thought that the cause of it hatching was due to the Heavenly Palace or c.u.mulonimbus clouds, but it appeared her guess was off.

Now that it came to that, the possibility of failure appeared. For hatchlings that couldn’t absorb enough elements, their abilities would stop growing midway.

If its child suffered misfortune due to others, the Dragon G.o.d would naturally be in a rage.

(I wonder if it can be stopped without killing it… No, it’s no good to abandon hope.)

It might have already absorbed enough elements.

However, when her eyes looked at the egg with [Clairvoyance] again, there was something strange.

The [Presence Isolation] skill was used. Two figures were secretly hiding by the building.

Her eyes saw the [a.s.sa.s.sin] in their occupation columns.

(It’d be fine if it turned out to not be something troublesome, but…)

As she headed down to the first floor while clinging to a shred of hope–

“Pi.”

There was a hatchling Dragon with blue eyes and a pure white body when she returned.

The current Dragon G.o.d that Ilya knew had jet black horns on its scarlet body, and since the Dragon had deep blue eyes, she couldn’t see any similarities. However, it was clearly described in the occupation column as the Dragon G.o.d’s child with a status that slightly surpa.s.sed other Dragons.

“Ah, Ilya.”

The hatchling, being gently patted by Ria, turned to face her at the same time.

Then, an unexpected situation for her happened.

“Pi!”

“Ah.”

“Eh?”

The hatchling Dragon totteringly ran, jumping into Ilya’s chest.

Standing still so that she wouldn’t avoid it, she caught the hatchling head-on.

It was a confusing turn of events, but the hatchling snuggled up to her with its whole body. Its underdeveloped scales were smooth.

(Its tongue is quite rough… wait, don’t lick me!)

Watching the pleasant scene, Ria spoke to Ilya.

“Looks like you were just imprinted by a dragon’s child.”

“No way something like that…”

Dragons had the trait to imprint their parents. Not from the Dragon G.o.d, but she heard that information from other Dragons. Though she expected it to judge Ria as its parent, it appeared that it didn’t imprint on her.

(… Is it because of the Dragon element?)

Since she possessed a higher rank of the Dragon element than the Dragon G.o.d, the hatchling probably mistook her for a comrade.

Ilya, who inclined her head while thinking so, was mimicked by the hatchling that also inclined its head. The surroundings were wrapped in a gentle atmosphere.

“Ilya… you’ve settled down.”

“Oh?”

You could say that, thought Ilya.

Most things no longer surprised her since traveling throughout the world, and except being surprised at seeing insects she would never be fl.u.s.tered. Above all, although this time was certainly something unexpected, the hatchling hatched safely. She found that even its current status was stronger than the weaker species of Dragons.

With its initial level and amount of skills, as well as having good latent potential, it wasn’t underdeveloped at all. Its potential seemed to be even better than its parent’s.

(The Dragon G.o.d should be satisfied with this! That’s good, good.)

With that, the immediate problem could be avoided.

While stroking the curled up hatchling in her arms, she addressed the hatchling that lifted its head.

“How about a meal for now?”

Ilya returned to her room on the third floor, taking down the barrier.

Dragons eat pure magic, that is, magical power.

There were two ways to send it magical power. The first way was to mix magical power with body fluids like blood (this is what Dragon’s milk does), the second was to apply it with support magic.

Though she would immediately recover when wounded, Ilya didn’t like seeing blood so she chose the latter.

“—Red spirits of power, rage from the abyss. Sharpen what is hard, deepen what is soft. Give power to this person—”

Physical ability (brute strength, leg strength, and explosive strength’s overall value) were strengthened by this fire-type support magic.

“—Reinforce.”

“Pi!?”

Fed magical power from Ilya, the hatchling’s body completely filled with magical power. Then, the elements inside the hatchling’s body interfered with the magic.

(Nn? … Ah, I see.)

Ilya had completely forgotten.

The cause for the hatchling to hatch. It was—

(Probably because I used the healing magic Healing Light.)

The amount of elements collected due to Healing Light was probably enough for the hatchling to have absorbed.

Still, the Tekyrareru Desert that the Heavenly Palace drifted to was where the Crystal Pillar of Fire was. Guessing by that, the Heavenly Palace likely went there to absorb elements of fire.

“Kepu-”

The hatchling, unable to continue eating the magical power, stopped and leaned against her. Just then, there was a knock at her door.

“Ilya, are you good for a moment?”

“Ah, Branch Manager. By all means.”

Restoring her barrier and opening the door, she invited Frank inside.

“I roughly heard about it from Ria… It really is a Dragon’s child.”

“Though it’s hard to talk about, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“I don’t mind.”

“This child is the Dragon G.o.d’s offspring.”

“…”

(Ah, he’s holding his head.)

Understanding the situation the Branch was in from those few words, his intelligence became his enemy.

Ilya decided to wait for him to settle down by stroking the hatchling, but it didn’t take him much time to recover.

“… You’re certain?”

“Yes. A hundred percent.”

“I see… What should we do?”

Hmm, she gave a gesture as though she were thinking.

Should she go to the Dragon G.o.d’s Heavenly Palace and return it after all? There was only two ways to get there though.

The first would be to fly there with wind-type magic, another would be to borrow the strength of summoners or animal trainers.

If it were the latter she’d have no choice but to hold a ritual at the Dragon King’s shrine. Since performing the ritual at the shrine was originally to beg for rain, it wouldn’t give a good impression for the Dragon G.o.d. In that case—

“There’s no choice but to go and return it.”

“Put out a commission as the guild?”

“That’s right… I’d want the people who found it to bring it there since they are the ones responsible, but…”

“They’re still unconscious, huh.”

“Yes. There’s also the possibility that they brought it without knowing it was the Dragon G.o.d’s egg, too. I can’t say anything without hearing their side of the story.”

While they were having a serious conversation, the hatchling snuggled up to her while playing with its tail. Attempting to set it down, she leaned forward, but it gripped her firmly and wouldn’t let go.

“… It looks like it’s a good idea to leave the problem of taking care of the child to Ilya.”

“… It seems that way. I understand.”

When she gently stroked its head, it narrowed its eyes in comfort.

Ilya stared outside the window, letting out a single sigh.

A horse was dancing in the air, with scale-like fur and a single heroic horn.

In order to take care of the hatchling, Ilya was temporarily exempted from reception and kitchen duties.

(… Ah, what a pure-white working environment.)

Though Ilya was impressed by the fact she was given leave for child-care, she braced herself and opened the door to the office.

In order to avoid excessive risks, she avoided falling behind on developments.

Desiree called out to her before Ilya even asked.

“Ah, Ilya-chan. I figured out where those three accepted the commission.”

“Thank you very much. As expected of Desiree-san. You work quickly.”

“I’m happy to be praised by Ilya-chan. Well, those three accepted the commission from the s.h.i.+varémis Branch. The town to the southeast of Filéamis.”

“Do you know who the client was?”

“Of course. The commission was issued by someone from the trade guild in the s.h.i.+varémis Branch. The contents of the commission was a Filéahound in the forest to the east of s.h.i.+varémis.”

Speaking of the forest to the east of s.h.i.+varémis, it was famous for cultivating its heat resistant special product, oranges. It was no wonder that the trade guild sent out a commission to protect their product ahead of the stingy agriculture guild.

What Ilya thought incomprehensible was why those three purposely went to Lunéville with that commission.

(… In the end, there’s no progress to be made without speaking to the people in question, huh?)

“Pi~…”

Turning her gaze to the tiny voice, the hatchling’s legs were paddling in the air.

(Sleeping?)

Holding the hatchling in her arms, Ilya bowed her head to Desiree.

“Desiree-san, thank you for helping me with your precious time.”

“No, no. I’m willing to help you whenever.”

Though Ilya’s hierarchical relations.h.i.+p to her in the workplace was lower, Desiree didn’t appear to care about such things as she waved her hands. Ilya let out a sigh for her workplace that was filled with such tolerant people, returning to her room on the third floor.

As she was gently brus.h.i.+ng the hatchling laid on the bed, a knock sounded at the door. Considering the speed and strength of the knocks, she guessed it wasn’t anything urgent.

In fact, she didn’t see anything like impatience or discomfort in Elizah’s expression when she opened the door at like.

“Ilya, they’re waking up.”

“Un, I understand. I’ll be there soon.”

Standing up while holding the hatchling in her arms, she bent down to let it onto the bed. However, the hatchling still held on, absolutely refusing to separate from Ilya.

Reluctantly heading to the private room on the second floor while holding the hatchling, the otter beastkin was the only one awake.

When Ilya entered the room and bowed once, Frank immediately started the questioning.

“Do you hurt anywhere?”

“… No… where is—”

“This is Lunéville.”

“Lunéville…?”

The beastkin knit his brows in puzzlement.

“Aren’t you the one that came here?”

“Yes, I… r-right! Gaul and Ruben!?”

The otter beastkin, Teemo, raised his body in order to jump up.

“Please be at ease. Their wounds have also been healed. They’re just resting right now.”

“Is that… so… Thank you.”

His strength left him when he heard they were safe. Frank shook his head towards Teemo bowing his head deeply.

“Don’t worry about it. I want to hear something apart from that. Where did you obtain the Dragon egg?”

“Dragon…? That was a Dragon egg!?”

Teemo’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Did you move it without realizing?”

Teemo hesitatingly nodded towards Frank’s somewhat puzzled question.

“… Yeah… After finding it, we were going to try and return to Willville to complete the commission. Since it was an egg we hadn’t seen before, we thought it might get bought at a high price.”

“What was its surroundings like?”

“Surroundings, huh…?”

Teemo kept his mouth shut as he thought for Ilya’s question.

Since he was overthinking it, she helped him out.

“Something like where the egg fell on the ground, the weather… anything that you can remember.”

“… The area, I don’t think there was anything in particular about it… ah, no, since it fell in a place that didn’t look like a nest, we thought it was strange. As for the weather… sunny, no, maybe a little cloudy…”

“That’s enough. Thank you for the help.”

When Ilya bowed her head, Frank resumed his questioning.

“It might be painful to remember… but were you attacked after that?”

“Yeah…”

“Did you see what it looked like?”

“Yes. It was a horse that grew a horn. Its fur was distinctive… it looked like scales.”

Teemo’s words troubled Ilya, but she didn’t act on it since she was holding the hatchling.

A horse that had scales and a horn could only be a Qilin. [2]

(What is it doing in a place like this.)

She knew one was in the skies above Rondéville, but she thought it was here to look for the hatchling. However, hearing Teemo’s story, there were many contradictions.

“Did the horse do this to all of you?”

She continued to listen in.

“No. Though it chased us, we were able to escape while barely dodging its attacks. We got injured after that.”

“Were you attacked by another horse?”

“No… it was a person.”

Frank’s tension increased. If someone was aiming for the egg, that person was probably trying to anger the Dragon G.o.d. Being stressed was natural.

“Did you see the person?”

“… No, it was a surprise attack, so I couldn’t see much.”

“… You did well to not lose the egg.”

“That’s because we barely understood that the enemy avoided attacking the egg…”

Taking advantage of their opponent’s intentions, they successfully lead the attacks. Making such a wise decision in a situation of life and death, Ilya sincerely admired them.

“After that, we were only able to run towards the walls we saw…”

“Is that so. You worked hard.”

Though Frank sent a glance to Ilya as he replied to him, she had nothing, returning him a nod filled with meaning.

“Sorry you had to wake up so soon. Take care of yourself.”

“Ah, yeah… Really, thank you so much.”

“No, you’re the one to thank. Defending the Dragon G.o.d’s egg, I give you my heartfelt grat.i.tude.”

Hearing that it was the Dragon G.o.d’s egg, Teemo’s face paled.

Even if they didn’t want to be involved in something so awe-inspiring, it was decent consideration.

If the three people were thinking about the egg’s protection, they likely would have conveyed their intentions first.

Even so, a respectable person wouldn’t have released the egg and place themselves above all else.

(I don’t know if it’s too sudden… but with those three attacked, maybe I should think about its goal?)

Ilya sorted through the information they’d just gained.

“Take care of yourself.”

“Pi.”

The hatchling made a sound along with Ilya’s bow.

Not that the hatchling understood it had received his protection. However, thinking that the hatchling gave its thanks, even though Teemo was embarra.s.sed he felt his mood lighten up.

Meanwhile, Frank and Ilya left the room and moved to the parlor on the third floor.

“It looks like we escaped the worst-case scenario.”

“It does, doesn’t it.”

Ilya gave Frank’s weighty murmur the affirmative. What would the worst-case scenario have been? The Dragon G.o.d’s anger mercilessly befalling upon everyone.

“What are your thoughts.”

“It might take a little while. I’ll prepare some tea.”

“Ah, alright.”

Her leisurely behavior helped to ease Frank’s tension.

As for Ilya, it was neither resignation nor bravado that she was taking her time. She knew that it wouldn’t help to rush.

Pouring the tea from the teapot into a cup, she placed it on a saucer and pa.s.sed it to Frank.

Seeing Frank settle down from smelling its fragrance, Ilya began explaining.

“Does Branch Manager know where the Dragon G.o.d lives?”

“No, I don’t.”

“The Dragon G.o.d lives in an island that floats in the sky, called the Heavenly Palace.”

“An island that floats…?”

“In the center of the island is a gigantic Crystal Pillar of Wind.”

That the Crystal Pillar fell and was stolen, with Ilya becoming a wife candidate for the Dragon G.o.d when she retrieved it for her deed, she left out, continuing to speak without adding such a superfluous thing.

“So, my first thought was that the egg fell from the Heavenly Palace.”

“Then how did the egg end up safe? … Ah, did you hear about the area?”

“Yes. Even if some power came into play, I don’t believe it would be able to land safely without exerting some influence on the surroundings.”

Even if it didn’t make a crater, something similar should have happened. Still, the possibility that the Heavenly Palance was related after hearing about the weather was low.

“When the Heavenly Palace is in the sky overhead, it just looks like a huge rain cloud from the outside and can’t be seen. It’s not weather that could be mistaken for sunny or cloudy.”

“Then there’s no possibility that it fell…”

“Correct. It’s likely that it was carried to that ground.

Thus, Ilya had an idea of who the perpetrator was.

“Why would they bring the egg to the ground?”

“Though I don’t know why, at the very least I don’t think it holds any ill intent towards the egg.”

“Why?”

“Though they mentioned a horned horse with scales, that horse is called a Qilin.”

“Keerin…?”

“Yes. It’s called a Mythical Beast, the Dragon G.o.d’s kin.”

What was a Mythical Beast? The kin of a G.o.d. Their existences weren’t entirely confirmed and though they were generally descendants of G.o.ds like the Dragon G.o.d and Demon G.o.d, they sometimes resulted from crossbreeding between difference species.

As for the Qilin, it was the child produced from breeding between the Dragon G.o.d and a horse beastkin. Possessing the same horn and scales as a Dragon and a lot of magical power due to its dragon element, its appearance was similar to the Dragon G.o.d and beastkin.

“Due to it having a benevolent disposition, so long as it doesn’t get driven into a dangerous situation, it will not try to harm others. Rather, it would sooner hurt itself than injure an enemy.”

“Then why were they attacked by a Mythical Beast like that?”

“It was probably just pretending to attack.”

Frank’s expression was saying he didn’t understand. However, seeming to realize it by himself immediately after, his brows furrowed deeply.

“… Why in Lunéville…”

Not even Ilya knew if it guided it here. No, it was more correct to say that she didn’t want to know.

Surely the Dragon G.o.d didn’t want an outsider like Ilya to raise his child. She didn’t want to think he was the same as that Water Dragon.

“However, who were those people that attacked them afterwards…?”

“I don’t know. However, I’m certain that they were acting on different intentions than the Qilin.”

There was the possibility it was bringing the egg to Lunéville in order for Ilya to protect the egg from its enemies as well.

However, in that case, why was the egg taken away from the Heavenly Palace in the first place? She couldn’t understand its motives. Did something happen in the Heavenly Palace?

Considering how the Dragon G.o.d doted on the Qilin and his other kin, she didn’t think the Dragon G.o.d would be disgusted at the hatchling. But considering that there could be enemies inside the Heavenly Palace, the Dragon G.o.d wouldn’t leave something like that alone.

(… Not enough information as expected, then?)

With her current information, she couldn’t determine the truth.

“In any case, if we a.s.sume the Qilin purposely brought it to the ground, we can’t just return it to the Heavenly Palace.”

“Right. It’d be easy if we could get the truth from the Qilin and the people who attacked them though.”

“It won’t go so well as that huh?”

“But, maybe we will manage to before long.”

“Is that so? … Got it. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Well…”

Ilya thought for a moment for Frank’s offer.

“This evening, is Rach.e.l.le taking the reception desk?”

“Yeah, she is.”

“Then, could you tell her to bring a meal here in the evening? I almost certainly won’t be able to go anywhere at that time since I’ll be looking after the hatchling.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

Nodding while gently petting the hatchling, she was stared at by its clear blue eyes. The stifling atmosphere was swept away when the hatchling rolled about, causing Ilya to smile.

“Well then, how about going for a walk?”

“Pi!”

Still acting in an easygoing manner, Ilya bowed to Frank, still drained of energy from the situation, before walking out of the Branch with the hatchling.

[Hunt the horse with the mentioned features in that area and seize its egg. Eliminate anyone who knows of the egg’s existence without exception.]

Those were the instructions they’d received this time.

Though finding that horse with the information from the suspicious man that called himself Catoh was going well, the wind changed when they encountered a human man on the way.

That’s because in the next moment, that man transformed into a yellow-scaled sea snake with a single horn and attacked them.

Though its powerful body and water magic made it a close fight, its enemies successfully gave it the slip. However, being unable to find Catoh, it would take them time to find the egg again.

When they finally found the egg, instead of seeing the horse in its surroundings there were instead three beastk