Ohanabatake No Maousama Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"As for your test, you are to search for a lost cat."

The receptionist said as he handed Kuders an envelope with the necessary doc.u.ments.

Kuders opened it and looked inside with a confused expression.

"…A cat?"

"I warn you, it is not as easy a job as it sounds."

As the receptionist said this, he made a hand sign towards some Adventurers who had started to watch them with interest.

They all reacted and one of them nodded.

"Cats are light-footed and run away from strangers. And they are usually hiding somewhere. Not only that, but they are not very strong, so you have to handle them with care when you do catch them."

After quickly finis.h.i.+ng his silent interaction with the Adventurers, the receptionist began to talk about the difficulty of the test. Then he smiled provocatively.

"In other words, we don't want people here who can do nothing but fight. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I will take on this task."

Kuders nodded with a sober expression.

But the receptionist clicked his tongue loudly.

It was hard to know how much of this was an act, but given how Zanatoria had been keeping silent, perhaps all of this was part of the rite of pa.s.sage.

"Also, Zanatoria will obviously stay here. You must do this test alone."

"I understand. Is there a time limit?"

Kuders was not intimidated by whatever pressure the receptionist was trying to apply, and he stared back at him with brave eyes.

—I see. So he is not as he appears.

A complete newcomer would have been daunted, but as this man was filled with confidence, he was either the real deal or he was mad.

Unfortunately, it was hard to tell which one this man was.

Indeed, it was as Zanatoria said. There was much they didn't know.

"Two days. You have two days to bring back the cat."

"I understand."

Kuders replied briskly and without asking any more questions, turned on his heels and went outside.

And then…one of the Adventurers followed after him.

It was the man who had nodded after the receptionist had gestured towards them.

He was likely some kind of examiner.

How would he solve this problem?

Were his methods worthy of the guild?

And what of his capabilities?

He would observe all of this and deliver the information to the receptionist.

Once the examiner had left.

Zanatoria burst into laughter.

"Pppffffttt…ppppp…pppff….bahahahaha! Oh, it is too much. I'm going to die! Die of laughter!! Hey. This is really a roundabout way of doing things, Master Gunnard! You hated the previous Master's methods! And so I cannot believe you would do this!"

Zanatoria was holding his stomach as he laughed. The younger Adventurers in the hall looked towards the receptionist with shock… As for the master of the guild, Gunnard, he turned towards his old partner with a serious expression.

"Hey, now. Stop laughing so much, Zanatoria. Things have changed here, and so I've had to adjust my ways. Well, I still don't like it. But it's an evil you have to accept as a leader. I'm starting to understand why my father always had a bitter look on his face. Once an organization has been around for a long time, you start having to care about how your members come across. It hurts me as well, alright? It might seem nice to be under such an esteemed establishment, but you're tied down by tradition and rules. I can't do anything bold at all. After all, I'm the twelfth master. Don't you think I should just crush the whole thing and start anew? Who gives a d.a.m.n of what those old geezers think!!"

The man who was now rudely resting his chin on his hands over the table looked nothing like a guild master. He looked like a juvenile delinquent who had gotten really old.

"Well, you won't be able to say that if Kuders joins this place. After all, he is an exception in many ways. h.e.l.l, are you sure you can even deal with him?"

"He didn't look like all that much to me. …Besides, he may still fail the test you know?"

Gunnard snorted as he fussed over such details. Zanatoria just shrugged.

"Perhaps. It's true. Even if he succeeds, the examiner may decide he is unsuitable. But you know, I want him to pa.s.s the test."

"Oh? And why is that?"

The Guild Master raised his head with interest. His old friend grinned mischievously.

"Because it will surely be very amusing if he does."

"I see. Judging by your face… You've brought me a world of trouble. My stomach is starting to hurt already."

It happened right after that.

"Hey, newcomer. Have you seen the doc.u.ments that were right here? The one about the escaped arena monster. Apparently, three well-known teams from other guilds have already been defeated. And so we got a message from the client that says we can raise the rank of the quest."

Such was the conversation that could be heard behind Gunnard.

It was then that an indescribable chill ran up Master Gunnard's spine.

"Aah, it wasn't in an envelope. So I took out the contents of a random lost animal quest envelope and put them in there…"

"You b.l.o.o.d.y idiot! Haven't I told you that we differentiate quest types by the color of the envelope! You are never to put them in envelopes of a different color! What would happen if someone took off with it by mistake!! Besides, you just left the missing cat doc.u.ments there as well!"

"I'm sorry. It didn't seem important…"

As far as Gunnard was aware, there was currently only one missing cat quest at the guild.

And so it was easy to imagine what had just happened.

"Like I said, it's going to be quite amusing, isn't it? It's like this, back at the house as well."

Zanatoria said with a grin. Master Gunnard put a hand on his stomach and muttered with much difficulty.

"Please…just give me a break."

So, you pushed the uncontrollable monster onto me, didn't you?

The teary eyes of his old friend accused him. Zanatoria looked quite satisfied as he replied.

"Have you ever heard these words? 'A friend halves your pain and doubles your joy.'"

And it was true. For Zanatoria's face was s.h.i.+ning brightly with the sense of achievement he felt over giving half of his pain to his old friend.