Chapter 10
“And that's what happened. Man, what a mess.”
“That’s conveni— I mean, that sounds awful...”
The next day.
After my old man so smoothly kicked me out of the family dojo, here I was, meeting Allucia again in Baltrain just one day later.
We were in one of the rooms at the Knights’ headquarters.
The room had white walls, a desk, and chairs. It was furnished with only the bare necessities—not quite stark, but far from what you’d call elegant or luxurious.
It seemed to be proof that the Knights weren’t extravagant and were being run properly. Well, I couldn’t imagine Allucia embezzling funds or living lavishly.
I was now back in Baltrain with my sword, various belongings, and more than enough money for travel expenses.
Thank goodness I’d managed to save a fair amount.
It turned out to be a good thing I hadn’t bought the sword yesterday. I could afford it, sure, but that one sword alone was pretty expensive, and considering what lay ahead, I’d feel more comfortable keeping the money. I never expected things to turn out like this so suddenly.
“First, I need to find an inn. Sorry to trouble you over something like this.”
“No, that’s quite all right, but...”
My old man was the sort of person who couldn’t be talked out of something once he’d made up his mind—not by someone like me, anyway. I put my last hope in my mother, too, but she was on his side as well.
When the two of them joined in and started chanting that they wanted to see their grandchild, I couldn’t say a thing. This is rough.
Landrid had already been completely won over by my old man, too.
When he gave me a huge smile and said, “Sensei! Do your best!” there was no way I could fight back. And Mrs. Fanary’s kind, sympathetic look was hard to bear.
“............”
“A-Allucia? Is something wrong?”
I didn’t have any particular connections in the capital, Baltrain, either. I felt genuinely sorry for using her like this, but Allucia was about the only person I could turn to.
I’d asked her for advice, but she seemed to be thinking it over quite seriously.
Hmm, maybe it wasn’t a good look for someone who was supposed to become a special instructor for the Knights to be in such a predicament.
“...I was wondering if perhaps you could stay at my house...”
“No, of course that’s out of the question!”
I’d been wondering what she was thinking, but that was obviously a terrible idea.
A young Knight Commander living together with an old guy like me? To put it mildly, that would be a huge problem. I didn’t want to damage either the Knights’ reputation or Allucia’s.
“But the Knights aren’t particularly familiar with such matters. An adventurer like Risandera would probably know more.”
“I see... Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
Adventurers traveled around the country on jobs, so they might well know more about places to stay.
I’d never been to the Adventurers’ Guild, but Surena had gone so far as to ask me to stop by. I was sure they could recommend an inn if I asked.
“I want to find a place today, so I’ll head over right away.”
“Then I’ll show you the way. It’s not far from the headquarters.”
“Thanks, that’d be a big help.”
We exchanged a few words as we rose from our chairs.
I shouldered my belongings, while Allucia only needed to prepare her sword, and we left the headquarters.
“Here it is.”
“It really is close.”
And so, we arrived at the Reberis Kingdom branch of the Adventurers’ Guild.
It really was close to the Knights’ headquarters. It was just one block over from the street where the headquarters stood. I don’t think it even took five minutes to walk here.
It wasn’t as grand as the Knights’ headquarters, but it was still a fairly large building by Baltrain standards. Even in the short time I spent looking at it, I saw several people who looked like adventurers coming and going.
Hmm, it seems like a fairly busy place.
“Shall we go in?”
“Yeah.”
Entering a building for the first time is a little nerve-racking, isn’t it?
Allucia, oblivious to how I felt, opened the door and glided right inside without a moment’s hesitation. I hurried after her.
Inside was a large lobby, with a counter in the middle, boards on either side, and a staircase to the upper floor beyond the board on the right.
The area on the left seemed to be a lounge. Several round tables and chairs were arranged there, and a few adventurers were relaxing as they pleased.
I guess adventurers are used to seeing all kinds of people, unlike the townsfolk who stared at us so strangely... Wait, that guy just did a double take. He was probably surprised to see Allucia.
“Excuse me. Could I speak with Surena Risandera, the Dragon Twin Blades?”
“Y-yes. Please wait a moment.”
Allucia paid no heed to the stares and made her way to the counter.
The woman who seemed to be the receptionist looked quite confused and nervous when Allucia spoke to her. Well, it’s not every day the Knight Commander of the Reberio Knights comes to the Adventurers’ Guild.
And the person she was asking for was Surena, a Black-rank adventurer. It was hardly surprising that the receptionist might think some major incident was unfolding.
Well, in reality, it was just an old guy looking for an inn. This is rough.
“Citrus. If this is some pointless business, I’m going back to sle—Sensei?!”
“H-hello, Surena. We met yesterday.”
“It isn’t pointless. In a certain sense, it’s a very important matter.”
Surena had come down from upstairs, wearing a slightly displeased expression. But the moment she saw me, her eyes flew wide open with surprise.
I hadn’t expected to come see her the very next day, either.
I felt a little awkward about it.
“I never thought you’d come see me the very next day.”
“Sorry to surprise you. Something a little unexpected came up.”
“Hmm... We shouldn’t discuss this standing here. Come upstairs. ...Citrus, are you coming too?”
“Of course.”
I mean, there was no need for her to come along. I just wanted to ask for a little help finding an inn, so I didn’t need all these people involved.
In any case, I wanted to get upstairs as soon as possible.
The stares from everyone around us were getting intense.
The Knight Commander of the Reberio Knights had barged in unannounced with a Black-rank adventurer, and the top-tier adventurer was speaking politely to some old guy. It was a scene that looked suspicious as could be.
Allucia and Surena didn’t seem to care, but I cared a lot. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
Maybe she noticed the atmosphere—or maybe not—but Surena started up the stairs.
Taking the opportunity, I followed her to the second floor. Unlike the lobby downstairs, it had a long hallway with rooms branching off on either side.
“This is it. Inside is a reception room.”
“Can we just use it?”
“Of course. I’ve been given permission to use any of the rooms as I please while I’m staying here.”
“That’s the perks of being Black rank, huh? Quite the treatment.”
“No, I owe it all to your instruction, Sensei.”
What part of that was thanks to me? This old man was confused.
“So, you had some business with me?”
“Yeah, about that—”
Once we’d all taken our seats, I gave her the same explanation I’d given Allucia.
It was pretty embarrassing to have to explain this, too. Seriously, that old man...
“I see... In that case, I know a few good, inexpensive inns. For safety, it would be best to stay near the Guild.”
“Wait, Risandera. Sensei will be going to the Knights’ headquarters from now on, and for his safety and convenience, it would be best for him to stay near my house.”
“What? That’s a bit irritating. The Adventurers’ Guild is close to the Knights’ headquarters, isn’t it? Then for convenience, he should stay around here.”
Those two had started arguing again without even taking a breath.
I don’t care where it is, just recommend a place already.
In the end...
Even after a bit of a fuss...
I found a place to stay while working in Baltrain, though it was a little way from both the Guild and the Knights’ headquarters.