Chapter 31
The return trip was much like the journey there.
After leaving Azalamia Forest, we took the carriage we'd left waiting there and spent a night on the road. The next day, we continued on until Baltrain's city walls came into view.
“Lisandera-san, Gardenant-san, thank you so much!”
“It's all right, it's all right. It was our job, too, after all.”
Once the walls came into view, I accepted yet another thank-you from Porta—I’d lost count of how many by now.
He'd woken up while we were camping, and after Nidly and Salikatz explained what had happened, he'd been bowing to Surena and me over and over.
After a day, he'd recovered enough to walk, at least.
Well, I'm glad there were no lasting injuries. Maybe there were some, but the potions might have done a lot to help.
As a swordsman, he was undoubtedly still a work in progress. But his straightforward gaze and demeanor seemed to reflect the way he approached the sword.
In that sense, I had a feeling he'd become a fine swordsman, though just how much talent lay dormant in him was another matter.
“For now, take it easy and let your injuries heal.”
“Yes! There's no good in pushing myself too hard.”
“That's a good attitude. Get plenty of rest.”
Yes, that kind of honesty was a big plus, too.
Much as Porta said, pushing yourself when you're injured rarely does any good. I hoped he'd get back into peak condition and continue moving toward even greater heights.
Quite a few adventurers are a hot-blooded bunch. Everyone's aiming to strike it rich, after all, so they're the sort to dive headfirst into the middle of danger ahead of everyone else.
Conversely, you could say that without that kind of spirit, you weren't cut out to make a living as an adventurer.
Greed, confidence, and danger.
Those who keep those things in balance are the ones who survive and grow. Once you're dead, you lose everything, after all.
“We're here. This is Baltrain. We'll head straight to the Adventurers' Guild to report. Is that all right with you, Sensei?”
“Yeah, that's fine.”
Surena, who was driving the carriage on the way back in place of Nidly and Salikatz, called out to me.
She'd been the one to suggest it.
Normally, having a Black-Rank adventurer handle a carriage would be unthinkable to them, but Surena was the sort of adventurer who could be considerate like this.
Though she looked quite bold these days, she was probably kind by nature.
I couldn't help slipping into a guardian's perspective. Well, I used to look after her.
“...Sensei, is something wrong?”
“Oh, no, it's nothing.”
Whoops, I'd been staring at Surena again.
But she's grown into such a fine woman. I only looked after her a little when she was young, but even so, it made me feel warm inside.
We left the carriage at the usual stop and walked to the Adventurers' Guild.
Salikatz was supporting Porta by the shoulder. I wanted to let him rest as soon as possible, but having to report to the Guild first was the hard part. Porta-kun would have to hang in there a little longer.
“I'd like to speak with the Guildmaster.”
“Y-yes. Of course.”
We passed through the Guild doors and approached the counter. Surena spoke on behalf of the group.
The receptionist seemed to realize from Porta's condition that something serious had happened. Still, she didn't lose her composure, which was impressive.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. ...Has something happened?”
After a while, the white-haired Guildmaster Nidas arrived with his attendant, Meigen. They seemed to sense something was up as soon as they saw Porta and the others.
I'd thought this since our first meeting, but Nidas seemed to possess a certain inner fortitude. There were probably aspects of it that couldn't be explained by age alone.
“The training itself went smoothly. But afterward, we encountered Zeno Grayble, a Specially Designated Subjugation Target (Named), in Azalamia Forest. We defeated it, so I'm here to report.”
“Good heavens...!”
The Adventurers' Guild lobby erupted in murmurs.
Come to think of it, I knew of Specially Designated Subjugation Targets, but I'd never learned just how much of a threat they posed. Well, it wasn't something that concerned me, so I'd never had much reason to ask.
“We brought back proof, of course.”
“...I see. It does appear to be true...”
With a heavy thud, Surena set Zeno Grayble's fur and claws on the counter.
By then, other adventurers who looked like onlookers had gathered at a distance to watch.
“Did Lisandera-san defeat it by herself?”
“No, Sensei... Mr. Gardenant and I worked together. I only delivered the finishing blow, though.”
Surena answered Meigen's question.
Stop embellishing the story so casually.
“I see... Mr. Gardenant, thank you.”
“N-no, no. There's no need to bow so deeply...”
Nidas turned his whole body toward me and bowed deeply.
Please stop. I mean, it's true that we defeated it, but Surena did almost all the work. Most of what I did was run around dodging, and I barely dealt any effective damage. It all feels rather awkward.
“You three had a rough time of it, too. But I'm glad you made it back alive.”
He also directed those words to the three adventurers behind me.
As Guildmaster, Nidas was presumably the head of this Adventurers' Guild. It seemed unusual for someone of such stature to take an interest in mere Bronze-Rank adventurers.
I felt that this, too, spoke to the sort of person Nidas was.
“Shall we assemble a recovery team and send them out right away?”
“Yes. Normally, I should have stayed behind, but... with the rookies and Mr. Gardenant there, I prioritized returning.”
“That was a sound decision. Just tell us where it is, and we'll take it from there.”
Nidas and Surena continued their conversation.
Huh. So they were going to retrieve Zeno Grayble's corpse. Well, Surena had mentioned materials and such, so I suppose they'd make good use of every last bit.
“Now that one of the Specially Designated Subjugation Targets has been defeated, we must make the news widely known.”
“Indeed. I'll have them make the arrangements right away.”
Nidas murmured, sounding pleased.
Publicize it, huh? Was a Specially Designated Subjugation Target really that big a deal?
“Um, if I may ask something somewhat unrelated...”
“What is it, Mr. Gardenant?”
I figured this was a good time to ask for more details about these Specially Designated Subjugation Targets. I'd fought one without knowing anything about it, and won without knowing anything about it, either.
“I've heard of Specially Designated Subjugation Targets, but... I'm afraid I'm ignorant of the details and don't really understand what they are...”
“Hahahaha, I see.”
Nidas laughed, seemingly amused by my words.
I was a little embarrassed, too. If he asked, “You didn't even know that?” I wouldn't have anything to say.
Still, they say it's a moment's shame to ask, but a lifetime's shame not to. Though I'm not sure this situation really applies.
“Meigen, explain it to him.”
“Yes, sir.”
Oh, it seemed the speaker was changing.
But was it really all right for someone like me to be having such a long conversation with the head of the Adventurers' Guild? For some reason, I was starting to worry about that.
“A Specially Designated Subjugation Target (Named) is a term used by the Adventurers' Guild, which takes the lead in such matters, primarily to refer to anomalous individuals. There are currently fourteen confirmed Specially Designated Subjugation Targets within the Kingdom of Rebellis, and Zeno Grayble is one of them.”
“Fourteen...?”
Just going by my gut, fourteen didn't seem like many.
Surena had taken down one of them. That was incredible.
“Of course, that number fluctuates as targets are defeated or new species are discovered... However, as a rule, only adventurers of Platinum Rank or higher may accept quests involving Specially Designated Subjugation Targets. Please understand that these are considered to pose that level of threat.”
“I see... Thank you.”
Meigen finished his explanation, and a brief silence fell over the room.
Platinum Rank or higher, huh? Landrid, who's in Beden Village now, was Platinum Rank, if I recall... Ah, no, strictly speaking, he used to be.
Surena must truly be on another level to have taken down a threat like that with such ease.
“By the way, Mr. Gardenant...”
“Yes, what is it?”
Nidas spoke up again in place of Meigen, looking straight at me.
His eyes held unmistakable trust and passion.
“Are you interested in becoming an adventurer?”
“No, thank you.”
I turned him down in a heartbeat.
I'm just a humble old man, now and always!