Chapter 31 -
For a while, we continue our life of traveling between the harbor town's guild to sort out the menial requests that had piled up and the «Empty Wilderness».
On one such day, we were called to the reception room by the Dragonewt Guild Master Doulgu when we visited the guild to accept requests as usual.
“Excuse me for calling you out of the blue.”
“Don’t be apologetic, we don’t mind. Anyway, has something happened?”
I slightly straightened up, considering maybe something out of the norm had happened since the guild master had called us A-rank adventurers though this seemed not to be the case as guild master Doulgu offered his explanation with a bitter smile.
“You’re no less than the lifesaver as the unattended requests from around the town that had piled up have been reduced to almost nothing.”
“Having you say that means our efforts paid off.”
It would already be a busy month for us if there was an adequate request for us A-rank adventurers at that time. Thus it would naturally come down to handling requests meant for lower ranks.
We generally leave the good requests to the relevant rank adventurers and accept the requests whose rewards are generally average or even lower than that.
Requests whose rewards are too low are closely examined by the guild.
Adventurers or guilds wouldn’t be able to earn well if clients cheap out on their compensation despite their sufficient financial capabilities as that would lower the market rate and eventually put them into a tough spot.
That was why guilds closely investigate requests beforehand to protect precisely that and there were also cases where they reject them.
However they do let some requests among others pass after the investigation reveals that the client really was in a pinch and could truly only pay that much or, in some cases, if they deemed it would become a huge mess later down the time.
“Almost all the unpopular requests that might have a chance to turn dangerous in this northern coastal area of the Lovile kingdom have been resolved. Not just me, the town's lord shares the same sentiment, so once again, thank you very much for your hard work.”
“Please don’t say it anymore. You ought not to bow your head to us.”
“Yeah, Teto too just wanted to do some fun requests together with Majou-sama-nanodesu!”
Dogul gave a stiff smile when I requested him not to bow his head anymore.
High-ranking adventurers only accept requests when other potentially dangerous requests finally evolve to the one matching their status. The rewards, of course, subsequently rise and it also leads to their fame.
However, behind that fame and wealth lay the trails of the damage already done. I had been exposed to this truth in the twenty years I spent in the Gard Beastkin Nation after finally reaching A-rank.
Stopping the damage before it could happen; we had been solving such potentially dangerous requests as much as possible for such a reason.
The monster subjugation in the abandoned mining town of Arim-chan was one such prime example of a potentially hazardous situation that was sure to become a disaster.
“Your virtues are really noble. I had never thought of doing that during my adventuring years. It was not until I entered the management side by becoming a guild master that I finally realized the problem.”
Doulgu let out a sigh after saying that, recalling his past, but if anything, his reaction just came out as slightly funny considering how he still looked young due to being a dragnet which was a long-lived species.
“Give me a break, I accept your gratitude but is that really all you have to say?”
“No, well you see I was thinking it’s such a waste for an A-rank party to stay here when most of the potentially hazardous requests have been cleared off thanks to you. Won’t you think about moving to the royal capital’s guild?”
“ “Royal capital’s guild?” "
Dogul continued when we two cocked our heads, unable to comprehend where he was heading to.
“The requests pile up more frequently in the royal capital than in this town. Usually, A-rank parties directly receive requests from the nation that can't be put on the bulletin board or from the nobles through the guilds, right?”
“Well, yeah. Indeed, it may be time to move to the royal capital.”
The place or the distance is hardly a concern for us with the transfer gate in our possession. The royal capital might be more fun with its trade volume that was higher than even this harbor town.
“We just received an escort request for a merchant ship scheduled to leave for the royal capital one week later. You now also have experience fighting on the sea with the sea serpent subjugation so why don’t you take this chance to head to the royal capital, too?”
“Very well, we'll accept that escort request.”
Thus, Teto and I began our preparation for the trip to the Lovile kingdom’s royal capital. The first thing to do was to clean up the rented house and then pay the fee. Then, we went on a round trip to stock up on ingredients for the journey while going around bidding our farewells to the people of the morning market as well as the fishermen there with whom we had become acquainted throughout our stay.
"I pray that the blessing of the Oceanus goddess Luriel-sama shines upon you since you're venturing into the sea."
"I pray for the heaven goddess Leriel-sama to grace you with nice windy weather for your ship voyage."
"Thank you very much."
"Thank you very much-nanodesu!"
The old fishing couple who gave us a bonus for our purchases wished us a safe trip.
We passed our time while thinking about how Teto and I had been recognized as apostles of the two pillar goddesses Lariel and Liliel --- no way we were going to have a peaceful time if this was to be exposed.
We retrieved the transfer gate from the rented house, returned the key to the owner, and headed for the port where our escort target, the merchant ship, was anchored.
"Hello. Do you happen to be the merchant Wado?"
"Yes, that I am. And you little girls are?"
A middle-aged man with suntanned skin turned to look at us when we called out to him.
"We're the adventurers who have received the escort request from the guild master Doulgu."
"Here's our guild card-nanodesu!"
A look of surprise dyed the middle-aged man's face when we showed him our guild cards and once again ran his gaze on us from top to bottom to take another good look.
"Ah, so you're the esteemed adventurers! The ones who resolved the case of the sea serpent that brought a halt to our voyages! I heard directly from the guild master Doulgu that you may look like young girls but you're the veterans with over 40 years of experience!"
It was natural for many to have doubts about us with our young appearance but it seemed like guild master Doulgu had already explained the situation properly it seems.
"It's our first merchant ship escort request so we will be imposing on you to learn many things."
"We'll be in your care!"
"I see, in that case, please listen to the details as we have a contracted adventurer party here."
We boarded the merchant ship under the guidance of the suntanned and slightly humble-looking merchant and listened to the details about this time's escort request.
Adventures and sailors would take 4 shifts a day to observe the sea, defeat any monster that came to attack the ship and continue the journey.
The wind came blowing from the north in this season so the voyage was expected to take around two weeks.
"That's all for now, you are free to do anything outside of your shift duration. Whether you want to sleep, cook, or fish, there's no restriction."
"Thank you. We'll try to adapt soon."
We climbed the deck of the ship and looked at the goods being loaded into the ship by the sailors.
The majority of them were the foodstuff, water, and fuel needed for cooking. There were also some other expensive things stuffed here and there but the truly valuable stuff was in the magic bag of the merchant.
"Everyone, let's go."
The merchant ship left the harbor and moved in the direction of the royal capital.
Sailors rowed the boat 'til a certain distance and then they eventually unfurled the sail, letting the wind give support as the boat advanced on the sea.
Teto and I looked at the harbor town we had been staying in recently from the sail.
"It was a nice place."
"Teto would like to hang out there again!"
The abandoned mine town wasn't particularly blessed with resources yet the dwarves were leading a moderate life.
The hustle and bustle of the harbor town or the merry voices of people from it could be heard 'til here.
Distance or place no longer bound us in its web with the «Transfer Gate» but the occasional once-in-a-lifetime trip just has a different charm.
With such bliss within our hearts, we shifted our thoughts to the upcoming royal capital as I took off my hat and let my hair flutter on the wind from the sea.
