The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology
Chapter 106
"I see. Thank you for your report," said the young female staff member (importantly, she's married) from the Dungeon Management Department.
We were seated in a corner of the tavern on the first floor of the Bargia Adventurers' Guild. After I reported the instant-death trap on the 5th floor of the dungeon, she immediately began preparing a report. While writing, she let out a wry smile.
"I shouldn't say this, but it's good that you were the one who encountered that trap. If it had been other adventurers, they probably wouldn't have survived. As expected of the 'Child of Mystery' who's been the talk of Stoania."
"...Huh? What did you just say?"
I couldn't let that phrase slip by. The staff member brought her hand to her mouth and chuckled. Her wedding ring on her ring finger glinted.
"The two young adventurers who cleared the 100th floor of Stoania Dungeon are the talk of guilds in various areas. Ruruk-san, you're that 'Child of Mystery', and your mage partner is the 'Sheep of Wolf Extermination', right?"
"Eh~ Really? We're being talked about?"
I didn't hold back during training. Maybe we stood out too much...
"Last month, when we received a notification from Stoania's Guild Master via 'copier' that you had cleared the 100th floor and were recommended for A-rank, it caused quite a stir in our guild too. Being recommended for A-rank at 13 years old is probably in the top 10 fastest in history."
"S-Such a thing... Wait, copier? What's that?"
My curiosity was piqued by a term familiar even in modern society.
"It's a mystic arts device in the main guilds of each area. Text written on one copier is automatically transcribed on other copiers. Thanks to this, smooth communication is possible between guild headquarters. The Sage is really amazing, isn't he?"
Oh, they made such a tool 800 years ago? The Sage of Mystic Arts is indeed incredible.
Well, putting that aside, I feel it might be better for my sake not to dig too deep into these rumors.
"There's one more thing I'd like to ask, if you know about it."
"Go ahead. Ask anything."
"It's about familiar contracts. Is there anyone in the guild who's knowledgeable about this?"
"Oh? Are you interested in becoming a familiar master, Ruruk-san? Of course, there are several people who come to mind... but whether I introduce them depends on the content, you know?"
"It's about subjugation marks. Specifically, I'd like to know if there's a way to forcibly remove a subjugation mark."
"Removing a subjugation mark? ...This subjugation mark is of course from a familiar contract, right? Not from criminal slavery?"
"Of course."
I was regarded with a slightly suspicious look. There must be a certain number of people who aim to free criminal slaves. Of course, that's not the case, so I immediately denied it.
"Well... I've heard that familiar contracts with subjugation marks are proof of advanced or higher taming skills. If you want to hear actual experiences, it's best to ask a skilled familiar master."
"Is there such a person in this guild?"
"Yes, there's quite a famous one. Look, over there."
The staff member pointed to a blonde man sitting on the opposite side of the tavern. He was sitting in a chair like a delinquent from a seedy neighborhood, chugging alcohol. Next to him, a beast-person woman with an excellent figure in thin clothes like a bathrobe was pouring drinks for him... no, not a beast-person.
It's a fox monster.
"That's Kemuna-san, the hero of this guild -- an S-rank adventurer. He's from this town and has been active in the dragon capital Foosu for a long time. If you want to talk to someone, there's no one more suitable than him."
"Thank you. I'll go talk to him."
"Yes. Thank you for your report."
With that, I stood up and approached the familiar master named Kemuna. Familiar masters themselves are rare, let alone an S-rank adventurer. His personal abilities must be high too.
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[Name] Kemuna Kemonoski
[Race] Human
[Name] Hotaru
[Race] Spirit Fox (Kemuna's vassal)
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A spirit fox, huh.
It's quite rare even among fox-type monsters, and strong individuals are said to have abilities that rank high even among A-rank monsters. I've heard they can use a wide range of magic, but this is the first time I've seen one. And wow, her breasts are huge. She's beautiful too.
As I approached the S-rank adventurer who had such a monster (I'm not talking about her chest) by his side, he turned sharp eyes towards me.
"Huh? What do you want, brat?"
By the way, Kemuna is 29 years old. Indeed, I'm still a brat.
I bowed slightly and stopped.
"I'm sorry for the sudden intrusion. My name is Ruruk. I just arrived in this town of Bargia yesterday, and I heard that Kemuna-san is a skilled familiar master, so I came to greet you."
"...Tch. No need for such troublesome things. Just do your own activities."
Kemuna tried to shoo me away.
Well, being an S-rank adventurer, he must be used to being approached by rookie adventurers. He's the object of admiration from other adventurers. Even now, there are adventurers glancing at him from afar.
"Actually, I have something I'd like to consult with you about, Kemuna-san."
As I said this, I took out a silver coin and tried to hand it to the waitress, but Kemuna twisted his face in utter annoyance.
"I told you, I don't accept such things. I haven't fallen so low as to drink with a brat's money."
"Then how can I get you to listen to me?"
"Just get lost. Come back when you're at least A-rank."
Hmm. Not very friendly, is he?
Well, it can't be helped since I'm approaching him for my own reasons.
"I understand. Then I'll consult with the Guild Master and come back later."
"...Huh? What did you just say?"
Kemuna furrowed his brow. He has quite an intimidating gaze.
I continued to explain.
"Since you said you'd listen if I were an A-rank adventurer, I thought I'd ask the Guild Master for a recommendation."
"Hey you, are you stupid? What's a brat like you saying--"
"I've already received a recommendation from Stoania's Guild Master, so with one more recommendation, I can be promoted to A-rank adventurer."
"You're saying you're B-rank?"
Kemuna stood up, almost spilling his drink.
Hotaru, the spirit fox, gently pulled his arm, trying to calm him down.
"Yes. Though it's embarrassing, I was apparently called the 'Child of Mystery' in Stoania."
"...So you're that rumored mystic arts user?"
Kemuna clicked his tongue loudly and then sat down, showing fatigue.
He seemed to know about me. Well, if he's in this guild, he probably would have heard the talk.
"So, what does this rumored rookie want with me? Let me tell you, I'm a familiar master through and through. I've never even seen mystic arts."
"Of course, it's about familiar contracts... but before that, how much would be appropriate as an information fee?"
"Huh? You're planning to pay?"
"Of course. Leave it to the experts... I'm asking a specialist. It would be rude to ask for free, and it's basic to offer equivalent compensation for valuable information, right?"
Moreover, by actually paying money, it prevents false information from coming out. If they lie after receiving money, it becomes fraud. It's largely a way of saying, "Don't lie."
"...I see. You're certainly not just a kid."
"I'm just an ordinary citizen. So, what do you say? I'll pay whatever you name."
"Whatever I name... are you stupid? ...Ah, no, if you went to the 100th floor in Stoania, you must have money. Stoania rookies are cheeky, aren't they?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be."
"I'm joking. But I'm not in need of money either... Well, have you ever made a familiar contract?"
Kemuna asked as if he had just thought of it.
I answered honestly.
"Yes, I have. I have two familiars."
"...Huh? Two?"
"Yes. Is that something?"
Of course, I'm talking about Punisuke and Seori.
Well, if asked about their species, I plan to say slime and... well, maybe something like a small bird.
"No, how did you do that!? Normally, it's impossible to tame two at the same time!"
"Eh, is that so?"
I didn't know that.
But indeed, even Seori's royal-grade skill was limited to one at a time.
So that was the default mechanism.
"Could it be that's also this mystic arts thing?"
"Ah, no, that's not it. Neither of them were tamed by me. I don't even have a taming skill in the first place. They became my vassals on their own without me intending to, so it was out of my control. It's really troublesome."
"...Ku, kuhahaha!"
Kemuna suddenly burst out laughing, holding his stomach.
"A monster unilaterally becoming a vassal, I've never heard of such a thing! I like it! You're more interesting than I thought... Alright, I've decided. How about this for the price of information: we have your stronger familiar fight my familiar Hotaru here. In a mock battle, of course."
"That's... well. If they want to."
"If they want to? You mean you can communicate with them?"
"Well, yes. They can talk."
"Hoh. At least an A-rank monster, huh? I like you even more, brat."
Kemuna's eyes sparkled.
Unfortunately, I have two extremes: the weakest slime and the strongest dragon species. And of course, Punisuke is the stronger one. I have no intention of introducing Seori anyway.
"Alright, fine. I'm in a good mood now. Ask me anything."
Kemuna's expression had become truly cheerful.
For now, let's order more drinks from the waitress, which I was stopped from doing earlier. I also got some fruit water for myself.
"Then first, could you tell me the conditions for a familiar contract that generates a subjugation mark?"
"It's from advanced skills. Since subjugation marks can bind the physical body, the level of obedience is on a different scale from intermediate or lower skills. It's the same principle as the subjugation contract used on criminal slaves, so imagine that method of control and you'll understand easily."
"I see. So about the subjugation marks in familiar contracts, are there different types or variations?"
"Basically, they differ by skill rank. Advanced skills allow sensing of 'mutual positions between master and servant'. Royal-grade skills can even sense 'physical condition and emotions', I hear. With legendary extreme-grade skills, it's said you can contract not just one, but multiple familiars. Though I don't think such familiar skills actually exist."
Hmm, I see.
So Seori's "Forced Subjugation" is a royal-grade skill, which is why she can check the vassal's condition.
Indeed, if I focus on Seori's senses now, I can grasp them. By the way, Seori is currently desperately holding back the urge to urinate. What a completely irrelevant timing.
Seori's skill not only does that but also includes status buffs for the vassal. This is probably related to the "Overlord system" classification.
"Also, if Kemuna-san knows, is there a way to remove a subjugation mark?"
"That? The master just needs to release it, don't they?"
"In cases where that's not possible."
"Huh? ...Ah, I suppose if the master has been in a coma for years or something, it might be impossible. But removing a subjugation mark, huh..."
Kemuna pondered for a while.
As I waited patiently, he spoke with a distant look in his eyes.
"I've never seen it myself, and it's just a rumor, but... in the heroic tales often told among familiar masters, there's an enemy called the 'Demon of Liberation'..."
*Thump!*
My knees started fidgeting on their own.
I suppressed it with all my might. I barely endured. It was a tough battle. But my knees, which should have been sealed, are still screaming... TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT STORY!
"This demon is said to arbitrarily cancel the hero's familiar contract and return them to the wild, a truly villainous act. In the story, it had a skill called 'Curse Dispel'. And since it's called a demon, it must be of the demon race, and the heroic tale is said to be based on a true story... Well, that's the kind of rumor that exists. I'm not guaranteeing it's true, though."
I see, a skill.
Indeed, if something had such an effect, it could probably erase subjugation marks too.
But a demon race skill, huh. In a world where story villains are often portrayed as demons, it's questionable whether it was really a demon race skill...
But I've gotten one clue.
I half-rose and bowed again.
"Thank you very much. It was informative."
"Yeah. Don't forget your promise. We'll have a familiar battle when we're free."
Saying something that made him sound like a duelist, Kemuna stroked Hotaru's ears. Hotaru rested her head on Kemuna's shoulder with a happy expression. At a glance, they look just like a flirting couple.
I want to pat fox ears and feel how fluffy they are too.