The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

After breakfast, I left the Schreine viscount's house and returned straight to the inn without any detours.

It was still early in the morning.

Roze, Elen, and Saaya were just having a meal at the restaurant attached to the inn.

Since I wasn't very full from the simple meal at the Schreine house, I joined them without hesitation.

I ordered bread and soup and sat down. Immediately, Saaya leaned forward.

"Welcome back, Ruruk. So, how was it?"

"It was as we heard. The viscount was even more likable than I expected."

"Right? Uncle is suuuuch a good person. But he has a personality that always loses out, so it's really pitiful. So, did you come up with any good ideas? Think you can persuade that idiot father?"

"It seems difficult to do directly. But a situation has come up that we might be able to use."

I told them about the support money.

Saaya frowned.

"There's no way we can pay with our financial situation. Papa will have to borrow money from somewhere again."

"That seems to be his intention. So, let's take advantage of that."

"...Is Ruruk going to provide the money instead? In exchange for handing me over?"

"No, we can't be that direct. Even if they're short on money, it would be difficult for nobles to borrow from a mere adventurer."

"Then what are we going to do?"

The 10-year-old furrowed her brow.

I learned a fair bit about noble society while at my family home. If there are conditions for negotiation or noble appearances to maintain, we just need to address those.

"First, we'll go to the Adventurers' Guild. Master, you said you recovered the body of the white-armed demon, right?"

"Yes. I've stored it in my item box."

"I'd like to use that."

After a night's sleep, the information should have been sorted out by now.

Two demons were witnessed: the red-eyed and the white-armed.

Of course, the Adventurers' Guild must have designated these two as subjugation targets. They should issue a quest as the highest priority target for the town or the guild itself.

Once we realize this, the rest depends on our negotiation skills.

"I see. As expected of someone with the 'Evil Wisdom' skill."

"Eh! Ruruk, you have such a skill?"

"No, I don't. Master, please stop. There's someone here who'll believe you."

Now that we've decided on a plan, we continue eating leisurely.

By the way, being a high-class inn restaurant, both the soup and bread were quite satisfying.

Elen whispered to me that she'd like to stay at inns like this from now on. Of course, I felt the same, but I couldn't promise since such places might not exist in smaller towns.

It seems this was Saaya's first time staying away from home, and she was very satisfied with sleeping soundly in the soft bed. She didn't seem to mind sharing a room with Elen, but apparently she was really surprised when Elen took off her perception-inhibiting robe before sleeping.

Come to think of it, I hadn't told her that Elen was from the sheep-folk tribe.

"Elenora is so cute, isn't she? I want to hug her and feel her fluffiness..."

Saaya's eyes looked like those of a lecherous old man.

Unfortunately for Saaya, Elen was extremely wary of her. She kept puffing her cheeks and complaining, "This woman is lewd" or "I don't like this woman." It seems she was subjected to some borderline sexual harassment last night.

I hope they can get along as fellow disciples from now on.

While talking about such things as we walked, we arrived at the Adventurers' Guild.

They had set up a quest board in front of the half-collapsed building and established a temporary reception. Most of the content was about helping with restoration activities, but that wasn't our business.

When I found yesterday's receptionist, I approached her.

"Good morning. I'm Ruruk, a B-rank adventurer."

"Ah, from yesterday! Welcome back, was your quest alright? Actually, while you were on your quest, something unbelievable happened..."

"I know. That's why I have something to discuss. It's a bit too public here with everyone's eyes on us, so could we move to a less conspicuous place?"

"O-Okay. Is it about the subjugation?"

"Well, something like that."

"I'll call the branch manager right away."

The flustered receptionist hurried into the half-collapsed building.

She probably misunderstood that it was about the subjugation from yesterday's quest, but there's no need to correct her, so I'll leave it unsaid.

The receptionist returned with a middle-aged man wearing glasses. Judging by his build, he doesn't seem like a former adventurer, so he probably became the branch manager from being a guild staff member. He seemed like a humble man.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Tamerik, the branch manager of the Shaboom branch."

"I'm Ruruk. The people behind me are my party members, just so you know."

What a savory name this person has.

In this situation, individual introductions aren't necessary, so I just lightly gesture to the three behind me. Strictly speaking, Saaya isn't an adventurer yet, but it's not a lie if she'll eventually join the same party.

The branch manager gave a slight bow and pointed to the half-collapsed building.

"Please, come inside if you'd like. The collapsed parts have already been reinforced with earth magic, so don't worry."

"Alright. Thank you."

We follow the branch manager into the guild.

We're guided past the reception area to the back - a place that looks like an office. We sit down on the offered sofas, our knees almost touching.

I, Elen, and Saaya sit quietly, but Roze leans against the wall near the door, standing.

"Now then, Ruruk-san. I received a report that you accepted two A-rank quests simultaneously yesterday. Is this about that?"

"Yes. Ah, excuse me before that... Elen."

"Mm. 'Sound Curtain'."

Elen casts a soundproofing spell.

Just in case, you know.

Tamerik showed a slightly surprised expression at Elen's complete omission of the incantation for the intermediate wind magic "Sound Curtain," but being experienced, he continued without mentioning it.

"Then, let me ask again. Regarding yesterday's quests, can I confirm that the requests have been completed?"

"Yes. Both subjugations were successfully completed. Elen."

"Mm."

From the item box, Elen placed nearly 50 Gigant Ant antennae and various materials from Beelzebub on the table as proof of subjugation.

Even the branch manager recoiled at this.

"O-Oh... I can certainly confirm this. Such results from just four people..."

"Mm-mm, two people."

"Eh? Two people...?"

"Yes. I and Elenora here defeated them. This child is not yet registered, so we plan to register her and add her to the party later."

"I-I see... And the person in the back?"

"I'm just a civilian baggage carrier."

So you're sticking with that setting even here, Master.

The branch manager was so surprised his glasses nearly fell off, but looking at the materials laid out, he suddenly remembered:

"I-I'll bring your rewards right away."

"Please wait a moment. This report is just a side matter."

"...Is there a main topic?"

"Yes. About the demon attack yesterday, I believe the guild has already grasped information about the attacking demons, right?"

"Of course. We have confirmed two demons: a white-armed demon that attacked the noble district, and a red-eyed demon that indiscriminately attacked the entire town. However... we haven't been able to locate them yet."

"Are you planning to issue subjugation quests?"

"Yes. We haven't created the request forms yet, but we will do so urgently... However, with demons, their capabilities are unknown. We've been in contact with the Guildmaster in the royal capital since last night, but we haven't received a response yet, so we're unsure what difficulty level to set for the quests."

The branch manager said, looking troubled.

I suppose that's natural. This is a rare demon subjugation quest. If they can't gauge the strength properly, low-ranking adventurers might be defeated, and if they set the rank too high, the success reward amount will skyrocket. Whether the requester is the town or the guild, there must be a budget.

"However... it will probably become an emergency quest."

"For demons?"

Emergency quests are group quests with mandatory participation for C-rank and above adventurers.

I think C-rank level adventurers would be instantly killed if they fought seriously, though.

"Of course, subjugation will be difficult, so it will mainly be a search quest. However, we don't know where in the town the enemy is hiding. Finding and eliminating the hidden demons... that's the greatest contribution the Adventurers' Guild can make in this town. I want to do everything I can as well."

The branch manager's eyes gleamed behind his glasses as he spoke with determination.

He seems to be a surprisingly conscientious person with a strong sense of justice despite his intellectual appearance.

If that's the situation, negotiation should be easier.

"By the way, Branch Manager, will the demon subjugation be requested by the nobles - specifically, Count Ketaaru's family who oversees the town?"

"Yes, that's the plan. The white-armed demon apparently first attacked Count Ketaaru's house. The first wife was taken hostage at that time, and although she wasn't injured, the lady was very angry... It seems she's pressing the count to subjugate the demon at all costs."

"That's fortun-- *cough* They must be very concerned. In that case, Branch Manager, could you possibly introduce us to Count Ketaaru?"

"...Why is that?"

The branch manager's gaze sharpened.

Even if we're adventurers who simultaneously completed A-rank quests, he can't easily arrange a meeting with the town's top figure. His attitude changed from friendly to cautious.

This flow is as expected, so I play my hand here.

I send a glance to Roze standing behind me, and Roze takes out the demon's corpse from her item box.

The demons in this world look like what you'd call dark elves. With brown skin and pointed ears, you can tell they're demons at a glance. Add to that arms that are completely white, and it's obvious who this corpse is.

By the way, there's a hole in the chest, but the bleeding has already stopped. Roze has also performed preservation treatment.

"W-What!? Could that be...!"

The branch manager shouted.

I answer immediately.

"This is the corpse of the white-armed demon. We're a party with item box holders, so we've been keeping it."

"Wha-, what...!"

"As a reward for defeating the demon that angered the count's wife, we'd very much like an audience with the count... What do you think?"

As I say this, Roze immediately stores the demon away.

It's also an implicit threat that if he doesn't arrange a meeting with the count, we'll keep quiet about the defeat.

Whether to mediate a meeting between a mere adventurer and a count, or to flatly refuse. The branch manager wasn't foolish enough to be unable to calculate which would benefit the town - and by extension, the guild.

"A-Alright. I'll arrange it. I'll mediate a meeting with the count right away."

"Thank you very much. Now then, please take care of the rewards for yesterday's quests."

In contrast to my smiling face, the branch manager couldn't stop sweating.