NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 349: The adventurer guild of the water city
◇Former Guild Receptionist, Mary Gold’s POV◇
“Haah…so bored.”
I was sipping the now lukewarm tea at Makkaren’s Adventurer Guild.
It feels like a lie that I have been working busily as a receptionist in the Adventurer Guild just a few years ago.
Stray monsters have not been attacking the residents and it is extremely peaceful.
At the side of the way too big wooden desk, there’s a bundle of documents that have been arranged in the morning.
There’s a glass nameplate on top of the desk and with golden letters…
—Guildmaster: Mary Gold.
That’s what’s written.
(It doesn’t suit me though…) (Mary)
The previous Guildmaster retired the moment the Great Demon Lord was defeated and peace came.
“I am going to laze about in the southern islands~!”
He said that, bought a villa at the Habhain Archipielago, and is apparently spending his days fishing.
I’m so jealous.
I was told the successor would be the vice guildmaster or an outstanding young guild staff from the capital.
—At the capital, in the guildmaster candidate selection of Makkaren.
“If I remember correctly, you are close with him, right? Moreover, you are acquainted with the acting agent of Makkaren’s feudal lord. In that case, you should be the right one for the next Guildmaster. Are there any objections?” (Sofia)
If Princess Sofia says that, there’s no one who would go against it.
I ended up getting easily instated as the Guildmaster.
I was prepared to be thrown sarcastic remarks by a whole lot of people, but there was almost none of that.
It is apparently the effects of having been in charge of the future Water Country’s Legendary Hero at the time when I was a receptionist.
This man that stands side by side with the Light Hero-sama as the Legendary Hero of the West Continent said: ‘The one that raised me was the Adventurer Guild of Makkaren. The veteran adventurers and the receptionists there were kind and it was a good guild!’. That’s apparently been emphasized in a lot of places.
Thanks to that, a whole lot of adventurers came to Makkaren for some time and it was super busy.
After they learned that it is a peaceful city where no incidents happen, they simply toured around and left.
“Hnnn~~~!”
I stood up and stretched.
There has been no big incident brought to the Adventurer Guild these few days.
Lucas-san and the other veteran adventurers are currently doing treasure quests at the desert of Great Keith and the wind valley of Spring Log.
That’s why my job is simply guild work.
The moment I thought today would be an unchanging day too…
“G-Guildmaster!!! We’ve got trouble!!”
A newbie receptionist jumped into the room with a ‘bang!’ without even knocking.
“What’s the matter?” (Mary)
Even though she is a girl that can ignore rowdy adventurers trying to stir trouble with a smile.
It is rare to see her this flustered.
“E-Excuse me, a person has appeared stating they want to register as a new adventurer!!”
“Oh, at this time? If they fulfill the requirements, I don’t mind. Or…is there a problem with that?” (Mary)
The conditions to become an adventurer are different depending on the city.
The capital and the cities close to dangerous dungeons have strict conditions.
The Demonic Forest is gone as of present and there’s barely any monsters now, so Makkaren’s conditions are pretty loose in comparison.
However, there’s a few conditions.
If you are too young.
If you are too old.
If you have a missing limb, have an illness, or have extremely low fighting capabilities.
We have a rule that, if you apply to any of those, we won’t issue your license.
Of course, the rookie receptionist in front of her should be fully aware of this.
“There’s a whole ton of issues! It is completely out of my power! Please come, Guildmaster!”
“…Huh?” (Mary)
What is it?
Well, I don’t really have anything to do so…
And so, I decided to go personally instead.
I went down the stairs and headed to the reception area on the 1st floor.
There, a single young adventurer…candidate…was interacting with another receptionist.
“As I said, I am fine with being Stone Rank. You just need to issue the adventurer license.”
“L-Listen here! There’s no need for a personage like you to become an adventurer at all though…”
“It has been a while since I have come to Makkaren, so I want to go goblin hunting. I need an adventurer license in order to record the subjugations, right?”
“N-No! If it is you, even without a license, we will accommodate you!”
“Hmm, I don’t really want to get preferential treatment though… My two comrades have become Orichalcum Rank adventurers. Since I had the chance, I wanted to aim for the same rank.”
“You are talking about the two top adventurers of the Water Country, the Crimson Fangs, right?! Of course, I know about them, but you are the Legendary Hero of the Water Country! Even if it is by your request, we can’t issue a Stone Rank adventurer license to such a personage!!”
“Then, how about reissuing the Silver Rank one I had a long time ago?”
“Your Silver Rank license had already been invalidated when you became a Country Designated Hero!”
“How about bringing it back?”
“I-I can’t do that with my authority…”
“That’s troubling. I guess I should try asking Sofia.”
“T-The princess?! P-Please spare us!!”
The receptionist dealing with him is panicking with a truly troubled face.
That girl is normally a calm and composed one though.
Looks like she has drawn a bad opponent.
Or more like, why is he here…?
“Makoto-kun, what are you doing?” (Mary)
I spoke to him in the Adventurer Guild for what seems like a lifetime.
◇◇
“Mary-san, you have become the guildmaster?!” (Makoto)
“You could say that.” (Mary)
Makoto-kun is surprised.
Speaking of which, I didn’t tell him?
We are currently in the reception room of the Adventurer Guild.
“G-Go ahead, it is coarse tea, Makoto-sama.”
The newbie receptionist that was dealing with Makoto-kun before brought tea and snacks.
She is super tense and nervous.
Well, it can’t be helped.
He is one of the Legendary Heroes that subjugated the Great Demon Lord and is also engaged to the Water Country’s princess after all.
If there were to be a blunder, her head would fly…is most likely what she is thinking.
“Thanks.” (Makoto)
Makoto-kun, who has become more civil than before, smiled towards the rookie.
“If it is okay with you, how about sitting and eating with us?” (Makoto)
“Hiih! Perish the thought!”
Makoto-kun going at his own pace is the usual though.
The person entertaining you normally wouldn’t sit together with you.
“I would like to hear about the state of Makkaren lately, you know.” (Makoto)
“Eeh, t-that’s too much for me~.”
The rookie-chan looked at me with a face on the verge of tears.
If I have Makoto-kun stay here, the other ones won’t be able to do their work.
“Come, Makoto-kun. Let’s get going!” (Mary)
I grabbed the arm of Makoto-kun and made him stand.
“Eh? Mary-san, are you okay with your work?” (Makoto)
“I got something important to do, so I am done! I leave the rest to you all!” (Mary)
“Y-Yes! Have a safe trip, Guildmaster!”
“Eh? Wa?” (Makoto)
I pulled Makoto-kun who seemed to not get what’s going on and we left the Adventurer Guild.
◇Takatsuki Makoto’s POV◇
“Haah~? The booze you drink in the daytime really is the best~.” (Mary)
Mary-san and I came to a bar that we frequented when I was an adventurer.
It is a bar that’s snugly and calm located underground.
It is still a little bit in the afternoon, so there aren’t many customers.
“Is that okay? What about the important business?” (Makoto)
“What are you talking about? I am working on it right at this moment. It is the important job of entertaining the Water Country’s Legendary Hero.” (Mary)
“Haah, I see.” (Makoto)
“Fufufu, everything will be paid by the royal family. I can chug on as much booze as I want! Bartender, more!” (Mary)
Mary-san ordered as if she were in a public bar.
She hasn’t changed from her past self.
I felt nostalgic here as I ordered the recommended cocktail from the bartender.
“So, about the reason why you suddenly came here to Makkaren…” (Mary)
“As I said before, I came here together with Mo—the Great Sage-sama, but she was called back by the Sun Country, so now I don’t have anything to do.” (Makoto)
“Haah…I didn’t even know that the Great White Sage-sama had come to Makkaren too though. I am glad you didn’t come together with her to the guild.” (Mary)
“Why?” (Makoto)
“Idiot. If a central figure of the Sun Country suddenly appeared, the rookies would faint.” (Mary)
My forehead was poked.
Now that she mentions it, that’s true.
By the way, she also warned me about the way I interacted with the guild newbies.
The face and name of ‘Takatsuki Makoto’ has been spread around too much in the Water Country, so for the people that don’t know me personally, I am apparently a target for awe and respect.
What to do about that~?
While I was thinking that, I reflected, thinking I should be careful about that in the future.
Mary-san had emptied the second glass.
“Bartender, the usual.” (Mary)
She immediately orders her 3rd round.
“Aren’t you going a bit too fast?” (Makoto)
“It is okay. It has been a while since I have been able to drink with you, Makoto-kun. Or more like, you are not coming to meet me at all.” (Mary)
“I do show up every now and then to Makkaren. There’s Fuji-yan, Lucas-san, and you after all.” (Makoto)
“Your marriage ceremony with Princess Sofia will be happening soon, right? When that happens, you probably won’t be able to go out carefreely~. The Goblin Cleaner has gotten pretty famous, huh~.” (Mary)
Mary-san hugged my head with her arms and headlocked me.
“You still remember that nickname…?” (Makoto)
Mary-san buried my head in her soft chest.
“Aah, you are calm now~! Even though you would get all red and would be so cute in the past~!” (Mary)
“That’s not really the case though.” (Makoto)
Honestly, my heart is racing right now.
The reason why I look calm is most likely because of Clear Mind and Evolution.
Mari-san chugged down her glass and emptied it.
“Bartender, one more~!” (Mary)
“Uhm…aren’t you drinking too much?” (Makoto)
“Not at all… I am fine…” (Mary)
Mary-san is having a hard time articulating words.
—1 hour later.
“……Zzzzz.”
Mary-san fell asleep while leaning on me.
“What should I do…?” (Makoto)
I am troubled here.
I can’t just leave her here.
That said, I can’t just let her sleep the whole time in the establishment…
“Bring her back. Mary-chan’s house is still the same as before.”
The cool bartender shook the shaker as he spoke to me.
“Hm? She hasn’t moved?” (Makoto)
In that case, I know her address.
She has become the Guildmaster, so I thought for sure she moved to a big house.
“Then, the bill…” (Makoto)
I took out my wallet, and…
“I will have the Rozes royalty pay for it, so it is okay.”
“Right, that’s a thing.” (Makoto)
I put the wallet away.
That’s when I suddenly noticed.
The receipt here will be shouldered by the Rozes royalty… In other words, to Princess Sofia.
Will the fact that Mary-san was drinking since broad daylight enter the ears of Princess Sofia?
(Nah, no way. There’s no way the princess would check every single one.) (Makoto)
The accountant is most likely the one who deals with that stuff.
I thanked the bartender and left the establishment while piggybacking Mary-san.
With my Status at the time when I was an adventurer, carrying Mary-san would have been difficult, but I can now carry her easily after becoming a God.
◇◇
The house of Mary-san is a slightly fancy apartment complex made from bricks that’s a little bit further downtown of Makkaren.
If I remember correctly, it should be the room on the 2nd floor of this building.
That’s when I noticed.
I don’t have a key, so I can’t enter.
There’s apparently a lock-opening spell, but I can’t use that.
Or more like, it is used for crimes, so it is a spell that’s only allowed use by templars and officers.
“Hmm~? I am at home by the time I noticed~.” (Mary)
Fortunately, Mary-san woke up.
“We are here. Now then, I will be taking my leave…” (Makoto)
“What are you saying? You are coming with me, Makoto-kun~.” (Mary)
“E-Eeeh…” (Makoto)
I couldn’t do anything and was pulled to the room of Mari-san.
“I am back~☆.” (Mary)
“Excuse the intrusion.” (Makoto)
The drunk Mary-san collapsed on the sofa.
I placed the coat at the entrance’s hanger.
“Water Magic: [Water Generation].” (Makoto)
I pour water inside the cup.
“Please drink this, Mary-san.” (Makoto)
“Thanks~.” (Mary)
Mary-san drank the water obediently.
“Alright! Let’s go for some more booze!” (Mary)
Mary-san takes out wine.
“Wouldn’t it be better for you to go to sleep already?” (Makoto)
“Want to sleep together?” (Mary)
“…Don’t joke around.” (Makoto)
“Fufufu.” (Mary)
Mary-san smiled gently with a face that’s hard to tell how much of that was a joke.
In the end, we had a second round of drinks at Mary-san’s house.
“Haaah~, the Adventurer Guild in Makkaren has gotten pretty boring, you see. I miss the old days~.” (Mary)
Mary-san complained for who knows how many times now.
“Even goblins are gone, huh.” (Makoto)
Even the goblin hunting that I did in the past is apparently not possible now.
The Demonic Forest is gone now and the monsters left somewhere.
The entrance of the Tree Forest.
Somewhere around Laberintos.
There’s also apparently a lot of monsters that moved to the Northern Continent.
Well, if humans and monsters are living separately, that’s good, I guess.
“The business has grown in the Adventurer Guild, you see~. It is good that there’s attentive veteran adventurers like Lucas-san and the others in Makkaren, but the other settlements must be having a hard time…” (Mary)
“Right.” (Makoto)
It seems like the Adventurer Guild is having it rough in a lot of fronts at places I didn’t know.
I made a worried face and Mary-san grinned.
“Peace is number one! I can drink like this with Makoto-kun after all. Hmm? Your glass is not going down~? Come on, drink, drink.” (Mary)
“I-I will drink! What about you, Mary-san? Yours hasn’t gone down either.” (Makoto)
“Oh, so conceited. So it is a challenge.” (Mary)
“Don’t think I am the same as before.” (Makoto)
I am a God now after all.
There’s no way I would lose in a drinking bout against Mary-san.
Mary-san and I emptied the bottle of grape wine.
“Okay, next one then~☆.” (Mary)
Mary-san opens a new bottle.
Wait…that’s brandy?
“Okay, drink, drink~☆. Cheers.” (Mary)
“Cheers.” (Makoto)
My glass was filled to the brim and I drank it.
My throat…is burning!!!
“Eeh~? Makoto-kun, you are going so slow~.” (Mary)
“M-Mary-san?! You are going so fast!” (Makoto)
“Oka~y, the lady here will help you drink~☆.” (Mary)
“Hiee!” (Makoto)
Let me state the conclusion first.
I lost completely in the drinking bout.
◇◇
…*Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp*
The chirping of birds rang at the outside of the window.
The dazzling morning sun peeked in from the opening of the curtains.
Looks like I fell asleep by the time I noticed.
Mary-san was sleeping right by my side.
I became a God and have gotten stronger to alcohol, and yet, I was crushed by Mary-san.
Looks like I still am no match for Mary-san who has been trained by the Adventurer Guild.
(Hm? …But she fell asleep straight away at the bar.) (Makoto)
Could it be that she feigned she was asleep?
Speaking of which, she did wake up the moment we arrived at her place.
I tried to remember what happened last night and my head began to hurt from the hangover.
…Oh well.
I now understand well that Mary-san still thinks of me as just a chick.
“Mary-san, sorry for intruding.” (Makoto)
I would feel bad waking her up, so I wrote down a note and left a rough estimate of the payment for the drinks and the food.
Just when I opened the door…
“…Hm? Are you leaving, Makoto-kun?” (Mary)
Mary-san woke up.
“I have business today.” (Makoto)
“I see.” (Mary)
Mary-san made a slightly sad face.
“I will come again.” (Makoto)
“Men who say that normally don’t keep their promise~.” (Mary)
Mary-san stumbled her way to me while drowsy.
“Ah!”
She was on the verge of tripping, so I hurriedly caught her.
“Are you oka—?!” (Makoto)
I was about to speak to her, but Mary-san blocked my mouth with hers.
(W-Wa…?) (Makoto)
It took me a while to realize…I am being kissed.
She wrapped her arms around my back.
The kiss continued.
The door is wide open.
It is still early in the morning, so I don’t see people walking by, but…
Mary-san’s kiss is long.
Just when I held her shoulder and brought her closer to me…
—I felt shivers run down my spine.
(Bloodlust?!) (Makoto)
Right in the middle of the city?!
Did a stray dragon appear?! —is what I thought, but the reason was made clear 1 second later.
“……Hey, Makoto.”
“Ta…ka…tsuki…-kun?”
I heard familiar voices from behind.
I hurriedly looked back.
Infuriated expressions… Describing them like that would be cute, but the angered Lucy and Sa-san were standing nearby.
“H-Hey there, Lucy, Sa-san. Good morning.” (Makoto)
My voice cracked.
We did agree to meet each other in Makkaren today.
“Oh my, oh my, weren’t you supposed to guide the Great Sage-sama around Makkaren today?” (Aya)
“Hmm, so you were secretly together with Mary-san till morning?” (Lucy)
The two closed in.
“So your business was with Lucy and Aya. Sorry☆, I borrowed Makoto-kun.” (Mary)
“Mary-san?!” (Makoto)
You are talking here?!
“Geez, Mary! If you are going to put a hand on Makoto, I would like you to say a word first!” (Lucy)
“That’s right! You must not do that without permission, Mary-san!” (Aya)
Lucy and Sa-san puffed their cheeks and got angry at Mary-san.
Wait, that’s pretty light.
“Is it fine as long as I tell you beforehand?” (Mary)
Mary-san tilted her head.
“Well, it is Mary anyways…” (Lucy)
“Mary-san was the one who met Takatsuki-kun first in this world after all…” (Aya)
Looks like Lucy and Sa-san can’t go too hard on Mary-san.
“W-Well, we were simply drinking in the same room… We did nothing aside from the kiss just now.” (Makoto)
I said something that reeked like a lie.
“Liar.” (Lucy)
“You shouldn’t lie, Takatsuki-kun.” (Aya)
And, as expected, they didn’t believe me.
“Well, I will listen to your excuses later. More importantly, we are supposed to be heading to the Moon Country, Laphroaig, today, right?” (Lucy)
“Fu-chan is really strict when it comes to time, so we must not be late!” (Aya)
“Yeah, it is about time.” (Makoto)
“See ya, Mary~! Next time, we will show up together with Jean and Emily!” (Lucy)
“Mary-san, bye bye~!” (Aya)
“I will be heading off now, Mary-san.” (Makoto)
“ You are one busy man.” (Mary)
Mary-san shuckled.
We were seen off by Mary-san waving her hand, and we moved to the Moon Country with the Teleport of Lucy.
◇Mary’s POV◇
(Aah, he left.) (Mary)
I saw off Makoto-kun and the others who left with Teleport and I stretched widely.
It felt as if I had returned to the past and it was so fun.
He is being called the Legendary Hero of the Water Country, so I thought that maybe he had gotten a bit more haughty, but he hasn’t changed at all.
(It is about time I find someone nice and marry, I guess~.) (Mary)
Unfortunately, I still haven’t found anyone good though.
“Now, let’s work hard!” (Mary)
I am sure today won’t be showing change. It will most likely be a peaceful and boring workplace.
But I am feeling a bit better after talking with Makoto-kun.
I hummed as I took a shower and changed to new work clothes.
■Comment Response:
>I am glad to see Cain has gotten happiness.
-There were a lot of comments about Cain.
It is an episode I thought of thanks to the people asking about Cain.
Thank you very much.
>Shouldn’t RPG Player be able to look down from an outside perspective with him as the center?
-There were a number of questions about this.
Actually, looking back with RPG Player also would count.
God Pluto has a nasty personality, huh.
Makoto-kun had a bad feeling about that, so he didn’t fall for it.
■Author’s Comment:
This time around, it was a story about Mary-san.
She is one of the initial heroines after Sa-san (Prologue) and Noah-sama (3rd chapter).
I was pretty troubled about her relationship with Makoto-kun.
For now, she is not a ‘bride’ like Lucy and Sa-san.
This is a draft of the 5th volume.**
An illustration I like a lot.
They have actually kissed in the light novel.
It came later in the web version.
I have uploaded illustrations of Mary-san on twitter, so if you are interested, go take a look.
Osaki’s account: /Isle_Osaki
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