Poor Noble Nord’s Adventure

39.2. Request

“Yes, please!”

Desperate, Elisio nodded enthusiastically at Nord’s suggestion.

Grasping Nord’s hand tightly, Elisio pleaded with puppy-like eyes, a look so pitiable it tugged at Nord’s heartstrings.

Seeing this, Nord couldn’t help but reflect that he might have scared Elisio a bit too much in trying to drive the point home.

He promised to introduce a reliable adventurer at a later date and left Elisio’s house.

By the time Nord reached his carriage, the sun had dipped lower, casting the streets in the shadowy hues of dusk.

As Nord climbed into the driver’s seat, Neut, who had been left behind, chirped softly in protest from the cargo bed.

“Yeah, yeah, my bad. I had some extra business to take care of.”

“Kyuu…”

“All right, let’s go already.”

“Kyuu!”

Having almost forgotten about Neut, Nord spoke apologetically to the little creature in the back.

Still, when Neut refused to be pacified, Nord reached into the cargo bed and gave him a thorough rub from head to chin.

After the rough but affectionate petting, Neut’s mood seemed to improve, his chirps returning to normal.

Nord decided to head straight to the Adventurer’s Guild, as his teacher’s errand could wait until the next day.

Driving his carriage through the city as evening gave way to night, he eventually arrived at the guild.

By then, the streets were shrouded in darkness, lit only by the warm glow spilling from the windows of nearby buildings.

“Sorry, but you’ll have to wait again.”

Leaving Neut to guard the carriage, Nord entered the Adventurer’s Guild.

As he stepped through the door, a lively cacophony greeted his ears.

The sound, amplified after the silence spell at the academy, underscored the guild’s bustling energy.

Nord made his way past the closed reception counters toward the tavern, where adventurers gathered after their day’s work.

“Barkeep, another ale here!”

“Vodka for me!”

“Right away—two ales, one vodka, got it!”

“I’ll have the roasted pork with herbs!”

“Vegetable stew!” “Fried fish!” “Sweet-spiced rainbow bird!”

“One at a time, people!”

The air was filled with chatter and laughter, adventurers celebrating their survival with food and drink.

Waitresses bustled about, delivering plates and mugs from the kitchen.

“Your orders are here!”

“Cheers!”

Nord scanned the room and spotted his target.

“Genius!”

“Hm? Oh, Nord! Over here!”

The blond adventurer Genius was as radiant as Nord himself.

In the tavern’s noisy atmosphere, Genius perked up at the sound of his name being called.

Realizing it was Nord who called him, he waved a hand holding his drink, and beckoned Nord over.

Nord weaved through the tavern’s bustling crowd and made his way to Genius.

“Hey, Nord! Long time no see!”

“Haven’t seen you in a while!”

“It’s been ages, Nord!”

“Glad to see you looking well!”

“Good to see you all again. Mind if I borrow Genius for a bit?”

Genius’s party members, noticing Nord’s presence, greeted him enthusiastically.

The slurred speech belonged to Alumina, the archer. She had long black hair tied into a ponytail and wore a practical vest made of monster materials.

Clearly intoxicated, her cheeks were flushed, and her gaze wavered as if unable to focus.

Supporting Alumina by the shoulder was Shino, the scout—a slender man with shoulder-length blond hair, serving as a jack-of-all-trades skirmisher. His outfit mirrored Alumina’s.

Next to greet Nord was Rises, a cleric dressed in the robes of her faith dedicated to the Light Spirit. Surprisingly resilient to alcohol, several empty glasses sat before her.

Finally, the stern voice belonged to Gagos, the spearman, a middle-aged man with cropped black hair.

Clad in metal armor with his helmet by his side, he was clearly the eldest of the group.

Nord had been close with Genius’s party since his days as a fledgling adventurer.

Their bond had been forged in battle and strengthened through shared adventures, growing into both friendship and rivalry.

“You want me for something? Should we step outside?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a carriage parked out front. Let’s talk there.”

Despite being in the middle of a celebration, Genius and his group readily agreed to Nord’s request.

Thanking them, Nord led the way out of the tavern.

They walked to the carriage while conversing.

“You all seem to be doing well. Even your gear looks upgraded.”

“Yep! Oh, hey, that’s a new suit of armor, isn’t it, Nord?”

“Yeah, got it after fighting a General Spider over the summer.”

“A spider suit, huh? Thought it was metal at first.”

“It’s lightweight and durable. Been a lifesaver.”

“What about yours, Genius?”

Genius’s armor was also new, and Nord couldn’t immediately identify the material.

Curious, he asked Genius about it.

“This? It’s made from Aquaheads—the two-headed water turtles.”

“Huh? Those monsters…?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Genius nodded, pulling his guild card from his chest armor.

The card glinted under the light streaming from nearby buildings, revealing a copper-red sheen.

“You’ve ranked up to Bronze?”

“Yep, just recently. Picked up this new gear today to celebrate.”

“So you were celebrating that? Sorry for interrupting.”

“Don’t worry about it! So, what’s up?”

Though Nord was still part of the Adventurers Guild, his activity had waned due to his role in the Iron Dragon Knights.

Genius had surpassed him in rank—a testament to his progress.

As they reached the carriage, Genius prompted Nord to get to the point.

After ensuring no one was around, Nord produced something from his belongings.

“Take a look at this.”

“What’s this? A dagger? No… it looks carved from stone?”

“It’s a magic sword.”

“A magical artifact? That’s a find!”

Nord handed Genius the sword, which he had received from Elissio.

Under the dim light, the blade reflected a wet, crimson glow.

Realizing the blade was a magic tool, Genius was genuinely envious.

Combat artifacts were rare treasures, often life-saving in emergencies.

Their legendary status in adventuring tales was well-deserved.

“My business is this: what if I told you I could introduce you to the mage who made this?”

“Really? You’re serious? Please, you have to!”

Eager and practically leaning forward, Genius hung on Nord’s every word.

Nord carefully tucked the sword back into his belongings and began explaining Elissio’s circumstances.

“…So, while his talent is undeniable, he’s also a bit reckless.”

“Mages, huh? Are they all like that?”

“Who knows? I don’t know enough of them to compare. Maybe you could ask Morning Star about it.”

The Morning Star was a renowned adventuring party based in the capital’s guild.

They were Gold-ranked adventurers with a mage among their ranks and were rumored to be close to achieving the coveted Mithril rank.

“Those guys, huh? They’re something else, but I’ve only ever caught glimpses of them. Couldn’t muster the courage to approach.”

“Same here.”

“Well, anyway. So this mage wants to hire us directly?”

“Exactly.”

“What’s the job?”

Genius’s demeanor shifted. The casual warmth of a friend gave way to the sharp focus of a party leader.

His gaze grew keen, reflecting his experience in negotiating with guild officials and merchants alike.

Nord, impressed by his friend’s growth, detailed the request.

“The task is harvesting Flame Spirit Tears in volcanic territory.

The specifics are best discussed with the mage. Payment isn’t much in coin, but…”

“But they’ll make us magic tools?”

“Right. If you bring back extra crystals, they’ll use them to craft items for you.”

Nord outlined the job professionally, ensuring no crucial details were overlooked.

Genius mulled over the proposal, weighing risks and benefits.

Though close friends, both men understood the distinction between personal bonds and professional dealings.

“Any other conditions?”

“Don’t disclose the mage’s identity or the source of the artifacts.”

“Fair. That could cause a lot of trouble.”

“Glad you get it.”

“Alright, count us in!”

“Thanks, Genius.”

“No, thank you. This is an incredible opportunity!”

The deal was struck. Genius and his party would take on the job, with the guild facilitating the contract.

Direct agreements could lead to disputes, so Nord insisted on involving the guild.

“Nord, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“You’re not gaining much from this, so why go out of your way for that mage?”

“Well… partly because I got overpaid for helping him fend off some thugs, but…”

Genius’s question caught Nord off-guard.

As they shook hands to seal the arrangement, Nord hesitated before answering.

“Elissio reminds me of my younger siblings… I just can’t help looking out for him.”

Scratching his cheek awkwardly, Nord chuckled.

Genius, amused, remarked, “You haven’t changed a bit,” and gestured toward the tavern.

“Come on, have a drink with us! It’s on me.”

“…I’ll take you up on that.”

The celebration, now a send-off for the upcoming job, lasted late into the night.

Amid the guild’s lively atmosphere, Nord enjoyed the free drinks.

By the time the party wound down and Nord returned to his carriage, he was met with a disgruntled newt protesting his late return.