GILF Hunter

Mika looked ready to stay prostrate until Airi gave her permission.

’B-but. A party so suddenly...’

’It’s because there’s something absolutely necessary!’

It seemed Airi really didn’t want to go to a party.

When it looked like constant pleading wouldn’t work, Mika finally used her last resort.

’Airi. Actually, last time in the Labyrinth...’

’...?’

She decided to confess the secret to Airi.

She was just realizing that her own strength alone was insufficient anyway.

If she were to make a collaborator, she thought a fellow mage who could assist with the research would be best.

Especially since Airi seemed tight-lipped.

’...So that’s how it is! So, you’ll help me, right?’

’Eh...? Uh...’

’You said you’d help!’

’Uh...?’

Airi, having heard the shocking story, had no choice but to nod to Mika with a dazed face.

’No, wait a minute...’

’The Leader is in danger. Please.’

’....’

She had absolutely not wanted to go and intended to refuse unconditionally.

But how could she refuse when Mika suddenly said the Leader’s life was at stake?

She was a mercenary. If necessary, she had no choice but to plunge in even knowing it was a death trap.

’Then, just please make it so we can participate in that auction! I’ll prepare the costs and everything.’

’I-I don’t know how to do that...’

’But Airi, you went once before. I have no clue at all... Then, I’m counting on you!’

Mika left Airi with that request.

’A party...? Me?’

To have to find a way to participate in a party herself—what kind of new torture was this?

There was only one person Airi could ask for such a thing.

Airi, really having no other choice, went to find Elena, the only person she could ask about these matters.

It felt a bit much to be indebted again for something like this...

More than that, she didn’t want to get close because Elena was someone who wanted to take Airi to various social gatherings whenever she had a chance...

But in this situation, she had no choice. Getting into an uninvited party through connections was absolutely impossible for Airi to do alone since she knew no one.

Airi went to Elena’s workshop and knocked on the door very timidly.

＊　＊　＊

’They sent a reply saying they welcome you. This is the invitation.’

’...Pardon? Already? I only talked about it this morning...’

After going to Elena’s workshop and mentioning she wanted to participate in a certain party, about two hours later.

Airi received that response from Elena.

Was a letter something that got a reply so immediately on the same day?

’Fufu. Social parties are always thirsty for new connections. If the most famous mercenary of the year shows interest, they’ll naturally welcome it.’

’That kind of...’

’Weren’t you asking because you wanted to participate?’

’That is also true, but...’

Moreover, Airi had only lightly asked if it might be possible to just take a look, but what came back to her was an invitation.

She had even prepared herself mentally to tell Mika there was no way if they refused.

Since she received the invitation, there was no backing out now.

’I’ll send the reply, so don’t worry, Miss Airi.’

’Okaaay...’

Seeing Elena off as she smiled with an expectant face, Airi returned to her room with an expression as if her soul had left her body.

...Is there no choice but to go?

Returning to her room, Airi pulled out a jewelry box hidden in the corner of her drawer.

It was a brooch she never wore normally because its appearance was so flashy it drew significant attention.

I didn’t want to bring it out again...

Thinking that, Airi closed her eyes tight and opened the jewelry box.

A vivid red light burst out from the open box.

＊　＊　＊

’Wow... so this is a party. Airi, was the place you went last time like this too?’

’Last time was bigger...’

’Even bigger than this? That must have been nice!’

’It was exhausting.’

Mika said with an excited face while looking around the party venue.

One of the mansions in the southern residential area where large estates were clustered. It was a party held in the garden of that mansion.

Mika, participating in such a place for the first time, looked very joyful, but Airi’s face was turning increasingly pale as memories of the last party surfaced.

She felt the gazes of the people around, who recognized Airi’s face upon entering the venue, begin to gather one by one.

At least it was lucky the scale of the party was small. There seemed to be far fewer participants than then.

So it should be more bearable than last time.

Airi let out a small sigh with that thought.

...She would realize not long after that it was a huge mistake.

’We finally meet! Haha, I haven’t been able to sleep since last night waiting for this time.’

People who realized Airi and her party had visited scrambled to gather around them in an instant.

’It is an honor to meet you.’

’Et, I mean...’

’Come on, why don’t you wait your turn?’

’Gosh. Can’t you see she’s getting bored? Move aside if you’re only going to spout such uninteresting words.’

As soon as Airi exchanged greetings with someone, nearby people intruded into the conversation together.

’More importantly, there’s someone I’ve been wanting to introduce... Ah! You guys! Come over here for a second!’

Airi began to be subjected to conversation, surrounded by various people who had swarmed in an instant.

The surroundings were literally a sea of people.

Recalling the party she attended last time, Airi had thought that since this party was smaller in scale, there would be fewer opportunities for conversation... but the reality was completely different.

Unlike that time, which was an official event hosted by the city council, the party held this time was a social gathering with a slightly lighter atmosphere.

People approached more freely and spoke comfortably.

Since it was a gathering originally for socialization, they didn’t wait for others to finish their conversations or allow for any break time.

They kept introducing other people in the middle, so she often had to deal with several people at once.

It was an advantage that she didn’t have to strictly follow formalities, but in exchange, the density of conversation in this space had increased several-fold.

’Hiiik...’

The place where Airi and Elena were was literally the eye of the storm.

It felt like every single person at the party was aiming for that spot.

’Excuse me, I’ll pass through... phew.’

Mika took advantage of the moment when people’s attention was focused on Airi and slipped out of there.

Unlike the already famous Airi or Elena, Mika’s face and name weren’t particularly known to the public, so she could receive relatively less attention.

Being beside the two, she was introduced to several people as well, but it was only as a secondary priority. Thanks to that, she could slip away without standing out, avoiding the crowds.

Mika, who barely escaped the throng, finally let out a sigh of relief.

Now she knew why Airi hated it so much. It was certainly no joke. It was completely different from the image of an upper-class party Mika had imagined.

She had a feeling that rich people would try to act more dignified while holding a certain weight, but it was her first time knowing everyone talked so much.

It felt like there wasn’t much difference from mercenaries chatting in an inn tavern.

In fact, most of the wealthy people in this city were former mercenaries, current mercenaries, or people who did business with mercenaries. So it wasn’t exactly wrong.

Having slipped away from the two, Mika quietly looked around the party venue alone.

If she stayed by Airi’s side, she could introduce herself and get to know the wealthy, but she came here today for another purpose.

She needed more information about the auction that was scheduled to be held at this party.

The condition of the item, what other items there were, how many people were aiming for it, and so on. Mika wandered the party venue for a while looking for information on the auction items.

...It wasn’t easy because there were too many people.

She had clearly heard it was a small-scale social party, but the inside of the venue was crawling with people. The venue even looked cramped.

It was because unexpected participants had suddenly flocked in after the rumor spread that Airi would be attending.

’Ummm... what should I do.’

There was no one to ask for help since she didn’t recognize a single face. After walking around the venue for several minutes.

Mika literally found a familiar face by chance and let out a surprised voice.

’Oh?’

’Hmm?’

The person who met Mika’s eyes also tilted their head while looking at her.

Apparently not recognizing Mika immediately, the person pondered for a moment while looking at Mika’s face before their eyes sparkled.

’Ah...! Right. Leader Ian’s mage! You’re Mika, right?’

’K-Kria?’

It was Kria, the mage from the Hamel Mercenary Group, whom she had gotten to know while working on a request together last time.

Feeling something awkward seeing Kria standing alone, Mika reflexively looked around, but there was no one conspicuous.

It seemed Kria had attended alone today.

Since the bulky mercenary who was always attached to her side wasn’t there, it felt rather awkward.

Anyway, Mika’s expression brightened considerably, thinking it was lucky to meet someone she knew in a place like this. She would surely know better than Mika.

Thinking of asking about the auction, Mika lightly spoke to Kria.

’Is Ms. Kria also here to meet Airi...?’

’Pardon? No. I’m here because I heard a Mandragora is appearing in the auction today!’

Mika’s brightened expression darkened again.

...She wasn’t a person to ask for help, but a competitor.

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