GILF Hunter

’Welcome.’

Leona, who had been waiting for Ian and Frenda’s visit, stepped forward to greet them personally.

Having come at Lucia’s invitation, Frenda and Ian were guided inside the house.

Walking behind Leona, Ian spoke as he noticed her attire, which had changed since the last time they met.

’You’ve been promoted. Congratulations.’

Leona’s outfit was quite different compared to their previous meeting. It was a different uniform, not the Defense Force gear she always wore.

This was because, after Lucia was elected, Leona had also moved her affiliation to the Central Command.

The highest position in the Command, the Commander, was effectively a titular role, usually held by someone retired from the military. The primary duties were closer to those of a council member rather than a field commander.

Considering that, Leona had essentially become the highest official in charge of directly commanding the city’s defense.

Of course, it was practically a given that Leona would take this post.

One of the most vital core positions in the city. Who else would hold it if not Leona, Lucia’s closest confidant and a veteran of the Defense Bureau?

Leona shook her head as if it were no big deal, turning the congratulations back to Ian instead.

’Don’t mention it. Rather, aren’t you the one who should be congratulated?’

Leona recalled her memory of when she first met Ian.

The first meeting... was in the underground waterway.

He was clearly a novice mercenary then. Seeing him devise plans and lead soldiers as if he had done it countless times before, Leona had predicted that Ian would quickly rise to even greater heights.

...Though she hadn’t imagined it would be at such an unprecedented speed.

’You’ve finally become A-rank. I knew it would turn out like this from the moment we met. There are still openings in the Staff Department; I assume you’re still not interested?’

’Yes. I have no intention.’

Ian shook his head.

Indeed. He had refused even back then when the conditions were much better; there was no reason to accept now that he had reached A-rank.

In fact, as an A-rank mercenary, staying in his current position could be more helpful than joining the Staff Department. An A-rank mercenary group cooperative with the Mayor was a collaborator hard to find anywhere else.

Leona then turned her gaze to Frenda, who was standing beside Ian.

’We meet again soon, Ms. Frenda. I thought I wouldn’t see you for a while since you said you were returning to the Great Temple.’

’Ah, yes. Due to various circumstances... it turned out that way.’

Right after the expedition ended, she had visited to share her final greetings before returning.

Because she had returned to Labyrinthos so soon after receiving a parting gift for a long absence, Frenda avoided eye contact in a slightly awkward atmosphere.

Leona guided the two further inside.

Not only the servants in the mansion but also people who looked like City Hall staff were busily coming and going. The two passed through the cluttered hallway and arrived in front of a closed door.

’Please, go in. She is waiting inside.’

Ian and Frenda were immediately able to meet the owner of the invitation who had been waiting for them.

It was Lucia, who had now become the Mayor of this city.

Since the official handover hadn’t begun yet, she hadn’t taken over the Mayor’s office, but Lucia was already buried under mountains of paperwork.

There likely wasn’t much time left where she could afford to invite guests and give election greetings like this.

’Mayor. If you are busy, you didn’t need to go out of your way to invite us.’

’No. The two of you played the largest roles at the end; I couldn’t not see your faces at least once.’

Lucia smiled, particularly while looking at Frenda.

’Moreover... I thought I wouldn’t see this face for a while, so I’m glad to see you again so soon. I didn’t expect you would stay here permanently.’

’Haha...’

Frenda’s request to resign from her high-ranking priest position and move to Labyrinthos was... something she had done quite impulsively. It must have been quite sudden news on this side as well.

Lucia spoke while shaking her head as if it were a pity.

’I sponsored the temple’s monasteries so much, thinking I finally got lucky and made a connection with a high-ranking priest. To think you’d disappear so instantly...’

’I’m... I’m sorry. That’s...’

Ian had wondered what kind of bond allowed them to know each other, and it seemed it was a relationship forged through sponsorship.

Sponsorship sent to places like monasteries or orphanages is usually done without much expectation, but very rarely, a talent like this emerges.

...Of course, after leaving the facilities, most of those without talent became thieves or pickpockets, but anyway.

Though it felt far too late now... because of those circumstances, Frenda had no choice but to be mindful. She had acted on her own without even discussing it.

Frenda spoke in a very shrinking manner.

’I am sorry for that... but well.’

’It’s fine. I’m joking. Having a priest of this caliber close to the city is good in its own way.’

Lucia spoke with a smile to Frenda, who was wearing a quite troubled expression.

The ’it’s fine’ part was quite sincere. Regardless, she was a talent from a high-ranking priest background. The advantages of such a priest staying in the same city were endless.

While high-ranking priests working at the Great Temple had much greater influence... they also couldn’t move easily and were quite difficult to handle.

Instead, if they were in the same city, it was much more convenient to receive cooperation in her current situation as a new mayor.

’Thanks to you, rumors have spread and the temple’s popularity is high. Do you know that because of the rumor of a high-ranking priest, there are people coming all the way from nearby cities specifically to pray?’

’I heard that the number of people coming to pray has increased...’

’They say the city’s external visitors have increased by about 10% compared to usual.’

Considering how many outsiders come and go during this period, 10% was a staggering number.

Traveling to another city just for prayer. Nonsense...

Even those who would say that have no choice but to nod if told a high-ranking priest is there.

Because there was a higher possibility that a prayer meeting attended by a high-ranking priest would have a more miraculous effect than an ordinary prayer between residents.

Of course, it was a superstition the temple didn’t acknowledge at all, but this was a perfectly logical story that anyone who heard it would nod to.

It was just that ordinary people almost never had the chance to meet a high-ranking priest, so it couldn’t be attempted.

But now, that high-ranking priest was staying in Labyrinthos.

To be precise, a former high-ranking priest, but that was a very trivial matter no one cared about.

Lucia explained this while picking up a bundle of letters on one side of her desk to show Frenda.

’The Great Temple seems to be quite troubled as well. Well, I intend to respect your will as you wish, Ms. Frenda... but quite a few letters are coming. I’ve even received a few from the Director.’

’What?! Th-that is a misunderstanding, so please don’t believe it!’

’I haven’t told you what was written yet?’

Frenda’s face turned bright red.

What kind of story was written in the Director’s letters... she could guess just by looking at Lucia’s expression.

Just what kind of stories are they spreading to others through letters...!

Seeing that, Lucia smirked and glanced between the two.

She hadn’t expected it to turn out like this when she first introduced them to each other, but the situation was flowing in a truly interesting way.

In her heart, she wanted to keep prying into this story, but...

Checking the time, Lucia shifted her gaze to Ian and brought up today’s main topic.

She had the leeway to invite guests and talk, but that didn’t mean she could spare time forever.

It was now time to talk about business.

’Actually, the reason I called you like this... besides greetings, is that I want to consult about future matters. Once things get busy, there won’t be time to talk like this.’

’You mean about the Labyrinth?’

’Exactly. You’ve already heard the news. From now on, there will be official city support based on the performance of Labyrinth expeditions.’

In fact, most Labyrinth expeditions do not go deep into the Labyrinth.

Explorers like the Ian Mercenary Group, who reveal all maps of the Labyrinth, create precise research data, or return after destroying the Source, were the minority.

They would explore near the entrance. Look for treasure chests, ore veins, or plant colonies.

Then, when they felt they reached their limit, it was standard to return after securing the spoils gathered thus far.

Even with bounties on the line, few exploration teams went deep into the Labyrinth to fight the Source. Judging the risk coldly, it was a loss.

However, according to this policy, they would have no choice but to investigate deeper places more actively and destroy the Source to receive support. As the expedition teams became more active, the invasions would be suppressed, making the city safer.

’But as an exception... I will provide unlimited support for everything needed by Leader Ian’s expedition team, regardless of performance. If necessary, I can even organize an expedition team on the same level as last time.’

Hearing that, Frenda’s expression stiffened slightly.

’If that is the case... does it mean we might have to go on dangerous expeditions like that time again?’

’...Even if you say ’like that time,’ I don’t know what it was like in there. That will depend on Leader Ian’s research results.’

Unlimited support without conditions.

In exchange, what she wanted... was likely Ian’s Labyrinth exploration records.

Ian had consistently shared Labyrinth exploration records through Leona until now.

The most important among them was information on the monsters sealed in the place called the deep floors. Because of that, they could prepare for the deep-floor monsters in advance and minimize the city’s damage.

Lucia wanted Ian to continue investigating the Labyrinth and bringing back such information.

’Understood. I will tell you later what will be needed.’

Ian replied with a nod.

And Lucia finally asked Ian one last thing.

’And... you said you had a request for me. Was it about the revision of the city defense plan?’

’I’ll send that over after reviewing it just a bit more.’

’Since I can’t delay the reorganization and budget allocation too much, I’d like to see it within next month if possible.’

’It will be finished before then.’

With this, what they each wanted should be sufficiently resolved. Thinking so, Lucia nodded with a smile.

＊　＊　＊

On the way out after finishing all conversations with Lucia.

Frenda, walking slightly behind Ian, spoke cautiously.

’Um, Leader Ian.’

’Yes?’

’...If you need help, please tell me anytime. I will definitely participate in the expeditions as well.’

’Thank you for that. That would be a huge help.’

Ian replied sincerely.

However, the cooperation of a high-ranking priest was something he hadn’t expected at all, so he hadn’t yet thought of how exactly he should receive her help.

For a while, the current state would likely continue.

Behind the pondering Ian, Frenda smiled slightly.

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