GILF Hunter

The day of the appointment with Ian.

Frenda met Ian at the training ground located at the Ian Mercenary Group’s base.

It was a place hardly suitable for receiving a guest, but given the nature of today’s business, they had no choice but to set this as the meeting spot.

The Holy Sword was something that wasn’t ready to be shown to others yet.

’I’m sorry for the trouble. I’m still not sure if it’s okay to show this to the temple...’

’As for what the people there might think... honestly, I’m not sure either. Since you know them better, Frenda, take your time to decide.’

Of course, there wasn’t a strict need to keep its existence a complete secret.

Listening to the Elf’s story, it was an item that might cause a bit of controversy for a priestess like Frenda to use, but there was no need to explain the detailed background to others.

Especially since the Labyrinth is an unknown realm to most people. Explaining it as an item found by chance there would be sufficient.

However, Frenda had not yet made up her mind on how to handle this object.

She hadn’t even properly verified its abilities yet. It could be said she was in a state of deferring the decision until she could grasp it properly herself.

Anyway, avoiding the eyes of others, Ian and Frenda stood facing each other in the small training ground built on one side of the mercenary building.

Unlike the public training grounds scattered throughout the city, this was a private facility for the Ian Mercenary Group, used only by its members. Thanks to that, there was no worry about being spotted by others.

’Shall we begin?’

’Ah, yes... Please look after me...’

It was the first practice session since promising to help her learn how to handle the Holy Sword.

...However, despite the meaningful talk of ’practice,’ there wasn’t actually that much Ian could teach her.

Ian wasn’t in a position to give pointers on how to swing a sword or how to use magic.

Ian’s plan was to accurately check the Holy Sword’s stats first and then advise Frenda on how to utilize them.

Usually, the effects of magic items or artifacts of unknown origin are learned gradually through experience and trial and error during actual use.

Since artifacts don’t come with instruction manuals, one has to figure things out one by one like that.

But since Ian could precisely see the item’s stats, just informing her of them would be a massive help from the user’s perspective.

It was a level of assistance that could save anywhere from several months to several years of time.

’First, could you take out the sword?’

’Ah...’

Frenda wore a slightly troubled expression. It was a face that said she hadn’t thought that far ahead.

Watching Frenda flustered, Ian asked.

’Ah. Do you perhaps not know how?’

’Well...’

As Frenda trailed off, Ian also wore a slightly troubled look. This was because Ian didn’t know the method for drawing the Holy Sword either.

He couldn’t exactly tell her, ’Just activate the [Summon Holy Sword] skill that appeared in your skill window or put it on a quick slot.’

Ian was a bit weak when it came to those realistic aspects.

However, hearing Ian’s question, Frenda shook her head.

’No, I know the method... I even took it out once before. But the thing is, well... it takes a bit of time. Please wait just a moment.’

Frenda looked around nervously, then eventually closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and began to concentrate as hard as she could.

First, picturing the shape of the Holy Sword...

＊　＊　＊

And at the same time.

While heading to the magic practice room located in the same building as the training ground, Airi happened to overhear the conversation leaking out from inside.

- ...do.

’...Hm?’

At a glance, it sounded like Frenda’s voice.

Come to think of it, did they say Frenda-san was scheduled to visit?

Recalling a glimpse of such a note on the schedule board in the lounge, Airi tilted her head.

But, didn’t it sound like a slightly strange noise...?

Thinking that, Airi stopped in her tracks in front of the training ground door.

She wondered if something was happening inside. Feeling a bit curious, Airi moved closer to the training ground door and leaned in.

The faint sound of the two talking reached her from beyond the door.

- Ah, ugh. I’m sorry. I tried doing it once when I was alone, but I’m not used to it yet...

’...?’

- I’m sorry, but could you... help me pull it out? It’s too big, so it’s a bit hard for me to pull it out on my own...

’...??’

- Aaah... p-please pull it out a bit more gently... I’m still a little scared...

...Gulp.

Swallowing hard, Airi pressed herself quietly against the training ground door and focused on the conversation coming from inside.

Just what on earth was happening in there...?

＊　＊　＊

’Th... thank you. For your help.’

’...It’s nothing.’

What happened before was simply the process of manifesting the Holy Sword, but Frenda’s face was dyed bright red.

She hadn’t thought it was such a big deal, but she didn’t expect to be this embarrassed.

’I’ll take a look for a moment.’

’Ye, yes.’

Frenda replied and carefully lifted the Holy Sword to show it to Ian.

Ian checked the information of the sword Frenda was holding.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Holy Sword]

- Legendary Item

: Untradeable

: Usable only by those with the [Hero] trait

- Owner’s Skill Effect Range +100%

- Owner’s Stat Buff Effects +50%

- Gain Ancient Knowledge

- Activate ability by choosing one of the following effects at the start of combat:

- [Star of Creation]

: Applies stat buff effects currently active on self to allies as well

- [Star of the End]

: Applies stat buff effects currently active on allies to self instead

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The acquisition method was a bit different from the standard way Ian knew, but in terms of stats, nothing seemed to have changed much.

While Ian was examining the Holy Sword, Frenda, who had barely managed to pull it out with Ian’s help, let out a secret sigh.

She had only focused on practicing getting used to holding the sword and hadn’t paid any attention to practicing pulling it out. She never thought she’d end up looking like this because of that.

It was a mistake not to have tried it again because she felt a bit embarrassed.

- Wait.

’...’

In a place where only the two of them were, a strange voice suddenly rang out.

It was the voice of the Elf connected through the Holy Sword.

Startled by the Elf’s sudden speech, Frenda glanced at Ian, turned her head, and replied very softly.

’We agreed you wouldn’t talk when others are around... It’s hard for me to answer.’

- This is no time for that. Someone is hiding outside.

’Hiding...?’

- Someone has been eavesdropping on the conversation from outside the door for a while now.

Hearing that, Frenda’s gaze turned very cautiously toward the door. She felt like she could sense a cold stare.

Of course, Frenda, a priestess, couldn’t possibly sense the presence of someone hiding behind a wall. It was just that the Elf’s words had made her feel strange.

- They are skilled at hiding their presence. It seems they are quite experienced in this kind of thing.

’...!’

Frenda’s expression grew increasingly serious.

Certainly, the Ian Mercenary Group had become a group with considerable fame. It wouldn’t be strange at all for spies to come and go to dig up information.

’Is something wrong?’

’Shh...’

When Ian asked, seeing Frenda’s face stiffen, Frenda quickly raised a finger and signaled him to be quiet.

This... she had no choice but to catch them on the spot.

She didn’t know how much of the conversation they had heard, but it was too important a scene to just let go.

Frenda prepared protection magic and suppression magic that she could use immediately while cautiously watching the door.

Fortunately, since it was a small training ground used lightly, the distance to the door wasn’t that far.

Frenda dashed forward and flung the training ground door open.

’Who is it!’

’Hieek...!’

As the door suddenly opened, Airi, who had been leaning against it, lost her balance and tumbled inside.

’...’

’...’

She didn’t know why, but her clothes... were in quite a disarrayed state.

＊　＊　＊

’Well... I’m sorry. I heard a strange sound from inside...’

’A strange sound...?’

Airi stood before the two with an awkward face and explained.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to explain in her own words how she had misunderstood that conversation from inside, so she just blushed and beat around the bush hesitantly.

Frenda turned her head and whispered to the Elf in a small voice.

’What happened? You said it was a spy, but you were completely off...!’

- I just told you someone was there. I never said it was a spy.

’...’

To anyone’s ears, that meant there was a spy...!

Frenda glanced back at Airi with a troubled face.

Ian, watching the two of them facing each other, had a thought.

Come to think of it, it was a quite interesting combination.

If one were to pick the most famous people in Labyrinth, these two would surely be in the top five.

Frenda, who had immense fame among the general residents, and Airi, who was one of the top celebrities among mercenaries and dilettantes.

No matter how uninformed someone might be, anyone living in this city would surely know at least one of the two.

With members like this, they could probably go anywhere and ask to have the door opened and enter at will without any appointment. Whether it be a councilor’s house, a guild lab, or a mercenary base.

...Seeing the two of them together, a good idea just occurred to him. It was a chance to clear away some backlogged work.

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