GILF Hunter

A building situated slightly away from the main street. It was the place used as a base by Ariel’s mercenary group, one of the A-rank mercenaries.

A mercenary suddenly knocked and entered, calling for Ariel, who was resting in the captain’s office.

’Um, Captain?’

’Yeah, what is it?’

’A guest has arrived.’

’I don’t have an appointment for any guests today?’

Ariel, who was spending a leisurely time without a schedule for the first time in a while, looked up.

’Ah, yes. They came without an appointment.’

’Good grief.’

Hearing that, Ariel shook her head.

Of course, it was something that happened often.

From peddlers to membership applicants, and even mercenaries asking for help because of difficult circumstances. At most mercenary bases, there was always a line of guests visiting unannounced.

Ever since becoming A-rank, the number of visitors had significantly decreased, perhaps because riff-raff felt burdened to strike up a conversation.

...Of course, in exchange, guests who visited despite that burden were often even more of a headache.

Ariel asked, wondering who the sudden guest might be.

’Who is it? If it’s around this time, is it someone from the council? Just tell them I’m not here.’

Ariel answered while thinking of those people who always came to pester her at this time, but the member shook their head.

’No, it’s not them; it was a mercenary.’

’Where are they from?’

Since they knew each other’s circumstances, there were almost no cases of visiting as they pleased without an appointment. Especially since Ariel was the type who didn’t accept such sudden visits well.

Ariel was going to just refuse, but since it was a time when she had nothing to do anyway, she decided to hear the name.

’The Captain of the Ian Mercenary Group, and a priestess named Frenda-sama...’

’...Huh?’

Ariel, hearing unexpected names, looked up with a puzzled face.

What on earth would those people have to visit here for?

Thinking that, Ariel instinctively felt that the opponent must have come because they had some favor or something they wanted.

It was a transparent combination that clearly looked like they came aiming for something.

Ariel made up her mind to refuse the visit of those two. She didn’t know what it was about, but if it were important, they would send a letter again.

’Ah. And Airi was with them too.’

’Open the door right now.’

Ariel hurriedly stood up from her chair.

＊　＊　＊

Thus welcoming sudden guests without a prior schedule, Ariel held the item Ian handed over as a gift in her hand.

’Hmm...’

The purpose of Ian, who visited suddenly without an appointment, was... a gift. Surprisingly.

The gift Ian handed over was a map. Ariel examined the map closely.

...Is it a treasure map?

Ariel quickly realized the identity of that map.

A map that marked the location where expensive items were hidden.

Who made it, for what purpose it was drawn—the reasons were all different and couldn’t be unified, but anyway, if one were to pick a commonality, it could ultimately be called treasure.

’I don’t really need this?’

Ariel fluttered and shook the map in her hand with a face that looked quite uninterested.

She wasn’t particularly bluffing; she was sincere.

A treasure map was an item that most mercenaries kept an eye on. Mainly beginners with little experience or mediocre-sized mercenary groups.

However, someone at the level of an A-rank mercenary like Ariel was bound to have experienced treasure maps quite a bit.

Therefore, Ariel already knew that items like treasure maps were not as good as one might think.

Of course, items called treasures marked on these maps were quite expensive and rare objects.

...Assuming they are real.

First of all, there were many fake treasure maps.

Even if it were a real map, there was no way to know if the treasure would be safely buried there.

Even if it were buried, would its condition still be fine? Even if it were a valuable item in the past, would it still be so? The problem was that nothing could be known until going there and checking in person.

Finding a real treasure map was luck. Going there and finding real treasure was also luck.

By the time one became an A-rank mercenary, treasure maps were actually less cost-effective than general missions or expeditions.

Ian answered as if he knew Ariel’s concern.

’There will be an item that is helpful.’

’...It seems you already know what’s there. Is it a dungeon you’ve investigated beforehand?’

’It’s because I investigated it together with the exploration team I support.’

Hearing that, Ariel nodded as if she understood.

She wasn’t particularly interested in ruins, but even Ariel had heard Ellen’s name at least. If there was a background of that level, it was a trustworthy map.

And... that was a story Ian had made up reasonably. The map was something Ian had made himself.

Including the map Ariel was holding, the various treasure maps in Ian’s bag were all things Ian had produced or selected himself.

Treasure maps were often encrypted or too old and difficult to see, and in such cases, many items could only be properly recognized if a translated version was made separately or redrawn as a copy.

So it wasn’t particularly strange even if the map was like a new item. As long as its source was certain.

Of course, it would have been a huge problem if fake maps were produced this way... but since they were all real maps, there was no way a reliability issue would arise.

The source and reliability of the treasure map were confirmed. Now a new question arose for Ariel.

’But why give this to me?’

’Because I thought it would be the best item for Captain Ariel.’

’Hmm.... So you’re just giving it?’

Ariel’s eyes narrowed.

Just a gift. Naturally, suspicion dwelt in Ariel’s eyes. Just what was the hidden motive?

Ian also sensed that suspicion of Ariel and gave a reason that would likely be most effective in this spot.

’Actually, since we’ve had quite a connection in the meantime... our Airi said she wanted to give a gift this time.’

’I-is that so? If that’s the case, seeing your heart, I can’t refuse.’

Airi, who was sitting next to Ian... wore an expression as if asking, ’Yes, me?’ But regardless of her own will, this map was now Airi’s gift.

Since they weren’t strangers, it couldn’t be helped.

Thinking that, Ariel carefully tucked away the map and smiled as if a significant thought had occurred to her.

’Umm, then... just in case, I’d like to get a signature on the map.’

’Ah, yes. You mean a signature guaranteeing the content. I’ll do it for you.’

Ariel shook her head toward Ian and spoke while turning her gaze toward Airi.

’No, not Captain Ian... with Airi’s signature.’

’Eh? M-me?’

’Since it’s Airi gift. Here, the pen.’

’Eh, eeeeh...’

In the sense of taking responsibility for the information written on the treasure map. Airi’s crooked signature ended up remaining on the back of the map.

After that, the map was made into a copy and placed into a frame in the captain’s office.

＊　＊　＊

The mercenary groups they visited in that manner were already several.

If they had gone around setting appointments one by one, it would have probably taken several weeks to several months, but thanks to putting those two forward, they could visit other mercenary groups very comfortably.

Whether it was Airi signing. Or Frenda briefly performing something like a warding prayer. That level of work was enough for the two of them.

Frenda, who had been walking behind Ian for a while, felt a doubt.

Going around to meet guests together was something she could sufficiently help with... but she felt a doubt regarding the work Ian was doing itself.

Frenda moved slightly to Ian’s side and asked cautiously.

’Captain Ian. But... why are you just handing over treasure maps?’

’Because they are items I don’t need.’

’Even so, wouldn’t it be better to sell them? From what I know, such maps are quite expensive...’

’That’s why I’m distributing them directly.’

That expensive price was the problem.

If treasure maps were just released into the market, merchants would surely attach themselves.

Even if not, treasure maps are clearly items that become money, so it was natural for mercenary groups trying to take a profit to attach themselves in the middle. If it passed through several places, the price would jump significantly.

If that happened, the mercenary groups Ian was aiming for would be more likely to not be able to purchase them because they were too expensive, or to not buy the maps thinking the cost-effectiveness was low.

If that happened, a result quite different from Ian’s purpose would have come out.

’I wanted mercenaries to directly have the artifacts or equipment from those places rather than money.’

The maps Ian had been handing out were ruins or dungeons of the type that gave fixed rewards rather than random ones.

Ian pulled out a list of dungeons and rewards that could be predicted in advance, checked whether the dungeons were generated with the help of the exploration team, and then created fake maps.

They were called fake. They were very accurate maps where information of actually existing places was recorded.

The purpose, as mentioned, was to spread items that suited each mercenary.

Items needed by the members of Ian’s mercenary group were already mostly secured or in a state where they were planned to be. There was almost no possibility of members increasing beyond this at this point.

And if members were fixed as they are now, equipment that Ian and the members didn’t particularly need arose.

For example. On the map given to Ariel just before, there was an item called [Fairy’s Knot], and it was equipment that amplified damage proportional to distance the further away one hit with a bow.

In other words, an item necessary for a sniper who attacks directly with arrows. For Airi, who has a short range and handles curses mainly rather than direct attacks, it was an item that wouldn’t be of much help even if she had it.

Instead, if it entered the hands of Ariel, who has significant eyesight and range, it would be a huge power reinforcement.

Ian handed over the maps by matching items that suited the opponent in that way.

’Because mercenary groups need to become a bit stronger.’

’Mercenaries need to become stronger?’

’Doesn’t it become easier to stop monsters the more that happens?’

The mercenaries of this city are the defense forces of the city.

If such mercenaries became strong, naturally, the city’s defensive power to face monster invasions would also be reinforced.

It was a gain to give other mercenaries even one thing beyond what was directly needed. It is a much simpler and more effective method than pouring money into reinforcing city walls or increasing soldiers....

Frenda nodded with a very impressed expression.

...Of course, those are natural words. But it was her first time seeing someone doing it while spreading their own wealth. Wasn’t it truly pure charity for the citizens of the city?

While walking and sharing stories, Ian’s pace stopped in front of a certain building.

’Now, here is today’s last schedule.’

’Hieek... Is it real...’

Airi muttered with a dark face while looking at the mansion in front.

Finally, today’s last schedule. It was the lodging of the Frey Mercenary Group.

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