---Thirty Minutes Later---
Our return to the guild caused quite an uproar. No one had ever seen anything like Solaris before, so adventurers flocked to us in droves to have a close look. I warned them not to touch him without permission, but a few fools didn’t listen.
Thump!
When they laid their grubby hands on Solaris, his immediate response was to swat them away with his tail. Unlike me, who had the strength to withstand the impact, these men were sent flying across the room. The crowd got the hint and gave us some space, though they refused to disperse completely.
“Leon! Roxanne! Yunyun! Over here!” Lucoa shouted over the noise. “I’ve got a room ready. Let’s get moving before things get even rowdier.”
With some effort, the four of us pushed through. Lucoa ushered us through the staff door behind the receptionist counter, where the icy glares of the guild workers stopped the crowd dead in their tracks. Had they continued following us, it would have ended badly for them.
“Let me start by congratulating your party for clearing its first dungeon,” Lucoa said as she opened the door to Room 03. “I want to hear all about your first experience, ladies. Don’t you dare think about skimping on the details.”
“It’s funny you should mention details…” Roxanne commented, her voice trailing off.
“How about we save that topic for last?” I said as we entered. “We have something more pressing to discuss first. It’s regarding the party that challenged the boss right before us.”
The conference room looked remarkably like the ones from my past life. A large wooden table and chairs sat at the center, with refreshments already laid out.
“Let me guess... another party was wiped out by the King Slime,” Lucoa sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Damn it, that makes seven parties this month. I really wish people wouldn't underestimate that boss just because it’s a slime. Who was it this time?”
As we took our seats, I placed the few items we’d recovered on the table. “It was Marquis Frampton’s grandson and his party who perished. When we arrived on the tenth floor, his head knight was begging him to let the men rest after their long trek. The brat wouldn’t listen; he charged in without a second thought. His stupidity got them all killed.”
Most of the items we found around the colosseum were crushed beyond recognition. The few pieces that weren’t damaged bore House Frampton’s emblem. It wasn’t much, but it was the bare minimum evidence required by the Guild. They would take care of breaking the news to the respective families.
“Marquis Frampton’s grandson, huh? Ugh… This is going to be a real pain in the ass,” Lucoa groaned, rubbing her forehead with a weary hand. “The Marquis forced us to reinstate his grandson, even after he broke several of our cardinal rules. I hate to say this, but that dirtbag got exactly what he deserved.”
“I tried my best to save them, but… the nobleman attempted to threaten me into being his plaything,” Yunyun said, causing Lucoa to snarl in disdain. “Leon had to step in to save me before his butlers grabbed me. He chased them off by—”
Yunyun realized she was oversharing and quickly shut her mouth. While I appreciated the gesture, it was easy for Lucoa to piece together what had happened. Pleased with my actions, Lucoa gave me a double thumbs-up with a smile.
“Hehe! Don’t worry, I promise not to say a word to anyone about this,” Lucoa swore. “Just know that I wholeheartedly support your actions, and hope you’ll continue to protect them in the future. I have no sympathy for assholes like that.”
“I appreciate it,” I replied as Lucoa stood and walked over to the door.
Lucoa summoned a messenger to relay the bad news to the Marquis. With a flurry of pen strokes, she finalized the report and prepared a copy for the Guild's records. Tucking the items and the report into a Manila envelope, Lucoa entrusted it to the messenger with strict instructions. The Marquis was unlikely to take the news well, so the messenger was told to run immediately if the man became violent.
After the messenger departed, my companions leaned in with serious expressions. “So, Miss Lucoa, we wanted to talk about—”
Just as they were about to get started, a heavy knock echoed through the room. Before anyone could respond, two city guards barged in with a frustrated Guildmaster trailing behind them. They marched straight up to me with spiteful glares.
One of them attempted to seize my wrists. “Leon Fou Bartfort, by order of the Crown, we are here to escort you to the palace dungeon for questioning. Your stepmother and half siblings were murdered this morning, and all our evidence shows you are the perpetrator.”
“My name is Leon Fou Aremus, not Bartfort,” I asserted, smacking his hands away. “If you are here by order of the palace, let me see the signed warrant.”
With a hand outstretched, I gestured for them to produce the paperwork. Neither man made a move to retrieve it, which told me everything I needed to know.
“I see. So you aren’t here under the palace’s orders at all,” I said, my voice dripping with irritation. It seemed Zola’s allies were determined to pester me even from beyond her grave. “In that case, I have no reason to comply. Remove yourselves from this room before I throw you out myself.”
Enraged by my disrespect, the two obstinate guards reached for their blades. As they did, Solaris stepped forward and released a low, metallic growl. Both men froze, wary of the slow, rhythmic flicking of his tail.
With trembling hands, Yunyun stood and met the men's eyes. “Leon didn’t harm anyone! He has been with us since this morning. We waited several hours in line to register with the guild, went to buy our gear, and then went into a dungeon. The four of us only returned to the surface twenty minutes ago.”
Roxanne shot up and nodded in confirmation. While I had the situation under control, I was happy both of them were standing up for me.
“This young woman is telling you exactly what I have been saying for the past thirty minutes. Leon and his party were in the dungeon at the presumed time of the murders,” the Guildmaster said, stamping his cane on the floor in frustration. “As the boy said—if you don’t have a warrant, get out of here this instant.”
Unable to provide a valid reason to continue their harassment, the men finally relented. “Very well. We will depart for now. But don’t leave the capital anytime soon. We may still want to bring you in for questioning.”
“My first year at the Academy starts in two weeks. I have no plans to depart until break,” I said, meeting his gaze with unblinking resolve. “Have a nice day, gentlemen.”
Irritated, the two guards retreated from the room. I may have won today, but this conflict was far from over. Zola’s allies would certainly strike again; their wounded pride would not allow them to simply move on. From here on out, I would need to stay vigilant to ensure they could not get the better of me.
After shutting the door, the Guildmaster slid into the seat beside Lucoa. “Praise the Lord, those imbeciles are gone. I have never met more dim-witted guards in my entire life. Whoever has them as subordinates, I feel sorry for them.”
“If my assumption is right, Zola’s associates—the Forest of Ladies—sent them here to scare a confession out of me,” I said, pouring my comrades and me some tea. “Unfortunately for them, I am not intimidated by nuisances.”
The Guildmaster laughed at my words. While most would have caved at the mere mention of the Palace, I had not flinched. Only a few individuals had the authority to issue such warrants, and I knew none of them would have done so for a mere baron’s wife. Noble faction leaders aside, our King was busy carrying out his "duty" of creating heirs with his harem, the Queen was running the country entirely on her own, and the Prime Minister was doing his best to lighten her load.
Eager to move past this subject, the Guildmaster turned his inquisitive gaze to Solaris. “You found quite an impressive relic in that dungeon, Leon. In all my years of adventuring, I have never seen such a magnificent machine. Would you consider selling it to me? I can make it worth your while.”
“Haha!” I laughed, unsurprised by the inquiry. “I’m sorry, but Solaris isn’t for sale. He is my partner, and for as long as he is willing, I want him by my side until the day I die.”
<Rawr!>
With an approving bob, Solaris echoed the sentiment.
“I understand,” the Guildmaster said, nodding respectfully. “Well then, I best get back to my office. Now that those fools are gone, I can finally get some work done.”
As he moved to stand, I motioned for him to wait a moment. “If you have a few minutes, I think you’ll want to hear what these two have to say. It involves the... level of service Lucoa has provided my companions.”
Curious, both the Guildmaster and Lucoa tilted their heads. I retrieved my notebook from my item box and slid it over to Yunyun.
“Is this about earlier?” Lucoa questioned, grasping at straws. “If so, I thought we had put this matter to bed already.”
“Oh no, Miss Lucoa, this is about everything you failed to tell us,” Yunyun said, trying her best to look stern.
“Haha! You know, I have plenty of time,” the Guildmaster agreed, leaning back with a smirk. “Please proceed.”
“First, you forgot to explain the dungeon ranking system to us…” Roxanne began, opening my notebook to the first page.
Roxanne and Yunyun went through the notebook cover to cover, pointing out every detail they hadn't been taught. Unhappy about being called out in front of her boss, Lucoa attempted to smooth things over, but they weren't having it. Her half-assed explanation of the Guild had forced me to teach them nearly everything an adventurer needed to know. Combined with the terrible advice she had given them previously, the two seemed to enjoy watching her squirm.
---Thirty Minutes Later---
When Roxanne and Yunyun finally finished, Lucoa slumped back into her chair, looking thoroughly defeated. “So… Boss man, about my upcoming annual raise?”
“Oh right, I forgot to tell you. Since you are their dedicated receptionist now, your salary is tied to their income,” the Guildmaster said, rising from his seat with a smirk. “If you want a raise, you’ll need to step up your game. Also, I would make sure not to upset them any more than you already have. Should they request a different receptionist, your ass is out the door. There is no room for lazy employees in my guild.”
With that, the Guildmaster returned to his office. As the door shut behind him, Lucoa’s face cycled through several emotions. When it eventually landed on desperation, she looked at me with a teary-eyed expression.
“You wouldn’t request another receptionist, would you?” Lucoa asked, giving me a hopeful smile. “I will redouble my efforts to make all your future endeavors a success. Just please, give me another chance to show you my sincerity.”
With her job on the line, Lucoa tried everything she could to persuade me to keep her. When she puffed out her bountiful breasts, I narrowed my eyes. She had accused me of ogling Roxanne and Yunyun only hours ago; now she was purposefully trying to entice me.
“Three hours ago, you tore into me over the perceived notion I was after their bodies. Now, here you are attempting to use yours to sway my decision. Do you feel no shame?” I asked, rising to my feet.
“I… I don’t enjoy doing it, but I need to keep this job!” Lucoa said, her shoulders slumping. “Look, I know full well that the capital is a terrible place for misfits. The public looks down on us because we are different, and the nobility sees us as oddities to entertain them. It’s been that way since before I moved here several decades ago. This job is all I have. If I lose it, I’ll have nowhere to go. I’ll probably have to become some noble’s toy or work in the red-light district.”
“Can’t you go home?” Yunyun asked, suddenly feeling guilty for taking things too far.
“No… My homeland was destroyed by the Rachelle Holy Kingdom,” Lucoa answered quietly.
The Rachelle Holy Kingdom was a major problem. While smaller than most nations, they maintained a strong relationship with the Voldenowa Holy Magic Empire. Unlike our nation, which relied on ancient technology and sheer numbers to protect itself, the Empire innovated. They were the only nation on the planet to develop Magitek weapons—and they used them to devastating effect on the battlefield.
Generations ago, they began arming the Rachelle Holy Kingdom to secure their borders. Even though aggressive actions had slowed centuries ago, the Holy Kingdom continued to harass other nations, using their alliance with the Empire to avoid any consequences. Unfortunately, Lucoa’s homeland was one of their victims.
“I understand,” I said softly. “The other dragons the Guildmaster spoke of—are they like you?”
“The five of us are all from the same village. We narrowly escaped before our island plunged into the sea,” Lucoa confirmed, her voice thick with old grief. “They destroyed our country just so they could seize our Levitation Stones.”
Levitation Stones were mana crystals infused with a vast amount of the air element. These stones allowed our planet’s sky islands to stay afloat indefinitely. As they grew over time, nations harvested small amounts each year to build their airships. The extraction process was closely monitored, as taking even an ounce too much would send an island plummeting into the sea below. For nations looking to rapidly build out their naval forces, the only way was to harvest from foreign islands—even if it meant killing everyone on them in the process.
After learning about Lucoa’s tragic past, I looked to my comrades. Roxanne and Yunyun were both sniffling; it was apparent what our decision would be.
“Alright, Lucoa. If you take your job seriously from now on, I won’t request a replacement,” I said.
“Thank you,” Lucoa replied, her relief genuine. “I swear you won’t regret this. In fact, I’ll start right now by going over the Guild taxes with them. You didn’t have that in your notebook, and it’s definitely something they need to know.”
“Agreed. I wouldn't want them arrested for tax evasion,” I joked. “Solaris and I are going to head back to the inn for the day. Take my taxes out of my reward; I’ll pick up the remainder tomorrow when we reconvene for another dive.”
“Understood!” they said in unison.
As Lucoa began explaining the complexities of Guild math, Solaris and I slipped out of the room. Once we were out of the guild and on our way back to the inn, I spoke subtly to Luxion.
“I assume you retrieved information on Zola’s allies?” I asked. “Put them all under observation for the time being. If they send more trouble my way, eliminate them quietly.”
<Understood, Master.> (Luxion)
With that settled, I turned my thoughts toward the night ahead—and the satisfying challenge of tinkering with my damaged lightsaber.
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