Act 2: Chapter 19: Ragno's Subjugation Commission
「Currently, the top priority for the Manarak branch adventurer’s guild is the culling of the Black Spider 《Monster Parade》. Black spiders are a race of monsters called Ragno and have one-big-eye that you should take back as the subjugation proof. You’ll get 25k gold for each proof.」
The staff’s explanation continued on.
It turned out the black spider that attacked our caravan from before was really the Ragno.
But… 25k gold per body huh.
If only I knew that, I would have collected Ragnos’ materials back then too.
I mean, there were around fifty of them after all.
That crowd alone would fetch us more than one million gold, and the guild side seems to place importance in this commission too.
「Individually, Ragno is a D-rank monster. That’s why, any adventurers below D-rank must take extra caution when fighting them.」
Ragno’s individual level was really low. I’d already confirmed this beforehand using status check.
They should be around Lv:24 ~ Lv:30.
Though I had yet to understand the standard for adventurer’s rankings, D-rank adventurers should be around that level.
「In addition… Since the current situation is really strange, we honestly have no idea what actually happened to them. Though most 《Monster Parade》 happened for unknown reasons, the scale of this current event is way beyond our understanding. Some even say that there must be a superior species of monster who’s leading them. On the other hand, leaving them at their own devices like this might cause their numbers to explode and end up with them invading Manarak, that’s why we’ve no choice but to cull their numbers as much as we can for now.」
The heck, are you telling me that even the guild couldn’t guarantee our safety if we took that commission?
Honestly, we wouldn’t have any problems with those small fry but… I mustn’t let my guard down, better safe than sorry.
After that, I received the statement paper of this commission from the staff.
There was also a map of Magic City Manarak and its surroundings. They draw a spider mark on the location where they found Ragno.
It seems the area where our caravan passed by before was the area where Ragno appeared frequently as it was marked with a red spider mark.
There’s even a warning stating that anyone below B-rank shouldn’t go into that area.
「What do you think? It’s simple and has quite a lot of rewards. I think it’s much better than receiving so many commissions from many different people…」
「Pomera agrees. It looks like the main commission, after all…」
Pomera spoke while looking at the other commissions.
After she agreed, I turned around toward the guild’s staff again.
「Understood. Let us to take Ragno’s subjugation commission.」
Guessing from the staff’s explanation, it seems that most eligible adventurers had already taken this commission.
Thus, we’ve no choice but to take it too.
This commission was simple and gave a lot of rewards after all.
Normally there was no C-rank commission which one could aim for one million gold in one single swoop. At the very least, this was the most suitable method to raise our money.
「It seems the other adventurers were also taking this Ragno subjugation commission.」
After we received the commission, Pomera’s attention shifted to another place as we left the receptionist’s desk.
I followed the direction of her line of sight.
「Though Ragno is a rare monster, they’re not that strong. We can make a killing just by hunting few of them.」
「Yeah, thankfully this city is rich. We just need to use AOE magic to exterminate them and get one month worth of money in one day.」
The adventurers who seemed to be receiving the same commission as us were in the middle of discussing the most efficient way to hunt Ragnos.
Even the adventurers who didn’t take the commission paid close attention to the adventurers who took the commission.
Seeing that, I concluded that the guild successfully promoted the commission.
Well, it might be thanks to its generous reward.
Despite their cold statement, the adventurer guild’s side might be quite desperate about the situation.
As I was looking around inside the guild while thinking about such things… I saw a rather familiar face in front of the receptionist desk.
「The fact that a few A-rank adventurers are taking the commission is really reassuring…」
「Few A-rankers, huh… even the renowned Magic City Manarak only amounted to those few. Unrivalled since there’s practically no one on par with me. It seems I have become a little bit too strong.」
A handsome blonde spoke while shaking his head, putting on a self-important act.
If I’m not wrong, I’ve seen him before, and his name was Alfred.
The same blue-haired girl with a bob cut was sticking close to him like before.
「Few, A-rank adventurers…」
I was pondering about what I heard a moment ago.
Surely, Alfred’s level was 76.
He might have no problem in fighting against Ragno, but… when he, a Lv:76, says something like that…
Though I’ve realized that this world’s level limit was the sky and the bottom of the barrel was basically almost on the same level, the difference was way too extreme.
Upon realizing that, Lovis’ stock in me was unknowingly raised again.
「Please keep doing your best! Even though your remark is rather problematic in my ears as one of the guild’s staff… the truth is, I’ve always been your big fan! I’m really happy to be able to meet you once I’ve heard that you’ll come to this city before!」
「Humph, my bad but, I’m already tired of hearing such remarks… Good grief, I don’t even remember doing something that is worthy of attention though. It simply just there’s too many cowardly adventurers around me.」
Alfred shrugged his shoulders in an exaggerated manner.
Part of the adventurers in the guild were glaring at him upon hearing his remarks.
… I’ve realized this fact after touring around this city in order to find the ingredients for 《God’s Blood; Ether》, but this incident reminds me again of the fact that the citizens of this city have really high pride.
For better or worse, their pride was rather similar to patriotism towards this city, Manarak. That’s why it can’t be helped that they’ll be angered upon hearing a stranger speak with such a tone, as if he was looking down on Manarak.
「If you think that my remark is problematic as the guild’s staff, you should just finish your job like a professional guild’s staff. I mean, you’re still in working hours right?」
The swordswoman beside Alfred told the guild’s staff, glaring at the latter while hugging Alfred’s arm.
Thus, that space turned into a glaring contest.
「Calm down, Sarah. The citizens who are under the threat of monsters are waiting for a hero to appear. And it was a duty imposed to a chosen human like me. I often feel that this burden is rather annoying but…」
Alfred caressed his hair with a distant, melancholic look on his face, as if recalling something that happened in the past.
Every single action he took looked extremely theatrical to me.
「Seeing that you prepared my reward, let me make another proposal, lovely lady. Here, I dare to say that I’ll gather more Ragno eyes than any other adventurer.」
Alfred made such a declaration with a loud and clear voice.
「… Coolio, maybe.」
「Are you seriously thinking like that, Kanata-san?」
Pomera asked with a super serious look on her face upon hearing my muttering.
Though I realized that Alfred’s speech and conduct was too unnatural, or forced, upon closer observation, I realized that he might’ve a little bit of THAT syndrome.
And even if his speech and conduct made him look like an arrogant person, it was backed by his real skill and level.
… His level might be a tad too low for my standards, but well, the adventurer’s guild might regard him as some sort of one man army.
「… K-Kanata-san, do you want to act like THAT?」
「Nope, I just … reminiscing.」
I dodged that particularly dangerous topic that almost touched my black history.
Pomera’s face stiffened for a moment as if she just received a shock, but she closed her lips immediately as if making some sort of resolution.
「… P-Pomera will follow Kanata-san through water and fire!!」
… It turned out Pomera was still Pomera.