South Capital Adventurers’ Guild
Urged by Wendy to get to work, the Guildmaster reluctantly began explaining.
"Alright, I’m Adam, Guildmaster of the South Capital Guild. Before we process the paperwork, I’ve got a question. Why did the client specifically request you guys?"
"Well, maybe ‘cause we were helping with cleaning and stuff at the orphanage?" Brad said.
"Even so, how does the client know you? You haven’t met them, right?"
"We haven’t met… And I don’t even know who the client is," Dagger said, followed by Souya, Riki, and Brad echoing the same.
"Hm, got it. What about you ladies? You knew, right? Uh, Joan, was it?"
"Yes, I knew. I mean, I’m the one who contacted the client."
"""""What?!"""""
Everyone except Belle was shocked.
"What’s that supposed to mean?" The Guildmaster glared at me.
"What do you mean? No one was contacting the orphanage’s benefactor, so I did."
"No, that’s not what I’m asking. How did you contact them?"
"Huh? I just sent a letter."
"That’s what I’m saying! How do you have a way to contact the client?"
"Oh, that’s what you mean… Well, because they’re an acquaintance?"
""What?!""
The Guildmaster and Wendy were shocked again. The Guildmaster hurriedly looked at the documents Wendy handed him, then sighed.
"Joan Lampail… eldest daughter of the Lampail Margrave family. Alright, makes sense you’d know the client."
"Umm… what does that mean? Who’s the client?" Souya, still lost, asked.
The Guildmaster sipped his tea and glanced at me.
Ugh, he’s telling me to explain…
"Okay, so, the orphanages in each territory are managed by the local lord, right? So, who manages the orphanage in the capital?"
"Huh? There’s no lord in the capital… No way?!" Souya seemed to catch on, and the other three looked shocked, so they got it too.
"But why you, Joan?"
"Well, my father was classmates with the client’s husband, and I’ve been visiting their house since I was little… or something like that."
"House? That’s putting it lightly…"
"Well, some call it a castle?"
"""That’s not just another name!"""
The four of them retorted at once.
"Alright, I get your connection to the client. Now, here’s the reward. It’s for ten days of work, plus the designation fee. Wendy."
"Here you go. This is the reward." Clink.
"""""Whoa?!"""""
Even I was shocked. 30,000G per person… That’s about a commoner’s living expenses for ten days.
"And this is for Dagger and Brad’s mothers."
Since they took care of the headmistress, the sister, and the kids first, each of their mothers got 15,000G.
""This much…?""
"It’s in copper and silver coins, so it’s a bit heavy. We sell magic bags here, you know. Small ones are 6,000G, medium 12,000G, large 18,000G. Want one?"
"""We’ll take a medium!"""
"Thanks for the purchase! That’s 12,000G. I’ll grab them now." Wendy left the office humming.
"She’s got some business spirit…"
"Right? My pride and joy as a receptionist," the Guildmaster said.
"Oh, I had a question for you, Guildmaster."
"Hm? What’s up?"
"Do you know someone named Ken?"
"Which Ken?"
"He’s our mansion’s head chef. He said when he was an adventurer, he was in a party with someone who’s now a Guildmaster with an eyepatch."
"Oh, that guy. He’s your head chef? He’s done well for himself… Good to hear. I kinda caused our party to break up."
"Maybe, but Ken seems happy now. If you get the chance, you should meet up and talk."
"Yeah, I’ll do that. Thanks, miss."
"… You say that, but you’re gonna make excuses not to meet him, right?"
I gave the Guildmaster a side-eye, and he stammered, "Uh, n-no, I’ll meet him… Probably."
"Here, take this." I pulled a cream bun from storage.
"Hm? Bread?"
"Try it."
"Hm?… Munch… What? This is good. Never tasted cream like this. The bread’s so soft…"
"It’s called a cream bun. If you meet Ken, you can have more. There are other kinds too."
"Ha, alright, I’ll meet Ken and get him to let me try the others."
"""Gulp…"""
I heard a weird sound and looked around. Souya, Riki, Dagger, and Brad were staring at the Guildmaster’s cream bun. He quickly stuffed it in his mouth.
"Uh… want some?"
"""Yes!"""
I gave cream buns to Souya, Riki, Dagger, Brad, Belle, and the Guildmaster, who wanted seconds. As we ate, Wendy came back.
"Sorry for the wait… What?! You’re all eating without me?!"
"""""Oh."""""
Of course, I gave Wendy a cream bun too.
Wendy, petite with red hair tied in a ponytail, munched on the cream bun with a big smile, looking like an adorable small animal.
On the way out, I secretly gave Wendy an ichiberry jam bun. If we’re going to keep using this guild, we’ll probably deal with her more than the Guildmaster.
Yup, you guessed it—it’s a bribe.
What do you think about this chapter?
