Chapter 99: Prelude to War – 3

Chapter 99: Prelude to War – 3

“Melini, a request has come in.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes. A designated request, no less.”

“Tsk. Has my turn finally arrived?”

Inside the Adventurers’ Guild building, it wasn’t… not different from usual.

The Guild was always filled with a certain level of vibrancy and the noisy chatter of adventurers, but not recently.

The atmosphere in the capital had become grim due to some crazy Inquisitor from the Holy Kingdom, but that wasn’t the only reason.

Adventurers, after all, were half-convinced that the whole story was manipulation by the higher-ups.

…It was an adventurer-like stance, having been subjected to all sorts of noble schemes, though not as much as the nobles themselves.

“……As Guild Master, I’d advise you to refuse, but…”

“You know I can’t, don’t you?”

“I’m ashamed as Guild Master. To not be able to properly protect one of my adventurers.”

“Apologies aside, what do I have to do?”

The mysterious monster hordes that had recently appeared on the continent.

Everyone in the know was aware that not only the Holy Kingdom, but recently the Empire too, was paying attention to these monster hordes.

In fact, it was only called a monster horde; everyone in the know understood it was practically a monster army.

…In this situation, an ‘anonymous’ individual was requesting adventurers from the Adventurers’ Guild in the capital to investigate these hordes.

Naturally, neither the adventurers nor the Guild Master had any obligation to accept this ‘anonymous’ request.

They were free individuals, after all; they took requests, but couldn’t be forced.

Furthermore, it wasn’t a Guild within the Imperial Palace, and ordinary adventurers belonging to an ordinary Adventurers’ Guild wouldn’t likely volunteer for a mission that clearly looked dangerous.

Therefore, when the request first arrived, everyone assumed some childish noble was raising hell out of curiosity.

……That would have been the case, if the ‘anonymous’ requester’s letter hadn’t borne a seal that was clearly from the Imperial Family.

“As you know, none of the investigators we sent before have returned. Therefore… it’s the same request as for those who went before.”

“Get any information, no matter the cost… is that it? And don’t get caught by the Holy Kingdom?”

“Yes.”

“Anyway, they’re saying their own highly-trained adventurers are too precious to be used as expendables, so they want us to go get ground up instead.”

Thus, the Guild Master’s expression was dark as he handed the request to Melini, one of the few remaining adventurers.

No, ‘dark’ wasn’t enough; he looked like someone on the verge of breaking.

Outwardly, he tried to appear calm, acting as usual, but his half-gone face clearly showed that it was all an act.

Because it was the face of a person who was beyond angry, exhausted; beyond exhausted, despairing; and beyond despair, sunken into resignation.

“Well, it’s fine. I just have to come back alive, right?”

“…Everyone said that.”

“Tsk. You’re making it sound like I’m really going to die and not come back. Don’t say things like that, okay? Guild Master-nim.”

“……I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do but give you this damn request.”

“It’s okay. Anyway, if we refuse… we’ll all lose our heads, won’t we? Together.”

Within the Empire, the dignity and authority of the Imperial Family and the nobles were absolute.

Although the Imperial Family and the nobles themselves might not think so, and were divided, vying for power, from a commoner’s perspective, they were all the same bastards anyway.

Bluntly speaking, the Ducal Family, other nobles, or the Imperial Family, they were all the same ‘higher-ups’.

And the Adventurers’ Guild in the capital wasn’t strong enough to handle the repercussions of refusing a request from such ‘higher-ups’.

At best, it was a sacrifice; in reality, it was treated as an expendable, and that reality was truly well-reflected in that request.

“And if you’re really sorry, just give me some more money.”

“…It would be hard to find better equipment than what you already have, though.”

“No, equipment is fine… I was thinking of buying a few spare lives.”

“Spare lives…… Ah, I understand what you mean.”

Therefore, Melini, who received the request, did not refuse.

If she refused, she would surely die; if she accepted, she might miraculously survive.

If she refused, everyone would die; if she accepted, at most, only she would die.

…The option to refuse simply didn’t exist; only the option to accept did.

Both the Guild Master and Melini knew this, so they accepted the request calmly.

Adventurers only protested the first couple of times; now, they merely looked at the one who received the request with pity.

“…It’s not much, but take it.”

“Tsk. Take mine too.”

“……If I die, I’m next, so I’m giving it to you. Remember that.”

And among those who gave such pitying glances, some also handed over a small amount of money from their pockets.

Even if they outwardly seemed not to care, they knew.

…That if they kept failing, their turn would come someday.

And that Melini had the highest chance of success among the remaining adventurers.

“…It’s not much of the fund left, but take it.”

“Thanks, Guild Master-nim.”

“……If possible, I wish to see you again.”

Thus, another adventurer from the Adventurers’ Guild embarked on a long journey.

***

“……That’s my story and situation now, you know.”

“I see.”

“Huh? Is that all your reaction?”

“Well, how would you like me to react?”

The shop was restored, and on the first day we reopened with Lily.

…Some persistent customer came in, rambling on and on about her story.

It was annoying enough that she showed up right after we opened, disturbing my rest, but she also talked way too much.

More than anything……

‘Why is this guy, who survived just fine in the original story, so worried?’

Well, she might be anxious, but from my perspective, knowing half the future, I’m not worried at all.

Unlike the situations of other main characters, what Melini is going through now also happened in the original story.

Why would someone who survived anyway have so many worries?

*…You seem unusually cold towards Melini, for some reason.*

‘I know, I guess I just don’t warm up to her easily.’

*And you’ve caused so much trouble, she might not survive this time?*

‘If she wasn’t going to survive, it would have popped up as a branch point, wouldn’t it?’

…Honestly, thinking about it, Melini probably feels like she’s really going to die.

……Thinking this, I feel a little sorry…?

“Anyway, why did you come?”

“Well, I came to buy some of my spare lives, didn’t I?”

“…Just call them potions. They’re not that miraculous, you know.”

…Of course, I can make potions with miraculous effects, but I haven’t made them yet.

Besides, I had no time to make them since I had to produce various defensive or resistance-related potions that Christie requested.

And I only came out today to check if the shop was well-restored and to announce that we wouldn’t be open for business for a while, so even more so.

“Right, right. Five of them would be great.”

“…You know there’s usually a limit on the number, right?”

“Uh… um… I do know… but.”

“…It’s fine. I won’t be open for business for a while anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

At that, Melini’s eyes widened.

I, who said it, was calm, though.

“Why? Is there some pressure from the Church, or something…”

“Pfft.”

“Oh, no, why are you laughing?!”

“No, just… an Inquisitor stirred up the capital trying to catch me, and my shop was blown up once, so I wonder how much more pressure I could possibly receive.”

“What, what? The person who was attacked in the capital this time… was you?”

“Didn’t you know? Adventurers are usually well-informed.”

“……We don’t exactly get accurate information that the Imperial Family is controlling, you know?”

……Amidst all that, I burst out laughing at an unexpected point, but anyway.

I very simply explained to Melini why I would be busy for a while.

Well, Christie didn’t say it was a secret, and since I’m the only one who can make potions anyway, there wouldn’t be a big problem in letting him know.

“…So, you’re saying you have to make potions for the Imperial army now, so you don’t have time to make other potions?”

“That’s right, isn’t it? Of course, if I deliver potions to the Imperial army and there are some left over, Lily over there can sell them for me, though.”

“Huh. Indeed, it would be stranger if the nobles didn’t use such mysterious elixirs. So, who gave you the request?”

“Knight Commander Christie?”

“Christie? The, the Ducal Daughter who’s the Defense Commander?”

“She got promoted to Knight Commander. Do you know her?”

“Hmm……that is…”

At that, Melini tried to say something… then closed her mouth.

It was clearly the action of someone hiding something, but I didn’t press further.

What was important to Melini right now was probably the ‘request’ she was facing.

The incident where the Imperial Family and nobles of the Empire used the capital’s adventurers as cannon fodder to gather information for the upcoming war with monsters.

An incident where they didn’t even touch the adventurers they sponsored and selected themselves, but used other adventurers like expendables.

At the same time…… it seemed the ‘request’ that would make Melini famous had begun.

Therefore, I decided to give her something else, when I would have normally just given her stamina potions.

“If you don’t want to talk, it’s fine. Just take this.”

“Huh? What’s this?”

“These are half-failed potions I found while cleaning up. They have effects, but they weren’t very good, so I collected them to throw away.

Still, each has the power of basic fire, lightning, or ice magic, so they should be helpful.”

“……Tsk, it feels like I’m just getting rid of your trash.”

“Give them back if you don’t want them. There are plenty of people who need them besides you……”

“Oh, who said I wouldn’t use them? Just give me the ‘stamina potions’ quickly.”

Thus, I handed over the potions, and Melini left the shop with a smile.

Now, all I had to do was wait, and she would become famous and return on her own.

……She definitely would have.

*

Branch Point!

-> Help Melini so that she can return safely!

=> Additional details will be delivered soon!

*

……What the hell is this branch point?