Chapter 10: A Seeker’s Fruit of Labor
TL: Pinky
EN Edit: Anirhapsodist
With Louisa guiding the way, we passed through a hall from the guild counter into a private room.
These rooms are being used for deliberations. They may vary in capacity and this depends on the size of the party. I was led in a small room. It had a square table and four chairs. I was asked to take a seat and as I looked around, I found a contraption similar to a weighing scale where they probably place their gathered materials.
(Will it be okay to show the Redface so suddenly? It might provide a good impression but I just stuck it in the knapsack and I’m quite worried about its present state.)
Well, it can’t be helped. I was just told that I could carry this bag around but I don’t have the slightest idea of what it can do. After being seated for a while, Louisa knocked at the door then entered carrying a tray with a glass of tea.
Please take this glass of tea. Its herbal tea. Do you find it to your liking?
“Ah, it’s okay. I don’t have any particular preferences in teas. So, thank you!”
I preferred to have some soda water to drink though. It differs from coffee and drinking a lot does not affect the liver. It keeps me awake during overtime… and even just for a short period of time, it lets me forget about being a corporate slave.
The herb tea had this refreshing aroma and it was moderately cold. I have thought that they could only serve lukewarm drinks with this level of civilization but the herbal tea was moderately cold and gave off a refreshing aroma. It impressed me quite a bit.
“Shall we get started then? Firstly, please check your license logs.”
“Yes, today, there were all sorts of things, something like this…” (Shows logs)
At first, I eagerly awaited her feedback, but soon enough I began to get nervous. Human nature. Everyone gets nervous each time they are evaluated.
Louisa inspects at the license page I presented, then covers her mouth with one hand. Maybe she wanted to suppress her voice to avoid speaking loudly.
“…Ahem, ahem…”
“Is everything okay?” (Anxious)
“P-Please, there’s no need to worry. But 280? How did you get such a number? Hey, did you really defeat a prized demon!?” Her cheeks turn red as she looked my way with sparkling eyes. She behaved more like a lover rather than being an official staff for the guild.
“This is way too awesome, Atobe! The highest experience I had back when I was active was 105, and my level rose to 2 after a month of becoming a seeker.”
“Really? Then it was all thanks to defeating that Redface.”
“Well I think so, too. The experience you receive from a prized demon would be far greater than their regular sub-species. If I am not mistaken, you will need to hunt around 50 watadamas to move up from Level 1 to Level 2.”
So in other words, the experience value of the Redface is roughly 50 times greater than that of a watadama? Seems reasonable enough. It even has the ability annihilate a Level 3 party.
“O-Okay then… Can you please place a piece of evidence or material that you have obtained from the Redface on that platform?”
“Of course. I brought it as it is and it’s inside this leather knapsack. Is it okay to take it out like this?”
“Yes it’s fine. I’ve been a guild officer for around five years now and I have seen a fair share of demons.”
I jammed my hand inside the bag, reached for the Redface, then put it atop the scale-like platform. It felt gross. Once I get the bounty, I’m definitely purchasing some gloves and equip them.
“It’s this guy… Uwah… Why… What’s wrong, Louisa?”
“I really defeated it you know? Ah, I was on a party with someone who was capable. So don’t misunderstand.”
Louisa was clearly on a daze as she placed her hand over her blushing cheeks. It’s quite obvious she’s astonished.
“Uhm… Well… as you can see in the logs, we defeated it, the three of us. Me, the mercenary Theresa, and Kyouka the lady who has been transported here moments ago.”
“No. It might be rude of me to say this, but a Level 3 Rogue and a Level 1 Valkyrie would not be able to contribute anything to battle the Radface. Everything is because of the power of Atobe’s odd job! Amazing…… It’s really amazing!”
“…Louisa, I’m just a novice seeker. I could be mistaken as someone with great achievement. But I’m definite aiming to…”
It won’t be a bad thing to promote myself. In fact I should welcome such an opportunity. However, I might come to regret it if I would be subjected to some kind of ambush recruitment.
“Well… I… I’m sorry, I can’t help but admire you. This is my first having an exceptional seeker under my guidance. Congratulations! I can’t dispute anything. With an experience of 280 points, this places you at the top of reincarnators who went in a one-time adventure.”
Top? I haven’t heard that for the longest time but it sure has quite a good ring to it but even so, I have to be aware of my own limitations and it’s not going to help if I grow overconfident. Moreover, it’ll be troubling once the news beaks out so I need somebody to discuss this matter.
“Ah… Louisa, can I ask you a favor please?”
“Yes. What is it? Should I gather some people to celebrate?”
“I do appreciate that thought but please don’t let this be known to everybody just yet. The Redface is a demon targeted by other parties as well. However, we just subjugated it. It is an opponent that we supposedly cannot win against given our current levels.”
Louisa was eager to what I was trying to convey. As she undid her green braided hair and listened sternly, she did so while wearing a serious look on face.
“Yes, you’re right. If Atobe’s real abilities got spread around, it would surely attract people who would want to use you to their advantage. As your officer-in-charge, I prefer you freely explore labyrinths lest you get tied down by others because of your expertise.”
“Thanks Louisa, I’m glad for your assistance.”
“No worries. It’s natural to respect the decision of the guys who were able to carry out the hunt. So, we will not reveal their identities this time. Sooner or later, we will post a memo on the notice boards that the Redface had been subjugated.”
Just like that, all concerns seems to have disappeared and it felt that it took the weight off my shoulders. It’s nice to have the guild’s flexibility regarding this issue.
“Encountering the Redface has made it impossible for other seekers to return unharmed, therefore, a bounty was raised. However, there is not that much it amounts to since it is only a one-star demon. We will hand a reward of twenty gold coins.”
“Twenty gold coins? How much would that be worth?”
“Copper, Silver, Gold; by following the order, silver and gold coins valuate ten-folds. One gold coin is equivalent to ten silver coins, so twenty gold coins should be equivalent to two-thousand copper coins. By the by, lunch at the eighth district can be bought with three copper coins.”
That instantly earned me around two years’ worth of lunch money and our engagement was just a little over an hour. I wonder if I was overcompensated. High-quality arms should be expensive though and I think that this amount won’t suffice.
“How do you wish to receive your compensation? Shall we wire it to your account or hand it over to you personally?”
“Can I have a hundred copper coins and the rest for transfer?”
“Certainly. Since you have already brought us sufficient evidence for subjugating the Redface, we will leave it up to Atobe on what to do with the materials. The guild can purchase them but it would be way cheaper than bringing it to the saboteurs shop.”
“Shall I have the materials then? By the way… Once I put that in this knapsack, will it expire if I don’t deliver it to the saboteurs shop immediately?”
“No, that type of bag should not allow the materials to degrade for at least a day. There are many types of storages such as backpacks. The more efficient the storage, the larger will be its holding capacity and goods retention period.”
My necessities would surely increase as time pass by and I need a better storage to put those in order. If it’s okay for at least a day, then it should be fine to take it to the saboteurs shop tomorrow before heading out for exploration.
Also, there are two things I still need to ask - Synergy and Ranking of which is promoted through experience earned.
“Louisa, “Synergy” is displayed here but…”
“In the guild, we also evaluate whether or not a seeker has smooth interpersonal relationships and they are recorded as part of experience. Once you do an exploration, your experience should rise even if you don’t participate in the battle that much.“[1]
Louisa didn’t check the figures well, so she runs through it only to be astounded once more.
“F… Fifty? How in the world were you able to get this intimate within a very limited time? In addition to that, you can’t increase synergy with mercenaries.” With a riddled expression, she slowly raises her reddened face.
“Oh, you mean that fifty? Is it an indication that synergy has increased?
“N..No. Synergy cannot be quantified in figures from the outset and the license is evaluated using the current status of the person who belongs to that party. Its evaluation is only presented as an estimate and is carried over to experience. The increase should only amount to five or lesser if it’s not for longer periods of time.”
So it wasn’t just my imagination that there was unusual shift in Theresa’s behavior. Just as what Leila has explained, our relationship was getting better but it should normally be impossible.
(Rearguards need to establish a good relationship with their Vanguard and Middle-guard to properly demonstrate their skills… Is there a need to support everyone to expect a desirable result? That’s tricky.)[2]
“Let me do an immersion with you for once, too. The mystery keeps increasing the more I get to know Atobe.” Louisa smiles as she hoists her monocle.
Well if she accompanies me, I would surely use “Support Defense” unsparingly to deepen our bond as a party. I shouldn’t frequent the use of it though and abuse its accompanying supportive effect.
“Atobe? How did you pull that off? There seems to be something with that delighted face.”
“Oh, nothing, I don’t understand it well yet, so don’t worry too much about synergy. Finally, about ranking… and is it possible for me to sleep somewhere pleasant since I’m avoiding the stables and dungeons? [3]
“Yes, certainly, the overall rank of Atobe is 137529 and 1124 in the eight district. Since the number of seekers in the eighth district is about 3000, you are above half of their rankings. A suite room should be provided at an inn within the eighth district. I will show you to an empty room later.”
(“Suite, I’m imagining of a large hotel room but what would it look like in this world?”)
“Ah… speaking of which… about Kyouka Igarashi who was brought to the healers. Atobe fought with her, right?”
“Yes, although it was only by a mere coincidence….”
“I’m sorry but at the moment she will not receive any experience having fallen to the Redface in battle and at the same time, because she was rescued. After discharge, she will be staying at a stable to take her rest.”
(Section chief Igarashi on the stables?)
“Would it be in my business to inform her?”
“Well, I’m sorry but her officer-in-charge is rather new and still can’t handle well the situation. I have been tasked to continue the job to persuading her.”
It will be difficult to tell a woman with high-pride to sleep in a stable.
(TL: Pride was in English. プライドの高い女)
Although it is possible to switch with my room, I wish to enjoy my accommodations.
“Atobe, you seem to be worried about her. I understand how you feel.” Louisa said while I kept on pondering.
“Oh no… what I’m worried about is this feeling of uneasiness.”
“Well, since there are two beds in a suite and you’re pretty much worried about her recuperation, how about staying together? Atobe is a gentleman so I think that there would be no issues, right?”
Louisa previously offered me accommodations given that my rank was too low but why would she not apply that offer to the section chief? As much as I would want the section chief to make a full recovery. I feel like I do not have that courage to tell her to stay in my suite.
Raw source:
TL Notes:
This is more like an HR evaluation criterion. Interpersonal relationship has a direct effect on the organization culture. Misunderstandings and confusions lead to negativity at the workplace. Conflicts lead you nowhere and in turn spoil the work environment.Arihito at this point is still fixated with his previous working environment. He’s constantly comparing a seeker’s job that to of an office worker. And yes, in a working environment, you cannot please everybody so don’t expect a positive feedback from all of your colleagues.
Previous dialogue about bottom rankers sleeping on stables. Refer to Chapter 3.