Ross Laurel's Suspicions and the Dwarf Family Farm
C-grade party Chicken Fry Party. "Didn't even take a day? Hmm... Maybe it was easy because they had a B-grade priest?"
"Well, they captured it alive without a single scratch and brought it back. The Alchemy Guild bought it for a high price."
"...How?"
"They... tied it up with something like tree roots, and it was strangely docile. Thanks to that, the Alchemy Guild plans to raise it and make insect repellent from it."
Ross Laurel, one of the three guild masters of Laurel Guild. As an elf, she'd been super tense about meeting humans. The guild master had even asked her to take good care of them, so she'd tried to make a good impression... but she couldn't shake her haughty tone meant to seem strong, ruining the first meeting in multiple ways and stressing her out.
Still, determined to show a better side, Ross Laurel had provided [equipment] at a loss. The money for that gear came straight from her own pocket. The guild's funds were already allocated, so usable amounts were limited. Even that was meant as a reserve for guild members' issues or damages, so she'd invested her personal savings into supporting a C-grade party... and now her wallet was light from the spending.
Buying gear tailored to headcount and races had turned her into an order maid, with expenses ballooning beyond expectations.
"...And they didn't even use the equipment I gave them?"
"Exactly."
The problem was, that gear came back pristine, like new, without a single use. Did that mean my goodwill wasn't needed? Was it because the first meeting soured things? But returning it unused was basically the same as sending a silent message: We don't need your help.
Laurel Guild was one of the four major guilds in the Trust Union, so they should be trying to impress to catch our eye—yet they had the guts to act bold.
The guild master must be close to them, so no need to suck up...! Jealous of that human, she gnawed her thumbnail.
At least they'd taken the monster manual and map, so maybe they just returned what they wouldn't use and left the rest for the guild.
No one in the party was hurt, and they'd captured the notoriously tricky Stuffer Ball alive without a scratch—even with a B-grade priest, that was impressive. As the guild master said, their skills were guaranteed.
Just how did they do it?
How do you catch a rampaging, beast-like carnivorous plant...? No matter how she pondered, the only image was that human, exuding a pleasant fragrance like he'd doused himself in perfume.
Next time they met, she'd have to ask what cologne he used to smell so good.
The party's growth is unusually rapid.
With the guild master's recommendation, she'd gotten related materials from the Adventurer's Union considering their potential, despite being C-grade. After such a display, maintaining close ties—maybe recruiting to the guild or forming a partnership—seemed wise. Their rank was low, so build relations step by step. Checking their growth trend, the spike was bigger than expected.
...This is too weird?
Stats jumped like they were fed expensive elixirs daily. From 30 to 150—that's at least fivefold. Could a human grow that fast in a year? Plus, they had a record of hunting a griffon. And the youngest Feridae girl in the party, just 10 years old, had C-grade strength.
By raw stats alone, she outdid the Canidie boy her age—who was in the same party as the human leader.
The party's balance looks solid...
A full B-grade priest, no less—a Dullahan from the All Gods Temple. How'd they recruit and keep her? Noksu, the receptionist since the Union's founding, was handling that part already, making the party suspicious as hell.
Was the guild master personally supplying elixirs to raise them? With recent anomalies, maybe prepping for threats...
Should we offer some support too...?
The gear was fine, and they even had a proper base. Rare for C-grade to be this financially solid. They'd had a base since F-rank... Probably the dwarf woman dumping her life savings.
Even so, after taxes and upkeep, they bought potions, gear, and memorized spellbook pages in bulk daily. Insane wealth.
How do they make money?
They picked quests for quick rank-ups, with achievements stacked on high-end monsters like griffons, giant murderous slugs, black puddings. Imbalanced as hell. Even those shouldn't leave spare cash... They sold fried chicken and booze on off-days, but no records of buying cooking ingredients.
Secret merchant in the party? Aside from top-grade potions as apology for the Default Kingdom terror incident, no elixir purchases.
If not for the guild master, I'd raid and search them—super suspicious.
With [Maou Candidates] popping up... Maybe one in this party? Explains the growth speed. If the guild master hinted at it for me to notice...?
She'd ordered guild members to investigate discreetly. If nothing, great. Play nice on the surface to build favor.
"...So, they're C-grade now?"
This party was subtly lazy as hell. As mentioned, one Levitfoot girl never took quests. Queen bee type? The Dullahan priest's first joint quest despite being in the party. Before, she'd just toured inns. Most picked easy, quick quests—low pay, low XP, yet insane growth.
They all promoted to C simultaneously, then immediately applied for C-grade party promotion quest.
So, what's their next target? First quest for a freshly promoted C-grade party...?
"Going home to help with farm work."
"What the hell kind of party is this!!"
Fine, whatever. Human with divine blessings making elixirs, fried chicken, and booze sprout from his body? Adventurer skills are secret, so Union wouldn't share. They even sold glow-in-the-dark dinosaur toys—summoned from his body? What do you even call that? Not Maou, elf-made human chimera?
"Guild members asked around—says fried chicken, water, and booze come from his hands."
"For real?! What the hell!!!"
"Jealous?"
"Not jealous!! Of that skill!! What even is it?!"
"He summons chamber pots too."
"Don't give me a headache—get out──!!!"
Ross Laurel slumped over the table, groaning. How do you deal with beings ignoring common sense...? Academy never taught that.
She'd become Laurel Guild master, her dream—why this trial?
"I won't forgive you, Radamu Dice...!"
But she couldn't vent on the innocent guy.
★
"Phew..."
While Ross Laurel steeled herself to uncover this suspicious bastard's identity!
Radamu was sweating, plowing the fields. Holding a hoe, he gazed at the endless horizon, tilling again. While the tractor handled main fields, he hoed spots it couldn't reach. Unknown seeds were sown in lines by Hyacinth and Leona, then covered with soil.
"Aigoo, our Larirarion brought home a husband?"
"Yeah, Dad. This is my husband. Human."
"If you got scammed, speak up quick. You know our girl's a 28-year-old old dwarf, right?"
"Drop dead, Dad."
Larirure Larirarion smacking her father's head with her shovel. He'd run in slippers, hugged her welcome... but human husband? Kidnapping? Blackmail? Or got him drunk and jumped him? Zero trust in his daughter, urging her to confess.
"He accepted Dragon's Crimson Jade too!"
"Did you hit him with the shovel?"
"Mom!!!"
"Aigoo, Dad's right. What'd our girl do?"
"Heavens, real Dragon's Crimson Jade. Young dwarves kick these around in this village—what's so good he marries you?"
Why were both mothers siding against Larirure? Tall, handsome—didn't matter, just thank you for marrying, taking our girl. Father wept snot and tears, begging not to dump her even drunk-raging, clinging to my leg! First meeting!
"Ahem, father-in-law, mothers-in-law. I formally request permission to marry your daughter──"
"Take her! Fields, all assets—yours!"
Father-in-law begged to take her, kowtowing.
"What hooked you about our girl?"
"Her face?"
"Heavens... young man, how..."
"Do humans' junk differ from dwarves'?"
Mothers happy for son-in-law but worried divine punishment. Fed up, furious Larirure swung her shovel, yelling if parents distrust their daughter. Mothers grabbed tools, beating her. I left them, gave high-grade booze as gift to parents.
"Need hands in spring, but hire adventurers."
"Can you quest for this?"
"Of course! Broke adventurers welcome—food, bed, pay. Now mostly machines anyway."
Explains diverse races in fields—all hired adventurers. Dwarves bustled serving meals. Whole village farmers? Fields everywhere. Fantasy only in races—pure countryside. Excited dogs flew at strangers.
"Larirure's a dutiful daughter."
"Huh? Isn't that normal...?"
"Yeah, yeah. Helps daily despite hassle. Sister's boy-crazed, tsk tsk."
"Sister too?"
"Kicked off my registry."
Still on family register, apparently. Village chief's son-obsessed, skips farm for dating, spends money—spoiled. 12 years younger, pampered rotten. Father yelled she handles herself. Finally daughter brought husband material—retire, farm with us, he urged Larirure.
"Uh... I'll tell when I can, Dad, Moms. Still adventuring. Made C-grade party?"
"Aigoo, wench. 30 and popping kids? How long must I endure?"
"Argh, real circumstances! Please!"
Father-daughter vibes universal. Leona as adopted got all grandma love—skinny child, force-fed rice piles. Grandmas worldwide same. Hyacinth missed mom, sniffling.
"Don't wanna see parents, bro?"
"Never had 'em."
"Sorry."
"Hatched from egg—don't know parental love."
"Looks fun though."
Planned day off at Larirure's home. Wedding when—or already? Miss chance! Endless nagging; she'd have yelled "home now!" otherwise.
Gave pocket money, wanted sis meet... but "She'd beg hand-me-downs or take you too! Lazy slattern!"—pushed out.
"Wow, total trash. Tell her get a number ticket."
Always bickering but clicked lately—Po'runga and Larirure.
After quick [Return], now C-grade—what quest? Farm less important than hero signing (7th loop), Noksu brought letter.
"A letter from the All Gods Temple, everyone."
""""".....?"""""
"The Saintess summons Radamu."
The Saintess has summoned Lord Radamu.
"Ah... head dunked in water..."
Mortis pale, muttering Dullahan doom—too lax! Panicked packing. Postponed, postponed—5 months late, schedule hit again. Next stop: failed All Gods Temple.