Chapter 259: Good to See You
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 259: Good to See You
“Aven!”
“Hmm? Dora, what’s up?”
“Are you going to Veritas?! When?!”
I was scouting around the boundary line to see how the Southeast was faring when Theodora came rushing out of nowhere and blocked my path. Yura, who had been riding on my shoulders, waved her hands excitedly, only for Theodora to promptly snatch her away.
“There’s a good girl. Come to your auntie~”
“Okay.”
“I am going to Veritas, but… maybe the day after tomorrow?”
Suddenly deprived of my daughter, I wryly rubbed the back of my neck, which now felt strangely light, as I answered Theodora’s question. Based on the date, it would likely be the day after tomorrow. I wondered where she’d heard the news; her information was certainly fast.
“That’s perfect. I’m going to Veritas the day after tomorrow, too.”
“On business? Or something else?”
“A social gathering. The late-summer gala is being held. It opens at the end of August, which is three days from now.”
“I see. We can go together then. The Guild said they’d send a carriage, but should I tell them not to bother?”
I didn’t think the Guild would send a particularly shabby carriage, but the Lymain family’s carriages were on a completely different level of comfort. Within Calax, I didn’t mind flying to the gateway, but apparently, flight was prohibited in Veritas without a permit.
Since it was a place where many high-ranking officials resided, I assumed it was a security measure.
“Do you have a way to contact the headquarters?”
“Not really. I’ll just ignore them if they show up.”
“You can just contact the Calax Explorer’s Guild.”
I hadn’t thought of that. Regardless, I had a schedule to keep after receiving a summons—or rather, a request—from the headquarters. And since Theodora had this social gathering she’d often mentioned, it seemed we both needed to be in Veritas.
“Is that gala always held in Veritas?”
“Most of the time, yeah. It’s not just people related to explorers; influential figures from various industries gather there. Labyrinth cities are dangerous, after all.”
I didn’t know if it was because I was from a labyrinth city myself, but I’d never really thought of them as particularly dangerous. The recent incident was… well, a special case.
“Right, that works out. We can go together.”
“Are you really going?”
“We’re heading the same way, so why not?”
“No, no. I mean the social gathering. You’ll go with me, right?”
“The social gathering? Me?”
As Theodora said, wasn’t that a place where influential people from various fields gathered to laugh, chat, and network?
Hmm, would it be okay for me to go?
I didn’t have much interest in it, but apparently, if you lined up all the explorers, I was now considered to be within the top ten. Even hearing that, it still felt surreal—like, Am I really at that level already?
“You’re my husband, for heaven’s sake. What on earth are you thinking?”
“Ah, right. I forgot.”
As I pondered for a moment, it seemed Theodora had read my thoughts through her pheromones. In any case, I had business at the Guild Headquarters in two days, and Theodora had her social gathering in Veritas the day after that.
Being Theodora’s husband was enough to grant me entry. That was one thing, but I had absolutely no idea how these social gatherings actually functioned.
“Alright, I get it. I’ll contact the Guild today and tell them not to send a carriage.”
“Yeah, do that. I’ll come pick you up when it’s time, so don’t go anywhere the day after tomorrow. Stay glued to the inn, okay?”
“Haha, alright.”
* * *
Recently, the floating population of explorers in Calax had increased significantly. It wasn’t that the explorers who originally used this place as a base had returned; rather, a massive influx of outside explorers, who had previously only known the city by name, had arrived.
If I had to give a reason, it was because Calax had become famous for being famous.
Even people who didn’t know that a criminal organization called the Antonio Brotherhood had existed would think something good had happened upon hearing that "a massive criminal organization in Calax has fallen."
With a bit more information gathering, word was spreading that a multitude of malicious criminal explorers who had been stationed in the early strata had been captured. Thanks to that, many lower-grade explorers—Gold Grade and below—were flocking in, and the influx via land routes was steady.
It’s lively.
Furthermore, the Southeast, which had suddenly become filled with vacant lots, was now seeing mid-sized merchants who couldn't afford land elsewhere and small clans from other labyrinth cities pouring in. They were spending the money they’d saved to erect their own buildings.
As the saying goes, if you’re going to be a servant, be one at a high official’s house. Apparently, it was much better to run a small clan in one of the three Great Labyrinths that were considered impossible to fully conquer than to pay exorbitant land prices in an obscure labyrinth city.
Besides, there was plenty of land here to build clan headquarters.
Thanks to this, the newly reorganized Southeast Explorer’s Guild was working itself to the bone processing certification applications for the new clans.
Those who weren't part of that crowd naturally gravitated toward the Southwest, where the infrastructure was already fully established.
“You look tired, Dahlia.”
“Ah, Aven… Welcome. The number of new explorers has increased so much lately…”
“You should take it easy. You’re not the rookie anymore.”
Dahlia had now become a mentor, and several new guild administrators had been hired. Originally, the Southwest branch struggled because there were no new applicants, but the situation had changed.
After being treated as an insignificant guild that only dealt with low-grade explorers, they had successfully resolved a major incident. As a result, the Southwest branch was flooded with employment requests from the administrator training academy under the Guild Headquarters in the Roanmarie and Wispales regions.
“I just have something quick to say. Regarding the summons from the Guild Headquarters—could you let them know that I’ll be heading to Veritas myself, so I won’t need a carriage?”
“Ah, I see… Katrina-senpai…?”
“Yeah. I heard.”
I even saw Katrina, whom I’d never seen so intensely focused before. She was processing paperwork so fast her hands were a blur, but her eyes were vacant. I thought about stopping by to see Sir Dexter, but it didn’t seem necessary.
Seeing so many people was a pleasant sight, so I sat down for a while and watched the new explorers coming and going. It gave me a bit of a lump in my throat.
That guy’s gear looks cool.
There was an explorer wearing a helmet with horns, and an elven archer with long ears. Is that… a dwarf? His nose is bright red; he’s completely wasted. And strangely, a young woman who looked like a priestess was in the same party. What an odd combination.
—Clink.
I didn’t usually drink, but sitting at a lobby table with nothing in front of me made me look like a weirdo, so I ordered a beer.
Lately, I’d been playing with Yura all day or listening to Sera in the afternoons. I’d had so much to do at the Lymain estate that I hadn’t had time to just relax like this.
Wait, is this that ‘married man’ thing?
For some reason, I thought of married men who go into the bathroom and don’t come out for a long time… Could it be that I was already tired of childcare and craving a break?
“Tsk, no way.”
* * *
“I don’t know how long it’ll take, but you have to be done by 8:00 PM tonight. Got it?”
“I’m not sure if it’s up to me, but I’ll try. If it looks like it’s going to run late, I’ll just walk out.”
“I-I don’t think you need to go that far…”
Two days later. Upon arriving in Veritas, I said my goodbyes to Theodora. I took a carriage prepared by the Lymain family to the main road right in front of the Guild Headquarters, where I was supposed to meet someone.
“Ah, Mr. Stark.”
“We meet again, Mr. Aven.”
“Indeed. Here I am again.”
It was Stark Etherhex, the man who had guided me the last time I visited the Guild Headquarters. It seemed he was in charge of guiding me again today. The current time was 1:00 PM; today, there was no need to eat or wait for a meeting time.
Unlike last time, when I was just one of many summoned, I was the only one called today. The moment I entered the Guild Headquarters, everything would proceed smoothly.
“So, what business did you summon me for today?”
“First, there will be some inquiries regarding the recent Antonio Brotherhood incident. Of course… it’s not that you’ve done anything wrong or that you hold any liability for damages, Mr. Aven.”
“I see. You just want to hear the story.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
It seemed Murit Denshter, the Orichalcum-grade explorer from the Guild Headquarters, had directly reported news of me. Since he was also part of the headquarters, he likely held a position similar to a direct corporate team for the Calax branch officials.
If they asked what on earth happened in the Southeast, my name was bound to come up.
“And the other matter… we will be confirming a few things regarding your explorer grade, Mr. Aven.”
“Are you giving me a promotion?”
“Yes. Normally, a standard promotion can be handled at the branch guild level, but…”
Stark Etherhex trailed off as if contemplating for a moment, then lowered his voice and leaned in closer.
“Internally, there is a discussion regarding whether it is appropriate to elevate you, Mr. Aven, to the new Orichalcum Grade.”
“Is that so?”
It wasn't exactly a joke, but I hadn't expected the Guild Headquarters to be discussing it so quickly. Normally, an explorer's grade is determined by their achievements inside the labyrinth. Aside from opening a labyrinth, taking down a strong foe on the surface doesn't usually count for much.
Most of the evaluation was that my "combat power is at the Orichalcum level," but I didn't think there was public sentiment that I should actually be promoted to Orichalcum.
“Did you hear something from the headquarters?”
“It seems there was a recommendation from Sir Denshter.”
“Ah, that archer who came by back then?”
He arrived toward the end of the incident, but I heard he was a big help in mopping up the remnants of the forces in the Southeast for about two days. I thought he seemed like a decent guy.
But Lilith was already dead by the time he arrived.
“Sir Denshter possesses a skill called ‘Yeoksi.’”
“Yeoksi? That’s a funny name. Like, ‘As expected of Denshter’?”
“It is ‘Yeoksi’ (歷視), meaning ‘Eyes that See the Past.’ Apparently, he can investigate the traces of a space to determine what happened there.”
“Aha.”
Then that meant he must have seen me fighting Lilith Astaroth.
“We have arrived, Mr. Aven.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you for your hard work.”
Before me was a large, heavily guarded door. This was Room 1 of the Grand Conference Rooms located on the 9th floor of the Guild Headquarters building. Stark seemed to hesitate for a moment before opening the door, then leaned in and whispered.
“The people currently attending the meeting are… three Chief Examiners from the Guild Headquarters. Also, Sir Skaeda Justitia, an Orichalcum-grade explorer from Roanmarie; Sir Murit Denshter, also an Orichalcum-grade explorer from the Guild Headquarters; and… Sir Adelaide Margarita.”
“Three Orichalcum-grade explorers?”
“…Yes. I’m telling you this just in case, but please, I ask for your cooperation.”
“I understand. Don’t worry.”
It’s not like I’m going in there to fight.
—Creeeeak…
The massive wooden doors of the conference room, which must have been at least four meters tall, swung open, revealing the interior. From here, someone other than Stark approached, greeted me politely, and began to guide me.
“We would appreciate it if you could take a seat here.”
Those three old men must be the Chief Examiners. And that woman I’ve never seen before must be Skaeda Justitia.
Then there was Murit Denshter with his familiar dark green hair, and…
“We meet again?”
“…Please, take your seat.”
Sitting there with an incredibly stern, solemn, and serious expression was the female swordsman with tied-back orange hair. Adelaide Margarita.
It was good to see her after all this time.