Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Quality Connections Trump Quantity (3)
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Wide networks are nothing compared to connections with real substance.
Suddenly, a beastkin woman showed up and requested a designated commission from Jenny.
The details were...
"Evil thing... devouring our country. Free hero, only you. Help us."
"...Save our tribe. Save our country."
An evil thing devouring their country?
Was it a demon's descent or demonic possession?
Or... something else entirely sinister...
"Free hero, are you."
Beastkin tribal nations had their own heroes and champions.
This woman... Emi of the Lion Clan was a hero herself, after all.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Emi Brave Aptitude Stats Physical Skills Integration (10 types): B Magic Skills Integration (4 types): C Hero's Quality: B *Special
Lion Clan Traits: A B-grade hero aptitude.
As a beastkin, her talents were heavily skewed toward physical skills.
Her magic skills were mostly enhancement magic, too.
Unarmed combat, superhuman strength, lightning-fast reactions...
Think of her as Scarlett's bare-handed counterpart.
Of course, that wasn't all.
Beastkin possessed unique racial traits exclusive to their kind.
And those were A-grade as well.
Things like animalistic senses or supernaturally developed physical abilities.
I'd never met a beastkin with strong traits myself, so I couldn't say what aptitude level qualified as "strong."
But those with pronounced traits could unleash "Beastification," transforming their bodies to resemble beasts and maximizing combat power.
...With A-grade aptitude, she could probably use Beastification, no doubt.
Then again, her name.
Emi Brave.
If she was Lion Clan and Brave, that made her one of the five elders ruling the tribes of Bastia—the premier beastkin nation on the Forest Continent—"Lion of Courage" Brave Tribe.
I'd read about them in a book on the history of the Southern Great Forest.
They had ruled Bastia since ancient times.
Even as the five elder tribes shifted over centuries, the Brave Tribe had steadfastly held their position for hundreds of years—a remarkable lineage.
Rumor had it they produced quite a few with hero aptitude, true to their name.
Anyway.
Why had she come all this way to beg for help?
Simple: some colossal disaster had struck that her nation's heroes and forces couldn't handle.
So, they sought aid from foreign lands.
But... given the Forest Continent's non-human races, they probably hadn't gotten much help.
Parochial and insular elves, selfish and calculating dwarves, and dragons that invaded rather than rescued.
She'd ventured to the continent anyway.
But humans were even more clannish than elves, greedier than dwarves, and more aggressively expansionist than dragons.
They wouldn't lift a finger without profit in it.
"...Free hero, only you."
That meant she'd met heroes from many nations, only to be turned away by their rulers.
The beastkin nations of the Southern Forest Continent.
Rich in resources, land, and manpower.
Every country coveted them, yet none stepped up.
Was it that dangerous?
Or no national gain in it?
I could guess.
If it were demons, nations would jump in eagerly, solve it, and make demands of Bastia.
If not...
"An internal issue."
An internal problem in Bastia or the Forest Continent.
Touching it risked diplomatic fallout or brutal retaliation.
That narrowed the suspects.
Elves? Nah, relations were already poison—no diplomatic qualms there.
If elves were involved, nations would salivate at the chance to hunt them and sell them as slaves on the sly.
Dwarves? Possible.
They sold weapons and gear to the human continent.
States hated losing access to their superior equipment over diplomacy.
But dwarves lacked the military might to deter Bastia from seeking outside help.
...And it didn't fit Emi's "evil thing" description.
Eliminate the minor races.
One left.
"...Dragons."
Yeah, fear of retaliation would keep everyone out.
A single dragon rivaled a mid-tier demon; hordes of them, with the Dragon Lord matching upper-tier demons.
Militarily, they were the strongest force across both continents combined.
Worse, they struck unpredictably.
No distinction between demons, humans, or demi-humans.
If you displeased them, annihilation; if you amused them, they'd claim you; otherwise, ignored.
If Bastia had irked the dragons...
Well, best to hear the details from her first.
Right now, Emi was talking with Jenny in the reception room.
Jenny would decide on the commission after hearing her out.
...Please let it not be too dangerous.
Selfish hope, I know.
"Instructor Kane?"
"Yes?"
Suddenly, someone called my name.
One of the guild staff.
"What is it?"
Oh, maybe the new class schedule?
Come to think of it, today...
"...Th-that person is looking for you, Instructor Kane."
The staffer pointed to one side.
There stood...
"...?"
A middle-aged man in a crisp suit, his dark blue hair slicked back.
He looked familiar.
Who was he?
"You're looking for me."
I approached and spoke.
What did he want?
Looked like a big shot—here for a commission?
But I'm an instructor, not an adventurer...
"Kane, instructor at the Hassler Guild Branch. Correct?"
"Yes, that's me."
The man stood ramrod straight, eyeing me.
"I bring a message from His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
"...Pardon?"
His Majesty the Emperor...? Out of nowhere?
#
I'd figured the Empire might send someone.
Mersen had messaged that things went smoothly thanks to His Majesty.
But I never expected the Emperor to dispatch a direct subordinate just to relay a message...
Right, I remembered now.
This man was the Emperor's personal butler, who visited the Harkur Marquisate often.
What he wanted was obvious.
Confirm my proposals in writing, bind us with a contract.
Verbal promises could be broken by either side.
But shouldn't he talk to Jenny for that?
"Shall I fetch Miss Jenny? She's in a meeting about a designated commission right now, but..."
I started to rise.
"His Imperial Majesty commanded me to deliver the message to you, 'Kane.'"
"...?"
His Majesty, to me?
"His Imperial Majesty deems you the core of the Hassler Branch."
...What?
The branch's top dog was Terry, the branch chief, no question.
If not by rank, then Scarlett was steering it now.
By raw power, Jenny.
Me? Just friends with them.
Not influential enough to be the "center."
"No, I'm not..."
"On that judgment, he makes his proposal to you."
I didn't know what the Emperor was thinking calling me the center, and tried to object.
But the imperial butler pressed on without pause.
"The Hassler Branch's role will prove vital both within the Empire and beyond. We shall guarantee your freedom of action and provide full support."
Those terms were tempting.
Freedom guaranteed.
What Jenny needed most right now.
With the Emperor's word, no backing out.
Plus full imperial backing.
A huge win.
From Jenny becoming an adventurer to imperial support washing the guild's reputation clean.
Once Hassler's feats spread, major commissions would flood in.
Improving adventurers' image overall while opening broader stages for them.
...Yes, a very appealing offer.
But nothing's free.
"In exchange."
The price would match.
What did they want?
Become the imperial family's loyal hound?
Or purge nobles?
"Maintain friendly relations with me, the current Emperor. That is His Majesty's proposal."
"...?"
That's it?
Friendly relations with the Emperor.
No subordination, no contract.
Just friendly ties.
All that for this?
"......"
Actually, pretty persuasive on reflection.
Subordination would spark backlash at Hassler.
Freedom's the adventurer allure.
And "friendly" ties lean on human emotion over rigid contracts.
Often stronger chains than paper.
Got it.
The Emperor wanted not a subordinate or mercenary.
A true "ally."
Like he kept former Marquis Harkur as a close friend.
He wanted the Hassler Branch—precisely Jenny Harkur—as a friend.
Made sense.
And not bad for us.
Friendly relations preserved freedoms on both sides.
...Wait, why am I even pondering this?
I'm not Hassler's rep!
"Thank you for the proposal. It's too big for me alone, so I'll discuss with the branch members and decide."
At minimum, Branch Chief Terry, and those directly involved: Jenny, Lin, Scarlett.
Get their input.
"...Understood. Decide swiftly. His Majesty awaits."
"Yes, of course."
Oof, keeping royalty waiting.
Heavy pressure.
I'm just an instructor.
Why do these burdens keep landing on me?