Chapter 203
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: A Noble in a Humble Place -2-
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The human heart is invisible by nature, while the wealth gap glares openly for all to see.
From imperial citizens sitting in restaurants, savoring warm, greasy meals, to the pitiful souls in back alleys fighting over a single crust of hard bread and spilling blood.
The world always reveals its dual nature.
Even in that very moment when, in the Fog Nest, they clash with swords and magic to prove and defend their values and beliefs.
It's no wonder at all that someone else spends their days laughing ha ha ho ho.
Atara held hands with Shuel and leisurely strolled toward the guild, enjoying the walk.
With armored Mazella following behind the harmonious pair, the sight drew plenty of eyes.
"Have you ever been to the Adventurer's Guild, Lady Atara?"
Shuel, aware they were out on personal business rather than church affairs, called the saintess by name just in case.
"Embarrassingly enough, I don't recall ever visiting the capital branch."
She remembered stopping by branches in small territories or villages lacking manpower during her pilgrimages where the church was shorthanded, but the capital held no particular need for her.
Even if there were injuries, the capital branch had plenty of church members who doubled as adventurers, making it rare to borrow outside help.
They wouldn't seek the saintess for problems in the first place.
"Then let me guide you!"
Was it her adventurer background, even after retiring?
Atara and Mazella followed with faint smiles as Shuel thumped her chest—thump!—snorted proudly, and took the lead.
From the saintess's memories of her pilgrimages.
Even in fairly large territories, gold-rank adventurers were rare treasures, with sapphire ranks appearing only sporadically.
The capital's Adventurer's Guild branch was the home of even those platinum ranks who outshone such sapphires—the true cradle of adventurers.
'I wonder what it's like?'
In Atara's memory, a platinum adventurer vividly stood alone against a demon.
The notion that this was where such figures were forged made the Adventurer's Guild capital branch feel like a sacred ground producing unparalleled adventurers.
"Here it is!"
"Thanks to you, Shuel, we made it properly. Thank you."
She knew the location, but Atara's face kept breaking into smiles at Shuel's confident guidance.
Unlike the pair.
Mazella wrinkled her nose at the musty odor wafting through the door.
Shuel, who had helped with nursing and cleaning at bedsides, was one thing.
But even the saintess paid it no mind.
In Mazella's mind, a capital branch of the Adventurer's Guild should have a clean, fragrant air about it, yet the reality already felt worlds apart.
'Adventurer branches are all the same, no matter where...'
The nose-tickling smell resembled tobacco smoke or perhaps oil.
Too many scents mingled to pin it down to one.
"Lady Atara, in case there are people who might recognize your face and cause a stir, I'll go ahead and speak with the guild staff first to prevent any commotion."
A familiar procedure she'd done often.
Atara nodded with a smile at Mazella, who used her name rather than title.
"Sure! Shuel and I will wait here."
Preventing disturbances for safety's sake was unavoidable.
With Atara's permission, Mazella flung open the guild doors and stepped inside.
"I'll be right back. Please stay where I can see you."
...
The receptionist, confirming Atara's identity through Mazella, rose from her seat with a polite demeanor.
Respecting the church's desire not to publicize her status and draw attention, she made no fuss.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild capital branch. I'm the receptionist, Viola."
"I'm Atara. Thank you for the warm welcome despite our sudden visit."
Viola, seasoned from greeting and guiding high figures from Eclair Dreitna of the Empire's Five Knights onward, remained unflappable and possessed the courage to match.
Her appropriately restrained attitude put the saintess at ease.
After mirroring Atara's gesture of clasped hands and bowed head in church etiquette, the receptionist promptly took pen and notepad.
"Please tell me what business brings you, and I'll summon the appropriate staff depending on the matter."
She ventured the words, suspecting it wasn't ordinary business if the saintess came in person, but Atara smiled awkwardly.
"Ah... Actually, it's not anything grand."
To a receptionist, the image of the saintess personally coming to check if a nun's letter arrived might seem a huge burden.
Listening to her story, the receptionist pulled out documents, scanned them thoroughly, then bowed with a businesslike expression.
"Regarding the mail, we can confirm it reached the guild safely, but we cannot disclose whether the adventurer received it. My apologies."
As expected for personal matters, Atara quickly apologized to the receptionist, who might feel pressured.
"No, no! Knowing it arrived is enough for us. Sorry for the trouble."
Glancing aside, Atara saw Shuel looking relieved just knowing it had arrived.
"Thank you, Viola! I've been in your debt all this time...!"
As Shuel greeted from the side, the receptionist's formal face softened.
"I'm sorry we won't see you around the guild anymore, Shuel... I pray you stay healthy going forward."
"I pray that you, too, live happy and peaceful days under the goddess's blessings, Viola."
An adventurer retiring with all limbs intact and a smile on her face.
Rare enough to evoke fresh emotions even for the receptionist.
Her youthful appearance hadn't changed much since her first visit, but Shuel's occasional mature air had a subtle power to move hearts.
The receptionist slightly bent her rigidly straight back, whispering information to Shuel and Atara.
"And this is something I was permitted to mention long ago... but Roman happens to be downstairs right now."
"Downstairs?"
The saintess's eyes turned to the stairs.
She knew most guild members gathered below but couldn't guess what it was.
"Lady Atara! Down there is the tavern!"
"It's usually restricted to adventurers, but we allow temporary access for those with business."
"I see...! If it's not too rude, may we go down for a bit?"
Atara asked the receptionist, her eyes glimmering with subtle anticipation.
"Of course."
As the receptionist nodded with a smile.
A clattering crash echoed up the stairs.
—I said no! You crazy bastards!
Unlike the startled saintess, Shuel, deeming it commonplace, tried to stay calm but perked up at a familiar voice.
—Die!!
—Fuck, my arm...! Grab that bitch!!
"Huh, that voice?"
Having been an adventurer, Shuel recognized the raspy voice from below.
'It's that mixed-blood big sis!'
Tanned skin and rare beauty.
Despite her rugged adventurer vibe, she'd looked after Shuel without making a show of it, etching her clearly in memory.
—Good going, girl!!
—Teach those bastards who disrespect mages a lesson!!
...
...
"...I'll head down first."
Mazella took the lead down the stairs.
Even during yesterday's weekly academy class, Robert was nowhere to be seen.
The most memorable thing lately? Seria's unusually fierce charges in recent classes.
Isaac heard no particular news about him after leaving the church.
As for the Mallory family, rumors of a bloody succession battle overshadowed everything else.
'That's none of my business anymore.'
Separately, the mansion I'd bought was shedding its empty chill and gaining vitality.
On the first floor, Chloe and Eclair's rooms adjoined.
On the second, Rike's and mine, with a separate bedroom.
In truth, dividing rooms was meaningless. They all popped in and out of my room, gathering in the bedroom at bedtime for cozy slumber.
Some nights we indulged in debauchery together, others we just chatted till we dozed off.
"I'm so happy!!!"
No need for lengthy descriptions—what else could sum it up?
My women spoke only positive words, filling the house with constant warmth.
To furnish the empty mansion, the three pored over catalogs together, selecting furniture to their tastes, which soon flooded in.
With placement plans ready, when they left for academy and duties, I stayed behind alone to arrange it all.
'With valuables and personal items safely stored.'
After setting everything up, I called in professionals for a final deep clean.
Then killed time at the Adventurer's Guild.
Tsk.
Hitting the tavern downstairs, I clicked my tongue right away.
No fun targets to tease.
A few familiar faces, but they had their parties, so no need to butt in.
Alice, now with a new party member—a third woman—in tow, sat with her group.
Our eyes met; she shot up from her seat to greet me. I waved casually, sat, sipped milk, and soaked in the usual lively chaos.
'Do Rike and I have similar tastes? Or have I changed?'
No special reason for milk.
Sharing it mornings with Rike became habit; now it felt empty without, so my hand reached naturally.
Is this what it means to be fully smitten, even stomach included?
Hmm.
Buy flowers for the three on the way back?
Or something better?
Lost in such thoughts, a commotion erupted from one side.
Crash!
A table flipped inside, bowls and bottles scattering across the floor.
—Endure it!
—Don't stop me! Bastards like these need a good stomping!!
The shrill voice signaled the uproar's start.
'No tavern fun without this.'
Sipping milk, I savored the new entertainment and turned to see Alice growling at hulks far bigger than her, locked in a staring contest.
The folks upstairs might find it a hassle.
But down here? Looked like prime fun.