Chapter 11: I Decide My 3-Star (6)
Chapter 11: I Decide My 3-Star (6)
Noon.
A massive crowd had gathered in front of the Adventurer’s Guild, everyone buzzing about a single topic.
"What’s that scoundrel of a young lord doing at the guild?"
"Maybe he’s here to pick a fight? He probably snuck out for a drink last night and overheard some adventurers badmouthing him!"
"If that were the case, he would’ve thrown a fit right then and there. You think he’d just let it slide? He would’ve caused a scene on the spot."
Ruji Fermaton, the Young Lord.
Why had the man everyone wished would just stay cooped up in the Count’s castle suddenly appeared?
And he’d been there since dawn, no less.
"What is happening?"
A woman with silver hair and violet eyes that reached down to her waist cautiously approached the crowd.
"Oh, well, the Young Lord of Fermaton is currently—Hieek?!"
The young man, who hadn't noticed her approach, started to answer naturally before jumping back in shock the moment he saw her.
"The—The Sword Maiden!!"
"I am not a maiden! I am a virgin!"
"What are you even saying about yourself?! Just go by 'Sword Maiden'!"
"......."
The silver-haired knight, known as the 'Sword Maiden,' glared at the young men with a sullen expression.
"I asked what is happening at the guild."
"Ah, well, that is...."
"Anyone would be startled if the 'Sword Saintess' of the 50th-floor assault team approached them like that."
A somewhat sleazy-looking blonde man sidled up to the female knight.
"Hieek...!"
"Even 'Gold Tanning Sun' is here...!"
"Hey, don't keep calling me by that nickname to my face. I have a name: Jackson."
The man called Jackson pushed up his dark-tinted glasses with his middle finger and gnashed his teeth.
"So, what's going on at the guild?"
"Ah, well, that is...."
"The Young Lord of Fermaton is currently speaking with the Guild Leader."
"What? That scoundrel? Hey, what do you think?"
"...What is there to think about?"
The silver-haired knight gave Jackson a sidelong glance, her face still sullen.
"And I am not a saintess, either."
"Then what are you?"
"...I am simply a swordsman."
"Ah, I see. Got it, Sword Beauty."
"You aren't listening to a word I say."
Creeeeak.
The guild doors swung open.
Soon, a man with short blonde hair dressed in a white suit stepped out. He had a deep scowl on his face as he immediately left the premises with his attendants in tow.
"What's with that hair? Is he copying me?"
"It's quite different from yours. You just buzzed yours short, but the Young Lord left the top long and shaved the sides."
"Really? Hmm... that looks pretty good. If I copy it, will people talk trash saying I'm imitating the Young Lord?"
"...At least with the current Young Lord, they would. But still...."
The knight tilted her head as she watched the departing Young Lord.
"Has that man always walked like that...?"
"His walk?"
"Usually, he walks with his hands shoved in his pockets, slouching and swaggering about."
"Heh. Just how much interest have you been taking in the Young Lord's gait?"
"...I simply ran into him often. My only interests are the sword and the Infinite Labyrinth. Let's go inside."
The knight gestured toward the entrance and strode forward. Jackson followed her into the guild, pushing aside the crowd that parted naturally for the knight.
"Hey, old man. Why did the Young Lord stop by?"
"......So, you've returned alive."
"Of course. Going to the 50th floor is basic routine now. But what's the deal?"
"......He posted a request."
The Guild Leader, Bernhard, pointed to a new notice pinned to the bulletin board.
"Young Lord Ruji Fermaton made a request in his personal capacity. Read the details for yourselves."
"What's this? ......Collection of items and recruitment of collectors? What does that mean?"
"He's looking for specific items and hiring people to find them?"
"Correct, Serica."
The silver-haired knight, Serica, let a faint smile play on her lips at the Guild Leader's words.
"And what are these items he's looking for?"
"...Gems."
"Gems?"
"Yes. The Young Lord said... he is looking for 'The 12 Gems'."
Guild Leader Bernhard crossed his arms and smacked his lips as he stared intently at the notice.
"He is looking for twelve very special gems that come from the Infinite Labyrinth, and he's offering a massive reward to whoever brings them. Furthermore, the Fermaton County will directly hire adventurers to mine these gems. That is what he said."
"...Gems?"
"Yes. Apparently, they are different from ordinary magic stones. Why? Are you interested?"
"......Rather than interest, I am concerned."
"About what?"
"The fact that Fermaton is hiring people. If those 'Rebel Parrots' start acting up again...."
"Wha—?!"
Jackson let out a scream as he read the notice.
"Isn't this just an excuse to hire people under the guise of collecting gems?! Dammit, what if the Empire sends people again...?"
"...The Rebel Parrot is right here."
Serica shook her head at Jackson's fuss.
"Do you really think Fermaton hiring a few gem collectors will lead to a rebellion? Right, Guild Leader?"
"......Well."
"....?"
Serica's brow furrowed at the Guild Leader's hesitant response.
"What is it?"
"...Ahem, it's a bit awkward to tell you, but...."
"If you say it's awkward to tell me, that means you're going to tell me, right?"
"...Those collectors aren't your average collectors."
"I knew it! I freaking knew it. Dammit, if the Empire starts meddling again and seals the labyrinth—"
"They're fitting models."
"......Huh?"
Serica and Jackson both doubted their ears.
"Fitting... models?"
"Yes. He said he's recruiting models who suit the gems while they collect them. Look at the bottom."
"......Requirements: A beautiful adult woman? Ha, could it be...."
A smirk twisted the corner of Jackson's mouth.
"What, is he trying to find gems for his future wife and make a set? He says he's recruiting fitting models, but in reality, he just wants to make them wear all sorts of outfits? He's recruiting human mannequins. Heh heh. And then later, the model becomes the wife... hehe."
"That might be the case."
"......Ah, I see. Well, it is about time that man started thinking about an heir."
Jackson scratched the back of his neck.
"The pay looks pretty good, though.... Hey, Serica. You can't go. You're the 'Sword Maiden'."
"I am not a maiden. Nor a saintess."
"Ah, right. ...Wait? Didn't he say something else...?"
"Guild Leader. I have a question."
Serica raised her hand and pointed to the girl standing stiffly beside Bernhard.
"Is she a rookie?"
"......She is. This is perfect timing. Serica. There is another request from the Young Lord of Fermaton. Care to hear it?"
"A request?"
"Yes. It's about...."
* * *
"Young Lord. Why didn't you bring that blonde rookie adventurer with you?"
"Hmm?"
The man walking behind me, Sir Lambert, struck up a conversation.
You Imperial spy bastard.
Sir Lambert.
He had been knighted by Fermaton and had served as a knight here since the time of the former Count, but in reality, he was a man of the Empire.
The Empire's hound.
A turncoat who was ready to bite my neck from behind the moment someone the Empire could use as a replacement for the Fermaton line was secured.
If you asked why he was a traitor, the answer would be: 'Loyalty can be bought with money.'
It was a situation like:
—Are you asking me to break my oath of fealty!
—...Because that is a lot of money.
"The blonde rookie?"
In truth, there were more than one or two people like Lambert, but I had no choice but to smile and talk to them.
"The girl who was crouching in front of the guild earlier."
"A girl.... She looked like an adult."
Isn't it a bit much to call an adult woman a girl?
Of course, compared to adult women with more statuesque builds, she was on the smaller side, but calling her a girl felt a bit off.
Someone might even try to suppress me, claiming the nuance of the word 'girl' is problematic.
"She was a woman perfectly capable of looking after herself. Calling such a woman a girl is a bit much."
"Ah, yes...."
I knew I shouldn't give him attitude, and I could practically hear him grumbling internally, 'The moment another Fermaton shows up, I'm stabbing you in the spine,' but still, 'girl' was a no-go.
She has to be a woman for me to have no burden in taking her!
"I intend to hire her, but she only has one life. Since I personally 'cannot enter' the Infinite Labyrinth, I asked the Guild Leader to find an adventurer who could act as a mentor for her."
"A mentor... you say?"
"Yes. I don't want to hire someone for Fermaton who will just die before even reaching the 3rd floor. How could I hire such a pathetic person when I don't know where the gems I'm looking for might be?"
Gems.
I had told Bernhard the truth, but for the public, I needed a special 'pretext' other than a Bunny Girl Cosplay Knight Order.
"Gems.... Are you looking for magic stones from the Infinite Labyrinth? Magic stones with extraordinary and immense magical power?"
Ah.
Maybe it's because my ears have a filter, but this is how it sounds to me:
—Is he trying to secure incredibly powerful magic stones to craft weapons through alchemy? Like automata dolls that don't obey human orders? This is dangerous. I must stop this.
Whether it's Ruji Fermaton's intuition or my own background knowledge, everyone feels like an enemy.
I wish it were just a delusion.
I wish it were just a prejudice.
But for now, there is no one here I can trust.
Therefore....
"Magic stones? I can just buy those with money. What I'm looking for are pure, translucent, and beautiful gems. Gems befitting the woman who will become my wife."
"Ah, yes."
I play the part of a man obsessed with vanity and luxury.
That is the only way I won't be suspected for the time being.
"Twelve gems of every color! Imagine how beautiful it would be to have them crafted into jewelry and switch them out every month while we share our love."
"You... don't mean those twelve gems are twelve different women, do you?"
"What?"
"Are you going to make twelve rings?"
"......I was planning on making twelve for one person."
This man.
He really is a womanizer.
Later, he gets injured while trying to juggle multiple women like an octopus, but I merely treat this man as an enemy.
A mere 2-star male character.
I have no interest in such a person.
"Well, I'll take your words to heart, though. Twelve women. Khuh, the mere thought is thrilling."
Twelve 5-star, fully enhanced female characters.
Truly, the best.
Of course, that 'twelve' was a standard set for the 'Mythstones.'
"Then, Young Lord. Shall we head back to the castle...?"
"I still have one more place to go."
"Yes? Where else...?"
"The Magic Tower."
I pointed to the spire rising tall and grand toward the sky.
"I need a 'Witch' to be a teacher. I'm going to hire one of the witches from the tower as a private tutor."