#034 Parents
#034 Parents
Day by day, our track record kept growing.
At last, we were on the verge of our rank-up examination.
I came to the Adventurers' Guild alone and talked over the examination with Morgen.
"You know how the examination is conducted, right?"
"Isn't it just succeeding at a mission the Guild assigns?"
"That's right. It's higher than E Rank, but even for D Rank level, the difficulty is far below average."
Even among requests of the same rank, there were differences in difficulty.
The mission we would be examined on was, if anything, a 'D-' level.
The details would be delivered by the examiner on the day of the examination, but at our level, we could pass it easily even without a Holy Sword.
But.
"Morgen, you said you're coming to personally oversee the rank-up examination this time?"
"Yes. I'll be the examiner."
The Guild receptionist, Morgen, said she would serve as the examiner.
"Depending on the case, it might take several days. Is that all right?"
"Yes. This is the rule, after all."
"That a receptionist gets drafted as an examiner?"
"Hmm, rather than that... originally, oversight by the Adventurers' Guild is the default. Normally, a Grade 2 or higher adventurer affiliated with the Adventurers' Guild conducts the examination, but right now we're short on personnel, so I ended up overseeing it."
"...?"
Short on personnel?
Normance might not have been a major city, but it was still a proper mid-sized city.
"There's not a single adventurer who can examine us?"
"It's not that, but... is having me a problem for you?"
"No, no. It's not that. I was just curious."
Even if they were short on people, there ought to be at least someone to manage and supervise us, so why would a receptionist say she'd do it herself?
"Grade 2 or higher means any C Rank adventurer qualifies, right? Then Rosemas... no, that won't work."
"Because she's registered on the same team."
A reasonable and logical point.
Rosemas was a member of our team, so she couldn't help with our rank-up examination.
Because that would create the possibility of a rigged examination.
"I was also a C Rank adventurer before I came into office work. I can fully protect myself, so you don't need to worry."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Unexpected.
Hora Morgen, a receptionist who seemed so gentle and suited only for desk work, was a former adventurer.
"Isn't being a receptionist just handling paperwork?"
"It is, but there are quite a few rough customers. We want to be able to handle the ones who sexually harass us on our own."
"What about B Rank or higher?"
"Usually, adventurers who reach that rank don't do such things to receptionists. Personality and character are also part of the rank-up examination."
"Oh...."
More reasonable than I expected.
Certainly, as she said, those who harbored strange thoughts about receptionists and tried to do strange things would mostly be driven out at the Adventurers' Guild entrance by other high-ranked mercenaries.
"Then how does the rank-up examination proceed?"
"You clear a dungeon. I'll be watching your dungeon clear from the side, and you'll do your best to clear the designated dungeon. Ah, the dungeon clear is common knowledge. Only the location is secret, but this much is allowed to be disclosed."
"Hmm...."
A dungeon clear, huh.
I could picture it.
'Lucius at the front. Me behind him. Then Rosemas and Morgen observing and providing rear support.'
Probably the two of us would step forward, and Rosemas and Morgen would follow behind, ready to step in if needed.
'Lucius can handle it alone without a Holy Sword.'
If it was a D- level dungeon as I expected, Lucius could overcome it all alone with his sword.
Even if he couldn't cut enemies down in a single blow like with a Holy Sword, he could steadily swing his sword and advance while taking down enemies.
In that case, it was practically Lucius's solo stage.
I would just be in a supporting position from behind.
"Tomorrow, once preparations are done, we just come straight to the Guild, right?"
"Preparations... do you need more?"
"Of course."
Be fully prepared at all times, everywhere.
"You never know when or where danger might pop out."
"...Understood. Then I'll prepare properly as well."
"Thank you, Examiner."
That was the basic posture of a Demon King living in this dangerous Human Realm.
I finished preparations by coordinating the details of the dungeon run with Morgen, and she gave us as much support as she could while staying transparent and fair enough not to affect the examination.
'I thought she'd fallen for Lucius and was giving him everything.'
She kept public and private matters strictly separate, but did her utmost to be considerate where she could.
If she weren't a Guild member, and if she had sufficient combat power and talent, she might not be a bad addition to Lucius's party.
"...Then we'll depart tomorrow morning. Come to think of it, Morgen. Any interesting news?"
"Interesting news?"
"Yes. What's going on in the world."
As a rule, information comes from the Adventurers' Guild.
There was no one waiting behind us, so we had time for a leisurely chat.
"You said the world has been unsettled lately. I was wondering what the big issue might be."
From Morgen's perspective, she'd probably like to talk more with Lucius, but Lucius was currently on a date disguised as sparring with Rosemas.
"Hmm... nothing special. The same routine repeats as always. Dungeons increase every single day, Magic Beasts try to cross over the Black Cliffs every day, and the Church of the Red Moon Goddess and the Church of the Azure Moon Goddess are in conflict."
"Hmm...."
The Human Realm being noisy was always the same.
When an enemy other than humans appeared, humans united on a grand scale and fought, but fundamentally, humans were creatures who couldn't stand not fighting each other.
However, within that vague information, there was something I absolutely had to find.
Acedia.
Traces of Zepar.
It was clearly a dark organization that had summoned a Great Demon King, offered countless humans as sacrifices, and been pursued by the Holy Knight Order, so somewhere there might be a clue about them.
"There really are conflicts in every field. The Adventurers' Guild is contending with the Monsters rampaging across the continent."
Whether politics, economy, society, culture, or race.
Humans were a species defined by conflict and struggle.
"...But, Witch. Lucius is coming with us tomorrow too, right?"
"Of course."
"Then, are the two of you going to keep forming a pair? From now on, continuously?"
Humans struggle.
Even when the field is romance.
Humans are always ready to struggle against each other, anytime and anywhere.
"So, Witch, do you... with Lucius...?"
Even in this peaceful Guild.
"Hmm, rather than a pair, the party will be formed around Lucius, won't it?"
"Huh?"
"It'll probably keep growing. We have our own goals, and there may come a situation the current three of us can't overcome."
The three of us facing the Black Demon Dragon Belphegor?
Dangerous.
Zepar would surely station numerous Demonfolk around it, and we'd need many comrades to deal with that.
"So... you're saying you'll keep recruiting comrades?"
"Yes. Beyond a simple party, a fairly large adventurer group might form, don't you think?"
It really could become a huge adventurer group.
"Ah, then shall I post a party member recruitment notice? Openly, so anyone can participate. Without restrictions."
"No. That won't do."
"Huh? Why not?"
"There will be many who want to become comrades, but I have to judge them first."
"......."
Morgen looked me up and down and twisted the corner of her mouth.
She seemed to have a lot to say, and it looked as though she wasn't pleased with me restricting Lucius.
"Are you saying, Witch, that you'll manage Lucius's comrades?"
"Rather than that, I want to block everyone who approaches trying to use Lucius. That guy lived in the countryside, so he's quite naive."
A Hero who held the power of a Holy Sword.
"Lucius has talent. He's a rough gem. If you cut and polish it well, it'll become a wonderful jewel anyone would admire, but precisely because it's such a rough gem, others will be eyeing it and drooling."
He was easy to take advantage of.
'He's my mark.'
I would make sure others couldn't use him.
"As time goes on, more and more people will take an interest in Lucius. Among them, some will approach with good intentions, but there will also be those who try to use Lucius maliciously."
Like me.
"Preventing them from using Lucius carelessly. And truly helping Lucius so he can realize what he wishes for. That is the basic qualification for those who will become Lucius's comrades."
"I see...."
Morgen's expression as she listened to my words was more serious than ever.
"You're truly sincere about helping Lucius grow, Witch."
"Of course. How should I put it? I'm called his Master, but I suppose it's also something like a parent's feelings...."
A monster parent.
It refers to those who, rather than wishing for their child to grow as a person, create a means to make their child economically successful somehow so the child will take responsibility for the parents' old age.
"Lucius needs a guardian. His body is that of a proper adult, and he can take responsibility for his own actions, but he's in a situation where he doesn't specifically know how to behave in society as an adult."
So he needed someone to help him.
"He'll wander, experience sorrow, and suffer. Some say you have to crash into things and break before you understand life, but if possible, isn't it better to walk a more comfortable path?"
Right.
"I only hope Lucius walks a path of flowers."
And at the end of that flower path, that he cuts off Zepar's head.
"That is what I wish for Lucius."
Note.
Caution, required.
Mama.