[Adventurer, Anastasia - 06]
[Adventurer, Anastasia - 06]
Grandmaster.
High Elf, Ethan Karten.
One of the heroes who saved the kingdom from crisis alongside the past King.
It wasn't just because he was the leader of an influential group of adventurers in the current era that even nobles walked on eggshells around him; the fact that he was a close friend of the past King was the primary reason even nobles couldn't easily say anything to him.
Ethan wasn't the type to cause major trouble in the first place, and he simply ran the guild normally, telling even nobles to follow the rules.
Since Ethan had both the moral high ground and justification, nobles didn't often make a fuss about 'status' at the Adventurer Guild.
Of course, just as there are such people on the battlefield, it wasn't entirely non-existent, and since the Grandmaster wasn't always inside the guild, it was said to happen occasionally.
Besides, I had heard that in other guilds without a Grandmaster, people were even more annoying.
Unfortunately, my knowledge of adventurers was only at a theoretical level.
I had worked with them a few times, so most of my information came from the adventurers who were active at that time.
Seeing that adventurers, unlike knights or soldiers, often used somewhat free and tricky methods, I decided I needed my own magic.
It was no exaggeration to say that my Shadow Magic was essentially born thanks to adventurers.
"Greetings, Saintess-nim. This is my first time meeting you in person."
"I see. It is an honor to meet the Grandmaster."
"The honor is mine."
"......."
The Saintess-nim fell silent for a moment.
It seemed she instinctively understood that he felt similar to her.
To be precise, it didn't mean he was empty in various ways like the Saintess-nim, but rather that the feeling was strong in the sense that he was wearing a thick social mask.
In fact, for someone of the Grandmaster's stature, there would be many people who would indulge him even if he acted somewhat arrogantly, so seeing him try to maintain minimal courtesy gave me a rough idea of what kind of person he was.
"And behind you is Adrian Valtus-nim. ......The hero who even defeated a Battle Ogre during the Demon War."
"You exaggerate. My contribution was just a coincidence, and I didn't take down the Battle Ogre alone. The current state of cold peace is just a result of my comrades' blood and death. I just happened to survive."
"......I see. But if everyone calls you a hero, I believe it's because you have achievements worthy of the title. And outside the door must be Eris, the Saintess-nim's escort. Everyone looks capable."
He seemed to know about Eris as well.
Well, rumors of a somewhat violent dog had reached my ears, so it would be strange if someone like the Grandmaster didn't know.
"Grandmaster."
"Yes."
"I presume you didn't call us just to say hello. ......The preamble seems long. Is there something you want from me?"
"......."
This time, Ethan, the Grandmaster, fell silent.
Since this was his first time meeting the Saintess-nim in person, he had only heard rumors, so it was highly likely he had been gauging her based on those rumors.
And because of what the Saintess-nim just said, he had a look on his face that suggested he was convinced she wasn't the person from the rumors.
Currently, the evaluation of the Saintess-nim was that, to put it positively, she was the perfect Saintess, and to put it negatively, her head was full of flowers.
Someone who was idealistic and said things that were truly like a dream.
That was how the people around her evaluated the Saintess-nim, but because she actually possessed the power to make that possible, there were quite a few people who were saved by her words.
Especially for those suffering from illnesses or curses, the Saintess-nim's words must have been salvation itself.
Furthermore, the evaluation that her head was full of flowers was an image the Saintess-nim didn't actively try to change because it was somewhat comfortable since people underestimated her.
Therefore, I didn't bother to deny those rumors either.
Though I didn't particularly confirm them, either.
"I see."
Ethan smiled while drinking black tea.
"You don't seem to be the person from the rumors. In fact, seeing you in person reveals much. I said earlier that this was my first time meeting the Saintess-nim, but I passed by you once in the past."
"I don't remember."
"That's because I just saw you standing still. Back then, I didn't think you were someone with a head full of flowers, and my expectations were correct. There must be a reason for the change."
Ethan, who was thinking for a moment, turned his gaze to me and smiled, and I just stood there quietly.
I would speak if necessary, but there was no need to talk if it wasn't.
"I understand the causal relationship. Saintess-nim, I heard you caught a Black Wolf. I'll ask one thing. Did you catch it with the power of Adrian Valtus and Eris?"
"No."
"......I don't know if it's just me, but the magic around you doesn't look like it's flowing out normally."
"It's magic that is 'by my side' normally."
"......."
She's playing with words.
Originally, even if a person doesn't know about magic, magic naturally flows out of their body, and that is a natural phenomenon.
That's why people often describe it as 'flowing out,' but the Saintess-nim expressed it as magic that is 'by her side.'
It is true that the Saintess-nim intentionally keeps the magic around her fixed there 24 hours a day.
At the same time, 'normally' maintaining that magic was also the same.
Because the Saintess-nim was using magic 24 hours a day due to the magic called Path of Light, it was a daily routine for her.
The scariest thing about the magic the Saintess-nim possesses is not its power or convenience, but that it works automatically 24 hours a day.
Moreover, while it's fine for me or Eris to touch it, the moment others touch it, they pass right through, so it was truly an ironclad defense.
On top of that, since that power can be used locally at a distance, the ways to use it became endless.
Her innate power was already absurd, but by learning that magic, the Saintess-nim had ascended to the realm of the strongest.
The Grandmaster in front of me now wasn't a weak person either; he was a High Elf who had lived a long time and a hero with real skill, but I thought there was a higher chance the Saintess-nim would win if they fought right now.
Unless I was making a biased judgment because I was starting to get attached to her.
"Why do you want to become an adventurer, Saintess-nim?"
"I wanted to gain social experience before entering The Academy. A past Saintess had a record of being an adventurer, so I got interested."
That was the story I told her after she decided to become an adventurer.
"I see......."
"Grandmaster, please don't hold back and speak honestly. Do you want something from me, or is there something you want to say? Whether I want it or not, if I become an adventurer as a Saintess, it'll get noisy. Is that the problem?"
Ethan raised his hand and said.
"No, no, not at all. I just wanted to talk to you. Fortunately, it seems there won't be any big problems."
"Is that so?"
"If you were truly a child with a head full of flowers, I was planning to treat you accordingly and send you back after letting you gain some experience."
Ethan looked at the Saintess-nim and smiled.
"This changes things. S-rank adventurers are the face, honor, and pride of this guild. If you become an S-rank adventurer, I benefit as well."
"Ho, that's quite......."
Even the story of the Saintess becoming an S-rank adventurer could create numerous narratives, and if used, it could invite more adventurers as a promotional effect.
Furthermore, a cleric, in other words, a healer, was essential for adventuring, and since clerics tended not to want to be adventurers, if they could attract more clerics through this promotional effect, they could lower the mortality rate of adventurers.
"How about I support you? So you can become an S-rank adventurer faster."
Pragmatically, it was by no means a bad deal, and it just meant he would use the Saintess-nim's story a little bit.
The Saintess-nim smiled after hearing the story.
"I refuse."
"......May I ask why?"
"I need both results and honor. In other words, becoming an S-rank adventurer with the Grandmaster's help is no different from an empty cart making a lot of noise. I'll climb to S-rank on my own."
"......."
I laughed inwardly.
Really.
I was glad she seemed to enjoy life differently than before.
Honestly, I thought I wouldn't be needed anymore, but with the increasingly sticky gazes and the promise binding us, it was impossible for me to leave the Saintess-nim's side until she was an adult.
But she seemed to be making excuses one by one to keep me even after she became an adult, which was honestly a bit scary.
"Heh heh, good. I seem to have completely misunderstood you. I never dreamed you'd be such an interesting person."
Kwoong!
The door opened forcefully in an instant, and Ethan's brow twitched.
Even so, entering without knocking was impolite.
"T-trouble!"
"What is it?"
"R-reporting! A large dungeon has been discovered near the Royal Capital!"
"......."
"......."
Ethan's eyes widened, and the Saintess-nim's eyes widened as well.
The Saintess-nim turned to look at me, her eyes shining.
No, I was just joking around.
A chance to clear a dungeon really came up.