Following Rubia’s guidance, we arrived at her office.
The image of tightly packed bookshelves and a desk covered in all sorts of papers came to mind in this not-so-large space.
Whew… Is it possible to work in such a suffocating environment…?
While I was clicking my tongue as I surveyed the surroundings, Rubia and Revuze were busy bowing their heads and apologizing to each other.
“I apologize for the insufficient measures taken. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s alright. I acted impulsively… It’s only natural. I’m sorry as well.”
As I hesitated, I ultimately followed suit and bowed my head too.
“I know it’s an excuse, but… Shuru… I didn’t educate that child properly…”
“He seemed lively and great, though… Hehe…”
At the same time, Rubia and Revuze raised their heads and began a conversation laced with subtle pretenses, smiling mildly.
It was an adult conversation.
It sounded as if it had no content or meaning.
But in reality, it was a conversation filled with immense meaning… a typical noble chat…!
I definitively couldn’t join in.
Just listening made my head hurt…
Still, I wanted to understand, so I wracked my brains for a while.
But… it was impossible.
I couldn’t even catch the flow of the conversation…
In the end, I gave up and started imagining what raspberry jelly might taste like.
“By the way… Noah, you are very different from the rumors I’ve heard.”
Finally, they started showing interest in me!
“Uh… um…”
But… I wasn’t in a state of mind to speak…
“It’s all… just nonsense.”
“That’s a relief. The rumors say… you’re a demon who sucks the blood of both humans and monsters.”
Geh-
Wha…?
“Wh-what does that mean…?”
“Well… rumors always get exaggerated as they spread.”
Even so…
I don’t drink human blood…
The monster blood… sometimes accidentally gets into my mouth while hunting and… I just *gulp- it down without meaning to…
It’s not intentional!
“Now, since the small talk is over, let me reintroduce myself. I’m Revuze, the head of the Ursphere Adventurer Guild.”
Unlike before, he bowed his head with a rather dignified posture.
“Yes. Nice to meet you, Revuze.”
Next to me, Rubia removed her robe and let her hair flow out of it.
“I am Rubia, the shaman of Erden.”
And unlike Revuze, she didn’t bow her head.
She seemed to think this was a place where a certain degree of authority was necessary…
Smart Rubia!
Moreover, she’s dignified… stylish… charismatic.
If that’s the case, then me too!
“I-I’m… Sh-Sin-Noah…!”
I messed up.
Everything is ruined.
My voice, my tone, my actions.
I sounded so… pathetic.
I’m compared too much to Rubia…
I should’ve just introduced myself first…
“Yes. Nice to meet you. But even if I’m called the head, like Noah here, I’m also an adventurer, so please feel free to treat me as such.”
Revuze, who had momentarily tried to suppress a smile, quickly regained his composure and spoke.
“Ah… y-yes.”
It’s so embarrassing…
“Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, shall we discuss the subjugation funds…?”
Rubia nodded and straightened her back.
“Yes. Please go ahead.”
“You’ve probably already been informed, but I’ll say it again. First, Heinzel’s subjugation funds have all been donated to Loholan.”
Rubia nodded.
“And… Luci’s subjugation funds were donated to the residents entering the ruins… no, Habron.”
“That’s correct.”
“After that, various minor subjugation funds were distributed to the adventurers, and the subjugation funds for you, Noah, and Rubia… are thus.”
He pushed a stack of papers towards us.
Rubia tapped my shoulder and picked up the documents.
“Yes. It’s exactly as I received it.”
After fluttering through the documents for a while, Rubia nodded and lowered them.
Then, she whispered the amount into my ear, adding not to be surprised.
“Uh, uh… What…?”
That’s a lot more than the amount I heard from Aunt Jur in Loholan…?
What on earth did I do to have the money doubled…?
“Yes. If you confirm that, please sign here.”
“Is it possible for me to have someone else sign for me?”
“Of course, it’s possible.”
Regardless of my panic, Rubia was progressing smoothly with the work.
After signing several sheets of paper, she set down her pen, smiling brightly.
No matter how you look at it, it was the smile of a con artist.
“Um, yes. I’ve confirmed this. Now, the next matter-”
“Shouldn’t we discuss Carpen’s materials?”
“Yes…?”
Revuze and I tilted our heads simultaneously.
“M-materials…?”
“Yes. Carpen’s materials are top-tier materials. We need to talk about the distribution.”
That’s true, but…
Didn’t the central guild already collect it?
“But… um, that’s…”
“Don’t worry. Just trust me, Noah. I’ll make sure to bring it back. Who do you think I am?”
Interrupting my words, Rubia puffed out her chest confidently.
The buttons on her robe were straining, about to burst.
It’s dangerous…!
“U-uh… Sh-Shaman…”
“Yes. So just sit back and watch closely.”
Rubia smiled and whispered in my ear.
“To see what I can do.”
My face turned bright red.
“W-wait… what…?”
In Loholan…
In an incredibly emotional situation.
Without realizing it… the corny words spilled out…
Ugh… she’s teasing me now!
“D-don’t tease me…!”
“I’m not teasing you! How wonderful were those words? I almost fell for you. Or perhaps, I may already have…?”
Rubia’s finger poked my cheek.
“Anyway, you can look forward to it. I will snag a hefty amount.”
“T-th-that’s audible to me…”
Revuze intervened in the conversation, looking utterly incredulous.
I got even more embarrassed…
“Oh, then that’s great. Then, shall we negotiate instead of reaching an ‘agreement’?”
“Even if you, Shaman, tell me… what authority do I hold…?”
“No. If it’s you, Revuze, you can do it. You just need to stamp it.”
From Rubia’s smiling face, an immense aura of a con artist radiated.
“First, let’s talk about the past Habron disaster. You know the truth, right, Revuze?”
“That’s… yes. I know.”
Revuze’s face showed surprise.
Is it bad for Rubia to know that secret?
“Then this will be much quicker. So… after Habron collapsed, thousands of monsters occupied that area led by Carpen.”
“Y-yes.”
“It’s been almost 30 years. Consequently, even Loholan nearby had to live with this perpetual anxiety.”
“…”
“And before that lay the Halvion Plains. Do you know what that means?”
“Loholan’s… isolation. And… blockage of trade routes.”
Rubia made a nose sound, seemingly satisfied, and continued.
And so on…
I could no longer understand the conversations flying back and forth.
So… what was the conclusion.
“Who is the greatest contributor?”
“…N-Noah.”
“But where is the material now?”
“Central… Guild.”
“Right. It truly is a heartbreaking matter. Sigh… the greatest contributor who opened up that enormous trade route has to settle for mere fragments and a few gold coins… I cannot comprehend the adventurers’ guild policy…”
With this, even I, the shaman, must-
“Those fragments are not mere ones, but a considerable amount of gold, but… I understand… I’ll take responsibility and… get them.”
It ended with Rubia’s overwhelming victory.
The major content seemed to be something related to economy… and trade routes, but…
Hmm… I don’t get it.
“Yes. Revuze, please don’t stretch yourself too much… I’d like just a great sword and light armor to be made, thank you.”
“…Yes.”
Revuze’s shoulders shrank.
For some reason… my heart hurts.
Still… well.
The materials from Carpen are enticing…
If I make a great sword from that material, it would be incredible…
My lips curled into a smile.
“What do you think, Noah?”
“R-Rubia… you were truly amazing…”
I hugged Rubia tightly.
A great sword made from Carpen’s materials.
I’ve only heard of it as a name in the game.
I can’t remember the name, but… anyway!
An incredible item is coming into my hands!!
“I’m totally head over heels… Rubia, you’re the best…! Hehe”
“Uh, uh…”
Rubia’s body, which I was holding, suddenly grew hot.
And her heartbeat began pounding thump-thump-thump- rapidly.
“R-Rubia… are you alright…?”
Am I thinking too hard or something…?
“N-no… um, well… first of all, since you have discerning eyes…”
Rubia turned her head and gently let me go.
Oh.
Just a moment ago, she overwhelming dominated Revuze in style.
Is she worried that showing this side will ruin her image?
Hmm… that could be it.
To preserve Rubia’s dignity, I sat a bit farther away.
“Sigh… So… can I speak now?”
“Yes. My words are finished.”
Rubia flashed a confident smile.
A light radiated from behind her.
I take back what I said about her being a con artist!
Rubia is the ultimate businesswoman!
“Then… now the most important item remains.”
Revuze adjusted his expression and retrieved an envelope from the stack of documents piled in the back.
He slid it towards me and continued speaking.
“Congratulations on reaching the gold rank, Noah.”
“Y-yeah…? G-gold…?”
I was incredibly astonished.
Rubia was nodding, seemingly already aware of it.
“Shall I read it… A-ah, I’m sorry. May I read it for you…?”
Revuze, who seemed flustered about asking me to read, cautiously looked at me.
There’s nothing particularly to apologize for…
I nodded happily.
“Ahem, first, I’ll read your record.”
Revuze carefully took out the letter and began reciting each of the requests I had taken from Alrva.
I had taken at least three requests a day…
He listed more than 180 requests one by one.
“*Whew… this is how many requests you took from Alrva… you really did a lot. Now, moving on to Loholan. The extermination of all monsters inhabiting the plains and ruins. The number is… well…”
After taking a brief sigh, Revuze continued slowly.
“Approximately 14,000…”
That’s a lot.
But that’s…
“I-I didn’t catch them all…”
“That’s true, but the statements of the Loholan residents and Heinzel’s words greatly influenced it, making you the greatest contributor.”
“Eh…?”
“And… compared to all the preceding achievements, you achieved something overwhelmingly outstanding… or rather, this could be called a feat.”
Revuze carefully folded the letter.
“The nightmare of the east. The red wolf, subjugation of Carpen.”
With a nostalgic expression.
And filled with admiration.
“Thanks to you, my friend, Luci’s grudge has been released. Truly… truly.”
He knelt on one knee and bowed his head towards me.
“Thank you for protecting Loholan. For reclaiming Habron… for giving humanity hope… I sincerely thank you.”
You are…
An Hero.
“Ah… ugh…”
The phrases I had only felt in the game…
Through texts on the screen…
Through sounds coming from the speakers…
Hearing them directly made me feel… strange.
I felt my heart turn soft…
“Huff… huff…”
“Noah…? Why are you crying?”
“Hah… that’s really the opposite of the rumors. Haha…”
Rubia’s hand brushed my eyes.
Warm liquid was wiped away.
I raised my hand and rubbed my eyelids.
Tears streamed down.
Why… why am I crying?
“Hic… R-Rubia… why… why am I crying…?”
For a moment, Rubia looked at me as if sympathy painted her eyes, then lifted her arms and hugged me tightly.
“Ugh…?”
“You’ve had it tough, Noah. Really…”
Then slowly.
She carefully stroked my hair, lock by lock.
“Ugh… huff… this… this feeling is… strange… ugh…”
As I nestled into Rubia’s embrace, tears began to flow endlessly.
No matter how much I closed my eyes.
No matter how tightly I clenched them shut, that gap allowed tears to flow through.
But even so…
There was a feeling of warmth beneath it.
A feeling so dear.
So nostalgic.
I didn’t stop the tears.
I welcomed the tears flowing down my eyelids.
