Volume 5 Chapter 3 Balancing Act
I slammed the quest paper on Nai's table.
"Can't you do something about this?"
"Oh, that. It was interesting, Wade-san. You and Frain-san were so engrossed in your conversation that you didn't notice, and your father returned after ordering the quest..."
That old man. My detestable flesh and blood who had been abusing me for so long. Ever since I ran away at 15 to become an adventurer, I hadn't seen my father's face.
He seemed hesitant when I entered the training center, but that soon faded. I thought he had given up. Yet now, he's looking for me.
So, I couldn't contain my anger and questioned Nai. But Nai just chuckled before responding.
"Let me cut to the chase, there's nothing we can do. While we reject requests clearly illegal like murder, it's legal to order them here."
"...I see."
Nai's true intentions were clear. If the quest is legal, they'll issue it without a problem. Even if it's illegal, there are "other channels" for such requests.
Essentially, they don't care if it's good or bad; if one is a rogue with power, they'll put a collar on them with an adventurer's badge and manage them under payment. That's what the guild is about.
"However, while we can't directly intervene, there are indirect ways."
Nai smiled.
"Wade-san, you should issue a quest too. Make sure it's not completed, or if it is, it won't cause any trouble."
Nai subtly shook an adventurer's badge of stealth weapon copper in it. Apparently, there are quests specifically for such tools, even outside the role of a noble's retainer.
But I shook my head.
"No, that's not necessary. It just makes me uncomfortable. If it can't be withdrawn, I'll endure and drive him away."
"Is that so? There's a mediation fee, so I was hoping you'd issue the quest... but if you say so, it can't be helped."
Nai said her piece and waved, "Well then, take care," before stopping me, saying, "Oh, I forgot to tell you."
"Is there something else?"
"Yeah, I was told to tell adventurers of silver rank or higher. Right now, there's a high demand for capturing 'Hippogriffs' and 'Dragons' alive. If possible, could you bring one or 2 back, gold-ranked adventurer?"
"Hippogriffs maybe, but it's not easy to catch a Dragon so casually..."
Capturing them alive? Well, I could probably manage it now, but it would be quite a laborious task.
"Is it tough?"
"Well... if there's a Dragon around, I could try to catch it."
"For each Hippogriff now, you'll get a gold coin, and for a Dragon, 2 big gold coins."
"That's quite the offer."
With that much, I was starting to get interested.
Normally, a Hippogriff, a creature with the face of a hawk and the body of a horse, would fetch around 3 big silver coins even if captured alive. Most of it would be in gold coins for a Dragon. They could sell for 4 times the market price now.
So, I had a sudden thought.
"By the way, who needs them? Who would want them?"
"It's for war."
I understood Nai's words.
"Ah, right. The Arrogant King and the Fist of the Dragon, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, they need military power for their invasion. That's why the investors around here are the Lord."
"I see... I have my own issues to deal with, but this seems too good to pass up. I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you! The high-ranking torches, they don't usually get interested in these kinds of talks. They say, 'Money is useless in a dungeon.'"
"That's scary... their standards have completely shifted to the dungeon."
However, Mudi and the others had a similar mindset. They said that they were going to end their role as our master because they wanted to return to the dungeon soon.
Earning a vast sum of money only to spend it quickly seemed to be the norm. The surface was just a place to have fun occasionally, not a settling place.
By now, they had probably surpassed the 100th floor and were causing chaos in the Underworld. That blunt mentor of ours.
"Alright, is that all?"
"Yeah. Sorry for dragging you along. Well, I'll be waiting for the delivery~"
I waved my hand and finally left the guild. Walking down the main street, I stretched and pondered, "What should I do?"
When I got home, Toxy was playing with Moruru.
"I'm back~ Honey," said Toxy.
"Hmm? Dear? Welcome back?" replied Moruru.
It seemed like they were playing house, acting out a little skit. Curious about the unfolding scenario, I hid behind the entrance and observed.
From what I could gather, Toxy was playing the father, and Moruru was playing the mother.
Upon closer inspection, Ridge was wearing a pacifier, tied up with a string, and rolling around. The word 'baby' was written on her forehead with paper.
She stared blankly at the ceiling. With nothing else to do, she kept sucking on the pacifier.
Ridge...
"Phew, I'm hungry. Honey, is dinner ready?"
"It's ready! Just need to cut it up!"
"...Is it raw meat, by any chance?"
"Yes!"
Saying so, Moruru slammed a chunk of raw meat on the table. Toxy looked disgusted. Ridge remained expressionless.
"Um, h-honey, I think it's better to cook the meat."
"Moruru, understood... Meat! Tastes better raw!"
"Isn't that debatable!? At least for humans, raw might be a bit tough!?"
"Moruru is a dragon. Roar!"
"Well, that's true but..."
"Because Moruru is a dragon, Ridge will eat it too."
"!?"
Ridge, who was passive until then, was surprised. As Moruru opened her mouth wide, Toxy intervened.
"Honey! No, you can't feed the baby with that!"
"She'll eat. It's so cute I want to feed her."
"Mmm! Mmm!"
Moruru struggled, so I intervened.
"Alright, that's enough of the playfulness."
"Oh! Papa!"
I lifted Moruru from behind, and she happily looked at me. Then she turned around and hugged me from the front.
"Papa! Moruru was being a mom! How was it?"
"You still have a lot to learn."
"Mmm! Ahaha, Papa, you're tickling me!"
Tickling the dissatisfied Moruru and casually throwing her on the sofa, I called out to Toxy.
"Thanks for looking after the kids. You must have been busy at the guild too, right? Good job."
"You were also busy running around the guild, right? So, good job to you too."
We exchanged words and shrugged our shoulders. It was too pitiful to leave Ridge tied up, so I started to untie him.
"Was it a call from Frain? How was it?"
"Hmm? He said it's a big deal to crush Nightfather, so he needs my help."
"Ugh... Sounds tough."
"Really? I thought it would be better than the dungeon."
"Compared to the dungeon, everything seems better."
I was told that my comparison was off. Maybe she was right.
"Also, Nai mentioned that there's a demand for capturing dragons and hippogriffs. They're buying them at 3 to 4 times the market price, so we might consider doing that alongside Nightfather."
"Ah... capturing them alive."
Toxy seemed unsure about that too. I had thought Toxy would be interested in that, so I was surprised.
"Unsure? I thought capturing creatures was your specialty. Like, making sleeping potions."
"Yeah, well, that's true. But if we can just make them in advance and hand them over, it might become a bit boring. So, it doesn't seem as fun."
I chuckled at those words.
"It's better to have fun, huh?"
"Yeah... Why are you grinning like that?"
"Oh, I just thought it was funny that Toxy, who said she'd be the voice of reason, was thinking that way."
"Oh, you mean that? But it makes sense, right? We're all already at the gold rank."
After finishing untying Ridge, I said, "I guess so.". "Thank you. Finally, I'm free... Moruru~!" "Ahh! Ridge is coming to get me!" The 2 kids seemed to be having fun.
"So, Toxy, do you prefer Nightfather's side?"
"Rather than that, I think I'm fine with either. Making sleeping potions in advance seems convenient."
"Got it. I need to ask everyone about their hopes to some extent."
I sit on the sofa, holding Moruru, while thinking a bit.
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