Defiled Hero Chapter 012
Defiled Hero

Guildmaster

In short, because I have uncommon strength and an unknown past, the guild probably wants to put a collar on me if possible.

「Izayoi. I'll get right to the point... Who or what are you?」 (Guildmaster)

「I'm an adventurer on an uninteresting journey.」 (Izayoi)

「...I want to get this over with as quickly as possible, alright? Do you think lying to me will make it go faster?」 (Guildmaster)

With an oppressive tone of voice lacking kindness, the master asked me again. Even though she's the mother of a child, she's the strongest one in the guild.

Capable of using various weapons and magic, mostly of King cla.s.s, I learned how to use weapons from her, aside from the sword. I don't know if she's still active now.

「Your inquisition is pointless. How much do you know about me?」 (Izayoi)

「I don't intend to back down one step... I couldn't find any information from the town of Arona. What I do know is that your strength is at least Emperor rank.」 (Guildmaster)

Of course there's no information on me. There's none to begin with.

「You're the one that broke off the fang of the A-rank monster Aspis, right? Furthermore, the issue at Laketown ended with zero casualties because of your strength. The people concerned didn't say anything about it though.」 (Guildmaster)

I thought Bernando and the local lord Alfred would have leaked information to the guild, but apparently they're surprisingly cooperative guys.

「Feigning ignorance is meaningless, I don't deny that. So, what would you have me do? Make a contract with the guild? Or perhaps pledge allegiance to the king?」 (Izayoi)

「I'd be thankful if you did, but you're just saying that aren't you?」 (Guildmaster)

「Yeah, something like that.」 (Izayoi)

「You possess Emperor level strength. Even though I'm a guildmaster, I don't want to fight something Emperor rank... Lilia.」 (Guildmaster)

「Y, yes mo— master.」 (Lilia)

Standing behind the master, Lilia shivered while staring at the gryphon.

「You were with Izayoi for a bit, right? What kind of person would you say he is?」 (Guildmaster)

「Eh? Wh, what kind...」 (Lilia)

Lilia looked at me nervously. Why are you looking at me like how you look at the gryphon?

「He's conceited and foul-mouthed, as you can see!」 she declared with conviction, then immediately hid behind the master.

After sneaking glances at me, Lilia went on to add, 「But,」

「But, even though his personality is bad, he's not a bad person.」 (Lilia)

「I don't see him as a bad person. I called you to find out what kind of person you are. It would be good if you are willing to work with the guild, but you've shown no signs of compliance, so I've given up on that.」 (Guildmaster)

「...Anything else? I said earlier that I'm not interested in becoming Emperor rank.」 (Izayoi)

「I thought you'd say that. Becoming Emperor rank would grant various rights, and restrictions as well. However, I'm the master of the guild. Do you think I'll listen to your request?」 (Guildmaster)

「I don't think so. However, you don't have a gauge on my actual strength, so isn't it impossible to make me Emperor rank?」 (Izayoi)

「Yes. Therefore, I have a proposal.」 (Guildmaster)

「An exchange?」 (Izayoi)

「Well, something like that. The gryphon and the girl...」 (Guildmaster)

Is it that after all? If there's a problem with the guild, it would be this room.

The number of tamed monsters is not small. The biggest problem is the tamed A-rank monster. The best tamer in the world should only have been able to tame a C-rank monster.

It's an A-rank monster, and it's obeying a small girl to boot.

「The truth is, I have urgent business I must attend to after leaving this town. When that happens, there will be n.o.body to watch over it. I've asked many different people, but they were all too afraid to take responsibility.」 (Guildmaster)

Of course. It's an A-rank monster, a gryphon. If a fight broke out, only a high-ranking party could deal with it.

「It's been tamed so there's no concern about it going on a rampage, but the master is still a young girl, so there's no trust. If there's n.o.body with the appropriate strength to accompany the gryphon, then it'll become a problem.」 (Guildmaster)

「So you want me to watch over them?」 (Izayoi)

Looking to the side, the gryphon stared at me intensely with a menacing look.

「The period is two weeks. Helping out this much is enough. There's even a reward.」 (Guildmaster)

「I'm not in need of money, and there are a lot of demerits...」 (Izayoi)

...like having to put up with them for two weeks. But if you think about it normally, it probably isn't too bad. If I make any case to refuse, she's going to put Emperor-rank restrictions on me.

It's better to pa.s.s the time without trouble if possible, but the benefits for me are few. For two weeks, watch over the girl and the gryphon, and get a reward. I absolutely do not need money. I have 80 gold coins right now, equal to 800,000 yen.

If I accept this deal, what else could I get...

「Hey, guildmaster. On a different note, is Blacksmith Bogan still in this town?」 (Izayoi)

Blacksmith Bogan. A dwarven blacksmith in this world with only one arm. A straight-laced man who hates standing out, and uses an alias while going about from place to place, a man with many mysteries.

I met Bogan in this town six years ago. During the time when I went around with Zenesys destroying demons, we visited Bogan to get Zenesys' sword fixed, which broke during a fight with a strong demon.

「Bogan is here in this town... You aren't just anybody since you know about him, are you?」 (Guildmaster)

Interest and doubt mixed in the eyes of the guildmaster.

「Who is Bogan the Blacksmith? Is he famous?」 Lilia asked the master with great interest.

It's normal to not know about him. The only ones that know about him in this town are the guildmaster and I. If we told anyone about him, he would go live somewhere else I'm sure.

「I'm sorry, Lilia. He would get mad if I said anything.」 (Guildmaster)

「N, no fair! Please explain!」 (Lilia)

Discontent, the girl who didn't know wished for an explanation.

「You want to know?」 (Izayoi)

「Yes, I want to know.」 (Lilia)

「Even though I saved you, and with no feelings of grat.i.tude, but criticism instead...」 (Izayoi)

Remembering the exchange we had on the way from Arona, I looked into the distance a bit.

A bitter expression surfaced on Lilia's face. After mulling it over for a few seconds, her curiosity seemed to overcome her sense of pride.

「I'm sorry! You saved the town and where I should have given thanks, and I apologize for only saying rude things! You are an amazingly good person!」 (Lilia)

She desperately lowered her head and apologized.

Just reflecting on what happened is good enough.

「Is that so, I understand.」 (Izayoi)

Having said that, Lilia looked up to face me, eyes shining with expectation.

「Your sentiments have been received. I'll forgive you for your previous behavior. ——But that is that, and this is this. Even if Lilia is a good child, there's nothing to tell her in the first place. And so, guildmaster. Would you write us a letter of introduction for Bogan? I would like that for my reward this time.」 (Izayoi)