ch1-ch20 · 017-ch17

Chapter 17: Guild

When I woke up, I was in an unfamiliar room.

Wait, I remembered. We stayed at the guild last night.

"Same terrible sleeping position as always..."

"Zzz... zzz..."

"Look at that happy little face."

Lumiel was breathing softly with her arms wrapped around my chest. Lucky for me, today was a day off, so I'd be fine going back to sleep just like this.

"Wait, when's the test?"

A test I absolutely can't fail.

I haven't heard when or where it starts.

There's no way I'd get disqualified for sleeping in... right?

"Lumiel-san. Lumiel-san."

"Nn... mm?"

"I don't wanna get disqualified, so I'd like to get up."

"What's... dis-qual-i-fied?"

I peeled her off, still half-asleep, and checked my phone. It was exactly 8 AM. Surely this was still fine.

The smell of coffee wafted from somewhere.

Maybe Momose-san was already up.

I woke Lumiel up and headed toward the smell, opening the door.

On the opposite side of the guest room, I pushed open a half-closed door to find a spacious living room with a large kitchen and dining table.

Someone was already sitting there.

They were drinking coffee with a magazine in one hand. But it didn't seem to be Momose-san.

"Um—"

"..."

"Uh, good morning."

"Hm?"

Our eyes finally met.

He looked younger than me, his hair dyed a beautiful white. His eyes were emerald green, and somehow his features didn't seem quite Japanese.

Jewel-like earrings, a well-tailored suit.

Just based on appearance — "Charisma Host."

"Ah, you're the newbie I've heard about."

"That's me. Um, nice to meet you."

"Don't bother with greetings. I haven't acknowledged you in the first place."

Oh great, there's another person who hasn't acknowledged me.

Am I really allowed to join this guild?

After curtly saying that, the white-haired guy went back to enjoying his coffee, eyes on his magazine.

Damn it, I want coffee too.

Why do I get such a craving for it in the morning? Probably this smell, this kind of burnt aroma—

Burnt aroma?

"What the— Lumiel-san!?"

"What's that smell... Whoaaa!?"

There was Lumiel, in the kitchen, making breakfast (currently on fire).

"Making breakfast" my ass! Fire! Put it out!

"Tch." The red-haired guy clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers, and the flames vanished from Lumiel's cooking.

"What the hell are you doing!?"

Scolded, Lumiel muttered "rolled egg" and divided the charred remains into three portions on plates. She handed one to the white-haired guy with a "here," and he accepted it, looking confused, saying "Uh, thanks?"

"'Thanks' is not the word!"

Flying into a rage again, the white-haired guy put on an apron at blinding speed, donned a head covering, cracked an egg, and expertly worked his chopsticks.

He toasted bread, sautéed sausages, and plated them with salad.

Scrambled eggs, octopus-sausages, salad with cheese and milk, and bread.

Perfect... A perfect breakfast.

"This is what a smart breakfast looks like. Got it?"

He swept his hair back as he took off his head covering.

The breakfast sparkled beautifully.

How smart.

"I-It's delicious!"

"It's good."

"Right? Right?"

Grateful for his smug attitude, we gracefully enjoyed breakfast. Also, I washed down Lumiel's rolled egg with milk without chewing.

His shout of "Wait, that's not—!" thundered through the room after we finished cleaning up.

◇◆◇◆◇

"My name is Shiki Mitsumune. Age 19. I'm a member of this guild."

After our self-introductions, he proudly introduced himself.

"How did you stop that fire earlier?"

"Hmph, I'm under no obligation to tell someone who isn't even an official member."

He brushed me off coldly. His hair was definitely white.

Did it just turn red from the flames, or was there another reason...?

"You ate my rolled egg, so now we have to be friends."

"You call that a rolled egg? That's charcoal."

"Char... coal...?"

"You use other people's kitchen, you set fires — I just can't understand it at all."

Shiki-kun, you're right!

You're right, but that's enough!

Lumiel's face is bright red!

"I can't accept someone who can't even properly raise a child. If it weren't for Akira-san's request, I wouldn't have any reason to cooperate—"

"Hey hey everyone, good morning."

Shiki-kun quieted down at Momose-san's entrance.

Lumiel stared at him with resentful eyes (glaring at him from right beside him).

"I'm glad you're all getting along. Speaking of which, Shiki-kun, could you show them around the facilities?"

"Me?! And for the record, we are not getting along."

"Oh, don't say that. Training newcomers is part of the job, isn't it?"

"Then Kunimori should be the one to do it. He's more junior than me."

"We don't know where Ren-kun is. So we can't rely on him."

"Grrrrrrr!"

After about five seconds of silence, Shiki-kun gave up and muttered, "...Fine."

◇◆◇◆◇

The guild's facilities existed underground beneath this house.

Behind the central staircase was a stairwell leading underground, and going down revealed a white, futuristic space.

The ceiling was about five meters high, and the corridor was equally wide — about five meters across — with doors leading to various rooms here and there. Gold plates were embedded above each door.

"First, this is the Mission Room. The strategy room. It has World Clock info, monster data, map projection functions, and operation simulations. That's it."

Listening to Shiki-kun's rather half-hearted explanation, I looked around the strategy room.

A large holographic monitor was installed on the wall, displaying various information in real time.

In the center was a round table where members could sit and hold meetings.

"Next up, this is the Lab & Workshop. Plainly put, the laboratory. Hey kid! Don't touch things without permission!"

"Lumiel, just look."

"Mmm."

The lab was quite spacious and had all kinds of stuff.

From a compact research lab where potions could be brewed and items analyzed, to a magic tool custom space where weapons and equipment could be enhanced through enchantment processing.

There was also a training room (virtual combat area) like the one in the detailed examination facility's basement, a library collecting various data, and even a stylish cafe-style relaxation space.

"Well, that's about it."

"This is amazing..."

"Right? It's smart, isn't it?"

He keeps saying "smart" — is that a verbal tic?

Thanks to Shiki-kun's thorough facility tour, it looked like I wouldn't be getting lost in the guild from now on. Apparently there were private rooms for other members too, but it seemed only the Master actually lived here.

"Alright then, now that the facility tour's over—"

Momose-san winked at me as he opened the training room door.

"Let's get started right away. The test."

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