▼Viro Dawn　Race：Human?Rank ４

【Magic Power：１７２／２２０】△30UP　【Stamina：２８３／３２０】△10UP

【Overall Combat Strength：１０５６（With Body Strengthening：１２８１）】△156UP

Viro too had his combat strength grew a lot throughout these three years. With his age it should be difficult to experience a rapid growth in status, so I guessed he mainly grew in his sorcery skill.

With this number he should be able to fight even not weakened orc soldier head on. Furthermore he had combat experiences from many years, so I guessed it would be difficult to win against him fair and square with my current strength.

「........」

I returned the black knife into the sheath and attached it on my back waist, then I turned toward Galbas and took the finished pendulum blades.

「It’s magic steel even though said that it would be magic iron. Is the way to clean it the same like before?」

「Yeah, excellent work aren’t they? You need to mix in just a bit of granite to turn iron into steel, but in magic iron’s case you need to mix some powder of magic stone to turn it into magic steel. If someone unskilled do it then its strength will lower even as its hardness increase.」

「Oi? What’s with you two?」

Viro said something like an explanation when I directed my killing intent to him, but he seemed taken aback and looked alternately at Galbas and me.

「It was only a joke just now. You tried to sneak up on a scout, so we’re even right?」

「GAHAHAHAHAH, Viro boy, you got outwitted by your student-! This is why you always got tricked by woman-」

「Stop calling me boy already Galbas. Also why’re you mentioning woman here!」

Galbas drank alcohol while slapping his knee. Viro looked exhausted and sat down on a nearby bench. Any job that Viro brought would be troublesome thing in the end, but I at least trust him to not “sell” me out and vice versa.

Besides his relationship with that “organization” was simply the relationship of client and adventurer. He also wasn’t someone who would willingly be hostile to his student.

Viro looked somewhat resentfully at us while frowning before sighing once more.

「Even so, Aria. ....You have changed too much in these three years, and not just in appearance. What’s with that combat strength? A kid shouldn’t be that strong you know?」

「Long time no see. You’ve also gotten stronger Viro?」

I now looked thirteen or fourteen years old. Now I rarely got treated like a kid although sometimes I was still addressed as a brat. Setting aside the thickness of my body, I had grown to be at least as tall as an adult female.

For some reason Viro’s face twitched slightly when I let out my honest comment after seeing his combat strength.

「Oi, ash covered. That boy retrained himself in sorcery and some other things fearing that he might get overtaken by his student you know? In fact he is about to get overtaken for real though! GAHAHAHAHAH」

「I’m telling you that’s not the case.」

Viro glared at Galbas before returning his gaze to me.

「A lot of things happened even after you vanished. It’s true that “organization” is looking for you, but Sera and her son are also worried for you. Then a while after that there were rumors about someone who got called with exaggerated title like Ash Crowned Princess. Rumors like this person getting into quarrel with the assassin guild and thief guild, or that a branch guild somewhere got destroyed. That kind of crazy rumors kept popping out.」

Viro poured Galbas’s alcohol into a cup without asking and gulped it down.

「The underworld seems vast but it’s also small. There it’s possible to unexpectedly run into some guy who has been making waves, so it’s only natural for everyone to be on their guard right? The more someone know about the underworld, the more they will avoid making those two guilds into enemy. ....Well, I don’t know any other brat who will do something absurd like that other than you though.」

「....I see.」

Other than me, that black haired girl might also be capable of doing the same thing though.....

Anyway, it looked like Viro was practically convinced that I was still alive thanks to the “nickname”, or rather the “notorious name” that the thief guild assigned to me.

Viro must be looking for me too, but he said that it was a coincidence that he found me here. He said that he came to this baron territory for an adventurer work and he planned to ask Galbas to create something that he might use for another job.

Was this “another job” the business that he wanted me to help out with?

「Galbas, you’ll finish with the dagger’s repair by tomorrow right?」

「I guess. I’ll finish by then even with my work of repairing this boy’s weapon. And what’re you gonna do about the throwing knives? I got ten of them if you don’t mind some thin knives.」

「That’s fine. I’ll come for them tomorrow.」

I made that request to Galbas and received the pendulum blades before turning toward Viro.

「I have business in the adventurer guild so let’s talk outside.」

.

I left Galbas’s workshop together with Viro. I also stopped by at Victor’s general store to let him know that I was alive while also buying some secondhand mantel. I also handed him several silver coins to deliver food and alcohol to Galbas’s place.

「Ash covered....if it’s you, you should be able to buy a mantle that suit a rank 3 rather than rackety thing like that right?」

「In my case, it’ll become scrap in half a month at the shortest.」

「I see....」

Galbas wouldn’t receive any payment for the black dagger too, so I wanted to pay him with things like this....did Viro also has the same reason for bringing things like material or magic stone to Galbas?

After that we headed toward the adventurer guild. On the way there Viro got interested with the leather bag I was carrying.

「Is your business at the adventurer guild related to that sack? You didn’t sell it to the general store’s old man. Did you take some kind of material gathering quest?」

「Well, something like that.」

As expected the adventurer guild that had been taking a lot of actions in regard to the orcs would be troubled if I didn’t hand the orc general’s magic stone to them at laest. If it was that receptionist lady, she would surely help me out.

「Well, I also planned to show up at the guild, so it’s nice timing.」

「What did you do?」

「I didn’t do anything. Rather there is this 『grave matter』 currently troubling this territory. The guild want to ask this great me to take command until they can find a party of rank 4 or above. It’ll delay my actual job somewhat but, it can’t be helped this time.」

「Hee....」

Was there another problem coming up here? Also the words 『grave matter』 reminded me of how I was being targeted, so let’s warn Viro just in case.

「Ah, also, I think Viro knows already but, you might get dragged into trouble if you’re seen with me, but if it’s you Viro, there won’t be any problem won’t it?」

「....By that, do you mean that you trust in my skill? Or, it means that you don’t care what’ll happen to me?」

Viro looked toward me with narrowed eyes. I tilted my head a little.

「Both?」

If it was Viro then even if he got dragged into my trouble, he would surely deal with it skillfully. He grimaced. Perhaps he finally remembered that I was being targeted by the underworld.

「Well, I also have something to tell you about that. If you “help” me out, I’ll create a situation where it’ll be difficult for the underworld to try anything with you, though it’s impossible to make it completely gone. What do you think?」

「....In the end, what’s this job about?」

Viro stopped walking and looked straight at me. He began to talk with an unusually serious look.

「This is also something related to you but, even if I don’t manage to contact you, I still plan to do it with one other person. It’ll be really close if I do it myself with just one more person, but the success rate will go up if you also join as support. Listen well Aria, the job this time is──」

「........」

Viro told me the detail ambiguously because we were still at the side of a main road. Hearing the content made me to grimace too like him just now.

....As I thought, it was a “troublesome matter”. I secretly sighed because I absolutely couldn’t refuse this offer from Viro.

.

When we arrived at the adventurer guild, the tension inside was even higher than before and there were also a lot of adventurers with uneasy look. I found that receptionist lady at the counter amidst such atmosphere. She also noticed me and stood up while waving her hand.

「Aria-san, welcome back. I’m glad that you manage to return safely....oh, you. So you’re here.」

「I’ve been beside this girl the whole time you know-!?」

The smile that the receptionist lady directed at me turned into a frown for an instant. Viro leaned forward and protested.

「My apologies. Aria-san is too radiant that her surrounding becomes shadowy.」

「Aren’t you being too cold to me!? I had even treated you to dinner.」

「A good man won’t bring up that kind of thing every time.」

「Gununu....」

I thought that she had forgotten him, but it looked like they were getting along really well. Someone with her personality wouldn’t even say any complain if she genuinely disliked him.

「Anyway, the guild master is waiting for you Viro-san. Ah, in that case I should listen to your report first.」

The receptionist lady put on her working face and looked toward me with a serious gaze.

「....Aria-san, how was the situation at the scene? I will report it to the guild master if you have important information.」

「Yes. The higher ranked orcs were already gone.」

「........Yes?」

The receptionist lady’s business smile froze solid. Viro’s neck moved like a rusty cogwheel and he stared at me unblinkingly.

....Aa, I see. So the serious incident that Viro talked about was the matter of orcs.

For me it was already a finished business so I didn’t even really keep it in mind anymore. While I was thinking like that, familiar faces from among the adventurers in the lobby saw me and came running.

「Aria-!」

「You’re safe, thank god.」

Those two were the slum orphans Gil and Shuri. ....No, I guess they were adventurers now. The two of them were rejoicing in my safety while at the same time showing expressions that couldn’t fully hide their uneasiness.

「A-and, how was the town?」

「....This uncle, is he Aria’s father? You two don’t look similar though.」

「Like I keep saying, I’m still 38....」

That was older than even my father though.

「That town isn’t under any threat anymore.」

「Eh....」

Gil didn’t get it and tilted his head. The receptionist lady also broke free from shock by her own power and leaned forward across her counter.

「What do you mean by that? Did the orc general go to somewhere else?」

「I brought this with me. Please confirm it.」

I placed the leather sack on top of the counter and a lot of magic stones spilled out from it. Everyone’s eyes widened seeing the orc general’s magic stone that was the size of an adult’s fist.

Viro hurriedly grasped that magic stone and observed it with a glare.

「Aria....this, is orc general’s magci stone ain’t it-!」

「EEEEEH!? Wait, then, these larger stones are from the higher rank? Orc soldiers!? Other than them there are also fifty stones of the normal orcs!?」

「Yes.」

「Saying yes like that, Aria you....」

Viro was making an exasperated face but, what else could I say?

Also, it seemed by using Appraisal on the remaining magic power in the magic stone, you could learn where that magic stone came from. So Appraisal could also be used at non-living thing....but, thinking carefully it was called Appraisal, so obviously it was originally used to investigate object rather than human.

The two adults started using Appraisal to the many magic stones. The truth seemed to be too shocking that their voices were getting louder. The other adventurers who listened were starting to make a stir.

....Troublesome.

「Check the truth later. I think a report from the adventurers who are in that town will also come after several days. And, can you buy the magic stones from me?」

When I told them that dispassionately, the astounded receptionist lady hurriedly nodded her head.

「Y-yes, of course. But, if possible please explain to the guild master....」

「It’ll sound unbelievable anyway even if I told the story. You’ll learn what happen when the adventurers from that town return, so I won’t give any pointless explanation. Then, I’ll come for the payment of the magic stones at another day.」

「Eeeeh!? You’re leaving!?」

「Aria-!? Wait a second-!」

「Viro-san, please don’t run away-! I won’t be able to explain this to the guild master by myself-!」

The receptionist lady grabbed Viro who tried to follow after me and detained him.

I wouldn’t be believed even if I claimed that I defeated the orcs until the adventurers from the town returned back anyway, so I judged that it would be just a waste of time to stay here.

I pushed off everything to the “adults” before it became troublesome and turned my back on the confused receptionist lady and Viro who got captured by her. As I started walking like that, several adventurers who were standing in the lobby silently moved out of my way.

I went outside by taking advantage of the chaos like that. Gil and Shuri chased after me only because they didn’t really understand the “adult circumstance” and followed me to the back alley.

.

「Aria? I don’t really follow what’s going on but....」

「You’re so stupid Nii-chan. Aria had done something with the orcs, isn’t that right?」

「Something like that. There might be still several remaining, but they had ceased being a problem.」

「Aria....」

I spoke clearly to reassure them. Gil’s eyes moistened and he moved to grab my hand, but Shuri slapped his hand down and grabbed my hand with both hands.

「Aria....thank you.」

「It’s fine. More importantly, it’ll be better if you don’t get seen together with me.」

「Yes....I hope your problem will also get resolved soon! See you later again, Aria-. Come on Onii-chan, we’re going.」

「O-oi, Shuri! Aria, thanks! See you-!」

Shuri grabbed Gil’s hand and dragged him away. The two kept looking back and I too lightly waved my hand back and muttered 「See you」 with a small voice.

“See you” huh....I wonder when I would become able to speak normally with them?

「....Come out.」

I called out. Then three young men appeared from the darkness of the alley.

「Oi oi, this girl, she noticed us yeah.」

「I heard the rumor but, she’s really a young girl huh.」

「Really, just why are the seniors saying “not to do anything” to a little girl like this?」

They were young adventurers who were at their late teens or early twenty. All of them were wearing slightly dirty leather armor. They looked like a party or light warrior or scout.

All of them got combat strength around 130....rank 2 at the lower end I guess. But, I got an idea of their “true identity” from their conversation.

「....”Thief Guild” huh. The other thief said that they won’t antagonize me though?」

The thieves grinned condescendingly when I said that.

「Oi oi, little girl shouldn’t act tough.」

「That “uncle” looked strong but, you messed up by going out alone.」

「The seniors said not to do anything but, if we can catch and drag you back, we won’t only get accepted as formal members, we might even get promoted to the leadership in one shot-」

「........」

I see, they were the thief guild’s grunt....no, they were just thugs that were even lower than that.

Most likely this “senior” that they mentioned received order directly from the thief guild’s top brass, but it seemed the grunt only received half-hearted explanation.

That was why they didn’t understand the danger of going against an order from “Thief Guild” and the reason why that guild decided to not antagonize me.

「You won’t get hurt if you come with us quietly yeah.」

「Throw away your weapon already.」

「Don’t ever think of resisting okay? If you try anything, who know what’ll happen to the brats just──」

*Hyun!*

A horizontal red line opened on the? throat of the man who lifted his face while speaking such thing condescendingly. A lot of blood then spurted out from there before the man collapsed.

「Eh....」

「O-oi....」

I threw the slashing type pendulum at another man who was bewildered and couldn’t keep up with the situation. His throat got cut open with that.

「....HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHH!?」

The last man got showered by the blood that spurted out like fountain and screamed while turning his back on me. The scythe type pendulum flew and grazed his neck. Then when I pulled on the string to pull it back, the blade sunk deeply into his carotid artery and deeply tore his neck.

「........」

....So even this kind of thugs were picking a fight with me.

I could just defeat anyone who picked a fight with me. That was what I thought before, and that thought hadn’t changed even now but, it wasn’t my intention to expose even “ordinary people” like Gil and Shuri to danger because of that.

If I kept turning the table on all attackers, one day they would think that getting involved me was bad luck and stopped attacking. But that day wasn’t “now”.

Viro promised that he would make a situation where it would be difficult for the assassin guild and thief guild to lay their hand on me if I helped with his “job”. But even without that I didn’t have the option of refusing that job.

It was work for──

.

「Assassinating the traitor, Grave....」