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Translator: Barnnn
The meeting that followed turned out to be almost disarmingly straightforward.
What Hal had feared most — a relentless barrage of baseless accusations from the Deputy Guild Master — never came to pass. Instead, the questions he faced were measured and practical, asked primarily by the city guard captain and the Union branch head.
The smooth progression of the meeting was, Hal realized, due in no small part to Ize’s uncanny ability to neutralize tension. From her perch in the corner, she launched into an endless stream of cheerful chatter directed at the Deputy Guild Master, who appeared to have surrendered entirely to her infectious energy.
“…and then Hal went boom with his water magic! And the guards were all slash-swish-swish with their swords! Everyone was so cool!”
“Ah, I see, I see,” Iserdo replied, nodding with exaggerated enthusiasm.
“Also, Mister Iserdo, these snacks are so yummy! Oh, and you know, we had these other cookies once — crunchy, crispy, handmade ones! They were sooo good, but we can’t get them anymore…”
“I-is that so?” Iserdo’s smile grew increasingly strained. “Well, feel free to eat as much of these as you like.”
“Thank you!”
Each exchange between Ize and the increasingly flustered Deputy Guild Master was a test of Hal’s composure — his effort to keep a straight face took as much strength as a session of abdominal workout.
By the time the meeting concluded, Ize and Iserdo had developed an absurd rapport, referring to each other as “Mister Ise” and “Li’l Ize” — a development that both amused and faintly unnerved Hal.
[Ize’s terrifyingly good at this,] Hal mused, shaking his head.
The meeting wasn’t without its revelations, though, and several important pieces of information came to light.
First and most welcome was the confirmation that both the Guild and the Union would be compensating them handsomely. The Guild’s reward was for slaying a high-ranking Mystic Beast, while the Union’s gratuity was for their role in protecting and rescuing passengers during the attack. Hal had anticipated payment from the Union, but the additional reward from the Guild was a pleasant surprise.
Second, the fate of the deserter Hekirt was revealed. The city guards had found him near the scene of the battle.
He initially attempted to concoct a story about seeking reinforcements. However, his claim didn’t hold up under scrutiny, as it contradicted the testimonies of the other horsebus guards. The Union, taking the matter seriously, planned to request a Truth Verification from the Merchants’ Guild. The mere mention of this expensive and legally binding process was enough to shatter Hekirt’s fabricated story. He quickly abandoned his defense and admitted to fleeing the battle.
The Truth Verification was notorious not only for its accuracy but also for its cost — ten times, or more, the fee charged for appraising rare antiques or artworks. Because its results could serve as definitive evidence in court, the process was priced accordingly. And for those found guilty of lying, the penalty was steep: they were personally liable for the verification fees. This threat alone was often enough to compel confessions before the process even began.
Hekirt, like so many before him, succumbed to the pressure. While his desertion didn’t legally make him responsible for the deaths of two passengers who had perished before his escape, he was convicted of abandoning his duties as a guard.
As Hal and Ize listened to the details, they couldn’t help but shudder at the sheer cost of the verification process. It was no wonder Hekirt had folded so quickly; better a tarnished record than financial ruin.
With the meeting behind them, the Mystic Beast attack receded into the past, reduced to a story to be told and a reward to be collected.
The weight of responsibility lifted from their shoulders as Hal and Ize strolled back to their lodging.
Once inside their room, they sprawled out on the floor, snacking on potato chips from Ize’s Magic Bag as they reflected on the day’s events.
“So, Ize,” Hal began, reaching for another chip, “what made you run to the station so quickly? Did you get any rest at all?”
Ize paused mid-crunch, her expression casual yet slightly sheepish. “About ten minutes, maybe. When I woke up, I checked my Perception map as usual, and guess what? Enemy markers were near your location. I panicked, of course, and ran straight to the station. On the way, I ended up crying my eyes out to one of the guards — like full-on, ‘My big bro’s in danger, waaah!'” She buried her face in her hands. “So embarrassing.”
Hal chuckled softly, his voice full of gratitude. “That quick thinking of yours really saved us, though. You’re amazing, you know that?”
As they crunched through the snacks, Hal decided to fill Ize in on the true nature of the Deputy Guild Master — a man who, to Ize, had seemed nothing more than a kind, if awkward, middle-aged figure.
“Ah,” Ize said, her eyes narrowing with realization. “So that’s why you told me to ‘act like a kid.’ I knew something wasn’t right… Still, it’s odd. His marker’s color shifted from red to yellow the moment he saw me.”
“Yellow, huh?” Hal mused, stroking his chin. “Maybe if you’d been there from the start, he wouldn’t have been such a pain.”
“MAYBE.” Ize shrugged. “But lumping people in with small animals? I can’t agree with that.”
“Well, with how short you are, at least a few guys are bound to call you a shrimp–”
“Hal?”
Before he could react, Ize’s hand moved with the speed of lightning with the activation of her Fleet Foot skill.
A stick-shaped snack flew with unerring precision, straight into Hal’s nostril.
“Ow!” Hal yelped, clutching his face.
Ize stared at her hand, seemingly surprised by her own reflexes.
Then, with a solemn shake of her head, she muttered, “I shouldn’t have played with food. It’s wrong. It wounds the soul.”
“What’s wounded is my nose,” Hal grumbled, his voice muffled. “Please don’t do that again.”
“The safety of your nostrils depends entirely on what you say, Hal.”
“…Understood. I’ll tread carefully.”
“Make sure you do.”
◆
Later that day, the duo relocated from the city guards’ barracks to a quaint inn nearby, one highly recommended by the horsebus guards. According to Ize, the true reason for the recommendation lay in the inn’s culinary reputation — a claim she had decided was worthy of her trust.
“All right!” Ize exclaimed as they settled in. “Now that we’re finally free, can we get started on sightseeing in Abrol?”
“Sure, I can’t see why not,” Hal replied, stretching. “They asked us to stick around for a few days while they process the reward money, but otherwise, we’re free to do whatever.”
“Perfect. I’ve done plenty of research through word of mouth during the bus ride, so this is going to be a well-planned tour!”
“Oh, that reminds me… Tomorrow, we’re having a meal with the horsebus guards. The driver might join us too, depending on his schedule.”
“Got it!” Ize’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Let’s make sure they treat us.”
“…You’re just assuming they’ll foot the bill?” Hal asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Wish hard enough, and it might come true, you know?” Ize chuckled with a cheeky grin. “Besides, it’s not like I can eat as much as the people in this world, so it won’t even dent their wallets.”
“Yeeeah… I’m sure they’ll appreciate that.”
“Of course! A bargain to treat, and a polite dinner guest — what more could they ask for?”
◆
The following morning, before embarking on their much-anticipated sightseeing adventure, Hal and Ize made their way to the border checkpoint to secure the necessary documentation for their journey into Tajellia.
The process, they’d heard during their horsebus ride, was straightforward — travelers could simply fill out the forms themselves — but it could be expedited with a recommendation or guarantor.
Adventurers, particularly, turned to the local Adventurers’ Guild for assistance — and a bustling branch in a border city like this dealt with such formalities every day.
Hal had assumed this would be just a quick, painless affair.
His assumption was misplaced.
“Mister Ise! Great work today!” Ize’s cheerful voice rang out the moment they stepped into the Adventurers’ Guild.
“Oh, li’l Ize! What a surprise!” Deputy Guild Master Iserdo’s gruff face split into an uncharacteristic grin. “What brings you here today?”
“We’re here to fill the papers we need to cross the border!”
“Ah, I see, I see. Well, that’s no trouble at all. I’ll handle it for you personally. A recommendation from me should smooth things over nicely — more so than the clerks over the counter.”
“Really!? Wow, with how important you are, Mister Ise, that’ll be a huge help! You’re amazing!”
“Hahaha, I do my best! Still… I’m a little sad to hear you’re leaving soon. Couldn’t you stay a while longer?”
“Hmm… I do like it here, but we’re searching for our Dad. He might not even know Mom’s passed away. It’s been so long since we’ve seen him… I’m not even sure if he remembers what we look like.”
“I-I see…” Iserdo cleared his throat, clearly thrown off by the sudden turn. “Well then! Enough of that. Let’s get you sorted out. Follow me to my office — ah, Hal, was it? You come too.”
“Yes, sir,” Hal replied, inclining his head respectfully.
“All right then, this way, li’l Ize.”
“We get to see your office? That’s so cool!”
“Of course, of course,” Iserdo said with a chuckle. “I’ll even have tea and snacks brought up.”
“Snacks too!? This just keeps getting better!”
As the three made their way through the Guild, Hal couldn’t ignore the ripple of whispers that followed them.
Iserdo’s uncharacteristically jovial demeanor, coupled with his unprecedented personal involvement in someone’s paperwork, drew curious, even suspicious, gazes from the other adventurers.
Hal could practically feel the weight of their stares pressing down on him, while Ize remained blissfully unaware, chatting away with the Deputy Guild Master as though they were old friends.
[I want out of here. Now,] Hal thought miserably.
As if reading his thoughts — though Hal was certain that wasn’t the case — Iserdo wasted no time ushering them into his office. The murmurs outside swelled as the door clicked shut, but Hal felt an immense wave of relief at simply escaping the prying eyes.
No sooner had they sat down than Ize launched into her chatter.
“So, Mister Ise, today we’re planning to try polpetta! Miss Ellie from the horsebus told me all about it. Have you had it before?”
“Of course! This is the perfect season for it — you’ve come here at just the right time.”
“That’s what Miss Ellie said, too! I can’t wait! I just hope my allowance is enough…”
“Don’t worry about that,” Iserdo said with a dismissive wave. “It’s not expensive. Oh, come to think of it… I have some delivered to my house every year. Why don’t I have my staff bring a batch over to your inn?”
“Are you sure? But won’t your family miss it if you send some to us?”
“No, on the contrary!” Iserdo laughed. “We own one of the farms where it’s grown. The harvesters send us far more than we could ever eat. By the end of the season, everyone in the house is absolutely sick of it. Honestly, you’d be doing me a favor by taking some off our hands.”
“Then I’ll be happy to help! I’ll eat it all and enjoy it for them!”
“Good, good! That’s the spirit!”
As their lively exchange continued, Hal sipped his tea and nibbled on sweets, wondering idly if he even needed to be here.
Ize had not only secured their paperwork but also scored a bounty of seasonal delicacies — all without breaking a sweat. Her knack for charming others into going above and beyond never ceased to amaze him.
Just as Hal was beginning to relax into the strange yet cozy atmosphere, a loud, impatient knock shattered the calm. Before anyone could respond, the door burst open with a bang.
“Iserdo! I heard you’ve got a Triple and a precocious one in here!”
Hal turned to face the intruder, his mind grappling with what he saw.
“A… bear?”
Not quite — but if this man were a bear, Hal thought, he’d be the kind to teach fire safety and wear a ranger’s hat.
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