第十八話 ギルド長ハレイン
本来D級冒険者がこれだけの額の魔石を一括で換金するとなるとややこしい手続きが必要になって来るそうだが、なぜか受付嬢がその辺りを躍起になって押し進めてくれたらしく、割かしスムーズに魔石の換金を終えることができた。
そして丁度その間に、ギルド長へのアポも取ってくれていたようだ。
忙しい人物だとは聞いていたが、幸いすぐに会えるとのことだった。
俺とルーチェは、受付嬢に連れられ、ギルドの奥へと進んでいた。
最奥部の扉の前で止まる。
どうやらここがギルド長の執務室らしい。
受付嬢が扉を叩く。
「ハレイン様! 先にお伝えしていた、冒険者の方々をお連れいたしました」
「......何の話か? 私はそのような用件は聞いていないが」
不機嫌そうな女の声が返ってくる。
「え......? た、他の職員の方からお聞きしていませんか?」
「まあよい。早く入れろ」
呆れたような溜め息が続いた。
「も、申し訳ございません、とても忙しい御方なので、どうやら少し手違いがあったようで......」
受付嬢が俺達へと頭を下げる。
どうやら間が悪かったのか、聞き流されていたのか。
既に面会許可が降りたと聞いていたのだが、少しばかり手違いがあったらしい。
「いや、話をできるのなら構わないんだが......」
ギルド長の執務室へと入る。
長い藍色の髪をした美人であった。
手にしていた扇子をぱたりと閉じる。
......この人が冒険者の都ラコリナの冒険者ギルドの頭目、ギルド長のハレインか。
細身の女ではあるが、その堂々とした佇まいのためか、妙な迫力と威厳があった。
ハレインの切れ長の目が、品定めするように俺達を見た。
ルーチェは彼女の視線に気圧されたように、ささっと俺の背に身を寄せた。
「......道化師と、重騎士か。なかなか珍しい組み合わせだ」
ハレインは続いて俺の鎧を見て、眉を顰める。
......低レベル向けの鎧なのを見抜かれたのかもしれない。
「マルチダ、彼らは?」
「と、都市ロンダルムから来たばかりの、D級冒険者だそうで......」
受付嬢が答える。
マルチダというのが彼女の名前であったらしい。
「ロンダルムの、D級冒険者......?」
ハレインが非難するようにマルチダを睨む。
そんな人間をわざわざ連れてくるな、と言外に言っているようであった。
「い、いえ、御二方は【Lv:60】の〈百足坑道〉を攻略したそうでして......! あの、実力の方は少なくとも、D級冒険者でもかなりの上位かと......!」
「ほほう? D級冒険者が二人で〈百足坑道〉を攻略したと......。それも、道化師と、重騎士の二人で、か。どちらも〈夢の主〉の攻略にはかなり不利なクラスだと思っていたのだが、それは面白いな。少し興味が出てきた」
ハレインの俺達を見る目が変わった。
やや不穏な空気ではあったが、この調子であれば話を聞き流されずに済みそうだ。
話が通っていなかったと聞いたときには、何を言ってもD級冒険者の戯言だと切り捨てられるのではないかと怖かったのだが、こちらの実績をきちんと評価してくれた。
......この人、観察眼が尋常ではない。
ハレインが薄い笑みを浮かべる。
......何か話す前から、前情報を少し聞いただけでこっちのことがどんどん透かされていく。
〉の出没する地の冒険者ギルドの長は、これ程までにやり手なものなのか。
いや、それだけでは説明のつかないものがあるように思う。
〉にも詳しいとすれば、もしやそち、貴族の人間か? 都市ロンダルムから来たという話であったが、はて、あそこの領主には、十五近くになる子息がいたか......?」
そ、そこまでわかるのか......。
俺は息を呑み、必死に表情を取り繕った。
ハレインは明らかに、俺の顔を見て反応を窺っている。
本当に誤魔化せているか?
いや、よっぽど動揺が表に出ない限りは、確信は持てないはずだ。
ひとまずはそれを誤魔化せれば......。
ルーチェがおろおろと、俺とハレインを交互に見ていた。
落ち着かないらしく、何度も自身の毛先を弄っている。
俺は額を押さえ、息を吐いた。
ハレインはルーチェの方を見て、ぼそりとそう呟いた。
......何をわかったのかはわからないが、不吉な予感しかしなかった。
「俺はエルマ......こちらの彼女は、ルーチェ。紹介に預かったように、ロンダルムの出の冒険者です。〈百足坑道〉で少しばかり異様な状況に見舞われましたので、どうしても直接ご報告がしたく、面会を希望させていただきました。お時間いただき、ありがとうございます」
俺は頭を下げ、そう口にする。
このままハレインに一方的に喋らせているのが不安になり、とっとと本題に入りたかったのもあるが、今の言葉は『平民のただのエルマとして来た』という意思表示であった。
貴族であれば、この流れで家名を名乗らないような真似はしない。
「気になることはあるが、そちらは追及しないでおいてやろう。私はハレイン・ハウルロッド......このラコリアの、冒険者ギルドのギルド長をやっている。そっちの男は既に察していそうだが、ハウルロッド侯爵家の分家筋の人間だ」
この冒険者の都ラコリナでは、冒険者ギルドは他の都市以上に大きな意味を持つ。
分家筋の人間をギルド長につけ、ギルドと貴族家が円滑に連携を取れるようにしているようだ。
Volume 2 - Ch 18
Apparently, for D rank adventurers to exchange this many magic stones in one go, they'd have to go through a tedious procedure. However for some reason the receptionist girl desperately pushed through all that, leading to an unexpectedly smooth process.
Also, while that was happening, she managed to get an appointment with the Guild Master too.
Fortunately, it seems that despite being described as busy, the Guild Master will be able to meet with us right away.
Luce and I were led by the receptionist girl deeper into the Guild.
We stopped in front of the innermost door.
It seems this was the office of the Guild Master.
The receptionist girl knocked on the door.
"Hallein-sama! I've brought the adventurers you've been told about just now."
"....what are you talking about? I haven't heard anything like that."
An irritated woman's voice came back in response.
"Huh....? Didn't another staff member come here to notify you just now?"
"No matter. Hurry up and let them in."
A sigh of exasperation followed.
"I-I'm terribly sorry, she is a very busy person and it seems there was some kind of miscommunication...."
The receptionist girl bowed her head to us.
It seems this may have been a bad time, or she just did not pay enough attention.
We've been told that she already agreed to a meeting, but apparently that was a mistake.
"Well, I don't really mind if we get to talk to her....."
We entered the Guild Master's office.
She was a beautiful woman with long, indigo hair.
The folding fan in her hand closed with a snap.
....so this was Guild Master Hallein, the leader of the adventurers' guild of La Colina, the City of Adventurers.
Although she was a slender woman, perhaps due to the way she held herself, she gave off a strangely imposing and dignified aura.
Hallein's almond eyes ran over us, taking our measure.
Feeling pressured by her gaze, Luce quickly hid herself behind my back.
"....a Clown and a Heavy Knight, huh. That's a fairly strange combination."
As her eyes landed on my armor, her brows furrowed.
.....she probably noticed that it's an armor set for low level people.
"Maltida, who are they?"
"They are apparently D rank adventurers who just arrived recently from the city of Rondalm....."
The receptionist girl answered.
It seems her name was Maltida.
"D rank adventurers, from Rondalm....?"
Hallein started sharply glaring at Maltida.
She seemed to say 'why would you bring someone like that to me' without actually saying it.
"T-this lady and gentleman apparently cleared out the [(Lv:60)]  Centiped Pit by themselves.....! In terms of ability, they should be among the top even among C rank adventurers....!"
"Hohoh? Two D rank adventurers managed to clear out the Centipede Pit, you say.... As a Clown and Heavy Knight to boot too, huh. I was under the impression that both of those Classes were at a disadvantage against a Dream Lord, how interesting. Now you've got my attention."
The way Hallein was looking at us changed all of a sudden.
That felt a bit sinister, but now it's less likely that she will let what I have to say go in one ear and out the other.
When I heard that she wasn't properly notified of us, I thought she would just disregard everything we say as nonsense coming from two D rank adventurers, but it seems she properly recognized our accomplishments.
....the observation skills of this woman were clearly above the norm.
Hallein gave a slight smile.
....she was deducing the situation from what little she heard before I even get to present my story.
I wonder if all the Guild Masters in charge of territories where high level Dungeons spawn are also this competent?
No, I don't think it's that simple.
"Hmm, that calm and composed bearing and refined features....and also being fairly knowledgeable about Dungeons. Are you, perhaps, someone from the nobility? Apparently you came from the city of Rondalm, and I seem to recall the Lord of that territory having a son who was about 15 years old...."
She even managed to get that far....
I desperately tried to maintain my expression.
Hallein was obviously studying my face to check my reaction to her words.
Did I manage to fool her with that?
Well, as long as I don't lose my cool noticeably, then she can't be sure of it.
First, I need to dodge this line of questioning entirely....
Luce was looking between me and Hallein, looking flustered.
It seems she was still anxious and started to fiddle with her hair too.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a sigh.
Hallein whispered after looking at Luce.
....I don't know what she got from that, but I have a bad feeling about it.
"My name is Elma..... and she is Luce. Like we were introduced, we are adventurers from Rondalm. There was a strange incident we came across in the Centipede Pit, which I wanted to report directly, so I asked for a face-to-face meeting. Thank you for taking time for us."
I said and bowed my head.
I wanted to get to the main topic since I was anxious about letting Hallein speak any further too, but it was mainly to express that I'm here as a simple commoner.
Generally, nobles would always introduce themselves with their family name at this point.
"I'm still curious about some things, but I won't try to dig further for now. My name is Hallein Howlod ....and I'm the Guild Master of the adventurers' guild for La Colina. That man was apparently already aware of this, but I'm from a branch house of the Howlod Family."
In La Colina, the City of Adventurers, the adventurers guild is much more important than most other places.
It seems they've put a person from their branch house into the position of the Guild Master to best coordinate the Guild's and the noble family's activities with each other.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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