After a two-day journey, Izayoi and the group safely returned to Terumusu without any incidents, eerily so.
Immediately upon their return, they headed to the Adventurer’s Guild for a report. One member did complain a bit, but Izayoi and Lilith placated him and rather forcibly took him along.
It was past noon, and the Adventurer’s Guild was not crowded. Still, it wasn’t empty. There were some hardy folk drinking away in broad daylight and a few people, like Izayoi’s group, reporting the completion of their tasks.
“Hm? Oh, isn’t that Miss Yuuka?”
“Ah, Giril-san.”
A man who had been talking with a guild staff member at the reception spotted Yuuka and raised his hand lightly. Yuuka also responded by raising her hand and went over to him.
He was Giril, a Rank B adventurer, and one of the few high-ranked adventurers in Terumusu. Among adventurers, who are often seen as rough, he had a relatively mild personality and was known for his caring nature. He occasionally gave advice to Yuuka, who was still very much a child inside and out.
“I haven’t seen you recently; where have you been?”
“Uh, we were investigating the Boundary Forest…”
“Ah, you too?”
“You as well, Giril-san?”
“Yeah, I was just reporting.”
Giril pointed to the guild staff member with his chin. The staff member smiled awkwardly at Yuuka.
Incidentally, this staff member was the one who handled Izayoi and the group’s adventurer registration. Initially, he was intimidated by Yuuka’s every move, but gradually warmed up to her sincere attitude. Now, they even engaged in casual conversation.
“How was it?”
“Well… to put it bluntly, it was abnormal. We didn’t go too deep into the forest, but still, there were too few monsters.”
“You too, Giril-san? We had a similar experience.”
“Others have reported the same.”
As they conversed, the staff member, report in hand, spoke. Both Giril and Yuuka frowned.
“What do you two think?”
The question was directed at Izayoi and Lilith, who had been silent observers. Lilith pondered for a moment before expressing her thoughts with a serious expression.
“I don’t think it’s simply a drastic reduction in the number of monsters. But there wasn’t a monster so strong that it would scare off all the others in the forest… However,”
Her expression deepened.
“There were signs. Part of the forest had been turned into scorched earth.”
At Lilith’s words, Yuuka flinched, while Izayoi remained impassive, feigning ignorance.
“What was the scale?”
“To replicate that, you’d probably need a high-ranking dragon.”
“…Seriously?”
A heavy voice resonated unusually in the guild. It seemed other adventurers and staff in the guild had been listening to their conversation, and everyone’s faces tightened at the severity of the situation. Some staff even paled.
In this tense atmosphere, Yuuka tugged at the hem of Izayoi’s robe.
“Hey, why does everyone look so cornered?”
Yuuka whispered, seemingly puzzled by the others who were pessimistic about a dragon.
Yes, just a dragon.
To be frank, both Izayoi and Yuuka had defeated dragons before arriving in Terumusu. Therefore, Yuuka didn’t feel particularly threatened by dragons. To her, the Demon Lord standing before her was a much greater threat.
But this was only true for Izayoi and Yuuka, who were exceptions. The values of the two did not apply to the other adventurers here. Moreover, Terumusu was severely lacking in manpower. Lilith was still the only A-rank adventurer. In such circumstances, if a high-ranking dragon appeared, the tense atmosphere was inevitable.
Izayoi explained the situation, and Yuuka nodded with a mixed expression.
“Anyway, we will report the findings to the higher-ups. The Borderlord will likely be advised to be on high alert. Please be careful when leaving the town, and report any abnormalities.”
At the staff’s call, most adventurers in the guild nodded with serious faces.
▼
“What do you think about the conversation earlier?”
After leaving the Adventurer’s Guild, parting with Lilith, and grabbing some street food for lunch, Yuuka asked, seemingly curious.
Izayoi had been completely silent at the guild, which seemed to have bothered Yuuka.
He hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth, unable to withstand Yuuka’s piercing gaze.
“The one who scorched the earth wasn’t a dragon.”
“I know, you idiot.”
Yuuka glared accusingly, and Izayoi averted his eyes as if to deceive her.
“What I want to know is about the monsters. It’s clearly strange.”
“…Indeed.”
“Do you have any idea?”
“I do, but…”
Izayoi had a rough idea, but it was something he didn’t want to admit. Plus, there was no definite proof. If it turned out to be true, Yuuka would undoubtedly get involved.
Considering whether to tell her or to leave Terumusu as is, he was torn.
While Izayoi was groaning, Yuuka leaned forward and peered into his face.
“You’re being very vague. Is there a problem?”
“It’s a problem if you call it a problem…”
“Annoying. Just spit it out already.”
Yuuka closed in, frustrated by Izayoi’s indecisiveness, making him involuntarily step back. Izayoi was resigned to the fact that this couldn’t be avoided, ready to speak up, when they were called from the side.
"Oh, isn't this Ms. Yuka?"
Both turned their heads toward the voice and found a man with a friendly face smiling at them. Behind him, a woman who seemed like a secretary was also smiling, accompanying him.
The man who approached them was Genova Burks, the branch manager of Dariel Commerce Terminus branch. He greatly appreciated the knowledge and ideas brought by Yuka, treating her with familiarity despite her being an adventurer.
Izayoi discreetly stepped back, fading into the role of an observer.
"Isn’t it Mr. Genova? Is there something you need?"
"Oh, no particular business, but the cooking recipes Ms. Yuka shared with us have been quite popular. I wanted to report this and ask if there are any more innovative recipes."
Yuka’s knowledge sold to the merchant guild was primarily about cooking and food. Originally, Yuka was just an ordinary student who had just graduated from middle school in her former world. Izayoi thought it was unreasonable to expect too much from her. However, surprisingly, she had above-average knowledge and skills in cooking.
When she utilized her cooking knowledge from her original world and prepared delicious dishes with the unique ingredients of this world, even Izayoi was amazed. When asked if she aspired to be a chef, she evaded with an ambiguous expression. Nevertheless, Yuka's knowledge and skills were undoubtedly a significant asset in this world.
"Um, well… So…"
"I see, I see. So…"
Yuka generously showcased her knowledge, and Genova, with a merchant’s face, listened intently. Izayoi watched the two, immersed in their conversation, forgetting the busy street around them. Then, he caught eyes with the woman accompanying Genova.
This woman seemed to be in a position similar to a secretary, always supporting Genova in his work. They hadn’t had much direct conversation, but Izayoi recognized her face from his visits to Genova. She gave Izayoi a troubled smile, to which he responded with a shrug, but he was always cautious around her.
Although he didn’t know her name, this woman’s movements were not ordinary. She tried to hide it, but something extraordinary radiated from her posture and steps. Whether she was also Genova’s bodyguard, Izayoi didn’t know, but she never lost sight of him nor forgot his presence. She was an unknown, and therefore, not to be underestimated.
Maintaining caution towards the woman, Izayoi waited for Yuka and Genova’s conversation to conclude. It seemed to have gone well, as both ended the conversation with satisfied expressions.
"Talking to Ms. Yuka is always full of new discoveries and very enjoyable."
"I also enjoy talking to Mr. Genova."
"I’m glad to hear that."
Both were smiling happily, but suddenly, Genova’s expression darkened.
"However, recently, the situation around the Boundary Forest seems quite ominous. There are rumors of a dragon appearing."
"Ah, haha… It seems so…"
Yuka awkwardly agreed, to which Genova continued, "This is causing a decrease in merchant arrivals, and although there’s no issue on the surface…"
Yuka’s forehead creased, mirroring Genova’s serious expression. According to Genova, the ominous aura from the Boundary Forest had reduced merchant traffic and disrupted the flow of goods. It wasn’t a big issue yet, but Genova, being a merchant, naturally found the situation undesirable.
"As a merchant, I hope for a swift resolution."
"We will also do our best to resolve this situation soon."
Yuka clenched her fist with determination, and with an "I’m counting on you" smile, Genova and the woman disappeared into the crowd.
Izayoi relaxed his shoulders only after making sure they were completely out of sight.
"This could be problematic…"
"...Indeed."
Izayoi nonchalantly agreed with the muttered words beside him.