Relying on the map he had received from Lenora, Rei made his way through the city of Gilm. He was already familiar with the guild’s surrounding district where adventurers tended to congregate, so he rarely lost his way there. However, he was currently walking through an area inhabited by the elite—wealthy merchants, the affluent, and the nobility. One could essentially call it the noble district.
"Come to think of it, this is my first time in this part of town," Rei muttered, checking the map as he navigated the streets.
As expected of the noble district, the roads were paved with cobblestones, a stark contrast to the exposed dirt common elsewhere. Litter was virtually non-existent; even the occasional stray piece of trash was quickly collected by individuals specifically employed for the task.
Row upon row of trees had been planted along the paved paths to improve the scenery, creating a sophisticated atmosphere that felt worlds apart from the rugged, functional neighborhood around the guild.
There were no stalls to be found. Instead, groups of soldiers stood guard in front of the various estates. In some cases, private soldiers belonging to wealthy merchants or nobles patrolled the streets in place of the city guards.
(...Security might actually be tighter here than at Margrave Larcus's residence,) Rei thought to himself as he watched a group of private soldiers pass by.
This level of vigilance wasn't without merit. Gilm was, after all, a frontier city with a high population of adventurers. As their numbers grew, so did the presence of those with less-than-savory characters. While not a daily occurrence, it wasn't uncommon for such individuals to band together as bandits. It was only natural for the wealthy residents to cooperate and hire private soldiers for their own protection.
For Daskar, the ruler of Gilm, it wasn't a bad arrangement. Being able to secure the noble district without diverting his own guards or the Knight Order was a benefit, leading to a tacit understanding that security in this area would be handled privately.
Because Rei was wrapped in a robe and clearly looked like an adventurer, his presence in such an area didn't go unnoticed.
"Hey, kid. You got business around here?"
The first to call out was a man in his late twenties clad in green leather armor designed for mobility. A longsword hung from his belt. Behind him stood several others, all wearing the same green leather armor. They were likely proof that these men served the same master.
Rei showed them the map Lenora had given him.
"I’ve been summoned by the Chairman of the Azoth Firm. I'd appreciate it if you could point me toward the location on this map."
His direct approach seemed to lower their guard. They likely assumed that if he were a scout or someone with ill intent, he would have panicked or fled at the sight of them.
"That's... Lord Boruntar's residence. Just keep heading straight down this road and you'll see it on your right. The roof is painted gold, so you can't miss it."
"...Gold?" Rei asked, blinking in surprise.
He could see several mansions from where he stood, but most featured roofs in more subdued, dignified colors. Gold? He found the idea bizarre.
The man seemed to pick up on Rei's confusion and nodded with a wry smile.
"Well, you know how it is. When people get that rich, their tastes get a little... different from ours."
"...I see."
Rei gave a noncommittal reply, though his expression suggested he wasn't entirely convinced.
Predicting his reaction, the man gave Rei’s hooded head a rough, friendly ruffle.
"Just leave it at that. Anyway, keep going straight and you'll reach your destination. We have to finish our rounds, so we’ll be off. Try not to cause a scene; it’ll only turn into a headache for everyone."
Rei watched the man walk away with a light wave before letting out a sigh and continuing down the path.
"It certainly is a noble district..."
The buildings lining the streets were all magnificent, most of them dwarfing the Dusk Wheat Inn where Rei was staying. As he moved deeper into the district, the level of opulence only increased. The walls of the mansion he had just passed were decorated with engravings, but the ones further in featured even more intricate, detailed carvings.
After about twenty minutes of walking, he reached a mansion situated near the far end of the district.
"It really is... gold," Rei muttered.
While the surrounding estates maintained a degree of understated elegance, the mansion with the golden roof stood out like a sore thumb. Unfortunately, it stood out for all the wrong reasons.
In front of the gate leading to the mansion stood two gatekeepers armed with spears.
(Well, no point just standing around. I have to go in eventually, so I might as well get this over with quickly.)
Steeling himself, he walked toward the gate. The guards noticed him and cast suspicious looks his way as he approached.
They locked eyes as the distance closed, and Rei finally stopped before them.
"Is this the residence of Boruntar, the Chairman of the Azoth Firm?"
"...It is. But what business does a brat like you have here? Lord Boruntar is a busy man. He doesn't have time to waste on someone like you."
The guard on the right spoke with a dismissive tone, and the guard on the left chimed in to support him.
"Based on your age, I'm guessing you found the adventurer life too tough and came here to beg for a job at the Azoth Firm? Well, this firm only hires the best. Our doors aren't open wide enough to let in children like you."
Rei's cheek twitched at the sheer arrogance of their words, but he tried to remain professional.
"I'm here because I was summoned by the Chairman himself. Is this how you usually treat his guests?"
"Hah? A scrawny brat like you, summoned by Lord Boruntar? That's a bad joke, kid."
The guard on the right, clad in metal armor, spoke irritably as he leveled the tip of his spear at Rei.
His partner on the left, also in metal armor, clicked his tongue at the sudden aggression but likewise leveled his spear.
"...Look, my partner’s being a bit much, but turning away people like you is part of the job. The Azoth Firm is a major player in Gilm; we control the weapon trade. We can't just let suspicious people through. Just go home, alright?"
"Damn it, Cinquante. You're too soft. You always try to reason with these types, but they’ll just try to sneak back in the moment you show an opening. There's no need to be polite to them."
"Feder, you're the one who’s too violent. Remember when you threatened that guy looking for work and caused that huge scene? You can cause all the trouble you want, but don't drag me into it."
As Cinquante scolded his partner, Feder clicked his tongue loudly and glared at Rei with hostile eyes.
"Listen up, brat. I’m going to count to ten. If you aren't gone by then, my spear is going to drink your blood."
Rei let out a long sigh at the blatant threat.
"Fine, fine. I'll leave. Sorry to have bothered you."
Rei turned around and started walking back the way he came. He said he was sorry, but a clear smile was playing on his lips.
(At the very least, I actually showed up at this Boruntar guy’s place. Since I was turned away at the gate, I can argue that any failure to meet was their fault. ...Well, based on what Phron and Mirene told me, he’s probably the type to ignore excuses anyway. Hopefully he just forgets about me after this... though I have a feeling there's going to be another uproar soon.)
With those thoughts in mind, Rei exited the noble district.
Behind him, Cinquante let out a breath of relief that a pointless conflict had been avoided. Feder, however, clicked his tongue in frustration, annoyed that he had lost a perfect target for his aggression.
"Seriously. If you cause a scene, I'm the one who has to deal with the fallout. Why are you getting so worked up over a kid anyway?"
"I don't know. The moment I saw that brat's eyes, I just felt a reflex to gut him."
"...Feder, you sure you don't have some kind of mental illness?"
"The hell is that supposed to mean!"
Feder barked back as Cinquante took a cautious step away from him.
Time passed, and night fell. As autumn deepened, the sun set earlier and earlier. Even though the 6 o'clock bell had only recently rung, Gilm was already blanketed in darkness. Faint lights flickered here and there, but they offered little resistance against the overwhelming shadows.
However, there were still pockets of Gilm where lights blazed brilliantly. There was the Lord's Mansion, the very heart of the city; the taverns where adventurers toasted to a successful day; the brothels where men sought warmth and a lover for a night... and then there was the noble district, glowing with light as if to proclaim its superiority over the commoners and the poor.
In a room deep within a mansion in that district, a furious voice roared.
"Dammit! Why hasn't that adventurer Rei obeyed my summons? I specifically sent word through the guild that he was to show his face here today!"
With an angry shout, a glass was hurled against the wall. It shattered on impact, scattering shards and liquor across an expensive, plush carpet that felt like it would swallow a person's feet.
The carpet, the glass, and the amber liquid inside it were all items of such value that a commoner could live for years on the cost of any one of them. The man who threw the glass didn't care in the slightest, his frame trembling with rage as he sank into his chair.
The chair creaked under his weight, but his irritation showed no signs of cooling.
Though he was an older man, he didn't look like a typical merchant chairman at first glance. Despite being in his sixties, his eyes burned with an energetic, predatory light, and his face was set in an expression of absolute arrogance. He believed, with every fiber of his being, that the world should move according to his whims.
This man was Boruntar—the head of the Azoth Firm and the man who effectively controlled the weapon shops in Gilm.
Avoiding Boruntar's gaze, several maids scrambled to clean up the broken glass and spilled alcohol. Boruntar watched them with an irritated glare before snorting in derision and pouring himself a fresh drink, which he downed in a single gulp.
"Listen! It seems this Rei kid thinks he can ignore me because I've been being too nice. Tomorrow, take some men and drag him here! I won't have some mere adventurer... a mere D-Rank adventurer... making a fool of me! Give him a taste of reality before you bring him in!"
As the red-faced, likely drunken Boruntar shouted, a butler standing nearby spoke up.
"But Master. I’m told this Rei travels with a Gryphon. A Gryphon is considered an A-Rank monster. The highest-ranked adventurers in the firm’s employ are only Rank B. I doubt they can stand against such a beast."
"Hah?! What are you saying? You're telling me I should just let some Rank D brat look down on me?!"
"I’m saying no such thing. However, rumors suggest this Rei is important enough to receive nomination requests directly from Margrave Larcus. Given his relationship with the Lord, a heavy-handed approach might be unwise..."
"Tch. I see. He might try to pull strings from that side, then."
Clicking his tongue, he slammed his glass onto the table and poured another round.
The liquor was at a price point completely out of reach for a commoner, yet Boruntar gulped it down as if it were nothing but water.
"That said, if I call him through the guild again, he'll just ignore it like he did today... Fine. Tomorrow, send some of our adventurers to find this Rei. If he has a Gryphon, then... no, wait. Tell him that if he doesn't come see me tomorrow, he’ll never be able to buy or repair a weapon in Gilm again."
"Master... as I mentioned, given his ties to the Lord, such a blatant threat might be..."
"Tch, fine! Just hint at it, then!"
"Understood. I shall pass on those instructions."
As the butler bowed and left the room, Boruntar indignantly drained his glass once more.