The man was draped in a cloak that marked him unmistakably as a mage, and he held a long staff in his hand. He exuded an aura that spoke of decades of experience in the magical arts.
In Rei’s estimation, the man was likely in his fifties. He wore a long beard that reached down to his chest, and though wrinkles were etched into his face, they only served to enhance his dignified, wizardly appearance.
The quintessential mage. That was the impression Rei formed of Seis, the Guild Master of the City of Baar.
Conversely, Seis was internally reeling with shock the moment he laid eyes on Rei.
(This magic power... is this boy truly human?)
Before him stood someone who looked like an ordinary youth at first glance. If anything, he was on the shorter side, and his frame beneath the robe seemed fragile compared to the sturdy warriors Seis usually dealt with. Even the robe itself appeared to be nothing more than the common variety favored by novice mages. And yet...
(To disguise himself to such an extent...)
While an amateur might see a fledgling spellcaster, a man of Seis’s caliber—the Guild Master of Baar—saw something entirely different.
(That is a robe with a concealment effect. One of such quality, in fact, that it must hide its own properties. And on his feet... those are Sleipnir's Shoes, which allow for high-speed movement and the ability to kick off the air itself. The bracelet on his left arm is undoubtedly a magic item as well. Which means the one on his right must be an Item Box.)
Even after only a few seconds of observation, it was clear that the boy was no ordinary existence. More than anything, the magic power radiating from him was of a staggering magnitude. It was vast and deep, reminding Seis of the first time he had ever gazed upon the sea.
“...Guild Master?”
The Receptionist spoke up, looking puzzled as Seis remained frozen, staring intently at the boy named Rei.
“Ah, no. Forgive me. You are Rei, correct? I am Seis, the Guild Master of the City of Baar. I heard the details from Marina. I’m glad you made it.”
“You heard...?” Rei asked as he shook the offered hand.
Seis nodded slightly in response to Rei’s question.
“Guild Masters have ways of contacting one another individually. I was informed the moment you departed from the City of Gilm.”
“...I see.”
Rei let out a small sound of understanding. Now he knew why Sazanasu, the man blockading the city gate, had already been briefed on his arrival.
“Now then, while I would like to hear all about Gilm, we unfortunately don't have the luxury of time. Could you produce the Aurani Grass powder you brought immediately?”
“No problem. Where should I put it?”
“In front of the request board, please. We can summon the pharmacists and alchemists to begin refining the medicine right here.”
Rei nodded and moved to the designated area. From the Misty Ring, he began producing wooden boxes filled with small bottles of Aurani Grass powder one after another. He also brought out various other relief supplies: magic power recovery potions, wound-healing potions, and supplemental materials required for the magic fever medicine.
“Oh, having the Aurani Grass powder pre-portioned into individual bottles is a godsend. The recipe for the specific magic fever medicine doesn't change much, but because of the magic power required during the process, it can’t be mass-produced in a single batch. We usually have to make it for a few people at a time... as expected of Marina.”
Seis nodded, clearly impressed.
Hearing the explanation, Rei finally understood why the powder had been divided into single doses. Finally, he produced the massive pot he had received from Dishot.
“...And this?”
An incredibly appetizing aroma wafted from the pot, drawing the attention of every guild staff member in the room. Seis, being the closest, looked on with great interest.
“It’s a dish that was recently introduced in the City of Gilm. I figured everyone here is going to be busy for a while, so you should eat this to keep your strength up.”
Rei ladled soup filled with meat and vegetables along with a generous portion of udon into soup plates, handing one to Seis along with a fork.
Normally, leaving udon in broth for too long would cause it to become soggy and lose its flavor, but the Misty Ring’s stasis made that a non-issue. Since Dishot had delivered the pot to the guild immediately after cooking, the noodles still had plenty of bite.
“What is this long, thin food?”
“It’s called udon. It was only developed in Gilm quite recently.”
In truth, "quite recently" meant a few days ago, but there was no way for Seis to know that.
Faced with an ingredient he had never seen in his life, Seis curiously wound the noodles around his fork and took a bite.
“...This is delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it. Well, if you want the authentic version, you’ll have to look for it yourself when you visit the City of Gilm. ...Hey, the rest of you too. There’s only one pot’s worth, so dig in.”
At Rei’s word, and seeing their Guild Master confirm the taste, the guild staff swarmed the pot.
Rei served portions into plates and handed them out with forks.
The city had been under blockade for several days, and food had been restricted to a rationing system. Naturally, with no end to the quarantine in sight, no one was being given enough to truly feel full. While they weren't exactly starving, the psychological strain made it impossible for them to pass up a chance for a hearty meal.
The staff weren't the only ones; the pharmacists and alchemists who arrived to collect the supplies followed suit. Once they had eaten a bowl or two to satisfy their hunger, they gathered the Aurani Grass powder and other necessities before heading back to their workshops to begin their labor.
“Now then. Rei, was it? Would you come with me for a moment?”
Watching the giant pot empty in the blink of an eye, Seis called out to Rei, who was currently busy storing the washed dishes back into the Misty Ring.
“Is there more? I assumed my part of the commission ended with the delivery.”
“To be sure, the request you accepted has been successfully completed. However, I have a separate favor to ask of you.”
“...A favor?”
Rei had a fairly good idea of what was coming.
(With my magic power, there’s almost no risk of me catching magic fever. He probably wants me to investigate the source. ...Well, I’m stuck in this city for a week anyway until the magic fever pathogen is purged from my system. It’s better than sitting around being bored. Though I doubt he’d leave the whole investigation to a newcomer like me.)
“Mm. ...Well, looking at your face, I see you’ve already guessed as much. Follow me.”
Seis was internally impressed by the boy’s perceptiveness. He led the way behind the counter, and Rei, letting out a small sigh, followed after him.
“Now, I believe you understand why I brought you to this room.”
They were in a room up the stairs behind the counter—the Guild Master’s office, identical in layout to the one in the City of Gilm. Seis took a seat on a reception sofa and got straight to the point.
“You want me to find the cause of the magic fever outbreak, right?”
“Mm. Your quick wit is a blessing.”
“...But as you know, I’m an adventurer from Gilm. I only arrived an hour ago. Even if I go looking for the cause of the outbreak, I think it’ll be incredibly difficult for me to find anything.”
“Of course, we intend to provide support. You’ll be meeting the acting lord later, and I believe he can assign someone to act as your assistant.”
The two fell into silence, each waiting for the other to make the next move.
However, in terms of sheer life experience, Rei was no match for Seis. It was Rei who eventually broke the silence.
“Should I consider this a formal request?”
“Indeed. You may consider it a proper request.”
“Then what about the reward? This is a task that could save the entire city. I assume the compensation will be appropriate?”
Rei asked the question as a matter of course for an adventurer, and Seis nodded just as naturally.
“Of course. An adventurer works for a reward. ...That said, as you can see, the city is currently in a state of emergency. Even after the magic fever is dealt with, we’ll be in a position where no amount of gold is enough. With that in mind, the reward would have to be something other than coin... would that be acceptable?”
Seis asked tentatively, gauging Rei’s reaction. Rei nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
“I don't have much use for money even when I have it, so that actually works better for me.”
Unlike other adventurers, Rei didn't have to worry about the maintenance of his weapons and armor, which gave him a massive financial edge. Most adventurers spent more than half of their earnings on buying new equipment, repairs, adjustments, and upkeep. Sometimes, the maintenance costs even exceeded the rewards from a job.
Rei, having none of those concerns, only spent money on inn fees, snacks for himself and Seto, books for knowledge, and the occasional convenient tool. Despite his low spending, he frequently succeeded in high-paying jobs and nominations, and selling materials, proof of subjugation parts, and magic stones to the guild kept his pockets very deep.
“I see. In that case, the best reward I can offer would be one of my treasured magic items... what do you think?”
“...Specifically, what kind of items?”
“Mm, wait a moment.”
Seis stood up and began searching through a shelf in his office. Eventually, he returned with a single dagger.
The scabbard was embedded with several small blue gemstones. One look was enough to tell it was a valuable piece. However, its value seemed to be purely as a decorative magic item—not the kind of practical, combat-ready tool Rei was looking for.
Seeing the look of disappointment on Rei’s face, Seis let out a smirk and placed the dagger on the table.
“You look like you’ve been let down.”
“I suppose you could say I collect magic items as a hobby, but only those that are useful in actual combat. I have no interest in items that are just art pieces.”
Despite Rei’s bluntness, Seis kept his smile and pushed the dagger toward him.
“True, this dagger may not be a weapon for the front lines. But for someone living as an adventurer, it should be an incredibly helpful tool.”
“...Helpful?”
“Mm. Well, seeing is believing. Channel your magic power into—wait, hold on a second.”
After handing over the dagger, Seis placed a cup from the table in front of Rei.
“...What am I supposed to do with this?”
Rei muttered, looking genuinely confused, but Seis ignored the question and gestured toward the dagger.
“Draw the blade, point the tip at the cup, and channel your magic power into it.”
Rei drew the dagger as instructed.
The blade was white and beautiful, its quality matching the ornate scabbard. It shone with a faint, elegant blue luster.
He pointed the tip at the cup and flowed his magic power into the hilt.
The next instant...
Trickle, splash.
At first, it was just a few drops. Then, the flow steadily grew stronger until water was pouring from the tip of the blade.
“This is...”
“The Dagger of Flowing Water. As the name implies, it is a magic item that produces water when magic power is channeled through it. ...Though, it seems you don't have much of a water aptitude.”
“No water aptitude?”
Rei knew that well enough. His magic was almost entirely specialized in fire.
Still, being told he lacked aptitude was slightly annoying, and he felt a small frown touch his brow. Seis saw the reaction and let out a chuckle.
“Hahaha. It seems even someone with magic power as immense as yours has things that bother him. May I?”
“Hm? Oh, sure.”
Rei handed the Dagger of Flowing Water back.
Seis took it and placed another cup on the floor a short distance away.
“If you have an aptitude for water, you can even pull off a stunt like this. ...Hah!”
Seis swung the dagger with a sharp infusion of magic. A stream of water shot from the tip, snapping through the air like a whip—a whip of flowing water that struck the cup and shattered it instantly.
“That’s... certainly impressive,” Rei muttered involuntarily.
“What do you think? While you might not be able to use it as a weapon, you’ll likely join a party someday; you could always give it to a comrade then. More importantly, as you just saw, you’ll never have to worry about water again during a camp or a long trek. Oh, and I should mention that the taste of the water produced by this dagger changes depending on the user’s magic. With a reservoir like yours, the water would likely be exceptionally high-quality—as pure and delicious as mountain spring water. ...So? I believe it’s more than sufficient as a reward for the request.”
Rei was about to nod and accept the job when the office door was suddenly thrown open. A voice, sounding thoroughly exasperated, echoed through the room.
“Hey! What the hell are you two doing in the middle of an emergency like this?!”