Rei had been told to decide on the compensation for the Axe of the Thunder God, but he tilted his head thoughtfully at the request.
(Compensation. Normally, one would think of money, but it wasn’t as if I were hurting for cash. In that case, magic items? The Axe of the Thunder God, capable of discharging lightning, is certainly attractive in its own way. But even if I took it, I wouldn’t have much use for an axe unless it were a spear.)
The image of the high-rank Power Axe he had given to Ara flashed through his mind.
That weapon had been inferior to the Axe of the Thunder God, yet it was still a high-rank magic item. However, the weapons Rei used were primarily his Death Scythe and, for long-range, throwing spears. His only other equipment consisted of daggers kept as spares. Because of that, the axe he had stolen from Vargas had been left to collect dust inside his Misty Ring until the day he handed it over to Ara.
Of course, a fair number of adventurers favored battle axes. But fortunately or unfortunately, almost none of the people Rei traveled with used them. Therefore, the Power Axe had never seen the light of day until Ara’s sword was destroyed.
(If that’s the case, there’s no point in taking a magic item as compensation. There’s nothing else that stands out in their inventory besides the Axe of the Thunder God itself. A necklace that increases fire resistance doesn't mean much to someone like me who specializes in flame magic anyway. ...Then... no, wait. An A-Rank party. If I think of them as a military asset... that could work.)
Rei quickly organized the idea forming in his head. After about thirty seconds, he spoke.
"Compensation. I can take this as an act to repay the debt you owe me, right?"
"That’s right. That’s how I recognize it... what do you say, Elk?"
Marina nodded at Rei’s words and turned her gaze toward Elk.
"Of course. I’ll do anything within my power," Elk declared firmly, nodding to the young man sitting beside him.
Hearing those words, Rei suppressed his emotions to keep his face neutral while inwardly smiling.
"I see. In that case, I want you to participate in the upcoming war with the Bestia Empire and distinguish yourselves. Furthermore, I want you to exercise the power of the Axe of the Thunder God to the maximum, to the best of your ability. The more damage you inflict upon the Bestia Empire, the better."
"...What? Is that all?" Elk asked, sounding surprised.
To Elk, the Kingdom of Mireana was his beloved homeland. Furthermore, he considered the City of Gilm the place where he would eventually be buried. He had already intended to participate in the war as a mercenary to protect his country and city.
In truth, the country would celebrate the participation of an A-Rank party like the Axe of the Thunder God. While A-Rank status wasn't something achieved through raw power alone, strength was certainly a major factor in the evaluation.
"Yes. However, I won't be satisfied with a mediocre performance. I expect significant results—taking an enemy general's head, for instance, or wiping out the enemy soldiers root and branch."
"...Understood." Elk nodded solemnly.
To him, Rei’s proposal was a godsend. After all, the agents of the Bestia Empire had taken his beloved family hostage. They had used their lives to try and force him to kill Rei.
(If the target hadn't been Rei... if it had been a normal adventurer, I probably would have ended their life. And after that, they likely would have killed me once I'd outlived my usefulness. Min and Rhodos were hostages, after all. If I died, they would have been next. I have to settle the score for such a wretched stunt.)
Elk renewed his resolve against the Bestia Empire. A visible aura of fighting spirit and murderous intent began to overflow from his massive frame.
"——!?"
Rhodos gasped at the sudden change in his father and glanced at the others, but everyone else parried the heavy atmosphere with ease, their expressions unchanged.
(...I'm still not strong enough. This whole mess happened because of me, too.)
As Rhodos sighed at the thought, Marina turned her gaze toward Min and Rhodos.
Since Rhodos was a member of the Axe of the Thunder God, he had met the Guild Master several times before. Even so, he was always inevitably captivated by her overwhelming allure.
This time, however, his father's murderous intent had left him inwardly intimidated. It was safe to say that Marina's charm had actually acted as a welcome distraction.
"So, Elk will earn merits in the war. What about the other two?"
"W-Wait a minute, Guild Master! I was the only one who tried to kill Rei. These two have nothing to do with—"
Marina's words were so unexpected that Elk instinctively protested, his murderous intent vanishing in an instant.
However, Marina silently shook her head.
"No. I'm sorry, but this incident isn't just about you; it's a problem for the entire Axe of the Thunder God. Naturally, the punishment from the guild for the Axe of the Thunder God must be borne by the entire party."
"But, Guild Master!"
Elk tried to argue further, but surprisingly, it was Min who stopped him.
"Elk, it's fine. My anger toward the Bestia Empire is just as great as yours."
"Min... but what about Rhodos? It's true that Rhodos is stronger than your average soldier. He even has experience killing thieves. But you know from experience that a real war is a completely different animal, right?"
"Dad! Even I—"
Rhodos instinctively raised his voice, but he fell silent when met with a sharp glare from his father, unable to say anything more.
Smiling wryly at her son's reaction, Min spoke up.
"Don't worry. Since I'm a mage, I'll focus on firing magic from the rear. I’ll keep Rhodos nearby as my guard. Unlike you, I’m not suggesting we charge the front lines."
"...If that's the case..."
Elk was about to reluctantly agree, but a third voice cut in.
"Wait, both of you! I'm glad you're worried about me, but I'm the primary cause of this whole incident. I want to take responsibility properly, too."
Rhodos, despite having backed down earlier, spoke up once more.
Elk opened his mouth to retort, but...
"Ah—save the family meetings for later. At any rate, my request is that the Axe of the Thunder God participate in the war. You can decide the roles among yourselves."
Rei's interruption ended the debate.
For Rei, the most important part of this penalty was Elk. If an A-Rank adventurer like Elk exerted his full power, he would be a massive asset for the Kingdom of Mireana. As for Min, she was a skilled mage, and he judged that as long as she demonstrated those skills, his goals would be met.
(Beast soldiers and the like will definitely show up in the next war. We need to gather as much military power as possible. In that sense, I've achieved my objective the moment I dragged Elk and Min to the battlefield. I feel bad for Rhodos, but he won’t make much of a difference either way. Although, as Elk said, he's probably quite strong compared to a normal soldier.)
Marina, who had been listening silently, clapped her hands to gather everyone's attention, clearly wanting to avoid being dragged into further domestic disputes.
"Then it's settled. Rei's punishment for the Axe of the Thunder God will be participation in the war. I'm sorry, but since it's a penalty, there will be no reward."
"Yeah, no problem."
The pay for mercenaries in war wasn't particularly high anyway, though the bonuses for outstanding deeds could be significant. However, as veterans who had been active at A-Rank, Elk and his party had plenty of money. While the lack of pay was a blow, it was a minor one in the grand scheme of things.
"The guild will be confiscating any rewards the Axe of the Thunder God earns. That will be this punishment from the guild for the Axe of the Thunder God."
"Understood. ...Guild Master, Rei. I've caused a great deal of trouble because of my personal circumstances. ...I’m truly sorry."
Elk bowed his head deeply, followed by Min and Rhodos.
After a few seconds of silence, Marina spoke.
"I won't say it couldn't be helped... but I suppose this incident was bound to happen eventually. Also, regarding the war talk, you two should stop being overprotective of Rhodos. I understand he’s precious, but you’re hindering his growth. This is a piece of advice not so much as a Guild Master, but as a dark elf who has lived much longer than you humans."
"..."
Elk and Min raised their heads and remained silent as Marina continued.
"I’m not saying it's bad to form a party with family. I've seen countless families do it over the centuries. And the Axe of the Thunder God reached A-Rank because you have the skill. But children need to leave the nest, and parents need to let go. Please think about that carefully. ...Ah—I've talked too much. Anyway, that's the end of this matter! I'll contact Daskar myself, so don't worry about it. Just get in shape and hone your skills for the war. Now, you may go."
Dismissing them with a wave, Marina stood up from the sofa and headed to her office desk to begin reviewing documents.
The four of them watched her for a moment before realizing there was no point in staying. They filed out of the office.
"Rei, uh... listen. Why don't we go grab a bite? It's not much of a thank you for everything, but let me treat you."
Those were the first words out of Elk's mouth once they left the guild. He likely felt the need to make some sort of gesture after the trouble he'd caused.
"I see. If you're treating, I'd be glad to accept. Of course, that includes Seto as well, right?"
"Guruuu?"
Seto, having approached as soon as Rei emerged from the guild, purred and tilted its head as if asking, "Are you giving me food too?" Elk, feeling the full weight of his debt, couldn't possibly refuse. He nodded.
"O-Of course. But where should we eat? A normal dining hall won't let us bring Seto inside."
"Hmm, let’s see. As far as I know, the Full Belly Diner will serve food to Seto too. Though, obviously, it can't go inside."
"The Full Belly Diner? Min, do you know it?"
"Yeah. It's a shop over in the back street. I believe the owner's son is an adventurer. I've heard the taste and portions are better than average."
"I see, then it's decided. Rhodos, you're fine with that?"
"Eh? Ah, yeah. I don't mind, but... ah, no, sorry. Actually, I’ll pass. I have some things I want to think about alone. I'll head off here."
Rhodos left before Elk or Min had a chance to say anything. He clearly wanted time to reflect on Marina's words.
Elk and Min seemed to understand. Despite looking a bit disappointed, they let him go without protest.
"...Well then, let's go. A lot happened today, so we're going to eat and drink our fill. Rei, Seto, eat as much as you like. Now, lead the way to this Full Belly Diner."
Prompted by Elk, Rei led them toward the restaurant.
"Heh... this is quite good."
Elk murmured contentedly, popping grilled skewers and stir-fried meat into his mouth between sips of high-proof alcohol.
The Full Belly Diner was a humble commoner's eatery. Normally, a celebrity like Elk showing up would have caused a massive scene, but they had arrived after 2:00 PM, well past the lunch rush. There were only a few other customers in the dining hall. Furthermore, the proprietor, Dishot, had been considerate enough to clear the shop for them, meaning the only ones startled by Elk's presence were the few remaining patrons.
With so few people around, no one dared to make a fuss in the face of Elk's imposing presence. This allowed Rei and the others to enjoy their meal in peace. Seto, of course, was being fed outside.
"Sorry for the wait."
Dishot arrived with their next course: Fang Boar steak, grilled crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The lack of gaminess in the meat was a testament to Dishot's skill as a cook.
Seeing the steak, Rei felt a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
"Dishot, don't you want to try... a yaki udon with a flavor found nowhere else in this city?"
"Ho, is that a challenge? Fine, I'll gladly accept."
Dishot's pride as a cook was piqued. He answered with a confident smile.
Rei’s grin widened as he reached into his Misty Ring and pulled out the pot containing demi-glace sauce flavored yaki udon that he had obtained in the City of Abuelo.
...In the end, that massive pot was almost entirely devoured by Dishot and Elk.