“High-quality monster nuclei, you say?”
Sylpha, the silver-haired maid standing before me, wore a look of genuine surprise. She was my caretaker and my personal bodyguard.
“Yeah. You used to be an adventurer, didn't you, Sylpha? I was wondering if you might still have some.”
She was also a former A-rank adventurer. The daughter of the Knight Commander, she had apparently spent time as an adventurer to hone her swordsmanship as part of her training. I had hoped someone with her history might have a few monster nuclei tucked away, but Sylpha merely shook her head.
“Unfortunately, that was a long time ago. Besides, monster nuclei are precious. They sell for quite a high price, so I parted with all of mine when I retired.”
“I see. That’s a shame.”
Darn, a swing and a miss. I thought it was worth a shot, but I guess things won’t go that smoothly. I suppose I have no choice but to wait for Dian to get his hands on some from elsewhere. As my shoulders slumped in disappointment, I noticed a slight smile playing on Sylpha’s lips.
“Master Lloyd, if you do not have any, why not go and obtain them yourself?”
My heart gave a sudden thump at her suggestion. Could she be talking about that time I snuck out of the castle to dive into a dungeon?
“Eh!? W-What are you saying, Sylpha? Haha, ahaha...”
I gave a dry, nervous laugh, but Sylpha’s smile didn’t waver.
“If there is something you want, you go and take it—that is the way of the adventurer. How about it, Master Lloyd? Why don't you try becoming an adventurer yourself?”
It seemed she wasn’t referring to my previous escapade after all. What a relief. I let out a long breath... then processed what she had just said and did a double-take.
“A-An adventurer!? Who!?”
“You, of course, Master Lloyd.”
Sylpha gave me a bright, beaming smile. This was her ‘I’m being serious’ face.
“Actually, I made a proposal to His Majesty the King the other day. I told him that Master Lloyd’s swordsmanship has reached a commendable level. I suggested that it might be a good idea for you to register at the Adventurers' Guild to further your training.”
What is this maid thinking? No matter how you look at it, there’s no way they’d let a prince like me become a common adventurer.
“His answer was yes.”
“He said yes!?”
I couldn’t help but shout in disbelief.
“He said that he wants Master Lloyd to see the wider world. To that end, becoming an adventurer is not a bad decision at all. He felt it would be a fine opportunity and that he expects great things from you... I was granted permission on the condition that I accompany you as your escort.”
“H-Huh. I see...”
Come to think of it, I have heard stories about the third sons of nobles or eccentric members of royalty making names for themselves as adventurers. If I think about it that way, I suppose it’s not that strange for me to do it, since I have no real right of succession.
I gave her a stunned look, but on second thought, this meant I could go outside the castle walls without having to sneak around. Even if Sylpha was coming along, I was thrilled at the prospect of leaving the city. I could test out all sorts of magic, and it would serve as excellent practical training for commanding Shiro.
“Alright. Then let’s head to the Adventurers' Guild right away.”
“Yes, Master Lloyd!”
And so, with Sylpha in tow, I set off for the Adventurers' Guild.
Standing in a prime location on the main thoroughfare in the center of the city was an exceptionally large building. This place, where rugged men and women who looked the part were coming and going, was the Adventurers' Guild.
“How nostalgic,” Sylpha murmured as she looked up at the facade.
There was a distant, wistful look in her eyes. I wondered what kind of person Sylpha had been back when she was active in the field. While pondering that, I pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.
“Master Lloyd, I shall wait for you here. Please go and complete your registration.”
“Understood.”
Following Sylpha’s instructions, I headed toward the guild counter. The people sitting around drinking seemed to be looking at me with mocking smirks. I suppose a child like me is a rare sight in a place like this. It’s a bit embarrassing. Just as I was thinking that, something suddenly shot out toward my feet.
At that moment—CRACK!
A sickening, dull sound rang out, and the man sitting right next to me went tumbling over.
“GYAAAAAAAH! I-It hurts, it huuuuuurts!?”
The man let out a blood-curdling scream, clutching his leg and rolling around on the floor in agony. I wondered what on earth had happened to him.
“Heh, this guy keeps a Magic Barrier active at all times-ssu. It triggers automatically against surprise attacks. Felt like he kicked a block of solid steel, didn't it-ssu?”
Grimo was saying something, but I couldn't hear him over the man’s wailing. I didn’t really see any need to engage with him. I’d just ignore him and move on.
“W-Wait!”
As I tried to leave, the man staggered to his feet, swaying unsteadily.
“Don't mess with me, you shitty brat! How dare you do that to my leg!?”
With a roar, he swung a heavy punch at me. Whoa, that startled me. However, my passive Magic Barrier flared up automatically, blocking the man's strike.
“GYAAAAAAAH!?”
The right hand he had used to punch me was now bent at a grotesque angle. The man collapsed, screaming once again. What has he been doing all by himself this whole time? I don’t really get it, but the Adventurers' Guild is a terrifying place.
“G-Guuugh... Don't think you can get away with making a fool out of Lord Galahad, a C-rank adventurer! I'm gonna beat you to a—”
Before he could finish his threat, the man was sent flying.
“Lloyd! It’s been a while!”
The person who had stepped in between us was a black-haired girl in a martial arts uniform—Tao. She was a master of martial arts, a user of Ki, and someone with an unparalleled obsession with handsome men. She was an acquaintance I had fought alongside in the past.
“It has been a while, Tao. Have you been well?”
“Yeah! But what business do you have in a place like this-aru?”
“I came here to register as an adventurer.”
“Heh! Then I’ll show you the ropes. This way.”
Tao grabbed me by the hand and pulled me toward the counter. I felt like every eye in the room was fixed on us, but I decided it was probably just my imagination.
“Damn you...!”
Shoving a fallen table aside, Galahad picked himself up. His face was flushed a deep crimson, and veins were throbbing at his temples. He reached for the sword hanging at his waist.
“That is quite enough.”
A sharp, dignified voice rang out from behind him. It was Sylpha. She was only lightly gripping his shoulder, but the man seemed utterly unable to move his arm any further.
“If Master Lloyd felt like it, your head and body would have parted ways ten times over by now.”
“Wh... Y-You’re the Silver Sword Princess, Sylpha Langris!? I heard you retired, so why are you in a place like this...?”
The room began to buzz at the mention of Sylpha’s name.
“Today, I am merely acting as an escort for my master’s adventurer registration.”
The buzzing grew into a roar of hushed whispers.
“Hey, did anyone see that kid block Galahad’s attack just now?”
“No, I didn’t see a thing... It was like he used magic or something.”
“That's incredible. To think he’s acknowledged as a master by the Silver Sword Princess herself. She’s a legendary adventurer who rose to A-rank while she was still a girl.”
“And he’s on good terms with Tao, too. She’s been on a roll lately, climbing all the way to B-rank in a flash.”
“Just who the hell is that kid...!?”
Everyone was whispering, but the collective chatter was too loud for me to make out the details. To be the center of this much attention—Sylpha really is as amazing as I thought.