Arrogan and Culotte accepted the guard mission and left the diner with Rei and the others, making their way toward their destination: Asimov's house.
"Asimov, Asimov... That name sounds kind of familiar. Where have I heard it?"
"Could it be from Schola? You know, I feel like she mentioned a skilled alchemist once."
"Hmm, was that it? I feel like I heard it from someone different."
Rei walked ahead, leading the way, listening to Arrogan and Culotte discuss what Rei had told them about their guard target. He struck up a conversation with Marina.
"Still, was it really all right?"
"My, about what?"
"The request. Marina, as the former Guild Master, making a request without going through the Guild... I think that's problematic in various ways."
Marina was the former Guild Master and currently an adventurer... but she also held the unofficial role of advisor.
For someone like that to make a request without going through the Guild naturally seemed problematic in Rei's eyes.
"Not really. After all, I'm a former Guild Master, and right now I'm nothing more than a single adventurer. Besides, this matter is close to a personal request anyway."
"...Is that so? If that's the case, I feel like any request could end up being a personal one."
Asking someone to gather materials, requesting the subjugation of a specific monster... if one stretched the interpretation, those could also be considered personal requests.
"My, that's different. First of all, you were already acquainted with those two, weren't you? At that point, you can't call it the same as a Guild request."
"Well, if you're going to push that reasoning, I don't mind."
Even with Guild requests, it wasn't uncommon to issue a nomination request to someone you had previously hired.
Rei couldn't help but wonder if this was any different, but pressing the issue too deeply here would likely lead to an unpleasant conversation, so he let it slide for now.
As they talked, they left the main streets for the back alleys... and as they drew closer to Asimov's house, the number of people dwindled.
"H-hey, Rei? The surroundings seem kind of strange... Are you sure this is safe?"
Culotte, growing uneasy from the area's atmosphere, asked, but Rei nodded to indicate there was no problem and spoke up.
"This area is a back alley to begin with, so there aren't many people. Plus, Asimov's house is nearby, so it inevitably gets less crowded."
"Hey, that's not reassuring at all!"
"...Hey, Rei. I want to ask just in case... We're just guarding that alchemist, right? Don't tell me we'll be made to do some weird experiments or something?"
Arrogan was usually brimming with confidence, but even he must have felt uneasy as the presence of people around them thinned. He asked Rei with a slightly weakened tone.
"Don't worry. It'll be fine. No problem. ...Probably."
"Hey!?"
At that last word muttered softly, Arrogan and Culotte raised a protest in unison.
"You two are as in sync as ever."
"That's not the point! What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's a joke, a joke. There's nothing special going on, so don't worry about it. Asimov is a highly skilled alchemist... If he takes a liking to you, you might even get a Magic Item."
"A Magic Item!?"
At Rei's words, Culotte cried out with a look of pure joy.
If it were an ordinary Magic Item... the kind used in everyday life, she wouldn't be that thrilled.
But this was a Magic Item likely crafted by a highly skilled alchemist.
There was no way Culotte, who loved money, wouldn't be excited by that.
"Just so you know, it's only 'might get one.' Don't forget it's not a guarantee."
"Yeah, I know. But Magic Items are every adventurer's dream, right? ...Though a certain someone carries a Magic Sword despite lacking the skill for it."
"Heh. I wonder who that 'certain someone' could possibly be?"
"Hmm? I wonder who it could be. Probably someone who lacks self-awareness."
"Oh? I could've sworn you were talking about a certain loudmouthed she-cat, but I guess not?"
"Ufufu. Whatever could you be talking about?"
For some reason, Culotte, who had been talking with Rei, started arguing with Arrogan again.
"...Hey, Rei. Are those two really going to be all right?"
Marina had heard from Rei that this was their usual dynamic, but even knowing that, she couldn't help but worry.
"They'll be fine. They might look like that, but they can hold their own well enough. You know that too, don't you, Marina?"
"Eternal Power, huh. I think they were a reasonably active party, as I recall."
It was probably true that Eternal Power had been active enough to remain in Marina's memory.
Given the number of adventurers and parties in Gilm, Marina couldn't have tracked all of them.
For a party to stay in Marina's memory meant they were competent by that fact alone.
Of course, Marina had been paying attention to Rei ever since he arrived in Gilm.
In fact, she had ordered Lenora to give him various considerations.
Since she had gotten involved with Rei like that, she had undoubtedly been keeping an eye on Eternal Power, which Arrogan and Culotte belonged to.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Grrrrrr..."
"Mmmmmm..."
Hearing that kind of exchange from behind, Marina couldn't help but send Rei a look that asked if they would truly be all right.
"Come on, you two, knock it off. We can almost see Asimov's house."
At Rei's voice, the two stopped arguing behind him.
And when they looked in the direction he indicated, they saw Asimov's house.
"Hmm, it's not really any kind of special building."
"Right. Given how Rei talked about him, I totally thought he'd have some kind of grand research lab."
"If Asimov had any desire for fame or things like that, he might have been in a higher position with a research lab entrusted to him, but that's just not his personality."
At Rei's words, Arrogan and Culotte nodded.
And so, they arrived in front of Asimov's house...
"Grrrrr!"
Before Rei could do anything, Set, who was in the courtyard, came flying straight at him.
At roughly three meters in length, catching Set's body was no ordinary feat.
Even so, Rei caught him firmly.
He stepped back a few paces, but he didn't stumble or fall.
"You're such a spoiled one, Set."
"Grru..."
Set turned his round eyes toward Rei, who muttered while stroking him.
The time apart from Rei hadn't been that long, but Set probably still wanted to be with him.
They were often apart for longer periods normally, but perhaps this was just how he was feeling today.
"Grrru?"
Perhaps reassured by Rei's petting, Set turned his gaze to the people behind Rei.
Both Arrogan and Culotte knew about Set, of course, but they hadn't interacted with him nearly as much as Rei had.
They had met him a few times before, but they were speechless with surprise at how overwhelmingly larger Set was compared to when they last saw him.
...Set's body length was originally about two meters.
The Set that Arrogan and Culotte knew was from that time.
But the current Set was about three meters long.
Given that difference, it was only natural for their eyes to widen.
"Come on, Set. Don't you remember? It's Arrogan and Culotte."
"Grru... Grrru?"
Judging by the way Set tilted his head, he probably didn't remember much.
Arrogan, who had actually picked a fight with Rei when they first met, was secretly shocked to find out he'd been forgotten as well.
Though, that was probably fortunate for Arrogan.
If Set had actually remembered Arrogan, there was a chance Set might have disliked him... or rather, recognized him as an enemy.
"Look, we have business with Asimov, so play in the courtyard for a bit, Set. All right?"
"Grru!"
Perhaps satisfied that he got to be affectionate with Rei for the moment, Set rubbed his face against Rei and headed for the courtyard.
"Fufu, he certainly likes you as always."
Marina, who had stepped away from Rei when Set came running to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, murmured with a smile.
"Well, it's Set. ...More importantly, is it about time? I'll knock... or so I was going to say, but it seems I don't need to."
"Nn."
When Rei spoke, the door to Asimov's house opened, and Byune was standing there.
"Judging by how things look, it seems there were no issues."
"Nn."
Byune made her usual small sound and held the door open.
Her attitude made it clear that she was telling them to come inside.
Understanding that, Rei quietly entered the house.
For Arrogan and Culotte, who were entering an alchemist's house for the first time, they looked around curiously... and eventually wore expressions of disappointment.
I heard it was the house of a highly skilled alchemist, so I thought there'd be more to it, but... it's just an ordinary place, isn't it?
Looking at it like this, the house itself isn't really anything special.
Perhaps they had expected something more impressive... like a place decorated with all sorts of Magic Items, because Arrogan and Culotte seemed somewhat underwhelmed.
Even while understanding the two's reactions, Rei proceeded through the house with Marina and Byune without saying anything in particular.
Naturally, the room they were led to was Asimov's study.
...It was the same room that had been attacked before, and the area where the window used to be should have been somewhat damaged from Set crashing through it... but somehow, it was completely repaired.
A Magic Item? No, it's more natural to assume he had a skilled carpenter do it.
As Rei was looking at the window and nodding in understanding, Asimov, who had been toying with a dagger, spoke to him.
His attitude looked slightly displeased, likely because he had to hire guards he wasn't closely acquainted with.
"So, are those two the guards you mentioned, Rei?"
"Yeah. In terms of skill, they should be fine as guards. ...Though they have some personality issues."
At that last remark added at the end, Arrogan and Culotte directed dissatisfied glances at him.
But considering they had been arguing the entire way here, they probably understood they couldn't deny it.
They sent unhappy looks toward Rei, but took no further action.
If they made a spectacle of themselves here, they would lose the guard job... the perfect opportunity to build a friendly relationship with a highly skilled alchemist.
Opportunities to become acquainted with an alchemist were rare to begin with.
Well, that might be a different story for higher-ranked adventurers, but unfortunately, Arrogan, Culotte, and the others were still just D-Rank Adventurers.
Fortunately, however, Asimov glanced at Arrogan and the others, then returned a nod without seeming particularly bothered.
"Understood. If they're someone Rei introduced, they should be fine. I'll leave the guarding to you. I'll basically be in this room, so do as you like. Just know I can't take responsibility if you touch things you shouldn't and something strange happens to you."
Setting aside what he meant by "things you shouldn't touch," Arrogan and Culotte nodded while feeling a certain dread about the "something strange" he left unspecified.
Seeing that, Asimov suddenly directed his gaze at Arrogan... or more precisely, at the sheath on Arrogan's hip.
"Is that a Magic Sword?"
"Ah, yeah. That's right."
Perhaps not expecting it to be identified as a Magic Sword so immediately, Arrogan answered with some surprise and reached for the sheath.
The long sword he drew was Arrogan's partner... a Magic Sword that had saved his life countless times.
Arrogan used to rely entirely on the power of that Magic Sword, but after meeting Rei and being instantly defeated, then fighting bandits during his Rank Up Exam, forming a party with Culotte and Schola, and completing various requests...
Through that process, Arrogan had learned not to rely on the Magic Sword's power, but to wield it properly.
He had become capable of doing so.
"...Could you let me take a look at it?"
Even so, Arrogan hesitated to entrust his partner to someone he was meeting for the first time, but when he looked at Rei, Rei returned a nod.
Arrogan found Rei difficult to deal with, but he still trusted and relied on him.
That was why, receiving Rei's nod, he handed his partner over to Asimov.
Taking it, Asimov held the Magic Sword in his hand... and stared at it for several seconds.
Then, sheathing it, he eventually spoke as if satisfied.
"Guard duty. I'm counting on you."
Asimov's expression as he said that was different from a few seconds ago—somewhere along the lines of being convinced.