『Tort, the octopus is almost gone!』
"Already? There’s nothing left in the Storage Ring, either. I guess the Takoyaki Stall is done for the day."
『What?! But that means there won’t be any left for me! We’re going to get more right now!』
"Yeah, yeah. Maybe next time."
Seven days had drifted by since the Black Giant’s rampage.
While the physical damage hadn't spread across the entire city, the areas the giant had trampled were in a state of total devastation. For some reason, the Council of Mentors—the body that was supposed to respond to such emergencies—remained silent and inactive. As a result, a thick veil of anxiety hung over the city of Aingurna.
The members of the Gurna Warrior Group were the ones who finally stepped up to do something about the atmosphere. Under the guise of "encouraging the townspeople," they had reopened the Muscle-yaki Stall. This triggered a massive resurgence of the Muscle-yaki Boom. The plaza where the stall was set up felt like a festival every single day. Perhaps the commotion was just a form of escapism for people fleeing their anxiety, but I figured that was still better than everyone staying depressed and stagnant.
Shiroru was the one who felt a fierce sense of rivalry toward the other Muscle-yaki stalls. She had been getting herself worked up, insisting she would show the world the true value of the "Original Muscle-yaki." Of course, she wasn't making it herself; she was making me do it. Everyone else was helping out, though, and we were having a good time, so I didn't really mind.
The takoyaki I made became an instant hit, and now mine was the most popular Muscle-yaki Stall in the plaza. I was grateful for the business, but it bugged me a little that "Muscle-yaki" had become the catch-all term for this kind of food. How did things end up like this...?
"Business is as lively as ever, nya~"
"Rache-san! Thank you for your hard work."
"Good work to you too, nya."
Just as I was about to close up for the day since we were out of octopus, Rache-san drifted over. Looking a bit worn out, she slipped behind the stall and immediately started eating some of the takoyaki sitting there.
『Hey! Why are you eating that without permission?! That’s mine!』
"I ate it because I knew it was yours, nya. It's delicious, nya~"
『Gwah! Stop it!』
Apparently, Shiroru had been hoarding those specifically for herself. The two of them began squabbling and fighting over the remaining pieces.
"Rache-san, is it really okay for you to be away from work?"
"I’ve dumped the paperwork on Raymond, nya. I’m liberated from my desk, and Buffy says the work is actually getting done faster now, so she’s happy, nya. It’s a win-win for everyone, nya."
It sounded like Raymond-san's feelings were being completely ignored. Still, it didn't seem like Rache-san had just been playing around.
"I’ve been interrogating Godfee, nya. It’s exhausting because he won’t make a lick of sense, nya."
Godfee, who had been reverted from his giant form, was still a bit weak, but his life wasn't in danger. He was currently being detained at the Adventurer's Guild. Apparently, he hadn't been brainwashed by a Special Individual; he was an actual Evil Cultist who had been hiding his true identity all along. Even after being purified with Clean, his fanatical devotion to Gurnalava remained unchanged.
"It seems increasing the number of followers for the Evil Cult using those Special Individuals was Gurnalava's direct order, nya. However, targeting Tort’s life after that seems to have been his own ego talking, nya. It looks like he got desperate because you kept getting in his way, nya."
"I see."
I had a feeling that might be the case. For someone who claimed to be a trial for the world, his attacks felt far too personal and direct toward us. Then again, the Evil God and the Destiny God were in direct opposition, so I suppose it was inevitable.
"Well, with this, Godfee's status is changing from 'missing' to 'traitor,' nya. That means the Guild Headquarters will finally have to dispatch an Official Guild Master, nya~. Once they do, I'll finally be off the hook, nya."
Rache-san was only the Acting Guild Master, after all. Since Godfee had been officially "missing," the appointment of a successor had been on hold, but Rache-san looked delighted that the incident would finally force the guild's hand.
"Speaking of which, where is the Guild Headquarters, anyway?"
The Adventurer's Guild was a massive armed organization that operated across national borders. I hadn't given it much thought, but if its headquarters were located within a single nation, the power balance between countries would be completely ruined.
"I heard the headquarters is located in the Divine Realm, nya. I don't know much more than that, nya."
The Divine Realm?!
Was the Adventurer's Guild actually a god-related organization?
According to Rache-san, the day-to-day operations were handled by regular humans. However, to ensure they never showed favoritism toward any one country, the top leadership worked within the Divine Realm under the direct gaze of the gods. That certainly explained its power as a deterrent, though it sounded like a high-pressure job.
While the headquarters was in the Divine Realm, the gate to reach it was located in the neutral nation of Lafres, at the center of the continent.
"Huh. I didn't know a country like that existed. I'd like to visit it someday."
"To Lafres, nya? From what I've heard, it’s a pretty boring place, nya. Personally, I think a floating city or something would be much more fun, nya."
I spent the next little while listening to Rache-san talk about all the places she wanted to see. She had rarely ever left Aingurna, but she loved hearing stories from the adventurers who passed through. Thanks to her, I learned quite a few interesting things. Now that the chaos in Aingurna had finally settled, it might be time for me to go out and see what the rest of the world looked like.