We had been on the road for thirty minutes. Our carriages wound through a mountain pass in a single-file line, flanked on both sides by thickets of trees. The dense canopy kept the path dim even in the midday sun, and while the air was a bit chilly, the breeze felt refreshing.
As I was soaking in the atmosphere, Roche-san spoke up.
"Say, Ryoma. Do you have any interest in getting tamed monsters other than slimes?"
His gaze was fixed on the Heal Slime perched atop my head, which was currently helping me keep watch.
"Besides slimes, I have my Rimul Birds," I replied.
"Is that so? I honestly thought you were just a slime collector."
"Well, it’s true that the vast majority are slimes."
"Do you have any intention of branching out into other species?"
"Hmm... It’s not that I’m particularly obsessed with slimes, but they have so many variations that they’re quite fascinating. I haven’t really run into any trouble with them, so I haven't felt a strong urge to proactively seek out other types."
"I see... I just thought that if you find people difficult to deal with, you could use tamed monsters to round out your combat strength instead."
Was he suggesting them as a substitute for a party? And what did he mean by "finding people difficult"...?
"Roche, I know you're worried about Ryoma-kun, but there’s no need to be in such a rush," Lucy-san interjected.
"Yeah, I know. But once I started thinking about it, I couldn't stop worrying..."
"Honestly. You're acting just like the Guild Master. Ryoma-kun, I’m sorry. We must be being quite a nuisance."
"Not at all. I know you're only saying this because you care."
When I told her I was grateful, Lucy-san laughed and said I was a good boy.
"There are a lot of meddling people around here, but you don't necessarily have to listen to every single opinion. I agree that you shouldn't do anything reckless or dangerous, but I also don't think it’s right to sacrifice the things you actually want to do."
"Thank you."
"It’s no trouble. Oh, but with that said, it really might be a waste to limit yourself only to slimes. Collecting them is fine, but since you have the talent for Taming Magic, why not broaden your horizons? If you had horse-type monsters like Red Horses or Battle Horses, you could ride them for travel. Having a monster you can use as a means of transportation would be incredibly convenient."
"That is a good point."
Currently, my only means of travel were my own two feet or Space Magic. I hadn’t really struggled so far, but having a tamed monster to handle the travel would certainly help me conserve mana and stamina.
It would be impossible for a slime or a Rimul Bird to carry me, and even if they could, I’d probably be faster on my own. If I were to go through with that plan, I’d have to capture something new...
"If you're unsure, why not consult the Tamer Guild? I’m fairly certain they have a counter specifically for those kinds of inquiries. Or rather, haven't they already reached out to you?"
"Well... I am registered there, but at first, I only had slimes and couldn't get any work. Then, after I opened my shop, I ended up handing over some of their members to the Guard Force for harassing me. Since then, I haven’t really shown my face there. It’s not that there’s a problem, exactly, but it’s just awkward to go in without a specific reason."
"Then this might be the perfect excuse to pay them a visit. From the sounds of it, you probably haven't even taken a 'Tamed Monster Aptitude Diagnosis' yet, have you?"
"I haven't. Is there such a thing?"
That was news to me.
"Apparently, the Tamer Guild keeps various types of monsters on hand. You can try forming contracts with them, and by comparing the results with past records, they can help narrow down which species you have an affinity for."
"Wasn't the first time free?" Roche-san added.
"That's right, if I remember correctly. So it wouldn't hurt to go and give it a try."
True. I didn't feel any particular inconvenience right now, but it seemed like a worthwhile test. I made a mental note to go before I forgot.
"As an adventurer, what kind of monsters are the most helpful to have?"
"For me, it’s definitely mobility," Roche-san said. "I’ve always admired people who can fly around on Wyverns."
"I suppose I’d prefer a Fairy Species," Lucy-san mused. "They can use magic, and apparently, forming a contract with one can enhance your own spells. Mind you, they're incredibly difficult to find, let alone tame."
Listening to the stories of these two veterans was genuinely fascinating.
However, as the conversation eventually wound down, an awkward silence settled over us.
The atmosphere inside the carriage felt heavy.
I glanced toward the students, and they visibly stiffened. I’d noticed that some of them had been avoiding me since the duel the other day, but these ones were at least willing to acknowledge me. However, it seemed they now perceived me as "some kind of monster," and they didn't know how to bridge the distance between us.
They could talk normally with Roche-san and the others, but the moment I joined in, the conversation died. It always ended like this. The looks they gave me were closer to awe or envy, which made things difficult in its own way. Still, I suppose it was better than the atmosphere of a company retreat where everyone had to share a bus with a hated boss...
The quiet interior, the cool breeze, and the swaying of the carriage combined with my exhaustion from the previous night. I felt a comfortable drowsiness wash over me.
“Please, let me quit... I’m begging you...”
“I’m falling apart because of you!”
“Stop this already!”
“Don't compare me to you... Not everyone is as strong as you are, mentally or physically!”
...
“Takebayashi-kun, this is a problem. You’re the supervisor—you have to watch them more closely. It takes a lot of effort to hire people. Now we have to start newcomer training all over again from scratch. Do you understand what you've done? Well? Do you?!”
“Did you hear? Takebayashi broke another rookie.”
“Pfft! Again? That guy’s hilarious. How many years has he been here? He still can’t manage his subordinates for worth a damn.”
I thought I was being careful with my instructions.
But the people I was put in charge of grew to hate me.
In the end, almost all of them quit.
I never laid a hand on them.
I made a point never to shout.
I tried to speak calmly, teaching them as many times as it took when they didn't understand or made a mistake.
I adjusted their workload so it wouldn't be too heavy.
I made sure to conduct training during working hours so they could actually use their breaks to rest.
I tried so many different methods, yet the result was always the same...
What was I doing wrong?
What is wrong with me?
"I can see it!!"
"Nn...?"
I seemed to have dozed off for a moment.
I had a very nostalgic dream from when I was much younger. Come to think of it, I used to agonize over those things back then. To have a dream like that now—it made me feel like I’d regressed in age.
...Oh, wait. I had regressed.
I needed to wake up properly. Had I been out for long? I checked the sky, but the sun hadn't moved much. However, the gates of Gimul were now visible in the distance.
"We finally made it..."
"We're home..."
"Thank goodness."
The students seemed to relax, and the atmosphere softened just a touch.
"Oh? There’s quite a crowd outside the town. They don't look like adventurers, though."
"You're right," I agreed. "It looks like they're surveying the land."
"There was talk about expanding the city," Roche-san said. "This must be the start of it."
Even if it was still in the planning stages, the city was steadily growing. Watching the laborers work, we passed through the South Gate and headed straight for the Guild.
"Glad to see you back!"
As if he’d been lying in wait, the Guild Master met us inside the building, standing with his arms crossed and legs spread wide.
"Everyone from the instruction course, over here! ......Looks like you all made it back in one piece. Well? Did you learn anything useful out there?"
The students gathered in a corner of the Guild and began answering his questions.
"I see. Then, Roche, I'll let you handle the closing remarks."
"Understood. ...Listen up!"
He gave a brief speech about how their hard work over the last five days would serve them well in their futures. After a few logistical notes about reporting their individual request completions, the course was officially concluded and the group was dismissed.
"Ryoma, good work."
"Guild Master."
"How was it? Your first time teaching."
"It was... enlightening. I actually learned quite a bit from Roche-san and the others."
"You sound like one of the students."
"Well, there were many things I truly didn't know."
"Fair enough. No matter how old you get, there’s always something new to learn. ...Come with me for a second."
The Guild Master beckoned me over with a serious expression.
"Guild Master, is it alright if I join you?" Roche-san asked.
"Roche, huh? I need your report anyway. Come along."
I was led into the Guild Master’s office. First, Roche-san gave a detailed report on the events of the training camp, followed by a summary of my performance. The conversation went exactly where I expected—straight to the fallout of the duel.
"I could tell by the look on your face that something had happened, Ryoma... So that’s it."
The Guild Master propped his elbows on the desk and rested his head against his folded hands, looking troubled.
"Roche. Tell me more about how the others are reacting. What’s the situation with the ones avoiding Ryoma?"
"The initial shock and fear have settled, and some have adjusted their attitudes accordingly. About half the students are still keeping their distance. Among the instructors, the veterans either acknowledged Ryoma from the start or came to terms with it by this morning. It’s mostly the younger ones who are still avoiding him. Among the staff, Bosco and a few others are being quite blatant about it."
"Bosco’s still green. I suppose the others got impatient after seeing the gap between them and Ryoma..."
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Don't apologize. You showed your strength because you thought it would help the students, didn't you? You didn't do anything wrong. The outcome was just a bit unfortunate. Now, Roche. Give me your honest assessment of Ryoma’s abilities."
"To be honest, even if I could move like I did in my prime, I wouldn't want him as an enemy. If I were Bosco’s age—and if I hadn't already made my peace with retiring—I might have reacted exactly the same way he did."
Roche-san gave me a glowing evaluation. The Guild Master nodded silently as he listened.
"You mentioned he beat Howard in a match. Howard was definitely using Qigong, right?"
"He was unmistakably going all out."
"I see... Fine. Ryoma."
"Yes."
The Guild Master pulled a scrap of parchment from his desk and began writing.
"We Guild Masters have the authority to restrict an adventurer's activities, but we also have the power to lift those restrictions. One of those limits involves 'Bandit-related Requests.' Because those missions involve fighting people, they’re usually restricted to C-Rank and above. Normally, that limit is lifted automatically once you reach that rank... but if an adventurer meets certain conditions and a Guild Master recognizes their strength, we can grant permission regardless of rank."
"Guild Master?! You don't mean—"
Roche-san started to object, but the Guild Master silenced him with a look.
"Roche, I know exactly what you’re thinking. I’ve considered everything you told Ryoma. I was hesitant about how to handle him, but this kid can take care of himself. In fact, he’s so self-sufficient that it worries me. I’m afraid that if I leave him be, he’ll just keep walking ahead until he’s completely alone. But that’s Ryoma’s life to live. You understand that, don't you?"
"..."
"If parents do everything for their children, the kids grow up safe, but they become adults who can't do anything without their parents. I have no intention of managing people that way. Besides, this kid didn't need protection even when he first registered. He arrived here already standing on his own two feet.
...I needed you there for a final confirmation. I wanted to know how Ryoma looked through the eyes of someone else I could trust. I needed an objective perspective. And it turns out your opinion matches mine."
"So that was it."
"Yeah. That’s why I... will support him, but I won't stand in his way."
Having said his piece, the Guild Master turned to me with a sharp, serious gaze and handed me the paper.
"Ryoma. By my authority as the Guild Master of the Gimul Branch, I am granting you permission to accept 'Bandit Subjugation' requests. Give this and your Guild Card to the receptionist on your way out. They’ll update your card with the authorization. That should bring you much closer to a C-Rank promotion.
But let’s be clear: this is permission to hunt bandits, not permission to shoulder every burden alone. If you can find comrades, find them. If you run into trouble, come talk to me without hesitation. ...Don't you dare forget that."
"...! Yes! I understand!"
"Good. That’s the right answer."
Once he heard my reply, he let go of the paper.
"Ah... and about how the others look at you. In a way, that’s just part of the job. Anyone who rises to the top deals with that to some degree. Don't let it get to you. Just keep doing what you want to do—within the law, of course."
What I wanted to do. That was already decided.
"I’ll be fine. Nothing will change. I’ll just keep working the way I always have."
I didn't intend to crawl back into the forest just because some people were avoiding me. It’s impossible to be liked by everyone you meet. I’d been incredibly lucky to meet so many kind people since arriving here, but as I socialized more, things like this were bound to happen. It didn't mean my bonds with the good people had been severed. I intended to keep living my life as freely as ever.
"Nothing will change, huh? That sounds like you. For better or for worse."
"Actually, I did say nothing would change, but I will think about finding companions."
After all, Roche-san and the Guild Master had given me that advice because they were truly worried about me. It stung my conscience a little that I couldn't give them a definitive "yes" just yet.
"Don't push yourself too hard," the Guild Master said, finally dismissing me.
His face looked just a little bit tired.