Chapter 47 - Pre-subjugation meeting (1/2)

—Raust—

The next afternoon, I was heading toward the cafe chosen by Zieg-san as a place to discuss the phoenix subjugation.

……However, despite this being right before an important discussion, I was walking with a heavy mood.

The problem that came out from making those adventurers doing voluntary service to the city folks yesterday left me fatigued.

First, the documents necessary for adventurers to bring materials to the city, the fact that more than half of those adventurers couldn’t write meant I had to write documents for over 20 adventurers, which I just finished this morning.

That in itself was just hard labor, though the problem didn’t end there.

The relationship between the adventurers and the city folks was too bad.

The adventurers were neglecting the city folks and they hate those adventurers.

In that situation, even if there was no problem, there was also no progress to be made.

Yesterday alone, I half-killed four adventurers who tried to put their hands on the young women in the city, they were supposed to treat her.

……How many times have I thought about retracting my previous statement, or not suggesting voluntary service from adventurers to the city?

Even so, in the end, I still kept the adventurers’ voluntary service continued, the material that circulated in the city was so low that I had to resort to this.

According to the talk with Marry-san, the price of material from the guild continued to rise.

Because of that, despite living in Labyrinth City for many years, some people already left, and if the adventurers didn’t let the materials flow, Marry-san also considering leaving Labyrinth City.

Hearing that, I was at lost at what the guild wanted to do.

In any case, if this kept going as is, Marry-san and the others would surely have a hard time.

Also, on top of the guild, the adventurers themselves were causing problems.

This time, I showed my powers to the troublemaking adventurers and they became obedient.

But that didn’t mean that the chance of adventurers to cause problems became zero.

「Hahh…」

Seeing no answer to this problem, I sighed.

I really didn’t know what to do now.

Knowing that this wasn’t a problem I could leave alone, I gathered more wrinkles in between my eyebrows without noticing.

「……Onii-san, are you alright?」

Hearing Narsena’s voice, I stopped my thinking.

Turning my head to the side, there, Narsena was staring at me with a worried expression.

Still looking worried, Narsena opened her mouth.

「If you feel unwell, Onii-san can rest……」

Her words made me wonder if I really look that tired, and then I let out a strained laugh.

Actually, I felt quite tired because of yesterday’s documents problem and another one that I hadn’t reached an answer yet.

I didn’t have much time to look at myself this morning, so I wasn’t really aware of how fatigued I was looking.

「It’s fine, today is just a meeting. Thank you for worrying about me, Narsena.」

「……Don’t overdo it, alright?」

「Yeah I know.」

Still, I didn’t intend to be absent from this meeting.

I’m indeed tired, but this’s mainly mental fatigue, so there’s no need to be worried.

I also want to make sure I don’t miss the meeting for phoenix subjugation.

Narsena’s ability is far higher than me, her brain is no exception.

However, she’s still lacking in experience and monsters knowledge, she’s emotional too sometimes.

Aside from other quests, a quest with super-high difficulty monsters such as a phoenix like this should be accompanied by me who should have more experience.

「I can see it!」

I put together my thought and then the meeting place came to sight.

When I saw the cafe, I refocused myself.

Anyway, let’s forget about the adventurers and the guild for now and focus on the phoenix subjugation.

Having renewed my determination, I quicken my pace as I head to the cafe.

◇ ◆ ◇

When we arrived in the cafe, Zieg-san’s party was already waiting.

Apparently, Zieg-san’s party consisted of him and two females.

「Err, thank you for the other day.」

「Don’t worry. Now, let’s focus our mind on phoenix subjugation.」

「Y-Yes!」

Among them was Armia, seeing her bowing her head to Narsena, I involuntarily smiled.

「Ummm, Raust-san.」

「………Hmm?」

……But after talking to Narsena, Armia turned toward me. Not knowing what she wanted, I was dumbfounded for a moment.

「I’m sorry for everything!」

「Huh?」

Without noticing my reaction, Armia, as she bowed, she pushed something at me.