Chapter 38 – The Season When It Blooms Part 1 (2/2)

And, we went out for adventures every day, and fought against numerous demons in the wild while accumulating experience, this fact was also big in the battle just now. Practice (TN: 実践=Jissen) and Combat (TN:実戦=Jissen here too) are the greatest training after all. [TL: What a shitty pun is it]

And, with this and that, currently the maintenance of the『Dagger』, whose explanation I’ve yet to give, was over, moreover Elk has started to learn on how to handle her weapon more skillfully.

Apparently, Elk’s mother herself didn’t knew the identity of this dagger.

Its true identity is, an extremely rare magic item excavated from ancient ruins, only if it appears, which in itself is too rare.

Particularly the『Wind』magic Elk uses has the effect of enhancing the speed of attack and its sharpness, an ideal magic for her, who aims at the vitals.

Maybe the love for the memento of her mother too was helping, now that she is getting more skilled gradually.

This is the truth; she even has luck and talent. I’m quite eager to see her future.

Well then, let’s call it day now, and take this Little Beast back to the guild. It’s just a single so I can shoulder it and take it back. Its fur too is good.

Most probably, this would end up being ingredients for her assessment, and Elk’s rank would increase. Even more, if I report that I didn’t help at all.

☆☆☆

Upon exiting the labyrinth, the time was already near evening, the time sure runs fast.

For the time being, for converting this『Little Beast』, which is hanging on my shoulder within a jute bag, into money, we both walk along the path at a fast pace. The jute bag is quite big, so it makes me stand out, but now I don’t even care.

After all, my face has become so widespread recently that I now don’t even want to care, as there is no meaning in that. I’m the mysterious adventurer who came from Rank F to Rank A in less than a month. 『Adventurer in Black』, now even『Black Lion』.

Well as expected, I was called out more times compared to the time with『Naga』……but as it was my second time experiencing this, I was quite familiar with that stuff already, and it didn’t concern me as much. Parrying it efficiently, I am maintaining my adventurer life, I think.

While thinking that stuff, I walk the main street of the city, and tasty scent came drifting around from shops on either side, and tickle my nose. At the same time, my body, which had done some good exercise in the labyrinth, started giving an honest reaction to my appetite.

It’s about time I give a reward to my hard working body by buying stuff and eating it immediately, but I don’t have enough time right now……

Why is it so? It’s about time the adventurers out to venture labyrinths and danger areas start returning. In that case, the stares pointed at me, and invitations I would have to reject would increase by 1.5%. Truly, utterly, pain-in-the-ass.

It can’t be helped, let’s walk and eat after finishing the work in Guild, while I try to shake off the tasty scents from my nose, I, abruptly, notice something.

Along with the tasty scent of kebabs and other grilled stuffs, there is another smell……

……This is……a flower?

I look around the surroundings, and see……several shops here and there selling flowers.

Though I say that, these all are not florist, most of them are used as medicinal plants, or as foodstuff……the genuine『florist』are rather rare here.

Even so, compared to yesterday……today the market is full with flowers. What is happening?

☆☆☆

「Ah……that. It’s already that season」

「Season?」

After arriving at guild, while we wait for the assessment for giving the『Little Beast』, I ask Elk about the scene I noticed before, and that was answer.

「There is a place called as『Flower Valley』, it takes about 3 days via carriage to reach. Do you know about there?」

I shake my head. Elk makes an『as expected』type of expression and continued her explanation.

Seems like that『Flower Valley』was literally, a place with lots of flowers and is also a producing area where various things related to『Flowers』are produced.

There, since long ago people have made a small community and have been living there, they all make their living by selling the various special products found in the valley to Traders who come for buying things.

Live flowers for vase, flowers for luxury grocery items or even dry flowers for admiration purposes, along with flowers that work as medicinal plants; and various other things could be taken from there.

In the『Special products』even that『Blood Maple』is present. However this one is a genuine legal product, with license.

That『Flower Valley』, all year long, has some sort of flower blossoming there, let it be winter or any other season, and the current season is the time when stock replenishing from『Flower Valley』is at its peak.

I see, so that’s why there were so many flowers. Doesn’t it get troublesome for people suffering from hay fever? Not like I know if it exists in this world.

Hearing more, the shops selling a thing called as『Flower Dish』made by using lots of those special products also appear in markets during this time. Just like a limited-time offer. Though there is still time before evening meal, but frankly, this talk aroused my interest greatly.

While I’m making Elk feel astonished by my easy-to-read expression and my already-revealed appetite, the assessment was over and we were called from the counter, so we headed towards the place Riin-san was present at.

Taking the Guild Card and the reward……there was a change in Elk’s card; the displayed rank had changed from『D』to『C』.

Apparently, the achievements she had accumulated till now, along with this Little Beast ending up as the last move, her rank increased.

But, there was no unnatural feeling. For Elk who is now able to solo kill a Little Beast, this evaluation can be said quite valid.

Of course, though her foundation had been good from before, but increasing from Rank『E』to『C』in just a little over 2 months is an unprecedented thing, even Riin-san praising her, and Elk was surprised over herself.

But, today’s surprise didn’t end with just that, we were told a concerning talk by Riin-san.

「A request by name?」

「Yes. A request addressed to Minato-sama. It is fine to take it along with Elk-sama」

Saying that, Riin-san presented forward the single page of request in her hands, I take it over and survey it.

I read the stuff written on the paper, which was clearly bigger than the ones affixed on『Board』, and surely the written stuff was about a quest designated to the request adventurer, me. Minato Quadrille.

I had heard that upon getting famous, stuff like this also increases, but it’s the first time I’m experiencing this.

“Just who is the client?”, thinking that I left the request details for later and look at the name of client……HUH!?

「Therefore, it’s fine today or even tomorrow, so the client wants to meet you and explain the details. Ah, of course, it’s not mandatory to accept it, so you can decline the request……what would you do?」

「Hmm」