Episode 20.11 (1/2)
Commander Tesla welcomed them at the town lord's mansion.
Town of Vouka has three commanders, one for guard corps, one for a unit guarding town gates, and one for a unit protecting the town lord's mansion. Commander Tesla is the one in charge of the mansion.
Lecan and Eda were led inside the mansion while the Tree Wolves were menacingly growling 'baw baw'.
They were brought to a parlor furnished with first-class interiors instead of the lord's office.
They were told to sit on the sofa, so they did.
The town lord soon arrived. Along with his son, Agito.
”Hey there, Lecan. It's been a while.”
”Yea.”
”And you would be Eda then.”
”Yes.”
”To think it's such a lovely young girl. Make yourselves at home. You have done great during the bandit sweeping operation.”
”Y-yesh.”
”Now then, Lecan. I'd like to recommend your promotion to gold rank adventurer. Would you accept it.”
”Do I get some sort of responsibilities as a gold rank adventurer.”
”There is no specific duty. You might get asked to do personal quests from me or this town's influential individuals, but you are free to refuse them. In other word, even though you may be a gold rank, your position as an adventurer will see no change.”
”My apothecary training under Shira will be over this year. I plan to wander around all over the places after that. No concrete plan yet though.”
”Is that so. That's unfortunate. But that doesn't mean you won't ever come back to this town, does it?”
”No idea. I might come back. I might not.”
”That's fine then. Do show your face at this town once in a while. But the choice is ultimately yours.”
”What's in it for you if I get to be this town's gold rank adventurer?”
”Fumu. Even the mere fact that a town has a gold rank adventurer will improve public order. It has the effect of deterring surrounding town lords and scheming fools from messing with the town. Furthermore, you're a special case.”
”Special as in?”
”The best deterrent against outside forces a town can have is having an assembly of knights, however, our town hasn't reached that stage yet. Naturally, lords who rule over dungeon cities have their eyes set on such towns. Simply because they can hire high-ranking adventurers anytime they want. To town lords who have no access to either, gold rank adventurers fill the bill instead.”
”I see.”
”However, you end Eda are gold rank adventurers as well as dungeon conquerors. Moreover, you're a rare kind of adventurers who has conquered two dungeons thrice. You, adventurers of our town. What would this be called besides special.”
”There's no guarantee we will act in accordance to your will in the future. Is there a point in gold rank then.”
”That's no problem at all. Or rather, if it ever comes to a point that I have to rely on your powers to brute force things, that signals my defeat as a politician. Deterrents have meaning only if they aren't used.”
”Hmm? I don't really get difficult stuff. Anyway, it's fine if you profit from it as long as we aren't burdened with duties.”
”I'm grateful to hear that. Pardon me, but I had prepared myself for a very difficult discussion from my impressions of you the last time we met.”
”Shira told me.”
”Shira-dono did? What is?”
”To concede everything I can concede in my talk with you.”
”I see. Shira-dono said such things. To her, we're truly”
Truly what. The lord didn't continue.
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After a moment of silence, Lecan spoke.
”If you're done with us, we're heading back.”