Journal from Another World

狩りの女神の祝福 ②

“I am the Regional Overseer of the Hunter’s Guild, Albia Folbes.” The elderly lady introduced herself. “Town Elder, Molba Misner since we have met your requirements and found a plot of land to place our establisment we would like to talk about resuming the operations for the Hunter’s Guild in Amarante.”

“What are you saying!? Where did you…” he must have realized it as he stopped his next words turning pale every second.

“Sir Heid von Alyster Romaria” withouth breaking her line of thought, the Regional Overseer - Albia Folbes changes her line of sight from the Town Elder to sir Heid. “The Hunter's Guild has accepted your proposal to make your establishment a subsidiary to the Hunter’s Guild. Also, in the name of the Goddess of the Hunt, Erebel, we the Hunter’s Guild through our extensive background check deem you worthy and proclaim you as Amarante’s Hunter’s Guild Overseer.”

Both sir Heid and lady Anna were dumbfounded, they could not register the situation well. Well it can’t be helped, moments ago, they were having a hard time proving their innocence to the townfolks. Then in a matter of second, this lady had proven their innocence just like that.

Well the couple were not the only ones dumfounded by the lady over-seer’s speech though, the gallery were as well. Although Albia Folbes, the Regional Overseer of the Hunter’s Guild did not explicitly mention that the crimes against the Romaria’s are made up. However, they did mention that they had investigated and found that the couple were indeed clean and even invoked the name of the Goddess of the Hunt to support their claims.

By evoking the Goddess’ name two organizations became the couple’s supporter for their claim for their innocence, first is of course the Hunter’s Guild, known for their extensive background checking resources and the second is the Church, devout listener to any and all of the Gods and Goddess in this world.

Since the gallery was getting restless, a change of scenery should be in order.

“Sir Heid, Lady Anna” I had to bring this couple back to reality or they might just collapse immediately out of relief. “I think that this is no place for a formal talk with the guild, should we invite them inside?”

“Ace you…” the couple instantly thought that I had a hand in this. Well, I really did, but I was not about to openly admit it.

“Lady Albia Folbes please come on in. We should not have any costumer for the day so we can have our conversations inside.” I then guided the Regional Director inside the Lover’s Nest.

*****

After that public stunt from the Guild, the two parties (Romaria and the Guild Representative, Albia Folbes) had an exclusive meeting, the agendum: Contract to the Guild and its Operations.

The couple was a bit fidgety as they were still trying to grasp what was going on.

“As we had mentioned earlier…” sensing that the couple was still under the weather, lady Albia starts to get the negotiations under way “We have properly investigated your claims for innocence and found out about the darkness that lie in your circumstances.” The elderly woman then puffs some smoke from her pipe as if to give off an exaggerated sigh.

“I see…” sir Heid, was charged of the crime sighed a relief. He knew he was innocent, but only his wife had accepted that fact. Knowing that others know about what has really transpired in the pseudo-court trial has really put off some weighed on his shoulder.

“Well, as long as you are associated with the Guild, they can’t touch you in the background.” Albia continued without waiting for the couple to answer. “…and the backings from the church will stop the nobles from meddling with you too openly. With that said, Heid von Alyster Romaria and Anna Sevilis Romaria, what do you want to do?”

There was no need to ask the question, that public stunt earlier was probably a pretext for this negotiation. There was no way for the couple to dismiss the people who would be their only way to clear up their names. But the elderly overseer still asked out of respect.

Sir Heid and Lady Anna probably know that there are a lot of uncertainty by joining the Guild, but they also fully understand that they need to move forward and so “Please take care of us.” Stood up and bowed before the elder Regional Overseer.

“Then allow me to officially say it, Lady Anna Seviles Romaria we will be using this establishment as a base of operations for the Hunter’s Guild. Sir Heid von Alyster Romaria by powers me vested as the Hunter’s Guild Association Regional Overseer, has approved, and move for your installment as Amarante Branch Hunter’s Guild Amarante Branch Overseer.”

“We Gladly Accept.”

*****

“While the two of you are benefiting from this contract, we are also equally benefitting from this as well.” Albia Folbes did not need to sugarcoat her words.

The Guild will have their base of operations here. With that said, The Guild has a lot to gain from this, mainly a way to bring their finances to boon by deploying Hunters for any monster extermination or even escort jobs on monster infested areas near the Dark Forests.

That is just the least thing that will happen for the Amarante, should the Guild be pushed forward, as more people see the convenience of setting up a guild in this town, more towns will follow suit generating more income for the Guild.

But the Guild is not the only once who are going to benefit from this venture. Lady Anna and sir Heid will net finances that will secure their lives by operating of the Guild and the Restaurant. And lastly, with the Guild’s backing, their innocence can further be proven promoting a peace in mind knowing that they can do business without having anyone harass them too openly.

Right, this win-win scenario was the reason why I decided to write the letter to the Guild post haste when I heard the details about the Guild from Sir Heid nights prior.

Allow me to make a confession, after hearing about the guild from the old woodcutter; I did have some hesitation calling for their aide as I questioned their capabilities. I mean, why could they not forcefully open their base here when they had enough power to go against nobles? Thinking about that, I did many conclusions for my own satisfaction, but none brought merit in summoning their aide.

My initial thought was to bring the church to our side using the eccentric priestess who had become one of our regular customers. If we do, I could somehow foresee that the couple will not be openly harassed. But the question is, how would I get her to our side? What material would I use?

But while fighting the FOREST WOLVES that had attacked the woodcutters a certain area had opened new possibilities and prompt me to further investigate the guild operations and immediately brought me to ask sir Heid about them the night after.

Just past my usual hunting ground, were the pack of unusually energetic FOREST WOLVES, it was safe to assume that these wolves are the ones who had attacked the woodcutters as the pack had clothing and fresh blood on their jaws.

“Looks like the woodcutters went deeper than I had imagined.” Usually, I was the only one who would tread the forest this deep. But for some reason, the woodcutters who had felt that the forest monsters were thinned started to courage to do lumberjack activities deeper as well. Today unfortunately, was the day that I could not hunt due to our soft opening, and they ended up being greeted by the wolves.

Now back to the wolves at hand; Activating SILENT STEP and SNEAK and started eliminating them one by one.

After the last of the pack, I went a little farther to ensure that for the next few days no more troublesome things would come in case the woodcutters would try their luck again tomorrow and that was when I found it.

“Captain, it’s been a while. I’m detecting a strong MANA surge 80 meters from your location. Please use caution.”

Ohh! Nice to be talking to you too Grim-chan. Since there has been nothing special to note, I hardly have any conversation with her as of late. I was quite ecstatic when heard her voice and usual greetings for quite a while now.

While my excitement was up to brim upon hearing a nostalgic Grim-chan, I also went ahead and investigated this so-called surge of MANA she had mentioned. Carefully treading and making sure not to alert any other monsters, I went deeper inside the forest.

“Could this be…?”

*****

“I guess the contract is done?” Since I had guessed that the contract signed, it was time to take this negotiation a bit further and make sure that the guild could not abandon the couple easily. “I might have something that could benefit this negotiation further…”

“Ace you have done so much for us.” Sir Heid then comes up to me with words of gratitude. “If you had not done this, I would not have had the courage to face tomorrow in this land… no, in this kingdom.” I am guessing that he truly would have done self-exiled and chose to leave this kingdom for another. That choice itself was fine and all, but I felt that Lady Anna would be crushed with that decision. And so, I could only sheepishly smile as Lady Anna also had similar sentiment.

“Oho… I see, so you are the one who sent us the letter….” Lady Albia was eying me intently as if she were looking at me like she was trying to peel my skin. Seeing that I was on guard she then closed her eyes and apologized. “Ah, sorry about that, just a force of habit… please proceed.”

“While it is true that I did summon the guild to help alleviate the problems with sir Heid and lady Anna.” The couple’s eyes were a bit watery… “Ahem… but the reason why I had resolved on asking for your help instead of the church is because I have found something that might require the presence of the Guild here in Amarante. In the deepest part of DARK FOREST, a Dungeon lies sleeping.”

“Say what!?” The elderly lady just tried to pounce me when she heard my last words.

“I found a dungeon in the Dark Forest.” I had to repeat myself while pushing the elderly woman ever so slightly.

“Ace, is this true?” The couple was shocked, especially lady Anna. She has lived her for some time and never heard her father or grandfather speak of any dungeon near the forest.

“This must be a newly found dungeon…” lady Albia muttered. I guess the guild really did not know about it. Well, it should have been evident when she pounced at me.

“I have not entered it so I could not be a hundred percent sure, but if my intuition is right, then it is definitely a dungeon.” I could not be too sure since I only investigated the entrance, but Grim-chan had said that it had a similar vibe when I was near the Nameless Dungeon in that Mysterious Island. I can’t tell them that though, so I had to be vague with my answer.

“This changes thing quite a bit.” Apparently, the Guild would have to wait at least 2 to 3 months before they can fully operate. But with an untouched treasure throve known as a Dungeon sleeping here, they needed to speed things up or the nobles could monopolize it for their own use.

“Just to be sure, you have told no one about this, yes?”

“No, I needed it to be a trump card in case negotiation could not move forward in our direction.”

“Good, for now make sure that this information is kept only between us four.” Albia then took some notes and handed it to sir Heid. “We need to maintain contact. You can use this to contact me if ever there are any issues. Also, in 3 weeks’ time I will dispatch some veteran Hunters to become your initial Hunters please find a place for them to get settled.”

With that, the elderly Regional Supervisor for the Hunter’s Guild stormed out of the Lover’s Nest Restaurant.

*****

Before the day could completely end, we got blessed with other guests. Each with their gifts and assurance. Lisa Salsa, who was the only official who had accepted Lady Anna and sir Heid’s innocence from the start. Amanda Feyda the town librarian, who was just there for the food. Feyth Romlis the apothecary and priestess who had made truth to the vow the Hunter’s Guild had accepted the couple’s innocence. Arldo Pento the old woodcutter and the woodcutters from the Lumberjack Department.

There were also the mother and child, who had run on the first day, the sexually energetic couples who could not get over the couple’s meals and more of the town folks who finally realized and accepted their own stupidity and apologized to the Romarias.

A small feast was catered, and everyone made merry, me, sir Heid, and especially lady Anna was in jubilation. We could feel that happiness was finally on its track.