"Well then, Mr. Locke, I'd like to introduce you to an E-rank adventurer who has a bit of a story to tell.



"What do you mean, 'E-rank adventurer with a reason'?"



"Well, ......, Mr. Locke, is there anything that you would not like in a partner with an E-rank adventurer?"



"I don't want to be betrayed. I also don't want someone who doesn't follow instructions. Those are the two main things." "Betrayal is out of the question.



　Betrayal is out of the question, but not listening to others and not following instructions is also a problem.



　When you take E rank adventurers with you, you are taking their lives in your hands and you need their cooperation. Of course, if they don't listen to me and don't do anything stupid, it's not a place where I can go with them and get hurt.



"Are you sure you're okay with that, Mr. Ricca?　I've made a lot of decisions on my own."



"What?　I didn't make all these decisions on my own. I talked to the head of the guild when Mr. Locke came back and asked his permission, and I told him that I would make preparations to handle the situation smoothly. Well, even if something happens, I'm the assistant vice president of the guild, so I have a certain amount of authority. I'm not just a pretty receptionist.



　Ricca-san says this happily and gives me a thumbs up.

　It was Rikka-san who was the receptionist when I first came to the Adventurers' Guild three years ago.

　She's still as pretty as ever.



　I see. I can understand why she's rumored to have so many fans.

　Some people like Isaac are so used to her that they look down on her, but adventurers like me, who have been taking care of her for many years, want to cooperate with her.



　Especially if they are cute and slender.

　And you're so powerful in the guild... ...... you might not want to go against her.



　Even that?　That means she's pretty old .......

"Mr. Locke?　Are you thinking of something rude?"



　I'm sure you're a good judge of that just by looking at my face.

　It's best not to think about anything else.



No, I wasn't thinking anything, I was just wondering what a class-E adventurer is like.



"Really?"

　He looks at me as if I'm very suspicious, but I can't admit that here.



"So what kind of person is he?"



"Well, ...... I'm from a slightly different background, but I would never rebel against Mr. Locke. And I'm not worried about betraying you. The problem is that I think too much. I'm a little skeptical. So, let's meet at the training ground now, and you can make me look like a fool.



"What's with that guy? Are you sure you're okay?



I'm sure he'll be fine.　I'm sure Mr. Rock will be fine.

　Ricca-san disappeared into the back of the guild in a bit of a panic.

　I don't know why I feel so ominous.



　But if he doesn't betray us or rebel against us, there should be no problem to some extent.



　Since the training grounds are behind the guild, I decide to take Lucky with me.

　We don't want to leave one of them in front of the guild all the time in case something goes wrong.



　I don't think that any adventurer would suddenly slash at him, but if there is an accident, it would be the owner's fault.

　It would be a disaster if the person who attacked him got hurt or died.



"Lucky, I'm going to meet an E-rank adventurer at the training grounds, so will you put your arm around me?"

----Okay. After that, we'll have dinner? ----

"Yeah, sure. Let's have a nice meal. Tell the orange-antes that we'll have a meal if they can understand us."

--Aiyo----



　The adventurer who watched Lucky disappear into the bracelet was surprised to see him, but he had never seen a magic item before.

　There are many unusual magic items in this world.



　Well, maybe not so much in the city.



　When we arrived at the training ground, Ricca and the others had not yet arrived.

　I was told to beat the E ranks to a pulp here, but I don't want to be a bully to the weak. I'd like to end this with a discussion or a light hand-to-hand combat.



　I haven't heard such a thing as "kicking and screaming" in a while, by the way.

　I guess my age ...... gives me a cold chill down my back.

　It's best not to think about anything else.



　Then we wait a few minutes.



　Ricca brought a female elf with a collar.

"This is Shannon, the elf who will be accompanying Mr. Locke."



　The introduction was way above my expectations.

　He said he was an E-rank adventurer, so I had assumed he was a man.



　Moreover, that collar was worn by a slave. But I've never heard of a guild slave.



"What do you mean, Mr. Ricca?"



Yes. I'm Shannon, a slave and E-rank adventurer whom the guild took in for some reason. For some reason, all of Shannon's five previous masters have died in mysterious circumstances or in accidents. The last husband was an adventurer who owed money to the guild, so he is now a member of the guild. He is powerful enough to be an adventurer. ......"



"Wait a minute, I don't mean to be rude in front of you, but why are you so dead?"



"It's all a coincidence. Two died of natural causes, one fell off a cliff, one died of poisoning, and one was attacked by a demon.

　All of them seem suspicious, and some seem not so suspicious.




　But bad luck is unlikely to be the only explanation for such a string of incidents.



"You think I'm a reaper too, don't you? That's why I only want to work with adventurers who are stronger than me!　Please, Ricca, put me back in my cage! I can't lose to this skinny guy. I know how it turns out. I'm not going to watch anyone else die."



　The tears in her eyes told how much Shannon meant what she said.