Really...?

　Imperial Capital Calcada.
　At the reception desk of the Adventurer's Guild located in its central city, Marin Linophallus returned that while looking into his eyes.
　In response to Marin's words, the receptionist shrugged her shoulders in a small way.

''Yes. Our guild doesn't have any record of a person named Noah Whitefield, does it?''

''I think there are some S-ranked adventurers out there...''

''That's exactly what I'm talking about, S-ranked people are so famous that even I can recite them. I've never heard of Noah Whitefield at all; I've checked all the A-ranked registrants as well, but I couldn't find your name; anything below B-ranked would be a huge number of registrants, so I'll have to take some time to investigate...'' ...

　The receptionist's sardonic reply slumped my shoulders.
　Noah Whitefield, a man I met in the lower levels of Lil'Cara Ruins, a labyrinth that is one of the five most difficult labyrinths on this continent - a man I met in the lower levels of Lil'Cara Ruins.
　It's a place where two A-ranked men fell and Marin also came close to death. He was walking alone in such a lower level. Hence, I thought he was quite high ranked and famous among the adventurers.
　They had no clue.

''Well then, I'm sorry, but..........next.

Oh, um, I'm just going to do some research on the B-rank and below...

In that case, you'll have to pay for the investigation separately, is that all right?

No. Then it's fine.

　The clerical receptionist's response left her shoulders slumped as she left.
　Marin lets out a big sigh as he listens behind him as the man next in line after Marin starts hitting on him with a request form, "Yo Selina-mm.
　I look at my own request form, which is posted in such a guild.

''Urgent] Lil Kara Ruins, accompany the search and survey of the lower levels.
　Fee: 500 gold coins
　Requests: to accompany the search and investigation below the 20th level of the Rilkara Ruins. We are looking for a person with excellent combat skills. As for the treasures found, you have the right to own them. One person can accompany you.

　Basically, a request form is a stack of the same information pasted on the wall, and the adventurer must bring the pasted form to the reception desk to accept the request.
　For requests that do not involve a third party, such as the procurement or collection of medicinal herbs, the adventurer need only inform the receptionist of his or her acceptance of the request. However, when it comes to escorting the merchant association, defeating demons in certain areas and accompanying the search and investigation of the labyrinth as Marin does, they will meet up with the adventurer who accepted the request at a later date.
　Last time, I headed out with Kite and Yulia to explore and investigate, but this time I'm planning to recruit more personnel. That's why I've asked you to tell them to contact me at a later date and time when the request has been accepted.

　But such was the case with Marin's request forms, not a single one of them had been reduced.
　Even in this Imperial Capital Central Adventurer's Guild, which is said to be the most prolific in accepting requests, there was no decrease in the number of such requests.

''Huh........''

　He let out a small sigh and remembered the Archbishop who had given him this role.
　As a child, he had been a kind father. But since Marin's occupation was a priest and he took over as the new Archbishop with his grandfather's passing, he had never been in contact with him as a parent and child. He only lives his life in the Faith, and does his best just to make his brother Hemmel succeed the next Archbishop.
　And for that reason - he has to obtain the book of the new job by any means necessary.

''Mr. ... Noah.''

　For that, a ray of light was Noah.
　He was a fighter who could dive into the lower levels of the Ruins of Rilkara by himself, plus he said he was a demonslayer, but he would be a pretty strong adventurer, leading the powerful demons of the Minotaur and Red Cap in the lower levels. Marin didn't know anything about S-ranked adventurers, but he thought that he was probably a member of them.

　He entered the tavern attached to the Adventurer's Guild - a tavern overflowing with drunks in the daytime - and sat down in a chair at the counter and ordered a glass of milk.
　If he - if Noah was an adventurer, he would have used this guild in no small measure. That's why Marin kept coming to the Adventurer's Guild every day to watch the adventurers who came and went, and it was three days ago that he asked to see if Noah Whitefield's name was among the A-ranked adventurers.
　But there was no sign of Noah at all. I was only with him for about four days, but I wouldn't miss him at all.

　I take a sip of the milk that has been brought to me and then sigh even more.

'Hey, you know what?　You know that forest west of the ruins of Rilkara?

　With a twitch, the name of a ruin I'm often involved with comes up and I can't help but listen.
　They are a pair of adventurers, sitting over there, one vacant from Marin's seat. Both of them are familiar faces here. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time with us. I'm not sure that Marin has the guts to talk to them on his own.

'I heard there was a dragon out there.

Seriously?

Seriously. They've been spotted flying over those woods. I heard the state issued an emergency notice right away.

It'll be a hell of a thing to have a dragon on your turf.

　I've heard this story before in Marin.
　Dragons are vermin and are treated differently from other demons. It is standard practice that as soon as there is information that a dragon has appeared, an emergency request is sent out.
　Dragons that control the demons in a certain area of territory and wipe out other living creatures there - the threat is so great that it can destroy entire nearby towns and villages. Hence, if a dragon is seen, a request to destroy it is sent out immediately.
　It's usually an S-ranked adventurer who will be asked to do so.

"Well, I'll take care of it.

Of course it's impossible for you to deal with a dragon. I mean, it's past noon when the request came in, and the receptionist is long gone.

Are you headed to S-rank already?

Well, they just happened to be in the guild, and three S-ranked guys are on their way. This is a gorgeous group. It's not just a matter of time before you find yourself in the middle of a battle. I'd love to see a dragon that can't be defeated by this.

"Hahaha!　That's awesome!

　I was surprised to hear a name I'd heard before in Marin.
　The 'Fist King' Drake Death Size, who is considered the strongest adventurer in the Empire, competing for the first or second place. Although he was born a commoner, he rose to the rank of S adventurer with his overwhelming strength and was recognized by the Empire as an honorary nobleman.
　He is considered a living legend, and I've heard stories of him defeating dragons even by himself. ''Whenever there is a story of an 'S-ranked adventurer beating a dragon to death with a single blow, it's usually about Drake.

''The 'Fist King' Drake ... and the forest west of the Ruins of Rilkara.''

　A man who said he rarely shows up at the guild under normal circumstances.
　And a man whose footprints cannot be caught at all.

　But - such a Drake is now heading to the forest west of the Lil Cara Ruins.

　Marin got up and quickly paid the bill.
　The place to head straight to is the Imperial City Rickshaw Center, which has a direct flight to the Lil Cara Ruins.

''The rumored famous 'Fist King'.......may be able to go to the deepest part of the Lil'kara Ruins......!

　Marin rode the carriage and headed to the Lil'Kala Ruins again.
　The forest to the west of the Rilkara Ruins - that's also where Noah, who was separated from Marin, was headed.

　If 'Fist King' Drake is there, then help him.
　If Noah is there, then help him.
　Either way, there should be someone there who can help Marin - a person who can help Marin.