Chapter 57: Returning to Aressa

Ensig:

The Author left a note at the start and end of this chapter, relating to a double release the day of this chapter's posting, alongside the reason for it . I won't bother translating it because there's no need .

For those of you who don't find these chapters through my Posts here, note that there's now another person working with me on Sword-shisho: whey30, otherwise known as Pengu . They'll be translating on Fridays/Saturdays, while I'll translate Sun-Thurs .

When I feel like it, that is .

I'll put a note at the top of the chapter on who the TL and Editor are from now on .

◇ The day after we set out to return ◇

We've finally returned to the town of Aressa... But there's a bit of a commotion at the front gate .

『What's all the fuss about?』

「Lots of people . 」

Certainly, a large number of Humans have gathered . I think I've seen them somewhere before, but... Where?

「Kinghts, huh . What's goin' on?」

Cruz's words jogged my memory . Their armor looks just like the set that Auguste was wearing . In fact, the man leading the group had armor even more luxuriously decorated than his .

「Small fry knights . 」

「My my, that'd well said . 」

「Hey, wait a minute both of you... Please make sure not to say such things in front of the Knights! The only strong thing about them is their pride!」

「I know, I know . 」

「Nn . 」

I understood as well . To be frank, the public's impressions of the Chivalric Orders was low, but it wasn't to the level that they would openly antagonize towards them . Why was it that the Knights themselves picked quarrels despite that fact, I wonder?

『Well, for now... Urushi, make sure to stay quiet, alright?』

「Onn」

It's already in its miniature form, but Urushi's still attracting a decent amount attention . It'd be troublesome if the Knights quibbled with us because of this fact .

「Well, it's fine, isn't it? The leader seems to be Urs . 」

That reminds me, the Guild Master had said that their leader was a respectable man .

「Ohh, is that you, Ms . Amanda?」

「Yeah . It's been a while . 」

「Indeed it has! Having you here is quite reassuring!」

He's quite the lively old man, isn't he? He's shorter than Donna, but their expressions are largely the same . 一 He could be described solely with the words 'Dandy Macho[1]' .

Name: Urs・Bendoro Age: 52 Race: Human Job: Shield Knight State: Normal Status: Level: 50 HP: 527 MP: 223 STR: 218 END: 274 AGI: 132 INT: 103 MGC: 119 DEX: 122 Skills: Coercion: Lv3, Pugilist Arts: Lv4, Hardening: Lv4, Danger Perception: Lv2, Horsemanship: Lv4, Leadership: Lv6, Shield Techniques: Lv8, Shield Arts: Lv8, Abnormal Status Resistance: Lv4, Spear Techniques: Lv3, Spear Arts: Lv6, Provocation: Lv7, Poison Resistance: Lv7, Magic Perception: Lv2, Vigor Manipulation, END ↑, Fortitude Titles: Baron, Leader of Aressa's Knights, Defender Equipment: High-Quality Mithril Spear, High-Quality Adamantite Kite Shield, Sturdy Silver Full-Body Armor, Red Lion Mantle, Bracelet of Mental Abnormality Resistance

He seems to be a bit stronger than Donna . However, while Donna is an attack-type Heavy-Warrior, Urs is a defense-type Heavy-Knight .

「Has something happened?」

「Yeah . There was a reaction to the Barrier . It seems that there's a Demonic Beast of Threat Level C nearby . 」

「So you're heading out to subjugate it?」

「That's right . First, we have to place restrictions to the outside of the town, then we'll investigate the surroundings with a fine-toothed comb . We've issued a request for support from the Guild, too . 」

Hmm . He really is an upright man, isn't he? He's something like a stereotypical Knight .

「There're a lot of young Knights...」

「Ah, they've joined the order for various reasons . A purge was performed, you see . Once the problematic people disappeared, the motivation from the youngsters increased . 」

The 'problematic people' stemmed from Auguste, no doubt about it . Once he and his followers disappeared, more proper Knights must have taken their place .

Anyways, a Demonic Beast of Threat Level C, huh? It couldn't be-

Immediately, the eyes of the Adventurers who participated in the Dungeon investigation turned to Urushi, who sat itself down beside Fran .

「Urushi . 」

「On」

「Muoo! T-That is... A Demonic Beast? Even if it's small, what a dreadful amount of magic power...!」

「Most likely, the Demonic Beast you guys detected was none other than Urushi . 」

「...... Is it Ms . Amanda's familiar?」

「Nope . This is Fran's pet . 」

「I see . This young lady...? Hm . Is she perhaps the girl who wields a Magic Sword from the rumors?」

It seems that the name of the before-mentioned Magic Sword wielding girl hasn't spread .

「Well, if it's familiar then it's fine, but... Can you distinguish it somehow?」

「Understood . Next time, wrap with a scarf before passing through . Have to issue a Familiar license later?」

「Got it . How about I just ask you a couple of questions for now, and I'll write down your answers on the official documentation?」

「Thoughtful . 」

「Then first, you're positive this is a Darkness Wolf, correct?」

「Nn . 」

After taking out a small piece of parchment, Urs starts writing . It seems that an official certificate is absolutely necessary to have a familiar .

「Aーnd... What's its name?」

「Urushi . 」

「Urushi . And you? What's your name?」

「Fran . 」

「Next, what's it's gender?」

「...? One moment . 」

Hm? That reminds me, I didn't check that either . It didn't think about that at all .

「Hyuuin!」

Kyaー, Fran, how bold! She just walked behind Urushi, lifted up its tail, and confirmed whether or not anything was there! P-Perhaps it's simply because she's a child...? To Urushi, this whole ordeal must be a disaster .

「Male . 」

「Kuuuuun......」

「O-Oh . Is that so . 」

◇◆◇

After tying a red scarf around Urushi's neck, we were granted entry into Aressa . In accordance to the Familiar contract, we also received a crest to show that he was tame . It seems it's meant to be put on a collar or a similar item .

When we arrived at the Adventurer's Guild, there was a small uproar .

「...... Seriously, this time it's a C ranked familiar? It's not like you were a popular topic already or anything . 」

Right after opening his mouth, the Guild master threw that sarcasm at us . Still, it can't really be helped . When any meddlesome Adventurers got in our way to the Guild Master's office, Urushi returned to its true size and bit their heads . Of course, he didn't kill them or anything; it was just simple play-biting . They were left half-dead and covered in blood because of it, though .

「And on top of being a Darkness Wolf, it's a Unique individual? Even though it's already a rare race...」

What? Unique individual? There's no way I overlooked something like that . Isn't Urushi just a regular Darkness Wolf?

「Unique individual? Urushi is?」

「Oh, you didn't notice? Normal Darkness Wolves have completely jet-black fur, but this fellow has red mixed in at the edges . Because it's tucked into the scarf, it's a bit hard to see . In addition to that, it has a Unique Skill . A regular Darkness Wolf wouldn't have something like that . Even if it was only Level 1, having one means it's a Unique individual . 」

Seriously? I didn't know about that at all... I had never seen other Darkness Wolves, so I thought Urushi was the norm .

「Well, setting that aside... For accomplishing my request, thank you . With Amanda vouching for your strength as well as the addition of your familiar, people won't be making light of you anymore . Amanda's recognition in particular will spread through Merchants and Adventurers like wildfire, so when you arrive at Urmut it'll probably be a common rumor . 」

「Nn . 」

「Please make sure to take your Guild Card to the reception desk later . It'll be stamped to grant you entrance to Urmut's Dungeons . 」

Alright, alright! With this, we can do Dungeons .

「Nn . Then, leaving . 」

「Ahh, may I suggest confirming the status of your Job while you're there? A Job increase might be possible, after all . Usually it's 500 Gorudo, but I don't mind waiving the fee this time . Think of it as a farewell gift . 」

A farewell gift, huh... So stingy! We'll accept it, though .

「Thank you . 」

「When will you leave for Urmut?」

「Soon . 」

「I see . It'll be a bit lonely . 」

「...... You don't mean it . 」

「Hahaha . That's not true . For better or for worse, you've impressed me . But, with this, my quiet daily life will return once more . 」

「Nn . Take care . 」

Seeing Fran lower her head with a *pekori*, the Guild Master's eyes went round . He seems pretty surprised . So Fran can do stuff like this too, huh?

*BAKAN*

「Fuu . I kept being surprised right to the end . 」