Chapter 22

Chapter 22: The Two Copper-Ranked Adventurers, Part 3

The next day, I met up with Chloe at the guild and we were going to have a discussion about the future with Fine-san and Ricola-san.

"When we talk about copper-ranked adventurers, they are referred to as adventurers who have graduated from being newcomers. As a result, they gain access to dungeon exploration from this rank onwards."

"Dungeon! You're talking about dungeons, Jin-kun!"

Chloe exclaimed excitedly at the mention of dungeon exploration.

"I remember you've been looking forward to going once you reached copper rank, Chloe."

"Yeah! Because dungeons are places filled with lots of dreams, you know? Right now, it's not that difficult, but they say you can make a fortune there too."

"Well, there are also plenty of dangers there."

The dungeons in this world are generally divided into different difficulty levels.

Dungeons are trial grounds created by gods.

God-made dungeons often contain traps that exploit human "desires," and many people have lost their lives to these traps.

"As Jin-san said, dungeons are filled with many dangers. However, I believe that we can successfully conquer them with Jin-san's combat abilities and Chloe-san's sensing abilities. Both of you are superior to other adventurers in those aspects."

When Fine-san praised us like that, Chloe smiled happily and said, "Hehe."

"Well, from now on, our main activity will be dungeon exploration, right? In that case, what about the regular requests?"

"In that regard, things won't change much. It will be more like changing to requests involving monsters or collecting items within the dungeon. However, it will be difficult to issue requests that avoid people, like we used to."

"Well, I guess there's nothing we can do about that. If we're going to the dungeon, we know that someone's eyes will be on us."

Until now, we would have the adventurers at the request destination confirm if there were any adventurers there, and then we would head to the location and do the job.

However, from now on, we will be heading to places where adventurers are actively working, namely the dungeons, making it almost impossible to avoid people's attention.

"If it's just to the extent of being noticed a little, there's still a possibility to deceive them. I'll do my best in that regard."

To be honest, there's a chance that rumors about me have already spread to some extent.

Every day, I come to the guild like this, team up with a partner, and secretly engage in adventurer activities.

Such a suspicious person wouldn't be left alone by adventurers who value information, right?

Afterward, the discussion progressed, and most of the details about the future were decided.

"In that case, from now on, we'll focus on dungeon conquests, with exploration as the main objective. Is it alright to have days dedicated to accepting requests?"

"I don't mind."

"I'm fine with that too."

In response to Fine-san's closing words, Chloe and I replied, and the discussion came to an end.

Well then, it's a good time. Should I go out for lunch? As I stood up with that thought, Fine-san called out, saying, "Wait."

"...I feel like something similar has happened before."

"Don't worry. This time, it has nothing to do with the Guild Master."

For a moment, I thought it was about Asuka, so I probed, but Fine-san denied it.

However, my unpleasant premonition still lingered.

"Early this morning, a certain individual made a 'designated request' for Jin-san and Chloe-san."

A designated request is when a skilled adventurer is personally chosen by the client, and they receive additional rewards on top of the original remuneration.

Upon hearing that it was directed at me and Chloe, we had completely opposite reactions.

"A designated request... Is it that kind of designated request?"

"Why would a designated request come to us..."

"Huh?"

Chloe was overjoyed and excited about receiving the designated request, while I questioned why we received it.

We exchanged glances, wondering why we were reacting that way.

"In this case, both reactions are correct. Could you please listen to the explanation for now?"

When Fine-san said that, Rikola-san, who had been waiting silently, handed out documents and began explaining the "designated request" this time.

"The person who made the designated request this time is none other than the princess of this country, Fiaris von Durd-sama."

"Wha...!?"

Upon hearing the name of the client, Chloe and I were once again simultaneously surprised.

"Why is the princess involved?"

Yes, well, it seems to be related to that... I'm sorry. We don't know the exact details either. This morning, a servant exclusively assigned to the princess came and said that they wanted to make a request to Jin-san and Chloe-san.

We asked other people about what happened before Jin-san and the others arrived, but we couldn't find out anything. However, considering it's a request from the royal family, it would be rude to reject it outright...

Feine-san and Ricola-san apologized while bowing their heads.

Well, it would be cruel to refuse a request from the top of the country based on our own judgment...

Please raise your heads. Feine-san and the others don't need to apologize. Now, what is written in that request?

As for the contents of the request... It seems the princess wants to hear stories from outside and specifically wants to hear adventure stories from Jin-san and the others of the same age.

...Is it just to have a conversation?

That's what it says. The request also states that it will take about half a day.

Myself and Chloe were troubled by this strange request.

It's our first designated request, and the content of the request makes no sense, but the reward is indeed fitting for the royal family. It was written that they would pay several gold coins just for the conversation.

Chloe, it's incredibly suspicious, and it feels like something is going on, but what should we do?

It's our first designated request, so I don't want to refuse it, and I also don't want to attract any unnecessary attention from the royal family... but it really does seem suspicious...

After contemplating for about an hour, in the end, Chloe and I decided to accept this request.