11 Unexpected

A chilling silence filled the office with a strange sense of stillness.

It was rather uncomfortable for me as my eyes darted between Audar and Gramps who wore grave expressions. Neither of them said another word.

Gramps simply continued sipping his tea in a calm manner, leisurely, but his occasional odd movement suggested that he also found the current situation somewhat troubling. Either that or he was thinking of something stupid or embarrassing like how he forgot his documents when he left for work.

Audar continued reading through the documents Gramps gave us in search of more specific details as if he doubted his own ears when he heard the name 'Cerise.'

Other than those small movements, it was unsettlingly serene.

Someone, say something!

I shouted inwardly, evidently uncomfortable with the current atmosphere.

It wasn't particularly uncommon for it to be so quiet in the guild master's office though.

I heard from the other adventurers lazing around the 1st floor that Gramps is actually quite earnest with his paperwork whenever I'm not around.

Of course, I don't believe that entirely with how Gramps is.

But there might be some truth in it.

Gramps has been guildmaster of the adventurer's guild in the capital for decades now.

He was supposedly quite proficient in his work when he started out and that serves as an understatement for him currently, even with his aging body.

Sadly, I can't see that cool side of him often when he acts like he does as soon as I'm even remotely near.

There was that one time I visited his office while I was younger for his birthday. It was, unfortunately, an especially busy day for him after a major incident.

I remember the stacks upon stacks of paperwork he had to deal with due to the aftermath. Seeing his depressed expression then made me rather dejected as well.

Thus, I tried my best to cheer him up in whatever way I could, spending hours making a gift.

Seeing me, his expression instantly changed. After I gave him a gift and let him know it was for his birthday, he shed enough tears to fill a fountain.

After that, he completely put aside all the paperwork and practically deserted the receptionists and assistants to deal with the paperwork on their own.

I can clearly recall the despair on their faces when they realized the fate awaiting them.

Years later I hear that day still remains a nightmare for those who had to deal with everything after Gramps deserted them.

That same depressed look they had then is almost identical to the grave expression he wears now.

It was like they subconsciously agreed on a moment of silence as soon as Gramps revealed that the dragon in question was a named magical beast.

There are grades to divide humans by certain levels of strength based on specific thresholds one has to meet and surpass. They can have different names for varying organizations but the requirements to reach them are relatively similar.

For example, Gramps reached an advanced level of skill known as a swordmaster several years ago. It is a distinguished title granted by the Empire which commands the most power on the continent.

Just by having that title, even a commoner will be recognized anywhere they go and treated with utmost respect.

That same title has also only been granted to a very few select people across the world, even less so on the continent concurrently. Of course, there has been no shortage of such talents throughout history but it is a title deserving to those who sit at the peak of the world.

Needless to say, their strength is a force worth reckoning. The rough equivalent to a swordmaster for mages like me is a 7th-class mage, a magnitude of power far beyond what the current me is capable of. Experts like them are naturally few in between.

Monsters and magical beasts also have ranks bestowed upon them which are somewhat relative to ranks for humans.

However, named magical beasts are monstrosities that can reach and surpass such a formidable level of power several times easier than humans can. Their special features such as unique abilities and high intelligence unbefitting a beast make them daunting foes.

Naturally, there are several other factors that differentiate them from regular magical beasts that should be taken into account before confrontation.

Thus, when news of any creatures bearing a slight similarity to features common in them is found, efforts aren't spared to see that they're eliminated as soon as possible.

Their abnormal growth rate is especially frightening, or so I've heard.

And to think we'd have to go against a monster of such capabilities in addition to the natural advantages granted to dragons?

It's a losing battle. One we haven't even started but with loss assured.

I guarantee that with my name.

Gramps also spoke with such an unusual and heavy tone as if the name 'Cerise' was taboo. He furrowed his brows and was no longer all smiles and laughs. I have only ever seen him speak like that on very few occasions and even then, it was all when I was in some deep shit.

This makes the situation all the more urgent.

Just like the dire circumstances I'm in now.

I may be one of the most talented youths on the continent, not to mention one of the most beautiful across the lands, but even I know my limits.

Additionally, although Gramps may say otherwise, I believe myself to have a keen sense of danger.

I picked it up while I was out on the streets and while I may not have felt that same feeling often, it does come up once in a while when I need it.

A regular old dragon was already a tall task, to begin with, one I'm half confident in defeating with a well-balanced party under favorable conditions. Those circumstances would be difficult to pull off so it would be especially strenuous.

But for it to be a named creature on top of that...

Zero.

There's zero chance of us coming out on top.

I speak from personal experience as a veteran with a year plus of well-developed, well-established, and keen senses honed on the battlefield known as the forest.

Gramps and Audar, two of the strongest people I know are this troubled when I haven't even said anything yet. I can see my bleak future ahead of me should I join this commission.

But enough of all that!

I shook my head to rid myself of stray thoughts creeping in.

I still have yet to address the most pressing matter at hand!

...

Who the hell is Cerise?!

I've been feeling awfully distressed as soon as I heard that name.

It's because I quickly realized that I was the only when who had no clue at all about what this Cerise has done in the past.

It is an unfamiliar name, more specifically, I have never heard of it before until now.

All I know is that its a large, crimson dragon and really old.

It must be pretty serious since the two others in the room created such a solemn mood as soon as that name came up.

I consider myself to be sufficiently knowledgeable about anything and anyone who catches my interest or poses a threat.

Needless to say, a monster who can cause such grim expressions amongst those who stand at the top should be a name I can recall with clarity.

But, that isn't the case whatsoever.

...

I can't let them find out.

This is truly distressing.

I couldn't help but notice that my palms started to sweat profusely at some point, perhaps out of the nerve-wracking situation. I quickly hid them in case the others would notice.

An important matter known as my pride is at stake.

Some may think I'm overreacting and that it isn't shameful to ask about something you don't know about.

However, they're all fools who have no regard for self-esteem.

And for fools, their words are practically worth nothing.

I'm at a major point in my life where I have to put in extra effort to have others take notice of my talents.

I have nearly convinced Gramps that I'm no longer a kid he has to constantly keep watch on and worry over. If I succeed, I can finally strive toward my goal worry-free of Gramps checking in on me every few hours.

Like honestly, I'm basically an adult already.

It's so embarrassing for a young girl my age to be holding hands with her old man almost every time we leave the guild.

Those stares kill me no matter how I try to ignore them.

I just can't figure out how Gramps can keep a smile on during instances like that!

Does he have no shame?!

I also blame the past me for reluctantly accepting whenever he made a scene as I refused.

Hah... I'm getting sidetracked again.

Regardless, I'm in another potentially embarrassing situation. There may only be two others in the room but that's two more than I'd like right now.

If the two of them find out that I have no idea who this Cerise is, a dragon who can cause such worries, they'll think I'm too careless.

They'll think that I'm a child who doesn't study up on monsters before heading out, that I can't be unsupervised lest I get into danger.

Perhaps a bit farfetched but a possibility nonetheless.

While that may not be completely wrong for the first half, I only do so because it's pointless to study up on monsters I can beat in one shot.

Like, who does that?

It's no longer a matter of arrogance for someone in my case but overcaution.

It's so unnecessary!

Just as I was complaining inwardly while maintaining an expression of subtle indifference, Audar's sigh brought me back to reality.

Although it would normally be barely audible, amidst such deafening silence, it was particularly noticeable.

It was a sigh of exhaustion, an unfamiliar side of Audar who had always maintained a composed and unfazed impression.

"To have to deal with something like this only days after I returned from vacation... you must really hate me guildmaster."

Audar spoke in a low and exhausted voice, offering a rare expression indicating how aggrieved he felt towards Gramps who in turn started grinning.

Seeing him like that made me a little irritated.

"You accepted so readily when I first mentioned it, how can you say I'm doing this out of spite?"

In response to that, Audar glanced at him briefly before sighing once more.

He then pulled out some sort of paper from within his inner pocket.

"What's this?"

I asked in place of Gramps who had an equally puzzling expression.

We were just discussing the details of the commission when Gramps dropped another bomb on us which Audar is reacting especially negatively towards.

Does he perhaps have information that we don't know about?

Just as I was wondering what he could've pulled out, Audar spoke in a clear voice.

"My resignation letter."

...

Huh. Unexpected to say the least.