Chapter 13 - Anna's workplace

Twilight on the royal capital, and now was getting dark.

The darkness of the night rose between the intricate buildings.

Streetlight magical devices developed by Meryl were shining.

"Chichiue. Sorry, but can you pick Anna up? I'm sure Anna will be happy too."

"Yeah, Alright."

When I accepted Elsa's request, I decided to pick Anna up.

After I left the house, I passed through a residential area to the Adventurer's Guild on the main street.

After walking for a while, I could see a magnificent building like a government office.

That was the building of the Adventurer's Guild.

I used to go to this place.

From the age of 14 when I began to be an adventurer to the age of 17 when I resigned, I remembered the memories that I had here.

――Is this the first time in 18 years to set foot here...?

I opened the double door and went inside.

The interior hadn't changed much.

There was a huge bulletin board with request forms in the center part, and adventurers could choose a request from it and took it to the reception desk in the back.

There were guild receptionists staffed at the reception desks, and if you brought the request form, it would be able to be accepted after screening the rank and suitability.

In some cases, the receptionist might directly recommend a request for mission.

The space in front and the second floor in the guild are taverns, which are used for pre-mission, mission meetings, and after clearing missions.

――The more I look at it, the more nostalgic I get.

Anna's appearance... I couldn't find her. Is she not on the desk? I decided to talk to the receptionist who was carrying the documents.

"Sorry. Can I have a minute."

"Yes. What is it?"

"Is Anna there? Guild Master"

"If it about Anna-san, she's working in the back room right now. I can do it for you if you need anything."

"No. I didn't come to work. I just want to pick Anna up."

"Came to pick her up...ha!"

The receptionist opened her eyes as if she had noticed something.

Put her hands on the mouth.

"Are you perhaps――Anna-san's lover?!"

――Eh?

That unexpected guess, I involuntarily stunned like a fool.

"Speaking about Anna-san, she has had a lover..... and even such a wonderful man! She can't be underestimated, huh!"

The receptionist was excited by shouting "Kya!"

"Umm... I'm not Anna's lover. I'm her father. I'm going to live in the royal capital from today."

"Eh? Anna-san's father?"

When I nodded, the receptionist opened his mouth.

"Ee~. Are you perhaps, the rumored Kaizer-san?"

"The rumored? What do you mean?"

"Anna-san talked to me before. Her father was a firm, very dependable, strong, and lovely person. Anna-san, who has been called a genius for the speedest promotion since the adventurer guild's inception, to says so much about him, and everyone was rumoring about him to be an amazing father."

The receptionist was squinting.

"So, this's an honor to meet you. Funn. Ehe."

"Why do you look with staring like that?"

"Kaizer-san. as rumored, and a nice person. youthful and cool! It's a big difference from my fatty father!"

"Ha ha..."

"But you don't look very similar to Anna."

"--"

When I heard those words, my heart almost stopped.

Anna was not similar to me――.

That was obvious.

Because I and Anna were not real parents and daughter with a blood connection.

"Ah, the beauty is similar, how good. I'm sure her mother is also a very beautiful person."

The receptionist had a fascinated expression floated on her face.

Anna's real mother...? Although she couldn't be seen anymore. She must be a beautiful woman as that receptionist girl had said...‥

"What do you mean! Oraa~!"

There was a resounding yell in the guild.

When I saw it, a strong looked man who seemed to be an adventurer was in front of the receptionist desk. A blue streak floats in the temple of the bald man.

It seemed that he was angry.

"Gardo-san. It was, as I explained earlier."

"I'm saying I can't understand it!! Oraa~! Give me the person in charge! The person in charge! Don't give me an underling like her!"

Doonnn!

An adventurer man called Gardo――slammed the receptionist desk with his fist.

The receptionist screamed and retracted.

"Gardo-san, what's wrong?"

Who appeared from the back door was――Anna.

The tied pigtail was hanging from her left shoulder.

She became more mature than four years ago and had a good-looking appearance full of intelligence.

The uniform she wore was more luxurious than those of the receptionist staff. As expected of a guild master.

"What's wrong with this? I can't do this! Why can't I get this job! Even though it's a good job!"

"Haa..."

Anna looked over the request and said to Gardo.

"It's a simple case. You're still a B-rank adventurer, right? This request is only to A-rank and above adventurers."

"If so, quickly raise me to rank A!"

"I can't do that. It's a rule. And I can't recommend Gardo-san to accept this request."

"Why?"

"Your ability will probably not be able to fulfill this request. I can't send someone to die."

"――!"

Gardo opened his eyes.

"YOU! Are you fooling me!"

"Haa... overestimating themselves only for those who have no ability. The responsibility for died adventure comes over here..."

Anna sighed annoyedly.

At that time, her eyes met mine.

Then, a thin smile spread around her mouth.

"Then, how about this."

Anna said as she pointed.

"You will do arm wrestling with the person there and, if you can win, then I will accept you to do this request."

"Ah? Who's that guy?"

"He's an A-rank adventurer. He's been retiring 18 years ago from his adventurer career. So, there's a lot of blanks. If you still lose to him in a brute force, you can't have the job. You don't have enough power to do it.''

"... If I win, I will get the job?"

"Yes. No repetition."

When Anna nodded, Gardo snorted.

"It's okay. ――Oi! You! Just as this little girl said! Do an arm-wrestling match with this me and become my stepping stone!"

"Oioi..."

Before I knew it, I was supposed to fight an unknown opponent.

"I'm sorry. Papa. I lightly involve you."

Anna came to me, she whispered, apologizing.

...Well, is there a reason to not accept the request of your beloved daughter?

Besides, this guy was disturbing Anna's work.

Then there was good reason to fight.

"I get it. Let's do this match."

"I have to do that... I'll tell you, I'm going to hold back. Or you can't use your arm again."

"Haha. Please do softly."

We faced each other, then we joined each other's hands.

"Then――Begin!"

"Haa!"

At the start, I put all my strength into pulled down Gardo's arm.

Gardo's arm had knocked down.

Not only his arm, but with his body as well.

"Guaaaaaaaaa!?"

He was screaming and rolling around on the floor.

His arm was bent in the wrong direction.

"Yes. Game set. ――With this, you get it, right? You're still far from A-rank adventurers."

Anna smiled when she saw Gardo on the floor.

"...Or, Did you hear?"

☆

"Papa. Thank you. I was saved."

"I don't mind that... What would you do if I lost? There was a blank for eighteen years even though I was in A rank."

"Eh? I didn't think about it at all."

Anna said with a soft look.

"Papa is the strongest in the world. There's no way you can lose."

What a great trust.

"I'll ask you. Is that what you want as a guild master? Or as a beloved daughter?"

"Fufu. Which one is it."

Anna was smiling mischievously.