Chapter 31 Quiet Days with No Problems Whatsoever Arc Part 3

Sena found herself sighing in annoyance as the walls of Axel grew closer. She couldn't help the annoyance slowly simmering in her at another official order relating to the Dark Paladin, Michael Chaser.

Even someone like that guy Dust, who uses the jail system as a hotel room, she only had to deal with once or twice. But no, apparently situations with Michael are varied enough that she is called on, nearly every time.

Ever since Michael appeared, someone from the Axel's Governor's office would send a letter of requesting investigations on the Dark Paladin for one reason or another, usually "security". When she sent back that they should do their own damn investigations (in polite writing), she was given some bullshit excuses one after the other, and it looked like Axel's Governor, Lord Aldrep, used every influence he had to get literally anyone, but someone from his office, to handle any issue pertaining to Michael.

Michael, however, was above board with his actions, and carried out everything he did legally, that there was no cause to follow into him beyond any official offense he cause. Mainly, because the one time he did cause trouble, he immediately owned up to it, and set about instantly to fix it. It really saved her a lot of headache, and paperwork, that Michael was as diligent as he is on finishing up any obligation he had.

Still, the report she got this time, and the investigation order given seemed a bit ludicrous. Not the order itself, which was to confirm if Michael does have the rare monster, a Rainbowtail Fish, and in the words of the order she got, "convince him to part with it for the benefit of Belzerg". No, the far fetched part was that he got the rare monster due to accomplishing a quest to kill a Veteran Slayer and his horde. Which he had done. In a day.

That last part was what's unbelievable.

Michael Chaser was a Level 3 last time she saw his Card. In the time since then, he likely pass Level 10 and moved pass being a beginner adventurer (under Level 10), likely being a junior adventurer (Level 10~20), and on his way to being a veteran (Level 20+). However, even then, even if he was a "Summoned Hero"--Sena snorted at the thought at how many people with talent and strength would sometimes try claim that title--and he had a better shot of being convincing than most, he still shouldn't have been strong enough to complete such a quest.

The report did say he has a party now, but beyond that Arch Priest and Lady Darkness, Sena wondered who his other teammates could have been to allow such overwhelming victory. The report and official order were written too hastily to put in such details. Sena was going to make a complain about this shoddy work to the governor's office, and to the head prosecutor's office back in the capital, so such requests aren't accepted, without being complete and having clear reasons.

Sena didn't even register going through the city gates. In her career thus far, she traveled through different cities so many times, that it almost felt like just walking down to a different street.

All too soon she reached the guild building to inquiry on Michael's whereabouts, although he's likely to be there, being an early riser from what she knew of his work ethic. The guild oddly sounded boisterous despite how early it was. The closer she got, the more it sounded as lively as after a work day, when the adventurers were back from their quests and celebrating, rather than the start of the day. 

Opening the door, she saw most of the guild watching a show and cheering. In the middle, given a wide space was Michael giving his Arch Priest teammate question after question on...market price fluctuations?

Michael had a blackboard behind him, and next to him was a table, where on one side was a large place with tiny meat cubes that had a toothpick in them.

There was a paper saying, 'you can only take one', and Sena noticed that one of the adventurers trying to take one, only for a force field of sorts stopping their hand. Another adventurer took one without a problem, only for the first to steal it from him, but the force field poped up again around the meat cube when he tried to take a bit out of it. The second adventurer punched the first, took the food sample and ate it without a problem (other than that odd blessed out look afterwards).

Huh, so that's how he's making them only take one. Sena thought.

One of her subordinates was about to intervene, and stop the adventurers from taking anymore of the food made by the rare monster, but Sena stopped him, and signaled for the rest not to do anything either. She shook her head toward them. They were too late, nothing can be done about the Rainbowtail Fish now, so they might as well not antagonize the people present.

Maybe I can ask him to save a plate? Sena thought.

The other side of the table had some magic portable grills and pots with a fire spells under them, being managed by the Crusader Darkness...with arcs of electricity dancing upon her, every once in a while.

Is that a shock collar?! Sena's eyes widened. She was about to intervene but the look of joy and pleasure on the knight's face, made Sena not want to be involved in...whatever this was.

Darkness seemed to be managing the cooking, mostly by adding spices every once in a while, steering the soup, or moving the frying pan or so. Sena could see Michael having one arm pointed openly at Darkness, likely controlling her for this task. Sena decided to just ignore that. 

Then there was the other participant in this show. The Arch Priest...

Sena felt like she should be concerned. Aqua was letting out steam. Literally.

There was smoke coming off of her, as she was writing answers to the questions Michael was making appear on the board (with magic). Aqua would take a paper from the pile on her left and answer the question. Steam was coming off of Aqua for how fast she was writing, and at times the paper would catch on fire from her writing speed, only to immediately be doused by spontaneous water, yet leaving the paper dry. Then Aqua would place the paper to the growing pile on the write, and repeat the process.

Sena dismissed her co-workers, telling them to go find their usual accommodations. She was going to stay for a bit, to at least confirm the fish being completely gone. 

"...AND DONE!" Aqua shouted and threw her hand in the air.

However the last stroke of her pencil gathered enough heat to make a spark. With the last flick of her wrist as she finished her answer, the spark flew and hit the pile of answered papered, and started fire.

"Waaaaaaa, nooooo!" Aqua screamed in panic, forgetting her water powers, upon seeing all her work start to turn up in flames.

Then a chill wind spell from Michael put out the flames.

"It's fine," Michael chuckle. "I read your answers as you were writing them. So you did good."

"Yay!"

"I only have one last question," Michael held a knowing smile, as he gestured for Luna, the guild employee to step forward with a bag, full of Aqua's reward money. "Given everything you learned, and all the answers you reached in this exam, what should you do with this money?"

The bag was place on the desk in front of Aqua, who hugged it like a long lost child, while smiling widely toward the Dark Paladin.

"I should sa--" Aqua froze.

It looked odd. One second she was happy and bubbly, and the next it was like there were two conflicting pieces of information in her brain suddenly at war.

"I should sa, sa..." Tears started forming in her eyes, as Aqua knew, knew what the correct answer was, through logical and well thought out arguments. Arguments she used in the exam to win. Yet, her knew found knowledge and reason was at war with her instincts. Aqua looked at Michael for hope, only to find him patiently waiting for her answer. Aqua cried as she knew how right the answer she should go for is. No matter how much it pained her. "I should saaaaaaave iiiiiiit, ehaaa whaaaaa~." Aqua cried openly. "And, and invest a portion to have a stable income from multiple venues."

Some of the other adventurers present cried with Aqua in sympathetic agony. 

"There, there," Michael was at her side, rubbing her back. "I know it hurt, it's like ripping off a band-aid. It hurts at the beginning, but it will feel better quickly."

"But, but...I wanna speeeeend iiiiiiit." Aqua's tears started falling to the floor like comical waterfalls.

"And you will," Michael reassured her. "You now know how to spend it without ending up poor. It's like always having money to spend... By managing it and remembering how much you spend to make sure you don't end up in debt." He smiled.

"Really?" Aqua looked up with a hopeful pout.

"Yep," Michael nodded, then moved toward the cooking table. "And now time for your other prize." Michael grinned at Aqua, who smiled widely in turn. She inventoried the money, and clapped her hands, as she was about to wake Michael's live cooking, and getting to then eat it. 

"Thank you for the help, Darkness." Michael said as he took her place. "You're dismissed." The collar on her neck fell, and the lightning spell was gone.

"Awww," Darkness looked down in disappointment that it was over. "I can still helped."

"No," Michael said firmly. "Now leave so I can focus."

"Hmmph." With that arousing dismissal (for her), Darkness left and Michael began moving.

It looked like an expert stage magician or a show puppeteer, the knife and fork dancing in his hands, as he cut and moved the biggest juiciest piece of the Rainbowtail Fish, here and there on the pan. Adding the honey in the cuts perfectly so it would melt and sweep into the meat, before letting it settle in the soup he pour around if for a bit.

Finally he turned off the fire spells, and moved with precise and swift speed to set up the meal. There was a small bowl for some spicy sauce, another for the soup alone, some mozzarella fish fillet as a side dish, and then there was main dish, made up of the part between the fish's tail and the torso. Even though Aqua getting one side of the fish, and it was sliced in two pieces, together it was as large as a big cake, with lemon sauce poured between the pieces. Finally a small bundle of brown rice was left at one side of the plate.

The meal was spread before Aqua like a royal feast. The Arch Priest looked at Michael with wide eyes, as if asking for permission.

Michael gestured to her with a bow to enjoy the food. "Bon appetit." 

Aqua squeal like a kid, and took her knife and fork, about to dig in. Then stopped, and slowly began to try different parts of the meal before getting to the fish, clearly wanting to enjoy the full experience.

Sena then watched as Michael turned and walked straight toward her.

"Hey, Sena." Michael said as he got near. "Mind if I sit? I've been standing since yesterday."

"O-Oh, sure. go right ahead." Sena gestured for him.

"Thanks," Michael took the seat in front of her.

"So, how have you been? What brings you back so soon to Axel? ...I almost hope the answer has nothing to do with me, but honestly given the pattern of when we meet, I feel I should apologize preemptively." Michael sighed.

Sena grimaced and hid it behind a smile. Yes, she was for all intents and purposes dragged back to Axel without a moment's rest because of him, but it would be wrong to put the blame of that on him.

"It's not your fault," Sena shook her head. "Yes, I am here to negotiate a deal to buy the Rainbowtail Fish with you, but given that it was already cooked, nothing can really be done."

"Hmm, well in that case." Michael took out a plate from his inventory with the other half of the meat heavy side of the fish, already cooked, and prepared, and placed the plate in a tupperware container, also summoned from his inventory, and sealed it. "Here," Michael placed the contained meal between them. "Don't worry, there is a spell on the box so nothing spills or moves while inside. You can send it and whoever get it, can have it while it's hot and fresh. I know putting it in your inventory would be enough, but might as well add precautions." said Michael with a shrug. "Of course, the meal is only enough for one person, so..."

Sena blinked at the container with the food she came to get in front of her. Her mission completed? Just like that?

"I...thank you. Are you..." Sena looked at Michael with hesitance, her hands slowly moved to the box. "Just giving it away?"

"Of course not." Michael said with a smile. Sena's hands stopped. "I do want a few things for the fish. Nothing too unreasonable I assure you." Michael said, waving her off. "Stuff like you acting as an official witness for when I pay my debt a bit later, confirming the taxes paid from the last quest's reward, just a little help like that."

Sena nodded. "That seemed reasonable."

"Also, well," Michael looked bashful for a second there, scratching his cheek. "I'm a bit new to Belzerg, and while I got some general news about the ongoings of Axel and a bit outside of it, I still feel like a country bumpkin with how little I know at times."

That's...kinda adorable. Sena thought. Watching the terrifying adventurer admit to a personal failing, seemed really at odds with the image he had about him. It kinda made her want to see more of his different expressions.

"I wanted to chat with someone whose familiar with the place, so I don't feel so lost." Michael faced her with a calming smile, that pulled her attention to him. She crossed one arm, placing the other on the table, and leaned her cheek against her hand. "So I guess what I'm asking is, would you like to have dinner with me?"

Sena blinked a few times, as she didn't register what Michael just said.

"...Eh?"