A normal day, I think?

This morning was a disaster. I mean, everything was going fine until Aegis asked me that odd question. That made me so angry that I had to pass out. Fortunately, she stopped my mana from rampaging.

I took a good rest. Had some soup that Amaryllis made for me. I didn't know she could cook.

"You can actually cook?"

"Why do you look so flabbergasted? Is it weird for me to cook? I can cook. To a decent level as well." (Amaryllis)

"That saves me. I mean, in this party, only I can cook. Hazel and Aura can't cook. It was a disaster. Fay can cook. It's just that, she is lazy. Can you two cook?"

I looked at Aera and Aegis.

"As we both are connected to you master, we do know everything you know about cooking. But, we aren't used to the actual work yet." (Aera)

"So, all theory and no practice. I guess, you two need to get some practice in. You can't always rely on me."

"Master, as long as you supply us with <Spirit >, we are immortal. And when the supply stops, we will revert back to our dormant weapon state. We don't need sustenance." (Aera)

"I see. By the way, where is Doris?"

"She is inside. I mean, your mana still frightens her. As a pure natural force, your mana kind of throws her off." (Amaryllis)

This is not good. I need her to get used to me soon. Because, I can't go lower than this.

"I hope they didn't notice it."

"I am sure they didn't. Because, they are quite away from us at the moment." (Aera)

"Hmm….where are they?"

I never asked where they were.

"Hazel and Fay are outside of the city. They seem to be heading for a specific location. Aura and Eden are strolling around the entire city. Currently they are at the northwestern corner of the city. They are at a chapel. Fiona is at her work." (Aera)

"You are keeping track of everyone! Didn't know you can do that?"

"Well, they do have your <Spirit > inside of them. I know their mana signature as well. It's easy once you know their signature. But master, aren't they connected to you too?" (Aera)

"They are. I just narrowed our connection. They won't know anything unless the path widens. System suggested this."

Amaryllis pat my head.

"Master, do reconsider it." (Amaryllis)

She said and left with the empty bowl.

I fall into deep thoughts again. I have thought of this thoroughly. I am going through it. No matter what!

This is for my sake. I won't deny that my selfishness is the key player here. I should get some shut eye. Let's stop thinking about that subject.

"Aera, wake me up after an hour. I'll go to the adventurer's guild later this afternoon."

"Okay master." (Aera)

I lie down on the bed. Whose bed is it? It smells good. Let me sniff it. After sniffing it, I wrack my brain to find the answer. It kinda smells like Fay.

Maybe this is her room. What can I do? I'll just fall asleep here for now. I'll move to my regular couch from tonight.

After an hour, Aera woke me up. I got ready and left for the adventurer's guild. This time, Amaryllis is accompanying me.

It was again a discussion. But this time it didn't take long. Amaryllis was the only one left who has yet to go with me. Aera didn't want to go. Doris is still inside of the singularity.

This is afternoon. The sun is setting. But the streets are more crowded than before. The market is shifting. It is said that night changes everything.

"Master, where are we going?" (Amaryllis)

"To the adventurer's guild. I am thinking of taking a quest. It doesn't have to be high paying or anything. I just do it for fun."

I answer her question. But I am getting stared at. Amaryllis does have long black hair. And she is an unparalleled beauty. Sorry for my poor vocabulary but I don't know many expressions.

Still, she is beautiful. Her black hair and her beauty makes her stand out. What's more, her sense of fashion is good.

She is wearing a mature two piece which clashes with the ambience of this place. I have only seen women wearing gown or long dresses. They do have different types of clothes but I guess, the ambiance doesn't allow it.

I ignore those hurtful stares and enter the guild.

It's crowded with a lot of people. Most of them are males but there are females here and there. Some of them are wearing bandages. Some have light bruises.

Many have returned from their jobs. Some injuries are bound to happen.

I grab Amaryllis by her hand and make way through the crowd. Fortunately, the receptionist in charge of me was free.

"Good afternoon. How have you been?"

I greet her. I didn't catch her off guard. She was smiling at me so I greeted her back.

"Good afternoon to you too. I have been pretty well. At least till now."

"Can I know your name? It's actually a little awkward to not know your name."

I didn't know her name. It isn't necessary to know her name but I should know it.

"Oh…sorry for the late introduction. I am Maria Edelweiss." (Maria)

"Then Ms. Maria, do you have anything for me?"

"For you Mr. Belmont, let me see." (Maria)

She started rummaging through a pile of papers. And she gave me one.

"This is a subjugation request. The target is a renoster. The reward is good too." (Maria)

A renoster? What kind of a monster is that?

"This is a drawing of what it looks like. When you kill it, make sure to not damage the body. Try to kill it by crushing the head or beheading." (Maria)

I take the rough sketch. It's a quadrupedal animal. Not a monster? It has two horns on its nose and looks like a rhinoceros.

We didn't have any rhinoceros left on earth after the war. I just read about it from the archives.

If it is similar to a rhinoceros, it should have a dense skin.

"Okay. I'll be back shortly. Where is it normally spotted?"

"The area is written down on the subjugation request. It does not have a time limit. But a few adventurers have already failed this quest. Be careful." (Maria)

I was about to leave with Amaryllis when Ms. Maria stopped me.

"By the way Mr. Belmont, are you perhaps married?" (Maria)

"Mm…. I think you can say that. I do have a wife and a daughter. My daughter was with me when I came to register, didn't you see a girl with bear ears? Why the sudden curiosity?"

"I mean, you have a different woman with you today. Even that day, Princess Fay was accompanying you." (Maria)

"This is Amaryllis. You can say that she is my dependent."

"I am a spirit who was granted the name Amaryllis by my master Clive Belmont. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." (Amaryllis)

Amaryllis gave a refined bow. Just enough to socialize with others.

"A spirit? You have a contract with a spirit? And you named her as well?" (Maria)

"Yeah. And to be precise, I have two spirits who are contracted to me."

Ms. Maria is staring blankly at me. I move my hand in front of her but it seems that she has already passed out. I wryly smiled as I look at the receptionist beside her.

She will take care of her so I quickly leave with Amaryllis.

After he left, the guildhall was abuzz. Everyone was whispering.

"That man can even name spirits?"

"Isn't that a technique lost in time?"

"Spirits don't form a contract with humans. The only ones capable of that are elves."

"Just who is that man?"

"But, aren't you jealous of him? He is married. He has a daughter and yet he is served by different women everyday."

"Ahh…I want to become like him too."

Clive has become somewhat of an urban legend in the guild. He has fame and notoriety at the same time. And, he has added jealousy and envy to that list as well.

Clive will have to go through a lot of schemes and it won't be good for the schemers.