A Bottom-Tier Adventurer Devoted to Supporting Their Idol Activities: Every Time, They Offer Rare Materials and Stir Up the Elites - Episode 3: The Appraiser Corina and the Mage Ellel

Episode 3: The Appraiser Corina and the Mage Ellel

Young guild appraiser Corina quietly watched the back of the departing adventurer.

“Roger-kun…”

The guild doors shut silently. And Roger’s figure disappeared from view.

“What kind of request did he…?”

Corina stood before the request board and scanned the posted job slips.

There were many subjugation requests for monsters appearing in the western forest near the capital. During this season, monster numbers increase. With more monsters, high-ranking variants are more likely to show up.

Most of the posted requests were for defeating those high-level monsters. There were also herb-gathering requests. But the herbs could only be found deep in the forest.

They were all too tough for a solo F-rank adventurer to take on.

Corina stepped away from the board and returned behind the materials counter.

“Ah, senpai. I saw just now—that was that forever-F-rank guy, wasn’t it? Are you two acquainted?”

The one calling out to her as she sat down was Clarice. She was a junior appraiser who had just joined the guild this year.

“Ah… you mean Roger-kun. He was actually the first adventurer I appraised materials for when I joined the guild.”

“Wow, so he used to actually do adventurer stuff. Nowadays he just sneaks in during lunch, looks at the board, and leaves—just like earlier.”

“…Yeah…”

“Hmm? Something wrong?”

After blinking several times, Corina began to speak.

“The first material I ever appraised was a magic stone that Roger-kun brought in.”

“Okay…”

“And the appraisal result was… [Orc King’s Magic Stone].”

“Wha—!?”

Clarice flinched back with wide eyes.

“You’re saying that forever-F-rank guy defeated an Orc King? Not stolen?”

Corina’s expression darkened.

“Everyone at the guild suspected him at the time. He was taken to a meeting room on the second floor and interrogated by the vice guild master for quite a while.”

“Well… I can’t really blame them. There’s no way an F-rank could beat an Orc King.”

“In the end, no one filed any reports of theft. So he was released. But after that, he stopped taking guild requests or selling materials to the guild… Among adventurers, he was called a ‘thieving bastard’ for a while…”

Corina sighed. She then looked at Clarice with somber eyes.

“That’s why, even if he shows up at the guild now and then, he just looks at the board and leaves—choosing times when there are no other adventurers around.”

“Yeah… makes sense…”

Corina answered, as if giving up.

“Some of the people who became adventurers around the same time as him are already B-rank. It must be awkward for him—he probably wants to avoid facing them.”

“Wow, tough life. That Roger guy… how’s he even making a living?”

Clarice, on the other hand, was clearly intrigued.

“I heard he lives at that cheap inn called ‘The Snake’s Nest’.”

“What!? The place they say is worse than camping!?”

“Yeah. And it seems he makes a living by selling monster meat to shady food stalls on the main street.”

“Now I feel sad… I’m really glad I have an [Appraisal] skill~”

As Clarice mumbled that, an adventurer appeared at the counter—it looked like a material sale request. Clarice hurriedly began assisting them.

After that, adventurers came in one after another. And the guild returned to its usual busy self.

#

Meanwhile…

At the headquarters of the White Orchid Magic Corps, located in the royal capital of the Kingdom of Linde.

Mages who were promoted to the main unit were each granted a private room in the dormitory. The same applied to Ellel, who had recently risen from the sub-unit.

After finishing dinner and cleansing herself in the bath, Ellel returned to her room with flushed cheeks and sat down on a small chair.

Before her sat a little desk with a mirror on it.

After thoroughly drying her hair, Ellel pulled out a gleaming white comb from the drawer and began brushing her hair while looking into the mirror.

The White Orchid Magic Corps was the only all-female magic corps in the kingdom. Other knight and magic corps were usually mixed-gender.

The White Orchid Corps had two missions: one, to protect the kingdom as a proper magic force; and two, to serve as idols beloved by the public.

Thanks to magic broadcast spells, people could watch the activities of various knights and magic corps on tablets—but the White Orchid’s broadcasts were in a class of their own in popularity.

The reason? Every member of the White Orchid Corps was a beautiful woman.

“Be strong and beautiful.“

This was the corps’ motto.

Each member worked tirelessly to hone both their magical skills and appearance. That was the mission given to them by the kingdom.

“This comb… it really is amazing… My hair’s glowing…”

Ellel was now obsessed with the white comb—a recent gift sent by a viewer. When she used it, her hair grew shinier and more radiant.

“What could this comb be made of, I wonder…”

She had never heard of a comb that could improve hair quality this much. It wasn’t even a magical tool—just an ordinary comb. Yet the effects were clearly visible. It had to be made from some special material.

“Thank you, passing-by adventurer…”

As she imagined the face of the unknown adventurer who had gifted it, Ellel continued brushing her hair.

“I’m going to work hard and become an amazing mage!”

There was no trace of hesitation on Ellel’s face—only a firm, burning determination.