The Unaware Harem Adventure Tale of the Strongest Enchanter ~~I Don’t Know My Companions’ Faces or Identities, but I’m Pretty Sure They’re All Guys~~ - 4. There is work at the Adventurers' Guild

4. There is work at the Adventurers’ Guild

I casually entered a certain building from the main street.

The moment I stepped in, the guys who had been drinking ale turned their attention to me.

This is the Adventurers’ Guild.

Most jobs are taken care of here.

The work of an adventurer is basically like a jack-of-all-trades—ranging from collecting medicinal herbs to subjugating monsters and escort missions. There are even jobs like looking for lost cats.

Unlike mercenaries, fighting against people is rare. We’re not warmongers. Still, there are times when it’s unavoidable in escorts or unexpected situations.

The job of an S-rank party is mainly to take on high-difficulty requests that the mid-level and veteran groups can’t handle.

However, such jobs aren’t always available.

Depends on the season. But unlike the royal capital, Avantale is a half-prosperous rural town.

The surrounding monsters are relatively weak. The mid-level and veteran groups can usually handle them.

Unlike Silver Blade, an S-rank party, jobs don’t come flooding in just because of our name.

We’re often avoided because of our appearance. And since we rose up so quickly, our rank and trust don’t match.

So basically, even though we’re S-rank, we’re here. We diligently show our faces at the guild to get work.

I want to earn a bunch of money quickly and retire.

I want to live a peaceful and ordinary life in the countryside. I imagine getting surrounded by a cute wife and kids while working a field.

And at night, flirt with my wife, rolling around together.

“Hey there.”

Upon entering the guild, I headed to the counter where a familiar female staff member was.

She sighed the moment she saw me.

“Lux-san, there’s no S-rank work.”

“Again?”

“Named requests go to Silver Blade. And unless it’s an emergency, they won’t be sent to the Unknown.”

“Then what was the point of becoming S-rank?”

“Right? Ah, by the way, the Guild Master was asking for you.”

“I’ll head over now.”

Silver Blade, still as annoying as ever.

Just because they look a little better, built some achievements, got a good reputation, and are popular. Let me say it—if it’s just about strength, our team is the strongest.

Please, share the work. I’m begging you.

“Look, the leader of the weirdo group is here again.”

“Looking for work again today, Lux-san?”

Some rough-looking guys drinking ale from noon were smirking.

The guild has a tavern attached to it.

Needless to say, those who drink all day at the guild are mostly good-for-nothing mid-level or veteran guys.

“You’re amazing, working every day even though you’re S-rank. Why not take a break?”

“Come over here and have a drink. Lux.”

Of course, they’re familiar faces.

They may look scary, but they’re all good guys.

“My daughter was born. We were just celebrating with the team.”

“Seriously? That’s great news. Then just one drink.”

I took an ale from the staff member and toasted with the old guys.

Well, it can’t be helped. It’s a birth celebration.

I’ll cover the bill here.

—

“—So, you were drinking until just now?”

“Sorry. I meant to have just one. So?”

The Guild Master sitting on the opposite sofa sighed in disbelief.

A slim, graying man.

He was once a famous S-rank adventurer. After retiring, he’s been working as the guild’s manager.

We know each other well since we meet often. And we have a personal connection.

“Actually, a rookie party that entered a dungeon hasn’t returned.”

“An emergency request, huh. Where at?”

“The Corridor of the Dead.”

Ah, that place.

A beginner-level labyrinth full of undead.

It’s called beginner-level, but it’s moderately difficult.

To reach the lowest level, you’d need at least mid-level strength.

So rookies usually operate around the first and second basement levels.

If they’ve gone missing there, either they descended to a floor too hard for them, ran into trouble, or… died.

“Why us? That’s usually a job for the mid or veteran groups, right?”

“They’re promising newcomers. We’ve been quietly watching over them. Also…”

“Don’t be stingy with your words. I won’t help them otherwise.”

“There have been recent sightings of something that seems to be a Dullahan. I want you to check whether it’s true. If it is, veterans won’t be able to handle it.”

“A Dullahan, huh. I don’t think they appear in the Corridor of the Dead though.”

Dullahans are high-level undead.

They’re souls with strong regrets who became undead. They’re often former knights or nobles.

They’re skilled with weapons and apply the ‘Paralyze’ debuff, making them dangerous opponents.

Without a “magician” or “enchanter” who can resist it, getting wiped out is possible.

Those rookies probably encountered the Dullahan by bad luck.

I hope they’re not dead. But even if they are, don’t blame me.

“What’s the reward?”

“How about 50 gold coins?”

“It’s a Dullahan. At least 100.”

“10 if you rescue the rookies. Add 100 more if you defeat the Dullahan. How about that?”

“Fine, I’ll take it for that amount.”

Alright, I have to go back to the home base and decide who to bring.

By the way, I can’t attack at all. So I’ll rely on the attackers.

I’m strictly support.

＊＊＊

My stomach wouldn’t stop growling.

Our food had already run out.

We hadn’t planned on staying long. So we only brought minimal rations.

Akane, the leader, was peeking through a crack in the door.

While watching over the injured Rinoa, I whispered to Akane.

“Is it still there?”

“Not even a hint of leaving. Why is there a Dullahan in a beginner dungeon?”

“You’ll wake Rinoa.”

“Sorry.”

Rinoa was bleeding from her abdomen. She was sweating bullets and had a pained expression.

I gave first aid somehow. But as a magician, I couldn’t fully heal her.

Why did this happen?

No matter how much I think, I can only blame bad luck.

We are the rookie party 【Little Flowers】.

Akane the swordswoman.

Bell the magician.

Rinoa the thief.

The three of us.

We had come to the Corridor of the Dead to hunt Skeletons.

Even if we hunted a bunch, it wouldn’t earn us much. But as rookies, we needed experience.

We patiently came again and again. We made maps, defeated enemies, and slowly felt ourselves grow.

Until that thing appeared.

The Dullahan is a high-level undead monster.

It has no business being in a beginner zone like this.

Rinoa was caught off guard. She became unable to move.

Carrying her, we fled here and have been hiding since.

But help hasn’t come. And the Dullahan hasn’t moved from the door. Maybe it’s sensing our desperation.

Our next move will probably be our last.

Both Akane and I are out of stamina. Rinoa is in critical condition.

We have to decide whether to bet it all or give up.

“Help really isn’t coming?”

“I think they’re searching for us. It’s been a while since our scheduled return. But if the search party is D- or C-rank, they can’t beat the Dullahan.”

“What should we do?”

“Don’t give up. There’s still a chance.”

Akane drew her sword and took a deep breath.

Then she told me to carry Rinoa.

“I’ll lure it. While I do, you take Rinoa and escape to the surface.”

“You’re going to be bait!? You can’t!”

“This is all we’ve got left.”

I gripped my staff and bit my lip.

I hated being powerless.

If only I were stronger.

*Rumble…* The ground shook and dust fell from the ceiling.

Right after that, the door burst open and the Dullahan was slammed into the wall.

“Ahh, you broke it.”

“If you’ve got complaints, wanna take my place?.”

“Bl00d… Bl00d… Give me blooood!”

From the rising cloud of dust appeared three adventurers.

A masked blonde swordsman.

A black-haired, messy-haired enchanter who looked unreadable.

A black-clad figure bound all over with belts.

“Bloood!”

“Eek!?”

The black figure bent backwards in an impossible way. They were glaring at me with bloodshot eyes.

“They’re a healer. By ‘bl00d’, they mean they want to heal you.”

“Ah, o-okay…”

“BLOOD! BLOOOOD!!”

What is with these people?