Chapter 5

The Adventurer's Guild, as is generally the case, is filled with noise.

For the hunter type, trouble and conflict are commonplace. The place is brimming with raucous sounds, from curses to cheers, and even the kind of laughter that makes you wonder how anyone could produce such a sound. It is always full of vitality, and if there were ever a quiet Adventurer's Guild, it would mean that the guild had completed its role.

While thinking about such things, I stepped into the guild and immediately found the person I was looking for.

"Ms. Mina, I have something I want to ask. Is it okay?"

She is not a girl but a woman, with a small face and round, expressive eyes.

She is the most popular receptionist in this guild, but despite her youthful appearance, she is older than me and a respectable professional. She has the courage to stand up to even the most seasoned hunters and is always cheerful and bright.

How can someone who looks so cute be so unreasonable...

When Mina saw Hinoka, she broke into a smile.

"Oh, good afternoon. What brings you here today? Did you hunt a dragon or something?"

"It's not that easy to hunt one. I might be mistaken, though..."

"Recently, there have been rumors all over the place about new adventurers who suddenly appear with incredible power, bringing dragons to the guild to be cashed out."

When you say new, you mean F-rank hunters, right?

And they hunt dragons!?

"If there were such amazing hunters, they would be S-rank, wouldn't they?"

"Exactly. They mainly appear in the frontier guilds, but despite doing such incredible things, they say things like, 'Did I do something again?' as if they don't think they're amazing at all. It's completely unreasonable!"

What do you mean, 'Did I do something again?' That's infuriating!

"I want to punch that guy. Will I ever get to meet him?"

"Well, if such an unreasonable hunter came to our guild, it would be a problem because the budget for cashing out monsters is limited. Oh, right! What brings you here today?"

I had inadvertently gone off-topic, but the main topic was not about such a cheat hunter.

"Um, about Clay...?"

"Clay? Oh, right, Niura and Zaa—!"

Mina quickly covered her mouth.

(Clay is on a mission to get the Black Orchid Shell. I shouldn't tell Hinoka, right? He probably wants to surprise her...)

"Clay should be back in a few days. Where he is... I'm sorry, I can't say."

"Wait, is it an important mission!?"

"Hehe, well, it is important, but the mission itself isn't that big of a deal."

"I don't understand at all."

She frowned at the vague answer.

"But don't worry! There's nothing for you to be concerned about. In fact, something good is going to happen, so just be prepared for it, okay?"

"What are you talking about? What is Clay doing!?"

"Clay will be fine, Hinoka! Just trust him!"

"Well... I always trust him, but..."

I thought I heard Mina mutter, "Ugh, I feel like I'm going to vomit sugar. And it's expensive too," but I couldn't dwell on it.

"Hey, Sword Saint girl, are you done? How about joining us?"

"That's not going to happen. Get any closer and I'll kill you."

"Y-You're scary!"

I wouldn't be with anyone other than Clay!

The hunter who spoke to me seemed to be cowering from the killing intent I inadvertently released. I might have overdone it, but it didn't matter.

For me, the priority is 1. Clay, 2. Clay, 34. Clay, and 5. Clay.

At least I learned that Clay will be back in a few days. It seems he's doing something significant, but from Mina's reaction, it doesn't seem dangerous. I'll just have to ask Clay when he returns.

With that, Hinoka left the guild.

◇◇◇

(He'll come back today, right?)

I head to the guild with a prayerful heart.

These past few days have been filled with growing anxiety.

The day of our promise, my birthday, is only five days away.

—What if Clay doesn't come back?

What if he's given up on me and is with someone else... No, no! Clay wouldn't do that!

It's impossible for Clay to leave me!

Usually, I have no doubt about this, but now I feel uncertain and insecure.

With the day I've dreamed of for over ten years just around the corner, I can no longer pretend to be calm.

It's okay, Clay wouldn't forget.

He'll give me the answer from that day, right?

And that answer should be what I've always wanted.

My body tenses up. I, who doesn't flinch even in front of an Ancient Dragon, am trembling uncontrollably. I mock myself for being a Sword Saint, but my smile is forced.

"There, is that Clay...?"

About 100 meters from the Adventurer's Guild, on a bustling street lined with shops, I spot Clay.

—Thank goodness, he's back.

I feel the tension in my body release.

Seeing Clay after so long, he still looks as cool and handsome as ever.

He's talking to a woman who looks like a thief or another adventurer. She's dressed in light armor, and her healthy charm radiates from her.

My chest tightens.

Is that Niura?

What's her relationship with Clay?

Can you stop flirting with my Clay...?

Several questions run through my mind.

I send thoughts that she can't possibly hear and hide behind a pillar at the edge of the street, watching them. To anyone else, I probably look like a suspicious person, but I have no time to care.

"——!?"

This is an impossible reality.

Is this a dream? If so, it must be the worst nightmare for me.

But even if it were a nightmare, wouldn't it be better than this?

After a while, Clay suddenly hugged Niura.

"W-Why...?"

I stand there in shock.

Wasn't Clay supposed to give me the answer?

The possibility that the answer Clay is about to give isn't what I want.

I remember the ugly face I made when I was saying terrible things about Clay.

"Trust him!"

Mina's words flash through my mind.

I want to trust Clay. But the scene of Clay hugging Niura, and the fact that I was so cruel to Clay, are undeniable realities.

I can't trust Clay, and I can't trust myself.

Turning pale, I stumble back, my steps unsteady.