Chapter 10

I decided to check the congestion at the reception right away. However, the adventurer reception only opens at 10:00, so I decided to complete yesterday's "Pilaluk extermination request" first.

I left the guild and headed for the "Forest of Monsters."

Pilaluk is a fish-type monster, ranked E, and lives in rivers. They prey on ordinary fish, so if left unchecked, the river's ecosystem would be disrupted. More troublingly, when Pilaluk runs out of food, they start eating each other. The surviving Pilaluk then evolve into a monster called Anphian.

Anphian is a rank C monster that can come ashore. It is omnivorous and will devour forest animals indiscriminately. Eventually, Anphian will grow scales and become a Salamander, jumping to rank A, making it very difficult to defeat. Well, it's not a match for me, though.

Incidentally, some Anphian also head to the sea, and there is a theory that the sea king, Sea Serpent, is an evolved form of Pilaluk.

Though weak, leaving them unchecked is very dangerous.

When I arrived at the Forest of Monsters, I found a river. Since Pilaluk dies when it comes ashore, the method of extermination is fishing, but I didn't bother with that.

"Here we go!"

I took out a spear with spatial magic and held it in one hand.

Then, using the skills (Presence Detection) and (Magic Detection), I found a Pilaluk and threw the spear at it.

"First one down."

This is a method I often used when I was an adventurer. Pilaluk tastes good when grilled, so I used to do this frequently.

Before long, I had exterminated the required number of Pilaluk and stored the corpses.

"Done."

I left the Forest of Monsters again.

When I arrived at the guild, adventurers were gathering one after another. They were probably waiting for new requests to be posted.

"What? You're a new face, aren't you?"

One adventurer spoke to me.

"Yeah, I'm Tepu, I started working yesterday."

When I said that, the surrounding adventurers started grinning.

"You're the new guy who came yesterday, right? You're our charge, so let's get along, okay?"

He extended his hand for a handshake. Their laughter was creepy, but adventurers are usually rough and barbaric. So, this must be their way of communicating. I shook his hand.

"Yeah, nice to meet you."

His grip was a bit strong, but that probably meant he was sincere. I should respond in kind.

"Ouch!?"

Hmm? Did I grip a bit too hard?

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to grip that hard. Please forgive me."

I let go of his hand. Then, I realized I needed to prepare for the reception congestion survey, so I said to the surprised adventurer, "See you," and went back inside the guild.

I brought a chair from my room and sat next to the reception.

"Hey? What are you doing?"

Serie approached me casually.

"I'm surveying the congestion at the reception. I'll use this data to come up with measures to reduce it."

"Ah, I see. So, you'll be working while talking to Tepu today?"

"That's nice to hear, but I need to take proper data, so I'll be serious about it."

"Hey, I know that without you saying it."

Serie pouted, and I chuckled.

"Also, can I have a few extra sheets of paper?"

"Sure, sure. I'm just a messenger anyway."

Serie handed me the paper. Her expressions are so rich; I never get tired of them.

"Thank you."

Alright, here we go.

There are three reception counters in the guild. I activated my skill, "Eagle's Eye." I didn't expect it to be useful here... "Eagle's Eye" is a skill that allows you to grasp the overall situation, and when used in a party during combat, it helps give precise instructions even in chaotic battles. I never had to use it, though. Incidentally, I could grasp the overall situation using spirit magic as well, so the only advantage of having this skill was to save a bit of magic power.

Well, I just naturally learned it while meditating.

The clock struck 10:00, and adventurers started entering from the entrance. My battle begins now.