wfb: Chapter 119

Some Peoples’ Descriptions Make it Super Easy to Identify Them

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“… And are you expecting them to provide you with materials too?”

“Ah! I forgot, I’m almost out of raw materials.”

That’s bad.

If Ragnall hadn’t reminded me, I would have forgotten.

Cheh, how annoying.

That’s true. It’s already somewhat rude to beg to use someone else’s business facilities, but it would totally be inexcusable to expect them to provide materials too.

Helward is a different case.

I rubbed the back of my head in irritation.

“That’s right… Ojii-san, I’ll be heading down to the Labyrinth at some point, do you need me to get anything?”

“… Jun-kun, you’re saying it like you’re just going to the convenience store.”

Hibiki-chan, don’t retort with something that no one else will be able to understand.

“What’s with this chick… we get all of our alloys from Nyl City, you know!? What do you think you can pick u –“

“Fumu. In that case, scarletite would be nice.”

“Old Graham! What are you saying?! There’s no way a small-breasted little girl like this can get us scarletite!”

The yelling ossan said.

… Okay, so like, I don’t even care about my bust size, but I now understand why girls get pissed off.

In the first place, why the heck would you even bother mentioning it? What does breast size have to do with my ability to dive into an area of the Labyrinth where there’s scarletite?

Even if I don’t care about not having much there, how can you not be bothered by someone intentionally trying to piss you off by making fun of you?

But if I get mad because he’s being malicious, he’ll totally think he succeeded in pissing me off because I’m embarrassed about my bust size.

What do girls do about this?

I mean, if I ignore him, he’ll probably think I’m being insecure about my bust size too.

…Huh? So no matter how I react, he’s going to think he won?

That’s kind of annoying.

I sighed and just decided to ignore him anyway.

It’s too much trouble to waste energy dealing with someone like this.

“Scarletite… un. If I find any, I’ll make sure to bring back enough for Ojii-san too.”

“Humph. You think you can just find scarletite lying on the side of the road?”

Nonono, I fully understand that scarletite is found naturally floating on the side of lava pools inhabited by lesser fire wyverns. Magma? Lava. … Is it considered magma or lava if it’s in a Labyrinth?

Yelling ossan turns to the dwarf ojii-san.

“Old Graham, how can you expect an unknown girl like this to be able to get scarletite? Even if she’s a decent bladesmith, she’s a completely unknown adventurer!”

The dwarf ojii-san smiles and says,

“Well, I might not know about this missy’s abilities, but that’s the A-Rank White Demon behind her, right?”

“”””EHHHHH!?””””

These ossans are seriously not observant at all.

—

“… Was it okay to leave Hibiki-chan behind?”

I asked Ragnall.

She didn’t seem like she was going to move from the apothecary’s market we had found, so we left her behind to let her look as long as she wanted.

“Hm… it should be fine? Anyway, those guys said they’d escort her home. To begin with, Hibiki-chan’s an adult already, right?”

Uh… in our world, she would definitely be considered a minor still, but… well, some of the members of the Scarlet Torch were showing her around the market.

At least, unless some epic monster or whatever burst into Ploids City, they’d be able to take care of any trouble that comes along.

Or wait, Hibiki-chan is stronger than them, so it should be fine…

“By the way… why are we returning to the Guild?”

I asked, glancing sideways at Ragnall.

“Ah no… because those guys were so persistent…”

Ragnall looked away.

We’re here to find out information about things going on in Ploids Labyrinth, like the currently mapped layout, distribution of monsters … that kind of thing.

Hm… I guess the Scarlet Torch was kind of persistent.

I somewhat understand why Ragnall was in a rush to lose them, but aren’t they pretty nice people?

Although a bit too forceful, and they draw attention to themselves way too much.

There’s probably some history to it.

…?

It’s a lot busier than when we came earlier.

Did something happen?

Guild staff are running all over.

“Looks like something’s going on.”

I commented, and Ragnall and I looked passively at the chaos going on.

Since we don’t know what happened, there’s no way we’d get involved without thinking … what? That’s uncharacteristic for me?

No, well, I mean… when things are too chaotic to tell what’s going on but not chaotic enough to not have to worry about the consequences of making a mistake, it’s difficult to get involved.

As we stood there, considering returning another day, the half-elf receptionist from earlier… un… Allaya was it? Was rushing by.

Spotting us, she said,

“Oh! The two of you… it would be very helpful if you joined us!”

Without giving us a second to say anything, she continued,

“There’s a bit of an emergency. An extremely fast griffin has appeared. Although a griffin attack is ordinarily an A-grade threat, its speed and unusual appearance makes it a bit difficult to judge. Having more A-Rank adventurers along will help out immensely. Where is the Scarlet Torch party? Weren’t they with you?”

Receptionist Allaya peered hopefully behind us.

“… Looks like we should have dragged them along, Ragnall.”

“Yeah… my bad.”

Suddenly, a magic-enhanced voice boomed,

“Warning! The griffin is coming this way! It seems to be aiming for the Central Guild’s courtyard!”

Eh? So… it’s coming this way?

Why?

When I looked questioningly at Receptionist Allaya, she quickly explained, while guiding us further within.

“It might be looking to land. Surrounded by all these forests, the Central Guild’s courtyard is the only place where the Guild’s large beasts used for transportation can land.”

Ah, it’s kind of like an airport.

But… I totally couldn’t see the courtyard from the front of the front of the building.

When Receptionist Allaya had led us to the courtyard… un. It’ a large circular pavilion completely surrounded by the rest of the Central Guild’s building.

Quite a few adventurers and Guild Staff, together with Guild Master Helmina, are already within, preparing for the attack.

“By the way, do griffins usually attack around here?”

I asked.

“No, of course not. Griffins are extremely rare outside of Labyrinths, and it’s at the frequency of dragon attacks.”

Ragnall replied.

So… it’s pretty rare.

“So how are we certain it’s coming here?”

“Large flying beasts, even if they don’t land, need enough space to enter the city region before they can attack. The Guild’s courtyard is pretty attractive to them.”

Ah… smaller beasts might not be bothered by the trees, but a large beast like a griffin will definitely have some trouble, huh?

Our conversation is cut short as shouts erupted.

“It’s within view!”

“There it is!”

“It’s a griffin – ghost!?”

All the adventurers, with Guild Master Helmina commanding them, prepared themselves as a somewhat ethereal-looking griffin appeared overhead.

Although I’m confident if we were fighting a normal griffin, I’m a little concerned about fighting a ghost griffin.

Hm?

“It looks like there are people riding it.”

Other adventurers saw it too, but no one lets their guard down.

Guild Master Helmina, with a wave of her hand and a chant, used wind magic to project her voice.

“You there! Withdraw your flying beast immediately! Large-sized monsters are not allowed within Ploids City!”

I would have said something about the fact that we’d attack if the person riding the griffin had hostile intentions, but I suppose Guild Master Helmina wants to give them the benefit of the doubt.

From above, although it just within hearing for normal people, I can hear a female voice call,

“Ah -! Sorry! I’ll unsummon it now-!”

…Unsummon?

As everyone below has question marks over their heads, the griffin suddenly gives out an eagle’s call, stretching its wings out to maximum span as it rears up.

Unsurprisingly, this makes everyone around super nervous, but the griffin doesn’t attack and instead, a light glows and it appears to burst into many little lights and disperse.

“””“Wha-!?””””

Quite a few people are shocked, since the people who were riding on the griffin’s back – were now falling to the ground!

“Please clear a space~!”

The same female voice calls from above.

By strengthening my sight, I can see that the person speaking is a girl wearing armor similar to a paladin.

There’s one other person falling next to her.

“Kyaa-! <Feather Fall>!”

The other girl, wearing a hat with a wide brim, much like a witch’s hat, waved a silver and black staff with a glittering, blue crystal suspended in its crook chanted, causing a crisp wind to blow around her, slowing her falling speed.

Compared to her,

Bam!

The girl with armor landed on the ground with a loud thud, and the light particles from the ghostly griffin condensed into a small wisp, revealing a more spirit-like than griffin-like entity, winding around her hand like an affectionate puppy.

Thank goodness all the adventurers and Guild Staff had instinctively moved backwards at her call.

Although she didn’t destroy the ground, the girl had caused quite a shock.

Some of the adventurers nearest to her landing zone had a little bit of trouble keeping their balance.

The other girl, who had her hair cropped in a short bob, held onto her hat as the wind whipped around her and allowed her to safely land on the ground a few moments later.

Both of them had black hair, and although the armor-girl had confident, noble features and the other girl had meek, quite features, both of their faces were distinctly Asian.

Oh… they’re most likely both Japanese.

I have a bad(?) feeling.

I quickly activate Friend Chat.

[“…Jun? What’s up? Although I’m a little busy …”]

“Masaki…? I just have a quick question.”

[“Yeah?”]

“Where exactly is that Holy Knight and Storm Mage from your guys’ group right now?”

[“Hm…? Ah… let me check.”]

Masaki disconnected our Friend Chat for a moment.

He’s most likely contacting one of the other gamers.

While I wait, I notice the armored girl look up, press something in midair, and say,

“Yeah? What’s up?”

… No, well, I understood to some degree.

I’d be a poor craftsman if I couldn’t tell that the greatsword on her back was one of mine.

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<a/n:  Don’t say anything about the fact that the only people from their world they’ve met so far are mostly from their own group. I’m still refining the reason, but there is properly a reason. … kind of. >