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Volume 10 Chapter 268

Rank F Requests

Several weeks have passed since registering with the Adventurers Guild.
On days when we didn’t have classes at the magic academy, we diligently completed Rank F requests, steadily earning guild points.
When guild points accumulate to a certain level, you can take a promotion exam, and if you pass, you’ll advance to the next rank.
Promotion exams could involve mock battles with examiners or subjugating designated monsters.
By the way, the Rank F requests we undertook were merely herb gathering. It’s the simplest request even beginners can handle.
It seems that defeating powerful monsters quickly accumulates guild points.
But even requests like herb gathering are ordered because someone needs them. So, during the time we’re in Rank F, I decided to take on requests that other adventurers might avoid.
Herb gathering requests are constantly needed enough to be issued year-round, but the reward is low, so only truly novice adventurers undertake them.
When the guild’s stock of herbs is running low, the reward may increase. At that time, even intermediate adventurers might take on herb gathering requests.
Adventurers also fulfill guild requests to sustain their livelihoods. Hence, it’s understandable that few adventurers would undertake herb gathering requests with such low rewards.
Thanks to Tina, I’m not in financial trouble.
While herb gathering has a low reward, it yields slightly more guild points compared to other requests.
Also—
「Haruto-san, is it herb delivery again today?」
「Yes. I’ve brought three bags」
I placed three large bags filled with herbs on the guild’s material acquisition counter.
All of them were filled with herbs.
「Wow, three bags!? Thank you so much, as always」
Being appreciated like this by the receptionist isn’t bad at all.
「Um, I’m sorry to bother you as usual, but—」
「It’s about the reward, right? It’s fine, just as usual」
「I’m sorry. I could only give you this much, even though Haruto-san is managing five parties……」
I received a small bag containing spinas from the receptionist.
Typically, four people form one party to accept requests.
So, we also formed parties.
Myself, Luna, Kikyo, and Shiro.
Tina, Meldie, Mai, and Mei.
Citri, Rifa, Ryuuka, and Silph.
Yoko, Hakua, Seira, and Elmia.
Luke, Riel, Ryuushin, and Hinata.
—Like this.
The one on the far left is considered the leader of each party.
I intended for them to be of similar strength as fighters.
Then there are considerations like compatibility, couples, and so on.
After various considerations, it ended up like this.
I believe that each party can handle encounters with demons or daemons.
Of course, I’ve given everyone bracelets with my clone and the Flame Knight inside.
When I gave Ryuushin the bracelet, he was particularly moved to tears.
Since we formed parties, they’re free to act as they wish. However, whenever I go somewhere, all the other parties always follow me.
Well, I did promise to always be with Tina.
Yoko and Citri’s party also unanimously follows me, not because of the leader’s will.
Luke’s party sometimes acts separately, but they’re mostly with us.
I enjoy searching for herbs with everyone and it feels like we’re laying the groundwork, so it’s fine this way……
「Sorry. This is all the reward we got this time」
Upon leaving the guild, I showed the small bag of received rewards to everyone who was waiting.
Every time we entered the guild together to accept requests or receive rewards, all eyes would be on us, and I’d have to rely on Kikyo’s mind control magic.
So, it was decided that I would represent everyone in accepting requests and receiving rewards.
「Huh, just this much……」
「So little!」
「Hahaha. Seriously, Haruto?」
Tina looked stunned as she examined the small bag of rewards, while Luke exclaimed, and Ryuushin burst into laughter.
「Herbs are cheap, you know」
「We’re not short on money, so the low reward is fine. But more importantly—」
「We want to fight monsters!」
「Hakua’s got a point」
After several weeks of searching for herbs near the royal capital, some members were starting to get bored.
Having too little reward also didn’t help in maintaining motivation.
So, this time, we decided to accept a slightly different request.
「There’s a village not far from the royal capital that’s suffering from goblin attacks」
「Oh, are we going to take care of that?」
Ryuushin showed interest.
Goblins are Rank E monsters, and requests for them aren’t normally given to us in Rank F.
However, seeing that all of us were well-equipped, the receptionist judged that there would be no problem if we tackled it with five parties and allowed us to accept the request.
Especially Elmia, who looks like a seasoned warrior. She’s wearing an armor made of scarlet gold, and her weapon is a holy sword blessed by the Creator God.
Even she is, of course, a Rank F adventurer on the guild card, just like me.
「Apparently, the damage is still limited to livestock being attacked and crops being raided. But if left unchecked, the damage will likely increase in the future」
Goblins, when gathered in small numbers, don’t directly harm humans. However, once they join forces with others or reproduce and form groups of over ten, they start attacking people in the mountains.
And from there, their numbers explode.
If they form a group of over a hundred, they start pouring out of their nests and attacking nearby human villages and towns.
In this world, there are many villages and towns that have been destroyed by goblins.
While individually weak, they can’t be underestimated when gathered in numbers—that’s what goblins are like.
「Collecting herbs together was kind of fun, but I’m ready for a fight now」
「Yeah, I’m getting tired of following the scent of herbs too」
「Goblins, huh? They’re no match for this armor… ..Well, as long as I can swing my sword, anything works」
Luke, Shiro, and Elmia seemed eager to take on the goblin extermination.
「We’ve delivered quite a lot of herbs over the past few weeks. As for the guild in the royal capital, there shouldn’t be any shortage of herbs for the time being」
「As Tina-sama says. I also wanted to try a different request soon」
Tina understood the importance of accepting herb gathering requests. Although H&T Trading Company is trying to cultivate herbs for stable supply, it doesn’t seem to be going well.
That’s why adventurers get herb gathering requests.
However, as Rifa said, it’s understandable that they’re getting tired of it.
「I know it’s a bit late, but why not call the gnomes to grow herbs—mmmph!?」
Since Silph was about to conclude that our actions over the past few weeks were all in vain, I covered her mouth for the time being.
Right, the gnomes.
Can they grow herbs too……?
If I hear rumors that herbs are still scarce somewhere in the future, I’ll ask the gnomes for help.
「Okay, let’s head out for goblin subjugation!」
「Mmmph, mmm!」
I lifted Silph, still covering her mouth, and stepped into the teleportation magic circle leading to the village suffering from goblin attacks.