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Receptionists Don’t Fight, Only Negotiate – Part 03

Meeting his gaze, Hikaru summoned Zappa’s Soul Board.

【Soul Board】Zappa Granfate
Age: 35 | Rank: 56 | 2

【Vitality】
【Natural Recovery】11
【Stamina】14
【Immunity】
【Disease Immunity】3
【Toxin Resistance】3

【Strength】
【Muscle Strength】19
【Weapon Mastery】
【Shield】5
【Armor】5

【Dexterity】
【Tool Mastery】
【Axe】4

【Willpower】
【Mental Strength】9
【Faith】
【Holy】3
【Charisma】3
【Appeal】2

Another skewed Soul Board.

Then again, Hikaru was well aware that a Soul Board with skewed stats exhibited more power than one with a more balanced stat distribution. He probably had some great Blessings on his guild card as well.

Typical tank build.

If his Charisma were to increase, he might unlock the hidden skill Heroic Disposition, a stat that Emperor Kagurai of the Quinbrand Empire possessed. He hadn’t reached that level yet, though.

Hikaru wondered that if Kagura’s level of Charisma was required to lead a country, then perhaps Zappa’s was just enough to lead a large adventurer party.

“What’s your rank?” Zappa asked.

Hikaru, having no reason to hide it, replied, “G.”

Upon hearing this, the adventurers eavesdropping on the conversation couldn’t help but laugh.

“Pfft. Did you hear that? He said G.”

“A newbie, then.”

“How is that guy escorting that cute receptionist?”

“What?! Did you say Rank G?! I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?!” Angel exclaimed, elation in her voice. “Ponsonia’s guild assigned a Rank G adventurer to escort a valuable receptionist?!” She couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

“H-Hikaru may be at the lowest rank, but he possesses remarkable abilities and mindset,” Freya countered. “He killed a Hell Tarantula and took part in relief operations in the royal capital when it was suffering from the Black Rot. After this escort commission, we plan to give him a special promotion to Rank E—”

“What? That’s news to me,” Hikaru cut in.

“Ah.” Freya covered her mouth with both hands.

“I’m not a huge fan of special treatment, so let’s stick to the regulations, okay?”

He would only draw attention to himself, and drawing attention was rarely a positive thing. Hikaru planned to increase his rank, but he believed in taking it one step at a time.

“Only Rank E?” Angela said with a sigh. “Allowing you to sit with a Rank A adventurer was my mistake. I apologize, Master Zappa. I’ll ask them to return to their rooms imme—”

“I don’t care about his rank,” Zappa interrupted flatly.

“…What?”

“Hikaru. No, all members of your party. How about joining Scorching Goblet?”

Silence momentarily swallowed the tavern.

“Whaaaaat?!”

A shriek echoed throughout the establishment.

---

After waking up the following morning, Hikaru made his way to the expansive empty lot behind the inn.

He did some light workout, practicing the body movements and attack patterns that Unken had drilled into him. While Stealth offered convenience and the ability to defeat most adversaries, it was crucial to condition the body to react swiftly in case he had to fight in front of a crowd or he was taken by surprise.

“Phew…”

An hour of rigorous activity left him drenched in sweat.

With minimal opportunities for training during the eight days of travel, Hikaru sensed his body had grown somewhat stiff. As he fetched water from the well to wipe away the sweat, he spotted a boy emerging from the inn’s rear entrance.

“Hello,” Hikaru greeted. “You’re up early.”

His naturally curly blue hair resembled a bird’s nest, and freckles dotted his bespectacled face. Eyeglasses were a rarity in this world. His seemed to be of the wrong size, as he frequently pushed them up with his fingers. Despite likely spending a lot of time outdoors as an adventurer, his complexion appeared unnaturally pale.

It was the young assistant from Scorching Goblet. He was carrying a container disproportionately large for his small frame, filled with a pile of clothes.

“Laundry?”

“Yes. We’re setting out around noon today, so I have to wash and dry them now.”

“…”

Hikaru stepped away from the well. The boy dropped a bucket and drew water.

“Haa… haa…”

He was already struggling with only one bucket.

“I’ll help you.”

“What?! N-No, that’s not necessary.”

“It’ll be time for breakfast before you even start washing.”

With 2 points in his Soul Board’s Strength, Hikaru effortlessly lifted water and poured it into the washing basin.

The boy’s eyes widened. “Y-You’re strong.”

“I guess. Are you assigned to do laundry?”

“Yes. My senior tells me I need to build muscle, so… B-But, it’s not like I mind. They give me extra meat because apparently I need to eat to gain muscle.”

Hikaru initially suspected that the boy might be coerced into doing demanding tasks, but it appeared that wasn’t the case.

“I want to be an adventurer, but I’m just not good enough. I also have poor eyesight.”

“You can’t see without glasses?”

“No. Zappa gave these to me.”

“…I see.”

In this world, glass manufacturing wasn’t highly advanced; eyeglass lenses were handmade by craftsmen.

“Zappa is amazing! He’s nice even to assistant members like me. When I said I wanted to become an adventurer, he told me, ‘If you don’t give up, your dreams will come true someday,’ and gave me these glasses. He said they were a gift from someone, but I know they’re very expensive.”

“I see.”

“Why did you refuse Zappa’s invitation last night?”

When Zappa invited Hikaru to join Scorching Goblet last night, he promptly declined, and before there were any more offers or trouble, he quickly left the tavern.

“Scorching Goblet is a Rank A party! Every year, over a hundred adventurers apply for the recruitment test held in Vireocean’s capital. You probably don’t know that it’s such a popular party.”

“Well… Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Skaer.”

“Skaer. Do you want to be an adventurer because it’s a popular profession?”

“N-No! I just love how adventurers chase dreams and go on epic exploits. They look so cool!”

So for him it’s not about treasures and making a killing, but how captivating adventurers are when they pursue what they want. Interesting.

“There you have it,” Hikaru said. “I didn’t become an adventurer so I could join Scorching Goblet.”

“I see… But it’s a Rank A party. Do you think you’ll one day become Rank A too?”

“I don’t really mind if I don’t get there. I don’t shoot for stars that are beyond my reach.”

“…I see.”

Hikaru saw the light vanish from Skaer’s eyes. As if he had completely lost interest, he silently began washing.

“I’ll see you later, then,” Hikaru said.

“O-Okay.” Skaer stood up and gave a bow. “Thank you for the help with the water.”

Scorching Goblet, huh? Hikaru thought as he left.

After turning down Zappa’s invitation last night and returning to their rooms, Freya told him something.

“I’m so glad you declined their offer to join them,” Freya had said with relief. “Scorching Goblet boasts impressive achievements, but there are unsettling rumors surrounding them.”

Since they operated solely in Vireocean, Freya, working in Ponsonia’s Adventurers Guild, had limited information about them. Nevertheless, she had caught wind of closed-door discussions hinting at the party’s involvement in attacking other groups in dungeons, participating in black market transactions, and dealing with prohibited substances. All unverified information, though.

“They say ‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire,’ but Zappa and his party didn’t give off any shady vibes.”

Still, bad rumors are bad rumors. Freya was relieved he didn’t join Scorching Goblet.

Zappa seems decent, though. I am curious why he invited me out of nowhere. Does he have some kind of ability that can check Soul Boards or something? Nah, that’s too unrealistic.

Perhaps Zappa made a judgment based on Hikaru’s fearless attitude, vigilance, or his capability in handling the escort of the guild receptionist alone.

Well, it doesn’t matter. I doubt we’ll see each other again after we’re finished with this commission.

Hikaru decided to take a leisurely stroll, unaware of Skaer’s emotionless gaze on him.