3 bar menu

Receptionists Don’t Fight, Only Negotiate – Part 04

The journey to Lake Tseng-Ti wasn’t particularly treacherous; they didn’t encounter violent monsters or bandits along the way. The only disturbances were caused by travelers themselves—the guild receptionists.

“Oh, you’re still here? It must be tough for a guild in a struggling kingdom.”

“Imagine sending a Rank A party for such an easy commission. What a waste of capable resources.”

“Master Zappa is a kind soul. He does not think it a waste to take this commission.”

“Our guild will provide Hikaru with the stipulated reward. We are not struggling.”

There were only very few settlements along the highway to Lake Tseng-Ti. Despite occasionally crossing into Vireocean, both Freya’s and Angela’s groups ended up resting in the same place.

Then, a dispute erupted between the guild receptionists.

Hikaru wondered why they were so hostile towards each other. Freya explained that the two of them had joined the guild around the same time, and they had competed for the top two spots in the final exam conducted as part of basic training.

The exact ranking remained a mystery. Higher-ups from the guild had told Freya about another exceptional receptionist in Vireocean just like her, and how they were surprised by this one-two finish. Presumably, Angela received a similar comment from her superiors in Vireocean.

Why did they have to tell them that?

It was highly unlikely that the top brass expected these two to take on the same commission. However, they remembered what they were told back then, and upon learning each other’s names, memories flooded back.

Same batch, huh? Angela looks much older, though.

Aside from it being embarrassing, the receptionists’ quarrel wasn’t much of a problem. Hikaru found Freya’s burning sense of rivalry quite refreshing.

“Hmm, yes. I don’t think Angela will get close to Lord Hikaru,” Paula said while staring at Hikaru.

“Get close to me? What does that mean?”

“It’s nothing. Just talking to myself.” Paula distanced herself, contented. “Rest assured, Lavia.”

Hikaru was the only one unaware of what was going on.

“Anyway…”

As the day’s journey concluded, dusk settled over the village. The village chief opened his mansion, offering beds for everyone.

Nearby, Scorching Goblet’s assistant members inspected equipment and replenished necessary supplies. Party members discussed plans for the morning departure, checking if anyone was lagging behind. Someone even asked how Skaer was doing since he lacked the stamina.

Hikaru marveled at their impressive teamwork. He couldn’t help but wonder how this wholesome scene could produce any sort of ugly rumor.

“We’re finally arriving at Lake Tseng-Ti tomorrow. We’ll probably be staying in a lakeside village for a bit.”

They still didn’t have any intel on the area surrounding the dungeon.

“It hasn’t been a month since I last used the spell for crossing worlds, but might as well get it done now.”

---

That night, Hikaru waited for everyone to settle in before slipping out of his bed. He entered a dense forest a short distance from the inn. After about ten minutes, he stopped.

“No signs of anyone tailing me. Well, no surprises there.”

Using Mana Detection, he confirmed that no one was following him. Focusing on a specific direction allowed him to sense the people back at the inn—no significant changes in numbers or movements. Some Scorching Goblet members were still drinking, but that was about it.

He unfurled the paper containing the diagram for the spell on the ground. Next, he set up a sorcery slate based on the recently-perfected Four Elementals Fusion Theory.

Hikaru’s Mana Detection allowed him to perfectly balance and combine four types of magical energy. He didn’t need much today, so he opted for small, pebble-sized elemental magic stones.

With the catalyst in place, lights of four different colors blended, and mana surged like a pillar, tearing open a rift in space.

“…What? It’s midnight here, you know?”

Hearing the tearing sound from the other side, Serika woke and rose from her bed. She shot a glare at Hikaru.

“I know that. It’s midnight here too.”

“…Is it an emergency?”

“No. I have something urgent to attend to, so I’m just informing you that we have to skip this month’s switch.”

“I see… Wait, but if we skip this month, the next switch will be around the end of the year. No way! I promised to go see the lights display with my friends! Depending on the discussion, you might have to come here too, you know.”

“That’s a good point. Actually, I was thinking we switch places next.”

This was because Lavia was eager to go to Japan.

“Not on year-end, then! If you want to come to Japan, come before or after that.”

“Hmm… All right, I’ll open the portal again in around ten days. I might be a few days late, though.”

“So around early December? Okay, got it. I’m going back to sleep.”

“Okay. Good night.”

Serika plopped down and closed her eyes, falling asleep instantly.

“…”

Surely, she won’t think this was just a dream and forget, Hikaru thought. He hastily noted down the conversation, and threw it across the portal.

After watching the rift close, he burned the paper with the diagram, grabbed the slate, then turned back to the inn.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, he felt a gaze.

“…”

This was a deep forest. Visibility was poor, and the moonlight barely penetrated through the trees. His Mana Detection showed the only things moving were nocturnal animals and insects.

“What did my Instinct pick up?”

Hikaru had three points allocated to his Soul Board’s Instinct. It seemed to have sensed something, but what it was exactly, he couldn’t tell.

“I doubt they knew exactly what I was doing here.”

I should be more cautious.

As he walked back quietly, he noticed the lights in the inn’s dining room were still on. A man emerged with loud footsteps.

“Oh, it’s you.”

It was Zappa, already very drunk.

“Good evening,” Hikaru greeted.

“What were you doing? Nothing interesting in taking a stroll in the middle of the night.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Hikaru considered using Stealth to quietly return, but he decided to deliberately show himself, thinking that maybe Zappa had seen him.

“Oh, something wrong? When you can’t sleep, it’s best to cuddle up with a woman, if you know what I mean.”

“I see…”

“Follow me.”

“Huh?”

“I’m still drinking, but you probably don’t drink, right? At least accompany me for a piss.”

“No, I…”

He was about to refuse, but Zappa’s long arm reached out and grabbed Hikaru’s shoulder. The man reeked of alcohol. It seemed Zappa wasn’t the one who saw him.

“You’re an interesting guy. You’re the first one to turn down an invitation to my party.”

“I didn’t know what you were after.”

“Whoa, whoa. Are you some noble’s kid or something? Normal adventurers don’t think like that.”

“…”

Now that he mentioned it, that might be true. Hikaru had thought he was blending into this world reasonably well as an adventurer, but maybe he was doing a lot worse than he thought.

“Well, I figured you had your reasons,” Zappa said.

“…But why me?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, I’m just a lanky, somewhat neat-looking kid.”

“That’s a good question. It’s not like I’m particularly intuitive or smart or anything like that. Oh, here we are.”

Zappa released Hikaru’s arm and headed into the men’s restroom.

“Are you going to take a leak?”

“No, I’m good.”

“Gahahaha!”

The laughter was followed by loud urination. Hikaru let out a weary sigh.

“Hey, Hikaru! You still there?”

“…Yes.”

“You asked why I recruited you. Well, for some reason, you piqued my interest. Is that not enough?”

“Not the words I would expect from a Rank A adventurer.”

“Adventuring is all about the unexpected.” Exiting the restroom, Zappa said, “See ya later.” He waved his hand and strolled away with a hearty laugh.

“…”

Hikaru generally disliked men that were crude and lacked tact, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to dislike Zappa. He laughed a lot, admitted when he didn’t know something, and didn’t put on airs. On the other hand, he was incredibly confident.

“What an interesting person.”

If he hadn’t met Lavia or Paula, Hikaru might have accepted his invitation and joined his party.

---

After traversing the dense forest, the vast expanse of Lake Tseng-Ti stretched out before them, filling their entire field of view.

A breeze rippled the surface of the light blue waters. Insects resembling dragonflies fluttered by and disappeared somewhere.

“What a relaxing place,” Hikaru remarked.

They were traveling along the lakeside road in a carriage.

“That’s the settlement right there,” Freya said.

A long pier extended into the lake, with about ten fishing boats tethered to it. Approximately twenty houses encircled the pier.

A settlement was the only way to describe it. It lacked a governor or village chief; it was simply a congregation of fishermen.

“We’re finally here,” Hikaru said. “Those folks from Vireocean sure are taking their sweet time.”

Though Hikaru’s group had departed earlier, Scorching Goblet still lagged too far behind, beyond Hikaru’s Mana Detection range.

“Indeed, they are. Well, it’s a large group, and the road is narrow.”

“You’re right.”

There was hesitation in Freya’s voice, but Hikaru assumed she was just wishing that they hadn’t come at all.

As they neared the settlement, anticipating a tranquil scene of people sustaining themselves with the bounties of the lake, they were met with a heavy atmosphere.