Chapter 10

The morning after that hellish chaos, we found ourselves once again heading toward the Guild.

“Rex-sama, there's a request waiting for you today.”

“Oh? It’s finally here? A mission worthy of my greatness, huh?”

“Of course. In fact, the master specifically instructed us not to assign it to anyone but Rex-sama.”

Mei, who had gone in ahead of us, was waving us over near the reception desk. Looks like it's about a request.

As I looked over, the laid-back receptionist approached Rex and wordlessly thrust a sheet of paper at him.

And it wasn’t just any request form—it bore the official seal of the national army.

“…Hey Rex. What the hell is this?”

“Oh, first time seeing one of these, huh, Flatche? This one’s straight from the national army. Which means fat pay and serious work.”

“Heh, figures. When you’re famous like Rex, even the jobs you get are on another level.”

“I’ve never seen one of these either.”

A job from the government. How much trust would you need to land one of those?

A tinge of envy crept in at everything Rex had accomplished. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a little excited at the thought of taking on something straight from the national army.

What kind of job would this be? As an adventurer, there’s nothing better than the real deal. Nothing beats experience.

“I’d like to explain the details. May I?”

“Go ahead.”

“Understood. Then, Rex-sama, Flatche-sama, Mei-sama, and also──”

We followed the unenthusiastic receptionist into a private room in the back.

Unable to hide my excitement, I strode confidently after her──

“Lady Karin, who’s been covering her face since earlier…? If you're willing, please come along too…”

“Don’t talk to me… Just don’t talk to me for a while, please…”

Dragging along the nun who refused to move or speak, still hiding her face since morning, I pulled her by the arm.

Yeah… she’s still mentally shattered. Best leave her be for now.

---

By the way, here’s why Karin went berserk last night.

“Karin. So last night you got drunk drinking alone, didn’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“And in your drunken haze, you tried to sneak into Flatche’s bed?”

“It… it was just a prank, I swear…”

It was late and Mei was half-asleep, so we postponed the discussion until morning when everyone was more composed.

Long story short: she got drunk and did something stupid.

“And Flatche, you panicked when she suddenly tried to crawl in beside you?”

“At first I thought Rex was shamelessly barging in, so yeah, I freaked out.”

“And then you realized it was Karin. So why did you end up on the offensive?”

“Well, if I was going to be dragged into it, I figured I’d take the lead. She made a move, so I just responded.”

“That is not the time to get competitive…”

Exactly. I only played along because she invited me.

I retaliated because, as a man, being helpless against a woman wasn’t something I could tolerate. And after thinking it over—I don’t really think I did anything wrong, so I don’t feel bad about it.

“And so, caught off guard by your unexpected reaction, Karin freaked out and screamed, fearing for her chastity.”

“Which brings us to the scene we saw last night?”

“Exactly.”

“……”

Seriously, Karin is a walking disaster.

---

“Flatche, Karin. You’re both going to sit in seiza for an hour.”

“…Yes.”

“What!? Me too!?”

And for some reason, I was forced into seiza as well. Got yelled at for “getting frisky in someone else’s home.”

I don’t get it.

---

—Back to the guild.

“Yes. Regarding the report from Rex-sama about the Demon Lord’s army, the national army is taking it very seriously.”

“Those guys would be impossible for your average adventurer to handle. That’s why they’re sending me to investigate, huh?”

The request was about the Demon Lord’s forces.

Right, I’d kind of forgotten in the chaos of that gender-bending fiasco, but this was a humanity-in-crisis level problem. Apparently, Rex and the others had properly reported it to the authorities.

“Several ‘previously nonexistent caves’ have been discovered recently. We'd like Rex-sama to investigate them.”

“Alright, leave it to me. I can expect good pay, right?”

“Absolutely. You won’t be disappointed. However, since the enemy’s strength is unknown, the national army will be sending backup.”

“Tch. If they’re dead weight, I’m turning them away. Who’s coming?”

“…One of the three great generals of the Pedia National Army, General Penny the ‘Barefist,’ will be joining. He’s among the best close-quarters combatants in the country.”

“Ohh, that guy? Hmm… well, guess I can work with that.”

Rex nodded in satisfaction at the mention of the reinforcements.

Wait, did she just say “great general”? Isn’t that guy basically at the top of the national army?

“In addition, the nation’s top Grand Magus, Lady Clarise, will also be assisting. It seems the country’s putting its very best into this investigation.”

“…Clarise?”

“Yes. The young genius black mage of Pedia, known as the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy, Lady Clarise.”

“Whoa. Sounds intense.”

I’d never heard of her name before, but if she’s assigned alongside a great general, she’s got to be the real deal.

Rex, me, and the general for the front line. Mei, the genius mage, and Karin for the rear. Pretty balanced. We could split into teams easily.

“Ahahahaha! So Clarise-chan’s coming? This job just got interesting.”

“You know her?”

“Yup. Both of them are old acquaintances of mine. That’s probably why they were assigned here.”

Seems Rex knows them both personally. I always thought high-ranking military types were all stiff and arrogant, but if Rex is laughing like that, maybe they’re decent people.

“What’s Penny like?”

“Hmm, serious guy. Stoic, even. But still a fun guy to be around, y’know? You’ll get it when you meet him.”

“I see.”

“Don’t worry, Flatche. Penny might be fun, but you’re ten times more fun.”

“I wasn’t worried.”

From what I hear, he doesn’t sound like a bad guy. Still, being called “fun” kind of stings. Looking at my behavior lately, though… yeah. I deserve that.

Now, about this Clarise-chan…

“She’s young. Same age as me, actually.”

“Oh? And she’s qualified to work alongside a general? That’s pretty amazing.”

“Yup. I don’t know much about magic, but she’s said to be ‘on my level’ in the world of magic. Apparently, she’s the greatest mage in recorded history.”

“…Yikes. Sounds like someone I don’t want to mess with. What can she do?”

“No clue. First time fighting alongside her. But she’s a genius, so I’m sure it’ll be something wild.”

Rex answered with a laugh.

Seems their relationship really is just that of casual acquaintances. His info on her is pretty vague. That’s… kind of troubling.

“…I’ll explain. About the black mage, Clarise.”

“Oh, you know her too, Mei? Great. It’s probably better to hear it from a fellow mage.”

As I hesitated, Mei stepped in. True, just like how Mei and Karin misjudged my skills, it makes sense that Rex wouldn’t grasp how terrifying a real mage can be.

“Calling Clarise a genius is putting it mildly. If she wanted to, she could erase this entire country with a single spell. She’s basically the embodiment of magical destruction.”

“…The whole country?”

“Her spell range could cover the entire nation. If she felt like it, we’d be gone by tomorrow.”

"Whoa..."

"Fortunately, she herself is obsessed with 'love.' She likes to love others and be loved. So, there's no need to worry about her whims leading to the downfall of a nation... probably."

Mei said this with a serious face, eyes lowered. Perhaps it's because she's also a mage that she understands how terrifying Claris is.

I’d probably sound the same trying to explain Rex. A monster so far removed from normal understanding.

"Lord Rex. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline this request. If Clarise is involved, there’s no point in me tagging along."

"Hey now, Mei. You’re a vital member of my party, you know? You can't just back out on your own. Learn from her as a fellow black mage."

"...I don’t want to take on a job with her. I don’t want to be involved with that woman at all."

Mei’s face twisted into a scowl deeper than anything I’d seen from her before.

Rex looked puzzled as he watched her, but I understood how Mei felt.

"Mei. You’re not just some acquaintance of Clarise, are you? You two seem... closer than that."

"...Yeah. You’re amazing, Flatche. Saw right through me, huh? Clarise is my older sister."

"For real!? Wait, Mei, you’re Claris's little sister!? You guys don’t look anything alike!"

Rex looked utterly shocked, but that didn’t matter. Now I understood why Mei had looked so gloomy since earlier.

...In one word, it was a complex. The kind of jealousy and pride I’ve always felt around Rex—being around someone far more talented and not wanting to lose.

Mei must’ve grown up constantly being compared. To her sister, the overwhelmingly gifted black mage.

"Huh. That cheery Clarise has such a serious little sister, huh. Are you sure you’re even related?"

"We're blood sisters. Sadly. I left home and became an adventurer because it was unbearable being around her."

"I see."

God, I get it. I really get it.

Being near Rex always stirs up this inferiority as a swordsman. Honestly, that’s probably part of why I turned down his offer.

I feel such kinship. Mei’s been through the same thing. Competing with someone you never wanted to lose to—someone who keeps succeeding. Of course she'd want distance.

"Clarise isn’t that bad, though. She’s honestly one of the nicest people I know. What is it you don’t like about her?"

"...Everything about her. I’m sorry, Lord Rex, but please don’t make me work with her."

"Wow, you really hate her that much, huh..."

Rex clearly didn’t understand how Mei felt. Well, of course he didn’t—how could he grasp this bitterness we feel?

I should probably back Mei up. Forcing her on a job like this would only lead to disaster.

.

—"I descend!! Heaven reveals me!! In the name of the great god, I call forth the blade of judgment to smite all evil!!"

.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, a shrill, high-pitched voice rang out from the entrance of the guild.

"...Hieek!"

"What the...? Who’s shouting?"

The bizarre behavior of the girl at the entrance made every adventurer go silent.

Like everyone else, I turned to the entrance. There stood a young girl, raising a golden staff high above her head.

She looked about ten years old, with flowing blonde hair and a beaming, confident smile. All eyes were on her.

"A kid? Is this some kind of prank?"

An awkward tension filled the guild. Who brought such a little girl to a shady place like this? If some sketchy adventurer tried something or sold her off, then what?

"Love! I am numbaaah one!! Because of love, people must suffer! But that’s what makes it beautiful!"

The girl kept her hand on her hip, smiling boldly as she waved her staff around. It was so painfully cringeworthy that a nearby adventurer finally stood up, unable to take it anymore.

Seriously, where are her parents? If they don’t watch her, a kid like that could do anything—like—

"Behold!! I am Clarise, Supreme Commander of the Pedia National Forces! I am the symbol of compassion and universal love!! If someone ails in the west, I bring herbs! If someone starves in the east, I bring bread! The world overflows with love!!"

...Wait a second. What did she just say her name was?

Did she just say—Clarise?

"...That’s not my sister. I don’t want anyone thinking we’re related..."

Next to me, Mei muttered curses with dead eyes. No way. That’s her? That girl is the most powerful mage in the nation’s history?

"Now then, Master of the Guild! Come forth! I have descended! Shower me with hospitality! If you slather the cookies in honey, I shall be most pleased!"

"Okay, little missy. Time to go home now~"

"Wh—!? You dare lay hands on me!?"

And so, the greatest mage in history got grabbed by the collar by an old adventurer and was dragged out of the building. The guild fell completely silent.

"Ahaha! That really was Clarise, huh? She’s already here."

"Huh!? That’s really Lady Clarise!?"

"I... I get it now. Mei, if I had that in my family, I’d struggle too..."

"She’s not my sister... I won’t acknowledge it..."

Now I fully understood what Rex meant when he said this job would be fun. That girl is, without a doubt, a walking joke. That’s the only way to describe her—anything else would just sound like an insult.

All I can say is... she’s eccentric.

"Well, her personality’s kinda... yeah, but Clarise isn’t a bad person. To me, she’s as entertaining as Flatche."

"Hold it."

"Yeah... I think she might actually be just as weird as Flatche..."

"Hold it."

Wait. You all think I’m that level of weird?

Wait... what?

"Please, Lord Rex. I beg of you. Just don’t make me work with her—"

"HAHAHAHAHA..."

And so, in the now quiet guild hall, Mei’s pained plea echoed in vain.