One afternoon.
“—Why won’t you let me become an adventurer?!”
It was when I entered the guild. A woman’s shout echoed from the reception desk.
“What’s going on?”
When I approached, I saw a blonde female knight arguing with Miss Mistika, the receptionist.
“I used to be a knight for the nobility. I’m much stronger than some rookie! So why?!”
“It’s the rules. Your previous job doesn’t matter for adventurer registration. However… we cannot accept those who are not ‘fully able-bodied.’”
Miss Mistika looked at the knight’s right arm.
“That arm…”
“Grr…”
It was attached, but it was completely immobile from the shoulder down. Though she wore armor, it hung limply like a dead weight.
“That arm doesn’t move, right? Then you are treated the same as someone with a limb missing.”
“…Shut up…”
“Your name is Iris, correct? Adventurers’ deaths are their own responsibility. But our guild does not wish to produce casualties. Therefore, we cannot register those with severe injuries.”
“I said shut up!”
Iris, the knight, slammed her left hand on the counter. The loud noise echoed through the guild.
“…I’m sorry, but those are the rules.”
“Damn it…!”
A little while ago, a bespectacled guy did something similar, but this is different. The adventurers watching from a distance also had concerned looks. Eventually, a ponytailed samurai named Shirokusa nervously approached her from the crowd.
“I-Iris, was it…? I don’t k-know what happened, but don’t t-take it out on the receptionist…”
“And who are you?! Speak clearly, you creep!”
“C-creep?!”
…Shirokusa was completely defeated.
Yeah, he’s really shy around girls, but he did his best. I’ll treat you to something later.
“Sorry for the commotion. I’ll be leaving now.”
Iris turned on her heel and left. She passed by me without making eye contact, biting her lip in frustration as she roughly opened the guild’s door and walked out.
“What was with that woman?”
“She seems to have some issues. I don’t want to get involved with any noble-related trouble.”
“Anyway, hang in there, Shirokusa!”
The adventurers started gossiping. No one seemed eager to get involved with her. She clearly gave off a ‘troublemaker’ vibe.
“I heard from a merchant from the Holy City. Apparently, a knight was dismissed for attacking her lady.”
…One rumor caught my attention and made sense.
“Iscar also mentioned something like this…”
A familiar female noble from the Holy City had sent a message.
She said, “The knight who harmed me is likely heading your way. Her arm is incapacitated, so she’ll struggle to survive. Keep an eye on her and capture her once she’s hit rock bottom.”
It was a strange request. If they wanted to catch her, they could just send dozens of soldiers. Why wait until she’s down and out? Is she really that strong?
Anyway, she’s a dangerous individual who defied the nobility. It’s best to stay away… or so I thought.
“No one said it was a woman. Plus, I can’t just ignore her in that state.”
She certainly seemed strong-willed, but she didn’t look like someone who would attack her mistress without reason.
There’s only one thing to do.
“Let’s follow her, Chick-kun.”
“Piyo piyo piyo piyo piyo!”
“What?”
I’ll help her as much as I can.
I’m not so inhuman that I’d just stand by and watch someone fall.
