第１７９５堀：妙なお手紙 (Part2)
Going out of their way to file a complaint from the guild branch to headquarters?
That is…
"Rock, are you saying that what Danea said—that it’s strange to send such a thing in this situation—is the point?"
"Exactly. Even if we were to remain silent, or rather, as the Grand Master says, it would be more certain for the higher-ups to apply pressure. The fact that they dared to send it directly to the Grand Master implies..."
"Hmm. It feels as though they have something they wish to say to me, perhaps?"
"That is highly likely. However, it could also be a ploy to lure the Grand Master out."
Indeed, both possibilities hold weight.
The Kingdom of Usano likely wants to prevent the Adventurer’s Guild from acting on its own any further, and it wouldn't be strange for them to think that if they dealt with the person in charge, the guild would be forced into silence.
Conversely, the Adventurer’s Guild, pushed to the brink by the Kingdom of Usano’s pressure, might be calling for the guild's highest authority to expose everything at once.
Both are tactics that could be employed by the top brass of the Adventurer’s Guild.
"Hmm. I feel like Yuki-kun would be better at handling this sort of problem, wouldn't you agree?"
"Ahaha, I don't really think I'm an expert, but shall we consult him?"
Yuki-san is busy right now, but this matter involves the Kingdom of Usano, the Dark Guild, and the problems lurking in the shadows; it is a fact that we cannot make this judgment on our own.
"That is true. Also, call in Nina-kun and the others who visited the adventurer's guild in that town."
"Understood."
Nina, Kishua, Sia, Leia, Neferi, and Fio—the Holy Sword Users.
Oh, and...
"What shall we do regarding Kate-san, who was dispatched from headquarters?"
"Kate-kun, is it? She wasn't aware of the situation behind the scenes, was she?"
"She was not."
In fact, it was the Grand Master who specifically requested Kate.
"Hmm. Then she wouldn't know much about the internal affairs of the Adventurer’s Guild. Kate is, after all, a specialist in monsters. Besides, while Nina-kun and the others can arrive immediately, there is no reason to summon Kate-kun."
"That’s true. Then, I will contact Yuki-san and Nina’s group immediately."
Kate belongs to headquarters, after all, and various procedures would be required.
Since she doesn't know about the situation behind the scenes, there is no reason to force her to come.
Someday, we will have to visit her home country, the Kingdom of Dosou, regarding the management of monsters, but now is not the time.
With that decided, I made the calls and found that everyone was in Weed, so we were able to meet at the General Government Building immediately.
Even within Weed, it would draw too much attention if the Grand Master went to the military facility where Yuki-san works, or if Yuki-san went into the Adventurer’s Guild.
At the General Government Building, we could pass it off as a meeting with the upper echelons of Weed.
"My, my, I apologize for calling you all out like this."
"Not at all. Thank you for your efforts, Grand Master, despite your busy schedule."
"It is I who should be saying that. Stopping the Great Flood, as well as the Dark Guild, is the very purpose of the Adventurer’s Guild."
With that, the two exchanged smiles and greetings.
"So, you have a consultation regarding that remote village?"
"Indeed. A while ago, a complaint came in from the town's guild regarding the dispatch of Nina-kun—or rather, Snow-kun."
"Huh? From the Adventurer’s Guild? Specifically regarding a request? Requests are a matter of personal freedom, aren't they?"
Yuki-san noticed the unnaturalness of it immediately and pointed it out.
Yes, exactly.
Before even considering the pressure involved, an adventurer is, in a sense, a jack-of-all-trades. It is a question of why a branch would complain about a move the headquarters deemed necessary in the first place.
"Precisely. Rock noticed the discrepancy, and we began to wonder: Is this intentional, or do they have something they wish to convey? I wanted to hear the opinions of you and Nina-kun. Or rather, I wish to seek your judgment, Yuki-dono."
"Ahaha, this isn't an official setting, so please don't worry about the formalities. I understand the gist of the matter. Are you all okay with this, Nina?"
"No problem."
"Yeah."
"Yes."
The Holy Sword Users all nodded in unison.
If they’ve visited the guild this much, I hope they’ve found some kind of information...
A complaint sent to the Grand Master from a branch that could be called the frontier.
In modern terms, it would be like a convenience store in the middle of nowhere sending a letter directly to the CEO.
It’s a miracle it even arrived.