—It has been about ten days since I defeated the lesser demon, the Lesser Demon.

The environment around me has changed drastically.

"Hey, Ike! What kind of quest are you taking today?"
"I haven't decided yet. Probably a decent B-rank if one comes up."
"I see. Well, good luck! See you around!"
"Yeah, you too."

Just like this, my interactions with the adventurers I met that day have remained cordial.
Not only with me but also with Flare and the others behind me, many adventurers now exchange greetings.

Gradually, both I and my profession as a Puppeteer are gaining recognition in this adventurer town of Ford.

That recognition has led to unexpected consequences.

"Ah, Ike-san!"
"What’s the matter, Ayla?"

The moment I entered the Adventurers' Guild, Ayla called out to me in a flustered tone. Did something happen?

"I apologize, but could you please come to the back room? This matter isn’t something to be discussed openly."
"I don’t mind, but…"

We followed Ayla’s lead and headed to the reception room.

I sat down in order with Lycia, Flare, and Tetra following.

"What do you think this is about, Master?"
"Hey, Lycia, don’t make a fuss."
"The tea is delicious."

While my party chatted away, Ayla sat in front of us with documents in hand.

"So, what’s going on?"
"Actually, we reported your defeat of the demon to the Royal Guild and the local lord."

I wasn’t surprised, as she had asked for my permission beforehand. There must be some other reason for this meeting.

"Here’s the main point: the lord himself has heard of the story and wants to make a personal request of you, Ike-san."
"…Wait, who? The lord? Wants to request something from me?"

The shock nearly overwhelmed me.
The lord—a noble of high rank—personally has business with me?
What could someone like that possibly want from me?

"Hah! This lord must have keen insight! Surely, they’ve recognized your brilliance and are offering their seat of power to you!"
"Lycia, that’s not something you should joke about."
"—Y-yes, I apologize."

I quickly covered Lycia’s mouth before her words could escalate into treasonous territory.
Strangely, Lycia wore a blissful expression after that, for reasons beyond my comprehension.

After taking a deep breath, I turned back to Ayla.

"So, what do I need to do?"
"The lord would like to speak to you directly. Would you be able to visit his manor in the Noble District after this?"
"…Understood."

Ignoring the lord’s request was not an option.
And so, I set off for the Grace family manor.

"This… is the lord’s manor?"

The Noble District, a place I would normally never step foot into.
Among its grand mansions, the most prominent one belonged to the lord.

Suppressing my nerves, I approached the gatekeeper.
"I’m Ike, sent from the Adventurers’ Guild."
"We’ve been informed. May I see your Adventurer’s Card for verification?"
"Here it is."
"Thank you. Please wait a moment."

Within less than a minute, a servant came out from the manor.
"The master is waiting in the reception room. Please follow me."

I stepped into the manor, surrounded by luxury far beyond anything I’d ever seen.

From my waist, I suddenly heard a voice.

"Wow, it’s so beautiful!"
"…Huh? Did you say something, Ike-sama?"
"N-no, nothing! Flare, I told you to stay quiet!"
"Oh, right. Sorry, Ike."

It was Flare, peeking out from her doll’s sleeping case.
She and the others had only recently gained their own consciousness, and their behavior was still unpredictable.
To minimize risk, I had brought her in her smallest form today.

I hadn’t expected her to speak out, though. My heart pounded as I continued walking.

That’s when I felt it—a gaze.

"…Hm?"

At the end of the corridor, peeking around the corner, was a young girl.
She had golden hair, vivid blue eyes, and wore an elegant outfit. Clutching a white stuffed dog, she stared at me with a suspicious look.

Who is she…?

"We’ve arrived, Ike-sama."

The servant’s voice pulled me back to reality. It seemed we’d reached the room.

"Master, I’ve brought Ike-sama."
"Enter."

I stepped inside to see a single man standing there.
Young but with a dignified air, he welcomed me with a warm smile.

"Welcome. I am Alto Grace, lord of this domain."
"—I’m Ike, an adventurer."
"Ike-kun, thank you for responding to my sudden request. Please, have a seat."

Unlike some nobles, Alto didn’t carry an air of arrogance.
I sat in the plush chair he gestured to.

Now, the main issue begins.
What could a lord of his status possibly want from a mere adventurer?

Understanding my curiosity, Alto spoke without preamble.

"Let’s get straight to the point. The reason I called you here is simple: I’d like you to undertake a quest to defeat the boss of the sixth level of the Septem Great Labyrinth—the Hydra."