“Hello…”

As I opened the guild’s door, I planned to start with a greeting, but my voice was drowned out instantly.

“What the hell!? Look at the freshness of this Marle grass! It’s perfect! Why am I only getting 80% of the request amount!?”

“Marle grass grows only in nutrient-rich soil. Simply transporting it without damaging the roots means it can’t absorb all the nutrients, so its effectiveness drops slightly.”

“Hey, any mages around? We’re going hunting for Bund birds. The reward will be split equally.”

“I’m in! Man, this month has been tough. Thanks, this helps a lot.”

Right at the entrance, near the chairs and tables, several senior adventurers were talking intensely.

Despite the early morning, the place was already bustling with energy.

And there was a strange smell—something like a mix of perfume, body odor, and sweat that made the air feel stifling.

I guess this must be the “scent of adventurers.”

“Mii…”

Ivy, who is quite cleanly, seemed to dislike the smell.

Her usual lively spirit wasn’t there in her voice.

She was sitting in a pouch I carried rather than on my shoulder, to avoid any unwanted attention.

The senior adventurers didn’t notice me enter. They were too busy discussing which quests to take and the details of the job requirements, talking passionately with foam at the corners of their mouths.

Judging by the scene, it probably wasn’t necessary to hide Ivy at all.

“Mii.”

I gently tapped the pouch to reassure Ivy. I’m not feeling down, don’t worry.

But it seemed like being an adventurer was pretty intense, having to raise their voices so much this early in the morning.

They probably have to speak loudly because of the noise around them. Although, I wonder why they don’t just step outside to talk? There must be some reason they need to do this inside the guild so early.

I touched the slightly bulging pocket of my jacket.

Inside was a letter from Jennifer addressed to the lord and the guild master.

Apparently, it’s written to put in a good word for me, but I haven’t read the contents.

It was a courtesy since my rank had been boosted through connections, but getting involved with important people right away would definitely make me stand out.

…Still, considering Ivy’s situation, at some point, I’ll have to be under someone’s protection. Better to act sooner than later.

For now, I need to hand this letter to the guild master.

To the right of the tables was the reception, and to the left, a buying counter.

The reception wasn’t too crowded.

There were only two people in line before me, and it didn’t seem like it would take much time.

It seems like the real talking happens before people actually take on quests, so once they decide what they want, things move smoothly.

“Next, please.”

The receptionist was a woman. There was a clear label on her chest that read “Moose.”

Moose, huh? I’ll remember that.

She wore a pink uniform that looked somewhat sharp.

The woman next to her was wearing the same outfit, so this must be the standard uniform for guild staff.

She seemed friendly and approachable.

With her cute appearance, she could easily rank high on a “potential future wife” list if such a thing existed.

“Could you please give this letter to the guild master?”

She took the letter from me, and after checking the wax seal on the back, she raised an eyebrow slightly.

It seemed like the seal was an indication that the letter was from Jennifer. I wondered if the guild staff were familiar with him.

—Well, no harm in asking, right?

“Do you know Jennifer?”

“Of course. This town likely benefits the most from his influence in the entire country. Excuse me, Cindy, I’m taking this to the guild master, so please handle things here.”

“Got it! Alright, sorry folks, but can you all merge into one line? Those in front of Moose, move behind the people in my line.”

“Hey, come on, can’t you let us go first?”

“Shut up, or I’ll dock your quest reward.”

“S-Sorry…”

While Cindy, the blonde, was handling the rowdy adventurers without missing a beat, Moose disappeared with the letter.

I was instructed to wait on a chair beside the reception desk by Cindy.

As I sat there in a daze, the image of Jennifer, the somewhat egotistical monster scholar, floated in my mind with a chuckle.

“Mii.”

Ivy let out a little cry. It felt like she was saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you if anything happens.”

I had a feeling things were about to get complicated, but I decided to look on the bright side—it would save me some trouble.

“Mii!”

Ivy’s cry seemed to say, “That’s the right attitude.”

…Thanks, Ivy. Because of you, I feel a little more confident now.