“Excuse me, do you have any recommendations for this town?”

“Ah, first time in Bradley, huh? Well, this town is near the Bradley Forest, a massive forest where we hunt all kinds of monsters for meat. Wild boar and Laminate birds are particularly worth a try.
We’re also close to the coastal town, so some preserved seafood makes its way here. Though, we don’t sell seafood at this stall—you’ll need to ask around elsewhere for that.”

“I see. Well then, I’ll have one skewer each of wild boar and Laminate bird, please.”

“Got it!”

I received two skewers. While they weren’t quite on the level of dragon or wyvern meat, they were still delicious. Maybe my palate has gotten spoiled lately. Not long ago, I would’ve been over the moon with just these flavors.

“Yeah, both are great!”

“Thanks, kid. So, where are you from?”

“I just arrived from Luxeria earlier today.”

“Oh, so you came all the way from the capital, huh?”

“Yes, and I’m planning to continue on to the coast. I’ve heard the seafood there is excellent.”

“Nice, you’ll love it. I’ve been to the coast a few times myself—the fish there is incredible. Sure, you can get some here, but there’s so much variety by the sea. You’re in for a treat!”

“Good to know, I’m looking forward to it! By the way, what’s the reputation of this town’s Adventurer’s Guild like?”

“Well, let’s see. It’s not quite at the level of the capital, but it’s one of the bigger and better ones in the country. Thanks to Bradley Forest, there are plenty of requests, which means more adventurers and a higher skill level overall.”

“Interesting. What kind of person is the guild master here?”

“Oh, you mean Gildart! That guy’s the real deal—used to be an A-rank adventurer. On top of that, he’s a descendant of the legendary Great mage! Ever since he became guild master, this town’s been thriving.”

Just as Gina had told me, Gildart was a former A-rank adventurer who retired in his 30s and was recommended by the previous guild master to take over. His exceptional leadership significantly improved the guild’s quest completion rate, which in turn boosted the town’s prosperity.

Honestly, Gina’s ability to gather intel is impressive. No wonder her report on the Great mage’s descendants was over 200 pages long.

“He sounds like an incredible person.”

“Sure is! Though, he’s got his hands full lately with the mutants.”

“Mutants?”

“Ah, they don’t show up much near the capital, do they? In Bradley Forest, every few years or so, these mutant monsters appear. No one knows why, but big forests like ours seem to produce them sometimes.
When a mutant shows up, the nearby monsters become more aggressive, and their numbers increase too. It’s strange, but if the mutant is defeated, things settle down again.”

“I see. So, there’s a mutant now?”

“Yeah, it was spotted recently. The guild and the knight order are putting together a hunting party, set to leave in a few days.”

I see. Mutants, huh? The monster ecology in this world remains as baffling as ever.

“Is it safe? Mutants sound pretty strong.”

“Well, they’re tough, yeah. The hunting party usually loses a few people. But mutants fetch a high price, so plenty of folks are willing to join. You’d be better off asking an adventurer for the details, though.”

So, a few casualties. That means it’s not on the level of a dragon, at least.

“Thanks for all the information. Oh, can I get one more Laminate bird skewer?”

“Sure thing!”

I learned more than I expected. Mutants, huh? Maybe I should check out the Adventurer’s Guild.

After asking the stall owner for directions, I headed to the Adventurer’s Guild. Without realizing it, I’ve visited the guild in every town I’ve been to. Maybe I should’ve just registered as an adventurer. Then again, tests and quotas sound like a hassle.

Ding-ding

Whoa, the atmosphere in here is intense.

The moment I opened the door, I felt a wave of tension, like everyone was sizing me up. There are way more adventurers here than in other guilds—probably because of the mutant situation.

At least no one’s picking a fight with me, so that’s a relief. Looking at the request board, there are tons of jobs posted. Most are about hunting monsters that damage crops or protecting villages from nearby threats.

Here’s the party recruitment board: “Seeking C-rank or higher mage for mutant hunt!”, “B-rank tank needed for mutant subjugation!”

I see. They’re forming teams specifically for the mutant. The minimum requirement is C-rank, and the hunt is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

With the necessary information gathered, I left the guild. So, the hunt’s on Saturday, huh? That means I wouldn’t have to skip school. But since I’m not registered as an adventurer, what should I do?