AN IRREGULAR REWARD

「Y-You guys are back!」

Once we got back to the guild, Khatia, the receptionist welcomed us jovially. In addition to that⸻

「Wah, it's the return of the party that completed the biggest quest today.」

「Wah, I'm glad I was able to witness the birth of two hero cla.s.s magicians.」

We heard voices from everyone in the guild, as well as all eyes darted in our direction. I wondered at this strange situation.

「Ah, Otis-san. You're back at the right time.」

Dominic who has gone back to the guild ahead of us appeared and waved his hands as he comes toward our direction.

「Are you done?」

「I just finished reporting about the quest.」

Dominic said while glancing at Khatia.

「That's right! I received the report from Dominic⸺that you weren't hurt, or were you? In his report, Dominic says he incurred a bit of fatigue yet the two of you were completely unharmed.」

Khatia anxiously asked us.

「Yeah, we're absolutely fine. We weren't hurt at all.」

「Yes, not even a scratch!」

「Is that true? I'm glad if its so.」

She breathed a sigh of relief, it shows that she was restless even from the time we have left.

「I'm really glad everyone came back safely.」

「Yes? You look very worried, what exactly happened?」

There was a strange atmosphere from the people around us, like a mixture of surprise and anxiety. Khatia then spoke⸺

「It was when after Eisen-sama and his party left for the quest, the Magic University contacted me and that's where I received additional information about the quest. That there was a weak but a forming reaction during the time the quest was happening.」

「I see, so that happened? We have been told by the landowner that he had asked the Magic University for help too.」

「Ah, yes. The Global Guild and the Magic University's branch in this city have been cooperating in the last few years. You can get the latest magic tools and information about magic that you needed from the university. There are times when we would be having some troubles with information sharing like delays in the system that exchanges data.」

This time, too, it caused a lot of trouble⸺is what Khatia mused apologetically.

「Because it was an urgent quest, the magic tool that the scouting team of the guild possessed couldn't observe the magic beasts, so it was given the difficulty of C-Rank… In addition to the higher spirit, there was a large number of Horned Moles that have the difficulty of B Rank or higher⸺but before we realized it, your party had already set off.」

Khatia sadly shook her head.

「⸺and yet? Before we know it, there were magic beasts that the higher spirit was trying to keep at bay. At that point, it's not a job for you unless you're a Rank B adventurer. In such a place, for me to let your party go there… moreover, the two of you were newcomers. The whole guild is in distress because we've got to hurry up and get a Rank B adventurer, and get your party some help. I thought that I must act quickly.」

「Is that why the whole guild is kind of strange?」

「Yes. But then, Dominic returned without any injuries so we're all in a state of confusion before.」

「Is that so?」

So that's why everyone had mixed feelings about our return.

「Yes. I got the report from Dominic-san that you appeased the higher spirit and that you stopped the tornado, right?」

She asked as if making sure she's got it correct.

「Well, I certainly stopped the tornado.」

When I answered her, I heard a loud gasp from everyone.

「So he's saying, he just casually appeased a higher spirit?」

「Wah, is he really a Rank C adventurer? He's too good for that …」

I heard everyone speak to themselves.

(It's not that the higher spirit is on a rampage, they're easy to deal with if you talk to them. Also, I don't think the word ‘appease' is the right term.)

While thinking about this, Khatia who's speaking in front of me scooted closer.

「Eisen-sama's results are too overwhelming. Rank C adventurers usually can't deal with those magic beasts. Sometimes there are false statements from adventurers, so despite the truth that Dominic says, this situation is so unbelievable that we all can't helped but getting surprised.」

「Hmm… is that true?　」

Extermination of magic beasts and talking with the spirits are jobs thats being practiced for more than decades. But they think of what we did as a difficult task than I expected.

「I'll explain the circ.u.mstances, but let me apologize to you first.」

「Apologize?」

「Yes, I would like to apologize for what happened this time. I sent you to a place that hasn't met the right difficulty for your quest.」

Khatia lowered her head as she apologize. Its true that the difficulty of the quest the guild gave to us doesn't match.

「It can't be helped, you didn't know for certain that there was a higher spirit and magic beasts in that place.」

There were reasons for the delay and there are no lack of cooperation, so there's no reason to apologize. Well, my apprentice also wrote in her letters saying,『I've created a new system, but there's still some flaws in it.』So this is probably the case. Also, the same can be said to us who exterminated the magic beast that's spreading the miasma and stopping the spirit on our own. That's the intention in this quest in the first place so I told Khatia that there's no need to bow her head down.

「Hearing that certainly lifts a load off my mind. Not only did you got rid of a higher spirit but you also accomplished a difficult quest such as destroying magic beasts that is spreading miasma. Eisen-sama, thank you very much!」

Khatia thanked me for so many times and added⸻

「Since this situation is quite special, we have increased the amount of compensation for the quest so please wait for a while.」

「I see, but isn't the report already done?」

「That's right, but hearing the report from Dominic, I immediately knew that the usual reward for this quest isn't sufficient. The chief of the guild is in the process of providing remuneration for this special case.」

Khatia explained.

「What special… What kind of report have you done, Dominic?」

「What kind, you ask but it's just your normal report. I merely reported of what I saw⸺Otis-san's successive actions that brought us quick solutions to the problems.」

「Yes. The first quest you received was to suppress a mid spirit but then it turns out to be a higher spirit who was actually trying to destroy a magic beast that's spreading miasma⸺so it would against the principle if you aren't given an additional remuneration!」

It seems that I would get a higher pay as well without me knowing, that's fine with me though.

「I'm sure the reward for this quest is 15,000 Gold? How much will it be with the renumeration.」

The reward was to be divided among the three of us in the party, 10,000 gold for me and Rinne and the rest is for Dominic. The reward was just perfect for a whole month of rent in an inn in this city.

「You're right. However, since you dealt with a higher spirit not a mid spirit, and even investigated and solved the problem in the quest⸺we have gone and discussed that your party have completed an unexpected amount of work. And so, we have increased your reward ten times the normal amount.」

Such a remark came all of a sudden.

「Ten times… Then it's 150,000 gold?」

「Yes, we thought it wasn't enough so for the time being, me and Khatichan talked to the higher-ups in the guild and the city so they prepared that much.」

Apparently Dominic not only reported first, but also went to negotiate the reward. Katia nodded to his words.

「Dealing of higher spirits are essentially expensive requests that the city or the country directly makes. Observation skills and magic tools have revealed that Dominic wasn't falsifying his report, and he has also received testimony from the landowner in the farm, so we put trust in what you have done. That's why, its kind of sad we can only pay you with this amount…」

Is what they regrettably told me. In addition with communicating with the spirit, if by just dealing with magic beasts earn that much, I think its more than adequate for my work. I'm fine with this, so do I really have to ask more payment from them? If so, then this part of human world surely have change since then⸺

「Then its my pleasure to earn an additional reward for the quest. We should divide 150,000 gold with the three of us, right Dominic?」

Asking again what I said, Dominic furiously shook his head.

「No, I can't ask for the additional reward. The additional reward was all due to Otis-san's hardwork while I've barely done anything to help so the original reward is fine with me.」

Dominic argued.

「Eh, but you helped us before.」

It's still a part of the success if we see how he erected a defensive barrier to go through the tornado where sands are floating around⸺that should at least be reported and rewarded. That being said, Dominic still shook his head.

「The only thing I was able to do was sending you to the location of the quest. So if you ask me, Otis-san should get all the rewards since you're the one who solved the quest, I wouldn't be convinced otherwise.」

「This might be my achievement but giving you 5000 gold makes me feel bad.」

Dominic laughed at my words.

「Is it really fine with you?」

「Don't worry about it. I would just give the money to the guild if you do.」

It seems he has firmly decided, then let's not force it.

「Then I'll gratefully accept the reward, but after this, let me treat you to some food or drinks.」

After saying so, Dominic's sour expression turned to a rueful smile.

「For Otis-san to invite me… If that's the case, I'll gladly join you for some drinks.」

「Please eat and drink as much as you want. It's a celebration for our first successful quest.」

So, after finis.h.i.+ng our first quest, we headed to the dining area attached to the guild and enjoyed the celebration party. Although it was my first quest as an adventurer, I've met with various irregularities. The life of an adventurer seemed more profitable than I expected.