GILF Hunter

Chapter 467: 467 It’s a Misunderstanding

’Ehu-hu...’

Lucia was chuckling in the seat across from Ian. As if something incredibly good had happened.

It was as if her victory in the mayoral election had already been confirmed even before the voting began.

And... in reality, that wasn’t exactly wrong. Most people in the city already considered Lucia’s election a certainty.

Thanks to that, numerous letters were already piling up on Lucia’s desk.

Since she was effectively being accepted as the next Mayor, contacts were coming in from those trying to establish connections or coordinate business in advance starting now.

And today’s meeting with Ian was because of one of those matters.

’So, Leader Ian... do you truly not have any particular position you desire?’

Lucia asked Ian again.

’The Command Center is mostly soldiers, so you might not like it... but I could create a spot on the Defense Committee or the Aftermath Processing Committee. Many people there only hold concurrent positions during invasions, so you could sufficiently balance it with your mercenary activities.’

’I’m fine. I don’t have a specific position I want.’

Repayment was repayment, but it seemed Lucia wanted to keep Ian in a close position no matter what.

Ian shook his head and made a request instead.

’In exchange, I have one favor to ask. If I provide a proposal for improving the city defense plan later... could you take a look at it?’

’A city defense plan?’

It referred to the plan that determined how to deploy initial troops and defensive facilities when an invasion progressed, and how to carry out troop development depending on the situation.

One of the most important defense strategies of this city.

Naturally, it wasn’t something the words of a single mercenary could influence.

Amending the city defense plan was originally something that had to proceed through a review by the Defense Force and the consent of the City Council.

And normally, if there was nothing special, there was no reason to touch the existing plans already established.

’Hmm... so you have an improvement proposal for the current plan?’

’Yes. As you know, the forms of monster invasions have changed a lot lately.’

’That... is true.’

It wasn’t a request to unconditionally change it as he wished, but a favor to just check it once.

Of course, he clearly didn’t say it with the intention of her just simply browsing through the proposal. It was obvious he meant for her to use her influence to change the city defense plan according to the submitted proposal.

Lucia fell into thought for a moment.

An improvement proposal could be submitted directly by Ian if he joined the committee. In fact, that was the standard procedure.

However, if Ian proposed an opinion directly in the committee, there was a high possibility his opinion would be refuted by other members or face opposition due to budget issues.

It would also be difficult for Ian, a newcomer, to gather enough support to push it through alone.

The fact that he would show such a proposal only to her meant... in other words, he wanted her, as the Mayor, to take responsibility and step forward.

It was an absurd request.

’...Alright.’

Lucia nodded after contemplating.

Normally, there would be no reason to accept such an absurd request, but...

Ian had offered numerous opinions regarding city defense so far, and those had all resulted in playing a role in saving countless citizens.

She had a hunch that it would be the same this time as well.

Lucia promised that she would at least go as far as proposing that plan to the City Council meeting.

Since she needed the City Council’s consent anyway, that was as much as Lucia could guarantee.

Having finished the conversation, Lucia checked the time.

’It’s about time, shall we head to the Temple now?’

’Already? That’s a bit early.’

’People at the Temple like working from early on, don’t they?’

The second business of the day. It was time for the Temple visit.

The purpose of today’s meeting was partly because of the conversation they just had, but also to visit the Temple together.

’That thing called the Holy Grail. I don’t know how an item so perfectly related to the Temple came out, but thanks to it, talks with the Temple went well too.’

’...It’s a coincidence.’

Ian’s expression became slightly awkward at the mention of the Holy Grail.

Even if the types of special-grade artifacts weren’t that many, for the Holy Grail of all things to come out. Because of that, misunderstandings arose, making things more tiring in many ways.

And naturally, that item seemed to have become a big topic on the Temple’s side as well.

The Grail donated to the Temple was first transported to the Great Temple. This was to verify its authenticity.

And as a result of steady discussions since then, the talk ended with the decision to ultimately place it in the Labyrinth.

Official ownership passed to the Temple, but that didn’t mean the Temple could truly monopolize it as they pleased.

Ultimately, this expedition began due to Lucia’s request, and all funding had been supported by Lucia.

In accordance with the intent of Lucia, the greatest benefactor of the so-called [Grail Expedition], the final decision was made for the Grail to be placed in the Labyrinth.

Since it was being placed in a temple anyway, it was likely a conclusion the other side could accept.

There might be a reason to check how effective it actually was, and even considering the effect, utilizing it in the Labyrinth was the most efficient.

The day that Grail arrived at the Labyrinth was today.

Lucia and Ian, who had been invited by the Temple, rose from their seats to head to the Temple.

＊ ＊ ＊

Ian ran into a familiar face in the hallway of the Temple.

Perhaps because he had seen it for so long, it was pink hair he could recognize just by the back of the head. It was Frenda.

’Miss Frenda...?’

’Ah...!’

Frenda, hearing her name, looked back and flinched in surprise upon discovering Ian’s face. It seemed Frenda also hadn’t expected to encounter Ian again so suddenly like this.

Frenda, whose expression had brightened enough to be recognizable from afar, immediately approached Ian.

They had talked about seeing each other again later, but to think they’d truly see each other’s faces again so soon. Ian, thinking it was a coincidence, spoke to Frenda.

’I didn’t expect to see you again this soon. Did you come because of the Grail transport?’

’No, that’s... well, you see.’

Frenda replied to Ian’s question with a blush, appearing slightly shy.

’A few days ago... I applied for a transfer of my duty station to this side.’

’Pardon? Could a High Priest move to a desired location so freely...?’

’Of course, a High Priest cannot.’

Frenda shook her head.

High Priests were frantically busy just handling the affairs of the Great Temple, so it was difficult to move to another region unless there was a special reason like the last expedition.

’So I resigned from the High Priest position. I am currently an ordinary priest.’

’Pardon?’

...Clearly, hadn’t she planned the expedition to accumulate records to maintain her High Priest position?

Whether she read Ian’s expression saying as much, Frenda gave an awkward laugh.

’Ahaha... my thoughts changed a bit. That thing about being a High Priest... honestly, it wasn’t something I absolutely wanted to be.’

’But your records would have been sufficient due to this matter, so perhaps you should think about it a bit more...’

’Honestly, it was just busy and there wasn’t much good about it! It was much more fun when I was here.’

Frenda said so, pointing to the Temple in the Labyrinth.

...Well, since she was in the status of a High Priest when she was here, it must have been comfortable and enjoyable. He wondered if it would still be comfortable now that she was an ordinary priest.

Ian had such thoughts, but that was something he could realize with just a moment’s reflection.

It would be comfortable...

She was a former High Priest. Moreover, she was a high-level holy mage who had accumulated that much record just recently.

Her rank was that of a common ordinary priest, but there was no one who asked Frenda for favors, nor anyone who assigned her duties.

She was a newcomer with absolute power.

’T-then... if you ever need help from the Temple, please feel free to visit anytime!’

Frenda gave Ian a bright smile.

...And, the coincidental encounters of today did not end with Frenda.

On the way back to the base after the schedule ended.

Nearby, he saw the forms of some somehow familiar knights.

’Ah, Leader Ian!’

A group of knights. One knight at the very front waved toward Ian as a representative. Ian also remembered seeing that knight’s face in the expedition.

Looking around briefly, they were all knights who had been in the expedition.

The knights swarmed over and greeted Ian all at once.

They were already drawing attention because they were knights, and when they caused such a noticeable scene, the gazes of all the passersby shifted to Ian.

’Are you here for Temple business?’

’No, actually...’

The knight, with a meaningful smile, held out a mercenary tag to Ian as if bragging and said.

’Actually, we resigned from the knighthood! We’re going to be mercenaries.’

’...Don’t tell me everyone here?’

’Yes! We are currently a C-rank mercenary group!’

Of course, it wasn’t that all the knights from back then had gathered.

Opinions had gathered in an instant, but after all, everyone had their own personal circumstances. The number of people who could actually make the decision to resign from the knighthood was about one-third.

’How did you already become a C-rank mercenary group?’

’We joined a C-rank mercenary group! Ah, the mercenaries who were there before resigned for personal reasons.’

It meant they had bought a C-rank mercenary group and completely replaced the personnel.

Naturally, it was an absurd exploit.

The question of whether one was allowed to do such a thing so openly would naturally arise.

Of course, it was allowed.

Wasn’t it the retired knights who caused it?

A violation of regulations only functions when there is a will to catch it.

In effect, an entire unit of knights had come to be stationed for free, so there was no way the city would refuse.

They must have cheered and passed the paperwork in a single day.

’Oh, right, please take this!’

Ian accepted the mercenary group business card the knights held out.

On the back of that coin, which was embossed with a mark that seemed to represent the Holy Grail and light, the mercenary group’s name was engraved.

- Order of Light

’Even the name is a knighthood...’

’It’s the [Order of Light] mercenary group!’

...Among the potential trees, if one acquires the trait [Proof of Honor] belonging to the [Honor] category, from then on, those of knightly background begin to appear on the mercenary group’s applicant list.

There was an easter egg where if one used that to compose all members with former knights, the name would change from a mercenary group to a knighthood.

...He didn’t know he would actually see that before his very eyes.

’Please leave any task to us! Since for you, Leader, the first hiring fee is free!’

For some reason, from that day on, rumors began to circulate that Ian had bought an entire knighthood from somewhere.

It was a serious slander.