- Shari -

Seems like Gareth wants me to appear before him to discuss the previous night.

So I'm heading out, also to a small degree to draw the attention away from our plays with these two kiddos with the peculiar circumstances.

I let the guards guide me all the way to the barracks, always paying keen attention to my environment.

Gratefully it doesn't seem like there was an ambush laid out for me.

Eventually, we reach our destination and I enter the direwolf's lair.

Once inside, my wariness peaks up another notch, as I'm just all too aware that I'm now in a potentially hostile environment.

Everything depends on the next moments.

From the first look, they all seem to be rather busy.

Probably an after-effect from how I spent my last night.

"Miss Shari. I'm glad you came. I feared you wouldn't manage." (Gareth)

Oh, believe me.

I'd have loved to abstain.

Should I correct him to "lady"?

Rather not.

"Cut the pleasantries, pleeease. I think we have important things to discuss. Speaking of which, I have..." (Shari)

Maybe it's not the smartest approach to give the guard captain whose cooperation we depend on an attitude, but while he summoned me here, I still want to stay in control.

"As you wish! But a more private environment would be better suited for this kind of talk. Would you please follow me into my office? I don't believe such things should be discussed in public." (Gareth)

Sure, a place with no witnesses.

Though, thinking about it that works out in my favor.

"After you." (Shari)

He nods and starts walking me to his office.

The moment I pass the door, my vigilance reaches its peak.

While still making sure that nobody is preparing anything funny behind my back, I make extra sure that my core passes last, as to not have anything vulnerable in case I'm about to get ambushed.

However, once I can take in the situation inside the room, I require a split second to gather my bearings.

What the heck are Jacob and his group doing here?!

The moment I come to this thought, Jacob as well notices me.

"Oh, shit!" (Jacob)

Yeah, I share this sentiment.

The fact that they are at the same place I was called to means that someone was able to draw the connection between me and their group.

Following this trail of thought, I think I can somewhat deduce how this situation came to be, especially with the elderly man who's also waiting in there.

However, at least he's not waiting behind the door.

Instead of entering completely, I wait directly at the door, closing it only far enough as that I could pry it open and dash out in a second.

"I take it you know each other?" (Gareth)

"Gareth, I swear..." (Jacob)

"This isn't about this, Jacob, but I need to say you should choose your acquaintanceships better." (Gareth)

"Would you stop fraternizing? We have another issue at hand." (Elkon)

He looks directly at me while saying that.

"What's the meaning of this? Who is this man?" (Shari)

"Oh, I thought you would recognize him. This is Sir Elkon. Leader of the local branch of the guild in Ekoras." (Gareth)

"So that's the subject?" (Elkon)

Oh great, the local boss of the monster killers.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

That certainly won't have anything to do with me.

Not to speak of a certain detail that makes me far more apprehensive than I would otherwise be of a monster killer.

"You do realize why this situation makes me feel uncomfortable and I feel just the tiniest bit sold out by you?" (Shari)

"Hey! We wouldn’t be here if not for you and that weird guy dragging us into your shit! It wasn't our decision!" (Myra)

I can't help but smirk at the idea that Michael of us two is considered the weird one.

"We might even have to face a penalty for violation of guild regulations." (Jacob)

"I still think that we were doing the right thing! Just thinking what they were about to do to these people!" (Lorel)

"Quiet! You'll get your chance to justify your actions! There are other things to clarify first." (Elkon)

Like, for example, how I once again got into this kind of ridiculous situation of being in a cramped room with the guard captain and the leader of the guild!

The bunch of adventurers not necessarily making me less anxious.

"May I hear what the fuck is going on, or should I start looking for possible escape routes?" (Shari)

"This is nothing of the sort you're assuming. We are just here to discuss the current state of affairs." (Gareth)

While I'm already, in general, not the most trusting person, there's a certain aggravating circumstance that makes me doubt him especially hard.

"Mhm, yeah. That surely makes sense. So tell me, if I truly have nothing to fear, why does the big man carry a similarly big voidstone club?" (Shari)

I wouldn't know about a more profound anti-slime weapon.

"Uh, I don't think." (Jacob)

Before he can talk on, the guild leader steps past him with a raised hand that indicates him to stop.

"Spare your breath, boy." (Elkon)

Instantly, I prepare to go all out if this turns into a fight.

He might be strong, but exactly for this reason I decided to invest into poison, and I doubt he can defend against a multitude of simultaneous attacks from all sides as well as a poisoned slime cloud spreading within the whole room.

"Cease your antics! This isn't about anything of the sort you assume." (Elkon)

Yeah, you tell me.

"I'll admit, I had my doubts when the captain decided to involve me. However, your reaction is very telling." (Elkon)

I supposed as much.

I already got exposed.

My disguise won't do me much good at this point.

"Seems like denying everything won't work here, right?" (Shari)

"A bit too late for this, true." (Elkon)

"Well, then at least I won't have to bear with this stupid hood anymore. You've got no idea how straining it is to keep this up all day." (Shari)

That might be part of the reason.

If he already knows about my nature then hiding won't get me very far.

The armor stays on, as it serves a purpose, nonetheless, already getting rid of the hood feels rather liberating.

But the more important factor is that I can better use my senses, foremost my all-around vision this way.

"I admit, I'm curious. So how did this come about?" (Elkon)

"How did what come about? That I'm able to walk around here without bones? Got employed by the current leaders of this country? Or that your guild has apparently such lax registration standards that I could enlist as a fully accepted member?" (Shari)

"Yeah, that last part has to be addressed later on. But I suppose the former are of more direct interest to us." (Elkon)

"Well, long story short: Bad things can happen to you in the woods. And no, I don't feel like spreading the pity story of my life to essential strangers. The rest is more about the successful acquisition of handy skills that make me a valuable asset than anything else." (Shari)

He lets his gaze wander over my form in a scrutinizing manner.

Possibly assessing my threat level as well as weak points and means to retaliate if things were to turn violent.

"Just saying, before anyone gets any stupid ideas, I can fend you off and easily sink into the ground to literally pop out at any other place. Any other place! So I'd like to keep this civil." (Shari)

"Hah. Civil she says." (Elkon)

I really need to be careful about how to navigate this situation.

"I don't think this is asking for too much. Not to forget that I'm still a royal agent. As far as I'm aware, the guild's stance was to not get involved in political matters, right?" (Shari)

Maybe this will keep them from acting out against me.

For now, all it earns me is a bellowing guffaw.

"Hah! Now that one's even a politician! This is getting better and better!" (Elkon)

"There is no need for animosity. I called you here because I'd like to discuss some important developments we need to coordinate for." (Gareth)

"Coordinate you say? You mean the way she coordinates my men to go against my direct orders?" (Elkon)

Right.

As much as I know the guild doesn't want to choose a side in the coming conflict and have all their members conscripted in a civil war.

"As far as I'm aware, you said the guild would not officially want to get entangled. However, a private commission should've been just fine. After all, it's not like they did anything condemnable. Something I can't claim about a lot of your guild associates. Quite a bunch of ex-adventurers in the local gangs I need to say." (Shari)

"This isn't about morality! The guild can't be found to have meddled in the political affairs of a country! It would open a precedent of indefinitely grave implications! Any country might start to draft our members into their forces. The only thing keeping our current independence is that we are needed as monster hunters and that we by no means choose sides. If one country sees our members bolstering the enemy's troops, they'll want to balance the scales and enforce the same. Eventually, we would lose valuable manpower in conflicts that aren't our own and this country should know best what happens if there's no one left to hold back the monsters." (Elkon)

I can see his point.

If adventurers are drafted on both sides, no matter who wins the guild loses, and eventually the people when the monsters invade.

They have a base in every established country and considerable political strength, but that doesn't mean they can just ignore a ruler pressuring them for their support.

However, this sentiment doesn't sit well with me.

"So it's morally okay to accelerate the downfall of a town by training fierce warriors who turn into common criminals? Must be quite nice not having to think about the consequences of one's actions." (Shari)

"Is she seriously challenging the guild master?" (Lorel)

"Well, what's he supposed to do? Terminate her membership?" (Myra)

I fear that "terminate" might be a keyword here.

"Quiet! The adults are talking! You're only here because of your report." (Elkon)

Coming from the guild leader's attitude, it seems like Jacob's team is in serious trouble.

"Regarding that report, may I be included in knowing? I'd like to hear how you got here?" (Shari)

"Ah, you see, it's quite the story. It started after we headed out for your assignment." (Jacob)