Bastard Swordsman

Raina and Mylene's Tea Time
「Raina's POV」

「What? Did Mongrel-senpai refuse to join our party?」

「Hmm, I did try recommending it to him once, but it seems he wasn't keen on joining Artemis.」

「Eh... What's up with that...?」

Harvest season. It's the time of year when guild members are busiest. Some return to their hometowns to help with the harvest, while many others scramble to earn contribution points typical for this time of year.

In my party, Artemis, most of us are women, so we have quite a bit of work, like guarding noblewomen in the aristocratic district.

However, this time's dispatch security was unrelated to such tasks... Maybe Mongrel-senpai didn't like the idea of being surrounded by women. Sounds like something he might say... Probably said that too...

I asked Mylene at the reception desk, but it didn't work out, huh. Ugh.

「Raina, would you have preferred working with Mongrel?」

「Well, yes. Last time I met Mongrel-senpai, we talked about that mission where we successfully hunted an ogre.」

「Ah, that one. The stray ogre at the Rus Apiary. It was a major victory for Artemis.」

「Exactly... He praised me, saying taking down a bunch of Mad Boars was a bigger deal than that hunt. Isn't that insane?」

「Heh, haha...」

Mongrel-senpai knows well enough how powerful an ogre is. No matter how many Mad Boars you take down, it doesn't compare to that fierce battle. I put my all into fighting it; he should've given me some credit, at least... What's up with him being more impressed by the boar hunt?

It's like meat is the only thing on his mind. Seems like that's all he really cares about...

「So, well... I wanted to show that I've grown by working with senpai.」

「Fufu.」

Mylene laughed softly at my remark, setting down a trendy glass pen in the pen holder. It seemed like she had reached a break in her work. Looking around, it was past noon — an awkward time, so the place was quite empty.

「Raina, why don't you sit here? I'm taking a break too, and we can chat a bit while having some tea.」

「Sure... Oh, I'll pay, of course.」

「Oh, how considerate. I thought I might treat you.」

「I'm fine, really.」

The tea we drank in the guild wasn't exactly expensive, but it was quite calming. More than anything, taking a break on money I earned felt grounding and satisfying.

... I couldn't rest like this back in the village.

「Raina, you seem more at ease recently. I'm glad. Young people who come from outside the city often retire quickly or fall into banditry.」

「Well... it was tough. I couldn't make money, nothing went right, and just one injury could derail everything... Honestly, I thought several times about going back to the village, bowing my head, and asking to be a hunter again.」

「The two who came from the village with you did just that, didn't they? What were their names? The boy and the girl...」

Yes, the three of us left the village and came to Regol. To us country folk, it was the dream city. We were sure we could earn big here with our hunting skills from the village.

... But, we just ran into harsh realities.

Long story short, the other two went back to the village pretty quickly.

「Those two are doing well back in the village.」

「You were close.」

After they left and it was just me, things got even tougher. Being alone was inefficient, costly, and above all, lonely.

I tried joining other parties but couldn't fit in at all, made mistakes, got scammed...

「... If I hadn't met Mongrel-senpai, I might have gone back to the village too.」

About a year and a bit ago.

I was wandering from party to party and hunting wild birds near the forest around Regol.

That's when I met him.

A man alone, with black hair mixed with white like a Sangreal, trying to shoot down a bird with what looked like a cheap toy bow from the market.

『You've gotta be kidding me! How the hell did an arrow I pulled back to full draw get deflected!? Is this damn bow broken or what!?』

That guy was trying to shoot down a pigeon with a tiny bow that seemed like it should've been an ornament.

I thought, man, there's a crazy guy.

It was clearly shorter than an arm, the arrows had tips but were short, and one of the fletchings was missing for some odd reason.

『You can't hunt with a bow like that,』

I said.

Despite not knowing him, I blurted it out. Right after I said it, I regretted it, fearing he'd yell at me for saying something weird again.

『Really? So what should I do?』

But Mongrel-senpai, probably just a kid at heart, treated me equally despite being a woman. He never looked down on or tricked me. He never did anything rude or made fun of me.

『Is this really a kid's training toy? No way! I paid 600 Jelly for it!』

『If anything, making a bow like this seems harder and pricier, but I can't say for sure. By the way, with a regular bow, you could get this much power, like this.』

『Woaah!? Amazing! So fast! That's a weapon!』

『It is a weapon.』

When I shot down a bird, he was overly astonished and praised me.

『Hey, if you can hunt a lot of these birds, could you do it as much as possible? I'll buy them for 40% above market value if you gut them and pluck the feathers. You can even make a request with the guild.』

Once he knew I needed money, he offered deals that didn't really benefit him much.

『Why just hunt and go back empty-handed? You should pick mountain herbs and nuts like these. They're always buying them at the gate, you know?』

『Wait, these can be sold?』

『They probably make them into jam by boiling them down. Oh, but this one's tasty when fried.』

He taught me various ways to earn money and manage myself in the guild.

... Being recognized for my steady work by the people of Artemis and getting into the party was all thanks to Mongrel-senpai.

Though I never had the experience of being in a party with him doing work, I know he always supported me from behind.

So, well...

I think he could join the party and work with us at least once.

「Fufu. Mongrel seems like someone who does whatever he wants, and he indeed acts freely, but he's good at looking after others.」

「Right? I agree. He's not just someone who makes odd purchases.」

Mongrel's position in the guild is that of an eccentric. He doesn't cause trouble, is friendly and outgoing, yet still a bit of a wild card and oddball.

「... Mongrel-senpai is definitely lonely being alone. I don't want him to feel lonely.」

Because of that, Mongrel is always alone. He was even challenged by some drifters recently, which is definitely dangerous.

So I want him to be in a party somewhere.

... Even in ours.

「Well, yes. I share your concern. But if he chooses to be alone, he must have reasons. We can't force him.」

「... Yeah, I suppose so.」

「Don't worry. Although Mongrel is strong for a bronze rank, and mentally... he does odd things sometimes, he's certainly sincere. At the very least, I'm sure he would never do anything bad.」

「Yeah, I can't imagine him doing anything wrong.」

「He's likely working right now at his dispatch as a model of guild righteousness.」

Righteousness, huh.

A model of guild righteousness... Mongrel is.

「Fufufu.」

「Ufufu.」

「Hey, what's so funny, Mylene?」

「Oh, nothing. Fufu. You laughed too, Raina.」

Well, he isn't evil, but righteousness? I'm not so sure about that with him.

But, he is quite a good guy, for sure.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
I like this novel more and more. It's for laid back reading for sure.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】