12: Mii-chan, the Guild Mascot

It seems that the matter with Pamir-san is settled. I’m a bit disappointed, though.

Anyway, I’ve ended up with ten gold coins, a million Reto. Is this what they call easy money? They say to spend easy money quickly, but with my frugal nature, that’s impossible…

But at least now I don’t have to worry about living expenses for a while. I did buy that alarm clock, and I don’t know when I’ll get my pay here.

After finishing her business, Pamir-san takes my hand again and leads me to the reception area.

“This is Solas, the head of the buying department. He’ll explain the rest. Now, Mii-chan, let’s go together! That red ribbon is adorable, isn’t it?”

“Mii~”

Mii-chan has been kidnapped…

“Is ‘nice to meet you’ appropriate? I saw you yesterday, though.”

“Oh, yes. Nice to meet you, I’m Nero. It’s a pleasure.”

“No need to be so formal.”

Solas looks like he’s in his mid-thirties, with a calm demeanor. I really admire mature adults like him.

Solas then explains my job. When hunters bring items to the buy-back counter, the receptionist receives them and hands them to Solas behind the counter for appraisal. My job is to assist with this appraisal.

The most common items brought in are cores, as they also serve as proof of subjugation. Each monster core has a set price, so appraising them is straightforward unless they are damaged. If there are any damages or scratches, the value drops. My appraisal skills come in handy for selecting these damaged cores.

After the explanation, Solas guided me through the process of appraising cores. He showed me how to identify the different types of damages and what to look for in terms of quality. It was a lot to take in, but with his calm and patient demeanor, I felt confident that I could handle it.

The first few cores I appraised were fairly simple, with only minor scratches. Solas nodded approvingly as I pointed out the flaws and deducted the appropriate amount from the total value. As the day went on, I started to get the hang of it.

During a short break, Solas asked about my background, and I repeated the story I had told Pamir-san. He seemed sympathetic and understanding, which made me feel more at ease.

At the end of the day, I felt a sense of accomplishment. It was hard work, but I was glad to be able to contribute and learn new skills. Plus, I knew that Mii-chan was having fun being pampered by the guild members.

When I finished my shift, I headed to the reception area to retrieve Mii-chan. Pamir-san was there, still playing with her.

“Thank you for your hard work today, Nero,” Pamir-san said with a smile.

“Thank you, Pamir-san. And thank you for taking care of Mii-chan.”

“Mii~”

“No problem at all. She’s been such a delight. Everyone loves her.”

I gently took Mii-chan from Pamir-san’s arms and felt a sense of relief. It had been a long day, but I was glad that both Mii-chan and I were adjusting well to our new environment.

As we left the guild, I couldn’t help but feel a bit excited about the future. With Mii-chan by my side, I knew we could face any challenge that came our way.

My job turned out to be more challenging than I initially thought. I had to sort the cores by monster type, count the intact cores, and identify the ones with damages or scratches, then write this all down on paper to hand to Solas-san. It sounded simple, but that was just the beginning.

As the fourth bell rang, hunters began to trickle back. Though it was still early, I decided to start helping out.

After completing their mission reports, the hunters approached the buy-back counter, unloading various items from their large backpacks onto the counter. The receptionist wrote down the quantities on paper, verified them with the hunters, and handed the items to Solas-san and his team. My task was to separate the cores into a different box and appraise them, but there were so many.

Hunters typically worked in parties rather than solo, so the items brought in were often from multiple hunters. My first appraisal involved over twenty cores.

“Goblin: five intact, one damaged. Slime: one intact, four damaged, four broken. Rabbit: thirteen intact, three damaged.”

I wrote this down and tried to give it to Solas-san, but he was busy appraising furs and other items. What should I do? Simply following instructions wouldn’t show much initiative. Then I thought, if each monster core has a set price, I could at least appraise the intact ones myself.

I asked Solas-san for the current prices of the monster cores I had just appraised, wrote them down, calculated the total, and added it to the paper before handing it over.

That’s when the real ordeal began…

Hunters can be a rough bunch, and they weren’t pleased with the wait.

“Hey! How much longer are you going to make us wait?”

“Hurry up, you idiot!”

“You take a cut from us and still work this slow?”

“This is bullshit! How can we trust this appraisal?”

Their complaints and shouts echoed in the room, creating a tense atmosphere. I tried to stay calm and focused, but it was hard not to feel the pressure.

Solas-san noticed the situation and stepped in to calm the hunters down, explaining the process and reassuring them that their items were being appraised fairly. Despite his efforts, the hunters remained impatient and irritable. I realized I needed to speed up my work while maintaining accuracy to avoid any further conflict.

As the day wore on, I became more efficient at appraising the cores and handling the paperwork. It was exhausting, but I was determined to prove myself and support the team. By the time we finished, I was utterly drained.

When my shift ended, I found Pamir-san playing with Mii-chan, who seemed to be enjoying the attention.

“Thank you for your hard work today, Nero,” Pamir-san said, smiling warmly.

“Thank you, Pamir-san. And thank you for taking care of Mii-chan.”

“Mii~”

“No problem at all. She’s been such a delight. Everyone loves her.”

I gently took Mii-chan from Pamir-san’s arms, feeling a sense of relief. It had been a long day, but I was glad that both Mii-chan and I were adjusting well to our new environment.

As we left the guild, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. With Mii-chan by my side, I knew we could face any challenge that came our way.

Amidst the barrage of jeers and complaints from the hunters, my nerves were getting the better of me. The sheer volume of items to appraise left me overwhelmed, and the waiting line kept growing. Solas-san, however, remained calm and methodical in his work. He was the epitome of professionalism, and I aspired to emulate his composure and efficiency.

The receptionists bore the brunt of the hunters’ frustrations, deftly managing the unruly crowd with remarkable poise. I couldn’t help but admire their resilience and patience.

This high-stress environment persisted for three grueling hours. I found myself frequently reaching for my mineral water to recharge my energy. Without it, I might have given up.

When we finally caught a break, I was drenched in sweat from the combined stress and exertion. I resolved to treat myself to a visit to the communal bathhouse that evening—no question about it.

“Well, that was tough. Today was more chaotic than usual. Must be because Gais-san isn’t here,” Solas-san remarked.

I realized then that, despite his abrasive nature, Gais-san’s presence acted as a deterrent. The chaos today was partly my fault for inadvertently sending him away.

“I’m sorry. It’s because of me that Gais-san left early,” I admitted.

“No, no, it’s not your fault. In fact, we’re grateful. With him gone, our work actually goes more smoothly,” Solas-san reassured me.

Gais-san, just what kind of person are you?

“Also, writing the prices on the appraisal sheet was incredibly helpful. Are you highly educated, Nero-kun?”

“Highly educated?”

In this world, basic literacy and arithmetic were taught by private tutors or parents in town. Higher education required formal schooling or hiring a tutor. My quick calculations led Solas-san to assume I had received such advanced education.

“Ah, well, I guess you could say I had some education,” I replied, thinking back to my time in Japan.

“It shows. Your efficiency is impressive.”

With the worst behind us, we tidied up our workstations. As I reflected on the day’s events, I couldn’t shake the feeling of relief mixed with a strange sense of accomplishment.

After saying my goodbyes, I reclaimed Mii-chan from Pamir-san, who had been doting on her. Pamir-san mentioned how Mii-chan had charmed everyone and even received a small red ribbon, making her the unofficial guild mascot.

Mii-chan nestled into my arms, purring contentedly as we made our way to the bathhouse. The promise of a warm soak and the soothing company of Mii-chan was the perfect way to unwind after such a tumultuous day.

As I explained about my grandmother, Solas-san seemed genuinely interested.

“I learned from my deceased grandmother.”

“Ah, your grandmother must have been quite extraordinary. What did she do?”

“She was a pharmacist.”

“I see. So you studied to become a pharmacist as well?”

“Yes, but she told me I had no talent for it.”

“Oh, I see… Well, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, right?”

“Thank you for trying to comfort me. I’ve come to accept it.”

“I’m sorry…”

As the evening progressed, the activity at the buyback counter tapered off. The tavern adjacent to the guild was bustling with patrons, making it quite noisy.

It was time to head back, and when I went to find Mii-chan, I saw that she had been lavished with affection not only from the guild staff but also from the hunters. It seemed Mii-chan had a special charm for the ladies.

“Ah, how quiet and adorable she is!”

“Really. Cats in the city are usually quite standoffish.”

“And the texture is so soothing. I can’t get enough of it.”

“Mii-chan, it’s time to go home.”

“Mii~”

“““Nooo, don’t go!”””

Despite the protests, I gently picked up Mii-chan, who meowed softly but didn’t resist. With her nestled comfortably in my arms, we made our way out of the guild, leaving behind the chatter and laughter of the guild and tavern.

The day’s events left me feeling a mix of relief and contentment. The warmth of the communal bathhouse awaited, and I looked forward to relaxing with Mii-chan after a challenging but rewarding day.

Ignoring the pleas and offers from the guild staff and hunters for Mii-chan, I held her close.

“That kitten, I want to buy it!”

“That’s not fair! I’ll pay any price!”

As I was being hounded, Pamil-san arrived and intervened.

“Alright, alright. Mii-chan is not for sale. She’s an official mascot of the Hunter’s Guild now.”

“Mii~”

“So, if anyone mistreats Mii-chan, they will be banned from the guild. From now on, Mii-chan is officially appointed as the guild’s mascot. Are you all listening?!”

“““Yes!”””

“That said, Neiro-kun, thank you for your hard work today. We’ll see you again tomorrow. Mii-chan too♪”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“Mii~”

Mii-chan… I know you’re tired. I’m exhausted too. I feel incredibly sleepy… Mii-chan…

But more than anything, I really need to get to the bath.

“Mii~”