The Adventurer’s Guild was located in one of the liveliest parts of the street, and the many shops around it were bustling with what appeared to be customers.

“The guild was built near the gate for adventurers coming and going from the town, but all the materials gathered from dungeons are brought here first. Naturally, shops dealing with those goods sprang up around it. This is one of Acid’s busiest districts.”

The town was overflowing with people of various races, but it was designed to be easy to walk through—whether for the smaller folk or the occasional towering figures. It gave off a clean impression.

When they passed through the guild’s door, several kobolds in armor near the entrance turned to look their way.

“Aah!”

How adorable!

Though the kobolds’ faces were stiff, Mika felt like she had stepped into heaven itself.

Zurah and Gatt stepped forward to hold back the wary adventurers while Dada approached the reception desk.

“We’ve completed the request, so we’d like to report to the Guild Master.”

“And the people behind you?”

“An ogre I’ve formed a summoning contract with, and her acquaintance—an SS-rank adventurer, Takky the Ogre.”

When Takayuki showed his guild tag, the adventurers who had cautiously gathered around suddenly erupted in murmurs of “Whoa!” The black tag engraved with red letters was proof of a hero, a rarity even across the entire nation.

“Takky… are you really Takky?”

“Course I am. How many ogres with guild tags do ya think there are?”

“No way…” “Damn, that’s crazy…”

Sighs of awe spread throughout the room.

Takayuki seemed to have quite the reputation.

As the adventurers gradually crowded around without restraint, a fairy woman flew over their heads and landed before Mika and the others.

“The Guild Master is waiting for you. Please, come this way. Hey, you lot—move aside! Make way!”

Skimming just above the crowd, she pushed the adventurers left and right to clear a path. Further inside, there was a staircase easier to climb than the dungeon’s.

“It should be comfortable even for those with large feet. Just skip one or two steps at a time.”

Of course, Dada didn’t walk—he just fluttered up effortlessly.

Inside the room was a single lizardman.

The secretary who had guided them excused herself to prepare tea.

“Welcome to Salichil. I am Zieg, the master of this guild. Thank you for coming all this way.”

“Hello. I’m Mika. Nice to meet you?”

They sipped the tea the secretary had prepared while exchanging brief introductions.

True to his position as Guild Master, he showed no sign of fear toward Mika, but from the way Zurah and the other adventurers had acted during the journey, she could faintly sense that he was a little unsettled.

In reality, the room was thick with tension, the air frozen stiff…

“Mika, the reason I asked you to come here is because I have a request for you. Register as an adventurer, defeat the Demon King, and save this world.”

“…Are you joking?”

She glanced around, but everyone wore serious expressions, waiting for her response. Only Takayuki remained smiling, nodding along as if to say, “Yep, yep.”

“Um… could you tell me a bit more about the situation?”

As long as time allowed, she figured she should at least hear them out. She settled onto the large sofa in the room.