I’m Not Good at Offensive Magic, but I’ll Do My Best With Support Magic!

「Then, let’s go」
「Un. Be careful」

We’re going to start working separately! The guild is only one street away from the inn, so I head straight down the main road. The main street is full of people in the morning, so I have to be careful not to bump into anyone as I head towards the guild. Thanks to my small size, it’s easy for me to get through the crowd. The guild was very crowded in the morning, but the turnover was fast and there was not much time to wait. I’m not here to take requests, so I’m going to check the guild board.

「Not many requests」

I was surprised by the small number of requests posted on the guild board. There are no requests to kill or collect. There are only a few escort requests. I was surprised that there were only a few requests for escort work since I heard that it was the main focus of the guild.

「Ara… I think it was Yuan-san, wasn’t it?」
「Ah, the oneesan reception yesterday」

I was staring at the request board when I was approached by Minori-san, the receptionist from yesterday.

「How did you know?」
「I can tell. after all, you’re cute」

Today, unlike yesterday, I am not wearing a robe… or a hood. I think the impression is very different because of that. I think it’s amazing how Minori-san’s powers of observation allowed her to recognize me from just one glance. Or is it surprisingly easy?

「Because there are not many small adventurers. Adventurers like Yuan-san don’t often come to the guild in Tanza, so they are more likely to make an impression. And then there’s what happened yesterday」

So that’s what it was about. It’s true, I’m small and have caused a bit of a stir. No wonder I’ve made such an impression.

「More importantly, can you spare time when you’re busy?」
「Yes, because I am not yet at work. I don’t have to work yet. More importantly, are you looking for a request?」
「Yes, I came to see what kind of requests you have. But there aren’t many requests」
「That’s because so many adventurers have already made contracts!」
「Contracts?」
「Yes, because most people who come to the city make a contract with a trusted adventurer or an adventurer they like. Merchants and nobles return to the city after a few days’ stay. Many of them sign a contract for a return trip to their place of residence, rather than a one-way trip」

With that method, they don’t have to go to the trouble of finding an escort in Tanza.

「Therefore, most of the merchants on the request board are merchants who have stopped through this city to go to other places or merchants who are active in this city」

Many of the merchants who work in this city have contracts with adventurers who use this city as a base, so they don’t send out escort requests unless there’s a significant problem.

「I see. By the way, do you have any search requests?」
「Um… a search request?」

At my question, Minori-san’s voice became darker and quieter. I noticed the change and my voice naturally became quieter.

「Is there anything?」
「No, I’m not sure either, but those requests are not accepted, so they are never put on the request board」
「Why is that?」
「I can’t answer that… but there have been reports of adventurers who have investigated the matter going missing or being found dead. I would recommend that you avoid mentioning it if you can, Yuan-san」
「I understand」
「Please don’t tell anyone about this, okay? I have a position… and my safety is important to me」

The problem seems to be more serious than I thought. I nod quietly.

「Well, I’ve got work to do now, so if you’ll excuse me. Also, if you have any information about monsters that are not around here, please let me know. I have never seen a monster like the one you told me about in this area」

About monsters? I couldn’t help but tilt my head to the side as Minori-san looked across the reception desk and saw someone glancing at me. She wants to deceive them about what we were talking about. I finally realized that.

「Yes. If you like, I have some monsters’ materials and medicinal herbs that are not in this area, would you like me to deliver them?」
「Thank you very much. Now, please wait over there while I take care of the material. I’ll be back in a moment」
「Thank you」

Minori-san disappeared into the back of the guild and came back soon after. When I took out the Orc’s flesh and the medicinal herbs that I had, which could not be found in this area, people were naturally surprised, but thanks to that, the suspicion disappeared. Instead, I attracted a lot of attention in a different way.

After the settlement, I left the guild with an unexpected income and information. I’m glad I didn’t get into trouble like I did yesterday. I think it was in my imagination that I heard a familiar, frightened voice on the way. I didn’t do anything to frighten people. That’s what I thought, so I left the guild… and yes, I was followed. 3 dots are moving from the guild at the same speed as me. I’ve tried going down a side street and then back out onto the main road, or stopping in front of a shop to pretend to look at the goods, but they follow me at a certain distance.

「I’m wondering if I should join up with Shia-san…」

It’s not a problem if I just run away on my own, but it’s a hassle because I don’t know how far they’ll follow me. Then I think it would be quicker to talk to them. I entered a suitable alley and went to the back. Even in big cities, there are places where there are few people. The back of a row of houses next to each other is the perfect place to lure people in.

「Is it possible to avoid disturbing people in this area?」

I turned around to talk to someone, not to myself, and after a short wait, 3 men came out of the shadows.

「You were aware you were being followed」
「Yes, I know」

I didn’t know if I was followed on the way, though. So it would be better to improve the detection magic in earnest. At the moment, there is no distinction between humans and monsters other than a blue dot and a red dot, so if a human is yellow and seems to be hostile in combination with danger detection, should it be purple?

「Hey! Are you listening to me!」
「Eh, what is it?」

I wasn’t listening. I shouldn’t be thinking about anything else.

「Sorry, one more time, please」
「Are you mocking me? Maa, whatever. Where’s that wolf woman from yesterday?」
「Not anywhere nearby」
「Chi」

I was tongue-tied. Come to think of it, this is the person who was kicked off by Rinshia-san yesterday, and those who were around him. Could it be that they have come for revenge?

「Where is she?」
「I’m not going to say it. We’re friends」
「Well… in that case───」
「Stop right there!」

Just as the man was about to say something, a dignified voice echoed in the alleyway. When I looked in the direction of the voice, I saw a woman with pale blue… or silvery, depending on the light, hair tied up high and wearing a white dress armor standing behind the men. Is she a member of the Knights? But the color of the armor is different from the knight-like people who were standing at the gate of the city. Those people were conspicuously black.

「What are you doing out here!」
「W- We ain’t doing nothing」
「It doesn’t look very likely. Are you saying that a situation where 3 men are surrounding a girl is normal?」
「We were just talking to this little girl. We didn’t do anything! Yeah?」
「Yeah」

The men were trying to intimidate me into agreeing with them, but I didn’t feel threatened, so I agreed, hoping that nothing would go wrong.

「Well, in that case, I suggest you leave now」
「I’ll do it without being told… Hey! let’s go」

The woman who had helped me put her hand on the sword at her waist to make sure the men would leave the alleyway as soon as possible, and then she gently put her hand down and walked toward me.

「Are you all right?」
「Yes, thanks to you. Thank you very much」

I can’t say that I didn’t need any help. She was helping me with good intentions. Well, unless she’s taking advantage of this situation to ask for money, but there’s no sign of that.

「Recently, there has been an increase in the number of disappearances in this city. Many of them are women and children」
「I see」
「Yeah. You’re not a resident of this city, are you? It’s best to stay out of the public eye as much as possible」
「I understand. I’ll be as careful as I can」
「Please do so. Then, if you encounter any trouble, please let me know and I’ll do my best to help you」

Then, she turned on her heel and started to leave the alley. Every movement was sharp, and her footwork and posture were very beautiful. If Shia-san’s movements are fast and flexible, this woman’s movements are solid, I suppose?

「Oh, excuse me. Do you have a minute?」
「Hmm, what is it?」

If I didn’t call out to her, she would have simply left, so I called out towards her back.

「My name is Yuan… and I’m an adventurer, in case you were wondering. Thank you very much for your help!」
「I thought you were in trouble, but perhaps I was being needless?」
「No, I’m an auxiliary magician, so I’m not good at fighting」
「Good then. I’m Snow… Snow Cuone. I’m an adventurer like you」

I thought she was a knight, but it turns out she was an adventurer. There are many people who become adventurers in order to become knights, so Snow could be one of them, or she could be from a noble family because of her family name. However, if she is a noble, she should receive such an education, so she might have some kind of reason. I can’t ask that much, though.

「So, Snow-san is also an adventure. I’d like to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind」
「Yes, that’s fine, but we can’t talk about it in a place like this. There are many places off the main road that are not very safe. Would you like to move to a different location?」

Surely it would be strange to stand around talking in a place like this. Therefore I went to a place where I could talk to Snow-san.

Author-san

Thank you for reading.

Usually, I write from Yuan’s point of view, but would you like to see Shia’s point of view from time to time?
From just before she met Yuan to around the time they formed the party.
If there is a comment to that effect, I would be happy to insert it as a side story.

I look forward to working with you in the future.

TL.

This has been translated while I have a cold. This is not a good one, I apologize.