Chapter 8 – Single Aristocrat Does Not Party Up With Anyone

　Today is a day off.

　There are no urgent magic tool deliveries, and neither do I have anything on. 

　I’m just relaxing at home and refining the plans for the air conditioner. This isn’t too bad, but today, I feel like wanting to go out and moving a bit. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve headed out.”

　By “out”, I don’t mean outside the house, but outside the Royal Capital.

　The Royal Capital is crowded with people, but outside the walls surrounding the city, there extend magnificent plains and forests.

　Although the Royal Capital is not as bustling as the city area in my previous life, I still feel a bit suffocated. It’s become a usual routine for me to go to the plains and forests where there are few people and spend time relaxing.

　Outside, there are of course demonic beasts that attack people, but I have enough strength to brush them off, so they’re not a problem.

“First, the Adventurers’ Guild.”

　The Adventurers’ Guild is an organization comprised of people who mainly make a living by defeating demons.

　Whenever it’s been a while since I’ve been outside, I’d definitely stop by to check on the situation in the surrounding areas. 

　I’ve become able to defeat most of those demonic beasts, but I don’t want to end up in an area where troublesome demonic beasts are roaming around. 

　Besides, if there are requests for subjugating certain demonic beasts you can bring back body parts for verification, or if you bring back materials, you can exchange them for money at the Guild. It’s not a place where I’ll lose anything just by showing my face. 

　After changing out of my regular clothes and into my full adventurer’s gear, I left my house and headed for the Adventurers’ Guild in the central district.

　A two-story building with a green roof by the central plaza.

　That is the Adventurers’ Guild in the Royal Capital.

　When I passed through the door that was always open, there were many armed men.

　Humans with swords on their waists, dwarves wielding huge war hammers, and elves with longbows on their backs.

　People of various species and ages were in front of the notice board, looking at the request forms or discussing them while sitting at tables.

　Among them were some drinking without minding that it was still early in the morning, well, adventurers are like freelancers or self-employed individuals. They can work when they want, and no one would criticise them. 

　Though if they keep drinking without taking requests, they’ll be looked coldly at.

　As I was walking by a table, a man sitting at that table got up in a stagger.

　Though I reacted quickly and stepped aside, the contents of the cup he was holding spilled a little and my shoes got wet.

　I had been prepared to get at least a bit dirty since I was going outside, but I didn’t expect to get dirty in the Guild like this.

　From the looks of the other guy, he wasn’t being malicious, but I was still annoyed.

“Oops, sorry.”

“……Careful.”

“Ah, yeah.”

　The displeasure on my face had probably completely shown, the man sobered up with a pale face. 

　Ah, I want to quickly head outside where there are no people.

　I walked past the man standing there in a daze and looked at the noticeboard at a corner of the Guild. 

　Here, information on the demonic beasts that appear in the vicinity of the Royal Capital and requests to subjugate them are posted. 

　By looking at this information, you can get a general idea of what’s going on out there.

　The notice board is mainly filled with requests to kill demons or to gather materials. The next most common requests were miscellanous tasks such as cleaning and carrying luggage.

“……Nothing particularly abnormal.”

　The most important thing to look out for is the appearance of demonic beasts that don’t usually appear or whether goblins have constructed nests, but in my destination, the eastern forest, there is no such news. 

　That information cannot be taken as a guarantee, but it should be fairly reliable.

　After confirming the environmental conditions of my destination, I decided to accept requests to collect kirkweed and button mushrooms.

　If it’s those materials, I’ll be able to collect them along the way.

　After peeling off the request form from the noticeboard, I headed for the reception desks in the back of the building.

　There were well-dressed receptionists there taking care of the request procedures and other business.

　I wait in a relatively empty line.

“Next please!

　Eventually, it was my turn, and I was called, so I proceeded to the reception desk.

“Mr. Zirc, how can I help you today?”

　Perhaps because she’s been part of the Guld for a long time, it looks like she’s even completely remembered me 

　By the way, I don’t know this receptionist.

　I only drop by the Guild privately, so even if I don’t remember her, it’s not really a problem.

“Please handle the proceedings for the collection requests.”

“Kirkweed and button mushroom collection in the eastern forest, right?

　While the receptionist checks the request form, she looks at me as though she has something to say. 

“Umm, Mr. Zirc. If it’s alright with you, would you not form a party? With Mr. Zirc’s skill, I think if you have more people, you will be able to makea  lot more money!” 

“It’s fine.”

“Why is that? Mr. Zirc, with your skills as a solo B Rank, you can aim for higher with a group of comrades, can’t you?” 

“Sorry to say, but I’m not trying to be a high ranked adventurer. So I have no need to form a party. If you understand that, then please proceed quickly with the processing.” 

“U, understood.”

　Looking disappointed after my firm refusal, the receptionist finished the procedure.

　What the receptionist said was indeed true, but I didn’t really want to be a stronger adventurer, and I didn’t want to make a living as an adventurer. 

　There’s also no need for me to go so far as to risk my life by fulfilling difficult requests or defeating high-ranked demonic beasts.

　On the rare occasion that I need materials from high-ranked demonic ranks for magic tools, I would much rather pay money to have high-ranked adventurers pick them up for me.

　I’m not condoning staying at a stagnant level, but there’s no point for me to lose my life or to suffer an injury and negatively affect my main trade. 

　It’s simply my personal preference that staying individual will be more enjoyable and easier, but I also have other special circumstances. 

　Even if I were to head out again after this, it won’t be likely for me to party up.