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One of the top adventurers’ guilds in the capital.
“Wings of Dawn.”
Even now that it’s come to be known by that name, I still think back on those days from time to time.
It all started on a very small scale.
Leona, the swordswoman.
Serena, the holy maiden.
Lilia, the mage.
Mia, the beastwoman.
And me, Alto.
Just the five of us.
We had neither money nor fame.
There was even a time when we couldn’t afford lodging and had to sleep crammed into a single room.
But we still had fun.
We’d take on quests together.
We’d eat meals together.
We’d laugh together.
“Someday, we’ll become the number one guild in the capital.”
We used to talk about dreams like that.
And now.
The guild we founded, “Wings of Dawn,” had truly become one of the top guilds in the capital.
“…It’s over.”
I slumped face-down on my desk.
In front of me lay a mountain of paperwork.
Quest reports.
Contracts with the capital.
Budget management.
Training new recruits.
Before I knew it, it was evening.
“I’m an adventurer, right…?”
I muttered without thinking.
Lately, I feel like I’ve been holding a pen more often than a sword.
Knock, knock.
The sound of a knock echoed.
“Come on in!”
The door opened, and Emma, the deputy guild master, walked in.
“Were you still working?”
“I just finished.”
“That’s a lie.”
“How did you know?”
“Your face.”
That’s harsh.
But I can’t deny it.
Emma looked at my desk and sighed.
“Please go home today.”
“I still have work to do.”
“Please go home.”
“Okay.”
I haven’t been able to win lately.
Even though I’m the guild master.
That’s when I stood up.
My gaze fell outside the window.
The streets of the capital.
Travelers.
Adventurers.
They were walking along, looking happy.
As I watched them, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
“Hey, Emma.”
“What is it?”
“When was the last time I actually took a day off?”
Emma thought for a moment.
“About three years ago, I think?”
“That long ago?”
“That long ago.”
I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.
Three years.
Three years without a proper break.
Isn’t that a little strange?
“You know…”
“Yes?”
“Haven’t we been going on any adventures lately?”
Emma made a displeased face.
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
“I want to go on a journey.”
“Rejected.”
Her answer was immediate.
“Just for a month.”
“Rejected.”
“Please.”
“Rejected.”
“Why not?”
“The others won’t allow it.”
I scratched my head.
Well, she might be right.
⸻
That night.
The conference room where only the founding members gather.
It’s the room we’ve been using since the five of us first founded the guild.
“A meeting?”
Leona crossed her arms.
She’s as beautiful as ever.
Even now that she’s famous as one of the strongest swordswomen in the capital, she hasn’t changed a bit from the old days.
“Is something wrong?”
Serena asked with concern.
With her golden hair swaying and a gentle smile on her face, she’s practically a saint herself.
Well, she actually is a saint.
“An emergency?”
Lilia tilts her head as well.
The kingdom’s greatest mage.
But in front of us, she’s just the same as she always was.
“Master—!”
And then, the kingdom’s fastest tracker and
wolf-beast scout,
Mia.
She pounced on me.
“Whoa!?”
“Ehehe~”
“I told you, I’m not your ‘Master’.”
“No way.”
It’s been like this ever since I saved her a long time ago.
She’s taken a liking to me.
Probably.
“Get off me.”
Leona says.
“Why not?”
“You’re too close.”
“But you’re close, Leona!”
“It’s fine for me.”
“That’s not fair!”
Here we go again.
They get along so well.
“You two should get along.”
All four of them looked at me at once.
Why?
Did I say something?
“So, about that discussion?”
Serena brought the conversation back on track.
I cleared my throat.
“Actually…”
The four of them looked serious.
“I’m thinking of taking a little break.”
Silence.
A few seconds.
No one spoke.
“…Huh?”
Leona spoke up.
“A break?”
Serena blinked.
“Is that all?”
Lilia tilted her head.
“Then let’s all go together!”
Mia was the only one who seemed cheerful.
“No, I’ll go alone.”
The air turned icy.
“Rejected,”
Leona replied instantly.
“Why?”
“Just because.”
“I’ll come with you too,”
Serena smiled.
Even though she’s smiling, she looks a little scary.
Maybe it’s just my imagination.
“That’s the best solution, then.”
Lilia nods as well.
“Let’s go together!”
Mia wraps her arms around my arm.
“I told you, I want to go alone.”
The four of them fall silent.
I let out a sigh.
“I’ve been thinking lately,”
I say quietly.
“I’ve never actually seen the World Tree.”
“……”
“I want to see the ocean, too.”
“……”
“I want to soak in a hot spring.”
“……”
“I want to eat some delicious food.”
The four of them listened in silence.
“Even though I’m an adventurer, after all.”
I laughed.
“I don’t feel like I’m really adventuring.”
A brief silence fell.
Serena was the first to speak.
“Alt-san.”
“Hm?”
“I kind of understand that.”
She smiled gently.
“But—”
“But?”
“You can’t go alone.”
“Why!?”
“It’s dangerous.”
“Now you tell me?”
“It’s too late now.”
Her expression was serious.
Lilia nodded as well.
“I agree.”
“Even you?”
“I can’t possibly allow you to travel alone.”
Leona said, her arms still crossed.
“I’m against it, too.”
“Me too, Mia!”
Everyone was against it.
I leaned back in my chair.
This is a real headache.
Convincing them was harder than I’d expected.
But.
At that moment, I didn’t know.
If I had forced my way out on this journey right then and there—
just how worried these four would become.
Just how much they cared about me.
And—
that a journey I’d intended to last just one month
would end up lasting five years.
I never would have dreamed it.
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