Lilia's Tale: Freyja's Endeavor

Chapter 24: Guild Master

The wait felt unbearably long, together with the attention I was getting. I was hoping Riogh would arrive to make things easier, though that was merely a wish. I was called to the front desk instead.

"If you'd please follow me, the guildmaster will receive you."

I nodded and followed. I remembered my first encounter with the Guild Master to be a fairly bad one, so I had little expectations. We arrived, the receptionist knocked, and someone inside said to come in.

As was the case last time, the Guild Master was sitting and a man was behind her. Seeing how he looked familiar, I figured he was the same as last time, meaning they'd scout me out for potential lying. The receptionist excused herself and closed the door behind me.

"Have a seat, Lilia-san," she said, waving towards the sofa in front of her.

"Thank you," I replied as I obliged to her command.

"So. It has reached my ear you claim to have tamed a hydra and made it your familiar?"

"Yeah. Well, tamed is the wrong word, but I now have a hydra as a familiar."

"Is that so? How about the other familiar you have registered with us, named Alice?"

"...I don't understand the question."

"What happened to Alice that you had to find another familiar?"

"Oh. Nothing. I just have two familiars now."

She looked at me suspiciously, then turned to her escort. He shook his head no.

"Then, since you have some knowledge on familiars, please answer me this. Aren't people limited to one familiar?"

"I genuinely don't know. If anything, I'd guess I'm proof that it's not true? You'll need to ask someone else for confirmation, however."

"So, you're maintaining that you have obtained a hydra as a familiar without losing your previous one?"

"...Yes. As weirdly put as it is, that's the case."

"Then, I require to see it. Could you summon it together with Alice over in the arena so we can confirm your claim?"

"Oh, the Emperor forbid me from having him anywhere within the city. Though, arenas make a logical exception. I'll need to ask him because I didn't think about that."

"...The Emperor has seen the hydra himself and said not to allow it in the city?

"He has. The reason why I wish to be able to exit the city, and why I'm here to tell you this information, is to allow Jor to eat without too much problem by leaving him in the forest outside of the city. This way, you know not to attack or report him."

"...Did you just call your hydra Jor?"

"Ah, yeah. Don't worry about it, you'll understand when you see him."

"...If the emperor has seen it, it is safe to assume it will not pose a threat to us. Let's have you go outside, then. Let's go."

"Thank you for understanding."

We all left directly to the city entrance. The guard was surprised to see the Guild Master and allowed me through after some explanation from him. From what I heard, it was considered a special mission on her personal request to me directly, effectively meaning I'd be allowed outside so long I stay by her side.

Either way, I was now outside the city. I quite liked the scenery despite how basic it was. I took in a deep breath and told myself it was time.

"Jor, come out, we're outside."