Chapter 185 (1/2)

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Chapter 185 – A Blue Reunion…?

In the reception room of Ponsonia's Adventurers Guild, the submaster was at wits' end.

「Sir, I've called for the Four Stars of the East.」Aurora said.

「Th-Thank you.」

The submaster took out a pill from his pocket and tossed it into his mouth. He then picked up a gla.s.s of water to wash it down. The Four Stars' leader, Selyse, entered first, regarding the submaster.

「What's wrong, Sir? You look worn out.」

「Only superhumans can keep their calm at a time like this.」The submaster gestured them to sit.

「Sophie, can you please heal the submaster?」Selyse asked.

「Okay.」

「Uh, y-you don't have—」

「This service is free. We won't ask for payment, so you can relax.」

The submaster, who was about to get up, returned to his seat. Sophie went behind him, placed her hand on his shoulders, and started chanting.

「W-Wow… What incredible skill. My stomachache's gone.」

「I can't restore fatigue, so make sure you get plenty of sleep.」

Sophie smiled before returning to Selyse's side. The submaster now understood why she was called a Saint.

He once stole a job from them, the one that involved escorting Count Morgstad's daughter to the capital. The Four Stars had not forgotten about that, but they'd gotten along better now. Most of it was because of the ongoing civil war, which also caused the submaster's incessant stomachache.

「So what did you want from us?」

「Did Hikaru fail the quest?!」Selica blurted out.

Nine days had past since Hikaru left Pond. There was only one day left until the deadline.

「No, that's not it. Actually, Hikaru's already in Agiapole. The Adventurers Guild over there contacted me.」

「I knew he could do it!」

Selica was not surprised at all. Her three friends, however, were astonished. The submaster didn't tell them that Hikaru arrived two days ago, though.

Aurora poured them tea. Selyse waited for her to finish before speaking again.

「If this is not about Hikaru, then is it about protecting Pond?」

「That's not it either. This concerns you ladies.」

「…Us?」

The submaster nodded, taking a sip to moisten his lips.「Einbeast's king, Gerhardt Vatex Anchor, has sent a message through the guild, inviting you to the royal palace.」

The Four Stars of the East borrowed a private room in a restaurant to discuss whether or not to accept King Gerhardt's invitation.

「First, let's sort out the details.」Selyse began.

· The Adventurers Guild received a message from King Gerhardt who invited the Four Stars of the East to his palace as visitors.

· Visitors were three levels lower than a state guest, although it's usually how n.o.bles from foreign countries are designated. This guarantees the Four Stars' safety.

· The purpose of the invitation is to “gain knowledge from exceptional adventurers”. The Adventurers Guild suspected this might have something to do with the civil war, since Einbeast itself is involved in it. However, the king promised that while the Four Stars were in Hopestadt, his troops would be on standby.

· There's no reward for the invitation. This is to show that no one was bought, or no one bought anyone, for that matter.

「The question is why does the king want us in his palace.」Sarah said as she tossed candies into her mouth.

「I want to hear your unbiased opinions on this. Sophie?」

「I heard the Beastman King extremely despises underhanded tricks. So I don't think this summons have anything to do with the civil war. Perhaps he knows that we're leaving Ponsonia and wants us to work in Einbeast.」

「I see. What about you, Sarah?」

「Let's see… He wants more wives?」

「Wives?!」

「The king has more than a dozen wives already, but that's still not enough. Maybe he's looking for beautiful women who can fight, like us?」

「…Hmm, yes. Selica, any thoughts?」

Selica had her arms crossed and eyes closed.

「Selica?」

「I don't know why he wants us there, but I think we should go anyway!」