Although the intent was unclear – assuming, of course, that it hadn’t been fabricated by the priest in the first place – an oracle was a product of spiritualism, a kind of magic that drew supernatural existences into humans acting as divine mediums.
“Next customer, please.”
As Suimei was pondering the oracle from the Goddess Arshuna, a voice called out for the next customer in line. There was no one else left but Lefille, and so it seemed to be her turn.
“I guess it’s my turn.”
Suimei bid her farewell as she stood to rise.
“Good luck.”
“Yeah, I hope your commission goes smoothly for you as well,” she answered as she approached the reception desk.
“…?”
Why had she suddenly mentioned a commission? This Suimei would come to understand a short while later.
☆
As Lefille finished her conversation, from where he was seated, Suimei watched as she followed the female receptionist further into the guild. Deciding that she must be getting interviewed or something like that, he straightened his appearance a bit when the receptionist called out to him.
He rose to his feet and walked over.
“—Welcome to the Twilight Pavilion, the Mehter branch of the adventurer’s guild. This is your first time, I presume?”
“That’s correct. Is it that obvious?” Suimei asked frankly, having been correctly evaluated with a single glance.
She smiled in response, and explained why she’d known.
“Yes. You were looking around with interest: that’s something that only first-timers do. —Now then, what’s the nature of your commission?”
Because the other counters were reserved for people accepting requests, the vast majority of customers at this window were here for this reason.
Urged by the receptionist, Suimei explained his purpose in coming.
“Actually, I’m here to join the guild.”
His response stunned her.
“…Wait, what?”
“I said that I would like to join the guild.”
She must have misheard me. Suimei repeated himself, unaware of why the young lady standing before him had reacted in that way.
An awkward look appeared on her face in response. She kneaded a brow with one hand as she sighed loudly.
In a tone both serious and irritated, she asked, “Um… This might be a bit rude of me to ask, but you do know that this is the Twilight Pavilion of the adventurer’s guild?”
“Yes, I do. Is there something strange about this place?”
“Well, yes. It’s full of many unreasonable things.”
“…?”