01x10 - I Tried Hearing Out the Guardian Deity's Troubles

[bunniefuu]

Boy, I have a favor to ask.

I wish to work.

You want to work?!

I cannot simply remain here

as a freeloader any longer!

What brought this on?

I'm sure you know

that every time Teal visits

me, she brings me magicite.

Here you go, guardian deity!

Just how much of her paycheck

is she spending on me?

So you don't want to be a gigolo anymore.

Please.

Well, it seems like you're

prepared for this.

Okay, then, let's begin

Gar's great reformation!

I am Gar. I wish to

register as an adventurer.

Will this suffice for my paperwork?

U-Um

This is a friend of the Magic

Swordsman of Black Lightning.

He may look a bit shady,

but he can be trusted.

Kramen! Kramen!

What is it? I'm busy, you know.

Don't bother lying!

I know you were just admiring the lunch

your wife packed for you and grinning!

Hey! Not so loud!

I can't be bothered to comment on this

spectacle, so I'll just ask.

So what's up?

I wish to register as an adventurer.

Okay.

That's okay?!

The Magic Swordsman here

will be responsible for him.

Indeed! I guarantee it!

There you go. You're registered.

I thank you.

Now, we will return tomorrow

to accept a quest.

Find us one that you deem

suitable for a beginner.

Farewell!

Why did we not accept a quest today?

You need to prepare a weapon and stuff.

I can use my magic—

Oh.

Exactly.

The moment you use dark magic,

everyone will know you're a demon.

You gotta be careful.

Also, you don't know anything

about Minerva, right?

I'll spend today showing you around.

I appreciate the trouble.

What are you talking about? You're

going to be the Magic Swordsman

of Black Lightning's partner!

I would rather not.

We're here to take a quest!

Must you be so loud first

thing in the morning?

Oh, someone's here looking for you.

For the Magic Swordsman

of Black Lightning?

Has something happened?

She's waiting behind the guild.

Don't make her wait too long.

I've been waiting for you

Magic Swordsman of Black Lightning.

Cecilia?!

So it really is you, Yoki!

Huh?!

N-No, this is, um How do I put it

My name is not Yoki! It is "Magic

Swordsman of Black Lightning"!

Yoki.

I'm sorry. I know what

I'm doing is stupid.

You do?

But how did you know?

Sophia told me.

She said the Magic Swordsman of

Black Lightning showed up again.

I had heard rumors about him before,

but the more I heard, the

more it sounded like you.

I was worried some kind of uproar

might ensue, so I came to find out.

Kramen leaked my identity, didn't he?

So that's what's going on!

Are you dressed as the Magic Swordsman

so that Gar won't be conspicuous?

Yeah, something like that!

According to my plans, this

look is the way to go!

I'll help, too.

Huh?!

I'd be too worried to let

you handle this alone.

Right

Now, let's start with a

beginner-friendly quest.

We are here from the adventurers' guild

about the quest to find your pet!

Tell us your story!

Hey. The clients appear to have frozen.

Hah! I guess they were

captivated by my appearance.

Magic Swordsman, would you please

keep your mouth shut for the moment?

For starters, please tell us

how we can identify your cat.

Can you describe its color,

size, and tail shape?

He's taking care to watch and learn.

This is the description

of their missing kitten.

It's very clever and always came

back home after going outside,

but this time, it's been

missing since last week.

How shall we search for it?

We should start by asking around.

It's standard practice to ask the

neighbors and any patrolling knights.

However

I will go above and beyond that!

Hup!

My enhanced sense of smell picked

up the cat's scent from its owners!

And now I'll use Instant

Lightning to run faster

and run all over town

looking for that cat!

I found you.

Hah! You've instinctively sensed

my strength and put up your guard?

Relax. The Magic Swordsman of

Black Lightning is your friend.

I see I have no choice

but to put you to sleep.

Holy Bell.

Thank you so much!

But where'd this cat come from?

It was with your cat.

I've healed its wounds, so please

look after it as well, if you can.

Now, farewell!

So our quest is complete now?

Yes.

Now we just need to inform the

guild that we've finished it,

and we'll receive our reward money.

I see.

All right! On to the next quest!

Wait a minute!

No one can do things the way

you do, Magic Swordsman.

This won't give Gar any experience.

Sorry.

This time, we'll put Gar up front

and have him do as much

as he can on his own.

A-All right. But I will still

depend on you to show me the way.

I don't know the land.

You have nothing to worry about!

You have me, the Magic Swordsman

of Black Lightning, behind you!

This must be the herb.

Listen up, Gar.

Gathering herbs is a path all

adventurers must walk at some point.

Don't take any more than you need,

or there won't be enough left for others.

Yes, I understand.

Will this suffice?

Yeah, looks good.

Now you, too, have taken a step

toward even greater heigh—

Good. Let's move on to the next quest.

The next quest is taking out some goblins.

This will probably be Gar's first battle.

We'll have to support him

I don't think there'll

be any need for that.

It's all thanks to the power of love!

I mean, the power of

escaping the gigolo life!

I'm not a gigolo!

Yep, you've completed

the quest, all right.

Here's your reward.

So this is what it means to work.

Teal has been working all this time

and making money, despite

her weak constitution

I will work even more!

And I will repay the debt I owe Teal!

That's the spirit!

We're rooting for you, Gar!

We'll back you up with all

we've got tomorrow, too!

I'm sorry, but could you allow

me to do this myself from now on?

What?!

But it's too soon for you to

Don't worry. I won't cause any problems.

I have a good idea of how

to carry out quests now.

You'd better come back strong enough

to be the Magic Swordsman of

Black Lightning's right-hand man!

I'll be looking forward to your return!

Anyway, the sun's going down.

Time to part ways for now.

Do you have plans after this?

Since I'm the Magic Swordsman

of Black Lightning now,

I'm going on a Rank A quest.

I'll go with you.

Wut?!

But, um most Rank A quests

require a few days' travel time.

And you're, well busy, aren't you?

That's not a problem right now!

Or would I be a burden?

Of course I'd be happy to have you!

But this won't be so much

a quest as a journey!

Before now, we've had tea together

and traveled with friends, but

several days of just the two of us?!

B-But you'd be uncomfortable

camping out in those clothes.

And you don't have gear

for long journeys, do you?

Very well.

Then please wait here for a little while.

Huh?

Sorry I kept you waiting!

Cecily the adventurer at your service!

Cecily?

I'm all set for a long journey now,

and in this outfit, no one will know

I'm Cecilia from the hero's party.

So now there's no problem, right?

Kramen sure was happy, wasn't he?

He said we were taking care of a

real pain-in-the-a*s quest for him,

but we're just inspecting some ruins.

How hard can that be?

Rank A quests aren't just about

fighting strong monsters.

Also, there are no villages we can

rest in on the way to these ruins.

Yeah, and no real road,

either. Kinda inconvenient.

Verifying our route to the

ruins will be dangerous.

On top of that, we have to search

inside without ransacking them.

Assume we won't be able to use

attack magic as a general rule.

But what if monsters show up?

We do everything we can to avoid combat.

Studying the monsters that live

in the ruins is part of the quest.

They're sure asking a lot

The client is an archaeologist

from a research institution.

This quest is probably very

important to the guild.

They must really trust

you, Magic Swordsman.

Well, I'll have to give it my all, then.

Shall we start preparing to make camp?

We're camping out together!

We're spending the night alone together!

Any other time, I'd probably

panic and get all nervous,

but now, it's no problem!

Because

I can play it all off by

going into chuuni mode!

I am the Magic Swordsman

of Black Lightning.

I will make even camping out

a comfortable experience!

I've assured that our

surroundings are safe.

And

I've gathered fruits and vegetables

for our rations, as well!

You certainly are efficient.

No one else is around. Why

don't you take the mask off?

That I cannot do!

Until this quest is over, I am the

Magic Swordsman of Black Lightning!

To show my true identity

would be inexcusable!

Incidentally

I've made it so I can

still eat with it on!

That's bad manners!

I'm sorry! I'll take it off!

Well, then, I'll dish up the soup.

Here you go. It's very simple, but

Thanks.

That's good!

I mean, there's no way anything

you cook wouldn't be good!

You're exaggerating.

I-It's the truth!

Thanks for dinner! Mask on!

Be still, my soul!

You seem quite flustered to me!

R-Really? Well that won't do!

We should sleep for

our early start tomorrow!

You want to go to sleep already?

She's so cute!

But somehow, she seems

different from usual today.

But Cecilia, you—

It's Cecily!

Sorry. You've been questing since this

morning, Cecily. You must be tired.

Just who do you think I am?

I have completed more quests

than you, Magic Swordsman.

I am one of those chosen

to slay the Demon King

as a member of the hero's party!

I was just trying to imitate you.

That freaked me out

I'm sorry to go against your

wishes, but I must refuse.

I am still inexperienced.

I have no intention of marrying anyone.

What, so that funny guy dumped you, then?

He has nothing to do with this!

Uh-huh.

But this is not a man you can

turn down for a reason like that.

The heir to an influential

neighboring domain lord

has requested your hand in marriage.

Now, let us away, Cecily!

An adventure yet unseen awaits us!

You mustn't yell so

loudly, Magic Swordsman.

If there are monsters nearby,

you'll provoke them.

Sorry.

I'll take the front line today.

Huh? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Your magic is powerful.

It could damage the ruins.

I can restrain monsters with

Saint Chains if necessary.

No, let me handle this.

I can tell where monsters are.

Plus, I still have plenty of

magic I haven't shown you yet.

There are monsters up ahead.

Around thirteen of them.

What?

Incredible! You even got the number right!

But there are too many

for me to restrain them.

I want to avoid combat whenever

possible, so let's go around.

No. Leave this to me.

Illusion Sphere.

I can't see anything

We're going to keep moving.

Keep your eyes shut.

So what kind of spell did you use?

An intermediate dark spell

called Illusion Sphere.

It shows targets an illusion.

When they look at it, they see the

one thing they find most attractive

and can't tear their eyes away.

Attractive?

The thing they like most, basically.

In my case

I'd see Cecilia. No doubt.

And Raven would see Happiness.

I wonder what I'd see if I looked at it.

Well it'd be whatever

you like the most

In that case

I guess it'd be cake!

That's where you went?!

I mean, uh n-nothing!

That's a convenient spell.

It's amazing how many different

types of spells you have.

That's not all there is to my magic!

Just follow me, and you

needn't worry about a thing!

It looks like this is where the ruins end.

Cecily is it normal for ruins

to be so full of nothing?!

Well, there is an unusual mushroom.

No matter how far we go,

it's just monsters, plants,

monsters, plants, and mushrooms!

There's gotta be more to it than this!

Like an android

dormant for millennia,

a sealed magic sword, relics, treasures

I'll even take the most

clichéd boss monster!

Just give me something!

Not so loud!

R-Right

All right, let's head outside.

This is amazing.

Okay.

I guess that's the end of that quest.

It'll be nighttime soon. Let's

camp where we did last night.

R-Right

Just the two of us again

I definitely can't take off the mask now!

The quest is complete!

For the Magic Swordsman of Black Lightning

and Cecily, the Guide of Love

and Mercy, it was no prob—

Ow!

I don't need a nickname.

But it's so cool

And? Anything to report?

Here you are.

A written report?

Wow, this is fantastic!

Isn't a verbal report enough?

That kind of laziness is exactly why

I can't give a quest like

this to just anyone.

That's milady—I mean, Cecily for you!

I can submit this as is,

so it's a huge help!

Here's your reward.

That's Rank A for you. The reward's huge.

Let's use it to throw a big after-party!

That sounds great! But first

you should change clothes.

Huh?

Hm? It's unlocked?

Where is the guardian deity?

I've been coming here every

day for the past four days,

and he isn't here.

I beg of you if you know

where he is, please tell me.

Where has the guardian deity gone?

Ah, boy, you've returned.

Gar!

That voice The guardian deity?

Yes. It's me.

Guardian deity!

You were away for so long!

I was worried about you!

I'm sorry I didn't inform you.

The truth is, I've rented

a room near here.

I've become an adventurer.

I can make my own living now.

So you no longer need to overtax

yourself to buy me magicite.

I'm not overtaxing myself!

Serving you is my greatest

happiness in life!

Please let me continue to serve you!

Very well.

Thank you!

But I will still repay my debt to you.

But there's no need! As long

as I'm by your side, I'm happy!

Um we're still here, you know

Teal didn't say a word about

the Magic Swordsman and Cecily.

She only had eyes for Gar.

Man, for some reason, I'm exhausted.

Yoki?!

I-I'm done for!

Four days' worth of embarrassment

just hits too hard!

I'm sealing this away!

Wait, please!

It's true that the Magic

Swordsman is out of control,

he draws a lot of negative attention,

and he causes trouble

more often than not

But we came through this quest

in one piece thanks to his magic.

Cecily the adventurer would be

happy to team up with him again.

Well, Adventurer Cecily, there's

still much more to my magic!

If you've taken an interest,

I will show you even greater

power on our next quest!

I look forward to it!