Chapter 18
Honestly, I was about ready to give up on the guild staffer's attitude, but I couldn't just leave like this, so I asked again.
"We'd like to register as adventurers."
This time, the guild staffer's reaction was slightly better.
"Y-Yes, we can do that here."
She was stumbling over her words—was she okay?
"Then I'd like to register the two of us—me and her."
I wondered if they used the same adventurer registration forms here in the Orclura Kingdom. While thinking that, I waited for the staffer's response and noticed she was staring fixedly at my face.
This exact situation happened just a moment ago, didn't it?
I was about to prompt her when the female guild staffer spoke first.
"Um! May I ask your names!?"
Ask? Wouldn't she find out when we register anyway?
Thinking maybe that was just the procedure here, I answered.
"She's Erika Longdagger, and I'm Shin Longdagger."
I swear, I really just stated our names normally.
I wasn't acting annoyed, I wasn't angry, and I definitely wasn't trying to intimidate her.
Maybe I had a creepy smile when I said Erika Longdagger's name, but I swear that was it.
But the guild staffer's reaction was beyond unexpected.
"Longdagger! The 'Out-of-His-League Longdagger'! You really are the real Longdagger!"
*
As the guild staffer suddenly shouted, I was seized by a wave of unease.
"Out-of-His-League Longdagger"—Merceja called me that too, didn't he?
Back then, I missed my chance to ask what it meant and forgot about it, but now that a guild staffer in another country is shouting it, I can't help but wonder.
Could it be... that my out-of-my-league feelings for Erika are widely known?
I mean, sure, even I think it's out of my league.
The second son of a poor viscount family saying he likes the beloved daughter of a marquis family, who's also the Prime Minister of the kingdom? I've never even said it out loud, but anyone can see it's a hopeless dream.
It's said the Adventurer's Guild has its own intelligence network.
Sometimes they even know things the kingdom doesn't.
But to think that network would even be aware of my out-of-my-league crush...
I was more impressed than scared by the power of the Adventurer's Guild's information network.
Still, for it to have spread to another country that I like Erika... I could die of embarrassment.
"Excuse me, may I have a word?"
While I was still reeling at the idea that my hopeless feelings had crossed borders, Erika stepped forward.
"What exactly do you mean by 'Out-of-His-League Longdagger'?"
Huh? Is she... angry?
Her voice and magical energy were both sharp.
"Eep!"
The female guild staffer froze under Erika's direct voice.
"As I am also a Longdagger, if that was meant as an insult... very well, I shall accept your challenge."
The guild staffer, overwhelmed by Erika's voice, was sweating profusely.
I get how she feels, but I wonder if that's really acceptable behavior for someone working at the Adventurer's Guild.
After all, adventurers are generally people who bet their lives and make a living through violence.
And we're just sixteen-year-olds—clearly younger than her.
If she freezes up every time someone's a little upset, she won't last in this job.
Though honestly, if Erika's angry, I'd rather not get close either.
"Well? What do you have to say?"
Never mind the specifics—the words were polite, but her tone had dropped sharply.
"N-No no no no no! I didn't mean it as an insult at all!"
The guild staffer's reaction was so desperate it felt like overkill.
"'Out-of-His-League Longdagger' is a well-known nickname! It carries respect and awe, not insult!"
Nickname?
I tilted my head behind Erika.
It's true that some adventurers have nicknames.
My master has one, and so do my fellow disciples.
But I'm pretty sure I never had anything like that.
Those are like special nicknames given to unique individuals.
They're not something a plain guy like me would get.
...Wait, are you telling me my unrequited feelings were so well-known they earned me a nickname?
That's so embarrassing! What do I do? I'm dying here.
"Is that so?"
Erika asked in a tone of genuine surprise.
The guild staffer nodded rapidly up and down.
"Yes! Yes! It's very well-known!"
Realizing Erika's mood had improved, the guild staffer pressed on.
Wait, is she really going to explain the origin of the nickname? That I'm so hopelessly in love with Erika it's known across borders?
I need to stop this—panic rising—I tried to intervene, but the guild staffer kept talking.
"He's known as the 'Out-of-His-League Longdagger,' disciple of 'Skewering Elsa' and student of 'Kindhearted Barbara'—very famous!"
...Huh?
I was baffled by the sudden mention of fellow disciples and my master.
"They told us that the 'Out-of-His-League Longdagger' would be registering here soon, so please take care of him—they were quite... insistent."
Ahhh.
I instinctively looked up at the sky.
I figured as much.
What the hell are those two doing, threatening people like that?