Asterios chuckled, shaking his head. “Sometimes, I have no idea if you are doing everything just to chase after me or after new opportunities to expand your family’s influence.”

  She giggled in response. “Why not both?”

  “Excuse me, Princess. Are you perhaps aware if there are any vacant mansions in Glimmervale?” Lady Luna directed a polite question at Silvia.

  “Mom!” Tina immediately shouted at her. “You are not thinking about moving, are you?”

  “It’s not like there’s much holding us here after you graduated, is there?” she answered with a soft, slightly playful smile.

  “Dear, you can’t be ser—”

  Tina’s father glanced at her with wide eyes but stopped himself from finishing his sentence after Lady Luna raised a brow at him. He cleared his throat and returned the deed to the castle and the town to Asterios.

  “Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to your question, Lady Luna, but I can ask Father to check the next time we see each other.” Silvia broke the awkward silence by bringing the conversation back onto its tracks.

  “We would really appreciate that.” Tina’s mom made a small bow. “Is there anything you could tell us about Glimmervale? We aren’t that familiar with it.”

  “It’s a little smaller than Rosewind, but in terms of infrastructure, it isn’t that far behind it. The population is much more dominated by various subraces of elves, though, while here it’s mostly humans with the other races mixed in. The main castle is located in the very center of the town, and there’s a small watchtower in each direction. The lands near the elven border are peaceful. Besides that, it’s still a city with a lot of areas yet to be developed properly.”

  “Which translates to even more business opportunities.” Kindra giggled to herself. “I bet Glimmervale could use a few rich investors.” She shot a glance at Lady Luna, receiving a delicate smile from the Viscount’s wife.

  “Gods, what is even happening…” Tina chuckled wryly.

  Asterios did the same and brushed through her azure hair. “Get used to it. Your life will never be the same after you let my mom barge into it.”

  “Hey! Don’t treat me like some source of corruption!” Kindra huffed at him, crossing her arms under her chest.

  “I might have considered not to if your victims could be counted on the fingers of one hand. And please, since we are already on the topic, give Ellie some space. I bet you were planning on visiting her today after checking on your shop.”

  “Speaking of which, I don’t think there’s an active Adventurer’s Guild in Glimmervale.” Silvia stroked her chin.

  Kindra raised her brows at Asterios and kept skipping with her eyes between him and the Princess. He slapped his forehead and swiped down his face, knowing well what she had in mind.

  “Oh no~ If only we had a friend who is well-versed in such matters that we could ask for advice~” she whined with a playfully overexaggerated tone.

  Asterios sighed. “I guess we could see if Guildmaster Suanori doesn’t know anyone willing to take the reins. She did find a replacement for Nebula decently fast.”

  “That’s a good idea.” Silvia nodded. “I’m sure that a guildmaster of her caliber has a wide network of connections.”

  “Let’s meet her again after we finish here, then,” Tina suggested.

  “I’m down,” Asterios agreed. “Anything to keep Mom away from Ellie.”

  Kindra pouted at him while squinting her eyes but soon shrugged, satisfied enough with that development. Just getting a clear confirmation that Asterios was quite close with the guildmaster was a quite good result.

  “I’ll need to go back home earlier, then. We need to discuss this with Father and Mother. I’m sure they will be interested in getting involved in such a nice operation. Who knows, if we play it well, we might even secure our way to infiltrate the elven market.” She giggled again.

  “They don’t even know what’s coming for them…” Asterios muttered under his breath, making Tina chuckle.

  “We will also consider this opportunity with my husband.” Lady Luna nodded at Silvia. “Everyone knows how impactful helping with the development of a settlement can be for the involved family.” She sent a glance at Ast’s mother with a soft smile.

  ~Was your mom also such a schemer?~ Asterios asked Tina mentally.

  ~Did you notice just now?~ She giggled at him through their bond. ~The Hestizo-Nobelle Alliance might have originated from Miss Kindra but it’s the fruit of their mutual craftiness.~

  ~I kinda feel bad for your dad now.~

  ~Then don’t. He loves living on the frontlines while being more than just supported by Mom. He is like the face of our family while Mom is the invisible hand directing everything from the shadows. People rarely expect that.~

  ~I can imagine. Are you also secretly like this?~ He raised a brow at her with a gentle smile.

  ~Gods, no, hahaha. You can say that I’m the complete opposite of my mom. Even within my summoning, I’m throwing myself at the enemies right from the front. I always wanted to leave directing everything to someone else… and that includes inside a relationship, and family stuff too…~

  ~I’ll be happy to take that role, then, so you can do your best doing what you love and enjoy.~

  She glanced up at him with a warm smile, feeling the truth in his words. Asterios really believed in what he had said, which made her feel very appreciative. He really was turning out as perfect as she had imagined in the past.

  A cough from her father brought her back to reality once more, and she noticed everyone staring at them. Even though their conversation had happened at an increased speed, a few seconds passed in the outside world.

  “I feel like we are missing out on something.” Kindra smirked at her, causing Tina’s cheeks to grow rosy.

  “Just Summoner stuff…” she murmured back. “We can more or less understand each other with a glance…”

  “Alright. Let’s move on. We don’t have the entire day to take care of stuff since Tina has to attend a party with her unit. We wouldn’t want their new captain to disappoint them on her first day, right?” Asterios took charge of the conversation. “Do you want to add something before we return to the guild, Silvia?”

  “No, thank you.” She shook her head. “I’m grateful to everyone here for considering involving yourselves in this arrangement. I can already tell that Glimmervale will definitely flourish with such incredible support. We might need to step up our game before an independent kingdom forms under the joint banner of Hestizo and Nobelle.”

  Silvia chuckled very lightly, something Asterios and his companions hadn’t really seen her do that much yet. She was really enjoying interacting with their families. They felt genuinely nice and also pleasant to talk to.

  Meanwhile, everyone else looked between each other, shocked to hear the princess literally suggest that they cause an uprising in the kingdom, which would supposedly lead to Glimmervale’s separation from it. No one would have ever imagined they would hear such a dangerous statement made so casually, even as a joke.

  Ending at that, everyone bid farewell to each other, and Asterios promised to come back for his mom to transfer her back to her parents after dropping Tina off at her party. He wanted to be present during their talks since he was now also part of the family, and he wanted to keep an eye on Kindra too.

  He sent Umbra to check what Suanori was doing and received permission to jump straight to her office a moment later. They used the shadows to reach her place without Silvia having to tweak her appearance again. Inside, they found not just the guildmaster but also their receptionist friend.

  “Did you forget about something during your earlier visit?” Suanori asked Asterios while standing behind her desk with Ellie by her side.

  “Well, technically speaking, not really, since this little thing came up after we left. There might be something we would like to request your help with.”

  He walked closer with the girls and laid the two golden tubes in front of the duo. The guildmaster raised a brow at the item and picked it up, unrolling the light brown scroll. Her eyes immediately went wide, and she tossed it onto her desk, dropping into her comfy chair. She let out a deep sigh while covering her face with both hands.

  As Ellie was taking a peek at the document, Suanori poked it from above with her finger.

  “This is a little thing?” She furrowed her brows at Asterios. “Seriously, I feel like my hair will start turning gray the more I interact with you, and elf hair doesn’t even do that.”

  Ellie lifted her face from the parchment. “Ast, is this really true?”

  “It is,” Silvia, Tina, and Asterios answered at the same time, shooting each other a glance with soft smiles afterward.

  “Don’t even bother asking. Barely anyone would dare to forge such a thing.” Suanori waved her hand at them. “So, what’s the help you need?”

  Silvia stepped forward. “If I’m not mistaken, Glimmervale lacks a guildmaster and its guild is more like a public announcement and task submission lodge for anyone to fulfill such if they have the means to do so. On behalf of my father, I would like to ask if you aren’t perhaps in touch with someone who would be willing to set up an official branch there, Guildmaster Suanori. With our support, of course.”

  As silence fell onto the room, Ellie exchanged glances with Suanori, and they both sighed in unison.

  “We will go.”

  “What?”

  Asterios raised his brows in shock at the abrupt statement from the guildmaster. Tina was as surprised as he was. Even Silvia hadn’t expected Guildmaster Suanori to take the responsibility herself.

  Ellie showed a slightly sheepish smile, dropping her gaze to the ground. “To be honest… I was acting a little tough when we met earlier…”

  Asterios immediately sensed her mood and stepped closer to his old friend, taking her hand into his and rubbing it reassuringly. She kept smiling weakly at him.

  “What I said about our guild actually growing after making the incident known to the public wasn’t a lie, but… it’s not just positivity that we keep receiving from people… Many still come to curse at us, release their anger, disgust, hate… And we, of course, can’t blame them for that, but… it hurts…”

  “And is extremely stressful,” Suanori added with a somber tone too. “Both Ellie and I really love this occupation but it’s gradually becoming really difficult to bear. People know us, we know people, and almost everything happens on a very personal level, making it even more painful. I forced Ellie to take a few breaks already but that can help only so much. I know we deserve it, but—”

  “You did nothing to deserve this,” Asterios cut her off, holding Ellie’s hands even tighter. “You made mistakes, yes, but you genuinely felt bad for them and came out to everyone instead of hiding, doing your best to make up for them.”

  Suanori sighed. “Nevertheless, you can call me a coward, but I think moving to a remote location where no one knows us might be a good option. Personally, of course, since I would be ignorant to assume that people wouldn’t recognize me. At least Ellie would finally be able to relax a little as no one should care about some random receptionist.”

  “I do not think what you suggest, Guildmaster, should be considered cowardice,” Silvia joined in with a calm tone. “It’s a very smart and beneficial decision from many standpoints. It might improve not just your lives but also the lives of people here as they might view your delegation as a new start for the Rosewind’s guild. Fresh blood might be what this place needs the most.”

  Suanori chuckled wryly. “It still doesn’t change the fact that I’m thinking about running away, but I can live with that. Would this be problematic to arrange, Princess Silvia?”

  “Just Silvia, please.” She smiled gently at the elf lady. “Not in the slightest. I’ll do everything in my power to make it look official. You will receive a royal ordinance to relocate to Glimmervale alongside the people involved in the guild’s past, which would actually be those suffering the most from the current circumstances. The public will receive a notice that we have heard about the issue and are taking action to make the guild a better place again. This should be enough to turn everyone’s attention away from you.”

  Ellie covered her mouth with both hands, yanking them out of Ast’s hold, and a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “Do we really deserve to receive so much?” she asked in disbelief.

  Silvia turned to her and nodded. “We appreciate your service and efforts in keeping the kingdom safe from monsters, bandits, dungeons, and other threats that adventurers often take care of before our forces get involved. It’s our turn to pay this obligation back.”

  Asterios glanced at Suanori. “You heard her. Better start packing up. Asterios Express will take care of all the luggage and get you there even if I have to fly you the entire way to Glimmervale myself.”

  Suanori opened and closed her mouth a few times before finally speaking. “I… I don’t know what to say…”

  “Then say nothing,” Tina joined in with a warm smile. “I haven’t interacted with the guild that much myself but even I know how much you guys did for the whole community. It’s time for you to be the ones on the receiving end.”

  “What about the others?” Ellie asked.

  “Those who are fine with Umbra’s shadows will be transported that way if they would like. Otherwise, my grandfather’s mercenaries will escort them while I only take care of their belongings to make it even safer,” Asterios explained.

  “Are you really going to such lengths for something like that?” Suanori looked at him in disbelief.

  He smiled at her gently. “I still have a favor to return from getting that info on the king. And gathering people for the Dagger’s End dungeon.”

  “Ah! About that! I completely forgot!” Suanori suddenly slapped her forehead.

  Standing up abruptly, she jogged to one of the cabinets and brought back a fancy wooden box of a rectangular shape. Stopping in front of Asterios, she lifted the lid with the insides positioned towards him. A jubilant smile painted her lips and even Ellie could be seen grinning a little in the back.

  “You got to be kidding me…”

  Chapter 9

  Big Leagues

  Suddenly, Miria flew out of a hastily opened dark crimson portal. She crashed into Ast’s back and extended her face past his head as her black eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky.

  “Is this what I think it is?!” she exclaimed, her tone full of excitement and joy.

  Suanori smiled at her softly, holding the decorative box in front of the duo. Selene also entered their realm while shaking her head with a heavy sigh. Even the slightly curious Bryn appeared, surprising everyone who hadn’t yet seen the Valkyrie.

  “You really need to learn to keep your composure,” the fox lady calmly commented.

  Miria giggled shyly and shot Asterios an apologetic glance. He smiled at her gently and brushed through her soft hair.

  “It’s alright this time. Besides, you are asking the correct question.” He turned his head to face the guildmaster again. “I assume this is already finalized and you aren’t just teasing us with what’s to come?”

  Ellie joined Suanori by her side with a proud smile while glancing at the winged woman from time to time. “Do you think that Guildmaster would joke about something like this, Ast?”

  He shook his head. “That would be hard to imagine. But, seeing the Mithril plating while we have barely received gold is a little bizarre.”

  “I told you that you would finally get what you deserve,” the elf woman chuckled softly. “Leaving the introduction of your new, unique friend for later, no, this is not a tease. All that’s left for you to end up as an S-rank is to accept these plates.”

  Miria instantly looked at Asterios with a pleading gaze while hugging him tighter from behind. She really loved the glint that the slightly cyan metal had to it, unable to wait to replace her collar again.

  He answered her unsaid request with a tender peck on the cheek, bringing some rosiness to her face, then nodded at the guildmaster.

  “I don’t think there’s a reason to refuse. We have grown decently experienced and strong, albeit not yet as much as I would love us to be. I’m sure the people of Glimmervale would be much more reassured by the presence of an S-rank rather than a B-rank as their new lord.”

  Tina entwined her fingers with him from his right side.

  “I agree. S-rank adventurers are already considered living legends to some extent, as long as they gain some fame.” She then giggled gingerly. “Looks like I’m going to be left behind as your adventuring junior.”

  “I’m sorry, Tina, but trying to place you higher than B-rank would be a little bit too much, and promotion on the same day certainly doesn’t sound like a good idea anyway. You will have to remain in your bracket until you gain some more achievements while in Ast’s party or on your own,” Suanori explained with an apologetic smile.

  “No, that’s okay, I don’t mind.” The blue-haired Summoner girl shook her head. “As long as I can be with Asterios, I can even stay at F-rank as much as I care. B-rank is already a surprise.”

  “You are just that amazing, Tina!” Miria beamed at her.

  “So, what led to this?” Asterios asked. “I don’t remember doing too many official things that could be properly added to our account. Unless I’m not aware of something in how the guild functions.”

  The guildmaster waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “There’s no need to worry, we didn’t spy on you or try to dig up hidden information. The rank-up does come from the official side of things. There are quite a few achievements you might not be considering as such.”

  “Oh? And what would that be?” Selene joined in, as curious as everyone else to learn what actions had earned them this honor.