THE ADVENTURER OF EDEN
3.2 "Adventure Festival"

"What?!" Shiki was surprised to hear that, as well as Alicia who was without comment with her shocked face.

"This is just an assumption. An assumption that leads me to conclude that there are traitors in this Guild" Silva said.

"Wait, I understand that this is just an assumption, but what makes you think that you can get that far?!" Shiki did not understand.

Shiki immediately understood when he realized that Silva's assumption was related to Duke Robert Stardust's disappearance. Shiki remembered that there were Adventurers, about three who drove Duke Robert to Star Island and that was the reason why Reina accused him.

"That's it, it's about the Adventurers who drove Duke Robert, right?"

"true." Silva smiled, Shiki immediately guessed that well.

"Do you not know about that, chairman Silva?" Alicia.

"Yes, I don't know and that's why I suspect there's a traitor in the Guild. And this traitor is the one who ordered the three adventurers to escort Duke Robert Stardust" Silva replied.

"But a traitor, huh. Isn't that an over-assumption?" Shiki had doubts about this.

Silva held his head, not denying that his assumptions were indeed excessive. "You're right, I did think more. But this traitor's assumption exists because NARAKU exists."

"Their goal is to destroy Asteria slowly and viciously. So it's not impossible for them to include their people to the three factions in this Kingdom." Silva said that, and the three factions he was referring to were "military", "sanctum" and "Guild"

"And chances are, there's one of our 5 receptionists who's the traitor." Silva said firmly, Shiki sighed at the guesswork, but indeed the one who gave the quest about Duke Robert Stardust was the receptionist.

The five Guild Receptionists could indeed give Adventurers quests, even that quest without submission to the Guild. The quest to escort Duke Robert Stardust must have been such a quest, so chairman Silva did not know about it.

"It makes sense that one of our receptionists was involved, even though it's hard to imagine..." Shiki spoke, she knew well every receptionist in the Guild;

Anna, the receptionist herself, the woman she likes. For Shiki it's impossible that Anna is a traitor.

Gina, she was called "idol" by Adventurers because of her cheerful nature and easy familiarity. Gina is Anna's best friend.

Paula, the most mature (old) receptionist in the Guild who is already 4 years old. Paula has worked in the Guild for 15 years and there are often rumors that Silva and Paula are husband and wife, though not the real thing.

Candy, the youngest receptionist in the Guild, is still 12 years old. He was the grandson of the Adventurers Guild sponsor, the "Amatha Family" who were landlords near the Adventurers' town.

Honjo, he's the most ordinary, yet the most intelligent receptionist. Honjo himself was a nerd and if you think about it, maybe he had the most chances as a "traitor" in the Guild.

"However it's still a conjecture with no evidence, so there's no need to suspect the receptionists to that extent, right?" Alicia nanya it.

Shiki agreed. "Right, listen to that.the chairman!"

"Well, I'm not gonna talk to anybody about this, you know. I'm just talking to Shiki because he's the future chairman of the Guild." Silva said that, and Shiki saw him irritated.

"But my plan for this is to 'wait', wait for the traitor to move so we know who did it."

"Yes, I agree with that. Because that's the most obvious option for now." Shiki retorted.

"If it's obvious the traitor's movements, then I think you can easily stop their movements, right? I'm counting on you, Strongest Adventurer." Silva smiled, he asked Shiki to take care of this traitor.

"Bother." Shiki was annoyed, telling Silva that.

...

After that the two of them left, Alicia commented about the Guild leader. "I didn't expect the Guild Leader to be such a person. I think he'll trust his men as best he can."

"Didn't that make her look like a naive person?" Shiki was astonished.

"Well, chairman Silva is indeed such a person. He is smart, straightforward, and caring. His sensitivity to the surroundings was impressive." Shiki knew exactly what this man was like. "You could say he's a perfectionist, but he's more flexible and not a coercive."

"Hmm, so. Competent people like you and Chairman Silva have to work in Romanova." Alicia smile.

Shiki was astonished to hear that. "It's very selfish."

"What about you? It's your first time in town, isn't it? What is your impression on the Adventurers in this city?"

Alicia smile. "I did not expect more when I arrived in this city. But they surprised me enough." replied the orange-haired girl, she stopped and looked at the laughing Adventurers; "They work hard, they enjoy their work despite knowing the pay on this job is hard."

"As a Romanova, I don't hate people like that. People who fight well for their own lives are the best people in life."

Shiki was quite surprised by Alicia's honest answer. This girl had a good opinion, and reflected how intelligent she was as a woman.

The girl's orange hair was gently blown away, and her face looked at Shiki, frowning her forehead and nanya; "Why do you see me like that?"

"Well, it's nothing." Shiki replied, she threw away her face and became somewhat misbehaved;

"Where are you going after this?" Shiki nanya and discussed other things; "You want to go back to the apartment?"

"Where are you going?"

"Ah, fuck!" Shiki just remembered; "I forgot about GATE to the chairman!"

"We can ask you tomorrow about that!" Alicia said in annoyance; "Let's get me back quickly! It's orders!"

"Ok, okay." Shiki was astonished to hear that.

💠💠💠

Tomorrow morning, the Adventurers Festival begins with the sound of the city bells sounding loud 4 times.

The sound of firecrackers lit into the sky, everyone cheered happily. Food and drink were served, Adventurers had fun and the citizens were merry.

"REPEAT!" Dion raises his beer glass with Vira and Warren.

"Bir..." Alicia saw the drink. Alicia has never had a beer before, and prefers wine.

"Drink, even though it looks like a cheap beer, it tastes really sweet and makes you excited." Vira tell me with a smile. Alicia was astonished to hear "passionate lady"

Alicia blinked, from what she heard, this woman was Vira, one of the Strongest Adventurers and also a mage.

...

Shiki sees the festival himself, all Adventurers and citizens greet him with passion. Shiki replied with a greeting or a wave of the back hand.

Today, Yui is asked to help by Gina and Candy at the headquarters, she becomes a servant at the Guild headquarters. While Reina also helped the residents in the city, since last night instead.

This is Shiki's chance to be alone from her three heroines, and Shiki's chance to talk to Anna alone.

"Ah, Shiki-kun." Anna smiled, she was also helping the citizens.

"Anna..." Shiki greeted him back.

Anna blushed, suddenly she did. His heart fluttered and turned his face away. Anna tells the residents she suddenly goes to the toilet and Anna leaves; "Ah, Anna! Wait!"

Anna leaves, and Shiki does not pursue her. "Why is he..."

"Gov-san! I've been looking for you since!" Reina's voice rang out from behind, the black-haired woman wearing a white apron and casual clothes in the form of a black-and-white striped T-shirt and brown shorts up to the knees.

Shiki gasps in shock of course and Shiki understands Reina is helping the residents by cooking food.

"What's that about?" tanya Shiki tried to calm down.

"I'm cooking for the people, but I need your help because I'm troubled even though there's a lot to help." Reina says that to Shiki, then her eyes sparkle; "Shiki-san wants to help me, right?"

Shiki was astonished and understood. "Well, it's not like I have anything else to do. All right, then."

They went to the place where Reina cooked.

...

Over the course of their several hours of cooking, Shiki helps Reina some things. It was quite surprising that Reina could cook, and the cuisine could be quite tasty.

The women who helped Reina thanked Shiki and Reina, some even said they were a compatible couple and joked that Shiki already liked Anna.

Reina could only laugh hearing that. "Hehehe, well, Shiki-san's taste is someone's wife, so I'm not her type."

"You talk like I'm a depraved man." Shiki was shocked to hear that.

"Shiki-san, can I tell you why you like Anna-san even if she has a husband?" reina asks about it, she just has Shiki's personal feelings.

"Why do you want to know that? Are you jealous?" Shiki nanya is curious, trying to tease this 18-year-old woman.

"Maybe~" Reina replied chuckling. "...you're the man closest to me because of that."

Shiki understood "so yes" and she answered Reina's question. "The answer is simple, Anna and I met two years ago, then I fell in love with her just like that; you could say, Anna is..." Shiki reveals the reason; ".my first love."

"First love?!" Reina was surprised.

"Yes, it might sound like a puberty teen, but two years ago I fell in love with Anna at first sight. When I saw it, I felt nostalgic. When I'm with him, I feel comfortable and when I talk to him, I feel good." Shiki confides in Reina.

"I realized that I was in love with Anna, and our relationship went straight..." Shiki said again; "as receptionist and adventurer."

"That's it." Reina understood; "that is love."

"But... Anna-san likes you too, doesn't she? But the fact that you've never gone beyond your feelings is astounding." Reina said again, she had heard about Shiki and Anna from Adventurers, especially from Vira.

"Maybe it's because Anna-san is loyal to her husband, and you know about it, so you're a few years late, Shiki-san."

"No need for you to tell me, I know that too." Shiki smile.

Reina chuckled, she then stood up and went into the kitchen again. Turn on the stove and pick up some groceries; "As a thank you for being honest and helpful earlier, I'll cook for you, ok?"

Reina pinched her hair. "... Wait a few minutes! My cooking won't lose to Shiki-san!"

Shiki smiled, just nod.

But looking at Reina from earlier, wearing an apron and cooking for her. Didn't that make Reina so suitable as a housewife?

"Reina, you're a great fit to be a wife." Shiki inexplicably said that, she couldn't help but praise her client.

Reina blushed hearing that. His heart was pounding, this was something he felt at Star Island too, where he asked Shiki to punish him.

Being quiet for a few seconds left Shiki confused. "Reina...?"

"Ah, yes..." Reina smile. "Thanks, Shiki-san. You make me feel passionate."

Shiki blushed badly, she was shocked of course and understood. Shiki becomes misbehaved, and makes him think things through with Reina.

The two were silent, until the sound of a bell rang out breaking their awkwardness.

"Eh? The bells?" Reina surprised.

Shiki's face panicked, and she walked out of the tavern. Reina turned off her stove and was shocked; "Shiki-san?!"

The sound of the bell rang for 8 times and caught the attention of everyone in the city.

"Gov-san! What's the bell sound? Isn't that the sound of bells in the middle of the city?" Reina asked in panic.

"Yes, if the sound of bells is rung for 4 times, then the sign of the festival begins, like this morning. But if it's rung 8 times, the festival's mark ends." Shiki said with a panicked face.

Then the bells of the city were rung again for 8 times. "And.if it is rung 8 more times.total 16 times.it indicates that the city is in danger!" shiki said seriously, and what danger will come to this city??

...Chapter 3.2 "Adventurer Festival" - finished....