After the old hag named Aquamarine calmed down, things finally began their pace once more. The guild master introduced themselves to us, and also the Viscountess. They seemed rather polite- well, the old hag was not that polite, but she quickly changed her personality completely after she was done with the two old men.
“Sorry for what happened earlier, I swear I don’t let my emotions get the best of me like that. I was just… very angered. And to boot those two idiots laughed at my concern, seriously…” Sighed Aquamarine. “My name is Aquamarine, I am the Guild Master of the Hammer Stone Guild, I am also the cousin of these two idiots and I am sincerely grateful for what you’ve done to our family. These two clowns, despite their idiocy, are incredibly craftsmen of our country who had done many great things. Their lost was very hurtful to all of us, we had practically given them for dead. Seeing them alive is truly a good thing. And to think that you rescued them from slavery also fills me with a feeling of gratitude.”
“And I am Adamas, the Guild Master of the Iron Steel Guild.” Said the cyclops. “I am a new Guild Master that has been given the title after the late one retired. I have been a Guild Master for only five years now, but I am doing my best for my guild. Seeing these two teachers fills me with happiness. I was taught many valuable things in my life by them, such as smithing, hunting monsters, and even skills. It was a very sad day when they were registered as dead after many years since they disappeared, I am glad to see them back.”
“A-And I am the Viscountess, Ruby…” Said the red-haired dwarf woman. “You also have my thanks for bringing them here.”
“I see… Erm, it is nice to meet you all.” I said. I could clearly feel the enormous pressure of these three important figures of this country and their stares. They were analyzing my entire appearance and that of my party rather meticulously.
After a long conversation of the twin dwarves explaining everyone what had happened, alongside their decision of staying in my town to become my citizens all while saying that we came here looking for raw materials, the trio of figures quickly understood the situation.
“I see, so you’re now throwing away your homes and going to live elsewhere, huh?” Sighed Aquamarine. “You’re really hopeless, but at least, come home to meet all your grandkids, you two clowns.”
“We’ll do, we’ll do! Don’t get angry now, Aquamarine.” Sighed Baldur.
“Yeah, yeah.” Balladur said.
“So your intentions in this country are purchasing ores and materials, selling potions you’ve made yourselves, and also visiting the dungeons and perhaps mining your own ores, is that it?” Wondered the Viscountess. “I suppose we could grant all of you Citizenship IDs and also Licenses from both guilds.”
“Eh? What?!” I couldn’t help but scream in surprise over the sudden offer.
“It would merely be a reward for what you’ve done for us, a small one at that, you can ask the Guild Masters for any other favor as well.” Said the Viscountess.
The two guild masters nodded.
“Then I’ve got a request.” Said Baldur. “Can we give them some tax discounts? And also freedom to explore and mine as much as they want?”
“Yeah, pretty much that’s what we wanted.” Said Balladur.
“T-That’s a bit of a stretch…” Said Adamas. “At most, we can reduce the tax to twenty percent, if we do no tax at all, we won’t earn a dime… Also, about freedom of mining and exploring, I guess that’s what every guild member has, but giving them complete freedom to come and take anything they want would be also too much, after all our entire economy is maintained by this mountain’s mines.”
“…Nonetheless, I see that you’ve gotten attached to them, so you get my approval.” Said Aquamarine.
“What? But Senior…!” Adamas said.
“Calm down, Adamas. This mountain is gigantic, a thousand years and we had yet to mine half of it, there’s also several dangerous areas we had yet to explore due to the dangerous monsters in there, think about all the ores we could get if we could request these tremendously strong people to take care of these areas…” Aquamarine said.
“Strong?!” Adamas asked, looking back at us. “But I don’t see much strength from them…”
“Of course, you lack [Appraisal]” Sighed the old lady.
“WAIT, APPRAISAL?!” I asked.
Did she saw I was a ghost, and that Lucifer is a dragon and Partner a Vampire?!
“Hmm, I do have it.” The old hags gaze grew sharp. “You’re all very strong. Especially if you were able to defeat many slavers and criminals as you proclaim to have done… Fear not, my Appraisal Skill is only Level 3 after all this time, I can’t really see much of what you have, but I can see the stats, and they’re… tremendously high.”
“I feel a bit gross by being peeked at …” Lucifer said.
“Isn’t it illegal to have my status be seen just like that?!” Partner angrily barked.
“Uugh, this feels a bit… Uncomfortable.” Sighed Takeshi.
“I hope she doesn’t see anything dangerous…” Laura said.
“Haha, I am sorry. It is a bad custom I have to peek at other people’s status. Now that we are done here, why don’t you come to my home? I can invite you to some tea so we can discuss things more personally.” Said the lady. “If you agree to the things we want to give to you, I have a few requests I could give to you, of course, with great rewards as well.”
Aquamarine seemed rather mysterious, but she had a higher authority here, even the Viscountess was bossed around by her. Perhaps aside from position, age and wisdom also paid a big role in the dwarven society.
And like that, we were invited into the Guild Master’s home.