Chapter 12 - Glasses Guy handling a Visitor

Chapter 12 - Glasses Guy handling a Visitor

The day after successfully hunting Ankle Bird and returning to the royal capital late at night due to the nighttime hunt, I stopped by the Hunters' Guild. Though they said they couldn’t handle payment due to the time, I managed to turn in my game and went to sleep. By the time I woke up, it was already morning.

After washing up with the prepared water bath and having breakfast at a nearby eatery, I spent the morning waiting at the inn again. I planned to go hunting today as well, but first, I wanted to visit the Hunters' Guild and Joseph’s shop.

At the guild, I’d collect the money for last night’s haul and check the exchange rate. At Joseph’s shop, I needed to buy more arrows.

Even if the "Magic Glasses" made it much easier to spot prey, it had nothing to do with my actual archery skills—after all, I was still the one handling the bow.

An unfamiliar bow.
An unfamiliar nighttime hunt.
A small bird as the target.

With all these uncertainties stacked, I wasted and lost about five arrows.

I don’t know about others, but my master always told me, "Carry only as many arrows as you need for your target—excess baggage is a liability." When moving stealthily, even the sound of arrows clinking or gear bumping against something could alert prey.

So, when hunting ordinary animals or birds, I only carry fifteen arrows.
I wasn’t hunting monsters or trying to rack up numbers—just a simple hunt.
And it was also a form of self-restraint—not getting greedy and pushing too far. If I ran out of arrows, the hunt would naturally have to end.

And yet, I lost five.
Frankly, it was a blunder worthy of getting punched by my master. So, I decided I wouldn’t tell anyone. Last night would remain my little secret.

As I prepared for today’s afternoon hunt, I waited for the messenger from the castle—

"—Eil of Albat Village, I bring a royal decree."

Today, they came.

Around mid-morning, the young soldiers who had accompanied me by carriage arrived at my room. Maybe because the room was small, they didn’t seem inclined to step inside.

"Alright, let’s go then."

I had already prepared to leave.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about some old geezer lounging on a throne giving me orders, but openly defying authority never ends well. So, I’d comply. I’d never even seen the king—for all I knew, he might not even exist.

"No, you don’t need to come."

Huh? Wait, really?

"The order is: ‘Deliver 23 of your glasses.’ Submit them as soon as possible. Consider it a paid job—there will be compensation. That’s all."

…Oh. Okay.

"So, outsourcing, huh?"

"Think of it as tribute. A royal command."

Even so, the oddly specific number made it obvious.

Some big shots in the castle must’ve taken an interest in my glasses, resulting in 23 orders.

And the fact that the request came in this form meant they’d decided I wasn’t needed at the castle.

"Just leave the glasses and go back to your village."

That’s what this meant.

Well, whatever.
I would’ve refused if they’d asked me to serve anyway.
But still—dragged to the capital by royal decree only to be told "You can leave now"? What about my feelings? Some old man I’ve never met just tossing out orders like it’s nothing.

…But stewing over it won’t change anything.

"Due to my magic capacity, I can only make two glasses a day. So, preparing 23 will take time."

"Is that so?"

Technically, I could make one extra per day with my natural magic recovery, but even then, I was still far short of the order.

"I’ll hand over what I have now. The rest will have to wait."

"...Understood. We’ll return in five days—have them ready by then. We’ll cover your lodging and meals for those days."

"Ah, thanks."

I accepted the modest sum of money and handed over three pre-made "glasses." With that, the soldiers left.

"Hey. I’m here."

Almost immediately after the soldiers left, another visitor arrived.

"The exit’s that way."

"What the hell? Why is that the first thing you say?"

It was Laila, the red-haired girl from the famous adventurer team "Dawn’s Blackbird."

Weird.
We’re not friends—barely even acquaintances. Why does she keep showing up?

"I came to invite you on an adventure."

"The exit’s that way."

"Seriously?! At least hear me out!"

I desperately wanted to keep her out, but Lyra was too strong. She shoved past me like my resistance meant nothing and marched into my tiny room.

Is this the infamous pushiness of adventurers? Wait, isn’t this trespassing? Can I call the soldiers on her? Would they even take her away?

"I heard. You’ve been hunting lately?"

"More importantly, wanna grab lunch? I recommend the green onion and duck soup pasta."

"Your responses are all wrong from the start! Also, that’s a local specialty—I’ve already had it! …Wait, were you planning to stick me with the bill and run?!"

Hmm… She doesn’t seem too bright, but her instincts are sharp.

Laila plopped down on my bed. I left the door open—if things got weird, I’d scream for help from the inn staff. Play the victim and sue.

"If you want me gone so badly, just hear me out. It’ll be faster."

I don’t even have a reason to entertain this conversation, though…

…But given how pushy she is, maybe it would be faster to just get it over with.

"Fine… What? An adventure? I’m not an adventurer, so no."

Resigned, I started talking. Laila grinned like she’d won. I, however, was not pleased.

"I know. You registered with the Hunters’ Guild, right? Actually, I didn’t even know there was a Hunters’ Guild."

Before I could ask how she knew, Laila kept rambling.

Turns out, there were eyewitness accounts.
People had seen me heading to hunting grounds daily and returning with decent hauls.

Come to think of it, while I hadn’t run into anyone in the woods, I had passed a few adventurers on the road. They must’ve been the sources.

Apparently, a "glasses-wearing adventurer" was rare enough in the capital to spark some rumors among adventurers.

"A skilled hunter who heads to the woods before dusk and returns with game by evening."
"Unbelievable how much he bags in such a short time."

Skilled? Far from it. It’s all thanks to the "glasses."

As the sightings piled up, they eventually connected the dots—"There’s a glasses-wearing hunter who frequents the Hunters’ Guild."—leading them straight to me.

"You hunt consistently. That means you’re good with a bow. You’d do fine as an adventurer."

"I’m not interested—that’s why I joined the Hunters’ Guild."

"Figured. Even I can tell you’re not the type to work in a team."

If she gets it, then this should be quick.

"The exit’s that way."

"We’re not done yet."

As far as I’m concerned, we are.