"Good morning!"

I arrived early at the General Guild again today and greeted the staff.

"Good morning, Ms. Elaina!"

"Morning! You came today too."

Two weeks have passed since the Gulbert incident, and I've learned quite a bit about this world. Thanks to the guidance of the goddess Meltenas, I've also learned how to wash my hair and body, put on underwear, and even manners for girls. Well, I don't care much about manners, though.

And the position of the lord of Gozes has been given to a relative of the Languds.

Why a relative of the Languds, you ask? Well, there were three other candidates for the lord of Gozes, but they had issues.

They had debts, spent money recklessly, lacked popularity. Can these guys be trusted with Gozes, an important commercial hub for the country? Due to such bad rumors, they were excluded from the lord candidate competition.

Of course, they protested, but there was no overturning the decision. Instead, the king, who heard the bad rumors, ordered soldiers to inspect the homes of those three. Two were arrested, and the remaining one had his title lowered. What an unexpected outcome!

And... what I'm currently concerned about is this.

"Good morning, Elaina! Hey, everyone! Our savior Elaina is here today too!"

"Ms. Elaina! Good morning! You look beautiful today!"

"Ms. Elaina!! How about tea with me? I know a good place!"

"What do you say!? Let's go on a date! So? How about it?"

"Kyaaaaa!? Lady Elaina is right in front of me!"

"Big sister! Let's go on a quest together! I'll rely on you, big sister!"

"Um... I-I'm a fan of, um, Ms. Elaina..."

"Ms. Elaina! Shake my hands please!"

"Elaina-chan! Come to my inn! I'll provide a special service!"

"I love you! Please marry me!"

"Big sister, I long for the night! Will you share a bed with me?"

"With those beautiful legs, please step on me! Haah... haah..."

"Call me a dirty pig! Please!"

There are some weird ones mixed in there, but I've gained fans. How did this happen? Well, after the Gulbert incident, I was praised as a hero who saved the town by the General Guild and citizens. Someone at the scene just up and formed a fan club for me, so I gained fans... Well, a few at least.

When I consulted with God about what to do, he said, "Just be yourself. Everyone likes you as you are." Then, unexpectedly, he continued, "And doing such things will surely increase your fans, won't it?"

So, five days ago, some merchant laid eyes on my weapon. He asked me to sell it to him. He said he would pay any amount of money! I explained the reasons why I couldn't sell it and declined, but the merchant couldn't accept it. Whether he was stupid or lacked understanding, I don't know, but with veins popping on his forehead, he ordered his three guards to "catch that woman and take her weapon". I defeated them with my superior fighting abilities. Soon after, soldiers arrived and took them to the station.

Up to this point, it's a normal story, but according to God, because after defeating the three in hand-to-hand combat, I declared in front of everyone in the town, 'I have absolutely nothing to sell to someone who does such things!!' is why it turned out like this. If that one statement hadn't been made, it wouldn't have escalated to this point! That's what he said. Also, I heard this story yesterday, but that merchant had been doing similar things elsewhere, stealing from people, so he was arrested on charges of theft.

Haaah... Well, I should probably say hi to these people, right?

"Uh... Good morning, everyone."

The fans who were arguing until a moment ago stopped and lined up neatly. They lowered their heads and greeted me.

"""""""""""""Good morning, Ms. Elaina!"""""""""""""

Until just now, they were fighting... I don't know if they're on good terms or bad terms anymore.

"You guys are so noisy every day. Do you want to get kicked out of the guild?"

Ah, it's Barbos! He came at just the right time.

"Good morning, Mr. Barbos!"

"Ah, good morning... or not! Elaina, please do something about them. They're causing a ruckus again, bothering the people around them, doing their comedy routine today as well. Saying things like, 'Let's go watch!' or 'The General Guild is peaceful again today, huh?' It's getting on people's nerves."

It might be okay for Barbos to say that at the end. But there's something I have to tell him.

"More importantly, Mr. Barbos, there's something I need to tell you... Is now a good time?"

"At this early in the morning...? Well, I can guess, but go ahead."

Barbos, who until a moment ago had been scrunching his face while scratching his head, straightened his posture and looked at me. I believe he can probably anticipate the content of our upcoming conversation.

"Yes! I'm saying goodbye because I'm heading to the Royal Capital now!"

Crack!!!?

Huh? I think I heard a strange sound, but it was probably just my imagination.

"I see, you're going to the Royal Capital already. So, you'll take the promotion test at the guild of the Royal Capital, right?"

In the past two weeks, I completed quests and accumulated quest points until I was eligible to take the promotion test for D-rank. According to the General Guild staff, I accumulated points very quickly.

"Yes, I'm planning to do that. Also, I want to meet Duke Valdeck."

"Alright, understood. I'll inform the Royal Capital's guild about the promotion test in a letter. And it would be rude to meet Chairman Valdeck without prior notice, so I'll send a letter on my behalf. Also, before you go to the Royal Capital, I want to express my gratitude."

"Gratitude? Did I do something to deserve your thanks, Mr. Barbos?"

Baffled, I look at Barbos, who begins to answer with a serious expression on his face.

"The other day. Thanks to you, the General Guild's Chairman, Valdeck was saved, you helped our guild staff, and my late friend Midbert, who had desired to pass on Gozes to a suitable relative, was able to have that wish fulfilled."

"Mr. Barbos, I don't think the last one was because of me?"

"No, it's thanks to you. In reality, if it weren't for you, the current lord might have been sent to the countryside or ended up in a managerial position in the Royal Capital. I think Midbert's happy in the afterlife."

Barbos bows his head to me.

"I sincerely appreciate it. Thank you, Elaina."

"P-please raise your head... Mr. Barbos! Ah, um, well... uh..."

This is bad! My face is burning up.

"Hahaha, well, talking here forever would be a waste of time. Go to the Royal Capital."

"Yes, allow me to express gratitude on behalf of the entire General Guild for all your support and assistance!"

"Thank you, Ms. Elaina!"

"Stay well, Ms. Elaina!"

"You're cute even when you're embarrassed."

The General Guild staff came to thank mee~!?

"Ah, uh... u-nyu~!"

"...Don't be shy, just go already."

"Y-yes, I'll be going then..."

As those words left my lips, I steadied my spinning head with a hand, bidding farewell to the General Guild.

〜〜 Barbos's Perspective 〜〜

"Man, she's so shy. Can't she do something about that?"

Thinking of Elaina, leaving the General Guild with unsteady steps, I smiled involuntarily, and it made me want to laugh, but I restrained myself for dignity's sake.

"That's up to her, Guild Master. Besides, that gap is one of the reasons for her popularity."

"Galli, what's up?"

Turning towards Galli, who had appeared without me noticing, I asked about the matter.

"Could you take a look at this document?"

"Ah, sure. I'll read it later."

I took the document that Galli offered.

"That aside, there's something I want to ask of you."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Elaina is heading to the Royal Capital now, so please inform the guild there about the promotion test in a letter. It seems she's also going to meet Chairman Valdeck, so I'll write a letter for that. It's quicker if we split the tasks between you and me."

"Understood. Also, it seems there might be an issue."

Huh? An issue?

"What in the world are you talking about?"

"Guild Master, please take a look at that."

I looked in the direction Galli pointed, and to my surprise, there were Elaina's fans standing there in a daze.

"Oh... probably because they heard that she's going to the Royal Capital. They must be shocked."

"Guild Master... Should I wake them up?"

"Leave them be. It'll be quieter that way. Now, let's get back to work."

"Understood."

After saying that to Galli, I returned to my office. However, fifteen minutes later, the fans started making a commotion, calling Elaina's name. All the General Guild staff had to intervene to stop the situation.

"Ah, damn it...! This is also because of that Elaina!! I'll remember this when you come back next time!"

Galli, upon hearing Barbos's words, could only chuckle wryly.