The guild master stepped out of his office to greet the trio. His appearance lent a sense of gravity to the proceedings, and both girls looked to him with rapt attention, eager for answers.
"So, are we getting promoted? Two-star? Three-star?" Isao asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"How much gold are we getting? A hundred thousand?" Isla added, practically drooling at the thought of all the sweets she could buy.
"Uh, calm down, you two..." Sylveria said, hesitating. "Yes, we wiped out the goblin nest, but the original quest was just to kill three goblins, so..." She trailed off, unsure how to break the news that they might only receive a basic reward with no rank promotion.
The Guild Master surveyed the trio with a discerning gaze, his expression unreadable as he considered their extraordinary situation. Finally, he cleared his throat, his voice measured and deliberate. "Your exploits have indeed captured the attention of the kingdom, and rightfully so. However, the guild's reward structure is based on established criteria, which in this case, does not fully account for the exceptional nature of your achievements." He paused, studying the girls' faces to gauge their reactions. Isao's eyes sparkled with anticipation, while Isla's gaze narrowed, likely calculating the monetary value of their rewards. Sylveria, ever the pragmatist, seemed to be processing the Guild Master's words with a mix of disappointment and understanding.
"The council has deemed it appropriate to create a special dispensation for your case. While it won't grant you the typical rank advancements or massive gold payouts, we will provide you with unique items and privileges tailored to your... unique circumstances."
"Then give me a fabric that doesn’t get dirty at all!" Isla demanded, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Her friends stared at her, dumbfounded. Isao's mouth hung open, her eyes wide with incredulity, while Sylveria's eyebrows shot up in surprise. They knew exactly what she was asking for. In their previous world, there was a special material known as "God Fabric" renowned for its miraculous properties of remaining immaculate even in the most gruesome of battles. As a Sword Saint, Isla had worn it in her past life, which kept her pristine even in the bloodiest battles. But in this world, without such a luxury, she was constantly drenched in blood after every fight.
"First, clothes that doesn't get stains, negate slashes. And now a fabric that doesn't get dirty at all." Sylveria murmured as she remembered Isla's requested clothes from the tailoress.
The Guild Master, however, merely raised an eyebrow at Isla's demand, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Ah, the God Fabric, you say?" Isao and Sylveria were shocked that the guild master knew about it. If "God Fabric" existed in this world, then Sylveria's Icy Blue Armor Dress and Isao's Pure Anti-Magic Kimono might as well.
"So, do you have it, old man?" Isla asked, her tone both eager and aloof. "I’ll even pay you… Here, I have five gold coins in my pocket."
The Guild Master's reaction was priceless—a mixture of shock, amusement, and mild exasperation. His twitching eyebrow and the way he regarded Isla's outstretched hand, offering a paltry sum of five gold coins, spoke volumes about the absurdity of girl's offer.
"What about Celestial Ice!? Do you have that!?" Sylveria asked excitedly.
"And Pure Anti-Magic Stones!? Do you have those too!?" Isao chimed in, just as eager.
The trio’s excitement was palpable.
"Tch. These damn brats," Veldina muttered, watching Isla casually interact with Balmung, the guild master.
Meanwhile, Violet the receptionist and the other adventurers nearly collapsed in disbelief at Isla’s bold offer. "Did she really think such rare materials would cost so little!?" the adventurers said in exasperation, but the trio were too focused on hearing Balmung's answer to their question that it just passed their ears.
Balmung, the usually stoic Guild Master, managed to regain his composure, a dry chuckle escaping his lips. "My dear Isla, you seem to forget that we're not peddling trinkets in a market square. The God Fabric, if it even exists, is a relic of myth and legend, not something to be bought with a handful of coins. The same goes for the Celestial Ice and Pure Anti-Magic Stones."
Truth be told, both Isao and Sylveria had assumed Balmung actually had the fabric since he spoke of it so casually.
Sylveria and Isao's expressions faltered, but they had already expected that such rare materials might not exist in this world. Isao let out a disappointed laugh, while Sylveria sighed with a small smile. However, Isla’s reaction caught them off guard.
"Tsk. Useless old man," Isla muttered, looking away with an aloof expression.
"Ahaha... Isla meant that the other fabrics are useless! Ahahaha..." Isao quickly said, awkwardly covering her friend's mouth.Isla's dismissive wave towards the Guild Master, coupled with Isao's awkward attempt to cover her mouth, painted a picture of youthful insolence that bordered on endearing.
"A-anyway, about our reward, Guild Master Balmung? And what exactly is this special dispensation you mentioned for our case?" Sylveria asked diplomatically, steering the conversation away.
"Bah, children these days," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in amusement. Then, turning his attention to Sylveria, he replied, "Very well, Princess. As agreed upon by the council, we shall provide you with a set of enchanted clothing, imbued with various abilities to aid you in your future endeavors. Additionally, you will each receive a unique title, acknowledging your exceptional contributions to the kingdom."
"I don't need the stupid—" Isla began, but before she could finish, Isao quickly covered her mouth again.
"Of course! We love the clothing! Ahaha... Can we just have it styled to our preferences?" Isao asked with an awkward laugh, trying to smooth things over.
"Ahem... About the titles, could you tell us what titles we received?" Sylveria asked, deliberately avoiding looking at Isla and Isao. She focused on keeping the conversation on track, doing her best to steer away from Isla’s blunt remarks.
Isao's hurried interjection, coupled with her clumsy attempt to silence Isla, provided an entertaining display of friendship gone awry. The guild members couldn't help but exchange amused glances at the pair's antics, while Sylveria's valiant efforts to steer the conversation toward more respectable topics only served to highlight the princess's patience and tact.
As Isao laughed awkwardly, her voice trailed off, leaving a palpable tension in the air. It was clear that Isla's original sentiment—disdain for the 'stupid' titles—hadn't entirely been erased by Isao's quick thinking.
Sensing the unease, Balmung nodded graciously, his expression benevolent. "Of course, ladies. As for the titles, Princess Sylveria, you have been granted the esteemed position of 'Defender of the Realm.' Isao, your skills in katana and support have earned you the title of 'Sylvan Protector. Balmung's gaze shifted to Isla, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Ah, young Isla, your feats in combat and leadership have led us to bestow upon you the title of 'Bloodforged Champion.'"
As the Guild Master pronounced the title, Isla's eyes widened, a spark of intrigue igniting within them. She pulled away from Isao's grasp, her hands flying to her chest as if to physically claim the honor bestowed upon her.
Sylveria's eyebrows rose in surprise, but she quickly schooled her features into a respectful expression. "Bloodforged Champion, you say? That's quite a distinction, Isla. I'm sure you'll live up to its expectations."
Isao, still chuckling softly, patted Isla's back, her eyes shining with pride for her friend. "Yeah, Isla, you really earned that one. Bloodforged Champion, huh? Sounds pretty cool!"
Isla’s title suited her well, given her brutal fighting style and her black-and-red weapons. "Alright, what about the gold for the goblin quest? We did complete the request to kill three goblins...And I need to buy creampuffs." Isla said, already imagining the sweets she could buy with Isao and Sylveria. Her question, laced with an unmistakable hint of sweetness-laden anticipation, elicited a chorus of snickers and knowing glances from the guild members. Despite their remarkable exploits, the trio's childishness remained a constant, an endearing quirk that seemed to charm even the most skeptical of onlookers.
Balmung, the Guild Master, cleared his throat, a hint of amusement coloring his tone. "Ah, yes, the goblin quest. While the official requirements were met, the scope of your actual conquest far exceeded expectations. In light of this, we've decided to grant you a special bonus."
He gestured to a nearby clerk, who presented Isla with a hefty pouch filled to the brim with gold coins. "This should cover your indulgences, Miss Isla. Enjoy your treats, and remember, your dedication to the kingdom is greatly appreciated."
Some guild members, proud of the trio’s accomplishments, still found it amusing how childish they remained—thinking about sweets despite their feats.
The reward was 500 gold coins, far surpassing the original 10-gold reward. Isla drooled at the thought of all the desserts she could buy.
"I still object! What if those stories aren’t true?" Clemente Clementine said, irritated by the trio’s achievements as he stood up. "I challenge any one of you to a fair duel. Prove your strength to me. I will fight seriously." His bloodlust was evident, but Isla, Isao, and Sylveria remained unfazed—they had faced far worse.
Veldina, watching from the side, simply sighed. She didn’t bother scolding or stopping Clementine. Instead, she took a seat and gestured for him to do whatever he wanted—knowing full well how strong the trio was.
"I’ll fight then~" Isao said with a playful wink and stuck out her tongue. "Guild master, is it okay to kill another adventurer?" she asked casually, leaving the entire guild dumbfounded. The fact that she spoke about killing so nonchalantly sent chills down their spines.