[Axel]

A picnic is nice, especially when you have it with your family.

Sadly, I won't be able to see them for quite a while. "You guys are going now, huh?"

"Well, someone destroyed the relic that I was supposed to retrieve..."

"Do explain as to why you would sic such a disgusting piece of adamantite on my person."

"Because I thought that you would be able to handle it!"

"I would've, if someone didn't decide to refill the manatite in the camera that I have gave them..."

"Why did you have to limit the maximum amount of pictures to twenty then?"

"There's a hard limit to how many times I'd like you to picture me in my old attire, obviously!"

Yup. This family. I wouldn't trade them for the world.

"...Anyway, hug?"

"Do I need to...?"

"My daughter, you're most likely not going to be here in a few weeks, so your father would most likely cry himself to sleep whilst bugging your assistant to see how you're doing, even if it's only second-hand news."

"I'm not like that..."

"..."

My gaze turned towards the horizon.

"Dad, please don't bug Kazuma-san."

"I can and I will. That is, if he tries to sneak into the guild without having done a durian quest first or having their priest leveled up to thirty or higher..."

"You know that their priest is level twenty-eight, right?"

"Oh..."

"Don't sound so disappointed! Why are you gunning for Kazuma-san in the first place!?"

"He just reminds me of someone dangerous, that's all..." Needless to say, that unassuming young teenager reminds me of my former self. Oh, what I'd do to prevent making those mistakes...but then again, I'd never meet my wife in the first place, so I guess I wouldn't wish it for myself.

Esta chuckled, bringing us both together in a hug as I happily sighed and leaned into her embrace. It's been a long time since I can relax like this... "Dear, when are you coming back?"

"Right after we sort the mess with the armor-type relic that you exploded."

"That's going to take a while, then..." I sighed. If Heaven hasn't changed the last time I was in there, then scores of bitter old men would continue on debating as to whether or not the destruction of that relic was good or not. On one hand, it was a priceless relic. On the other, it was made by me...

"You're also right about that."

"Ugh..." I turned towards her with pleading eyes, only to see her cyan eyes staring out into the horizon as well. Ah, it would seem that she knew what was coming and took steps to prevent that.

"Alright, fine, I'll stop begging you. One last...?"

My wife glances towards our daughter, and I couldn't help but chuckle, seeing her currently asleep in my wife's arms. I glance towards Esta, seeing her smile at our daughter with her eyes half-closed, and I turn back towards the horizon.

"Might as well catch a few winks while I"m at it..."

[Adventurer's Guild - Axel]

"...And let me guess, you're going to stay here, aren't you."

It wasn't even a question. It was more or less a statement that escaped my lips, heralding a future that I didn't want to think about.

"Of course I am! I decorated my castle already, and the dungeons around it shouldn't need some maintenance for a while!" Matsuri said, placing her hands on her waist as if she were a mother scolding her young child. "...And I saw the inside of your Guild earlier. It doesn't seem homely enough."

"Make it too homely, and nobody would even bother to take quests anyways." I replied back, before a smirk formed on my face. "Of course, given my recent proclamation, I'd just kick them out in the first place."

"Right, you're starting plans on remaking Verdia's old castle into a dungeon, right?" For reasons that I could fully understand, there was a crazed glint in her eyes as she placed a hand on my shoulder. "...Can I decorate it?"

"Hell no. I don't want Vanir complaining about not enough people being in his boss room."

"Wait, Vanir's the boss?" Matsuri barked once as she slapped me on the back. "That's a good idea, Bree-san! I didn't even know as to why I didn't even think of it!"

"That's why we're currently trekking up this hill", I said, waving a hand to the crowd of adventurers currently lounging around the top of the hill. For some reason they froze when they saw me, then immediately stood stiff and turned to salute in my direction.

...I'm not even going to ask. "You can go hang around the Guild staff for a bit. I'm going to address those lazy layabouts."

"Gotcha!"

A chuckle escaped my lips even as I finally reached the summit of the hill, clapping my hands once to stifle all conversations. It would seem that my newly-gained reputation as the 'Demon Guildmaster' is working wonders.

"First things first, if I see that crazy explosion girl starting to cast [Explosion] on that wonderfully fine castle over there, I'm going to ban her and her party from going on this dungeon. Have fun taking durian quests."

I smirk, turning my gaze towards that crazy explosion girl, before I frowned as I heard her muttering under her breath. That won't do. "[Silence]."

"Mmph!"

"Rule no. 1 of adventuring, always have an insurance." I reminded everyone, before pointing towards the castle. "Now, as much as I hate to repeat myself, I know by heart by this point that the rest of you are idiots, so I'll have to speak up again. This is a dungeon to level up your priests, which means that if you want to regain access to the Guild by today, your priest and only your priest would be killing the undead. I've got some manatite stored up in my adventures, so I'll be giving away three pieces of them pro bono just for today. Approach the receptionists to receive them, or if you're too braindead to even understand simple instructions. Everyone got that?"

"YESSIR!"

"Good. As of this moment, [Vanir's Dungeon] is going to be open twenty four seven!"

"OI!"

I blink, turning towards my cute and adorable little daughter's assistant. "Yes?"

"Did you just say that the dungeon is called [Vanir's Dungeon]?"

"Yes."

Whispers began shuffling around the crowd.

"Vanir...ain't that the destitute shop owner's assistant?"

"They say that the man catches stray Neroids that try to raid the neighborhood's garbage."

"Yeah, my mom says that he's quite a catch for someone so young. You think that he's married to the destitute shop owner?"

"Nah. I heard that he scolds her everyday for the shop not doing well."

"An abusive relationship...?"

Oh dear. I'll bet that my old friend would want some revenge for this rumor.

"Guildmaster, do you have any durian quests lined up?"

"Talk to me later, Kazuma", I said, before turning back towards the crowd of whispering adventurers. Now, what to say to nip this one in the bud... "Now, for anyone who manages to defeat the boss of the dungeon, they'll be allowed to mooch off the Guild for five years!"

As expected, the crowd went wild.

As expected, I clapped my hands.

As expected, they immediately fell silent.

"Now go, my little layabouts. Remember that you won't be allowed back in the Guild lest your party's priest is over level thirty."

Much to my surprise, the adventurers nodded as one, standing up and exiting the hill in organized lines. I blinked, before turning towards the Guild staff with a raised brow to see if they had anything to do with this, but they simply shook their heads.

...Ah, I can see Matsuri giving me a thumbs-up.

Well, at least they wouldn't be doing anything that I wouldn't do...right?

"[Explosion]!"

I breathed a sharp sigh, even as one of the castle's spires came tumbling down from the force of the spell. I met gazes with the crazy explosion girl, seeing the smug expression on her face while my cute and adorable little daughter's assistant began to pale.

Ah, so they were both in the same party. How sad (not). HOw deplorable (not). It seems that I would reluctantly (very much not) need to pass punishment on him and his party.

My gaze met Matsuri's, finding her gray orbs carrying the same hint of anger as I did. Of course she was angry.

That was her room, after all.

"Heh, let's see you survive this one, crazy explosion girl."