TCAJTWTPOTA 16

 

Chapter 16

What an Explorer Needs

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Inside the warehouse, five shuttles sat quietly in a row, each covered with a sheet.

All of them were mid-sized models—well-used, but clearly well-maintained.

“Those are the five I want you to tune.”

“Understood. When do you need them done by?”

“If possible, within three days. Would that be all right?”

“Yes, that’s fine. I’ll head back to the workshop to grab my tools first.”

“Good. And—if there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask the hangar staff, okay?”

“Got it.”

With a light wave of her hand, Ms. Meirissa turned and walked back toward the Guild.

The quiet warehouse was left behind, filled only with the still presence of machinery and the five shuttles awaiting adjustment.

Alright—this was our first assignment!

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Back at the workshop, I gathered my tools and mentioned Meirissa’s name to the foreman.

When I did, he chuckled nostalgically.

“Oh, I remember her. She was my assigned receptionist back in the day.”

When I told him she was now the branch chief, he was clearly surprised—but more than that, genuinely pleased.

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We returned to the guild’s warehouse and immediately started work.

After checking all the cores one by one, I found their condition was better than expected. Two days would be plenty.

I threw myself into the work, tuning each part carefully.

At first, Mile watched with fascination, but Nocty soon complained of hunger. The two said, “We’ll go look around town,” and left.

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“Phew… guess that’s enough for today.”

I set down my tools and let out a deep breath.

Outside, the sun was already setting, casting red light over the shuttles’ silhouettes.

“Hey, Sky! Good work today!”

Mile’s bright voice echoed as she came running back. Her arms were loaded with unfamiliar bags.

“…You bought quite a lot, huh?”

“Well, there were just so many things I’d never seen in the village! Before I knew it… I might’ve gone overboard.”

She gave an embarrassed laugh.

Nocty’s sleepy face poked out of her bag—clearly full from snacking on the way.

“Go ahead and load that stuff into Luminarc’s trunk first.”

“Okay!”

Mile’s face lit up as she dashed off toward the white shuttle.

Watching her small back framed in the red sunset, a gentle warmth spread through my chest.

I cleaned up my tools and headed for Luminarc myself.

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“Alright, that’s a good stopping point. Let’s head back to the workshop and pick up again tomorrow.”

And with that, our first day on the job came to a peaceful close.

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The next morning, I shut myself in the warehouse and quietly continued the tuning work.

Even Mile and Nocty, who’d played around the day before, were serious now—Nocty doing final checks, Mile diligently washing the shuttles.

“Better to deliver them clean, right?” she’d said with a smile.

By early afternoon, all five shuttles were fully tuned.

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“We finished way earlier than planned.”

“Yeah. Let’s go report to Ms. Meirissa.”

After cleaning up the warehouse, we headed to the Explorer’s Guild to make our report.

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When we told the receptionist the job was done, she blinked in surprise.

“…Already? But you’re still halfway through the deadline!”

“Yes. The shuttles were in better shape than expected, so the work went quickly.”

“I see… Please wait a moment while I inform the branch chief.”

Leaving behind a faintly doubtful look, she disappeared into the back.

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A few minutes later, she returned.

“Thank you for waiting. The branch chief would like to see you in her office. Please follow me.”

“The branch chief’s… office?”

We followed her down a hallway beside the counter.

I could feel the other explorers staring at us as we passed.

(What’s with all these stares…?)

Faces that said ‘Hey, what did they do?’

Even though we hadn’t done anything wrong, that kind of attention always makes you nervous.

At the top of the stairs stood a heavy wooden door.

The receptionist knocked lightly.

“Come in,” came a calm voice from within.

As soon as the door opened, the bustle of the guild faded away, replaced by a serene stillness.

Behind the desk sat Meirissa, the Gearbelg Branch Chief, wearing her usual gentle smile.

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“You’re here. Have a seat on the sofa and tell me how it went.”

We sat down on a large couch that could fit four people. The cushions sank softly, and my tense body relaxed a little.

“I’ve already heard the report, but I’d like to hear it directly from you.”

“Yes, ma’am. All five shuttles were in good condition, so we finished much sooner than expected.”

“Hehe, that’s better than I hoped for. Honestly, I thought three days might be a bit tight. I also wanted you to get used to tougher assignments.”

“So that was the plan.”

“Yes—but you’ve surprised me instead. I see now why Gran approved of you.”

Her eyes softened fondly.

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“Shall we go check the shuttles in person?”

“Of course!”

Meirissa stood up gracefully and, before leaving, informed her staff she’d be stepping out.

“Let’s go.”

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As we descended the stairs and passed through the lobby, all eyes turned toward us.

A rookie walking beside the branch chief—yeah, that was bound to draw attention.

Outside, a sleek black shuttle waited for us, gleaming under the sunlight.

“This one’s mine. Don’t mind it,” Meirissa said with a small smile.

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The ride was astonishingly smooth. The interior was quiet, with almost no vibration. If not for the passing scenery, I’d have thought we weren’t moving at all.

“Hehe, do you like it? Once you become a branch chief, you get to ride shuttles like this anytime.”

“Uh… I’m not sure that’s my goal.”

“Haha, just kidding.”

She laughed softly and gave me a gentle look.

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In just a few minutes, we arrived back at the warehouse.

The driver parked the shuttle before the doors and joined us inside.

“Alright, let’s have a look.”

He went through each shuttle, testing their systems.

“How is it?” Meirissa asked.

“No problems at all, ma’am. Honestly, I’m impressed.”

“Good. I knew you two would do a fine job.”

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“I didn’t really do anything,” Mile said. “Sky did all the tuning.”

“But you made the shuttles this clean, didn’t you?”

“Well… yeah, but that’s about it.”

“That’s not ‘nothing,’” Meirissa replied gently, shaking her head.

“You cleaned them because you thought the client would be happy to see them shining, right?”

“Yes…”

“Very few explorers ever think that way. Officially, evaluation is based on the tuning, but client satisfaction changes everything.”

‘And those who care about that—always get more work in the future.’

Mile blushed slightly, but the smile tugging at her lips was unmistakable.

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“With that, the job’s complete. Let’s head back to the Guild for the formal paperwork.”

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When we returned, the lobby was oddly tense and noisy—not casual chatter, but anxious murmurs.

“…Did something happen?”

Meirissa asked one of the staff members at the counter.

“Ah, Chief! You’re back. Actually—there’s been an incident! The ambassador from Currentport, who was visiting Gearbelg, has gone missing. Their transport ship suffered an engine failure and lost contact!”

“What!? So the Guild received a search request?”

“Yes, but…”

The staffer’s face grew grim.

“They apparently made an emergency landing on an uninhabited floating island—but the distress signal cut off midway. We don’t know the exact location.”

“…Understood. The Explorer’s Guild will issue an emergency request!”

Her commanding voice echoed through the lobby. The room went silent; every gaze turned toward her.

“Conditions—Iron Rank or higher, and only those who can secure their own transport!”

Her declaration filled the air with energy.

“Additionally, contributions during this mission will be directly factored into your Guild evaluation!”

At those words, the explorers’ eyes lit up at once.

An official evaluation bonus—an opportunity that could mean promotions and high-paying jobs in the future.

Iron-ranked explorers began volunteering one after another, the room erupting with fervor.

Mile and I could only stand there, stunned by the sudden chaos.

Then, Meirissa stepped toward us.

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“I’d like to request your help as well—personally.”

“But we’re still Copper Rank…”

“This isn’t from the Guild,” she said quietly. “It’s a request from me, personally.”

Her expression grew serious.

“The Currentport ambassador… she’s an old acquaintance. And she has ties to Gran too.”

“You both know her, then?”

“Yes. That’s why I want to entrust this to people I can truly rely on.”

Her words struck deep, and a quiet determination rose inside me.

“…Understood. We’ll accept.”

Relief and gratitude softened her features as she nodded.

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A few explorers watching from afar whispered among themselves.

“Hey, aren’t those the new Copper rookies? Why are they getting a personal request?”

“From the branch chief herself, no less. Must have some serious connections…”

I didn’t notice their murmurs as I faced Meirissa again.

But behind us, those same explorers watched with faint, mocking smiles—smiles that weren’t congratulatory, but shadowed with something far darker.

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