The Guild Master Whose Hobby Was Helping People Found Himself Surrounded by the Strongest, Overly Attached Members - 46-47

Chapter 46: Too Many People

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The rattling carriage shook as it made its way down the long highway. By the time the evening sun poured in, a gray stone wall appeared on the horizon.

“Ohh…So that’s Vestia…!”

Leon let out his voice in awe. In the distance, we could see a towering wall of piled stone blocks. Layer upon layer of spired rooftops, with orange lights flickering in the windows. An ancient city bearing a thousand years of history. Its form loomed closer from beyond the horizon.

“My! How splendid it is!”

Ceres fanned herself briskly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Look at that bridge! The lanterns are already being hung!”

Across the great bridge stretching to the castle gate, colorful lanterns had already begun lining the path. The entire city was wrapped in festival preparations, and even from afar, the heat of it could be felt.

“Leader! This fervor! I could work up a good sweat here!”

“Uh… Sure?”

This is not a sauna, you know.

While they bantered, the carriage rolled closer to the city gates. In front of the gate stretched a line of people and wagons. Merchants preparing their stalls and travelers who had come to sightsee were crammed together. The scent of spices, the sound of minstrels tuning their instruments, cheers from afar…. It already felt as though the festival had begun.

“…Lively, but far too many openings.”

Rovan-san scanned the crowd.

“Festivals and thieves always come as a set.”

The carriage was halted before the gate. Ragnar pulled on the reins and clamped the brakes tightly.

“;eader! We have arrived safely, sir!”

“O-oh… Good work.”

Inside the city, the streets were jam-packed with people and stalls, making it impossible to proceed with the carriage. So, we unloaded the luggage and decided to carry it ourselves to the inn.

“What about the horses and carriage?”

When Leon asked, Ragnar puffed out his chest and replied.

“Leave it to me! I shall entrust them to the stables outside the gate, sir! I will personally keep watch over them!”

“You don’t need to keep watch. Just make sure they’re properly left at the stable, alright?”

Well, if you think of it as saving one person’s lodging cost… Maybe it works out?

Turning my gaze along Vestia’s main street, I saw the stone-paved road overflowing with people. Every inn’s signboard bore the same word: “Full.”

“Ex-excuse me! Do you have a room for seven—”

“Sorry, during the festival, we’ve been booked out for days already.”

The third inn. The fourth. No matter where we asked, the answer never changed. Still carrying the luggage on my shoulder, I let out a sigh.

“…Looks like we were too late after all.”

“W-what should we do, Shin-san? Could it be… We will need to resort to camping outdoors…?”

Iris looked at me nervously.

“Spending the night under the cool night breeze has its charm… But it’d be a bit cruel on the young ladies.”

“Leader! How about passing the night with push-ups on the street corner!”

Rovan-san, and Ragnar, who had somehow already returned, chimed in. Amidst them, Ceres stepped forward, drills of hair swaying.

“—Leave it to me!”

She snapped her fan shut with a bam, puffing out her chest. Without hesitation, she strode into a nearby grand inn and called out to the receptionist.

“Good day. I am Ceres Auguste de Montfort Elminarie!”

“! M-Miss Montfort…!?”

The receptionist’s face instantly changed. And after only a few seconds of negotiation—

“…We shall prepare the penthouse suite for you promptly!”

We were handed a luxurious key. A large key, its ornamental metal fittings gleaming. It was completely different in class from the plain wooden tags of common inns. Ceres turned back to us proudly.

“Behold, Shin-sama! This art of negotiation!”

That… That wasn’t negotiation, was it?

So I thought, but said nothing. In any case, we had secured a room.

The innkeeper, bowing deeply, guided us up the grand staircase. A polished red carpet. Paintings on the walls. Silk curtains at the windows. It was entirely a world that rejected commoners.

“Amazing… Are we really allowed to stay here?”

Leon, still clutching the luggage, looked around timidly.

“Of course! An order like the White Lamp deserves a fitting inn!”

Before the enormous door, the innkeeper bowed deeply once more and departed. I slid the key into the lock, turned it with a clack, and the heavy door slowly creaked open.

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Chapter 47: Too Many People 2

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“Th-this place is way too big…”

The floor was covered with a thick carpet, a massive chandelier glittered from the ceiling, and through the three-sided windows we overlooked the city bathed in the colors of dusk.

“My…! With this view, we can see the entire Thousand Lantern Festival from here!”

The old butler nodded, saying.

“Indeed, that is correct.”

“Leader! The beams—no, I’ll hold myself back!”

Ragnar clenched his fist as he looked up at the ceiling, but when his eyes met mine, he restrained himself. Good.

“…Keep the cargo away from the windows. Distribute it into rooms that can be locked. Put the heaviest crates in the very back.”

Rovan-san gave his orders in short, clipped words. We were only going to deliver the goods after a short rest, so I didn’t think we needed to be this cautious, but better safe than sorry.

Leon and I checked the rare ores, while Iris made sure the herbs hadn’t gotten too damp.

“Shin-san, I’ll take care of the rare beast. It’s very sensitive to temperature and noise.”

Iris held the wooden cage and gently lifted the cloth covering it. Inside was a plump little creature—the Round-Eared Rabbit (tentative name)—squeaking softly.

“Ah, I’m counting on you. …Just be careful not to get bitten.”

“D-don’t worry! I’ll make sure it gets used to me!”

Her cheeks turned faintly red as she carefully extended her fingertips toward it.

Meanwhile, Rovan-san stood by the window with his sword still in its scabbard across his knees, sharply scanning the streets outside. He was watching for any sign of thieves.

“…This would be a good spot to drink some wine.”

…He was definitely on guard….Right?

Ten minutes later, everyone had finished their assigned checks. I sat down on a chair, caught my breath, and glanced around at the group.

“Let’s take a short break, then head out to make the delivery right away. If we leave it until after the festival starts, it’ll just cause more trouble later.”

Everyone nodded firmly. So, after that brief rest, we set out into the streets of Vestia to make the delivery. We’d seen the city from above, but standing here in the midst of it was an entirely different experience. Vestia’s main street was overflowing with people.

The air was filled with the savory aroma of roasted meat from food stalls, the sweetness of candied treats, the sound of flutes and drums—all blending together, while everyone around us enjoyed the festival with bright faces. The press of the crowd made our shoulders bump naturally, our steps stopping and starting with the flow, sometimes even pushed along.

“Shin-san, according to the map, the delivery point is up ahead!”

Iris raised her voice over the din, holding the request slip and map in her hands as she led the way, pushing a path through the crowd.

“Leader! I’ll carry this cargo myself!”

Ragnar’s voice was even louder than usual. So loud, in fact, that for a split second the bustling noise of the main street fell silent.

“Muscle is the only thing you can truly rely on!”

“Ragnar, we can hear you perfectly well at your normal volume.”

If anything, I was surprised he actually had an even higher setting than his usual volume.

“There certainly are many people here, but do not worry, Shin-sama. I shall teach you the art of gracefully slipping through crowds!”

That was something I definitely wanted to learn. Probably a vital skill for surviving the social circles she was used to.

Still… The sheer number of people was exhausting just to look at. I was shoved into repeatedly from behind, the smells of sweat and spices mixing together, making my head spin.

I adjusted the position of the ore bag slung over my shoulder and let out a deep sigh. Behind me, Leon hugged the bundle of herbs in both arms, restlessly glancing around. His eyes darted everywhere—completely acting like a country bumpkin in the big city.

Rovan-san, on the other hand, never dropped his grim expression as he watched the crowd with unblinking eyes. He studied even the smallest gestures and glances of the passersby, with more tension than any sword training session.

Then it happened. A stall vendor shouted his sales pitch from the bottom of his lungs, the smell of charred meat rising with the wind and piercing my nose. At the same time, several children ran by in a noisy group, causing the crowd to sway in a wave.

“Whoa—!”

A strong shove to my shoulder jolted my vision. I quickly grabbed the strap of the cargo bag to steady it. Behind me, Rovan-san’s low voice rumbled.

“Kid, keep your guard up. This is exactly when you get picked clean.”

“I’m fine. I’ve got it right here, see—”

I patted the shoulder bag, expecting the familiar weight under my fingers.

“…Huh?”

My shoulder was empty. Only the loose strap dangled there. The blood drained from my face in an instant.

“Wh-what’s wrong, Shin-san?”

Iris turned back from the front. Her voice made Iris halt her fan mid-motion, and Leon’s eyes widened.

“…The ores are gone.”

At my words, everyone froze for a heartbeat. Then Rovan-san’s gaze sharpened like a blade, slicing through the crowd with a glare.

“Damn… They got us. But they haven’t gone far yet.”

He spat the words in a low growl. I whipped my head around, scanning the people. People, people, people. Merchants displaying wares at stalls, tourists, travelers gathered for the festival… Easily several hundred in sight.

“…Kid, look carefully. Right after the grab, the thief will try to put some distance between you.”

At his advice, I swept my gaze again. Among the crowd, one figure moved more frantically than the rest.

A man with disheveled hair, a filthy cloak. His eyes darted nervously, constantly checking his surroundings.

“…That one.”

Our eyes met for an instant. The man clicked his tongue reflexively and bolted, shoving through the crowd.

“Damn it, I knew it!”

“Kid!”

“I know! Everyone, go ahead to the delivery point! Take the rest of the cargo!”

I shouted, then immediately broke into a run. I cut through the masses, weaving like a thread. The sounds of flutes and drums of the festival faded away, replaced by the pounding of footsteps and the thundering of my heartbeat.

“Hey, stop right there, bastard!”

The man glanced back at my voice, lips curling into a mocking smirk. That grin clearly said: Catch me if you can.

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