The Dark Warrior by Kugane Maruyama

of coppers. We want to take on higher-level assignments. If you want to see what we can do, we’d be happy to demonstrate, so can’t we take that job?”
    The hostility from earlier was rapidly dissipating. The atmosphere was one of
Ah yeah
or
I know the feeling
. For this rough bunch who valued an adventurer’s strength above all, what he was saying made sense.
    But the receptionist was not so understanding. “…I’m sorry, but rules are rules.”
    Ainz did a mental victory pose in response to her apologetic bow. “I see—there’s nothing I can do, then. Sorry to have been so presumptuous.” He bobbed his head. “In that case, please give me the most difficult thing you have for a copper plate. Maybe something not posted to the board yet?”
    “Uh…yes, sir.”
    Just as the receptionist stood up and Ainz was about to cry mental tears of joy at his victory, a man’s voice called out, “If it’s a challenge you’re after, how about helping us out on our job?”
    “Huh?” Ainz let some intimidating irritation slip into his voice. He looked up to try to gloss that over and saw four adventurers, silver plates gleaming in the light.
But I finally had things going my way
, he grumbled in his head as he turned to face them.
    “Is the job…worthwhile?”
    “Well, hmm, I think it’ll be what you make of it,” a man who seemed like the leader of the group replied. He was a warrior type wearing banded mail, a type of armor where thin bands of metal covered layers of chain mail and leather.
    Should I go with this guy on his job? Of course, I can decide after I hear what it is, but I’m not sure if the receptionist will pick a job for me next time. But if I take this job, I can network a bit and maybe even get some info.
    His indecision lasted several seconds.
    Then he slowly nodded. “That’s exactly the kind of job I’m looking for. Allow me to join you. But do you mind telling me what kind of job it is?”
    At this reply, the men had the receptionist prepare them a room.
    It was basically a conference room. There was a table in the center with chairs placed around it. The four men seated themselves on the far side.
    “Okay, have a seat right there, please.”
    Ainz did as he was told and sat in one of the chairs. Narberal sat noiselessly beside him.
    The men were young—none of them seemed more than twenty—but they didn’t look green. They seemed more composed than one would expect of people their age. They were relaxed, but they had sat down with space between them so they could take up arms at a moment’s notice. They’d done so unconsciously, so it must have been a habit that stuck with them from many life-or-death battles.
    “Okay, before we talk business, let’s introduce ourselves.” The warrior-type man from before spoke up as their representative. He had the typical blond-haired, blue-eyed look of kingdom people, and although there was nothing about his features that made him stand out, he was still handsome. “Nice to meet you. I’m the leader of the Swords of Darkness, Peter Mauk. Over there is the eyes and ears of our team, ranger Lukrut Volve.”
    A blond man in leather armor bobbed his head. There was a jokey tenderness in his brown eyes. Overall he was slim with especially long arms and legs, almost bringing to mind a spider. It was clear, however, that his thin frame was the result of trimming away any excess.
    “And this is the brains of our team, a caster, Ninya the Spell Master.”
    “Looking forward to working with you.”
    He was probably the youngest of the group. He had blue eyes and brown hair, and a smile too youthful to belong to an adult spread across his face as he bowed. Compared to the other members of the group, who were rather suntanned, he had pale skin. He was also the most attractive of the bunch. It wasn’t so much a masculine beauty as androgynous. His voice was also a bit high for a man’s.
    Although his smile didn’t seem insincere, there was something