Quest Complete

The four of us walked through the entrance of the guild.

"We're back, Brandy!" Erika shouted.

"Oh hey Erika, where have you bee-..."

Brandy suddenly stopped and looked at Cal.

"Why are YOU here? You know very well that you're banned from this guild."

"Aw, come on Brandy. Don't be like that. Deep down I know you missed me."

"You two know each other?" Erika asked.

"Yeah, I'm a member of this guild too." Cal said.

Brandy rolled her eyes.

"No, you WERE a member of this guild!"

"What did I even do?"

"That isn’t obvious? You got completely wasted and streaked through the guild hall, naked!"

She shot Cal a death stare.

"Ha ha. I was probably really drunk because I don't remember that one bit."

"You don't remember me breaking a broomstick over your head and kicking you out?"

"Nope."

Cal smirked.

"Whatever... What I'd like to know is why are all three of you together?" Brandy sighed.

"It's a long story, do you mind if we talk in the back room?" I asked.

"Sure, but this better be good. If you waste my time, I'll kick you out...not you Erika, just this creep and that alcoholic moron."

Brandy brought us to an empty storage room in the back of the guild hall. She shut the door behind her.

"So, what is it you want?" She asked.

"I guess for everything to make sense, I'll explain it all from the beginning..."

I proceeded to explain our ordeal with the Western Mafia and the journey to the Fungallands.

"Shouldn't you be concerned that they're going to come after you?... And who's this guy in the cloak?" Brandy asked.

"I was about to get to that."

I pulled the hood off of the prince.

"... PRINCE DOUGLAS!?"

She practically threw herself at him.

"Is it really you!?"

"Yes." Douglas said, flatly.

"Brandy, I think you should give the prince his space." Erika said, as she clung to his arm.

"Listen Erika, I like you and all, but you should be the one to let go of him. I think you're a little too young for the prince."

"I'm eighteen and you can't be all that much older than I am and besides I doubt the prince prefers older women."

"Well then let's just ask the prince which of us is more his type."

They stared at him intently...

"I don't know." He said, completely monotone.

I whisper to Cal.

"I don't understand what they see in this guy."

"Ha ha. There isn't a man in this kingdom that does."

"He just doesn't want to hurt your feelings." Erika said.

"I think it's actually the other way around." Brady rebuttled.

I jumped in to stop their nonsense.

"Alright, that's enough."

I shoved the two of them off the prince.

"But-" Erika and Brandy said, simultaneously.

"Enough! The whole reason I brought him to you was because of that quest. I need you to get a hold of the Royal Guard."

"I mean I could... or he could just stay here a whil-"

"Just call them. The longer we wait the riskier being here becomes."

I didn't particularly care what happened to the prince, but if we waited too long to get the royal guard involved, the greater the chance the mafia had of finding us. Once the Royal family learned about this situation, I had no doubt they'd send agents to hunt down every last member of the Western Mafia.

Brandy huffed.

"Alright, I'll talk to the village guard. They'll be able to contact the royal palace."

✨✨✨

A few hours later, a carriage that was heavily guarded by soldiers showed up. An old man in a butler outfit stepped out.

"Your majesty, are you all right?"

"Yes." Douglas replied, flatly.

"I am so glad you were returned unharmed..."

He turned his attention to Erika, Cal, and me.

"Excuse me, were you the adventurer's that rescued the prince?"

"We sure are!" Cal said.

"Excellent, would you mind telling us everything you know about the kidnappers? I'm going to be providing a report to the royal guard, so they can bring them to justice for their crimes against the royal family."

I proceeded to describe to them the location of the abandoned mine and that the Western Mafia are the ones responsible. I of course avoided giving them any unnecessary information about ourselves.

"Excellent, if that's all, I believe I should get the prince back to the palace."

The prince started to make his way into the carriage, but I stopped him.

"Not so fast. That quest flier in the guild said there would be a reward for the Prince's safe return."

The prince instantly pulled three slips of paper out of his pockets and handed one to each of us.

"Here's a coupon."

"A coup-?"

I looked at it closer.

"Oh, this should do just fine."

The coupon was as follows:

ONE FREE FAVOR FROM PRINCE DOUGLAS

*This coupon is good for any one favor from Prince Douglas.

Note: the favor must be within the prince's authority to grant. No expiration date.

I grabbed Erika's coupon from her hand and tucked both away in my pocket.

"I'll be getting these laminated later."

"If that is all, the prince and I really must depart."

We bid them farewell, as the carriage rode off. I had a feeling that wouldn't be the last time we saw him.

I had to admit Prince Douglas was a strange guy, but I might have a use for him later. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this coupon yet, but a member of the Royal Family themselves may have just handed me my ticket to taking over this country... But that's still a long ways off. There is still a lot more that needs to be done first.

"What did those pieces of paper the prince give us say anyway?" Erika asked.

I read the coupon out loud to her. She suddenly got a maniacal look on her face.

"I see… I know what I'll be using that for."

"And what is that?" I asked.

I probably should have just lied to her and said the coupons were nothing…

"First I need to achieve my goal of becoming a sorceress, but once I do, I'll be using that coupon thingy to force Prince Douglas to marry me."

I doubt the royal family would allow a strange girl who was raised by goblins to marry the next in line to the throne, but I'll let her have her little fantasy for now.

"We should probably get back to our campsite. Hopefully our stuff wasn't stolen. Also it looks like we're back to square one, money wise." I said.

Erika smiled.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Mr. Arno!"

*Plop*

She pulled out a large bag from out of her robe. I opened it.

"Where did you get this, girl?"

"I sort of... took it from those mafia guys. When I went to the bathroom, I saw it unattended on a table. Since they're bad guys it's not technically stealing... at least I don't think so."

It was technically stealing, but who cares. Gino and his lackeys were going to be hunted down and imprisoned anyway. It's better we take this money rather than the authorities seize it.

I patted Erika on the head.

"You've grown a lot in these past few weeks. Keep up the good work."

Cal suddenly butted in,

"You know we all make a pretty good team. How's about I join your guys' party?"

Erika and I glanced at each other. I could already tell what she was thinking. We both answered at the time...

"No!"

"Ha ha. You guys probably just need some time to think it over. We'll talk again later. I'm going over to Rat Feces to get a drink."

It didn't seem like what we said entirely got through to his tiny brain.

"I really hate that guy." Erika whispered.

I wasn’t particularly too fond of him either. Unfortunately, I think we'll be seeing a lot of him from now on.

"How about we go pick up something for you to eat." I said.

"Sounds good to me, I'm starving." Erika replied smiling.

Somehow getting indebted to the mafia ended up working out in the end. Erika was able to successfully perform the color change illusion spell and I was possibly a few steps closer in my goal of ruling Circino. This time I think things are actually starting to turn around for me.