CH 106

“So far, do you have any questions?”

Souya finished rehydrating, looked around, and asked the four platinum-class adventurers.

There was no immediate reply. It was the platinum-class adventurers who were in front of him. I’m sure no one went out to defeat the Red Horn with a light feeling, but the situation of the Demonization Electrum must have been unexpected for anyone other than Seran, judging from his reaction.

“I have to admit …… I can’t keep up on what’s going on. But I do know that it’s bad.”

The first to speak up was Siren, who, perhaps thirsty, gulped down the water in her leather bag splendidly and threw the empty bag carelessly to the ground.

“Louise, I think we need to report the Red Horn’s Demonization Electrum to the capital headquarters, but can’t we get some skilled adventurers from over there? …… And we should recall old man Rand from the Deep Dungeon for good.”

Siren continued, giving the name of the vice-guild leader of Ilstadt and the name of a dungeon Souya didn’t recognize.

“…… The Deep Dungeon? That’s new to me.”

“…… It’s no wonder you don’t know about it, Souya-san. It’s a new ruin that was discovered about four months ago on the other side of the royal capital Doldberg. It is reported that high-quality magic items have been found in the lower levels.”

“Is that so? Such items are in the royal capital.”

“So, our guild is sending out excavation teams led by our vice-guild leader, Rand …… Now, it seems that the topic is all the rage in the royal capital. They also found a suicide weapon with destruction strength level 4 …… It may be an attractive site for skilled adventurers.”

The Deep Dungeon was a new ruin that Souya had never heard of. And since the adventurer’s guild of Ilstadt has gone to the trouble of dispatching them, the name of the ruins suggests that it is a vast blue ocean that has not yet been ravaged.

As an adventurer, Souya was interested in the story, but he didn’t think it was important at this moment, so he didn’t ask for details.

And Louise’s words that it was attractive to skilled adventurers.

Louise’s words were enough to make me realize once again that tracking down and defeating the Red Horn would be an extremely difficult and fruitless task.

“I agree with you that we should call the excavation team back from the Deep Dungeon. I’d like to see what they’ve uncovered, and it’s about time we pulled out.”

“Yeah. I hope we get some good results from the ruins. If we can find a demon bane with …… destruction strength level 4 suicide weapon, we may be able to kill the Red Horn.”

In response to Louise, Siren mumbled a few hopeful observations and said something brave.

“…… I hope Rand-san is alive. He was so excited about turning the ruins into a graveyard.”

“Hey, Phyllis, don’t say that …… It’s really too much for me.”

Louise gave up on Phyllis, who muttered lightly, with a pale expression, and sighed with a very bitter expression.

“The first thing to do is to report to the headquarters in Doldberg. At that time, let’s make contact with old man Rand and urge him to return. But don’t get your hopes up about the other adventurers …… The demon that comes and goes. The only adventurer who has ever been able to track it down is Seran-kun.”

Louise finished muttering and looked at Seran. I think he shook his opinion.

“I’ve been chasing the Red Horn for eight years. Most people only recognize it as a natural disaster.”

Seran opened his mouth quietly, as if in response to Louise’s words.

“An unfortunate accident that happens every other year or so. There are no adventurers who come all the way from the Royal Capital for that kind of thing. I’m only acting out of personal vengeance.”

All of them fell silent in response to Seran’s plain and realistic words.

He was an adventurer who had been chasing the Red Horn for revenge. His words were heavy.

It would have been easier to kill the Red Horn if the target had a fixed location, but it was no easy task when the Red Horn could be seen and heard, and even more difficult when it was a cunning opponent who disappeared.

Adventurers are not charity workers. They usually don’t move unless they get something in return. This was even more so when the demon’s abilities were so different. It’s a strong enemy that all of the members in this room can’t even be sure of winning, even if they were to face it now.

“…… But it’s in the progress of Demonization Electrum. If that’s true, it’s not the same as before. The King and the Knights may also move.”

“Siren, you don’t have to be so hard on me, I understand …… But.”

“Siren-kun …… I think what Louise-san is trying to say is that my testimony alone is not very credible.”

In order to capture what Louise was trying to say, Souya interrupted her with a smile that could be described as self-mocking.

“Souya-san, I’m not…”

“Louise. For now, let’s talk realistically. The reports that Shamil and I have witnessed are not trusted in the royal capital. It’s hard for me to say this, but I have too little trust in myself right now.”

Even though he had started to accumulate achievements, he was still just a bronze-class adventurer who had only completed about three requests. It was obvious that even if he had accomplished the feat of a Demon Slayer, he would only have the trust of his color.

On top of that, his origins were uncertain, and he was not a member of the Magician’s Guild. He may have the attention of everyone, the adventurers of Ilstadt, but he will never gain the trust of the Royal Capital. 

“Besides, capturing a fleeing Red Horn and asking them to help us take it down is not the kind of request one would expect from an adventurer in the Royal Capital.  You can’t keep paying in return, and it seems even more so if the Deep Dungeon is a good hunting ground.”

Siren gritted her teeth in disgust at Souya’s logical explanation. She probably isn’t the type to be driven by profit.

To put it bluntly, I believe in justice. I could sense a faint resemblance to the intentions of the White Fiine, who was also a follower of the supreme god Luminous.

“So, you want me to just let things go on as they are, with no recourse? It is possible that Ilstadt is next ……”

“No, it’s not that we don’t have a shot at catching the Red Horn …… I think I’ll consult with an old acquaintance.” 

“Souya-san’s old acquaintance ……?”

Louise looked at Souya’s face as if he had caught her interest. At the same time, Seran also turned to look at Souya.

The two of them know that Souya’s acquaintance is Doga, the legendary weaponsmith. It may be a sign that they are expecting the same level of talent.

“…… He has a bad personality, but he is quite smart. I’m sure you can count on him. But don’t rely on him too much. And, while it’s good to talk about the royal capital, it might be better to have the whole of Ilstadt share in this crisis.”

Louise responded to Souya’s suggestion with a strong nod.

Ilstadt is an autonomous city. Away from the royal power of the royal capital Doldberg, the city is run by the contributions of each guild.

If the guilds agreed to pay a huge bounty to the Red Horn, it would improve the quality of adventurers coming to Ilstadt and raise the awareness of the city’s people about the need for defense.

Spreading the word of the danger in the city may have reputational problems, but the destruction of Lingen is a fact that cannot be undone. In the future, sightings from the general public may not be foolproof.

(An old acquaintance. Well, let’s start by asking if we can meet.)

Souya let out a small breath as he remembered his old friend.

He had anticipated this and had made a request to Aisha, who was guarding Peryton, as a precaution.

If you think it was interesting or you are curious about the rest of the story, we would greatly appreciate it if you could support us with a star below the ad.