Chapter 35: Hardships
“Second-dono. Why do you know the details of a dungeon that hasn’t been cleared before? “
Silvia asked a critical question.
“……Ohー……”
I was at a loss about what to say.
What should I do? Should I make up an excuse? Or reveal the truth to them? What should I do?
“I somehow noticed it…… Ever since the time we met. I wondered if there was a reason for that? “
Yeah, it’s just like she says. There’s a reason. It’s somewhat complicated to explain, and even then, I’m not sure they’d believe me.
Sensing the serious atmosphere surrounding Silvia, Eko and Yukari also looked over here. And even if they were to understand, I’ll still feel like they’d criticize me, and I wouldn’t be able to calm down. There must be a sense of guilt somewhere deep in my mind that feels like this. If so, would it be better if I just came clean about it?
No. I must not tell them.
My circumstances far exceed their comprehension. And things that aren’t understood are just “scary”. Therefore, I should not tell them. We shouldn’t destroy the relationship that we’ve built. The first place in the world will be a fleeting dream if that happens.
Then, Silvia opened her mouth with a dignified look, although I’m not sure whether she knew my inner dilemma or not.
“……You have all my trust. If you want, you can talk to me. I’ll accept anything.”
Strong―― And honest. That’s how I saw her right now.
Even though her trust might crumble, she still had the courage to step in and listen. A never wavering will. An integrity that doesn’t lie. A mind too straight that cannot be shaken. Silvia has that.
I can’t imitate her, I absolutely can never be like her, with her strong and righteous heart; pure, sincere, unblemished.
“Silvia.”
That’s why――
“Sorry. I will never tell my secret to anyone.”
――I ran away.
I acknowledged there was a secret, and declared that I would never reveal it. A unilateral decision, disregarding Silvia’s strength of mind.
But it’s not that I want to run away. I must run away from this, or else I won’t be able to become the world’s top.
“I won’t speak about it someday. Even to the day I die, I won’t reveal it to anybody…… sorry.”
I lowered my head. I hoped they would shelve this conversation and just return to our usual daily lives.
After a brief silence, Silvia “fu fu fu”, laughed and said with a caring expression.
“I don’t really care. But…… If it gets tough, you can always withdraw that statement.”
Silvia Virginia.
……She’s a good woman. I really thought so from the bottom of my heart.
＊ ＊ ＊
After Master returned to his room, the three of us secretly held a meeting.
‘What is Master’s secret? ‘, was the topic. But――
“Hmm. To be honest, I don’t really care.”
I spoke my thoughts.
That’s right, I don’t have any problem no matter what kind of secret Master has. It seemed like Eko thought the same, and she nodded following my response.
“Don’t get me wrong, I feel the same way, but it somehow worries me a little.”
Silvia’s eyes smiled as she said so.
Well, that’s certainly true.
“But, trying to find out Master’s secret…”
“Mmm. I’ve been curious about it, but, you’re no longer a slave, right Yukari? Then why are you still calling Second-dono Master? “
Oops. This person is quite perceptive.
“That’s because I promised I would take care of Master’s daily needs.”
“Is that so? Care for his needs, huh? Like some sort of maid? “
“Yeah, something like that.”
“I see, I see. But, isn’t it strange? What kind of maid gets a 20 million CL starting salary? “
“That’s just my reward as a Blacksmith Master, but what about it? “
Moreover, I’ve almost used up the 20 million already by purchasing some 『Special-grade Maid Clothes』. Master said he will buy a wonderful mansion in the capital, so my debut as a maid will be at that time. If it’s not about that, then I don’t know what this sham of a female knight means. By the way, after checking the price, I noticed these Special-grade Maid Clothes had quite the high performance. However, it’s a mystery why someone would decide to make such high-quality goods only to be worn by a maid.
“Can you be both a maid and a blacksmith? “
“Yes, I’ll show you how beautifully I can accomplish both roles.”
Silvia-san became silent wearing a bitter expression. Hehe, it’s my win.
“I want to be a maid too! “
Eko said while raising her hand. But no, I can’t let that happen.
“You can’t.”
“Ehhh.”
Since that is my identity, I can’t let someone else have it so easily.
“Anyway, what do you expect Master’s secret to be? Let’s get back to that.”
When I said so, Silvia unfolded her arms and spoke.
“That’s right. What I think is that Second-dono is an intelligence agent from another country, maybe? “
I see, a keen conjecture indeed. If that’s the case, then it’s understandable that he might know details about the dungeon, and also why he can’t reveal his identity.
“So that’s why he denied it so strongly, since he accidentally talked about confidential information.”
“But what I don’t understand is…… if he’s an agent, why does he want to be the top in the world?”
“Ahh, that’s true…”
Well then. We continued to think about it.
As we talked to each other, we came up with some ideas.
“No way, maybe an alien? Or probably a psychic? ” (Silvia)
“Someone from the future! ” (Eko)
“He could also be from a different world……” (Yukari)
While coming up with such wild ideas, our night was over.
＊ ＊ ＊
It’s been five hours since we left the town of Pae Ho and traveled west.
As the overgrown vegetation decreased, the smell of soil gradually filled the air, and then the blacksmithing town of 『Badgordo』 came into view among the mountains.
“Alright, once we secure a buyer for the Mithril alloy at the Blacksmiths Guild, we’ll dive right into the dungeon.”
While hurrying my horse, Seventh Teiō, we moved towards the Blacksmiths Guild. It’s been a long time since I last dived into the Proline Dungeon, and I was really eager to enter.
“Second-dono! Why are you so hasty? “
After somehow catching up to me, Silvia then asked.
“From all the intermediate class dungeons, I like Proline the most! “
“That’s not a reason! “
“You’ll soon know! “
I said that while laughing, then hurried to the Blacksmiths Guild.
————————–
Then, an hour later.
We were still at the Blacksmiths Guild.
There seemed to be a few good wholesale buyers. However, none of them accepted my proposal. No matter where I went, they all accused me of lying with arguments like “It’s absurd for someone to say they’ll provide a stable supply of mithril alloy”.
“Well, this was bound to happen.”
Yukari muttered. Certainly, if someone was to come with a story too good to be true like “I’ll wholesale mithril alloy starting tomorrow”, I suppose it’s normal for them not to trust it.
“What do you think we should do? “
I wasn’t ashamed to ask that question to Yukari.
“For one, I think it would be a good idea to capture the Proline Dungeon and get some reputation. They’ll probably trust you if you show them your ability.”
“In other words, join the Adventurers Guild? “
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Whoa…… I really hate that plan. I’ve only got bad memories of the Adventurers Guild in my previous life.
“Do you have any other ideas? “
“I can’t really think of any.”
“What about you, Silvia and Eko? “
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t knyaa.”
Seems like these two don’t know a-nya-thing. (Silvia: Wakaran, Eko: Wakanyai, and Second copies the Wakanyai from Eko)
“Then, what would happen if we capture the dungeon without registering at the Adventurers Guild? “
“I believe that will complicate things.”
“I guessed so……”
Rather than hiding our identity and clearing it, whilst we get on their bad side and they think “Who do they think they are!? We will not turn a blind eye to this! ” it’s better to be obedient members and have them support us like “As expected of our aces! Look forward to their achievements!”.
But well, that would only be the case if the Adventurers Guild was “upright”. But most of the time that’s not the case. If we capture it without registering, who knows what they’ll do.
If they just tracked our movements that would still be okay, but they might distort the truth and spread rumors among the Blacksmiths Guild, maybe putting on pressure and interfering with our business partners, or they might even send assassins. With the “Adventurers Guild of Mobius” that I know, that is a plausible possibility.
“……I guess it can’t be helped then. Let’s find an inn, then go register at the Adventurers Guild.”
After giving up, the crestfallen me and the others headed towards the inn.
———————-
“I’d like to register.”
“Ah, y-yes! This way please! “
The receptionist was very friendly. It’s at times like these that I really feel the benefits of having this kind of avatar.
I filled out the registration documents and handed them back to the receptionist. I registered us as a team. The team name was 『Firstest』, and the members four, including me.
After refusing their rudimentary explanation, I received the four Guild cards. These Guild cards were something similar to an ID for adventurers. The contents of the card have the individual and team rank, both of which were at F. By the way, the ranks go from F to A.
“Here is the rookie adventurer’s guidebook, and there’s also various informative lectures.”
“We don’t need that.”
“I-is that so? ……Then, the combined registration fee for four people and the team registration will be 140,000 CL.”
“…………Okay.”
I paid the money, then left the reception desk.
My mood was getting worse and worse. Well, it’s not like I don’t know the reason.
Actually, a variety of reasons were overlapping. I was frustrated because I wanted to dive into the Proline Dungeon as soon as possible; frustrated because I couldn’t find a buyer for the mithril alloy; frustrated with the situation where I had to come register to the Adventurers Guild, which I didn’t want to get involved with in the first place; frustrated by the fact that I am currently F rank; and lastly, frustrated by the blatant money-grubber attitude of the Guild.
“Hey, hey! You, the fancy guy with the dark elf! “
……And while now being irritated by this strange guy, my frustration was reaching a climax. This is why I didn’t want to come here.
“You’re new here, right? Let me teach you a lesson. I’m the fellow who educates rookies. Aren’t you grateful? “
A huge bearded man with lots of scars on his face approached. Behind him were three guys with vulgar expressions. He licked his lips, probably thinking of the “enjoyment” he would get with Yukari as if he had already won. Does he really think he can beat me?
*Pop*.
I could almost hear the snap in my head.
“You know, I’m kind of curious. Why are you picking a fight like this? “
“Ha? How so? “
“Maybe you think ‘ahh, that’s a sucker rookie’. You think you’re lucky to beat some weak-looking guy and take the beautiful woman accompanying him? Because you can easily disguise it as educating newcomers? I knew there were people like you, but I guess you got the wrong guy.”
“What? Are you picking up a fight? Bastard.”
“That’s not it. It’s something else. Aren’t you just the typical crook? I don’t think you’re at fault. I think the Guild that lets people like you become an adventurer is the one at fault. If a teacher is looking after a problem student, they need to do it properly, right? Am I wrong? “
“…………”
When I looked around, everyone, adventurers and staff members avoided my gaze. If there was a knight with Silvia’s sense of justice the story would be different, but everyone here was basically just “letting sleeping dogs lie”. But there were quite a few of them here, and if they aren’t doing anything to avoid this, aren’t they just accomplices?
“And what’s this about rookie education? Is it like a secret word or something? Is he going to teach me a lesson behind the scenes? Hey, say something.”
“Hey, don’t ignore me! “
“Okay, okay, geez, you don’t shut your mouth, huh? Just come at me. Otherwise it won’t be self-defense.”
“You bastard!! “
The huge bearded man’s face turned red with anger, and he threw out a punch.
Unfortunately, he’s full of openings…… It’s as if he’s screaming ‘please kill me’.
“Stop! “
――The next moment, Eko got between me and the big man.
And his fist landed on Eko’s head.
“Ooouch….”
The man held his right hand, and made a sound that indicated his bones had broken. Eko on the other hand, was the same as always. It seems like the difference between his STR and Eko’s VIT is just too much.
“Bastar–! Eh……What’s this!? “
The other three tried to move behind me but―― they suddenly fell to the ground while raising a confused voice.
“I tied them up just in case, Master.”
Now that I think of it, Yukari had the 【Thread Manipulation】 skill. As expected of the former assassin of the deceased Duchess, she tied them up without even moving much.
“Hmph, is there nothing left for me?”
Silvia leaked a disappointed voice while holding her bow. What was she trying to do with a bow in this small room? Then she muttered, “And even though I’ve been practicing with the Bow of the Blazing Wolf a lot for a moment like this…….”. I guess it’s pointless to tell her this is not the point of her having a bow.
“Thank you. Shall we go?”
While thanking the three of them, we left the Guild while a lot of eyes followed after our retreating figures.
…………
After walking for a bit, I noticed it.
My feet were shaking.
Was I scared of the big man?
No, that’s not it. I was scared of myself.
If things had continued as they were and a fight had broken out while I was irritated…… In the worst case, I would have slaughtered them all.
But this is not a game. Even though I already realized it, it seems I have yet to completely understand it. Killing a person here doesn’t make you a PK (Player Killer), but a ‘murderer’. Yeah, I know that in my mind, but seems like I still haven’t completely lost the sense of this being a game.
It might be difficult to become the world’s top in this other world, but in a completely different sense.
————————
“Let’s rest for today.”
After I told the three of them, each of us went into our room at the inn.
……This isn’t good. When I killed the thieves, I couldn’t stop the shaking for a while.
From now on, it would be better to avoid any unnecessary socializing as much as I can. I’m scared I might become twisted.
I lay on the bed and let my consciousness go while having those thoughts.
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