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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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Noticing the unusual atmosphere, I brought Wagner back to my house.
After seating the listless Wagner in the guest chair and opening a bottle of ale I’d bought from the pub, I finally asked the question that had been on my mind.
“Wagner, tell me what happened.”
“…”
This was the first time I’d seen Wagner so dejected.
He was a cheerful and charismatic guy, well-suited for mediating disputes, a natural leader, and the epitome of a good person.
He was also incredibly skilled at managing his party, making him seem almost too good to be true.
I had never seen him suddenly seek someone out and lower his head like that, at least not to my knowledge.
Wagner remained silent for a while, even after I asked.
I didn’t press him for an answer.
I poured the ale into a glass and handed it to him.
Wagner finally spoke after downing the entire glass in one gulp.
“…I took on a request recently. A request from the Phailure family.”
“Sounds like you landed a big one.”
“Yeah… It was a big enough deal to make some noise.”
Since I had stopped taking monster subjugation requests, I hadn’t been keeping up with news from that side, so I didn’t know Wagner’s party had taken on such a task.
Wagner held out his glass for a refill, and I poured him another drink, which he promptly downed in one gulp.
“It was a request to investigate a cave where citizens had reportedly gone missing. As we expected, it wasn’t an ordinary cave. It was a tunnel that seemed artificially dug… It felt strange. I had a bad feeling from the moment we entered.”
“A monster’s lair, perhaps?”
Monsters that dwelled in caves sometimes dug tunnels to use as their main base.
If it was an artificially dug tunnel, there was a high probability it was a monster’s lair.
But Wagner’s expression was uncertain.
“Monsters did appear… but I’m not sure if it was a monster’s lair. It felt different from the monster lairs we’d encountered before.”
“What was different, exactly?”
“…Sorry. I can’t explain it well. It was just a feeling.”
As I sipped my ale, I could roughly guess how things had unfolded.
The Phailure family must have investigated the cave first, realized it wasn’t ordinary, and then entrusted the task to Wagner’s party.
It was true that adventurer parties were better suited for this kind of work than the territorial army…
However, the requests noble families entrusted to adventurer parties were never easy.
How did I know?
Because I had experienced it myself.
In Wagner’s party.
Considering all these factors, there was only one reason why Wagner was so dejected.
I refilled his glass and asked as calmly as possible.
“How many died?”
“…We lost Cojo and Bruno.”
“Cojo and Bruno…”
“And Pichoni and Ronchevich… went missing during the mission.”
His shoulders trembled slightly, despite his large build.
The names he mentioned were all his comrades.
Cojo, Bruno, Pichoni, Ronchevich, and Wagner.
Wagner’s party currently consisted of these five members.
Pichoni and Ronchevich were also members when I was in the party.
So, they were my former comrades, just like Wagner.
The fact that all four were gone meant Wagner was the sole survivor who escaped from that cave.
I finally understood why the people in the pub had fallen silent when they saw Wagner.
They had also heard that Wagner’s party, except for Wagner himself, had been wiped out.
“…”
Wagner hung his head silently.
His fists, resting on his knees, trembled slightly.
The annihilation of all his party members except for himself.
He must have been feeling the weight of that responsibility as their leader.
Moreover, if they had all died together, it would have been one thing, but the fact that he alone returned alive… was the ultimate humiliation for the Wagner I knew.
Sigh.
Even though I tried to stay positive, there were times like this when I couldn’t help but feel down.
As an adventurer, it wasn’t uncommon to hear news of the deaths of acquaintances.
It couldn’t be helped.
That was the risk that came with being an adventurer.
They always lived with death at their side.
All that the remaining comrades could do was raise a glass of ale at night and pray for the souls of the departed.
“Drink.”
I refilled Wagner’s glass once more.
And I filled my empty glass as well.
Looking at the ale swirling in my glass, I raised it towards the sky visible through the window.
Even though they weren’t my current comrades, we were all in the same boat as adventurers.
I should also pray for their peaceful passage.
To Cojo, Bruno, Pichoni, and Ronchevich, who were good adventurers…
It was Wagner who interrupted my sentimental thoughts as I prayed for the four.
“So, if you’re willing…”
“Hmm?”
Ah, right.
He said he had a favor to ask.
What kind of favor could it be?
Perhaps he wanted me to introduce him to some potential new party members?
Wagner, with his wider network of contacts, would be much better at that than me.
This was a request from my former comrade, fellow soldier, and friend, Wagner.
Wouldn’t it be true camaraderie to stay by the side of a grieving friend?
I placed a hand on Wagner’s shoulder and spoke in a serious tone.
“I was already planning on offering my help, even if you hadn’t asked.”
“Iyer…”
“I’d be hurt if you thought I’d forgotten we were friends and comrades.”
“You, you really…”
Wagner’s eyes welled up with tears as he muttered in a choked voice.
He sniffled and lowered his head, trying to hold back his tears.
Heh.
Was that a bit cool?
This was what camaraderie was all about.
I was shining a bit this time.
Wagner wiped his eyes and lifted his head.
“Then, can you come to the guild the day after tomorrow in the afternoon? I’ll explain the details then.”
Huh?
Why wouldn’t he explain it here and now, and instead ask to meet later…?
He wanted help with the funeral arrangements, right?
And why the Adventurer’s Guild?
“Thank you, Iyer. I knew I could count on you.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. No problem.”
“I’ll do my best as well. Thank you so much.”
Wagner had returned to his usual cheerful self.
He fist-bumped me, said goodbye, and left.
I watched him open the door and leave, then tilted the ale bottle.
The last drop filled my empty glass as the bottle emptied.
“…He wants help with the funeral, right?”
I muttered as I downed the last drink.
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The day after tomorrow was the day I promised to meet Wagner.
Until then, I wanted to rest a bit more from the fatigue of the trip to Las Pallas, so I stayed home, enjoying my hobby of straw crafting and spending a peaceful day.
It was a satisfying day, as the quality of the dog and cat figurines I made was quite good.
Having spent such a peaceful day at home, I had no way of knowing what rumors were spreading in Tillasden.
Bad news travels fast, as they say.
I only rested at home for a single day, but the rumor spread quickly among the people.
But as I said, I was at home, enjoying my happy hobby…
So, I didn’t hear about the rumor until the day I was supposed to meet Wagner.
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Early afternoon.
As I left the house, I sensed a strange atmosphere.
It wasn’t killing intent.
It was an atmosphere that even ordinary people could sense.
As I walked down the street, I felt people glancing at me.
And it wasn’t just one or two people.
I was somewhat of a celebrity, but why were they acting like this all of a sudden?
These were all familiar faces.
As I walked towards the guild, feeling puzzled…
“Go, Iyer!”
Someone shouted, raising their arm.
…What was I supposed to “go” for?
I felt perplexed by the sudden cheer, but I raised my hand in response.
Then, other people started shouting words of encouragement.
“Iyerpol, fighting!”
“You can do it, Iyerpol!”
“We believe in you, dammit!”
?
A huge question mark floated in my mind.
Had these people gone crazy?
All I was doing was lazing around under the pretense of helping people.
It was embarrassing to be cheered on like this.
Please stop.
But the market people’s cheers continued until I reached the guild.
It wasn’t just one or two people, but dozens, hundreds of them cheering, and I didn’t know what to do.
As I finally arrived in front of the guild, trying to hide my embarrassment, I ran into a familiar face.
It was Rigati, who had returned to the guild after an early lunch.
“Good morning, Rigati.”
“Mr. Iyer.”
Rigati waved cheerfully as I greeted her.
But her cheerful expression quickly turned into one of concern.
“Mr. Iyer, I heard the news.”
“News?”
“Yes, that you’re going to help Mr. Wagner…”
Ah, that rumor.
Was that why people were cheering for me?
The rumor that I was helping Wagner?
But why was it a rumor that I was helping with the aftermath of Wagner’s party’s annihilation, and why were they cheering for it?
“He’s my former comrade and current friend. It’s only right to help him in times like this.”
“Mr. Iyer…”
“It’s not like I’m doing anything special.”
“Mr. Iyer always says that.”
Rigati gave a somewhat bitter smile as she said that.
I said that because I really wasn’t doing anything special…
Rigati, who opened the guild door for me, asked in a worried tone.
“But are you sure you’ll be okay? It’s been a while since you’ve worked in a group.”
“A group…? Well, it’ll be fine. We’re all gathered to help each other.”
“They’re all such… unique individuals…”
I continued to feel puzzled by her cryptic words, but I entered the guild through the door Rigati held open.
The guild in the early afternoon should have been quiet, with most people gone.
But today, the guild was unusually crowded.
And that wasn’t the only strange thing.
There were quite a few people in the guild, but they were all standing close to the walls.
It wasn’t a normal sight to see people who would usually be sitting at tables, boisterously joking around, quietly lined up against the walls.
As I entered the guild, those who noticed me started whispering.
“It’s Iyer.”
“It’s really Iyerpol.”
“The rumors were true.”
Was there a fake Iyerpol?
I looked around, puzzled, and spotted Wagner sitting at a large table.
I approached him, trying to appear serious for my grieving friend…
And I overheard someone whispering.
“I can’t believe I’m seeing this party composition…”
Wagner, who was sitting with his arms crossed and a serious expression, waved at me when he saw me.
Then I noticed Wagner wasn’t alone.
There were three other figures sitting at the large table with him.
Or rather, two figures and one… animal.
And those faces, though I didn’t see them often, were somewhat familiar.
Because… each one of them was famous.
“The adventurers representing Tillasden are all gathered in one place!”
One of the onlookers’ voices expressed my feelings perfectly.
My steps stopped involuntarily, and I slowly examined each of them.
First, Wagner, the handsome man in heavy armor, with short brown hair and distinct features.
Second, a woman with a human form, but with two unusual horns on her head, a tail visible under the table, and reptilian eyes with vertically slit pupils.
Third, a middle-aged man with a large build, bulging muscles, a hammer leaning against the table, and a bushy beard that almost completely obscured his face.
Fourth, a bipedal wolf with magnificent silver fur, blue eyes, and a build as large as the middle-aged man.
Each one of them was a unique individual.
The excited voices of the onlookers grew louder.
“This is amazing. I can’t believe this party composition…!”
“Go get everyone!”
Wait a minute.
What was going on?
I was frozen, unable to react.
That’s right.
While I was holed up at home, twisting straw ropes, an interesting rumor had spread in Tillasden.
The rumor that skilled adventurers had gathered to help Wagner and Tillasden.
Wagner of the Greatsword
Guinness the Mad Dragonewt
Kundt the Hammer Master
Wolf Who Chases the Wind
And lastly… me, Blind Swordsman Iyerpol.
The exciting news that the five adventurers representing Tillasden had formed a party had already reached the ears of most of Tillasden’s citizens.
It had spread beyond my control.
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Avengers Assemble