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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“I can’t accept that kind of remark, Guinness.”
Wagner, his face hardening at the criticism directed at me, retorted.
It was rare for the good-natured Wagner to frown.
But Guinness’s expression didn’t falter.
Her brow furrowed even deeper.
“If you’re saying that because of Iyer’s physical disability, he’s already proven himself to be a highly capable adventurer by completing numerous requests. You can’t deny what Iyer has achieved just because you haven’t seen it.”
I’m touched, Wagner…
To think you held me in such high regard…
If you hadn’t dragged me into this, I would have bought you expensive drinks tonight.
Despite Wagner’s defense, Guinness scoffed, as if she found it absurd.
“That’s not what I’m saying, idiot. Who doesn’t know that the blind man has been working as an adventurer?”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that it’s been over a year since he quit that adventurer work.”
Wagner’s expression hardened at Guinness’s words.
Ah~
So that’s what she meant.
By “adventurer work,” she meant monster subjugation, and it had indeed been a little over a year since I left Wagner’s party.
I left because the contract with Uncle Dooks solved my financial problems, and I no longer wanted to take on dangerous jobs…
Since I hadn’t mentioned this, there were various rumors about why I quit monster subjugation.
It seemed Guinness was referring to that.
“He wouldn’t have quit his main job for no reason. There must be a reason. There are many rumors, but the most credible one is that he quit because he could no longer work as an adventurer.”
“That’s…”
“How can we trust a has-been who suddenly quit subjugation a year ago for some unknown reason, Wagner?”
‘Answer me.’
Guinness leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed, as if challenging him to respond.
Wagner, facing Guinness’s challenging gaze, was completely frozen.
The problem was that the other two, besides Wagner and me, weren’t stopping Guinness.
It seemed they also wanted to know the truth, as everyone’s gaze focused on Wagner.
Well, it seemed like I had to step up and explain.
It wasn’t a big deal, I just quit because I had another source of income.
Just as I was about to stand up to explain…
“That’s not it…!”
Wagner shouted.
Everyone except Guinness flinched at his outburst.
They hadn’t expected the usually calm Wagner to react so strongly.
I was also surprised, as I hadn’t expected such a reaction from him.
Why was he acting like this all of a sudden?
Wagner, seemingly frustrated, gritted his teeth and remained silent for a while, then muttered softly.
“…It’s because I was incompetent.”
“What?”
“Iyer left… because of me. There’s nothing wrong with him.”
…Excuse me?
No, I left because I found another way to make money…
I couldn’t understand Wagner’s answer at all.
I just quit because I didn’t want to do dangerous work anymore.
Wagner continued his explanation.
His expression was filled with anguish as he spoke.
“In fact, Iyer was the core of our party right up until he left. I can confidently say that there’s no better hunter than Iyer in Tillasden… no, in all of Kalak.”
“…”
“You don’t have to worry about Iyer, Guinness. He’s undoubtedly the best scout here.”
Because of Wagner’s assertion, and perhaps sensing something behind his unusual expression, Guinness, despite her disapproving look, remained silent.
Mr. Wolf and Mr. Kundt also seemed satisfied with the answer, as they looked away from Wagner.
Ironically, I, who should have known Wagner the best, couldn’t understand his intentions.
Had something happened that I didn’t know about?
“…I know you’re all confused about this sudden summons and the mission you’ve been given.”
“…”
“But the five of you are undoubtedly the most suitable for this mission in Tillasden. If we can’t solve this phenomenon, the other remaining adventurers will surely face the same fate. There will be even greater casualties.”
Wagner looked at me.
And he gently placed his hand on my shoulder.
“When I heard the news of my party’s annihilation a few days ago, when everyone was just whispering rumors, it was Iyer who stepped forward first, wanting to resolve this situation.”
Me?
“I, who despaired after losing all my party members and returning alone, didn’t give up hope… because I saw Iyer’s resolve.”
“…”
“He must have known. That this wasn’t an ordinary incident, and that it needed to be resolved before it caused more damage.”
After saying that, Wagner took a step back.
And he bowed deeply in front of everyone.
“I implore you. Although I’m the leader of a failed party, please join me in stopping this threat to Tillasden.”
Silence fell over the room once more.
I was seeing a lot of unexpected sides of Wagner today.
This was the first time I had seen him plead so earnestly.
I owed Wagner a lot.
And as his former comrade, I knew he always tried to do the right thing.
If we refused this summons, the five of us would face disadvantages in working in Tillasden.
There was a law that stated adventurers could be summoned by the lord’s authority in emergencies.
If we wanted to continue working in Tillasden, we had no choice but to carry out the mission, whether we liked it or not.
But despite that, Wagner bowed.
He wanted us to act not out of obligation, but out of a desire to resolve this incident.
He was truly a capable leader.
Hmm.
I didn’t really want to take on dangerous jobs… but Tillasden was the city I loved, my second home.
If there was a threat to Tillasden, I definitely wanted to eliminate it.
And although I wasn’t as close to them as I was to Wagner, Pichoni and Ronchevich were my former comrades.
They were listed as missing, not dead, so there was a chance we could find them during the investigation.
If no one else stepped forward, Wagner would go alone.
I didn’t want to lose a good friend, so, hmm…
As I weighed my options in silence, someone stood up.
It was Mr. Kundt, with his imposing height and build, and a beard that covered more than half his face.
He picked up his hammer, which was leaning against the table, and looked at Wagner.
Wagner looked back at him with a tense gaze.
“If Wagner is asking this earnestly, I can’t refuse… I’ll do it.”
“Kundt!”
“Wagner, I owe you a debt…”
Wagner’s face brightened at Kundt’s words.
At the same time, the people around us let out small gasps of awe.
After Kundt stood up, ‘Wolf Who Chases the Wind,’ or Mr. Wolf for short, stood up next.
“Sounds fun, I’m in.”
He grinned, baring his sharp teeth, seemingly enjoying the situation.
But regardless of his reasons, his participation as a powerful force was good news.
Wagner, Kundt, and Wolf.
Three of them had declared their participation.
Then, the only one left was…
“Well.”
Guinness, who was still sitting with her leg on the table, looking at us with a delinquent air.
Look at her audacity, completely unfazed by everyone’s attention.
She acted so confidently that it made us feel like we were in the wrong.
Was this what a “bad girl” was like?
“Please, Guinness.”
“…”
“It would be a great help if you joined us.”
“Sigh.”
Guinness let out an exasperated sigh.
But she wasn’t refusing outright.
I had a feeling that everyone here owed Wagner a favor.
From Mr. Kundt to Mr. Wolf.
Even Guinness, who seemed impossible to control, was here because of a debt she owed Wagner, and that’s why she couldn’t refuse easily, right?
Guinness frowned in displeasure.
“…This is the last time.”
“Guinness…!”
“I don’t owe you anything after this. This is it.”
“Of course!”
Wagner nodded happily.
He probably hadn’t even considered the debt when he asked Guinness to join.
With Guinness’s participation, the party now consisted of four members.
Hmm.
Mr. Kundt and Guinness had made their decisions, so it was my turn to think, right?
I was pondering what to say, deliberately putting on a serious expression and stroking my chin, when Wagner grabbed my shoulder.
He looked genuinely happy as he said,
“With this, all five of us are gathered, Iyer!”
…Hey, why didn’t you ask me?
Was I just assumed to be joining, like some kind of tag-along friend?
I had been preparing a cool line…
I felt a bit sullen, but the atmosphere around us was heating up, regardless of my feelings.
The people around us cheered at the sight of the five adventurers representing Tillasden joining forces.
I couldn’t look sullen with everyone cheering like that…
“Yeah, that’s great…”
“Thanks to you. I’m so glad you’re here, Iyer.”
Wagner, oblivious to my sullenness, placed his hand on my shoulder with a happy expression, a bright smile on his handsome face.
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The events that happened at the Adventurer’s Guild spread like wildfire among the citizens of Tillasden.
People were even more excited because the party had gathered to investigate the cave where people had been disappearing, and the members were rarely seen together.
Wagner, the vanguard, the face of Tillasden’s party leaders, the valiant warrior who stood at the front lines, protecting everyone.
Kundt, the mid-guard, the hammer soldier who crushed multiple enemies with his massive hammer and unmatched physique.
Guinness, the rear guard, the powerful Dragonewt, representing the strong Ain race, whose body itself was a weapon, possessing physical abilities far surpassing other races.
Wolf Who Chases the Wind, the interceptor, the Lycanthrope with exceptional agility, sharp hearing and smell that humans couldn’t match, capable of hunting down enemies threatening the party single-handedly.
Iyerpol, the scout, Tillasden’s best hunter, who compensated for his blindness with a highly developed sense of presence and experience gained in countless battles, assessing the dangers facing the party.
Although they had never worked together before, except for Iyerpol and Wagner, their respective roles perfectly matched the ideal party composition.
People were curious about how this party would perform.
Some even believed that a legendary party had been born in Tillasden.
But there was one thing they didn’t know yet…
That the personalities of the five members were too unique.
Too unique.
Very very very unique.
So unique that it would be incredibly difficult for them to blend together.
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