Chapter 26: The Day Before Departure

Author note:

Apologies for the preface!

From this chapter onwards, the story takes a dark turn and becomes more intense.

It can be quite unsettling and unpleasant.

For those who are sensitive, please start reading from Chapter 28.

―――――――

— The morning of the next day

Today, I plan to quickly finish the quest assigned by Guild Master Keith. Honestly, I didn’t want to take it on.

Last night, we discussed this matter together.

While being cautious, Mia and I decided to proceed with Guild Master’s quest, while Kukuto and the others would continue with their preparations to leave the town.

We visited the Adventurer’s Guild and accepted the Guild Master’s quest at the reception.

At that time, we were persistently told, “This is an important matter, so make sure to report back as soon as you return to the town.”

Since I also want to finish it quickly, I intend to report immediately.

◇

— Abandoned Mine

Yesterday, we defeated a lot of the monsters, so we got to the 3rd floor of the basement easily.

We placed fluorite stones around the mining area to enhance the illumination. The mining site became brighter.

We found several gems in a place that seemed to be the Arachne’s nest.

Since we would be leaving Barcery Town tomorrow, we decided not to report these gems to the guild but to give them to Marle.

Mia also agreed, so I put them in the pocket of the stuffed animal.

We also collected some of the Arachne’s thread, as it might be useful for something.

That should be enough. We decided to return to the Adventurer’s Guild.

◇

We arrived in Barcery Town.

We immediately went to the Adventurer’s Guild and requested a meeting with Guild Master Keith, but he had an important meeting and couldn’t come immediately, so we were guided to the waiting room.

――Three hours passed while waiting in the room.

It was too long. I hadn’t eaten lunch since I came to the guild, and I was hungry.

When I tried to leave the guild to have a meal, they stopped me, saying that the meeting would be over soon.

I took out food from the stuffed animal’s pocket while hiding it in my rucksack.

because they might be monitoring us.

When I finished eating my meal and the umpteenth cup of tea, Keith entered the room.

“You’ve been kept waiting. So, how did it go?”

He made us wait that long and didn’t even apologize. As expected of an elf.

“The number of monsters in the abandoned mine was small, and we only encountered three Big Spiders on the 3rd floor. There were no monsters in the mining site.”

That’s the extent of my report. As an amateur, this is the best I can do.

“Understood. Go to the reception and collect your reward before leaving.”

“Eh… Is that all?”

“Yeah, our conversation is over. Leave quickly.”

He said that and left the reception room.

What’s up with this quest… I don’t understand its meaning.

Well, since we’ll be leaving this town tomorrow, I decided to stop thinking about it and return to the workshop.

We received our quest reward at the guild reception and headed toward the exit.

The guys from “Spirit Hunter” were smirking and laughing as they watched us with triumphant and malicious laughter.

Before they could approach us, we left the guild.

We’ll never see them again. They irritated us until the very end.

◇

It was already evening when we arrived at the workshop.

There was no light in the workshop window. I wonder if Kukuto and the others are going out.

As we entered the workshop, there was a strange sense of unease.

The weapons and armor that were leaning against the walls were gone.

The tables and tools were in different positions compared to the morning.

“Mia, something is off. Get ready for combat.”

We had our lightsabers in hand, ready to fight at any moment.

“I’ll search the rooms. Mia, keep an eye on the rear.”

“Y-Yes.”

We looked around the first floor, but there were no remarkable discoveries.

In that case, it must be the second floor.

I pointed at the staircase with my finger, indicating to Mia that we should go to the second floor.

I silently led the way, making sure not to make any noise as we climbed the stairs.

“Wh-what is this…”

Traces of a fierce battle extended towards the back of the corridor.

Remaining cautious, we took slow steps, trying not to make any noise.

The sense of unease grew stronger within me.

The room at the end of the hallway belonged to Kukuto. The surface of the door had significant indentations, and the doorknob was broken.

I held the Mithril shortsword in my hand and gently pushed the door with its tip.

……

The door opened without resistance.

W-What the hell…

My heart pounded wildly as if it was going to burst. It was suffocating. Someone stop this.

I couldn’t breathe properly.

“EEEEEEIAAAAA!!”

A scream came from behind me.

When I turned around, Mia was frozen at the sight.

“No, no, noaaaaaa”

She collapsed to her knees, with her hands on the floor, crying and screaming.

There were two people in the room, Mr. Kukuto and Miss. Marle, both standing while leaning against the wall.

And……

Both had swords stuck in their chests.

Oh no, oh no, oh no.

Sadness and anger are driving me crazy.

My eyes are flickering. My vision is distorted.

But I can’t afford to lose it now. Stay calm. There might still be enemies around.

Mia is here too.

“Damn it! I’ll definitely kill them! Kill! Kill! Kill! I’ll definitely kill them!”

I shouted. I shouted with all my might, then I punched myself in the cheek..

The taste of blood spreading in my mouth made me calm little by little.

The taste of blood spreading in my mouth gradually helped me regain some composure.

…Mia. Is Mia okay?

When I turned around to check on Mia, I noticed the sound of someone coming up the stairs.

“Mia, someone is coming.”

”It’s no good. My heart is completely broken. I can’t seem to move yet.”

I go out in front of Mia and prepare to fight at any time.

“Oi oi, aren’t you a violent one? Who are you going to kill?”

The old man came up the stairs with a grin.

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