Chapter 27: Trade City Heizen (5) – The Slayers Guild

Trade City Heizen is an isolated island on land— you can’t reach it by normal land routes.

Outside Heizen lies the Heizen Plains.

Scattered across the plains are the remains of old forts and walls, now repurposed as Slayer Villages— not villages with residents, but more like campgrounds for slayers: a few general shops, inns, taverns, plus guild staff, merchants from the Three Great Houses, and stationed guards.

Beyond the plains stretches the Great Heisen Forest.
It’s about a four-day walk straight from the city—no way you can do a day trip.

“That’s why you usually stay in a Slayer Village before entering the forest. Also, they’re not really villages—just outposts. They become the frontline when a Forest Wave hits.”

“Forest Wave…?”

I had heard of that.

Every summer, monsters from the dungeon within the Great Forest overflow and form massive hordes.
They surge toward Heisen.

This is the Forest Wave.

In my previous world’s terms, it’s basically a stampede.
Except the Forest Wave has three phases.

The First Wave,
the Second Wave,
and finally, the Last Wave.

Each phase isn’t just larger—the monsters get stronger and smarter.
To make things worse, the timing between waves is inconsistent.
Sometimes all three finish within three days, sometimes it takes a whole week.

No one knows what causes the Forest Wave.

And it only happens in Heisen.
No other dungeon city has anything like it.

Heizen has tried many countermeasures— all failed.

For example, hunting monsters a week before the predicted time did nothing.
Building a massive wall over years, spanning the plains—also useless.
Only remnants of it remain now, some reused as Slayer Villages.

At this point, the only option is to defend against the horde after it appears.

In a way, though, the event became a kind of festival.
Why?

Because the Forest Wave is profitable.

Every summer, explorers from the continent and overseas flock to Heizen and become “slayers.”

“They say it’s the best chance to get rich quick—even if you might die.”
“Some people built houses from one Forest Wave payout.”
“I heard a famous explorer slays during Wave season, then spends the rest of the year relaxing until the next one.”
“Honestly… I’m jealous.”

Isn’t that the ideal lifestyle?

As I thought that, Mineha flicked my forehead.

“Ow!”

Yes, the Forest Wave is dangerous but profitable.

You get a participation reward,
plus bonuses based on the monsters you defeat.
Materials from the monsters also sell at higher prices.

Those materials are traded across the continent and overseas through merchants.
They sell out fast—quantity, quality, doesn’t matter.

As a result, Heizen earns far more than it spends.

If the city ever fell to a Forest Wave, it would be over.
But at the same time, it’s a crucial event sustaining its economy.

“It’s profitable, sure. But Forest Wave kills don’t count toward explorer rank.”

“They don’t?”

“They say it’s because you’re not exploring during it.”

“But rank-up trials include monster slaying?”

“That is odd.”

Strange, but I could guess why.

“The Explorer Guild doesn’t seem to approve of Heizen’s ‘Slayers,’ right?”

“That’s exactly it.”

“The Great Heizen Forest is definitely a dungeon.”

Just like the above-ground dungeon phenomenon we saw before.
And its relics end up in the hideout’s junkyard.

“Basically, the Explorer Guild hates the Slayer Guild here. And the Slayer Guild hates them back. A classic feud.”

“But the systems are still compatible, right? You can transfer your registration.”

Mineha was right—despite the name difference, transfers work.
My Hydrangea account still functions fine here.
And while Forest Wave kills don’t count, ordinary slaying does count.

“Yep.”
“Still weird, though.”
“It really is.”

But this kind of petty rivalry happens everywhere.

“Oh yeah, the current Grand Guildmaster? Rumor says he joined the Forest Wave every year when he was young. He keeps a monster horn from those fights in his office.”

“Ha! Figures. He has that wild streak.”
“I know this! Humans call that a ‘cringe past.’”

…Not wrong.
Hydrangea’s lookout tower monument was definitely his cringe past.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we keep finding remnants of young Alhazard Abramelin’s antics.

As we chatted, we arrived.

The Slayer Guild—unlike the Explorer Guild—was very unique.

A three-story building with… unexpected style.

“Well, that’s certainly distinctive.”
“I’ve seen something like this in a dungeon before.”
“This is the architecture of the Sando region.”

We all looked up.

“Sando… that’s where Kaede Akima is from, right?”
“The ‘One-Slash Master.’ I admire her.”
“It looks like a temple…”

I murmured it without thinking.
Because it was a temple—
with ornate roofing and a shining onion-shaped dome.

“Wof?”
“I just thought it looked familiar.”
“It’s Sando-style. Lots of buildings look like this there.”

Given Kaede’s clothing, it didn’t surprise me.
Still, it stood out among all the western-style buildings.

“Well then, I’m off to see an acquaintance.”
“Thanks for guiding us.”
“Thank you, Hoss.”
“Thanks!”
“And Mineha—keep that hood on.”
“I know.”

Mineha pulled her hood low.
She stands out too much otherwise.

“Bid. Listen to Wof, okay?”
“Isn’t that backward? …Well, fine.”
“Wof, I’m counting on you.”
“Y-yes!”

And we parted with Hoss.

Inside the guild…
Come to think of it, this is my first time seeing a guild other than Hydrangea’s.

The first thing that caught my eye was the sheer number of requests posted on the walls.
Even more than Hydrangea—every corner was filled.

The request system was the same.
The walls were divided by rank.
Each request had a number.
You memorize the number and tell the receptionist.
They check if it’s already taken.
If not, they give you the details.

Requests stay on the wall until they’re completed.
New ones get added.
That’s why verifying duplicates is important—it avoids the work of reposting constantly.

If you’re seeking money, coming early is recommended.

“Oh, look—a tavern.”
“So this place doubles as one.”

Next to the reception area was a lively tavern.

Laughter filled the room even though it was midday.
A six-person mixed party was having a good time.

“Hey, Wof. Look.”

Mineha tugged my sleeve.

“What is it?”
“Look over there.”
“Hm? Is that…?”

On the left wall was a massive request sheet, surrounded by dozens of normal ones.

A fierce monster’s illustration dominated the poster.

“It says ‘Marked Beast’…” 

Bid muttered.

A large cross-shaped scar marred its torso.
It had a split tail.
Just like she said, it was labeled as a Marked Beast.

“Whoa, look at the reward.”

150 billion, 50 million oro.

Mineha whispered:

“You could defeat that, right?”

“Eh—?”

It came out of nowhere.

Well… if I went all out, I probably could.
But that’s not the point.

The reward is tempting—ridiculously tempting.
But defeating it would draw attention.
Too much attention.

The Three Great Houses would definitely notice.
And the daughter of the Sword Goddess—my enemy—might be here.

“Oh, Mineha. This says Full Moon Bazaar.”
“Where?”

A poster showed tents under a full moon.

Full Moon Bazaar—six days from now.

“We can’t take any long hunts, then.”

Going to the Great Heisen Forest and back takes eight days.
Impossible.

Mineha stared at the poster with a troubled, hopeful look.

“…I wonder if I’ll really find it. My one and only…”
“I’ll find it for you. I promise.”
“…O-okay. I’m counting on you.”

She looked away, embarrassed, and quietly told me to make sure to adjust everything in time for the event.

Bid watched us, half amused.

At least now I knew how the Slayer Guild worked.

And then—
At the far end of the counter, sipping quietly—an elf woman.

“…”

Silver-haired, pointed ears, unmistakably an elf… yet she didn’t feel like one at all.

It was strange—
like everything about her appearance said “elf,”
but my instincts said she isn’t.

Then she turned just slightly—our eyes met.

“…”
“…”

In that moment, I understood.

I knew.

She was— the Thousand-Faced One.