Volume 2 Chapter 10 Favoritism
"We're done here. Let's go back."
"Understood."
The beastmen turned on their heels without even taking the money. It seemed they had only stopped by to report.
As I watched the beastwoman, Fatina, suspiciously, she returned my gaze, seeming to have something to say despite her impassive expression.
"Have you really forgotten about me and Mel?"
"Mel?"
Mel... Mel... Who could that be?
Even though it was a name I shouldn't remember, I felt like I knew it when I stared into her deep crimson eyes.
"Huh?"
Snapping out of my thoughts, I realized Fatina had come uncomfortably close, her body almost touching mine.
"I tried to hold back, but I can't anymore."
Fatina traced my chest with her slender fingers, bringing her face close to mine to smell me.
"Ah...this smell is so soothing. Even if you lose your memory, you're still you..."
Fatina, of the Werewolf Tribe, has a striking figure, her beauty marred by an unsettling aura that sent shivers down the spine.
I wanted to flee, to put distance between us, but it was as if invisible chains held me in place, rendering me immobile.
As our gazes locked at an uncomfortably close distance, her hands gripped my jaw with a vice-like grip.
"Stop!"
Leanne's voice echoed through the clearing, and suddenly, I was free.
With a frantic swipe, she pushed her away, putting space between us.
"Is it the way of the beastmen to swoop in and steal men away? You're not much difference from the beasts, huh?"
Leanne's tone was firm, her words cutting through the tension like a knife. On the other hand, Fatina's lips curled into a semblance of a smile, though her eyes remained cold and unyielding.
"Ark is your man, huh? That's rich."
A prickling sensation crept over me as their conversation unfolded.
How did she know my name?
"This girl will betray you. If you don't cut ties with her now, you'll regret it big time."
"What's your deal? We've been together since we were born, there's no way that's true."
"Just because you've been together for a long time doesn't mean you truly understand each other."
"What do you know about us? You're not even human, you beastman."
Fatina placed her hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist.
With a creaking sound, a huge slash mark appeared from the floor under Leanne's feet to the wall at the entrance. It was an invisible slash, just like the one that beheaded the werewolf.
Everyone in the guild pulled faces, silently staring at the damage to the building. They felt that if they crossed her, they'd be killed in a blink.
"Stop!"
I stepped in front of Leanne. It was beyond words now, but I couldn't help but try to stop it.
"...I could easily tear you apart right here, but I won't because it would make Ark sad."
After leaving those chilling words behind, Fatina walked out of the guild as if nothing had happened.
As the beastmen disappeared from sight, life slowly started to buzz in the guild again.
"Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. For some reason, she didn't really want to hurt me."
"Phew... That was a close one."
Eric wiped the sweat from his forehead as he spoke.
"She seemed to know a lot about you guys, what's that about?"
I was asked, but I had no clue. She seemed to have it out for Leanne, but the reason was still a mystery.
"No, like I said before, we just met in the forest at night, that's all. I don't even know how she knew my name."
"Hmm, she seemed pretty fixated on you."
"Anyway, who is that girl, anyway?"
"Well... it's a long story. I wasn't here when it all happened, but there was a plague in this area once. That woman, she made a cure for it when she was just three years old."
"Three years old? You've got to be kidding."
"But it's true. And then, she sold the cure to the lord and made a fortune, turning a small village into a beautiful town overnight. With her strength, no one dares to complain. In a way, she's the most dangerous person around here."
"It doesn't sound normal at all. Does she have some special skill or something?"
For sure, doing everything from making medicine to fighting all by yourself, it's gotta be because of some super skills.
"Looks like the guild used a skill called [Appraisal] to check out this girl before, and her abilities were all strange, just like you guys. Plus, she had this super rare skill called [Sword Saint]. Well, this time it was luck."
The [Sword Saint] skill is so famous that even villagers like us from the village have heard of it. It's a special skill for handling weapons, and it promises a bright future with some serious talent. But, I've got this feeling that there's something more... something different.
"Alright, like I said before, please leave for today. If you really need money that bad, I might lend you some just for today. But don't go telling anyone else, okay?"
That's right. I totally forgot, but the reason we came to the Guild was because we had something to tell Eric.
"About that... Actually, I found a new job. It's a reward for finding something the lord was looking for. I stumbled upon this really old book with stuff written ages ago, so I handed it over."
"Whoa! Seriously!? That's amazing!"
"You have helped me in many ways. Thank you."
"No worries. I'm glad it worked out for you guys, really... Haha!"
Eric seemed to be sporting a genuine smile, not his usual mysterious one.
* * *
Three days after the incident at the Guild, soldiers from Albert's messenger showed up at the inn where we were staying. We were loaded onto a carriage and brought to the front of the mansion.
Albert's mansion was right in the heart of Voljanath, and being nobility, it was way grander and fancier than the Guild. We, with our backgrounds, definitely felt out of place, but a promise is a promise, and we had a job to do.
As we walk through the hallway and enter the room, we find several men and women inside, including Albert. They all wear coats with crests and armor, making them look more like knights than soldiers.
"Looks like you've arrived. Let's get started then. Barton-kyo, if you please."
"Yes."
At Albert's prompt, a mustached, middle-aged man among the knights began to speak.
"Let me explain the plan. Our mission is to gather information about the cause of the monster outbreak. The target of our investigation is the dungeon to the east── Evrall's Underground Garden, a facility built back when our nation was known as the 'Holy Cretia Kingdom.'"
The Holy Cretia Kingdom.
What a suspicious-sounding name.
"The Holy Cretia Kingdom... I've never heard of it before. How long ago are we talking about?"
A knight with golden hair tied back in a single knot asked a question.
Barton simply replied, "It's unclear."
"According to the diary deciphered by Wallace-dono, it seems there was a time when a woman named Astal led the people. To be honest, the contents are so extraordinary that it's hard to tell what's fact and what's fiction."
It's honest to admit uncertainty in front of Albert, but it also increases the anxiety. After all, we're about to move forward relying on information whose truth cannot be distinguished.
"We have a good understanding of the terrain in the garden's entrance area, known as the upper layer, but we don't know what lurks in the lower layers. Albert-sama has ordered us to retreat immediately if we sense any danger."
"If our troops were to be completely wiped out, our territory would become even weaker. It doesn't matter how long it takes, so please proceed with caution."
"I understand. I will pay close attention."
Around Voljanath, it seems like there's been a strange increase in monsters. As Albert pointed out, if the knights are defeated, the situation will only worsen, affecting morale as well. If things worsen, even just doing our jobs might mean having to run away, and that's not ideal.
"Also, for this investigation, adventurers Ark-dono and Leanne-dono will accompany us. It's said that Ark-dono and Leanne-dono has a special ability to open hidden passages within the underground garden. Remember, bringing them back safely is also part of the mission."
In this investigation, Leanne's ability is crucial. Of course, that's assuming there are other places like the passage from before.
It might be wise to open that familiar door once we're inside to avoid suspicion.
"Sofia and Gaston's team should lead the way. The rest of you, stick close as their guards."
"Understood."
"We'll handle it."
A group of men and women bow respectfully, placing their hands over their chests.
Among them, the female knight Sophia exudes a certain elegance, while the man named Gaston appears somewhat uncertain...
"If there are no questions, let us proceed with preparations for departure. Let us be mindful not to lose any soldiers."
With the explanations concluded, the knights bid their farewells and exit the room.
As I move to leave with Leanne, I sense a gaze upon us and turn around.
Standing there is Knight Gaston.
"Have we met before?"
"No..."
"I see. It seems I was mistaken. I understand there may be apprehension, but rest assured, we will see this through. I hope you can work with peace of mind. Farewell for now."
There is certainly unease, but necessity outweighs fear. Once this task is complete, we can escape our miserable existence. For now, we must cling to this opportunity with all we have.
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