Chapter 34

"Is that so...? They haven't returned yet?"

Tol was taken aback by Yuril's sudden youthful appearance but decided to play it cool since she didn't seem to notice. He tried to pretend nothing was wrong, but he had already used up all his available transformations in the battle, and his magic was running low.

To change the subject, he asked about Sora and the others, and was told they hadn't been seen at their boarding house. Driven by a bad feeling, Tol decided to leave Yuril in charge and rush to the outer gate.

Around the gate, guards and adventurers were celebrating their victory, loudly recounting their heroic deeds. A little away from the noisy crowd, Tol spotted Sora slumped against a stone wall, and Moe leaning on her, making strange throat sounds while being petted.

Relieved to see them safe, Tol slowed his pace. The child noticed him first.

"Hey, Tol!"

"Ah, it's Tol!"

Tol picked up Moe with one hand and approached Sora, peering into her face. Her expression was a mix of tears, exhaustion, and a sense of relief.

When Tol touched her cheek, she drooped weakly. The contrast with her usual self made it clear that this was more than just a lack of magic.

After a while, Sora, seeming to feel better, began to speak softly.

"...Hey, Tol. I finally understand. I'm really sorry for everything."

"You don't have to force yourself to talk if it's too hard."

"No, I want you to hear this. It's really shocking when someone risks their life for you. Yeah, I learned a lot. I'm really, really sorry, Tol. I truly regret it..."

"That's good to hear. By the way, could you tell me what happened?"

"Moe, do you want to hear the story of how I beat the Inoshishi?!"

"Ah, but that was me..."

After hearing the general story from the two, Tol nodded silently. Then, he hugged them tightly with both arms.

"Tol, what's wrong?"

Sora's voice was high-pitched, and Moe buried her face in Tol's shoulder, looking happy. Leaning close to their ears, Tol whispered gently.

"You did great, Sora, Moe. I'm really glad you're safe. And I'm sorry. I thought I could protect you like a cool adult, but look at me now."

"No, Tol, it's not your fault! It's my fault for acting on my own."

"Moe followed Tol's instructions properly!"

"No, no, that's not what I meant. You shouldn't have protected me like that! I'll really be angry next time."

"...But Sora, you said you wouldn't be mad."

Sora looked troubled at Moe's pouting face, her cheek being pulled.

"You two seem to have gotten along. That's good, Sora."

At Tol's words, the two smiled simultaneously, as if they had planned it. The peaceful scene was interrupted by a voice from behind.

"Hey, old man, you're late. The festival's over."

"Hello, Tol."

"Hi there!"

"..."

The newcomers were Karlus and a group of young adventurers.

"Ah, I got the location wrong. I heard these guys took care of you. And they protected the kids too. Thanks, I really appreciate it."

"Yeah, don't get too excited. It wasn't a big deal."

According to Sora, Karlus had returned with the group and quickly protected Moe, who was sitting outside the gate. The guards who arrived later kept the gate open until the situation was under control. After that, Karlus joined the attack force and caused quite a stir.

"I owe you one."

"That's not like you, old man. Just do what you want. Don't worry about debts or anything."

Tol felt a sense of unease at these unusual words, but their true meaning became clear two days later.

The day after Dadan's border town successfully repelled the "Great Outbreak" from the Goblin Forest, the expedition team led by Deputy Director Sakkou returned. According to their report, a large dungeon was forming in the ruined outer district of Borsaria, as previously suspected. The high-ranking adventurers had entered and neutralized the threat.

The problem was that this happened the day before the outbreak. It was speculated that the sudden surge was caused by the miasma that had been seeping into Borsaria reversing its flow when the dungeon disappeared. This led to the rapid activation of nearby goblin caves. The unusual increase in goblins in the days leading up to the outbreak was also seen as a sign of the new dungeon's formation. The extent to which this was planned was still under investigation.

The return of the elite team quickly calmed the situation, but it brought about various changes. The most significant was the criticism of the guard force. The poor handling of the discovery and the delayed response to the attack, as well as falling for a diversion and allowing the invaders to enter the town, were major issues.

While the second issue was mitigated by Tol and the others, it was still a significant failure. A mistake could have led to a repeat of Borsaria's disaster. The incident was not widely publicized, and the assistance of the two adventurers was the only thing mentioned.

The two had not only killed dozens of hobgoblins but also defeated their leader, demonstrating exceptional skill. However, with the high-ranking adventurers absent, identifying them was difficult. Rumors of a mysterious beauty with a broom added to the speculation.

Sakkou could not ignore this serious situation. The guard force, while under the Adventurer's Guild, was treated separately from the staff and was more like a direct military force under Dadan's control. The guard force, having shown its incompetence, was reorganized, and qualifications were reviewed.

This weakened the power of the guild director. However, Dadan was not one to let things slide. The savings from personnel cuts were reallocated to repair the outer wall, promising to make the town noisy for a while.

For Tol, the most significant impact of the incident was the treatment of the gatekeepers. While Rikan, who had closed the gate on his own, was punished, Karlus, who had left his post during the emergency, was also penalized.

In the courtroom, it was revealed that Rikan's actions were motivated by a grudge against Tol for exposing his tattling to the security department to his colleagues.

"I couldn't take it anymore... the rumors. I just didn't want to be ostracized..."

"I didn't tell anyone. I never planned to."

Rikan, shocked, looked at Karlus, who continued nonchalantly.

"I wouldn't go around spreading rumors about someone. That's not what a servant of the honorable Thunder God would do."

The shaking heads of the guard and the judge confirmed the truth. Rikan, defeated, hung his head.

Rikan was stripped of his adventurer status and exiled from the town. Karlus, who had a one-month suspension, decided to leave the guard force and go with Rikan. The next day, Tol went to see them off alone.

"He's a hopeless guy, but he's been my partner for a long time. I can't just abandon him. Besides, he's reflecting on his actions, so we should be fine."

Karlus, who had lost his left hand and been betrayed by his comrades, put on a brave front.

"By the way, tell Sora I'm sorry for not being able to show her the shop. I'll take her next time."

"Sure, I'll take her instead. Don't worry."

"Damn, that's what I was afraid of. And tell the kid I'm a cool big brother, okay?"

"That's tough. I try not to teach lies."

Karlus laughed softly at the honest response. As they parted, Tol suddenly extended his left fist. Karlus, understanding it as a farewell gesture, smiled and touched his lost left hand to it.

"It's a parting gift. Take it."

Confused by Tol's sudden words, Karlus was even more bewildered by the sensation in his hand. When he looked down, his eyes widened in shock.

There, where it should not have been, was his left hand.

Impossible. This was a scene he had dreamed of countless times. The day he lost his left hand, his bright future had abruptly ended. His pride in never falling behind any monster, his irreplaceable comrades, his beloved lover—everything had vanished.

He had woken up many nights from the pain of his missing hand. He had been sent off with pitying looks from fellow adventurers. The year of regret until he moved on was the longest in his life. He had managed to recover thanks to the silent, solitary adventures he continued almost daily.

Suddenly, Karlus remembered Tol, who had straightened a bent sword for him when he was a beginner, saying it was the only skill he had.

"You're not useless at all, old man... You've developed an amazing skill."

Karlus, feeling weak, knelt down. Tol nodded silently and turned to leave. A tearful voice chased after him.

"Hey, old man! Damn, what do I say...? Thanks for not retiring."

"Don't worry. ...Your encouragement saved me too."

Tol, responding over his shoulder, raised his left hand in a farewell gesture, as usual.