Chapter 49

After finishing my conversation with the two guild masters, I decided to head to the Red Twin Pavilion late at night, after the day's activities had ended. As I was about to leave the store, Mizuha and Verlaine saw me off.

"Mr. Dick, it's tough, coming out so late. I wish I could help," Mizuha said.

"No, you two have worked hard all day and must be tired. I've just been drinking all day, so I still have plenty of energy," I replied.

"Please be careful. If you return by two, I hope you can spare some time for a chat," Verlaine added.

"I'd like to stay up late too... but my brother would worry. Can I stay over tomorrow?"

"Yes, anytime. Even if both of you come at the same time, it's fine," Verlaine said.

"Same time? What do you mean by 'same time'?"

"Mizuha and I, at the same time... No, maybe not..."

"Mizuha, let's talk about 'that' another day, in detail."

I don't know what they're planning, but Verlaine looks excited. I hope they're not planning anything too extreme, considering they're with Mizuha.

◆◇◆

The Red Twin Pavilion is located on 9th Street. It's at the southern end of the 9th block, a bit away from the residential and commercial areas.

The Twin Pavilion is much larger than my guild, with offices, training grounds, and a dining hall on the premises. There should always be guild members guarding the entrance, but—

The door of the guardhouse was visibly destroyed from a distance.

There should have been a street lamp nearby, but the area was almost pitch black, lit only by the moonlight. The street lamp had been cut down, and the hanging lanterns were broken.

I peered into the guardhouse. Inside, a man in a leather armor, bleeding from the head, was sitting.

"Hey, what happened? Were you attacked? How many of them were there?"

Fortunately, his life was not in danger, and I immediately used 'Healing Light' to heal him. The man, pale and terrified, looked up and said,

"Roughly six... They tried to enter the premises without permission... When I tried to stop them, they broke the door... I was hit by a Wind Blade spell... I..."

"I understand. Just calm down. This isn't your fault. Do you know who attacked you?"

"...I don't know... But Lady Sherry said that people from the White Goat Pavilion might come... She said to call her if they didn't let themselves in immediately..."

"You thought they might be from the White Goat Pavilion?"

The man nodded, trembling, and lowered his head. He must have been terribly frightened.

—This isn't the time for me to stand around. Whoever the intruders are, the guild is under attack.

"Just stay here. It's safer for you until this is over."

"...I... I failed to do my job as a gatekeeper..."

"The ones who attacked you are in the wrong. I'll make sure they apologize."

I patted the man's shoulder to calm him down, then stepped outside and cast the 'Stealth' spell. I also used the 'Silence' spell to muffle my footsteps and started running at full speed.

When I saw the exterior of the Red Twin Pavilion's headquarters, I realized the situation was dire.

The sound of a struggle could be heard from the top floor of the three-story building. The entrance on the first floor was also destroyed by wind magic—indicating that the attackers were at least S-rank, possibly even SS-rank members of the White Goat Pavilion.

The fact that they left destruction in their wake suggests they are prepared to prevent the Red Twin Pavilion from appealing to the Inquisitors—or they intend to completely destroy and shut down the guild.

(What's the reason... Could it be retaliation for Sherry turning down a request? That would be completely petty.)

I can't make a definitive judgment until I confirm who the attackers are. I entered the first floor of the guild—wearing an iron mask that completely covers my face, unlike the mask I use as the 'Masked Savior,' which only covers my mouth.

I feel a lack of tension, but my mind is cold and clear. I know the scene I'm about to witness will be unpleasant.

Verlaine's words echoed in my mind: the need to seize control of all the guilds. If the White Goat Pavilion ran the guilds properly, there would be no need to consider such things.

"Things don't always go as planned... but there's nothing we can do about it."

With my resolve set, there was no room for hesitation at this stage. No matter who the attackers are, I will silence them all. I don't like this approach, but I need to make them remember my mask with fear.

I entered boldly through the broken door. Despite it being late at night, a few adventurers were still in the guild headquarters, having fought the attackers—though all the Red Twin Pavilion's members were down, only two men were standing.

One of them immediately assumed a combat stance upon seeing me. One was a mage, the other a swordsman. I drew my longsword, read the attack of the man who charged at me, and countered by striking his back with the flat of my blade, sending him flying.

"Ugh!"

"...What... Is there a man with a mask like this in this guild...?"

"My identity doesn't matter. What were you trying to do?"

"Fireball!"

I asked in a distorted voice, altered by the iron mask. The mage, without answering, attacked with a fire spirit spell, launching a massive fireball about a meter in diameter—a powerful spell.

—Using fire magic indoors is incredibly reckless. This needs to be addressed.

"Wall of Defense Cage"

Simply blocking the spell would scatter the flames. To prevent this, I deployed the wall as a cage to contain the mage's fireball.

The cage rapidly narrowed, and the fireball disappeared along with it. The mage, who witnessed this, was wide-eyed with shock.

"What... What is this...!?"

Being surprised in front of me gives me an opportunity to close the distance. By the time he blinked, I was already beside him.

"Mark of Silence"

"Ugh... What... My magic... I can't use my magic...!"

"Using fire magic indoors doesn't require magical power. You should reflect on your actions for a while."

"Y-You... Y-You... Ugh!"

As he struggled to speak, I remembered what Mizuha said and tapped his forehead. The sound of a thud echoed as the impact was enhanced by magic.

The mage, now knocked out, was smoking from his forehead. A rune to seal magic, similar to 'Small Soul,' but simpler, was etched into his neck—though some magic runes require special paint, simpler ones can be inscribed on the spot.

The effect of the Mark of Silence, when cast by me, lasts about a week. During this time, the inability to use magic is a significant risk for an adventurer—though, considering the crimes of the attackers, this is not a concern. They will likely be sent to prison regardless.

All the guild members on the first floor were unconscious—no, that's not quite right.

What were the two men I just defeated trying to do? A female guild member was sitting, protecting her body—she was about to be stripped of her equipment.

Just knocking them out seems too lenient. I've encountered such situations before, and each time I think the same thing—those who try to force women into submission don't deserve to live.

"...Mr. Mask... The guild master... Lady Sherry is upstairs... They are much more dangerous than the ones you just defeated..."

"I understand. I'll save her. Are all the attackers on the upper floors?"

I asked while casting 'Healing Light' on her and the other unconscious guild members. The young female guild member, seeing her comrades recover, was visibly relieved.

"Thank you... I will repay this kindness someday..."

"I know it's tough to leave you here, but if anything happens, call for help. I'll finish this quickly."

"...Yes. Please be careful... Please save Lady Sherry..."

I cast 'Stealth' again and headed to the second floor.

More people were still in the guild at night than I expected—perhaps because Sherry was wary of the White Goat Pavilion.

On the second floor, three men were ransacking the room, searching for something, and looting the fallen guild members' equipment and valuables.

Seeing such lawlessness, my heart grew colder.

—Did we fight the Demon King and bring about a truce to protect scum like these?

I approached a man who was distracted by his search and kicked him in the side.

"Ugh...!"

The man fell, and the two others in the back noticed my presence.

"When did you... What are the guys on the first floor doing!"

"Shut up, don't panic! Kill anyone who gets in the way!"

"Kill? Do you think it's okay to kill the members of this guild?"

"...What... What the hell...!"

—'Limited Annihilation Type 66th Form: Particle Disruption Array'—

The metal weapons of the remaining two men crumbled into black chunks.

There are many ways to neutralize them, but before I go to the third floor, I need to ask them something.

"What... How did you...?"

"Monster... He's a demon. He's a demon...!"

"So, don't casually insult demons. Some of them live more honorably than you... Anyway, answer my question. Are you from the White Goat Pavilion? Or...?"

"—Aaaaaah!"

The man, who was farther away from me, made a last-ditch effort—pulling out a hidden dagger and charging at me.

—When I practice with Aileen, she tells me to use a weapon.

She taught me how to deal with an opponent holding a weapon. I locked his arm, threw him to the ground, and stepped on his back.

"I asked you to answer. Listen to me."

I removed my foot from the man, who was clearly incapacitated, though not mortally wounded.

Even A-rank adventurers, no matter how much I hold back, still feel like I'm going too far. But right now, I feel it's acceptable to go a bit overboard.

"...Did you come on the orders of the White Goat Pavilion? Can you answer?"

"You... You can't win against her... Just wait and see, hahaha... hahaha... hah...!"

The man, who had fallen into despair and was laughing, let out a strained voice. He then sat down, having lost all will to fight.

"This is the third time. What will you do? I don't care either way."

"You... Killing us won't change anything... It won't change anything... S-Stop... Don't come... Don't come...!"

Just walking towards him makes him cower. This was how it was until I learned to use magic and met my 'master.' I realized I had become someone people fear, and thinking about it makes me want to laugh.

"...If you learn from this, maybe you'll find a different way to live."

Just standing in front of him made the man foam at the mouth and faint. I seem to be losing control of my emotions.

I had hoped, somewhere deep down, that the White Goat Pavilion still had the awareness of being a top guild. But that was a naive thought. This isn't even a matter of betrayal.

Forcing the Red Twin Pavilion to do something against their will goes against my principles. Therefore, there is only one thing to do.

I will dismantle and rebuild the current power structure of the White Goat Pavilion. To do this, I will save Sherry. I will go to the third floor with a clear mind, and then—

"—Lotte, please! I'll stop their movements...!"

"Yes, sister... Yaaaaah!"

In the guild master's office, lit only by the pale moonlight, Sherry and her sister Lotte were fighting an unknown assailant.

The room was in disarray, as if a storm had ravaged it.

"Try this, sisters. How about this...? 'Blade of Gale'"

What I see is not the actual scene.

What would happen if the enemy's technique were to be activated.

The gale of wind blades would tear Sherry and Lotte apart.

Considering the enemy's strength and the power of Sherry and Lotte, they would suffer fatal injuries.

To prevent this, I need to intervene before the enemy.

I can do this by casting a spell and interrupting the enemy's casting.

—'Double Wall of Defense'—

"This...?"

"...Magic... His..."

The man