chapter 53

I watched the flames burning indifferently.

I used my earth magic to create a furnace and brought in the bodies of Sen and Nana before setting it on fire.

I brought them together for the last time, but I’m not sure if it was the right thing to do.

However, I decided to bury them together, thinking that if their Bonds were eternal, it would be better to stay together until the end.

Ouka, who was sitting next to me, was also watching the fluttering smoke.

How much time has passed?

We can’t stay like this forever.

I have Sen, Nana, and Mr Neikra’s guild cards in my possession.

Adventurers rarely carry corpses. They only get in the way if they are in the middle of a quest, and adventurers operate intending to die in the first place. They don’t care about the body after they die. The only thing they care about is the luggage spat out of the item box, and the family members left behind.

So I will hand their guild cards instead.

People rarely bring bodies back unless they are lovers or family.

“Would you like to return to the guild?”

Ouka asks as I’m staring at the three cards.

“……No.”

I stand up slowly.

“Let’s go to a dungeon.”

“But we found Neikra’s guild card. If we take it with us, the promotion test is over. Master, there’s no need to force yourself to find a dungeon in this state.”

At my declaration, Ouka spits out word after word with a worried look on her face.

She’s worried about me. I want to accept that feeling, though.

“Skullhead is a monster that came out of the dungeon. That kind of strength is an anomaly in these forests.”

“Anomaly?”

As I continue to explain to Ouka, I recheck my clothes and the contents of my item box.

“This forest is often used by low-rank adventurers. That’s why they can find the dungeons so quickly.

Despite that, Skullhead has appeared. How long does it take for a goblin to grow enough to kill a person, and even an adventurer for that matter?”

The problem is that even monsters rarely go over level 100. If it’s not a goblin, it’s an A-ranked kill quest.

“If there are dungeons with monsters like that, and a lot of them are as strong as Skullhead, then we have a problem. Even the city is in danger. So we must identify the location as soon as possible and form a hunting team in the guild.”

My clothes had lost all signs of tearing. It should have been torn by Skullhead and burned by the flames, but I wonder if this was also thanks to Ouka’s recovery magic.

There are only a few recovery potions in the item box.

The danger is great, but we have no choice but to go.

“Ouka.”

“Yes.”

I ask, not making eye contact.

“This is your last chance. Be an adventurer or quit.”