Chapter 70

### The Adventurer's Guild Headquarters

Upon entering the inner side of the surrounding fortress, what lay inside was an ordinary town, just like any other.

Houses lined up, shops were present, and stalls were scattered about.

"So it has the functions of a regular town...?"

However, the scenery was desolate, now stained with the signs of war.

There were collapsed walls, shattered glass, and completely collapsed houses.

Could all of this be the scars left by the battle with the demons?

People, seemingly residents, peeked out from the shadows with anxious expressions.

"Just as Abinion said, it seems the residents haven't been harmed...!"

I felt relieved.

"Until just now, monsters were wandering around this residential area. It seems they were trying to prevent the residents from escaping."

"Wh-What? Monsters?"

But I don't see any of them now. What happened to them?

"I melted them all."

"Melted them!?"

...Hmm.

Given that this is what a Transcender does, I shouldn't be surprised.

"Demons leading monsters is a common occurrence. They leave the suppression of the surroundings to their familiars, and if there's a commander... it would be there."

At the end of Abinion's gaze, a large building stood tall, boasting a grandeur similar to a castle in a castle town. It was the largest and most central building in the town...

"Is that really the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters...!?"

However, smoke rose from various parts of the grand structure, indicating something was wrong.

It didn't seem like we could proceed leisurely.

"Ryuya!"

Noem ran up, out of breath.

"There are injured people all over! They must have resisted when the demons attacked...!!"

If there was a battle, there would be injured people. It wouldn't be surprising if there were also fatalities.

But with Noem's alchemy potions, even if someone is dead, they can be revived within three seconds.

"Noem, I have a favor to ask."

"I understand. I will focus on the rescue efforts here."

As expected, after overcoming countless crises together, we understand each other's thoughts.

"Abinion, please guard Noem and manage the items."

"Can't be helped."

Abinion must have brought many items inside his spirit skirt today as well.

With the roles of the two of them decided, what about me?

Of course, it's already decided.

I will charge into the main building.

"No way! I don't want to die! Let's turn back!!"

"Sure, sure."

I drag the bound Recolis along as I proceed.

◆

Upon entering the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters, the atmosphere became even more unusual.

At first, there was no sign of anyone, and it was eerily silent, like a haunted house.

However, there was a presence of people somewhere, so I headed in that direction...

There they were.

People who seemed to work at this Guild Headquarters were gathered in one place, sitting weakly.

It was as if a hostage-taker had gathered them, which might not be far from the truth given the situation.

Upon noticing me, they showed various expressions of confusion, surprise, and joy.

Among the captives, one person...

"Huh? ...Are you Ryuya!?"

"Vistemario!"

I'm glad you're safe.

Vistemario was surrounded by several elderly men, who must be the Guild Council members.

There were also a few people who looked like active adventurers.

Furthermore...

Creatures that could only be described as monstrous were positioned above the captured people, looking down on them.

"Finally, the guest has arrived. I've been waiting for you."

A sticky, playful tone.

The same bluish skin and cold, reptilian eyes as the ones I saw before.

...A demon.

"Keeping the prey alive and gathered is not something I'm familiar with. I was about to kill them all out of boredom."

"What about you?"

"Interesting! To ask a demon for its name! Your courage... or rather, your foolishness, is commendable. I'll tell you, then."

The demon stood up, spreading its wings and announcing its name.

"My name is Senitans! The second strongest rank in the demon race, a Duke-level demon!"

"Hmm."

I carefully looked around.

It seems there are no other demons besides this Senitans in this place where the captives are gathered.

"I heard that three demons attacked... Are you alone?"

"...Hearing that I am a Duke-level demon, you are more concerned about this? Are you ignorant or insensitive...!?"

The demon seems disappointed that I'm not scared as expected.

"...Hmph, well, it's fine. I've sent the others on errands. They will finish soon and return."

"Errands?"

Just then, a loud noise echoed...

"Master Senitans!"

A large, bulky man burst through the wall of the Guild Headquarters.

His skin color and the single horn protruding from his forehead revealed him as a demon.

"Gibard, how did it go?"

"Yes, Master. After searching the area as ordered, I discovered this!"

He held out a human in his hand, gripping the person's head like a chicken being strangled.

The man looked familiar...

It's him...

"Soaides!?"

"Oh, do you know him?"

The A-rank promotion exam supervisor I met in the Kingdom of Rubrum.

He caused numerous problems during the exam and then disappeared.

"Where were you hiding?"

"In Recolis' mansion. I instructed Gibard to search there."

The demon answered diligently.

"Haha, as per Master Senitans' orders, I thoroughly searched Recolis' mansion and found him hiding in a secret underground room. He seemed to have been confined there."

"Good job, Gibard. I was worried if a brute like you could handle such a delicate task, but you did it well."

"I destroyed the mansion in the process. It was in the way of the search."

"That's fine. It's very much like you."

I listen quietly to the ridiculous conversation between the demons.

I still don't understand their intentions.

"Master Senitans, Master Senitans aaaaaa...!"

Another demon crawled out from the floor, like a semi-solid, sticky mass.

"Debderiza, how did it go?"

"They're not there, neither Soaides nor Recolis aaaaaa...!"

"Did you search thoroughly?"

"I searched thoroughly aaaaaa...! I even searched the bottom of the sewers, but only found rats and maggots aaaaaa...! They were delicious aaaaaa...!"

"I see."

From their conversation, it seems they were looking for both Soaides and Recolis, which aligns with what Seagull told me before I rushed here.

"But this is troublesome. Finding only one of the two targets won't do. We won't make any progress like this."

"Master Senitans aaaaaa...! It's too much trouble. Just kill everyone aaaaaa...! If we kill everyone, Soaides and the others will be among them aaaaaa...!"

"That won't do. Without clear proof that the targets are dead, we won't be forgiven. If we massacre everyone, we won't be able to confirm who we killed, and there's a chance they might escape."

"Can't do it aaaaaa...!"

So that's why the demons are capturing and not killing the humans. They have a specific goal and are trying to achieve it with certainty.

"You're looking for Recolis, right?"

"!? !? !?"

I threw the bound Recolis, who couldn't move, onto the floor.

"Ah! Why!?"

"It was worth the effort to drag him here. It was a lot of work to carry this burden."

Recolis looks at me with a betrayed expression, but I feel wronged.

After all, he has been trying to get rid of me all along.

"Ah! ...Ah! Indeed, the information matches! This is definitely the Adventurer's Guild Council member Recolis!"

"Brilliant! I didn't expect the humans to hand him over!"

The demons laughed mockingly.

It seems they view my actions as a human sacrificing a fellow human for self-preservation.

"You're looking for Recolis and Soaides. If I hand them over, will you leave and not harm the others?"

The demons responded with a contemptuous smile.

"Yes, once we secure our targets, we have no further use for you. However, as a thank you for your cooperation in the search, we will kill you all instantly without letting you suffer."