Chapter 118: Aftermath – i novels

()x13-16 minutes

Due to my slight overreaction and the resulting complicated situation, I headed to the general store to talk to Marie-san and get some clarification. It might be a bit awkward since it’s nighttime and the store might be closed.

When I arrived at the general store, it seemed like they were in the process of closing, making it a bit difficult to approach them. …I can’t keep everyone waiting at Mel’s workshop. Summoning my courage, I approached one of the store clerks and asked if Marie-san was there.

To my surprise, the clerk recognized me and said that Marie-san was indeed present, leading me directly to the reception room. It seems that I’ve been given the VIP treatment because I’m an important customer to this store. VIP treatment, huh? It makes me feel somewhat important.

In the reception room, a young man with a brilliant smile and sparkling white teeth served me tea while I waited for Marie-san. I felt a bit down since it seemed like my preferences were still misunderstood. After a short while, I heard hurried footsteps approaching. Could it be Marie-san?

“Yuta-san, I heard your discussion has ended. What happened?” Marie-san asked as soon as she entered the reception room. She seemed confident that something had occurred. How did she know? Was it because I came here unexpectedly at night?

“Well, yeah, there was a little trouble, but you seem to have figured it out that easily,” I replied.

“I sent one of the store’s guards, an adventurer, to witness the discussion between you and the guildmaster. I instructed them to return immediately after the discussion. However, you arrived before that, so I assumed something urgent had happened and hurried here,” Marie-san explained.

…That adventurer must be struggling surrounded by prickly plants right about now. I feel somewhat apologetic. There’s a possibility that other people who came to observe are being involved as well… I acted impulsively, but I should have chosen the less risky option.

“Oh, it’ll probably take some time for that adventurer to return,” I said.

“What do you mean?” Marie-san asked.

“Well, I’ll explain everything now. Please have a seat for now,” I said, offering Marie-san a seat even though it wasn’t my house, and proceeded to recount the events at the Adventurer Guild.

“…So, does that mean I’ll become a criminal?” I asked after finishing my story. Marie-san had a creepy grin on her face, as if something delightfully unexpected was included in my account.

“First, regarding your question about becoming a criminal, there is a slight possibility if the Adventurer Guild reports it to the country. However, that shouldn’t be a problem. If the Adventurer Guild catches you themselves and hands you over to the country, it would be a different story, but simply relying on the country would tarnish the reputation of the Adventurer Guild,” Marie-san explained.

Now that I think about it, when Sara and the others were almost kidnapped by Carl and his gang, I heard something similar. It seems they handle such matters within the Adventurer Guild because there are many unsavory characters among adventurers. The punitive squad is there for that purpose… Wait a minute. Are they going to become the pursuers? Maybe I should have pushed them a bit harder. Well, I guess it should be fine. With my abilities, I can handle any number of pursuers.

“So, as long as I don’t get caught by the Adventurer Guild, there shouldn’t be a problem, right?” I confirmed.

“Yes, but it also means that the Adventurer Guild might come after you seriously. In the past, when an A-ranked adventurer committed a crime, an S-ranked adventurer was involved,” Marie-san replied.

S-ranked, huh… With Silphy and the others around, it seems like we can handle anything, but in reality, those S-ranked adventurers must be quite formidable.

“But you don’t need to worry. Based on what I’ve heard from your story, it’s clearly a blunder on the part of the Adventurer Guild. Hehe, with this incident, we can chip away at the Adventurer Guild’s authority in the Labyrinth City. My father also had his share of troubles with the Adventurer Guild, so he’ll be overjoyed. Rest assured, I won’t let anyone lay a finger on you. It’s quite amusing to think of trapping adventurers who can obtain valuable materials… Kufufu…”

Marie-san enthusiastically gestured and spoke. She seemed really delighted. Ah, I see, that’s why she had that smirk on her face. But well, I don’t think I need to rely on her help, and it’s best to decline. I’m afraid of owing a favor to a merchant.

“No, just knowing that I won’t become a criminal is enough. I can handle things on my own, so please don’t worry,” I replied.

“I see… I would have been happy to assist if I could…” Marie-san seemed a little disappointed.

“However, this also presents an opportunity for us as merchants to increase our influence. Are you okay with getting involved in that?” she asked.

“Well, it’s your choice, Marie-san. I don’t have the right to say anything,” I said.

Her grin deepened in response to my words. She muttered to herself, “First, I’ll contact my father… involve the Merchant Guild and the Pharmacist Guild… hehehe…” It seems like she intends to cause a commotion or involve others in the situation.

“Um, anyway, I need a new identification card since I quit the Adventurer Guild. Can I join either the Merchant Guild or the Mercenary Guild? I don’t mind joining either of them if they allow me to explore the labyrinth,” I asked.

Joining the Merchant Guild seems more relaxed, but the Mercenary Guild seems a bit intimidating.

“You quit? Did you return your guild card as well?” Marie-san inquired.

“No, I just mentioned that I wanted to quit,” I replied.

“In that case, I think it would be better for you to continue acting as an adventurer for a while. If you join another guild, there’s a possibility that the Adventurer Guild will report you to the country. If you become a merchant or a mercenary, the Adventurer Guild would need the intervention of the country to interfere with you,” Marie-san explained.

So, it’s about the Adventurer Guild protecting their reputation by capturing adventurers, and if they want to intervene with other guilds, they need the country’s involvement. It’s a troublesome way of thinking. But it seems like I didn’t have to reject or return my guild card.

In that case, it would be unwise to switch to another guild. I should continue acting as an adventurer while confronting the Guild Master… It’s getting complicated. Also, since I mentioned quitting the Adventurer Guild, it’s embarrassing to continue being an adventurer as if nothing happened.

“Huh? But I declared that I would quit, so won’t the Adventurer Guild invalidate my guild card or expel me?” I asked.

“For someone of lesser status, that possibility exists. But with all this commotion, they won’t have the luxury to choose. The Adventurer Guild’s policy in this case is reconciliation, capture, or elimination. As long as you keep yourself hidden, it should be fine, but please be cautious of assassination attempts,” Marie-san warned.

Assassination, huh… It doesn’t really feel real. For now, the land of death should be safe, so I’ll take some time to think.

“Understood. Thank you very much. Well then, I’ll leave the Labyrinth City for a while, but I’ll come visit again.”

“You’re leaving the Labyrinth City… How long until you come back?”

“…About twenty days, I think.”

“…During that time, would it be possible for you to supply us with medicinal herbs?”

“I won’t be in the Labyrinth City, and I won’t be entering the labyrinth, so it’s not possible.”

Even though I could sell the herbs I have in the magic bag for a while, it’s probably wise not to do so given the current situation. I’ll have to rely on the guild master to deal with those who were expecting special herbs… Marie-san will also be complaining to the guild master about the lack of herb supply as well. But I won’t mention my intention to leave the Adventurer Guild without any trouble.

“Marie-san, thank you for telling me all this. I’ll come visit again when I return.”

She invited me for a meal, but considering the circumstances and the fact that the children are waiting for me, I politely declined and left the shop. If it’s better not to make another card, then I’ll leave the Labyrinth City tonight. But it’s still embarrassing to use the Adventurer Guild’s card after all the commotion I caused.

—————

Screams could be heard everywhere. As soon as that annoying spirit magician left, plants began to proliferate rapidly within the guild, and the surroundings were quickly dyed green. “Ouch!” If you move carelessly, sharp thorns growing on the plants would pierce your body.

There’s no doubt that this phenomenon is the work of that spirit magician. I’ve never heard of a spirit magic that can cause such an effect, but when he captured the punitive squad, he was manipulating plants as well.

He must have made a contract with a plant-related spirit, but it should only allow him to manipulate the plants in the vicinity or accelerate the growth of crops. What on earth is happening?

“Master, please give instructions.”

I can’t see her, but I can hear Eltina’s voice. I can’t see the escorts either. We’re completely separated. …Damn, there are so many things I’m concerned about, but now is not the time to think about them.

“First, we have to eliminate the plants. The thorns are sharp, so those who have sturdy defenses should cut down the plants. Be cautious and move carefully so as not to hit anyone! The rest of you should avoid moving as much as possible, so as not to get in the way!”

The adventurers around me start moving according to my orders, but the progress of plant elimination is not going well. The problem is that the thorns on these plants are unusually sharp, and the plants themselves are incredibly resilient.

If you move carelessly, the thorns will pierce through even sturdy armor made of monster leather. Even with a slash from an adventurer, only a few of the plants can be severed at a time, and each time it happens, the plants shake, causing damage to the surroundings.

It’s a plant I’ve never seen before, but it’s unbelievably troublesome. If I had a weapon at hand, I could manage somehow, but I only have a small dagger for self-defense in this ridiculous situation. …I guess I have no choice but to wait to be rescued quietly. How annoying.

Amidst the screams and curses echoing all around, everyone in the guild was finally rescued. The adventurers who returned after the plants grew were sent on an emergency mission to gather people and equipment for the rescue. But in the end, it was just about saving lives.

Not a single person came out unscathed. No one sustained major injuries, but everyone was bleeding from being pierced by sharp thorns. Even those who arrived later and had their equipment prepared ended up getting injured.

The plants are resilient and high-quality, so once a plant is severed, it wriggles unpredictably, making it impossible for even skilled individuals to dodge everything within a limited range of movement. The more plants are cut, the more wounds accumulate. It’s an unpleasant situation that wears down not only the body but also the spirit.

Moreover, it seems that the plants have invaded every nook and cranny of the guild’s interior. Even though there are no people around now and it’s easier to move, thinking about the remaining work gives me a headache.

“Guild master! Is it true that the spirit magician defeated the Fire Dragon?”

After the rescue operation settled down, the adventurers gathered around me. It will soon become a widespread rumor, and there’s no point in hiding it… but it will likely cause further confusion in this situation.

“We’ll talk after the plant removal is finished. Wait until then.”

“That’s not gonna work. We don’t know when we’ll finish clearing out that amount of plants. We’ve been harassing that monster who might have defeated the Fire Dragon under the guild’s orders! Or is the guild taking responsibility and providing us with an escort who can defeat that person?”

If we had such an escort, we would have already subdued the Fire Dragon. I realized today that it would be dangerous to confront that person head-on for punishment. Should we request an S-ranked adventurer or use some other means?

No, even if it’s an S-ranked adventurer, it’s unthinkable for them to single-handedly defeat the Fire Dragon. Should we form a party with S-ranked adventurers? It’s not realistic.

“Guild master! What’s the plan? Didn’t you tell us to be careful when that person got lost in the labyrinth? This is no joke.”

More and more adventurers gather around us. It seems like it won’t end well if it continues like this.

“Well, it’s unconfirmed, but it’s highly likely that the spirit magician defeated the Fire Dragon. However, we can’t leave that person who’s become an enemy of the guild as is. I want everyone to calm down and act rationally.”

“What specifically do you intend to do?”

“I will consult with the headquarters and request the dispatch of an S-ranked adventurer.”

In reality, it will be tough, but it’s not like we can assassinate them.

“But we can’t risk our lives on such uncertain plans. Sorry, but I’m leaving the Labyrinth City. I’m sure he’ll remember my face.”

One by one, parties start leaving the guild. There’s no point in forcefully stopping them; it would only lead to trouble, but it’s painful to see the numbers dwindle.

Now, it will take even more time to clear out the plants. I’ll have to raise the reward and gather more people, but many adventurers have already left. More will likely listen to the story and leave. Just when we need more hands…