Chapter 57

I was discussing the hunting grounds with Mea.

Just as we were about to agree that the forest was the best option, a shout came from the neighboring table.

I turned my gaze towards the source of the voice.

"Because I've told you many times that this is the target! Why can't you listen to what I, the leader, say!"

With a thud, the blond man stood up, slamming his fist on the table.

He was wearing leather armor, and his age seemed about the same as Mea and me.

It seemed they were arguing over the choice of hunting grounds.

It might be useful for deciding our destination.

I decided to observe the situation for a bit.

"I am a Quasi-E-Class adventurer! How many of you are there? Both of you are F-Class, right? Just follow me quietly! If you can't do that, get lost! Get lost! Never show your face to me again!"

Sitting in front of the blond man were a man and a woman.

All three of them were wearing similar armor, with only minor differences in the details but the same material.

If they were F-Class and the blond man was Quasi-E-Class, it seemed like a fifty-fifty situation, but was there really that much of a difference?

The man stood up and bowed his head.

Seeing this, the blond man crossed his arms and shook his head slightly.

"Hah! You should have done that from the beginning. Well, as long as you understand, that's fine."

"Sorry, Maisen. I'm leaving the party."

"Huh, hey... What?"

"I've been thinking about this for a while. Maisen, you and I think too differently..."

"Hey, calm down. I admit, I might have gone a bit too far. I apologize, I apologize. See, I just apologized! Let's start over. As a Quasi-E-Class adventurer, my instincts tell me that this is the better option..."

The woman also stood up abruptly.

"If Tida leaves, I'm leaving too!"

"Wait, wait! Sit down? Let's sit down for a moment. I'll sit down too, everyone sit down. See, I understand, let's all sit down at the same time. I'll count to three. No betrayal, okay? One! Two!"

"Reisha, you don't have to leave too..."

"No. I've always liked Tida! Let me come with you!"

"Reisha..."

"Hey, hey, calm down for a moment. Wasn't this not the direction we were heading in?"

"Reisha, I like you too!""Tida!"

Leaving the blond man behind, the two embraced passionately.

Then, they held hands and started walking away.

"Hey, hey, wait! I like you both too, just kidding... Wait... Hey, don't forget about me! Hey, hey..."

The blond man reached out his hand towards the two, but as they disappeared from his sight, he collapsed to the ground.

He fell to the floor, his limbs spread out, and tears streamed down his face.

...I thought it might be useful for deciding our hunting grounds, but it wasn't.

The other people who had been watching the three of them quickly averted their eyes, looking uncomfortable.

I also hurriedly turned away, a bit later than the others.

"Mea, that's so romantic. I hope those two find happiness."

Only Mea, her cheeks flushed, was still looking in the direction the two had left.

I don't think we should be focusing on that.

I gripped the edge of the table and moved slightly to the left.

Then, I subtly moved my chair to put some distance between myself and the blond man.

"Mea, it's better not to look. Let's get out of here quickly."

I lowered my voice and said to Mea.

"Hey, hey, you two... Didn't you just have a discussion about where to go hunting? I thought I heard something about being short on money..."

Suddenly, the blond man from earlier spoke to us.

I instinctively readied my staff.

The tears were gone from the blond man's eyes, and a sly smile was plastered on his face.

When he saw my staff, he tilted his head in a flirtatious manner.

"Wow, you're a mage, huh? I've been wanting a mage in my party."

"..."

"I used to be a party leader, but I just kicked out some useless members. Would you two like to join my party?"

Does this blond man really think the commotion he caused earlier wasn't heard by anyone?

He was eavesdropping on our conversation about hunting grounds, which we were discussing in a normal tone.

It's true that, in a sense, he did kick out the two, but it's a rather dubious judgment.

"I'll lend you the travel expenses if you listen to me. I'll lend you the travel expenses if you listen to me."

I exchanged glances with Mea.

Normally, this would be an offer we'd jump at, but this guy seems a bit off.

"What do you think?"

"It might be okay. It seems a bit pitiful to turn him down here..."

"Well, that's true, but..."

I turned back to the blond man.

"Where do you plan to go? I'd like to hear that before making a decision..."

"Zesum Ruins."

"Zesum... Ah, I think I've read about it in a book..."

――――――――――

Elves live in the sky and do not come down of their own will.

Elves on the ground are those who have been exiled from the sky for committing crimes, or their descendants.

About two thousand years ago, due to religious conflicts, hundreds of elves were cast down to the ground.

They built a fortress to resist the persecution by the Noks tribe.

Eventually, the elves were accepted by the Noks, and they sealed the functions of the fortress and left.

This is the Zesum Ruins.

(Reference: Berenice Vermont's "Understanding Elves")

――――――――――

The Noks are the most numerous and featureless race.

Most of the people in this town are Noks.

In short, the Zesum Ruins are a fortress that was built but became unnecessary by the time it was completed and was left abandoned.

It is said that a large golem guards the deepest part of the ruins, protecting the elves' treasure, the "Arrow of the Gods."

According to the newspaper, there are no demons, and it is not treated as a dungeon.

There are some monsters, but not much different from a regular forest. It's just a ruin.

Even after two thousand years, the influence of the barrier is still strong, and most of the doors inside cannot be opened.

The accuracy of the history is also questionable.

Elves have long lifespans, but even they only live for five hundred years.

No one knows what happened four generations ago, and the details have mostly faded away.

"Why the Zesum Ruins?"

The distance is considerable, and if we're hunting monsters, the forest would be a more efficient option.

"Thanks for listening. According to the information I have, some of the barriers have recently been lifted. However, when they opened, monsters entered the ruins, causing the investigation to stall. The plan is to sneak in and grab the treasures. There should also be magic stones to maintain the barriers, so it won't be a loss."

"Oh, wow! That sounds amazing. Mea, I'm getting excited. Abel, what do you think? What do you think?"

It does sound like a good opportunity based on what I've heard.

However, I'm concerned about why this information hasn't become public.

Given that they were just turned down, there might be some flaw.

"Can I think about it a bit more..."

"Just come with a light heart, like a porter. There's no time to think. The investigation is progressing as we speak. If you two can't do it, I'll find others. There are plenty of people who want to join my party. I am a Quasi-E-Class adventurer, after all."

"But if we don't get any results, we won't be able to pay back the travel expenses..."

I don't want to end up in debt again.

"Don't worry. If you follow me, I won't let you lose. If, by some chance, there's no return, I'll cover the travel expenses."

"If you say so, then..."

In the end, we were pressured into joining the blond man, Maisen, as our leader and heading to the Zesum Ruins.

Magic stones are quite valuable, and if we can collect them efficiently, there's a chance to make a fortune.

If we really find the treasure, we could easily pay off our two million G debt.

It's also a big plus that we can hear stories from a senior adventurer on the way.

Since he keeps emphasizing his rank, he must be quite impressive as a Quasi-E-Class adventurer.

He will surely teach us valuable lessons as an adventurer.