Chapter 59

Finally, we arrived at the Zeshum ruins.

Several carriages of adventurers who had come before us were parked there.

My first impression of the Zeshum ruins was that they resembled a massive stone fortress.

Runes were carved all over the walls.

They were quite advanced.

Most of them were sealing runes.

According to the book, the elves had sealed the fortress functions of the Zeshum ruins when they made peace with the Nox clan.

These were probably the runes they used at that time.

The runes used were ancient, and the difference in eras was evident.

Some of them, which could now be easily replicated, had been constructed with considerable effort.

However, this was still useful for reference.

With the right application, there were endless possibilities.

For me, it was worth the trip just to see them.

"...What a magnificent ruin. I really feel it was worth coming. Thank you for bringing me here; I appreciate it."

As I said this, I patted Maisen on the shoulder.

"...Mia, I'm glad Abel is happy. Um, by the way, did you say you would cover the travel expenses?"

"Hey, hey, wait a minute, you guys! Don't talk like you're giving up! Trouble is part of the adventure! Are you going to throw yourselves at the Rampaging Fangs?"

"No... It's probably better to go back quietly now."

I pointed towards the Zeshum ruins.

At the entrance, five men were standing.

They were all wearing the same outfit, with blue fabric and white embroidery.

"We are the lord's investigation team! Entry into the Zeshum ruins without the lord's permission is strictly prohibited! Leave now!"

"If you persist, we will record your identities! The lord is a sponsor of the Adventurer Support Office. Even you fools should understand what that means!"

In front of the five men claiming to be the investigation team, a crowd of about thirty people had gathered.

They were probably adventurers who, like me, had come to explore the Zeshum ruins.

They all looked like troublemakers.

A woman wrapped in tattered cloth, a half-naked man, and someone wearing a heavy, nearly broken suit of armor.

"Shut up! Let us through! We can force our way through if we want!"

"Money! At least give us some money! Then we'll back off!"

Compared to the five neatly dressed and good-looking men, the thirty ruffians were a stark contrast.

They continued to shout obscenities.

The five men's moods visibly worsened.

"Don't talk down to us, you scrawny brat! Haven't you been serving the homo lord in bed? What a fine position for a male prostitute!"

"You bastards! Insulting the lord will not be tolerated!"

"Hey! Did we hit a nerve? Are you angry because we hit a nerve?"

"I'll kill you!"

"Calm down, Allen! The lord anticipated that this kind of situation would arise!"

The conflict was becoming increasingly futile.

Upon closer inspection, Gaston was also there, waving his arms in the front, acting as a spectator.

"Hey, let's go back, Maisen. I don't want to get involved with those guys."

"Mia, I... I don't want to either..."

Now I understand why the Adventurer Support Office didn't release information about the ruins.

The lord was conducting the investigation himself.

Of course, that would happen. It's low risk, high return.

It would be incompetent not to take advantage of a position of exclusivity.

There are no easy deals in the world, but that's because the powerful take everything.

I wish they had made a more public statement and clearly said, "Don't come." But probably, even if they did, more people would come thinking they might get a piece of the pie.

"It's okay! Last time something similar happened, the lord's side gave in after being worn down! We can watch from the back and join in when things start moving."

"Right..."

Somehow, this isn't what I thought adventurers would be like.

"Look, if things get rough, we can join the side that stops the riot. If we stand out, we might be able to ingratiate ourselves with the lord. I know an adventurer who started working for the lord through a similar situation."

That also seems off...

"Hey! I'm the leader, right? Abel said I could be the leader! Come on, don't say you want to go back! Alright! Let's stick around for the rest of the day!"

Other adventurers were also starting to leave.

Since we arrived, about five groups of adventurers have already turned back.

...Maybe we should go back too.

"Listen up, you guys! We'll keep causing trouble day and night! Their judgment will deteriorate as they get tired!"

Gaston was encouraging the other adventurers.

It's futile. Terribly futile.

I wish the lord would record their names and have them picked up from the city.

But, are we also part of this now... I want to go home.

Despite all the threats, they're smart enough not to resort to violence right away.

It won't be a significant issue unless it turns violent.

But the atmosphere suggests that a major fight could break out if someone makes a move.

"Hey, you guys watching from the sidelines, get involved! Are you trying to take the easy way out? Are you rotten to the core? If you're not going to do anything, go home!"

I want to do that too.

Many adventurers, like us, were watching from a distance.

They all looked at the adventurers and the lord's investigation team as if they were in a zoo.

Whether or not we leave, let's go back to the carriage for now.

Standing is tiring.

At this rate, it doesn't seem like anything will progress for a while.