Chapter 58

"Ms. Mary, here's the delivery. Could you please check it?"

I handed over the magic bag and proceeded with the delivery process. I had been volunteering at the church the day before yesterday and yesterday, so I had been compounding potions since this morning. I finished the potions and came to deliver them to the Adventurer's Guild in the evening.

"Thank you. After checking, I'll make the payment. With the addition of the previous batch, we'll have a good buffer."

"No problem. I'll bring more in three days. I plan to gather materials tomorrow and head to the Green Swamp... What do you think?"

I had gone to the Mushroom Forest without knowing the outcome of the material monopoly by the Alchemist's Guild, so I wanted to confirm if it was okay to gather materials. I had the essential materials, but there were a few I wanted to stock up on. They were needed for the preliminary stages of making some advanced potions. Although there was no rush, I wanted to secure them for practice.

"Ah... You mean that incident. Yes... Some materials are running low, so we'd prefer you not to take them. Especially avoid the entrance area."

"Understood."

"If you could stop by before you leave tomorrow, I'll have them ready."

"Thank you, Ms. Mary."

Having accomplished my goal, I said goodbye to Ms. Mary and left the guild. I noticed several adventurers looking at me, but they weren't acquaintances. Although I didn't have many acquaintances among the adventurers, it seemed like there were more I hadn't seen before. I greeted the adventurers who called me "Little One" every time we met. Moreover, it seemed that my brother had been greeting adventurers, and those who had been frequenting the guild for a while were concerned about me, saying things like, "Don't do anything reckless since your brother isn't around."

However, some of the gazes were not friendly and felt more like they were probing. I couldn't do anything about it, so I decided to avoid getting involved.

---

The next day, as I was about to leave town, I was called by two adventurers.

"Hey, I want to talk to you for a bit... Do you remember me?"

I think it was Rai, the scout from the party I met at the Western Hill. He had been hired by the Alchemist's Guild. We hadn't met since then, but seeing him here didn't feel right.

"…What is it? Rai, right?"

"Yeah, you remember me. Thanks for that time."

"You're welcome. What's up?"

"I'm Mwanda, the leader of the Arc. A clan leader we know asked us to bring you to him."

Bring me to him... That doesn't sound good.

It felt bad, but my intuition wasn't clearly warning me. I could probably escape if it was just these two, but it didn't seem wise to refuse. I decided to go along with it and see what happens.

I patted Momo and whispered for her to go back to town. I didn't want her to be taken as a hostage or a "cat-hostage." It was better not to bring her. She had a collar, so she wouldn't be killed. She knew the way home... I hoped.

They led me to a place outside the town, a bit away from the main road where there were no people. There were about a dozen adventurers. They all seemed to be weaker than Leonis, but stronger than me. I couldn't escape with this many people.

"So, you're Klein, right?"

"Yes."

The strongest-looking man confirmed my name, and I nodded.

I might not come out unscathed, but I probably wouldn't be killed. I didn't know why they had called me here, but I needed to be cautious. However, my intuition wasn't warning me of death.

"Good, you're being honest. Can you sign this?"

They handed me a party and clan application form. I didn't recognize the party or clan names.

A clan is a collection of several parties. Large clans can have up to a hundred members and are sometimes asked to take on large-scale quests. I didn't know which parties were in this clan, but there seemed to be about three parties surrounding me, excluding Mwanda and Rai. Judging from the tank-like equipment, my guess was probably close.

Being called to such a place and asked to join a clan was suspicious, so I definitely refused.

"I decline."

"Okay, it seems you didn't understand. We're not asking for your opinion. Just sign this. It's a simple request, right?"

"I'm in a party with my brother and childhood friend, and I have no intention of leaving..."

I was slapped hard from the side, lost my balance, and was grabbed by the arm, forced to kneel and restrained. They were probably scouts. "Stay still," they said, but I couldn't resist in this position... It hurt a lot.

"I don't want to use force. Can you sign it?"

"I refuse..."

My arm was twisted, causing pain. The others were laughing. Especially the two women near the leader... Their laughter was cruel! They were praising the leader while enjoying the pain of the person in front of them. Did they really think this was the right thing to do?

"Do you not understand the situation? This is for your own good. You have no choice."

"..."

I made a sound of contempt and was kicked in the side. The person behind me was probably a scout. It wasn't a fatal blow, but it hurt.

"Talk is cheap. Sign it."

"I refuse..."

My arm was twisted again, and the pain was intense. The others were laughing. The two women near the leader... Their laughter was cruel! They were praising the leader while enjoying the pain of the person in front of them. Did they really think this was the right thing to do?

"Do you not understand the situation? This is for your own good. You have no choice."

"..."

I made a sound of contempt and was kicked in the side. The person behind me was probably a scout. It wasn't a fatal blow, but it hurt.

"Talk is cheap. Sign it."

"I refuse..."

My arm was twisted again, and the pain was intense. The others were laughing. The two women near the leader... Their laughter was cruel! They were praising the leader while enjoying the pain of the person in front of them. Did they really think this was the right thing to do?

"Do you not understand the situation? This is for your own good. You have no choice."

"..."

I made a sound of contempt and was kicked in the side. The person behind me was probably a scout. It wasn't a fatal blow, but it hurt.

"Talk is cheap. Sign it."

"I refuse..."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit from behind, and I heard a "snap" as a sharp pain shot through my left arm. It felt broken.

"You seem more foolish than I thought. I said you have no choice. The Alchemist's Guild has put a hit on you. But if you join us, we'll protect you. It's not a bad deal, right?"

"You took a job from the Alchemist's Guild? Do you think you can get away with double-dealing? I can't trust my life to people like you and fight alongside you."

"Ha... You won't understand until you've been hurt. Give me a little more time to convince you."

A few people surrounded me and started beating and kicking me... The world went dark again.

I woke up to a splash of water.

"Are you awake?"

"..."

"I'm sorry? It must hurt. If you cooperate, I'll have a healer heal you."

"I decline..."

As I spoke, I was hit