Act 2-18 - Chapter 18 : Grey Cult's Speculation

Chapter 18 : Grey Cult’s Speculation

TN : Suspicious Uncle Return

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As soon as the battle ended, Heidar sat on the ground, his back leaning against the wall as he tried to adjust his breathing, it seems the battle just now had sapped his stamina.

「What a monster… my role is scout dammit. And yet, I always ended up with this kind of back breaking job…」

Heidar whispered something as he massaged his eyes.

As I thought, 《Prognostication Short Sword; Gjallarhorn》’s future vision placed an extremely heavy load on his eyeballs.

「Dean, are you alright? can you stand?」

「… Ouch.」

I managed to stand only after I leaned on Mani’s shoulder.

「Sorry Mani, you ended up involved in my mess.」

Mani closed her eyes with a lonely look on her face when she heard me saying so.

「… Please stop making me worry about your safety. I mean, the battle just now was really scary. You barely survived from such a battle you know.」

「… Sorry.」

But, I would never blame myself for jumping into the fray in this kind of situation.

I’m sure that Heidar would’ve been killed if I didn’t butt in, and then Vlad would start killing the civilians who didn’t make it in time to escape.

… But, the pain that ravaged my entire body forced me to understand Mani’s worry.

Though Mani did save my life in the nick of time, I couldn’t help but shiver in fear every time I remember the fact that Vlad was about to kill her in front of me.

And I believe that Mani attacked Vlad for the same reason as me.

「… I’ll become stronger.」

I muttered so.

Beelzebub was powerful.

But, I as her user was still a weak adventurer.

Fleeting adventurer who bet on his life on a daily basis just to survive.

There might be many instances in the future in which I was ambushed by someone like Fedor, Gaza, or ruined adventurers when I was diving inside the labyrinth.

I might have run out of luck in one of those instances and died.

Much less to say that I was aiming to become someone like sword saint Zalios, my path ahead would be filled with unimaginable hardship, way more than a normal adventurer.

Heidar came to me and mani.

His face was rather pale due to his wound. He suddenly stretched his arm and messed up my hair with his hand.

「UWAAA!」

「Good job, lad. I’ll would have surely gotten myself killed by that guy if I fought him by myself.」

Heidar gave praise to me with a wry smile on his face.

「E-Excuse me! Please stop doing that, Dean was seriously injured in the previous battle!」

Mani came out in front of me, embracing my head as if to protect me.

Heidar then realized his mistake and he trid to cover it with a forced smile on his face, and then muttering in a small voice.

「… But, we’ve to make your move immediately. Though I’ve no intention of stealing your achievement this time, you’ll most likely be marked by scumbags like those trashy adventurers or the army. Well, it’s not like those bastard from the army are going to reward you either for this case.」

「Thanks, Heidar-san.

I bowed to Heidar.

But, the people who were looking at the situation from afar, and the people who fled halfway should’ve understood that all I did was… stall time for Heidar, a very short one on top of that.

Anything other than that was too trifial to be even mentioned.

In the end, the one who delivered the final blow was none other than Heidar himself.

A while later, adventurers who happened to hear the commotion in this place had finally arrived.

Maybe because they knew that the situation was already under control, the onlookers were starting to gather around this place.

「Heidar, are you the one who beat that guy? great job!」

「As expected of one of the strongest hunting comrade of this city.」

Heidar received praises from the adventurers around him.

「If you’ve the time to fus around like idiots, then go and call those fucking army soldiers who should’ve been responsible for this matter. Just when in the hell are those fucking bastard going to come?」

Heidar replied to their praise with an annoyed face.

He did so to focus the attention of the people around him.

Mani and I used that chance to slip in between the gap of the crowd and left that place.

My mind was wandering elsewhere as I followed after Mani.

The grey cult’s deed this time might be… the preparation for entering the negotiation with the army.

Those guys were clearly aiming for that enchanted vessel, 《Trapezohedron of Dark Radiance》 which was currently under the custody of the army.

As long as they keep causing this kind of damage to the city, sooner or later, the army would be forced to take a public stance called protecting the city otherwise, they would’ve a hard time in the future.

Most likely, our encounter with Gaza in 《Romburgh’s Underground Ruin》 wasn’t a mere coincidence.

The remainder of their ritual was the best proof of their declaration, many would’ve trembled in fear upon seeing their cruel ritual.

Their aim was most likely to get their hands on to the 《Trapezohedron of Dark Radiance》 via negotiation with the army.

Contrary to their insane zealousness on their own faith, the grey cult was surprisingly rational.

I kept looking down on the ground while pondering about the situation and suddenly, Mani stopped walking.

「What’s matter, Mani…」

「Thank you very much. That’s really wonderful, Dean-kun. 」

When I raised my line of sight, I heard the praise along with a random clapping sound as if mocking me.

It was someone who I met before in the adventurer guild, the man with bitter orange hair and a long bang that hiding one of his eye.

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「… Sorry but, we’re in hurry, can you step aside for now?」

Mani was glaring at the man as she said so.

The man shook his head as he made an unnatural gesture with his hands.

「Why so cold even though I’m giving my honest opinion? this uncle feels sad you know.」

「Since when did you observe us?」

I asked the man.

「Since the very beginning you know? don’t tell me that you didn’t realize it even though I was that close? that’s cold of you.」

… If what he said was true, it means that he used magic to hide himself and just watched from the sideline without doing anything.

I had no idea whether he was telling the truth or not but, I had no intention to confirm that.

Even if for example, he was lying, I had no intention to continue a relationship with someone who could jest under this kind of situation.

「… Let’s go home, Mani.」

「U~hn.」

Mani nodded upon hearing my words and then passed by the side of the man with bitter orange hair after bowing to him.

「How’s the condition of that Narc’s girl? her wound is a pretty grievous one isn’t it?」

「!!! Why do you even care about her!?」

I unintentionally asked back as I turned around to see him.

The man just laughed it off while playing with the tips of his hair.

This guy, is he gathering information about me?

I really had no idea what his aim was.

「Hnn, the truth is, she’s the relative of my friend you know.」

That must be bull shit.

Edda’s relatives were massacred by a devil.

And I heard about this matter directly from Edda’s mouth.

Though I had no idea why he mentioned this matter to me as if to confirm whether I knew about this matter or not but, whichever it was seemed unpleasant to me.

I signaled to mani with my eyes upon seeing her stopped again.

「… Let’s go.」

I don’t think I could handle more conversation with this eerie and unpleasant guy.

「Dean-kun, we’re fated to meet again somewhere as long as your determination doesn’t yield. As for me, I sincerely wish that we can meet again later.」

The man laughed as he spoke those last words.

When I turned back a few seconds later, his figure had already vanished.

「He knew your name, Dean. Have you meet him somewhere before that time in the adventurer guild?」

Mani asked with an anxious look on her face.

I shook my head.

「… Nope, I only met him that one time in the adventurer’s guild when you were with me.」

… Did he already notice Beelzebub’s demon core by that time?

Could it be that he was one of the grey cult members whose job was to mark me who killed both Gaza and Vlad?

「… Before we go back, let’s retrieve the baggage that I hid before I went to help you.」

Mani spoke with a smile on her face, as if trying to dispel the gloomy atmosphere around us.

Nevertheless, I, whose mind was filled with the speculation about that bitter orange haired man couldn’t help but turn back for the last time.