Chapter 75

A few days later... I was stopped by Multida at the guild reception.

"Are you Elma? I’m here to inform you that Hilde has made the payment of fifty million gold as agreed. Please let us know whenever you need it."

"Did he really manage to prepare it..."

It hasn’t even been two days since then.

I was worried that it might be dragged out indefinitely and end up being ignored.

"The guild is well-versed in handling disputes among adventurers. If the guild decides, it can even revoke an adventurer's right to enter the 'Dream Hole.' Originally, the 'Dream Hole' is considered the lord's resource, and the guild mediates to make it accessible to adventurers."

"…Yeah, that’s true."

Generally, only adventurers registered with the Adventurer's Guild can enter the 'Dream Hole.'

In that sense, adventurers are always at the mercy of the nobles for their livelihood and lifeline.

"However, the relationship between the lord and the adventurers is mutually beneficial... If the lord is too stingy with their rights and acts tyrannically, the territory might be destroyed when a monster disaster occurs. ...But as a trump card for the guild, it can also be used to discipline unruly adventurers."

"That’s why it’s so effective."

It seems Hilde used the 'Dream Hole' as leverage to collect the debt.

"But how did Hilde manage to come up with fifty million gold so easily? From the way he spoke, it seemed like he could only quickly gather thirty million gold..."

"Adventurers often have assets in forms other than money. Whether they like it or not, most of them can find a way to make money."

"What do you mean by that..."

"Ah! E, Elma, over there..."

Luze lowered her voice and gently tugged at my sleeve.

"Hm?"

Looking in the direction Luze was pointing, I saw Hilde walking through the guild.

He was equipped with the 'Black Steel Scythe' and the 'Bear Shield.'

The mismatched weapons immediately revealed the situation.

It was a typical setup for a bankrupt adventurer.

In 'Magic World,' there were sometimes players with such equipment.

They had fallen into financial trouble and lost their main gear, and were using whatever weapons they had left.

The 'Black Steel Scythe' wasn’t specialized but had decent attack power.

The 'Bear Shield' had average performance but was reasonably priced.

A large, comical bear face was painted in the center of the shield.

I wondered if there were any adventurers in this world who would wear such an embarrassing outfit, but I never expected Hilde to be one of them. His face was red with embarrassment, and he glared around him with a murderous look.

"Ah, I see... He sold his weapons."

I finally understood what Multida meant.

The assets of adventurers were, in fact, their weapons.

"Ah! There they are! You guys!"

Hilde raised his voice and pointed at me.

"Luze, let’s run."

"Think you can run?!"

Hilde quickly circled around to the path we were walking on.

"...What do you want, Hilde? I thought you’d never want to see us again."

"Don’t talk to me while looking at my shield. Is my shield that rare to you?"

I quickly raised my gaze to Hilde.

"You’ve made a fool of me again. But I’m going to get back the fifty million gold you took from me."

He couldn’t let go of the fifty million gold.

However, it was officially received as the prize for the duel.

I turned to Multida, intending to ask the guild staff to intervene, but I felt a strong pressure from the front.

"Hilde, is this the Heavy Knight you mentioned?"

"Yeah, yeah! Master, these guys took my fifty million gold through despicable means!"

He was a tall, silver-haired man.

His long hair was tied back.

He was handsome, with a thin expression.

But his eyes exuded a strong will.

I could tell from his presence and aura.

This guy is strong.

I had never felt such pressure from a human before.

I didn’t need to ask.

This person was probably the real 'Black Flame Blade.'

"Class Mage Swordsman... A-rank adventurer Carlos. I heard about you from Hilde and really wanted to meet you."

A cold atmosphere filled the air.

Just standing opposite him made me feel like I was being reminded of the vast difference in rank.

It would be almost impossible to oppose someone of this level with my current strength.

"Excuse me, but there’s something I need to confirm first. Is it true that you deceived Hilde and took fifty million gold from him?"

"…I was threatened to hand over the 'Mithril Sword,' and we ended up settling it with a duel. That was the result."

The 'Black Flame Blade' is a genuine powerhouse.

A-rank adventurers are rare even in the adventurer’s capital.

While the guild generally has the upper hand, A-rank adventurers, who are irreplaceable and crucial combat forces, are a different story.

I wondered how effective it would be to use the guild as a shield...

"I see, as I thought."

Carlos nodded quietly, made a fist, and brought it down straight onto Hilde’s head.

A dull thud echoed.

"Ow…! Master, what are you doing all of a sudden?! Don’t believe this guy’s lies!"

"I thought it would be something like that from the start."

"What…! You said you’d believe what I said!"

"I just said I wanted to meet you and bring you here."

Carlos sighed, looking exasperated.

"By the way, you keep calling me 'master,' but I never intended to be your master..."

"E… Ah… Master…?"

Hilde looked like he was about to cry.

Carlos held his head and sighed.

"…Saying that now makes it seem like I’m trying to shirk responsibility. It seems I’ve caused you quite a bit of trouble due to my negligence."

Carlos made a bitter expression and bowed to me.

"N-no, it’s not like that… I accepted the duel because I was provoked. I could have refused if I wanted to."

Being bowed to for this made me feel even worse.

"You’re a good guy, Elma."

"…I just thought it would be a good way to make some pocket money. I don’t know if that’s a good evaluation."

I was such a good person that I couldn’t understand how his disciple had turned out this way.

Being too good was making me uncomfortable.

"I didn’t have many good companions in my early days. But because of that hardship, I have confidence in my ability to judge people."

"Ah… I see…"

I really wanted him to stop.

It was getting too uncomfortable.

If he bowed and asked me to return the money, I might have accepted it just to avoid the awkwardness.

"By the way, about that money…"

The topic came up at just the right moment.

I braced myself.

"This kid is the type who doesn’t learn unless it’s a personal experience. For his own good, please don’t return it."

"Ah… Yes."

I nodded slightly.