Chapter 71

"Damn it! What is the Guild thinking!"

After hearing the rough details of why Laust was banned from entering the dungeon from Salamus, I spat out these words in frustration.

I knew there was a rift between the Guild, which wanted to increase the number of exclusive adventurers, and Laust, who refused and joined a party of direct adventurers.

For the Guild, which looked down on adventurers, being defied by one of them must have been infuriating.

"The bastards at the Guild don't even know what's right and wrong!"

Even considering that, this time it was clearly something that shouldn't have been done.

From what I heard, it was clearly the Great Sword of the War God who started the fight with Laust.

This was common sense, not only for the Adventurer's Guild but even for adventurers like us.

Yet, the Guild, which should have prioritized and protected this common sense, ignored it.

This was something that absolutely could not be tolerated.

Driven by this thought, I spoke to my companions.

"Hey, you guys, get ready quickly! We're going to protest at the Guild!"

"Alright, go get the armor!"

"Yeah!"

First, Godz agreed, and then the other adventurers raised their voices and ran to the warehouse where the armor was stored.

Feeling their determination, I felt a sense of reliability and a smile appeared on my face.

If a large number of armed adventurers stormed the Guild, the Guild would have no choice but to lift the ban on Laust entering the dungeon.

"With this, I can repay him a little."

Thinking this, I muttered those words.

I thought that with this, I could finally repay Laust's kindness.

"…Really, will the Guild back down just because of our protest?"

"…Huh?"

…My thoughts were dispelled by the words Salamus spoke.

Salamus's sudden words made me wonder if he was afraid of the Guild.

However, the serious expression on Salamus's face negated that thought.

"…Do you remember? The time when we thought Laust would kill us in the dungeon."

"Ah, yeah."

Confused, I nodded at Salamus's serious tone.

Now, I know that such a thing was impossible, but at the time when we prostrated ourselves before Laust, we genuinely believed he would kill us.

Recalling that moment, I spoke.

"Come to think of it, the Guild staff warned us that Laust was likely to commit murder in the dungeon."

Yes, the cause of our misconception at the time was the information from the Guild staff.

Tracing my memory, I murmured this.

Thinking back now, the warnings the Guild staff repeatedly gave us were the source of our fear of Laust.

"…I saw it. The Guild staff were inciting the Great Sword of the War God against Laust in the same way they told us Laust was the culprit."

"…What?"

Salamus revealed this shocking fact while I was recalling that moment.

I was dumbfounded, unable to understand the Guild's intention to pit high-level adventurers, who should be their most valuable assets, against each other.

The other adventurers were also visibly shaken by Salamus's words.

However, Salamus, unaware of our reactions, continued.

"Thinking back now, I can't help but feel that the Guild staff were trying to give us a bad impression of Laust. – Maybe the Guild is trying to isolate Laust in this dungeon city."

Hearing Salamus's words, the thought that such a thing was impossible crossed my mind.

But I didn't voice it.

…Upon further reflection, I realized that the Guild staff had indeed acted in a way that supported Salamus's words.

The Guild staff member, who introduced himself as Hansam, openly showed his hostility towards Laust and spoke in a way that incited our hatred.

If we hadn't seen Laust defeat the mutated hydra, we would have undoubtedly harbored resentment towards him.

It was clear that their words and actions were intended to make us enemies with Laust.

"Why would the Guild staff be against Laust…?"

Despite understanding this, or rather because of it, I couldn't hide my confusion.

Even if Laust was isolated from the dungeon city, the likelihood of him leaving the city would increase.

However, Laust, one of the largest adventurers in the dungeon city, leaving would be a loss for the Guild.

Therefore, the Guild must have another reason for isolating Laust, but I couldn't understand what it was.

"Maaner! Look at that!"

However, I couldn't continue thinking about it.

My thoughts were interrupted by Godz's urgent voice, pointing to a small window in the warehouse.

"Huh?"

Puzzled by the usually bold warrior's agitation, I raised my head and peered out the window.

"It's a massacre."

"…!"

…The next moment, I noticed a group of armed hobgoblins walking through the city.

◇◆◇

"No way…"

A group of monsters that should only exist in the dungeon.

Facing them, I couldn't hide my shock.

A chill ran down my spine, and I realized that something abnormal was happening, beyond our comprehension.

"Why are there goblins here!"

"!"

This realization was driven home by the voices of the townspeople outside the warehouse.

"Armored ones, get out quickly! Buy us time until we come out!"

Hearing this, I realized that the townspeople might be attacked by the hobgoblins, and I raised my voice.

The other adventurers also regained their senses at my voice.

"Yeah! We'll take care of the hobgoblins!"

The next moment, the adventurers who had already put on their armor ran out of the warehouse, shouting.

"Count on us…"

Seeing them off, I muttered these words, praying for their success, and hastened to put on my armor.

If it were just a fight, they should be fine.

After all, the opponents were just hobgoblins, no matter how many there were.

They were not our enemies, the adventurers who explore the middle layers.

However, our goal this time was not just to eliminate the hobgoblins.

We had to protect the townspeople.

Ordinary civilians, not adventurers.

"Damn it! Why is this happening…"

Thinking about this again, I spat out these words in frustration.

The people of this dungeon city were surprisingly accustomed to emergencies.

They might handle a few monsters on their own.

…However, the current opponents were a group of monsters from the lower layers of the dungeon.

With such a small number of adventurers, there was a possibility that something could happen to the townspeople.

"Damn!"

This thought created a sense of urgency in me, causing me to drop the armor on my arm.

Despite the urge to shout in frustration, I hurried to pick up the armor.

"Kyaaaaaaa!"

"Hey, no way!"

"Still in time! Call the healers!"

…At that moment, screams and shouts from my companions outside the warehouse echoed.

Hearing the commotion, I stopped picking up the armor and ran towards the warehouse door.

The worst possibility flashed through my mind: that the townspeople were already in a critical state.

"………Huh?"

However, the reality was far worse than I imagined.

"Haah…"

When I burst out of the warehouse, I saw a companion on the verge of death, spitting blood, and other adventurers struggling to fight the hobgoblins, unable to get close to the injured one.

I couldn't accept this scene for a moment.

Hobgoblins were supposed to be easy enemies for us.

This was common knowledge among mid-level adventurers.

…Then, why were my companions struggling so much against these hobgoblins?

"Madakakureteitaka, boukensha."

"…!"

The answer to my question came from one of the hobgoblins.

Ignoring the dying adventurer, it spoke to me, as if it had found a new toy.

It was then that I realized these were not just ordinary hobgoblins.

"What are you, what are you all?"

Facing the pressure I usually felt when fighting mid-layer monsters, I shouted.

The hobgoblin in front of me laughed without answering my question, its eyes gleaming with a sadistic light that no monster should have.

"Destroy all humans."

…It was then that we realized the situation was far worse than we had imagined.

I apologize for the delay in updates!

…Next time, I plan to post in a week, but if there is a delay, I apologize!

It's difficult to come up with detailed plans…