Chapter 39

At the end of this story, the clan founding arc will take a significant turn.

I apologize for the length of the text again, but I would be grateful if you could continue to follow along.

Leon, after leaving the Great Monster Bird’s Beak Inn, continued to walk silently through the night streets. It was to clear his head a little. After being insulted so harshly, he had no confidence in remaining calm. He had thought of distancing himself before the situation worsened.

"Leon, stop already! We’re going to leave the city!"

Suddenly, his arm was pulled back. Turning around, he saw that the hand belonged to Ophelia. Ophelia looked worried, and the same went for Kaem and Vlakaf, who were with her.

"Ah..."

It seemed that what was supposed to be a short walk in the night air had turned into a long wander. Moreover, he had inadvertently dragged his companions along.

"Did walking for a while clear your head a bit?"

Kaem laughed in a troubled manner, and Leon bowed his head.

"Everyone, I’m sorry. I was so preoccupied with my thoughts..."

"Unusual for you. I wasn’t paying attention, so I don’t know the details, but to lose your composure over a kid’s impertinence? That’s not like you."

"U-um, well..."

As Leon stammered, Vlakaf brought his nose close and sniffed.

"No signs of mental disturbance."

"Then it’s your problem."

Kaem folded his arms and tilted his head in puzzlement.

"Tell us what happened."

"Alright..."

As Leon and Ophelia, the parties involved, began to recount the details, explaining his actions helped him view the situation more objectively, and he began to feel embarrassed. Indeed, when Kaem finished listening, he snorted at the two of them.

"I see. So, it’s your fault, the two of you."

"Eh? Why! The fault is—ouch!"

As Ophelia tried to argue, Kaem poked her side with the butt of his spear.

"Who took a hostile attitude from the start, believing every rumor? And who insulted the other party?"

"W-well, I admit I was wrong... But he admitted it too, didn’t he?"

"Idiot. If something truly terrible had happened, he wouldn’t have admitted it so easily in public."

"Huh? So, was he lying? Why would he need to lie?"

"Who knows. But if I had to guess, maybe he wanted to use the bad reputation to his advantage. After all, a bad reputation is better than no reputation."

"Eh? That’s... Ouch, ouch! Stop poking me, stop poking me!"

Ophelia, unable to bear Kaem’s continuous poking, hid behind Vlakaf, peeking out with a resentful look.

"Anyway, even if everything was true, you shouldn’t have gotten involved unilaterally. You were overreacting with your sense of justice."

"Ugh..."

It was a fair point. No matter how right they were, they needed to consider the impact on others. Ophelia couldn’t think of a retort and had tears in her eyes, her ears drooping.

"Leon, you too."

"Got it... I understand..."

"The talk about qualifications and rewards was off the mark. What you should have focused on was the insult to your companion. Once you fell for the provocation and shifted the focus, you lost your moral high ground."

"Yeah, you’re right. I was wrong..."

It was a painful truth that sank deep into his heart. No matter how justified they were, the issue had been shifted by Leon. As just an explorer, he had no right to speak so arrogantly.

"I’ll go and apologize to her. You guys go ahead—ugh!"

His collar was grabbed, choking him. It was Kaem.

"Hold it. Going to apologize now will just make things worse. Besides, if you apologize, Ophelia will have no ground to stand on after being called worse than a dog."

"But, well..."

"Wait and gather more information before making contact. Wasn’t the reason for this argument a lack of information in the first place? Do you want to repeat the same mistake?"

"Y-yeah..."

Indeed, they should be more cautious. Leon nodded, and Ophelia, still hiding behind Vlakaf, raised her hand.

"By the way, Noel isn’t a girl, but a guy."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he was wearing a bulky coat, so his figure was hard to tell, but he said he was a guy, and his bone structure was male. He’d be angry if you mistook him for a girl."

"See, information is important."

Kaem shrugged, and Leon chuckled.

"True. By the way, there’s something I’ve been wondering about. How did they get into that inn? If they had that much of a track record, we would have heard about it."

"Maybe something happened before they entered the inn. If we knew that, it would help..."

"We can’t ask anyone because other explorers dislike us."

Vlakaf’s blunt words made everyone sigh.

The Heavenly Wing Knights are disliked by other explorers. It’s an undeniable fact. However, they have never deviated from the right path and have always tried to be correct.

The grand name "Heavenly Wing Knights" wasn’t something Leon and his team came up with; it was given by a journalist from the imperial capital. The article praised them as a party that was not only strong but also courteous and honest, like the knights in fairy tales. This nickname eventually became more famous than their original party name, and they had no choice but to adopt it.

Of course, Leon and his team knew they were overrated. They were far from such noble explorers. Indeed, they had caused problems like this one.

However, other explorers didn’t see it that way. They were known as a group of insincere hypocrites, and no one tried to befriend them.

Explorers are generally rough and tumble, and most of them are troublemakers. To them, the Heavenly Wing Knights, who were praised for their good behavior, were nothing but an eyesore.

Even without that reputation, Leon and his team would have become outcasts because they disliked dirty deeds.

"Wait. What about Risha? She was in the same inn, even though they’re in different parties, right?"

Kaem looked at Ophelia, who widened her eyes.

"True... I didn’t think of that..."

"Don’t say you didn’t think of it! Risha, your fellow explorer, would definitely have reliable information! Yet, you did something foolish based on rumors!"

"It hurts, it hurts! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!"

An angry Kaem dragged Ophelia out from behind Vlakaf and poked her with the spear butt, but not enough to hurt her.

Leon and Vlakaf exchanged glances and shrugged.

"Well, at least we can get information on Noel... That’s good..."

†

†

In the end, they decided not to return to the Great Monster Bird’s Beak Inn. They were already tired from the expedition, and worrying about Noel wouldn’t help them rest.

Ophelia and Vlakaf headed home, while Leon and Kaem decided to visit their regular bar. Unlike the explorer’s exclusive bar, the small, cozy atmosphere of this place was perfect for a mentally exhausting day like today.

"So, what’s the real story?"

While sipping their drinks at a corner of the counter, Kaem suddenly asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you get so worked up?"

"Why, I wonder..."

Insulting Ophelia was unforgivable, but he could have handled it more calmly. Yet, he had ended up making a fool of himself.

"I don’t really know..."

"Probably out of jealousy."

"Jealousy?"

Leon tilted his head, and Kaem nodded while munching on roasted beans.

"Noel is, I think, around sixteen, right? A kid like that suddenly shows up at the Great Monster Bird’s Beak Inn, acting all important. It’s natural to feel jealous. Ophelia’s outburst was probably for the same reason."

"I see... Jealousy, huh..."

It made sense. Kaem’s analysis was probably correct.

"Don’t tell Ophelia. She tends to brood, and if she finds out it was jealousy, she might lock herself in her room."

"Hehe, I know. But if that’s the case, we really did something selfish... I can’t apologize enough to Noel."

"Maybe not. I think it’s healthy. Having a rival is good; it can be a catalyst for growth."

"But what about the trouble we caused?"

"Noel probably doesn’t care. Besides, I think the Heavenly Wing Knights and the Azure Outlier can be good rivals."

Kaem’s unexpected words made Leon blink.

"Why do you think so?"

"Because we’re both outcasts."

The blunt answer made Leon laugh.

"Haha, that’s true. It makes sense."

Laughing about it helped him sort out his feelings.

"I don’t know Noel well, but he’s probably amazing. To be so young and a talker, yet advancing so quickly..."

"Jealous again?"

"No, I genuinely respect him. Yeah, he’s amazing."

"Honesty is a virtue, but it’s also a bit embarrassing for a senior to admit it so easily, isn’t it? Hey, Leon Frederic, twenty-two, single?"

"Your age and single status are the same, Kaem."

Leon and Kaem are childhood friends from the same hometown. Kaem was the first to aspire to be an explorer, and Leon followed him to the imperial capital, becoming an explorer as well.

Later, Ophelia joined them, and Vlakaf came along. Leon became the leader, but Kaem was the spiritual leader. Even now, Leon felt like the younger brother.

"It’s been a long time since we left our hometown. Hey, Leon, shouldn’t we move to the next step? I mean, founding a clan."

Kaem took a letter from his pocket and placed it on the table. The content was the same as the one Leon received that morning. It was from the Explorer’s Guild, urging strong parties to hurry with their clan applications.

"Yours came too?"

"Seems like it went to other parties as well."

"But that’s strange, isn’t it? Why the sudden push for clan applications? This is the first time something like this has happened."

"Who knows. But there’s probably a reason, and I think it’s a good opportunity. What do you think, Leon?"

The Heavenly Wing Knights had achieved enough to found a clan long ago. They had delayed it to start in a better state.

Starting with a good rating would make clan management easier. This was a decision made by the whole party.

"I think it’s a good opportunity too. But we should hear the others’ opinions."

"Yeah, they’re fine with it."

"Eh!? You already discussed it without me!?"

"They received the letter too, and it’s a continuation of that discussion."

Even so, Leon was speechless.

"I knew I was just a figurehead, but this is too much..."

"Don’t pout! I’m sorry!"

Kaem put his arm around Leon’s shoulder, but Leon could only sigh.

†

†

They say good things should be done quickly. The next day, Leon and Kaem visited the Explorer’s Guild to submit their clan application.

At the reception, they were surprisingly led to a back room. Normally, it would take a few days to get a response, but there must have been a reason for this.

While waiting in the reception room, a white-haired old gentleman in a tailcoat appeared.

"I am Harold Jenkins, the Inspector of the Explorer’s Guild. Pleased to meet you."

"I’m Leon Frederic, the leader of the Heavenly Wing Knights."

They exchanged pleasantries, and Harold smiled warmly.

"I’ve heard a lot about the Heavenly Wing Knights. I’m very pleased that the strongest B-rank party has decided to found a clan."

"No, we’re still far from that."

"There’s no need to be modest. After all, the Heavenly Wing Knights have already achieved the ‘Dragon Slayer’ title. To accomplish such a feat with just four people, which even established clans struggle with, is something to be proud of. Modesty can come off as condescending."

The ‘Dragon Slayer’ title means they had defeated a dragon demon. Dragon demons are extremely powerful, even for established clans, and slaying one is a significant achievement for explorers.

The Heavenly Wing Knights had defeated the Forest Evil Dragon, a depth seven demon. It was a formidable opponent with a tough hide, a poisonous breath, and the ability to turn invisible, but they succeeded. It was about a year ago.

"Let’s get to the main point. A party with such great achievements and a reputation for good behavior doesn’t need an interview to be approved as a clan. We would welcome you with open arms. However—"

Harold paused, his eyebrows drooping sadly.

"The Explorer’s Guild must reject the Heavenly Wing Knights’ clan application. I’m truly sorry."

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Leon and Kaem were stunned, and the next moment, they were shouting.

"Reject? What do you mean!?" "Reject? What do you mean!?"

"I understand your confusion. I’ll explain, but first, I need a promise. You must not disclose what you hear here to anyone outside. Can you agree to that?"

Leon and Kaem exchanged glances and nodded.

"Understood, we promise."

"Then, I’ll be straightforward. The Ten Kings of the Netherworld will soon manifest."

"The Ten Kings of the Netherworld!?"

"Yes. To prepare for this, we have decided to limit the number of clans we approve. The reason is simple: to reduce the dispersion of requests and strengthen individual forces."

"So, you’re saying we’re not suitable for the country to cultivate?"

Leon asked, his voice trembling, and Harold nodded.

"That’s correct, Leon. You are very capable, but there are doubts about your potential. Why didn’t you found a clan immediately after slaying the Forest Evil Dragon a year ago? You had more than enough achievements and funds."

"We were planning to found a clan in a more perfect state..."

"Caution is good, but that caution is our concern. Will the Heavenly Wing Knights become even stronger by the time the Ten Kings of the Netherworld manifest?"

"That’s... so cruel..."

The caution that was supposed to help them make a big leap had backfired. Leon’s mind went blank at the unexpected turn of events.

"Wait! You’re the ones who asked for clan applications! How can you reject them!?"

Kaem shouted, slamming the letter on the table.

"What is this letter?"

Harold scrutinized the letter in his hand, tilting his head.

"Our guild didn’t send this. Is it a prank?"

"A prank...?"

Kaem slumped, stunned. If Harold denied it, it must be a prank. But what was the point of such a prank?

"Anyway, that’s the result. However, we can approve your application after the Ten Kings of the Netherworld are defeated. Please reapply at that time."

Harold bowed and was about to leave the room. Leon stood up and called out loudly.

"Wait! Can’t you give us a chance!?"

He knew he was asking for too much, but he couldn’t accept such an unfair decision. It would be too late if they had to wait until the Ten Kings were defeated. The Heavenly Wing Knights needed to become a clan now, or it would be a lasting regret, not just for Leon and Kaem, but for Ophelia and Vlakaf as well. As the leader, he couldn’t allow that.

"Please! Approve us as a clan!"

Leon bowed, and Harold sighed, slowly returning.

"Alright. I’ll give you a chance."

"Really!?" "Really!?"

"Yes, but you’ll have to take a test."

"A test?"

"You’ll have to slay a demon we designate. If you succeed, we’ll approve your clan application."

"Which demon?"

"A demon that has just manifested. Depth eight, the Monkey King with the Evil Eye. You’ll have to slay this demon."

"Depth eight..."

It was even stronger than the Forest Evil Dragon. Leon swallowed hard. Could they win? As he hesitated, Kaem put a hand on his shoulder.

"Leon, don’t hesitate. If we continue as explorers, we’ll have to face even stronger enemies. There’s no point in hesitating."

Encouraged by his strong words, Leon nodded.

"Alright. Harold, please let us take the test."

"Understood. However, the test isn’t just about slaying the demon. You’ll have to compete with another party."

"Another party?"

"Yes, they also objected to the rejection of their clan application and begged for a chance. We believe it’s fair to choose one of you to become a clan."

Harold explained and looked at a door leading to another room.

"He’s waiting there. I’ll call him. —The Heavenly Wing Knights have agreed! Please come in!"

The door opened, and a boy with a face as beautiful as a girl, wearing a black coat, appeared, holding a teacup.

"Ah, it’s been a day, Heavenly Wing Knights."

"Noel Stollen..."