Chapter 55

Lambert visited the headquarters of the Adventurers' Guild "Dancing Sword" and was warmly welcomed by the guild's adventurers.

After all, if Lambert had not driven away the war god Robin Hood, the adventurers who had set out to search for the unicorn's horn would have been almost entirely wiped out. Due to the absence of many of the main members, if it weren't for Lambert, the "Dancing Sword" guild itself would have been in danger of disbanding.

At first, the "Dancing Sword" adventurers were hesitant due to Lambert's unusual aura, but when the red-haired giant Fand, the leader of the unicorn hunting party, rushed over and said, "Thank you for coming!" the atmosphere greatly relaxed. Those present expressed their gratitude, and once things settled down, Fand spoke to Lambert.

"Lord Yunos also said he wants to meet his benefactor in person... Could you meet him?"

"Yunos?"

Lambert's question made Fand look a bit surprised.

"…You didn't know? Lord Yunos is our guild master. Starting from scratch, he turned this 'Dancing Sword' into one of the leading guilds in the city of Baraila in just five years! He is known for his unique swordsmanship, which uses magic for footwork and feints, and is recognized as one of the top five adventurers in Baraila, a city overflowing with thousands of adventurers. He is called the swordsman closest to the war god Robin Hood... but I guess that's not much to boast about to you."

Fand, who had been speaking proudly up to that point, scratched his head and smiled wryly, perhaps remembering how Lambert had easily dealt with Robin Hood.

Guided by Fand, Lambert was led to a back room. The guild master Yunos of the "Dancing Sword" was a silver-haired, narrow-eyed man. As a swordsman, he was somewhat slender. Unlike the impression Lambert had heard, he gave off a somewhat light and casual vibe in both appearance and demeanor.

When Lambert entered the room, Yunos was chatting with a female adventurer, but upon seeing Lambert, he said he wanted to speak with him alone and dismissed the female adventurer and Fand.

"You are the armored swordsman, I presume. As the guild master, I want to thank you. Even with the intervention, if the request from Lord Mondo had failed, it would have affected the reputation of the 'Dancing Sword.' Of course, I have already informed Lord Mondo of your assistance. He seems to be very interested in you."

"...You start with that, do you?"

"In this city of Baraila, if you aim for the top, there are many things that can't be resolved with just gratitude and sentiment. With your level of swordsmanship, you must have faced many tough battles. Have you lived by ideals alone? I don't think so. I wanted to speak to you without pretense, which is why I dismissed them. Members can be replaced, but if the organization's reputation is tarnished, that's the end. This incident... by successfully completing a request that other guilds couldn't, we have gained an edge. I am truly grateful to you. If we had missed this opportunity, we would have remained in our current position for a long time."

Yunos spoke while subtly observing Lambert's reactions. Despite his casual demeanor, Lambert found him somewhat unsettling, the opposite of the straightforward Fand.

"A general who does not respect his soldiers will not last long. Those who do not adhere to principles and only use tricks to get by will eventually stumble."

"...I thought you, being a top swordsman, would see things from the same perspective."

Yunos narrowed his eyes and glared at Lambert.

Yunos's words were clearly wrong in some aspects. Lambert, too, had faced many situations where ideals alone were not enough, especially considering the intensity of the Eight Nations Unification War. However, Lambert had the strength to fight for the principles he had decided on and had a sense of justice. Yunos's emphasis on honor and wealth over his subordinates clearly contradicted Lambert's beliefs. Moreover, there was a clear gap in their levels, even among top swordsmen.

Before the silence could last for a few seconds, Yunos covered his mouth and laughed, as if to brush it off.

"No, no, it's fine. I was wrong. Let's leave it at that. Actually, Lord Mondo has invited us to his mansion to express his gratitude. Would you like to join us? Lord Mondo would be pleased. If there's an opportunity to meet, he wants me to invite you."

"Hmm..."

However, Lambert could not eat and could not even remove his armor and helmet. In a situation where there was no room for deception, his undead nature might be exposed. But since Lambert was concerned about the possibility of the city being targeted by the "Flute Devil," he wanted to confirm the lord's stance on the "Flute Devil."

"I will go just to pay my respects. I am not accustomed to such occasions."

Of course, in his past life, Lambert was a high-ranking official of the unified kingdom of Aurelia and was well-versed in social gatherings with nobles, but he used this as an excuse to leave quickly. Different times meant different customs, so it wasn't entirely a lie.

"By the way, are you here to join the Adventurers' Guild? If so, I would like to have you join our ranks. We will offer you exceptional treatment. The 'Dancing Sword' has gained a good reputation from this incident, and the number of applicants to join the guild will increase. Eventually, we will be at the top of this city of adventurers."

"Thank you for the offer, but you know our philosophies don't align. Besides, I don't plan to stay here long."

"Ah... that's a shame."

Yunos laughed, but his response was surprisingly casual given his passionate speech.

However, Lambert noticed that Yunos had deliberately suppressed his emotions.

In fact, Yunos desperately wanted to bring Lambert into the fold. If it were known that someone had helped, the impression of the unicorn hunt and the defeat of Robin Hood would be lessened as achievements of the "Dancing Sword." But if Lambert were part of the "Dancing Sword," it would be seen as a collective achievement, including Lambert. Yunos kept this emotion off his face, maintaining a superficial smile.

(A man I can't trust. I thought it would be helpful to have connections, but perhaps I shouldn't involve myself too much with this guild.)

"By the way, I forgot to ask. What should I call you?"

"...Ah, just call me Lambert."

Lambert's casual response surprised Yunos. In the history of the Regius Kingdom, the Four Demon Generals, including Lambert, are often portrayed as villains who rose to power without regard for means. Near the end of the Eight Nations Unification War, he revealed his true nature, attempted to assassinate the hero Glyph, and was ultimately defeated in a fierce battle. While he is acknowledged as a formidable and skilled general, Yunos couldn't understand why anyone would willingly use that name.

"Haha... an unusual choice. But I don't mind."

Yunos said this in a somewhat friendly manner, trying to win Lambert's favor.