Chapter 52

The sun was setting.

Bathed in the twilight, a dilapidated mausoleum stood.

As Hikaru and the others emerged from the mausoleum, more than ten adventurers were loitering there.

"What was that tremor? It felt pretty dangerous, didn't it?"

"It could be because it's underground; it might collapse."

"I think it's best not to get too close until it settles down. The last tremor was intense."

"Hey, they're coming out again—"

They noticed Hikaru and Ravia emerging from the mausoleum and fell silent.

Everyone had a puzzled look on their faces. Why would rookies be here? — Their eyes spoke volumes.

"What, I thought you had already run away."

The guild official, who managed entry to the dungeon, noticed Hikaru.

"Hey, a kid got in? Did the guild know about this?"

"Well... they meet the condition of being Rank E."

"What!?"

The adventurers were taken aback by the official's response.

"......"

"......"

"......"

"......"

Hikaru and Ravia walked through the crowd, receiving curious gazes.

"—There are people who buy their rank with money, you know."

One of the adventurers said with a sneer.

"Look at that outfit. It's filthy. Probably scared of the undead and ran around hiding."

"Ah... I see, that's it."

"Indeed, it's dirty."

Laughter rose.

Hikaru sighed softly. That was all. He was too tired to engage.

"You hit the nail on the head, didn't you!?"

More laughter.

Hikaru had intended to ignore them but had to stop.

"Are you the last one!? Did you see what happened!?"

It was Gafurasti Nui Barbus and his attendant, Agreia Van Hortens.

"Barbus, you shouldn't talk to such people. They were just running away. They wouldn't know what happened inside."

The guild official, in a purring voice, approached.

The guild, while an independent organization from the state, still needed to curry favor with the nobility, as it was recognized by the state.

It seemed Gafurasti had been listening to the adventurers who had come out.

"Didn't you see!? A dragon-like being ascending into the sky—"

The adventurers looked at him with a "whatever" expression, mocking him.

No one seemed to know.

He must be grasping at straws, asking Hikaru.

"Gafurasti Nui Barbus"

"...Do you know who I am?"

Hikaru took out a scroll from his bag—Agreia stepped forward, as if to protect Gafurasti, perhaps thinking Hikaru might harm him.

"What's this? If you try anything funny, I'll cut you down."

Agreia said it with a snarl, but Gafurasti opened his mouth in astonishment.

"T-this, this...!!"

"Barbus...?"

Agreia was pushed aside as Gafurasti stumbled toward Hikaru.

He tried to grab the scroll, but Hikaru quickly pulled it back.

"Give it to me!"

"How much will you pay? I risked my life for this."

Gafurasti, startled, reached into his pocket.

"This is all I have now! But if this scroll is truly what I seek, I'll pay double!"

Hikaru peeked into the leather pouch handed to him, seeing unfamiliar coins. They shone brightly white—platinum coins.

"This... double? This pouch is worth about 1 million Gil?"

The official's eyes widened at the mention of 1 million Gil.

Hikaru was also surprised. He had expected Gafurasti to pay a large sum, but not so easily.

"Sorry, it's too cheap—10 times. 10 million Gil."

The sudden turn of events left the official and the adventurers speechless, just taking a small breath.

Hikaru was also surprised by the easy price increase.

(That much—this is that important?)

Hikaru had a vague idea of what Gafurasti was trying to do with the scroll.

Indeed, for him, this scroll could be a trump card. The price was fair—no, even more would be reasonable.

However, in that case, payment would be much later.

"Barbus, could this scroll be what you've been searching for...?"

"Yes."

Gafurasti nodded to Agreia.

"Alright, 10 million Gil, can you transfer it to the Adventurer's Guild?"

Hikaru took out his guild card, leaving the "occupation" field blank.

As long as the guild location—Pound in Hikaru's case—and name were known, money could be transferred to the guild card.

Gafurasti carefully noted it down.

"I will definitely transfer the money. Now... the scroll, please."

"Sure, upfront."

Hikaru tossed the scroll. Gafurasti caught it and collapsed on the spot.

"Don't throw it!"

"It's worthless to me. Besides, I won't be staying in this country long."

Gafurasti realized something from Hikaru's words.

"...I see. How much do you know?"

"Just guesses. I don't want to know more."

Agreia helped Gafurasti stand up.

"I see... I want to know what you saw inside... but are you leaving the country?"

"Do you need to verify the scroll?"

"It doesn't matter. If it's fake, I won't pay."

He seemed to consider the 1 million Gil already paid as a small fee.

"Oh, right. —Well, I guess we won't meet again."

As Hikaru was about to leave,

"Wait. Which country are you heading to next? Not Quinbrand, I hope?"

He mentioned the name of the country at war with Ponsonia.

"...No, I haven't decided."

"Then, could you do me a favor? If you agree, I'll add another 1 million Gil to the reward."

"What's the favor?"

"I want you to go to the Forestia Union and deliver a message to someone—"

Agreia interrupted Gafurasti as he began to speak.

"Barbus, wouldn't it be better to contact them the usual way...?"

"That would take too long. This is urgent. Besides... this adventurer has some idea of the situation. His words will be heard by her."

Gafurasti took out a handkerchief from his pocket, beautifully embroidered.

"My name is on it. It can serve as proof of identity."

"—Sure, I can do that."

Hikaru took the handkerchief, making a casual promise.

Leaving Ponsonia was already decided. He hadn't decided on a destination.

The Forestia Union—adjacent to Ponsonia. It would be good to visit on his journey, especially with the additional 1 million Gil.

"Who should I meet?"

"Sophira Van Hortens. The Union's Minister of the Interior and Chief Minister. A remarkable woman."

Van Hortens. Agreia, standing next to Gafurasti, had a slightly bitter expression.

"Understood."

Hikaru nodded. Meeting someone, regardless of who it was, was an extremely simple mission for him.

"Then, I'll go—oh, by the way."

Hikaru added as a final note.

"The dungeon is completely collapsed. You adventurers won't have any more food to eat. You should go somewhere else."

The adventurers looked at each other in surprise—several ran toward the mausoleum.

The young adventurers were out of sight.

Gafurasti smiled softly as he watched them go.

"...Heh, to accept the task without batting an eye. He looks like just a boy..."

"Barbus, what happened? Who is that boy?"

The official, who only knew that Gafurasti had given a large sum to the boy, asked in confusion.

"That's right."

Gafurasti unrolled the scroll and glanced at its contents.

It was exactly what he had been seeking.

"Could you do me a favor, official?"

He spoke in a low voice.

"Of course, what is it?"

"Record this officially. —Adventurer Hikaru completed the dungeon 'Ancient Divine People's Underground City'."

"...What?"

"Scholar Gafurasti Nui Barbus will vouch for it. This scroll can only be obtained at the deepest part of 'Ancient Divine People's Underground City'. It's undeniable."

"What? What?"

Gafurasti searched his pocket, but the bag of gold coins he usually carried was already given to the boy. Agreia took out a few gold coins and handed them to Gafurasti, who then gave them to the official.

"Understood, I'll do it."

"I can't accept this."

"Consider it a fee for the trouble. I'm not asking you to lie. I just need it recorded quickly."

"—I see. Understood."

The official, pleased with the unexpected income, agreed.

He didn't believe the boy had completed the dungeon. But a noble had said it, and he had agreed. That was enough to report to the guild.

Unbeknownst to him, this record would later be involved in a major event that would shake the country.

"Hey, it's just as that kid said!"

One of the adventurers emerged from the mausoleum.

"The entrance to the dungeon is completely blocked! We can't get in anymore!"

"What!?"

"All our mapping is useless now!"

The adventurers murmured. The official was also distracted.

"We're leaving too."

"Yes."

Gafurasti and Agreia headed to Routehabard.

"...It's going to be busy. After all, I must bring the correct history to this country."

It was a murmur to himself.

But the wind that blew at that moment was unusually cold for early summer.

* * *

The name "Hikaru" first appeared in the records of the Adventurer's Guild at this time.

'Ponsonia Kingdom Pound Adventurer's Guild member "Hikaru" completed the dungeon "Ancient Divine People's Underground City" with one companion. No party affiliation. The completion was verified by historian Gafurasti Nui Barbus, with the proof being a scroll found at the deepest part. The content of the scroll will be made public after verification.

As a completion reward, 11 million Gil was transferred to the Adventurer's Guild by the "Ponsonia Royal Relic Research Society."'

News of the "dungeon completion" was relayed through the guild network to various guilds.

For most guilds, it was just a completion report.

But Pound was different.

"...Just two people completed the dungeon!? What's going on!?"

Unken, the guild master, who first received the news, was so surprised his voice cracked.

Next, the receptionists learned about it.

"Hikaru... what are you doing!?"

"Well, well, a big win. When will you return to Pound?"

Jill and Gloria, unaware that the boy had left the country, talked like this.

"—Definitely a reincarnated person! No doubt about it!"

Serica Tanoue of the "Eastern Four Stars" was also paying attention to the name "Hikaru."

A month passed with no further news, leaving everyone anxious.

The boy did not return to Pound.

Then, a major event shook the Ponsonia Kingdom.

A noble claiming to be of "legitimate royal blood" appeared.

At the same time, the Forestia Union raised doubts about the current throne. This interfered with the war Ponsonia was winning against the Quinbrand Empire.

The records of the time do not mention a boy and a girl being involved in the shadows.

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After this, I will insert one or two interludes before moving on to the next chapter.

Some of the mysteries will be revealed in the interludes. Probably... (depending on my writing ability...).