Chapter 15

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I thought he was strong, but I didn’t expect him to be a knight from another country.

The branch manager is taking over after Alphonse.

"This is a story known only to a few in the guild. The five major countries have instructed them to conduct a certain investigation."

What kind of investigation? No, please don’t tell me.

"The guild has been ordered by the country to fully support them."

"So, the branch manager knew Alphonse’s true identity. That’s why he accepted my recommendation so quickly."

"Yes, he knew your strength."

Could this be about some kind of favor between countries?

I thought about it for a moment, but Alphonse seemed to have volunteered to help with the extermination.

If the wyvern extermination was part of the investigation, I don’t think it would involve any responsibility.

I wonder why he told me about it.

Alphonse explained to me, who was full of question marks.

"To put it simply, they are looking for someone with a mark."

Someone with a mark, in simple terms, is a representative of a cheat.

They are so favored by the gods that it’s hard to describe them any other way.

They are called this because they are born with a mark somewhere on their body.

However, it’s rare for someone with a mark to be born.

There might be more of them, but they haven’t been confirmed.

In ancient times, there were apparently more of them than there are now.

Sophia, who had been watching my reaction, finally spoke up.

"I thought Noah might be someone with a mark."

"Huh, me?"

Seeing my reaction, Sophia nodded.

"I’ve felt a power from Noah that isn’t magic. Let me check your body for a mark!"

"Huh?"

Sophia suddenly stood up and came over to me.

No, no, no, wait a minute. You want me to strip here?

"Sophia, Noah is uncomfortable. I’ll check. Is that okay?"

"Ah, sure, but—"

"Sometimes the person doesn’t even realize they have it. The power might not have awakened yet."

Encouraged by Alphonse, I was stripped naked in a room other than the meeting room and thoroughly checked.

"It’s not there."

"It’s not there?"

We returned to the meeting room, and Alphonse told Sophia that there was no mark.

"No way, let me check again! This time, I’ll do it!"

Sophia, excited, and I, trying to back away.

In the end, Alphonse persuaded her, and I didn’t have to strip in front of a woman, which would have been embarrassing.

Sophia, the gap between her appearance and personality is too much.

With my doubts cleared, Alphonse began to explain the details of the wyvern extermination to the branch manager.

First, they used a carriage with eggs as bait to lure the wyvern, then attacked it from behind with magic.

When it fell to the ground and tried to take off again, Sophia stopped it.

She summoned a wood sprite to entangle it with vine-like nets.

Alphonse and an A-rank party swordsman then attacked, neutralizing its wings.

After that, they surrounded it, being careful of its venomous claws and fangs, and took it down over time.

Alphonse laughed, saying that once a wyvern’s eyes, tail, and claws are removed, it’s just a big lizard.

It’s definitely not cute.

A lizard over four meters long is a monster. A monster.

When Alphonse finished his story, the branch manager was called away by a staff member.

With only the three of us left, the meeting room fell silent.

Alphonse broke the silence.

"I’m sorry for startling you. But Sophia is desperate. Of course, I also want to find them."

That’s how important this investigation is. Finding someone with a mark.

"I’m sorry, Noah."

"Oh, no, it’s fine."

Since learning that I don’t have a mark, Sophia has been downcast, looking at the ground.

I want to understand why Sophia is so desperate, but I don’t ask. If I did, I might not be able to go back.

Two weeks after the wyvern extermination.

I was working as usual at the counter.

I ended up telling the branch manager about my skill, "Appraiser."

When I asked why he didn’t question me in front of Alphonse, he said there was no need to give information about excellent personnel to another country.

He’s thorough, I guess.

Lunch break.

I was about to go out to eat in town when I saw Alphonse and Sophia.

They had been recognized for their achievements and were now part of an A-rank party.

"Hello."

"Hello, Noah."

"You’re leaving today, right?"

Alphonse and his team were moving on to the next town.

The investigation was a long road, and they couldn’t stay here indefinitely.

I had one last thing I wanted to ask Alphonse.

"Because I thought you were strong."

I wanted to know the reason behind the smile he showed when he recommended me to the branch manager.

"Ah, you’ve seen many guild users and know our track record."

"Well, that’s true."

"Also, you have magic power. Even if it’s not much, you have the ability to fight. Are you going to let that ability go to waste as a guild staff member?"

I was taken aback.

Alphonse said that a fighter can sense another’s strength.

"I’m weak."

I laughed at myself.

What does it mean to fight? If you have strength, do you have to fight?

Even at the cost of your own life? For whom? For what?

I’m not the kind of person who can fight for the country and protect everyone like Alphonse.

"I see. I understand."

"Okay."

I talked with Sophia, and we parted ways.

Alphonse said one last thing.

"My name, Alphonse, is a pseudonym. It’s supposed to be a confidential investigation."

"Huh?"

"So, if we meet again, call me Al. It’s closer to my real name."

With that, Alphonse and his team set off.

Al, a name that sounds familiar, and I remember there was a very famous royal knight in the neighboring country.

I recalled that much and stopped thinking further.

People probably call people like them heroes.

I was unconsciously pressing the right side of my head.

Hidden by my dark blue hair, only I and my late mother knew about the mark there.

2015/01/10 Typo correction