Chapter 44 – Offering

000

An adventurer’s guild that explains everything with the modifier that it is always messy.

Today, however, the level of clutter has doubled compared to other times.

The reason is, of course, the request to explore the ‘unexplored territory’.

By the rules set by former guild master Luti Sions.

The guild’s adventurers were forbidden from taking requests and going there.

If they were veterans who had been adventurers before the rule was established.

I was already aware of how dangerous the unexplored territory was by other victims.

One day, a scholar from the academy came to the city to explore the unexplored territories of the living forest.

Hired 10 veteran adventurers and left there.

Expecting huge rewards and the honor of pioneering a new area on their own.

It was the adventure of a lifetime.

1 week later.

Only one of them was able to return.

Plant stem-like things grew here and there on the body, in an ugly twisted state.

His mind had already collapsed and he could no longer recover.

No one knows what happened to the adventurer after that.

Some say they went back to their hometown.

Desperate for his body that continues to mutate.

Rumors circulated that he committed suicide by throwing himself into a fire.

A normal human being would see this and fear the unexplored territory.

You wouldn’t even imagine daring to set foot there.

However, some adventurers risk their lives to enjoy such danger and tension.

In the end, Luti uses the authority of the guild master to stop such people.

They decided to block all requests that lead to unexplored territory.

It seems that there was a bit of an argument with the academy or the royal family in the process.

In the end, they too came to accept Luti’s judgment.

Because they didn’t listen and sent an investigation team by themselves and saw the same thing.

That was already several years ago.

The adventurers at the time also thought Luti’s judgment was correct.

Only young adventurers who do not know the tragedy of that time.

Why are low-level areas like living forests left unconquered by humans?

Those who did not see the victim who was like a product of human mad imagination.

Everyone was feeling a little bit of this dissatisfaction.

The way to legally enter such an unexplored territory has been opened.

Unsurprisingly, the cheery youngsters were excited about the situation.

Even those who didn’t hate Luti were conflicted over the amount of compensation.

Cleon and the others expected that among adventurers, only those who had come under the influence of a regressor would receive this request.

It was a hopeful prediction that saw the adventurers’ recklessness far too low.

As if madness was spreading, the adventurers approached the guide one by one and accepted the request.

Although veterans try to stop their juniors.

If the seniors who usually pretend to be proud and preach to them show such a weak appearance.

Seeing this, the juniors were even more in love with him.

Iona was desperate.

As soon as I heard that the request had been issued, I ran to the guild.

It was already too late.

Eventually, grab one of the staff and talk.

“Please cancel this request right now…! This request is a terrorist conspiracy!”

Iona’s incoherent words made the staff look troubled.

“Sorry, sorry. This request was issued by the guild master himself, and even if he cancels it, his permission…”

“Where is Who’s Hujak now?”

“I haven’t seen you since you instructed us to fill out the request in the morning… You must be out.

As a guild employee, you cannot disobey the orders of your superiors.

Iona has no choice but to turn to the adventurers of the guild and talk.

“Everyone! It’s too dangerous to step into unexplored territory now!”

Some of the adventurers turned their heads at Iona’s words.

Eventually, he snorted and ignored it.

Enduring a painful headache, Iona approached veteran adventurers who would listen to her story this time.

Among them, the wizard and ranger who had been with Eustes before were also visible.

“I beg you, please convince me.”

Iona lowered her head, but the veterans also had dark expressions.

Other than skill exercises, I have already done what I can.

“Kuh…”

Reflecting on his powerlessness to do anything in this situation.

Iona was thinking about what to do.

Even at this moment, adventurers are leaving the guild one by one.

At that time.

“Please listen. Adventurers!”

Voices spread inside the guild building.

The adventurers who remained in that familiar voice, as well as the staff, turned to it.

There, the former guild master who left the guild after taking responsibility for the Alban incident.

[Winds of Happiness] Luti Sions stood.

“Lu, it’s Luti.”

“No way, listen to the story of the request?”

Adventurers shaken by her appearance.

Luti, who saw that the eyes were gathering on him, took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“Now, an unprecedented danger is approaching this guild. The current guild master, Marquis Hughes, is working with the dangerous organization ‘Regressors’ to bring a great threat to the world.”

It’s Luti’s words, but the adventurers look like they can’t believe it.

Ruti continues the story by pointing to Iona who was next to her.

“The person over here is the daughter of Sword Saint Talchek-sama, and a knight belonging to the royal family’s intelligence agency. Iona Chevalier-sama.”

“Geez, uncheck the Sword Saint…!?”

When Iona’s identity was revealed, some adventurers swallowed their saliva in surprise.

“For the past few days, we have been helping Iona and Talchek to investigate the relationship between Marquis Hughes and the regressors, and we have finally figured out their purpose.”

Iona puts on a face wondering if it’s okay to say that.

Ruthie continued her story without pausing.

“They intend to summon an ancient monster beyond imagination in the living forest. This request is just a disguise for him.”

The adventurers’ whispers grew louder.

Reactions are varied.

A face that does not believe in young and those who believe in Luti.

“If you head to unexplored territory now, you will end up helping them. Please. Please stop accepting requests and wait at the guild.”

Luti bowed down and politely asked the adventurers.

However, there were definitely adventurers who rebelled against him.

“Mr. Luti, I don’t hate you. You’re already an outsider. You have no right to tell us what to do.”

“Yes, yes. And there is no hard evidence in your words.”

An atmosphere of approving him spreads, mainly among young adventurers.

Eventually, they pass Luti and try to escape the guild.

Ruti bit her lower lip, cursing her oath not to hold them back.

“What, what?”

But then the adventurers who were about to leave the guild stopped in panic.

It was because of the existence of ‘senior adventurers’ holding weapons while blocking the entrance.

“All of you. The use of weapons and magic within the guild is prohibited.”

When one of the young adventurers protested, the ranger who revealed the money spoke.

“Of course, we don’t use weapons. But if you guys can break through us without weapons too. I’ll let you go.”

“Kuh…”

Certainly, among the rookies, there were those with a higher level than most veterans.

But the number is absolutely small.

To break through the determined veterans, this side also had to consider breaking or getting hurt somewhere.

If that happened, they would not be able to go to unexplored territory, so it was a complete turnaround.

“You guys. Do you believe these women?”

“I don’t believe everything. But Ms. Luti has her head down and she’s concerned about your lives. We can’t keep quiet.”

Seeing this, Iona let out a sigh of relief.

Ruti also smiled as if she felt that she hadn’t come wrong.

“Iona.”

Then, a voice quietly called Iona.

There, Cleon and Ruba arrived at the guild at some point.

Then, I saw Layla following Luti.

“It’s good. You’re still in the guild.”

“Yes. At this rate, I might have gone to the forest myself to stop the regressors.”

“Stop that. Their goal is you.”

Iona tilts her head at Layla’s words.

Layla then tells them that the trump card of the regressors they guessed is Iona herself.

“Then…”

“It’s a harsh story for you, but the Holy Sword has such a function. And it’s not something that the Holy Sword’s ego can control, it’s a forced phenomenon.”

At Layla’s explanation, Cleon nods her head.

“Iona. Go to Talchek. It will be safest next to him.”

“But… As a knight of the kingdom, I can’t do anything for the safety of the citizens…”

Iona clenched her fist as if indignant.

But Rubera shook her head and spoke.

“No. Not handing you over to them is the best way to make the enemies the most difficult.

“…”

In response to Rubera’s cold-hearted judgment of the situation, Iona nodded as if she couldn’t help it.

But it turned out to be a little dark.

“…Father is a bit strange. Even after hearing the purpose of the regressors, he doesn’t want to arrest Marquis Hughes because there is no physical evidence…”

“… Certainly, with the swordsman’s skills, it wouldn’t be difficult to find and cut down the regressors already.”

Lila listened to Iona and seemed to be pondering something about her.

But soon, as if she remembered something more important, she changed the subject.

“Rather than that, we need to find adventurers who have already set off for unexplored territory and send them back to the city.”

“I see… Before they get into an irreversible situation…”

“No. Of course there is that too.”

Lila nodded and continued her story with a frown on her face.

“The reason the returners made this request was not simply for the purpose of camouflage.”

“…?”

Iona expresses her doubts about Lyla’s words.

Lila really speaks of her own people, scholars, with a disgusted look.

“They are sacrifices. When adventurers entering unexplored territory are killed by the followers of the Beast Beast, their vitality and magic are absorbed and used to open the door through which the Beast Beast will pass.”

Iona widening her eyes.

A more sinister intention was hidden behind the regressors’ use of such a cumbersome plot.

Even though I could have acted by hiding everything.

What makes a lot of people involved?

They disturb those who try to stop them, including Cleon.

At the same time, there was a purpose to achieve their purpose easily.

When I got there, Layla finally got a headache.

Everything they are reading may be both true and fake.

What the hell is a regressor named Maxwell up to?

It is difficult to grasp the full picture.

However. What had to be done was clear.

“I, Cleon, and Ruba. The three of us will go to unexplored territory and chase the regressors. Iona is with Talchek.”

“…Okay. Please be careful.”

Iona nodding her head.

Then exit the guild building.

Layla looked at Luti and talked to Cleon.

“Because there could be a conflict between the adventurers, let Quon stay here and help Luti. Sasha also has a hunter’s stamp sealed, so it’s dangerous to take her to the forest.”

“Okay.”

At Lyla’s direction, Ruba asked her.

“Can you guess where the regressors are headed?”

“The deepest place of unexplored territory. If you look at the books that the Quons have seen, it says that there is a huge cross-shaped cliff. Its end is a hole so deep that it is thought to be connected to hell.”

Cleon heard the story and nodded as if he understood.

“That’s the place connected to the dimensional rift.”

“Probably. It’s also the nucleus that Schrad Cell sends his energy to create his followers.”

“Then. Should I close the gap?”

Layla was silent for a moment at Rubera’s words.

“Sorry. I don’t know about that yet. Maybe, there’s no way to seal it.”

“…”

Layla’s talk, two silent people.

“Alvein’s rampage was the trigger, so Schradsel has already acquired the coordinates to come this way. If the door opens, he will come right over. Even if he doesn’t, he’ll be getting closer to his return little by little. “

“…Then. Even without the involvement of regressors, are you saying that monsters will appear someday?”

Watching Leila nod cautiously, Cleon quietly opened her mouth.

“Regressors know how to open doors, so they might know how to close them. Even if they don’t, it’s clear we need to stop them.”

“I agree with you. Even if the results don’t change, we can’t help but do something.”

Rubera, who was looking at that figure, quietly opened her mouth.

“…It’s like, a hero. Both of them.”

The two hesitate at Rubera’s pure sentiment.

“Wasn’t your original purpose to find the link between Marquis Hughes and the regressors and inform the Sword Saint?”

“That…”

“But now I’m moving with the single-mindedness of protecting this city and its people.”

Ruba had an expression of amazement at these two people.

For her, anything other than revenge doesn’t mean much.

It is possible to ruin Marquis Hughes’ plan, so he is only lending and borrowing his strength.

“Not really, I didn’t mean to make fun of you. It’s just pure sentiment.”

“Know.”

Cleon answered.

He looks down at his hands.

The best and worst warriors he knows pass through his mind.

He even shook his head.

“Even if you’re not a hero, you can move to protect someone.”

“… Is that so.”

Ruba said that and turned around.

“Then, let’s go. Last time I had a hard time because there were no humans who could use fire magic directly…”

“This time with me, it won’t be like that.”

Lila’s confident attitude.

Cleon put his hand on his demonic sword and quietly erased his thoughts.

001

“Whoa… Haa…!”

Eustes grabbed the sword while being driven to the wall.

Talchek was smiling as he saw his slightly improved posture.

“Even though he said he didn’t have any talent. If he improved that much in one day, the buds are yellow.”

“…The two of them, what’s the difference…?”

To Eustes’s question, Talchek points his index finger and speaks.

“Talent is literally talent. It is often possessed by guys called geniuses. One learns things that require 10 times the effort of others, and masters things that require 100 times more practice.”

“Does such a person really exist?”

Talcheck smiled bitterly and nodded.

“Sprout…”

“Spring number is what someone else has to do once, repeating 10, 100, 1000 times. In other words, it is guts.”

“That, guts…?”

Talchek laughs loudly while talking.

“Yes. After all, a sword is a thing. The one who wields a lot, cuts a lot, and cuts a lot is strong.”

“If you get cut, you die!”

“Yes. But if you cut yourself so you don’t die, then everything becomes an experience.”

“Oh, what a mess…”

Seeing Eustes bewildered, Talchek spoke.

“Don’t you understand? Yesterday, you stretched out once you got hit. But now, instinctively, you’re trying to move where you shouldn’t be hit by my attacks.”

“…”

“Muscle strength, stamina, endurance, quickness, and insight are of course important. But. You just have to train yourself.”

Talchek looks at Eustes with his fists clenched.

“But. It’s not an experience. If you can accumulate the experience of death without dying through someone else, you must learn it and make it yours.”

“…Next!”

Eustes quietly held the sword with both hands and glared at Talchek.

In those eyes, the seeds of desire for strength were sprouting from the ground little by little.

Talcheck was a little disappointing.

It would have been more fun if I had taught him more.

Now, time is running out.