episode_0013

“… Something like this happened.”

I went straight to the guild and briefly explained what I had experienced, and the staff led me upstairs.

dripping.

When the employee knocked on the luxurious door, a voice was heard from inside.

“What’s going on?”

“We heard that a problem arose during the process of suppressing abnormal pigs, so we brought in Mr. Ethan, who was involved.”

“… … ”

The voice was silent for a moment.

“Come in.”

When permission was given, the staff member winked at me. I opened the door and went inside.

A dryly decorated room. It was a practical space worthy of a former adventurer.

“It’s been a while since I saw you.”

I bowed and greeted a middle-aged woman who was sitting back in a chair.

“Long time no see. Branch leader.”

She was Laura Mac, head of the Quien branch of the adventurer’s guild, showing signs of age but still with the face of a strong fighter. He was also a former platinum level adventurer.

Although I had met him before and he was basically a person of good reputation, I felt a little burdened.

“You subdued strange pigs?”

“Yes.”

The branch manager tapped the desk with his thick fingers. I don’t know why, but the way they looked at me wasn’t very kind.

“It’s disappointing that the young adventurer I’m keeping an eye on is just out to kill pigs, but there was a problem, right?”

“Yes, branch manager.”

She knew that I was hiding my skills, and she was displeased with me not revealing the skills I saw.

“There’s no way you were struggling with just a pig. Did something else come out?”

“Yes. There was a strange pig in the sewer, but this time a wolf also appeared.”

She made a sound like huh.

“Wolf, so to speak, a heterogeneous wolf.”

“It is what you said.”

“How strong was it?”

Sharp eyes scanned my body.

“You don’t look like you’re hurt.”

“ was a level that a level adventurer could not handle.”

“That’s… Problem.”

The branch manager crossed his arms and muttered seriously.

“Can you tell me more details?”

I told her what happened in the sewer.

“What do you think about the possibility that the wizard is involved?”

“It seems unlikely. She had recently come to town and her life would have been in danger without me.”

The branch manager nodded.

“I see. Still, we can’t just rule it out for now.”

It was an understandable judgment.

“If a thief who only steals scrap metal gets his hands on silver, he will eventually try to steal gold as well.”

“What are you going to do?”

“First, we need to send someone to Yeongju Castle. While this is happening, you go.”

yes?

“Are you talking about me?”

“Okay.”

The branch manager looked at me with an expression that asked if there was any problem.

“Am I really going?”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

Swish.

She took something out of a drawer and threw it at me.

When I received it in my hand, it was a golden medal with the symbols of the guild and branch leader engraved on it.

“Show it to the soldiers. If you say I sent you, you will be able to meet the lord or the lord’s representative.”

My original plan was to just report it and leave. The intention was to leave it to others to solve the problem, but the branch manager didn’t seem to want to do that.

As soon as I saw her stubborn eyes, I knew I couldn’t get out of the situation.

I had no choice but to accept my fate by crying and eating mustard.

“Okay… .”

“Well thought out.”

The branch manager gave the order to congratulate the guests, and as I was about to open the door and leave, she spoke from behind.

“And… Let me wash up first.”

I didn’t look in the mirror, but I could feel my face turning red.

“I tried to do that.”

I came here without washing up so I could tell you as quickly as possible.

I left the room and went straight out of the guild.

“Ha… I had no intention of doing this.”

My guess is that the culprit will definitely be a formidable opponent. Moreover, there was no guarantee that I would be alone. There was a good possibility that it was something the group had planned.

I don’t know who else will take on this task, but I have a feeling it won’t end easily.

“I miss Karen… .”

I went to the inn to wash myself first.

People stared at me because of the smell. It was a little sad.

***

After washing cleanly at the inn and dressing neatly, I headed to Yeongju Castle. It was a castle that looked very sturdy and very expensive.

Somehow, I felt like a desire for revolution was creeping up on me.

“What brought you here?”

I showed the medal I received from the branch chief to the soldier who asked about my business, and he immediately opened the way. I could once again feel that her authority was great.

I entered the castle under the guidance of a knight.

‘It would be a big problem if someone forged it.’

Of course, if you are caught, you are lucky if you are not executed, and since it is magically processed, there will be a way to distinguish it from a fake.

The castle was not so soft that it could be destroyed by a single intruder. It was the place where the ruler of one of the largest cities in the empire lived.

Just by looking at the castle’s knights and soldiers, it was clear that they were well trained. It truly feels like an elite soldier.

‘Karen’s older sister also said she was a knight of the city.’

I was curious what kind of person he was.

Guided by a knight, I was able to enter the depths only after passing the wizard’s checkpoint on the way.

In front of a door somewhere in an area guarded by knights who were sharper than the knights outside, the knight who was guiding me stopped and said.

“Princess, a guest has arrived.”

“Who is it?”

“This is a person sent by the head of the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“… Tell them to come in.”

The driver took a step back from the door. I opened the door and went inside. The driver also came in after me.

‘It’s gorgeous.’

It was such a splendid sight that the luxurious decorations caught my eye before the princess. However, I got the impression that it was noble and dignified without feeling vulgar. It was a quality befitting a renowned noble family.

“You go out.”

In comparison, the princess who owned this space was a rather plain person. It wasn’t ugly, but it wasn’t beautiful either. The clothes she wore were also far from flashy.

Of course, appearance was not that important to a person of this level of power. Good looks can also give her power, but for her, it’s good to have it and it’s okay to not have it.

It’s not just that it’s not beautiful, but it’s not that it’s ugly.

The knight left and only the princess and I remained inside.

… But I don’t know if it’s really just the two of us here.

Mary Hoern, eldest daughter of Marianne Hoern, lord of Quienne. He is thirty. She with black eyes and slightly purplish black hair looked at my face.

The daughter of the city’s most powerful man. I also felt sick to my stomach as I was standing in front of the person who had the highest chance of becoming the next lord of Quien.

I had a history of showing all kinds of things to the lord when I was in the kingdom, but the status of the lord of the territory I was in and the lord of Quien were different.

‘Because it was a small territory on the border to begin with… .’

I couldn’t do this or that. Although I was pretending to be calm on the outside, I was burning with anxiety on the inside.

Even though she had her eyes downcast, the princess’s gaze felt stark.

“So, Laura Mack sent you?”

I answered, relieved that the suffocating silence was over.

“Yes. Princess.”

“Tell me what brought you here.”

The tone and behavior of a person who is accustomed to standing above others.

‘shit… .’

It was unbearable for a noble to treat someone like that. It’s not that it’s hard to bear because it feels bad. In fact, it was the opposite.

‘Are all nobles speaking like this? It reminds me of the old days… . It’s not some kind of frustration.’

I told him the reason why I came, hiding my true feelings.

As soon as I finished speaking, the princess opened her eyes and made a drowsy sound.

“Hmm… .”

Silence came again.

“… … ”

I missed the motel room today.

The princess thought about something for a moment and then opened her mouth.

“First, we will dispatch an investigator to the sewer, so you can come along. Then go to the branch manager and tell him to wait for the call.”

I got down on one knee and bowed my head.

“I will follow your orders.”

“Good. Wait at the castle until the investigation team is formed. and… What’s your name?”

“This is Ethan Julius, princess.”

“Yes, Ethan Julius. The credit for discovering and killing the strange wolf for the first time will be awarded separately once the work is completed.”

An unexpected windfall. I said it with full sincerity.

‘Just give it to me now.’

“Thank you, princess.”

“If you have nothing more to say, let’s leave.”

I stood up, bowed once again, and left the princess’s room. Her dark eyes did not leave me until I left.

After being guided by the servant to the living room and calming down my excitement, I was about to enjoy some expensive-looking refreshments.

“The investigation team is ready.”

The servant who entered the drawing room said so.

‘No already?’

How much time has passed before the investigation team was ready?

Of course, it was a small number of people, but the response was quicker than expected. This probably means that the princess also considers this issue important. So I couldn’t just lump it together.

I left my regret behind and went out.

.

.

.

The day passed by busy.

Two wizards and two knights. And ten soldiers. The investigation team consisting of 15 people, including me, investigated the place where Siren and I had fought and moved the bodies outside. In fact, this is what the soldiers came for.

During the investigation, the knights were amazed when they saw the cleanly cut corpse of a wolf. I was a little flattered.

After parting ways with the investigation team, I went to the guild and told the princess’s words to the branch leader. She grumbled when told to wait for the call, but in the end she had no choice but to follow.

“Ugh, I’m tired.”

After finishing all my schedule and returning to the inn room, I immediately threw myself on the bed.

Rather than being physically tired, I was mentally tired.

“This is clearly due to Karen’s mismanagement.”

It had been a while since I had seen Karen, and I already wanted to see her again.

“Ugh… .”

That day, I rolled around until nightfall and fell asleep.