episode_0025

The allegations of consecutive party member murders against me and the guild’s suspension order were promptly lifted.

It was all thanks to Amy and Bolton vouching for my abilities and character.

A magician from Matap and a priestess from the Goddess Sect. As mere endorsements for an ordinary iron-ranked adventurer, their support seemed almost excessive.

People certainly had their connections and things to see to.

◆◆

“Thanks for the escort. Next time we meet, I’ll be an adventurer just like you. Count on me then, okay?”

After leaving the request office, Amy extended her hand to me, mentioning that she should start heading back to Matap soon.

“No, that’s what I should be saying.”

I shook her hand lightly with a smile.

“They say once I’m recognized as an official magician, I’ll immediately become an iron-ranked adventurer. It might take a while for me.”

Unlike Amy, who was essentially an iron-ranked adventurer, it would take me quite some time to advance.

My skills were sufficient, but my experience was the issue. When it came down to it, it hadn’t been long since I became an iron rank.

To achieve the next rank, I would have to diligently undertake various requests in the future and steadily build up my experience.

“Well, it might not be as certain as you think,” Amy chuckled.

“You defeated over ten Whites. You even brought evidence intentionally. If the upper echelons of the guild aren’t blind, they’d naturally consider your promotion, despite your lack of experience, wouldn’t they?”

Ah, was that so?

Come to think of it, with such a number of Whites defeated, even with a somewhat lacking experience, I might still be eligible for the next rank.

It’s much more challenging than clearing lower-level dungeons.

“I will accompany Miss Amy as promised. We need to confirm the destruction of the Command Seal,” Bolton said, glancing at Amy’s backpack.

“Um… in that case, how will you distribute the spoils? Should I leave Bolton’s share with the guild?”

Unlike Amy, who could simply return home, there was still work left for us.

Selling off all the loot we gathered from the dungeon and then dividing the money among the three of us appropriately.

Spoils of war, even if they were rusty sergeant’s equipment or shabby major’s goods, wouldn’t fetch much money anyway… But I suppose we should divide them. It was part of the contract from the beginning.

“I’m fine. I’ll hand everything over to you, Hilde and Kikel.”

However, Bolton lightly shook his head, refusing the distribution of spoils. In a society of adventurers driven to make every penny count, such an act was unacceptable.

“No, but…”

“Don’t feel burdened. This is my way of making amends.”

“Amends?”

“Well, didn’t you commit the impoliteness of suspecting innocent Hilde? A simple apology won’t suffice. Therefore, I’d like to express my regret in this small way.”

Let’s just consider this as compensation for damages. Well, if that’s the case.

◆◆

After graciously accepting Bolton’s apology, I bid farewell to both of them. Amy shrugged, expressing regret that she couldn’t have a drink with me if it wasn’t for the quest, while Bolton drew a symbol of blessing, wishing us well.

After that, we exchanged polite waves and parted ways neatly.

“Let’s go, Kikel.”

“Now, the shield? Wait up!”

I headed to the adventurer’s shopping district with Kikel. The entire street was filled with stores catering to adventurers, from the forge and apothecary to weapon and armor shops, as well as general goods and magic item stores.

There were blacksmiths specializing in spear swords and axes, and general goods and magic item shops selling tools specifically for dungeon exploration. None of the stores dealt with ordinary clothing, groceries, farming tools, or daily necessities.

If you wanted those items, you had to head to the bustling city area.

The reason for the complete separation of the two shopping districts was simple. They needed to keep adventurer and civilian stores separate to avoid cheating the adventurers.

It was a perfect way to disgrace oneself in the eyes of nobles by taking absurd profits from commoners, but exploiting adventurers’ money was implicitly and actively encouraged.

Why, you ask? Isn’t it obvious? People become more desperate when they are poor, and conversely, more relaxed when they are wealthy. Adventurers, being people themselves, were no exception. Those with thick wallets either retired without hesitation or spent their time idly in drink and gambling. On the other hand, those living hand to mouth visited the guild every day without rest, seeking daily work to survive.

You have to work to avoid starving to death. In other words, financial hardship is the most powerful motivator for adventurers.

So, to take advantage of adventurers, it was necessary to trim the fat from their wallets. Adventurers could improve themselves, ordinary people would be satisfied with the safety around the city, and merchants and nobles would rejoice in increased income. Wouldn’t this be a world where everyone is happy?

…Honestly, it sounds like nonsense, but anyway, armed with such logic, merchants took advantage of adventurers.

The rumor of having to pay bribes to various places, including the guild, just to open a shop here, spoke volumes about how lucrative it was. This was why there were separate shopping districts for adventurers and regular folks.

◆◆

“What’s that? A monster…?”

“Ignorant fool. Don’t you know about Lizardmen, Lizardmen?”

We attracted attention wherever we went.

“Fascinating. I heard it’s rare for them to leave the swamp.”

Was it the combination of a lizardman from the ghetto and a female swordsman wearing a helmet that made us so intriguing? Adventurers wandering the marketplace couldn’t take their eyes off us, gossiping with their companions.

“The woman next to him… Oh, isn’t she the ‘Iron Mask’ or something? They say she kills her party members like a dog…”

“Looks like it matches the description.”

It wasn’t a pleasant story to hear.

On my neck, if there were a bronze or silver badge, everyone would have been careful with their words. But who would bother with those guys even if they feel uncomfortable about the iron badge? Especially if that iron badge’s reputation is at rock bottom.

It was a matter that was ambiguous to argue about right now, unless the fact of my innocence is officially confirmed and my rank rises above bronze. Even if I dared to provoke those with higher ranks than me a bit, instead of just provoking, it would only increase notoriety.

“Carrying a lizard around, have you become unable to form a party with humans?”

“You can’t be satisfied with dealing with humans anymore? Haha, what an impressive woman.”

…Should I kill them?

Two weakly armed warriors without a single piece of armor. Those kinds of guys, I could even take their lives without them being able to say a word…!

…No. Hold on, my inner slaughterer.

If I were to draw my sword here, my reputation will really plummet…!

I suppressed my right hand trying to reach for the hilt and let out a deep sigh.

It wasn’t something to wield a sword over just because they didn’t shout loudly at me or whispered among themselves with some harassment. It was especially so in this kind of place.

“….”

So, I’ll just remember their faces and if the opportunity arises to meet them as fellow party members, then I can give them a hard time.

◆◆

Ignoring various noises, I was heading towards a relatively less hostile blacksmith shop.

“Woman – no, healer. Can I ask you something?”

Kikel, who was quietly walking beside me, lightly tapped my pauldron and spoke up.

“Yes. What is it?”

I turned my head to look at him and answered.

Kikel sighed and gently scratched his chin with his nails, then slightly lowered his head and brought his mouth close to my ear.

Is it a question that others shouldn’t hear?

“You, the requester, the slaughterer. Isn’t that right?”

“….What?”

I looked at Kikel with a puzzled expression.

Certainly, it was a story that others shouldn’t hear.

“You smell of death. Very deeply. Human blood. Over a hundred.”

Kikel said that and chuckled darkly.

…I didn’t feel like laughing.

‘Caught? The smell of death? What’s that? Is it some kind of unique sense of Lizardman?’

It was perplexing.

I thought I had handled it well, but to think I would be caught now.

And not just by anyone, but by Kikel, who seemed completely oblivious. It was an unimaginable turn of events.

“No, um, well… That is to say…”

“Kakak! No need for surprise. Don’t speak. I was curious. That’s all.”

Was my stammering and cold sweat amusing to him? Kikel kept bursting into laughter and patting my shoulder.

…You have nothing to say?

Ah, I see. If I had intended to reveal that fact to others, wouldn’t I have already shouted it out loud at the guild by now?

There’s a slum dweller butcher here.

But that wasn’t the case… Why?

I don’t know. Was there really a reason to keep silent?

“…Why?”

I asked for that reason, my voice filled with caution and chillingly lowered.

“Kakak! People easily misunderstand. Weak human, poor human. Not a good person. When they increase, they’re goblins of hunger.”

“Goblins of hunger…?”

“That’s right. They lose their minds, snatch women, snatch money. If they’re alone, they snatch everything. Just like goblins. And you.”

Kikel raised his finger to cover my face.

“You’re a good woman. You have money. Probably alone. So, in the eyes of such people, you’re prey. They tried to snatch and died. That’s what they are. Am I right?”

The true Sherlock Holmes was right here.

A reptilian sage, possessing a perfect deductive ability to understand everything I’ve been through just by looking at my appearance, and a profound insight into human greed.

“…Yes, that’s right.”

I nodded, answering that his inference was true. Kikel burst into laughter once again.

“Kakak! Kakak! My thoughts were correct. You have manners. Not someone who just kills!”

That, it is said, was the reason he didn’t bring up my true identity despite knowing it. Kikel himself understood that there was a reason for it, but others simply judged the weak as villains just because they were killed.

“I see… Thank you for your consideration, Kikel.”

I slightly bowed my head, expressing gratitude with a smile. Inside, I praised myself for being so kind to him.