Chapter 87: What’s the Problem?
Chapter 87: What’s the Problem?
District Six slums.
A dog beastman explorer walked through a shabby street filled with the usual stench and sense of helplessness.
A hand axe emitting a dark aura hung loosely at his waist.
Blood stained both his upper and lower clothes.
Even at a glance, his atmosphere was ominous enough that the quick-witted residents of the slums stepped aside before he even approached.
“Who’s that guy?”
“A cultist?”
“Hey, don’t stare. If you get curious, you might end up as a living sacrifice.”
While the poor whispered among themselves and kept their distance, the explorer continued observing the shabby neighborhood.
Eventually, he spoke to some drunkards sprawled between two alleys.
“I have a question. How long has it been since the Black Sword Guild disappeared?”
“The Black Sword?”
One drunk nearby grinned and replied.
“They’ve all been dead for a while! Honestly, it feels refreshing!”
“Yeah. Those bastards strutted around and extorted tribute all the time. Except for a few members, they were all trash.”
“Especially that guild leader Maken! He was the worst. Life’s been so much more comfortable since he vanished.”
Even in the slums, the Black Sword Guild’s reputation had been poor.
Stealing money and goods from fellow poor people wasn’t unusual enough to provoke much reaction, but their constant arrogance and brutality made them hated.
The explorer casually pulled a bottle of alcohol from his coat and held it out while asking another question.
“I heard a rumor that a half-elf cultist of the Twisted Truth dragged all the Black Sword Guild members away and offered them as living sacrifices. What do you think?”
“A half-elf cultist… you mean that guy people keep talking about lately? Kar or whatever?”
“I don’t think so!”
The second drunk took the bottle and wagged a finger.
“If he’d held an unauthorized large-scale offering ritual, he wouldn’t have gained the Harmony Church’s trust!”
“Wow, that’s sharp thinking!”
“Of course it is!”
The smell of alcohol was overwhelming.
Still, it had been somewhat helpful, so the explorer politely bowed to the two drunkards.
“Did you find anything?”
As he left the alley, a large cat beastman with one eye covered by an eyepatch approached.
The explorer habitually fiddled with the handle of his hand axe before answering.
“Judging by the circumstances, it does not appear that the half-elf Kar personally destroyed the Black Sword Guild. Not when he is currently receiving great favor from the Harmony Church.”
“Hm, that’s what I thought.”
“However, we cannot rule out the possibility that he was involved in their elimination. The anonymous informant spoke with certainty.”
“This situation is so ambiguous…”
The eyepatched beastman flicked his tail while thinking before speaking again.
“They say the half-elf Kar has a highly skilled assassin companion. Could it have been that one? Apparently the assassin frequently visits the residence of the second son of the Brites family.”
“That is a plausible speculation. However, if it truly were the work of a Brites family assassin, there would be even fewer traces left behind.”
“…Damn it, this is frustrating!”
Karsha, the guild leader of the Hyena Guild under the Silent Alliance, scratched his head irritably.
He had been ordered to investigate the truth behind the Black Sword Guild’s destruction, but several days had passed with no progress at all.
“Calm yourself, Guild Leader.”
Pierre, the subordinate guild member who kept absentmindedly touching the handle of his hand axe, smiled faintly.
“I will try contacting the half-elf Kar myself. In an explorer’s way.”
“The air can taste good too…!”
Marlin bounced lightly on her toes.
Beside her, Abel calmly held his tail with both hands to stop it from wagging wildly.
They both looked happy.
I didn’t feel too bad either.
“Children, coming here was a good decision, wasn’t it?”
The siblings nodded in turn.
“I heard District Five was a good place for beastfolk and elves to live, but I didn’t expect it to be this nice!”
We were currently visiting District Five next door.
A district managed by the Inter-Species Association, which advocated for the rights of all intelligent beings except humans.
Its most distinctive feature was a massive ecological park that preserved the scenery of the Eastern Continent almost untouched by technology and capital.
“Patron, you said most of District Five’s land is ecological parkland.”
Abel finally failed to restrain his wagging tail and spoke.
“Then wouldn’t the residential area be very small?”
“There is a subspace inside the Association headquarters where people can live alongside nature. Many residents even camp outdoors.”
“For those with elven blood, that wouldn’t be a problem. I read that in ancient times elves considered nature itself their home and slept anywhere. Ancient Elvish supposedly even had hundreds of words for ‘sleeping outdoors’ or ‘camping.’”
“So you’ve been visiting the library regularly.”
Unlike his older sister—who avoided my gaze guiltily—Abel had a strong academic curiosity.
I tilted the wide-brimmed hat Marlin wore and said,
“However, since I’ve been cursed by Meterd, magnificent natural scenery isn’t exactly comfortable for me.”
The moment we arrived in this pristine environment, the curse bestowed directly by the Parent of Nature began throbbing in my chest where the fertilizer sprout had grown.
“…You still came to District Five for us?”
“No. I also enjoy being uncomfortable. Do you know why?”
“I don’t want to know.”
“Why are you giving up on me? Please continue arguing.”
“No.”
I placed my hand on Marlin’s head as she shook it vigorously.
“Shall we take a walk while enjoying the scenery?”
We walked leisurely in the refreshing breeze.
Not long after, we reached our destination.
“Kar, that’s it, right?”
An open field where a stream flowed gently.
The lush grassland in the center was stained with melted chocolate.
《Entrance to Cherry Cherry Orchard》
“Let’s wait here a little.”
We had agreed to meet the rest of the members at the labyrinth entrance.
“I will lay out the mat.”
Lucius, who had followed silently behind us, spread a mat beneath a tree overlooking the lake.
The mat had a cute illustration of a Level-1 baby mascot monster called Eyebear raising both hands.
The siblings flinched just as they were about to thank him.
“…Priest, do you find Eyebears adorable or cool? Or have you ever wanted to raise one at home?”
“Pardon?”
Lucius blinked in surprise.
“Not at all. This was simply the last item remaining in the exploration supply shop, so I had no choice but to buy it. I apologize for not finding something cuter.”
“….”
After hearing the priest’s polite apology, Marlin muttered quietly.
“That’s strange. Kar recruited him without even thinking.”
“What do you mean? The priest kindly brought us such a lovely bear mat.”
“…Just sit down already!”
Marlin grabbed my sleeve and forcibly dragged me down to the mat.
“I’m here!”
We had been eating cookies from Marlin’s leather bag together.
A demon girl with an innocent appearance, her upper body wrapped in bandages including her face, ran toward us and lay down with her head on my thigh.
“Mom, I got cursed!”
“Well done, my daughter.”
Marlin and Abel simultaneously lowered their heads.
“…Please don’t call him that in public.”
“And please don’t casually say you’re cursed. People are starting to stare…”
The crowd enjoying their outing had indeed begun whispering while watching us.
I waved at them.
The startled onlookers quickly backed away even further.
What was the problem?
“……”
While I adjusted the sleeping demon girl’s head—she had fallen asleep quickly due to a Sudden Nightmare—a crimson assassin rose from the tree’s shadow.
“Greetings, Sister.”
Rosalia, who had returned alone after escorting Odilon to District Three, silently sat beside the siblings and greeted them.
“What is the Young Master doing that he’s still staying alone in District Three?”
“…Work.”
“He must still be negotiating about the Guild War.”
Most likely he was having a soul-crushing debate with Elvira, Targon’s secretary.
Both of them hated losing anything, so the match would inevitably be close.
“Do you know how long it will continue?”
Rosalia shook her head.
“Still, the Young Master probably doesn’t need Rosalia’s protection if he’s with the strongest warrior in Pletika.”
I spent time patting Bartimir’s head while she struggled and complained.
Before long, Marlin finished most of the snacks and spoke happily.
“Now we just need Pendrick and Astrimia to arrive.”
“They won’t be coming.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Astrimia disliked this exploration vacation so much that I decided to show some consideration.”
There was a reason I had arranged for a mentor to teach Pendrick days before the trip.
“I don’t particularly enjoy going into labyrinths either…”
“Oh, there he is.”
Marlin turned toward where I pointed.
An explorer was approaching from the direction of the Inter-Species Association headquarters.
Not the tall Pendrick.
A short goblin.
“Brother!”
The goblin waved as he approached.
I recognized him.
《Busybody Goblin Mek Invincible (Goblin, 25). Still ugly when seen again.》
“Good to see you again, Mek. Have you been well?”
“Of course not. Have you ever seen a goblin living peacefully?”
Chuckling, Mek pulled out a cigar before noticing the young siblings and putting it away.
“So why did you come?”
“Hugestis sent me. Because of your swordsman.”
I handed him a cookie, which was slightly healthier than tobacco.
“There’s no major problem. Hugestis is just working that handsome friend of yours extremely hard.”
“I see.”
“You already knew? Saying ‘I’m frustrated by my weakness’ in front of Hugestis is basically the same as begging to be devoured!”
Lightning crackled nearby.
The deity Sue’je passionately explained that true charm came not from deliberately seducing others but from gentle eyes and a warm demeanor that captivated people unconsciously.
I agreed with the sentiment, but the excessive lightning was inconvenient.
“…Is it okay for lightning to be shooting out near your collarbone?”
“That happens often. So the purpose of your visit is simply to tell us Pendrick can’t come?”
“Exactly. Hugestis is teaching him an Eastern Continent breathing technique. Something like Un-gi… Un-gi something.”
“Un-gi-josik.”
According to the lore, it was a breathing technique developed exclusively on the Eastern Continent, where natural mana was most abundant.
By breathing, one could accumulate refined mana called inner energy within the dantian after impurities were filtered out.
It was a martial-type Mystery most suitable for martial artists but useful for other warrior classes as well.
“Yeah… that. Anyway, he’s busy learning it, so he can’t come. That pretty sword told me to pass the message to you.”
“Understood. Thank you for coming all the way here.”
“No problem. I’ve been indoors too much lately anyway.”
Mek pretended to stretch his shoulders before suddenly leaning closer and whispering.
“I heard some cultist explorer discovered the hidden piece of Sanctuary of Restful Purification recently and caused chaos in the Harmony Church… that was you, right?”
The rumor had already reached District Five.
There was no reason to deny it, so I nodded.
“…Turns out I befriended an incredible explorer.”
Mek winked and tapped my arm.
“Brother, maybe later…”
“I understand.”
“…I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“Lidni already knows everything. Isn’t this about ‘Invincible Father’?”
“….”
The goblin stared at me wide-eyed before rubbing the back of his neck.
“…Is it impossible to hide your thoughts from a cultist of the Twisted Truth?”
“Of course. I already know the circumstances.”
《Whew. This time even I know what’s going on. My dignity is saved!》
“If the situation becomes dangerous, come find me. I’ll run out immediately—even if I’m bathing.”
“…At least put clothes on first. Anyway, thanks, brother!”
Mek left looking visibly relieved.
I watched his lighter footsteps before standing.
“Since Pendrick cannot come, this is the full group heading to the resort. Shall we depart?”
Marlin slapped my waist with her tail.
“You said it’s a vacation, but it’s actually exploration, right? What’s the real purpose?”
“…Well, it will allow our Moon Expedition to become a little closer.”
“Oh, so there’s a Mystery Tome that links expedition members together? If such a useful Mystery exists, our coordination will definitely improve. Everyone heard that, right? Let’s do our best!”
Marlin raised her arm proudly like a captain.
The silent assassin, the disaster-collecting demon, and the diligent priest each responded with small smiles.
“Then let’s move.”
“Patron, let’s enter the labyrinth.”
“…Very well.”
As I walked while being pushed forward by the siblings, I muttered quietly.
“But we really are just going for fun…”