Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Devil's Mark (2)
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After completing the request and retrieving the flag, we headed straight to the guild without delay.
We heaved the flag, tightly wrapped in cloth, onto the reception desk with a grunt.
The receptionist peeked between the folds of the cloth, and her face turned pale.
"This... smells just like that sewer job from last time."
As soon as we spoke up, the receptionist lifted the flag slightly and immediately escorted us to the guild master's office on the second floor.
We must have been flagged as persons of interest after that totem incident last time.
The heavy door to the guild master's office closed behind us, cutting off the outside noise and plunging the room into a weighty silence.
The white-haired guild master carefully unfolded the black flag we'd brought, using his gloved hands.
"...It's definite."
He muttered lowly while peering through a magnifying glass.
"You're seeing it right... This isn't beast hide. It's human skin. People's skin."
"Ugh..."
Sena clamped a hand over her mouth and turned away. Mani clicked her tongue and grimaced.
The guild master hastily stuffed the flag into a nearby box and slammed the lid shut with a click. He acted like even looking at it would taint his eyes.
The guild master flipped through a file on his desk. It was a paper with our trio's registration details.
"Reti, Sena, and Mani. Right?"
"Yes, that's us."
"You three just got your Bronze Rank badges. But the stuff you bring in is all horrors you'd see in Silver Rank—no, Gold Rank quests."
It was hard to tell if he was praising or scolding us.
He closed the file, rested his chin on his interlaced hands, and fixed us with a piercing gaze.
"The totem from the sewers last time, and now this flag. What do you think? Just coincidence?"
Sena stepped forward cautiously as the representative. As a cleric, she had an instinctive aversion and knowledge of such things.
"It's no coincidence. The symbols... they match!"
"Symbols?"
"Yes. Twisted spirals. I saw illustrations like them in the forbidden section of the monastery library. This isn't just some monster or mad wizard's prank. It's the symbol of 'those' things the church strictly forbids!"
Sena swallowed hard and added,
"It's devil worshippers. That symbol is Dragosius! The mark of the wicked archdevil."
"Dragosius... That name, huh. How did you know that?"
"They taught us at the monastery. To watch out for devil worshippers out in the world."
Sena smoothly covered for Rodentia's direct mention of Dragosius.
The guild master fell silent for a moment. He pulled an old pipe from his pocket, lit it with a match, and took a puff. Through the acrid smoke he exhaled, the middle-aged man's eyes grew somber.
"...As expected from a monastery graduate. Sharp eyes."
He affirmed it.
"You're right. Unwelcome guests have infiltrated every corner of Oakwood's sewers and dungeons."
"As we thought..."
"Gasp!"
I nodded, while Sena sighed.
"They're sneaking in like rats—sorry, my apologies—and up to no good. That flag you found is probably a territory marker or a catalyst for something even more sinister."
[How rude! How dare you compare those filthy scum to our noble race!]
I pretended not to notice Rodentia fuming in my bag and cleared my throat.
"Ahem. So, Guild Master, are those guys Necromancers?"
"Necromancers? Ah... those folks. Feels like I've met their type."
Right, we couldn't leave out those guys.
We told him everything—from losing the mana stone beetle to running into that elf Necromancer right after retrieving the flag.
The guild master's face darkened as he listened.
"Already... that far..."
"Do you know something?"
"I can't go into details, but... those Necromancers are tied to city officials. Best to steer clear of them for now."
With that, he opened a drawer, pulled out a small pouch, and tossed it onto the desk.
Clink!
The clear, beautiful sound of metal coins clinking! The pouch was full of silver coins.
"This is the official reward for the information. And... compensation for your silence in the meantime."
"Silence?"
The guild master smirked and mimed zipping his lips with thumb and forefinger.
"It's too early to go public. If rumors spread prematurely, they might burrow deeper, or citizens could panic. Above all..."
He looked at each of us in turn, his expression grave.
"You're skilled, but you're fresh Bronze Ranks. Devil worshippers are mad dogs who'll stop at nothing. Rush in recklessly, and you won't even leave bones behind."
This wasn't treating us like kids. It was sincere advice from a veteran adventurer.
"This is for the guild and the local veterans to handle with full force. Leave the investigation to us. I've already called in a specialist for this sort of thing."
"Specialist?"
"Yeah, Silver Rank level! The probe's already underway."
Silver Rank, huh. The guild master had his plans.
Nothing more for us to do, then.
I pocketed the pouch and nodded.
"Got it. We just got lucky finding it. Saw nothing."
"Good. Glad you understand."
We bowed and left the office.
The pouch was heavy, but things felt murky all around.
What exactly were the devil worshippers plotting in Oakwood?
Creeeak!
As we stepped into the hallway, someone from outside nearly collided with us head-on.
A massive build. Shiny bald head, grim face. His muscular forearms were covered in tattoos.
It was Mace, leader of White Skull—the guy who'd blown away a hobgoblin with one pistol shot last time.
"Huh?"
Mace squinted down at us. Compared to his bulk, we were literal kids.
"What're these runts? Guild Master geezer running a daycare now? What're you gonna do with kids this tiny..."
"I'm not small!"
Mani exploded in outrage.
Calling a dwarf young or small was as good as picking a fight. But Mace ignored her protest with a snort.
"Yeah, yeah. Drink lots of milk and grow big, kiddo."
"What'd you say!"
Mace waved her off dismissively and strode past us into the office.
"Hey, old man! I'm here. About that 'job' last time..."
Bam.
The door shut. A snippet of conversation leaked through the crack.
A Silver Rank adventurer visiting the guild master.
'He said he'd secretly called in Silver Rank help for the investigation.'
It clicked. That guy must be the point man for the secret probe.
Figures they'd pull in Silver Ranks for dangerous, covert work.
"What a jerk! Baldy!"
Mani stuck her tongue out at the closed door, fuming.
Calling a dwarf "kiddo"—that was an insult to chew on forever.
"Calm down, Mani. Getting mad just makes you hungrier."
"But! That baldy... Thinks Silver Rank makes him king?"
We dragged the raging Mani out of the guild building. The sky was clear, but a strange tension hung in Oakwood's air.
'Devil worshippers in this city?'
But what could we do about it?
Above all, that tension melted away before the weight in our pouch.
I peeked into the reward pouch. Twenty gleaming silver coins, shining like soft moonlight. Add the hobgoblin hunt proceeds, and we had enough not just to forget money worries but to upgrade gear.
'This much?'
Generous for hush money. Meant the situation was serious.
Oh well. This was a proper capitalist society. Nothing comforted like financial therapy.
"Let's try something different today. Sausage potato stew sound good?"
"Sounds great!"
Whistling, we entered the market's most aromatic eatery. Lunchtime bustle filled the place with the smells of grilling meat and simmering stew.
"Auntie, three bowls of sausage potato stew! Plenty of bread too!"
"You got it!"
Moments later, a massive pot thumped onto our table, steam rising invitingly.
Thick, rich brown broth floated fat sausages and chunky potatoes—a masterpiece.
"Wow..."
Sena gulped. The salty smokiness of the sausages and earthy potatoes assaulted our noses.
"Let's eat!"
We ditched manners and dove in with spoons.
One bite into the springy sausage, and hot juices burst from the casing—irresistible.
Om nom nom.
"Hoo, hot! So good!"
"Money's the best! Look at this broth!"
Sena and Mani dunked bread happily. I sliced a sausage and slipped it under the table into my bag.
"Here, Your Majesty."
[Oh! This greasy aroma! Meat! Potatoes! This is truth itself!]
Rodentia was throwing a festival in my bag. The hamster wheel spun merrily.
With bellies full and bodies warm, ambient chatter finally registered.
At the next table, armed adventurers tilted tin mugs, murmuring gravely.
"Hey, heard? Black Forest entrance is under lockdown today."
"Those guys again?"
"Yeah. Necromancers set up skeleton soldiers at the entrance. Some magic experiment excuse."
"They're nuts? Glowing Cave and now Black Forest? Who do they think they are?"
The mood was off. The adventurers' eyes burned with anger beyond unease.
I set down my spoon, borrowed Sena's Magic Slate, and powered it on.
The top recommended post jumped out in the gallery.
[Adventurer Gallery - Oakwood Channel]
[Conceptual] If We Leave the Lich Clan Alone Like This, Oakwood is Done For (Recommendations 452)
Can't you see the Necromancers putting skeletons at every major dungeon entrance to block access?
Experiments, research—total bullshit.
They're hogging all the good stuff inside for themselves. Be real, material prices tanked and hunting grounds shrank since they showed up.
Just gonna sit here? Aren't adventurers the real owners of Oakwood?
Right on. They've straight-up crossed the line.
What're the Military Police doing? Not hauling them off?
The market bigwigs are protecting them 'cause they pay fat taxes. Dammit, we gotta seize the moment and rise up. Time to put the Lich Clan in check.
"Whoa... Public opinion's boiling."
Sena asked worriedly. I shook my head.
"But are the Necromancers really just monopolizing stuff?"
"Yeah, what's their game?"
They were sweeping dungeons, digging around, even sealing off zones.
What were they thinking? And what connection to the devil worshippers?
"For now, let's prep with this money."
We polished off the stew and stood.
Best we could do was build strength.
Back at Mani's workshop, we dumped the pouch on the workbench.
Silver coins piled high.
"Plenty for materials."
I tapped the blueprint on the wall.
"Your 'Mani' Ballista's great, but wouldn't rapid-fire weapons be nice for you too?"
"Obviously! Shoot, reload! Shoot! That's the dream."
"And Sena, you need something to snipe fleeing foes while shielding."
"Yeah! I want something cool like Reti's!"
Our eyes sparkled.
Time to fully arm up with our new funds.
"Goal: Rapid Bowgun models 2 and 3, plus upgrade the first one."
"Sweet! More Tin Wolf bones, and ironwood from the market this time! Way tougher!"
Perfect. With money and time, every party member gets a bowgun.
And one more thing.
[Apostle Reti!]
"Yes, Your Majesty."
[The current totem feels insufficient! Craft a new statue befitting this cute and charming Lord of Rodents!]
Rodentia placed her commission.