Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Her Hidden Side That Only I Didn't Know
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I returned to the Adventurer's Guild.
The guild was fairly quiet. It was the rest and prep time between entering and exiting the Labyrinth.
Most of the people there were bustling about busily.
"Oh, you're back?"
The one greeting me like that was Hilda.
"Long time no see, Miss Hilda."
"Yes, have you been well, Yuseong?"
"No way I'm the kind of guy who just ends with a 'yes' or 'no'?"
I nodded to Diago, who looked flustered behind her, signaling that everything had gone well.
'Did it really go well, though?'
A weird rumor had spread among the beastkin.
Well, with the Beast King there, they'd handle it themselves.
I decided not to worry about it.
"You're finally back."
One unexpected thing.
Volkan's face lit up the moment he saw me, and he welcomed me warmly.
'What's this about?'
What had happened?
As I looked at him with those eyes, Volkan let out a deep sigh.
"Now that you're here, that guy should calm down. What a relief."
"...?"
"Why are you making that face like you have no idea? That maniac from your clan who's been causing a ruckus."
"A ruckus...?"
Who could it be?
I thought about it, but only the glasses guy and Rosen or maybe Rishiel, who hadn't fully adapted to her body...
'No, Veronica?'
She had plenty of reason to rampage.
She'd been acting like the crazy bitch of this district, after all.
Viola deserved to be on the list too.
She'd seemed anxious ever since losing her family, the Nation.
But all my guesses turned out wrong.
Volkan's answer was shocking.
"Ermé. The Golden Witch. Do something about her."
"...................................................?"
I stared at Volkan with a face that said I understood nothing.
And I really didn't.
Reign in Ermé?
'Why would I need to reign in Ermé?'
What an absurd thing to say.
And incomprehensible too. She was more rational and kind than anyone.
"...You really have no idea?"
Volkan looked utterly bewildered.
His expression made me puzzled in turn.
What on earth had Ermé done to make everyone act like this?
'If it was just one or two people, I could brush it off as slander.'
But everyone reacting the same way.
Even Volkan.
'This isn't normal.'
I'd known Ermé's personality wasn't ordinary from the start.
But it felt like I'd touched some abyss I shouldn't have.
As I thought that, Volkan's eyes gleamed.
"Now that I look, your skills have shot up quite a bit."
"That obvious?"
"Some things you notice precisely because you can't see them. Mana and aura properly controlled... Well, well. Your swordsmanship has improved leaps and bounds."
"That obvious too?"
"Anyone on my level would see it."
Volkan grinned like he was having fun.
At his reaction, the holy sword panicked and spoke to me.
-What the hell is that guy?
'Sword King Volkan.'
-Sword King? That guy's only Sword King? He's on par with the Third Generation at least, if not the First.
The holy sword asked curiously.
As I answered, I noticed Volkan staring intently at my waist from some point on.
'Why the holy sword?'
I had it sheathed at my waist right now. But few recognized it.
It had been disguised as a normal sword for a while.
"You... You've got quite the interesting fellow there."
"...You noticed?"
"I figured a guy like you wouldn't lack the qualifications of a hero—but a sword, of all things."
Volkan looked somewhat troubled.
Then he soon grinned again.
"Well, it'll be quite the stimulus for that guy too."
"That guy?"
"You might meet him soon. Could be a good thing."
Volkan looked at me as he said that.
With eyes mixed with anticipation.
"Though I wonder if you can handle him."
"Who is this guy?"
"Isn't it about time you found out?"
"...."
Genius Killer.
The Empire's hidden sword.
"You'll need to power up a bit more for that."
"...Am I not pretty strong already?"
"You are. But what caught my eye is your potential."
Volkan's face turned serious.
His pitch-black eyes fixed on me.
"But that potential is still too early to bloom. You're strong, but..."
"More than that, I'm hungry. Mind if I go grab some food?"
"...."
"...."
Diago suddenly cut in.
Volkan looked at him with a bewildered expression.
"Why's this guy like this again?"
"No idea."
"He had some brains, walked the elite path, got a bit rigid-headed, but not like this."
Lots of "some" in there.
But I nodded inwardly.
Diago needed that warm gaze.
"Must be all the 'incompetent' labels life threw at him finally led to enlightenment."
"...."
"Speaking of, I know a pretty decent spot around here. Wanna go?"
Diago slung an arm around my shoulder and tempted me.
Food tour? Tempting.
"More than that, I want to try your cooking."
Volkan cut in abruptly.
Honestly speaking.
'What a hassle.'
I made a troubled face.
If I looked unwilling, they'd back off.
But Volkan and Diago looked even more intrigued.
"Come to think of it, the Saintess said she'd join the clan because of that food."
"Yeah, I'm curious too. Everyone raves about it so much."
"It's nothing special."
-No way it's nothing. It's a skill only true High Elves—elves among elves—possess. Your elven tea mastery might be unique in the whole world.
'....'
The holy sword's praise made me feel even more annoyed.
But still.
'After sneaking out and getting dragged into incidents.'
I just wanted to go home.
They were friends, though, so I needed some excuse.
"It's a hassle."
'I'll make it next time at the clan house.'
-Your inner thoughts and words are backwards.
Oh crap.
*
Our clan building was pretty lavish.
Thanks to Ermé expanding it with who-knows-where money.
And that wasn't all.
Ermé had properly whipped people into shape using unknown treasures or connections, and equipped the dungeon parties luxuriously.
'Security's tight as a result.'
But nothing that could stop me.
I slipped inside the clan building stealthily.
With Thief's Extremity hiding me, few could detect it.
I went in planning to surprise them.
-Sneaking around like this, you really are a thief.
I ignored the holy sword's exasperation and went deeper.
-Speaking of which, you aside... What the hell is this place?
'Clan building?'
-Way too fortified for that.
I agreed.
Even maxed Thief's Extremity, and security measures were still trying to pin me down.
'Honestly got suspicious halfway.'
But my pride kicked in.
And it was fun.
Trusting Thief's Extremity and my senses, I pushed deeper into the clan interior.
Once inside the clan building,
I witnessed something bizarre.
"P-please... St-stop, I beg you."
A trembling man.
And in front of him.
A woman with a cold smile, eyes narrowed.
Twilight-like eyes and hair.
A faint eye smile.
Quietly raising her index finger.
'What the...'
It was Ermé.
But not the Ermé I knew.
The Ermé I knew was—as I'd told Volkan—a bit cheeky, slyly approaching me, handling things well, giving money when needed.
"Oh dear, I haven't said anything that sounds like a threat, have I?"
"I-it's all my fault! I-I..."
The man just trembled all over.
Ermé kept her endlessly cold smile at him.
"What strange things you're saying. It was your fault, wasn't it? Trying to poach talent info from our clan of all places."
"...."
"So I had no choice but to step in. I really hate this stuff."
She said she hated it, but her mouth kept grinning.
-Th-that woman's the clan leader?
'Technically, I'm the leader.'
-Even you couldn't handle her. She's dangerous!
The holy sword exclaimed in shock.
If I didn't know Ermé well, I might think she enjoyed others' suffering.
"Then we'll handle it per Starlight Spiral Clan bylaws."
"P-please, just spare my family..."
"You didn't spare others, yet you beg mercy from me? Still, we're merciful, so we'll show a shred."
"Th-then..."
The man's face lit with hope.
And Ermé's smile deepened.
"You sold your family including cousins, so I'll just sell yours."
"...."
"Don't worry. Unlike you, I won't dump wife and daughter in the brothels. I'll use them properly. Ah, of course, you'll work as a miner for about 50 years instead."
"...."
The man's face paled.
Ermé smiled satisfied and patted his shoulder.
But maybe the shock made me slip.
I leaked my presence.
"...."
"...Oh, long time no see."
I didn't want to discover this unknown face of the woman I'd known so long.