Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: The Second Wanderer -1-
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After watching Eclair disappear from sight with dignified steps befitting a knight's grace,
I returned to the guild building, still basking in the satisfaction of quality time with my woman.
The underground tavern remained as boisterous as ever,
but once the adventurer rush died down, the first floor with the receptionists felt as quiet as it did now.
"Hmm~"
I approached the receptionist, who was humming to herself and filing her nails, apparently done with her immediate tasks.
'Last time it was boxes like that too.'
Amid the boxes stamped with the Adventurer's Guild seal along one wall sat two plain, sturdy-looking ones.
They were obviously for me, but to confirm, I asked the receptionist.
"Those over there for me?"
She paused her work and gestured toward the boxes with polite, practiced movements.
"Ah, yes! The two unmarked boxes are addressed to you, Roman."
I couldn't just dump the potions from the boxes straight into my Inventory, so I had to carry them out as they were.
Before that, I crouched in a corner to check the contents and opened one up.
Rustle—
"Oh!"
Odd as it sounded, I was more impressed by their form than the quantity or variety of potions.
Each glass vial cradling its colorful liquid was shaped like an elegant work of art, just as always.
The most numerous featured embossed winged women modeled after goddesses.
I'd received supplies like these during the imperial commission, so the uniqueness was familiar.
'Next time, I'll specify plain bottles outright.'
These handmade or specially crafted glass bottles blatantly deviated from imperial standards, forcing me to check the bottom or lid to identify the potion type.
It might be ungrateful from the recipient's side, but decking out consumables like this struck me as the height of inefficiency...
Yet the higher-ups seemed eager to flaunt their difference, even here.
"Hmm—"
Not from the box itself,
but for the receptionist who melted at beauty products, I pulled out a regeneration potion I'd gotten ages ago by roughing up Nottingham.
No matter how brazen I acted, openly accepting goods meant keeping up appearances.
"Here—a little gift for our hardworking receptionist."
"Oh! Thank you!"
Her hand snatched it quick, like she'd been waiting. No fake protests or bounces—just refreshingly honest.
Good ties with the guild's admin staff were nothing but beneficial for adventurers.
A token like this, and they'd handle tedious chores or overdue updates I forgot about.
It honestly gave better returns than handouts to greenhorn adventurers.
'One for Liliane too... Rak gets teased first.'
I stuffed a few potions from the box into my pocket, closed it, and stacked the other on top.
"Alright. Be right back down. Keep an eye on those so no one touches 'em."
"No worries—go ahead~"
Leaving the receptionist beaming from her windfall, I headed for the underground tavern.
Creak—creak—
I descended the wooden stairs, groaning with familiar warmth.
Down to pay for the food I'd scarfed from their table earlier—and there they were, Rak and Liliane, still holding the fort.
An unexpected face had joined their table, but that was par for the course among adventurers.
'Adventurers gonna adventure. At least he's cleaning.'
The man mopping the floor with a rotten expression had clearly sobered up.
I passed my startled namesake, who backed away at the sight of me,
and approached the table where Rak, Liliane, and a girl sat.
"Sticking around late today. No commission?"
"Eek—!!"
The tanned girl with blonde hair half-covering one eye whipped around, spasming so hard her hair flew before clapping both hands over her mouth.
'Stick around long, and she'll pass out.'
Smaller than Rike and looking younger, but Seria proved appearances deceived.
Best to ignore her reaction—I shifted my gaze to Liliane.
"Heading out tonight, looks like. You wrapped up?"
"Eh, more or less. Knocked one out, more to go."
"Roman, got some questions—wanna sit? Food's on me."
"What?"
"Means eat more grub or booze. Sit, sit!"
Free meal out of nowhere? Most suspicious thing ever.
Rak's grin was downright sleazy, pure creepy uncle.
'Ugh—pain to look at.'
Fresh off Eclair, facing this guy's mug killed my appetite—even the plan to tease him before the potion evaporated.
"Busy—gotta bounce. This covers the food."
Their eyes widened as they caught the potion bottles I lobbed in perfect arcs.
"...Roman! That's too much!"
"Dump the liquid? Sewer or toilet. Glass goes in the bottle bin over there."
I grabbed Liliane's shoulder as she shot up, forcing her back down with my ultimate move: "Don't drink it? Toss it."
"So sneaky..."
She pouted like a duck, stashed the potion in her leather pouch, bowed politely, and thanked me.
"Roman, thank you so much. I'll put it to good use—and repay the favor."
"Repay? Won't hold my breath."
As our chat bloomed warm and flowery, Rak barged in with booming volume.
"Kahaha! Big haul this time? Won't cough it up even if asked!"
I ignored Rak's yapping and turned to leave, but remembered the extra party member.
"Chambers too. Here's one."
"Ooh! I'll pass it on for sure!"
I tossed Rak an extra potion, then dangled a sloshing one before the girl sitting with eyes downcast right beside him.
She looked up slowly, face mixed puzzled and terrified; I tossed her one, deepening the bewilderment in her golden eyes.
Thud!
"Adventuring means windfalls like this—and screw-ups like earlier."
"Ooo~"
"Shh...!"
Liliane elbowed the clueless, intrigued Rak into silence.
"Might see you around plenty—gonna keep skulking? Chin up, shoulders back. It's done."
"...Th-thank you!"
"Don't die. Live long. Off to work—good luck."
I tossed a casual wave at the table and headed up from the tavern, arms loaded with a box each as I exited the guild.
Now for the academy: send back the info guild contact and pull tedious guard duty.
⋯
⋯
"Good work."
"Babysitting rookies? No sweat. Getting paid this well for zero tension's almost embarrassing. Whoops... can't discount, o' course!"
True name unknown, voice and look changed every meet—but work was solid.
Hastily hiding the gold pouch lest I snatch it back, his rat-like manner and machine-gun patter unchanged.
Skill or artifact in play? Shorter and slighter build than last time.
Somehow in an academy uniform, new face skin flawless, even habits altered.
Utterly generic passerby mug—uncanny.
"You're dismissed."
"Yes sir! Safe travels!"
True to form, quick feet—no backward glance as he vanished.
Never once curious why I watched them.
That lack of prying probably kept info guild types breathing long.
"Whew—"
I sighed in relief, recalling how the pair had ditched class just before I arrived and headed for the forest bordering academy grounds.
Not confirmed yet,
but Robert and Isaac traveling together screamed experiment-related.
'Cheap out here? Insane.'
If I hadn't tailed Robert and Isaac today, who knew the fallout.
Mishaps from missed timing stemmed from sloth or complacency—that conviction sank deeper.
'Nail the timing, snag 'that' too?'
Robert Bolt, the Akarite protagonist, had perks beyond stellar skills, physique, talent, and growth speed.
Robert himself might not even know.
In the game, the Bolt Marquis heirloom 'family register' artifact looked like a disposable guide or tooltip.
One-use per family member, but in reality, a real eyesore.
Engrave a name, drip blood in—proves direct or collateral Bolt lineage.
Likely registered right after Robert's birth.
Game snag reveals its true power wasn't that.
When a creature targets a 'direct' Bolt—succeeds in killing or lands a major life-threatening wound,
detailed opponent info fills a page. Sharp enough to expose backers even via proxies.
In game, a story wall buster or foe aid.
But in reality, ending up on it? Who knew what details it'd spill.
'Trouble even if it blows—snag the register first, smooth sailing.'
Robert's current power? Even duo with Isaac, no beating the Second Wanderer.
My hope: let it unfold to the fourth phase at least. Lose a limb? Fine, just don't die.
If he kicks it anyway... his problem.