Killing the Thirsty One (1)
"Hello."
I greeted the clerk still sitting at the front entrance.
"I'm here about that request up ahead. From Lucas Guild."
When I showed him the poster in my hand, he told me to go find Clemence in the complaints office if it was that one.
"Clemence? Isn't she in charge of immigration?"
"She handles guilds too. Weren't you the one who came yesterday? The guy who immigrated from Grangtest Empire."
"That's right. I joined Lucas Guild. I'm an adventurer, believe it or not."
"Ah, I see. Go see Clemence then."
As I headed inside, I heard the clerk muttering to himself behind me.
"Lucas Guild?... Didn't that place go under...?"
I went to the same office as yesterday, and Clemence peeked out from behind the partition like a crab.
"If it's that request, come over here!"
"Hi, Clemence. I heard you handle guild requests too. Just how far does your jurisdiction go?"
"Guild management is actually my main job, and immigration is just a side gig. So you ended up joining Lucas Guild after all?"
"Yeah. Worked out a deal with the guild master."
Clemence realized that "deal" meant the loophole I'd suggested and panicked, pressing a finger to her lips.
"Y-you know, right?"
"I haven't told a soul."
"Thank you. Have a seat. Let me explain the request. But why'd you rip down the poster?"
"Figured I was gonna handle it, so no need to keep it up."
Clemence burst into giggles at my joke.
"I'd be grateful if you did. It's been a total mess because of this."
The request was about an anomaly at one of Schlessi's major reservoirs. The Rezobuar Reservoir—man, what a mouthful—collected water flowing down from the Lumière Mountains that crossed the Nant Duchy. Anyway, it supplied irrigation for the vineyards in the area, making it super important.
But lately, the water level had been dropping for no apparent reason.
"Isn't it just evaporating from irrigation use, like you said?"
"If that were the case, it'd have dried up decades ago."
"So more water's outflowing than inflowing... but it's not leaking anywhere?"
"Our water resource management team already inspected the site—no issues with the reservoir itself. And the farms say usage is normal."
"That's weird."
"Exactly why we posted the request. Mercs and adventurers like you have seen all kinds of strange stuff."
Even the city hall couldn't figure out the vanishing water. Might not be a "normal" problem then.
"Got it. I'll check it out."
"Heading there now?"
Clemence stood, grabbing a straw hat from the hook behind her.
"Got somewhere to be?"
"Huh? I'm going to the reservoir with you, Leonar."
"Why? Aren't you swamped?"
"Wha? Guild requests are my department. It's standard for the clerk to tag along."
"Fair enough. No skin off my back. Give me a city tour on the way."
Clemence, in her narrow-brimmed straw hat, trotted beside me, pointing out everything eagerly. Don't go to that barbecue joint over there—they always burn the meat. Schlessi's wine isn't all great just 'cause it's pricey. Watch out for the vicious guard dog at the ranch on the outskirts. The baguette bakery down that alley is killer, but it sells out fast, so go at dawn. Toss a coin in the fountain at the city square for a wish, but no one's hit the jackpot yet. That big-windowed shop sells small pets—beware, it'll mesmerize you with the critters and you'll never leave. And so on.
Who knew if it was useful settling-in info or just her daily chit-chat.
We crossed the city under the late-summer sun, heading to the outskirts.
"Whoa."
Gentle hills stretched out endlessly, blanketed in vineyards. Above, summer's puffy white cumulus clouds drifted lazily. Compared to the bleak Grangtest Empire vibe, this was paradise.
The Nant Duchy expansion pack had teased illustrations just like this.
"Great view."
"Right? No matter how stressful work gets, the vineyards always cheer me up."
We walked a wide, packed dirt path between the fields.
"That's the reservoir."
Clemence pointed to where low mountain spurs met, forming a valley. The ridges weren't high, but against the flat terrain, they loomed impressively. The valley outlet facing the vineyards was sealed by a neat man-made dam, water spilling through gates and channels to the fields below. Smart use of the topography.
"Whew, tough climb."
Panting on the dam crest after the steep hike, Clemence doffed her hat and wiped her brow.
"Ahh, breezy."
The elevation brought hill winds plus valley gusts—pretty strong.
"This is Rezobuar Reservoir. Huge, huh?"
She surveyed it while toweling sweat. From the dam top, its scale was obvious. No wonder it fed all those vineyards.
But yeah, the water was way down. The usual bare soil strips above the waterline—where grass couldn't grow—were hugely exposed now. Massive drop.
As I eyed the reservoir, Clemence plopped her hat back on and waddled over to some guys gathered on the dam, deep in serious talk.
"Hi! From the city complaints office."
The men turned at her chipper greeting.
"Oh, Clemence. What brings you all the way out here?"
"We posted that water drop request, and a Lucas Guild member showed up to handle it."
She pointed at me; they tilted heads quizzically.
"Lucas Guild? Didn't that flop ages ago?"
"Nope, still kicking. Leonar here, fresh from Grangtest."
They welcomed me warmly, introducing themselves as reservoir staff.
"What exactly do you do, Leonar? Guild folks are usually ex-soldiers or mercs, right?"
"Demon Hunter."
"Whoa?!"
They backed off, eyeing my sword hilt. Old rumors—hunters turn demonic eventually. But we purge at temples with pricey donations, shedding tainted aura. Demon energy dulls you like grease on a knife. Hunters are purer than most.
"He's a demon hunter, but totally sane—no foaming or berserk eyes. Explain the situation already."
Her half-baked defense got awkward chuckles.
"As you see, water's critically low. Way below normal."
"Looks that way to me."
"At this rate, the vineyards we've slaved over could all tank."
"Any odd signs?"
"None. We'd have acted if there were."
"Upstream too?"
One guy, who'd said nothing happened, raised a hand.
"Wait, thinking back... something when we checked upstream."
"Like what?"
"Felt the ground faintly vibrating? Barely noticeable."
Another snapped fingers.
"Yeah! Me too! Thought it was a quake at first, but so subtle. You felt it too?"
Hmm, faint tremors. No clue yet. Better check upstream myself.
"Anyone guide me up there?"
One staffer volunteered; Clemence tagged along.
A narrow trail led upstream, but steep ridges meant scrambles and four-legged crawls.
The reservoir stretched long and narrow vertically. Clemence, chasing me, wheezed complaints nonstop.
"Ugh, dying... Did I bust my ass studying to do this...?"
"They'd think someone held a knife to your throat to become a clerk."
The staffer, sweating buckets at the rear, snickered and teased her.
Finally upstream, they collapsed, gasping. I left them and stepped aside.
Faint ground vibes, huh.
I knelt, eyes shut.
Blind Vision
A demon hunter's signature skill: sacrifice sight to hyper-boost other senses.
Scanning with sharpened senses, eyes still closed, I grinned.
First request, and it's a jackpot. Big enough to skyrocket the guild's rep and cred in one go.