Chapter 116 : This Is Troubling
This Is Troubling
Belhaim Adventurer's Guild. Guildmaster's Office.
Alona was standing by the window. Lagmor Mountain still carried a reddish hue from the volcanic eruption, but there were no longer any dungeons undergoing "Abyssification".
"Guildmaster."
As Alona reminisced about the events that happened at Lagmor Mountain, she turned her gaze to a man who entered the room with a knock.
It was the guildmaster's secretary. The tension in his face made it clear he brought important news.
"There's a message from the royal palace."
"And the contents?"
"Chancellor Advon has heard the news that the Lagmor Mountain Dungeon has been conquered."
Alona nodded at the secretary's words.
"He has requested to meet with you immediately."
This was only natural.
From the kingdom's perspective, the conquest of the Lagmor Mountain dungeon wasn't just a simple adventuring achievement.
On a broader scale, it marked the end of a calamity.
The lava from the volcanic eruption was still an issue, but at least there would no longer be new disasters arising from the "dungeon".
The river could be restored. Trade routes could be rebuilt.
But the damage caused by the "Abyssification" dungeon had been an unimaginably enormous threat.
They had quelled such a disaster—of course Kerval Kingdom would take interest in this.
And in that sense, the chancellor's proposal was impeccably timed.
"It really is perfect timing."
The lava, darkening as it cooled.
A river that had been cut off.
The sky blanketed with volcanic ash.
Lagmor Mountain's eruption, from the perspective of Belhaim's residents, was undoubtedly a catastrophe.
In that sense, one could say:
"A hero always emerges amidst disaster."
But there shouldn't be too many heroes.
A single name.
A single face.
If there are too many, the focus weakens, and the title of "hero" loses its meaning.
So, alona decided that this time she would proudly raise the name of just one individual.
If an adventurer party becomes famous, the Adventurer's Guild benefits all the more.
"Are you really... going to invite 'Dungeon God' as the representative for this dungeon subjugation medal ceremony?"
Alona turned her gaze to the nervous secretary.
"He's a barbarian. There could be a lot of talk for various reasons."
"Why?"
"If I may...."
The secretary hesitated for a moment before speaking up.
"Not all barbarians are stupid, but... if someone does something stupid, it's said, 'That's a barbarian for you.' Isn't that the saying?"
"I've heard it."
"I know you want to promote one party in particular, alona."
Alona whistled softly. He must have good intuition after working with her for such a long time.
"But a barbarian... I can't help but wonder. And the 'Dungeon God' party has a cleric from the Liberas Order, doesn't it?"
"It'd be different if she were a saint. Clerics don't exactly fit the image of a 'hero'."
With that, alona shook her head.
It would dilute the hype a bit—a "cleric" gives the impression of supporting from the back lines, after all.
But a barbarian is different.
He might act foolishly, but a "barbarian" never stands at the back.
They act without hesitation and do whatever they're capable of.
It's the perfect epithet for the word "hero".
"In that sense, Dmihtan the barbarian needs to become a hero."
As she explained briefly, the secretary finally seemed to accept it.
"But... what about Golden Wind?"
"You're worried the platinum ranks will get jealous?"
"That's right. Fact is, wasn't it the platinum-ranked Golden Wind's participation that was the main highlight when the commission was posted?"
"Heh heh."
Alona smiled, and the secretary only tilted his head in confusion.
"Don't you know that Golden Wind also recommended 'Dungeon God'?"
"That attention-seeker... I mean, golden Wind did?"
The secretary's eyes widened in surprise, but Alona just laughed at his reaction.
She'd been surprised at first, too. There was one thing she could say with certainty about the party known as "Golden Wind."
Their leader was someone who really enjoyed the spotlight.
That's why they always had a tendency to want to be the stars of any story.
"So, what does it mean that Golden Wind stepped aside for this medal ceremony?"
"Does that mean... something happened inside the dungeon?"
"Exactly."
In other words, this wasn't just a "manufactured hero" by the Adventurer's Guild, but a hero who truly deserved to be praised.
Surely, the other adventurer parties wouldn't have any complaints.
"I hope this quiets down those who are dissatisfied with my position."
Alona shared this small hope, her faint smile showing openly.
* * *
Is this heaven?
That was what slipped out as I soaked in the warm bath.
With my whole body surrounded by the hot water, I felt the fatigue from Lagmor Mountain melt away.
Breathing in the fragrant aroma of the bath oils, I glanced around.
I was currently at "The Great Haven," one of the most luxurious inns in the heart of Belhaim.
This was the VIP bath.
They say normal adventurers can't use this place.
Only nobles, truly famous individuals, or the obscenely rich—those were the only ones who could stay here.
Just spending a single night here meant paying an average of ten gold coins.
The reason I was here was simple.
The Kerval Kingdom—the royalty themselves had provided this for me, and I couldn't pass up the chance.
"Kahahahaha!"
I turned my head toward the booming laughter.
There was Barkal, swimming lengthwise across the bath.
"Swimming in warm water is extraordinary, brother!"
Looks like people everywhere feel like swimming in a bathhouse.
But Barkal, are you not even taking off your helmet in the bath?
"Brother."
While I had my eyes closed, enjoying the relaxing heat, Barkal's voice reached me.
When I slowly opened my eyes, he was right in front of me, only his skull helmet floating above the water.
"Thank you for helping with my family's burial."
Why was he bowing so deeply while saying that? It felt a bit ridiculous imagining that huge physique submerged under the bath.
I stared at Barkal for a moment after hearing his words. Honestly, I wondered if I'd really done anything.
On my way, by chance I encountered Darsan, and Barkal buried him himself with a "barbarian's funeral."
He hadn't been revived by a necromancer's power.
He moved with Abyssal Energy—now, that was a surprise.
"Do you feel relieved?"
When I asked, Barkal nodded.
"I'm relieved."
Then that's good enough.
"Yet at the same time, I feel frustrated."
Why, though?
"Darsan was still the Darsan I knew. He didn't betray his brothers—he kept his honor to the very end."
It seemed Barkal felt guilty for having buried such an honorable Darsan forever.
Why should you feel that way?
I wanted to tell him that, but somehow it didn't seem like it would help.
Barbarians tend to want something more instinctive.
"That I was the one who buried such a noble Darsan, when I haven't even finished my own Journey of Proof... Darsan must have been disappointed in me."
"This is how I see it."
Barkal nodded at my words.
"Darsan would actually have been relieved to rest by your hand."
"Why do you think that, brother?"
It's a strange notion—to have to take the life of a family member facing an irreversible death.
And yet—
"Because you'll remember him until the very end."
When I finished speaking and looked at Barkal again, I could see his eyes widen.
"Of course, sage. I will not forget my brother's death."
"Then that's enough. That frustration is just your own guilt. Move on from it."
"Ooooh...! I'll wash up before I go, then!"
Hey, don't shake water all over.
* * *
After leaving the bath, I looked around "The Great Haven" inn.
On both sides of the hallway, high-end paintings surrounded me, and fragrant smells wafted from the candles on the walls.
Even at a glance, this was an inn that the Silver-ranked party could never afford. No, at this level, you could call it a five-star hotel.
Even all the rooms prepared for us during our stay were singles.
"No way..."
Seeing the size of my room, I couldn't help but laugh.
Over 40 pyeong (about 132 square meters), there was a bed, a sofa, a desk, and multiple doors.
Beyond those doors were closets, a pantry stocked with food, a washroom—everything was provided.
There were even lots of fancy decorations, and seeing such expensive-looking things made me start to worry about Barkal.
You better not break anything.
If you wreak havoc here, doing the dishes won't make up for it, Barkal. Behave yourself.
"I'm exhausted."
Maybe it was because I'd soaked in hot water. The moment I saw the bed, a wave of fatigue washed over me.
I collapsed straight onto the bed. I could see the night view of Belhaim through the window past the bed, but for now I had no interest in taking it in.
"Rugar."
As my consciousness grew blurry, a name came to mind.
The priest of the Red Wolf Tribe.
The guy who commissioned the Disguiser to try and kill us.
I still didn't understand his motive. But thinking about it now, there were a lot of things that didn't add up.
"Necromancer..."
How did he know?
It's hard to believe he just sensed my "necromancy."
I myself only barely figured it out through the traits of the necromancer.
Wait a second.
As I thought that far, a question started to well up inside me.
But before I could find an answer to that question, I surrendered myself to the flood of sleep.