Chapter 119 : I Said I Didn't Want To, But Things Got Complicated.
I Said I Didn't Want To, But Things Got Complicated.
Alona arrived at her conclusion.
Dmihtan Elvar, the barbarian who cannot be moved by money. What is it that motivates him?
It is precisely what barbarians value above all else: honor.
A mere medal ceremony would never suffice. Alona's eyes began to gleam at that thought.
"If he wants honor, then we need to give him honor."
The secretary tilted his head in confusion as he listened to the guildmaster's monologue.
"Guild master, what do you mean...?"
"Dmihtan Elvar seeks not money, but true honor. There would be no reason to refuse such rewards otherwise."
Alona spoke with a voice full of conviction.
The adventurer party 'Dungeon God'.
No, the barbarian Dmihtan Elvar.
Alona could not help but acknowledge his noble spirit.
Truly, there was a reason so many adventurer parties had praised him as they conquered the Lagmor Mountain dungeon.
Even the 'Golden Wind,' a platinum-ranked party, did not hold back their praise for 'Dungeon God'.
She felt as if she was finally beginning to understand why.
"But, guildmaster, isn't the kingdom's Hero's Medal already the highest possible honor?"
Alona shook her head at the secretary's question.
"No, even that isn't enough."
She stood and gazed out the window.
"Think about it, this is the adventurer party that was recognized by 'Golden Wind.' Even 'Golden Wind' have those medals."
"Y-yes..."
"Would someone like 'Dungeon God' really want to walk the same path as every other party before them?"
No, that was impossible.
Alona added as much.
"Some barbarian tribes leave their tribes for their own sense of honor, then return after proving themselves."
She looked over the documents on the table.
There were the names of each 'Dungeon God' member, along with information about which 'barbarian' tribes they came from.
'Red Wolf Tribe.'
According to the information, these barbarians worship the God of Blood and Revelry, Thrag.
She was aware that this barbarian tribe, too, sets out in search of honor under the name 'Journey of Proof'.
"They need a more special kind of honor. Something that will make them feel truly recognized."
Alona drummed her fingers on the desk once more.
"But will it be possible to present a reward that will satisfy an adventurer party who rejected even the Hero's Medal...?"
Alona nodded at the secretary's statement. As he said, what could a mere adventurer's guild promise to a party that refused even the 'Hero's Medal'—especially a guildmaster who had not even fully won over her own guild?
"That's something His Highness the prince will have to consider."
"The prince, you mean...?"
Alona nodded at her secretary's question.
The royal who had enthusiastically agreed to award the Hero's Medal to the 'Dungeon God' party.
"Prince Edwin von Kerval."
The third prince of the Kerval Kingdom, and one who had a deep interest in dungeons. At the same time, known to be the most naïve of all the Kerval royal family.
"With that naïve young prince, perhaps he might manage to prepare something that will appeal to Dmihtan?"
At Alona's gentle tone, the secretary unconsciously swallowed hard.
From the look in her eyes, he could sense her determination to somehow enthrone Dmihtan of 'Dungeon God' as a 'hero' and further solidify her own position.
"How exactly do you plan to move the prince...?"
"That won't be hard."
Alona pulled out a letter and began to write.
* * *
The Kerval Royal Palace in Belhaim.
Beyond the soaring white spires, golden adornments led the way to the main gates.
The finely-carved statues, fountains, and flowerbeds formed a spectacle that could only awe all who saw them.
Beyond, the palace gardens were lined with perfectly manicured trees, and great fountains sent jets of water skyward.
All were scenes that boasted the wealth and power of the Kerval Kingdom.
On the third floor of the grand palace's eastern wing, in the very innermost room—
That was where the study of the third prince, edwin von Kerval, was located.
His personal study was a special space even within the royal palace.
Unlike the rooms of other royals, overflowing with luxury goods, edwin's study was filled purely with knowledge.
But that knowledge was all of a certain kind.
It was only knowledge about 'dungeons' and 'adventurers.'
Ecology of dungeons.
Monster bestiaries.
Survival guides for adventurers.
Among these, edwin pulled out the volume labeled 'Monster Bestiary' and began to read.
"Medusa, medusa..."
On the wall facing Edwin as he read was a complete map of the Kerval Kingdom.
Red pins marked dungeons where 'Abyssification' had occurred.
Blue pins indicated dungeons discovered more recently.
Edwin managed and plotted all these personally.
"Amazing. I can't believe an adventurer party called 'Dungeon God'..."
Muttering, edwin looked over the stack of reports on his desk.
Contained within were details about the 'Dungeon God' party.
The commissions they had completed to date.
The incident involving the hoarding of 'Petrification Antidote Potion.'
"Did they somehow know that the Lagmor Mountain dungeon was connected with petrification?"
Edwin's eyes sparkled.
What was written in the report was far more interesting than he had expected.
Especially a person named Dmihtan.
Though a barbarian, he was said to be the leader of their party.
From what he knew, barbarians were never supposed to have the intelligence to lead others.
Yet every matter involving the 'Petrification Antidote Potion' appeared to have been handled directly by Dmihtan Elvar.
"A barbarian like that actually exists..."
Edwin set the report aside and gazed out the window.
Far in the distance, the streets of Belhaim could be seen. At present, belhaim was in a festival mood, now that the incident at Lagmor Mountain had come to a conclusion.
"My brothers are at another council meeting..."
Edwin sighed.
The eldest involved himself in politics.
The second was absorbed in military affairs.
But him?
In the eyes of his brothers, he was obsessed with something like a 'hobby': dungeon research.
Not that he felt embarrassed about it.
Dungeons represented a threat to humanity. 'Abyssification' in particular was a danger almost impossible to resist.
Investigating such dangers was only natural.
"Now that I think of it, Guildmaster Alona had sent a letter."
Edwin opened his desk drawer and read the letter from Alona.
It was simple.
It stated that Dmihtan had refused the medal ceremony.
"He refused, did he..."
A trace of regret lingered on Edwin's lips.
It was a party he had wanted to meet at least once. He had wanted to hear about dungeon explorations directly from them, and also ask how they'd obtained information about 'Abyssification' and 'Petrification' this time.
But if they wouldn't attend the medal ceremony, it would be difficult to arrange such a meeting.
"In that case!"
He sprang to his feet.
"Can't I just go meet them myself?"
The idea came to him in an instant, and it would not leave.
"Yes, I'll go meet them myself!"
Edwin muttered in excitement.
"I'll send a letter right away."
But he hesitated.
Sending a letter would make it possible to set up an appointment. But what he sought more than that was a genuine, unfiltered conversation.
Not as a prince, but as an ordinary aspiring adventurer. He wanted to hear what happened to 'Dungeon God', directly from them.
With that in mind, edwin resolved to seek out 'Dungeon God' himself.
In secret.
Without any guards.
"It's festival time anyway, so if I go out, no one will know!"
He quickly changed into plain clothes.
Instead of the fancy robes of a prince, he donned the simple garb any adventurer might wear.
"Perfect!"
Edwin could not hide his excitement.
For one who had spent his whole eighteen years within the palace walls, the mere taste of adventure was enough to thrill him.
There might be risks.
However—
"Belhaim is the safest city in the kingdom, right?"
Edwin reassured himself.
Besides, with the festival going on, it would be even safer.
With a fluttering heart, edwin slipped out of the palace using the secret passage he'd used since childhood.
* * *
"Here...?"
Edwin stopped in front of a high-class inn.
To be honest, he didn't really understand how 'high-class' this lodging was supposed to be.
Having never left the palace in eighteen years, his standard was set by the 'royal palace,' so the 'Great Haven' inn before him did not feel particularly luxurious to him.
"So this is where they're staying."
Edwin went over the report he'd brought with him one more time.
It was certain: the 'Dungeon God' party was currently staying at the 'Great Haven.'
He took a deep breath and pushed open the inn's door.
Ding-ling.
A pleasant chime rang out as the door opened.
"Welcome!"
The front desk clerk greeted Edwin cheerfully.
With a bright smile, the clerk asked if he needed a room, adding that this inn catered to 'nobles' and 'higher-rank adventurers.'
"I heard the 'Dungeon God' party was staying here."
Edwin directed his inquiry at the clerk.
"Oh, you mean the 'Dungeon God' party?"
With a pleasant smile, the clerk answered.
"They're currently on the second floor... Ah, one of them is coming down now."
When the clerk pointed to the interior, edwin turned in that direction.
Sure enough, a barbarian was descending the staircase.
Anyone could tell at a glance that he was a 'barbarian'.
With a uniquely-shaped axe on his back and a skull helmet on his head, his overwhelming presence made it obvious from afar.
The barbarian of the 'Dungeon God' party.
Dmihtan Elvar.
"Ba—Barbarian!"
Edwin's heart began to race.
This was the party that had reached 'silver rank' faster than any other in existence.
The very thought left him so excited he thought he might stumble over his words.
"I—I wish to speak with you!"
He was so nervous his speech came out awkward, but Edwin didn't care.
The skull-helmeted barbarian frowned at his words.
"Speak?"
"Y-yes!"
The barbarian began to size Edwin up and down.
He stroked his chin once, then spoke slowly.
"You look too frail for a conversation, but I never shy away from a challenge."
A gruff tone.
Edwin wasn't sure why someone would be called 'frail' just for wanting to 'talk,' but he waited silently for the barbarian's response.
"Follow me."
The barbarian invited Edwin to follow.
With a pounding heart, edwin trailed after him.
It didn't take long for Edwin to learn just what a 'barbarian's method of conversation' was.
***
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