Chapter 204 – Elven Ruins
Varian is dead.
The news came as a great shock to the adventurers. It was news of the death of a silver-ranked adventurer.
Thanks to that, a meeting was urgently called, and I, a silver rank, was also called.
A round table filling the center of the conference room.
In the heavy atmosphere, Siegfried, the owner of the adventure party, spoke quietly.
“Are you certain of Varian’s death?”
All the silver ranks gazed at me.
I didn’t feel intimidated by those gazes and straight up told what I knew.
“Yes. The Berserk Warrior Varian was defeated and killed by the Red Hood bandit leader, Derius, in the Holy War. His remains have been recovered and are now kept in Thalia, the city where the saintess resides.”
Silence settled heavily again.
A gruff voice broke the silence.
“Ha, good. I knew that stupid furry bastard would come after me someday.”
“Juana! What are you saying now…”
Lauren, the same silver-ranked adventurer, tried to shout loudly at Juana’s absurd remarks. But when she saw Juana’s expression, her eyes fluttered, so she shut her mouth.
“Why? Am I wrong? That jerk. I met my opponent well after fighting with my guts every day! Haha! Stupid asshole When you meet someone you can’t communicate with, you get robbed right away.”
“…Juana.”
Lauren hugged her Juana and patted her on the back.
“Come on? Am I okay?”
“Are you okay. Juana. You can cry a little at times like this. Because nobody says anything.”
“What are you talking about? Why am I crying?”
Contrary to what she said as if it was absurd, her voice was wet with crying. Her face was not the usual nasty expression, but a distorted expression.
After pretending to be tough for a while, she buried her face in Lauren’s shoulder.
“You stupid bastard… You should have seen your opponent and attacked… What’s the use of guts if you die…”
Lauren’s shoulder blades were damp, with Juana covering her face. But Lauren didn’t mind and slowly brushed her Juana’s back.
The tears of Juana, who usually showed an awkward attitude.
The already heavy atmosphere in the meeting room became even heavier.
While each of them was making complicated expressions, I saw them.
“Verian’s death will be disposed of on the day his remains return to Kalita.”
Siegfried and Allen, the expressions of the two did not contain any emotion.
“Cohen, prepare Varian’s funeral. It’s a funeral for a silver-ranked adventurer. There should be no shortage.”
The meeting ended with Siegfried’s words.
* * *
After the meeting, I went straight home and packed my things. Today is the day we leave to lift the barrier of the elven ruins.
The meeting is just a random schedule.
“Did you pack all your luggage? Then let’s go.”
There was no need to prepare as grandiosely as when leaving the temple. It’s because it’s heading to a place where there are no risk factors. Even a trip is worth it.
“Take care of Maria’s house.”
“Please be careful.”
In this itinerary, Maria decided to keep her home. It’s because of her rushed schedule that she didn’t have time to adjust her equipment.
After getting ready, we went out of the house.
As we move to the meeting place, Ariel’s steps are too light.
Are you happy to return to your hometown after a long time?
But even if I go, I won’t have good memories. My comrades died there, and the living were taken away and sold into slavery.
Maybe the bodies of the dead are still there.
It was not buried separately.
‘Or it could have been eaten by a wild animal.’
Well, that doesn’t matter, but it’s a bit bittersweet to think that Ariel might be down. No matter how nasty a guy is, if you keep hanging out with him, you’ll end up feeling affectionate.
I tipped off the spirits without Ariel’s knowledge.
If you see an elf corpse on your way, take it away from Ariel.
The spirits agreed, shaking Ariel’s body as if they didn’t want to offend Ariel.
Good night. Then you won’t have to worry about those fluttering ears drooping.
I smiled and headed to the meeting place with my party.
At the rendezvous point, Belita and Patrick had already arrived and were waving at us.
“Belita, long time no see, Mr. Patrick.”
I shook hands with them once.
“Hey, what are you doing for a living that you can’t see your face? I was going to have a drink with you once.”
“Let’s have a drink together after this work.”
“That’s fine. Let’s all get drunk together to commemorate the old man’s retirement.”
“Retirement?”
Surprised by the unexpected word, I turned to Patrick. Patrick smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head.
“I’ve been doing this for 10 years, so it’s time to retire. In fact, being in the industry and retiring without a hitch is like luck. I decided not to let go of that luck.”
“That’s really… It’s sad, but on the other hand, I think it’s fortunate. Well thought out.”
Patrick and I looked at each other and laughed.
Cheery atmosphere.
Belita’s words that continued it broke.
“Since that man was almost killed by an orc the other day, I’ve been hearing from her aunt and her daughter. Originally, I wouldn’t have heard it with my ears, but that man must have been scared the other day too. If you look at those words, you quickly come up with a retirement plan.”
“Belita! If I say that, what will I become?!”
Patrick groaned in bewilderment. Belita shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s because the uncle catches all the poop. Isn’t retiring this time also trying to grab a share of the elven ruins?”
“Keuk… This only made me laugh.”
Patrick let out a deep sigh as Belita poured the medicine.
I tapped him on the shoulder.
“Why don’t you take your share and retire? It is natural to have retirement funds. I’m old and I’m out of shape to spend money on kids.”
“Yes..?”
“Sure. Now, when you retire, you will be with your family and grow old healthily with her wife. Envious.”
“Iknow, right. I really envy you. It would be perfect if you retired and set up a shop with the money you saved. Right?”
The eyes of Celis, who were arguing, were looking at me.
Why? Do you want to retire
No. You don’t have to retire until you catch the devil with me.
I quietly avoided Seris’ gaze. Then Ceris slumped her shoulders.
“But why are you doing this here? Let’s go when we’re all together.”
Belita said, pointing at the front door with her thumb. I shook my head.
“No one has come yet.”
“Who? Oh, that wizard? Is he coming too?”
“Then he gave me a barrier, so of course he comes. Why? Are you embarrassed?”
Belita scratched her head at my question.
“No, rather than being awkward, I’m just unlucky. It’s like saying that you’re not like us.”
“I’m sorry for not being lucky.”
“Oh, fuck!”
Belita freaked out and turned her back. Behind her on her bellita was her orca with her axe eye glaring at her.
“Were you eavesdropping behind the scenes? Do you have any fucking voyeuristic hobbies?”
Belita furrows her brow and frowns.
Orca crossed her arms and responded as if she didn’t care.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, I just arrived. Your voice is so loud that I naturally listened to it.”
“If you come, you say you have come. Why are you standing still?”
“Because you guys were talking about me. And everyone except you must have known I came?”
“What?”
Her eyes, which had been glaring at the orca, were now directed at me.
What. Why.
When I met her staring eyes, Belita sighed.
“There is no one to trust in the world, really.”
“You probably don’t have it.”
“Ha… Then I guess you have it?”
“Why not?”
A grinning orca approached me. She looked at me with a sidelong glance and spoke softly.
“Right?”
“…Yes.”
A deep smile spread across Orca’s face at my answer.
“Patience.”
Seeing that smile, Belita spat on her floor as if her mood had gone bad,
“Also…”
Kara sighed and Seris…
The mask made her expression unrecognizable.
* * *
Inside the wagon to the forest where the elven ruins are hidden.
Originally, Celis and Kara should have sat next to me, but now only Orca is sitting. It was because Orca subtly put pressure on them when they decided on a seat in the carriage.
Still, that was within the expected range, so I tried to put Seris and Kara in the remaining seats next to me…
-Let’s go to a corner seat. I liked that place
Because of Orca’s words, I had no choice but to sit in the corner of the carriage. Of course, there was only one seat next to the corner seat, and that seat was taken by Orca.
‘So it’s not my fault, so please stop staring at Seris.’
In the first place, you’re in the position that I like to sleep with other women.
Have you had any change of heart?
Or do you see excitement in your eyes looking at me right now?
I held back a sigh at Seris’ burdensome gaze.
She sighs and then gets caught by Orca for no reason.
“What’s wrong with your expression? Do you hate sitting with me? Would you like to change seats?”
“No. Why should I hate you?”
“Yes? So…”
Orca had been talking to her all the way to the forest. She didn’t stop talking until she reached the forest.
* * *
“Spirits, open the door.”
At Ariel’s request, the forest spirits moved. The trees tilted sideways to cover the front, and then opened again, revealing a new landscape.
“The scenery here is always beautiful.”
Orca said while looking around the white temple, pond, and lawn.
“Of course. This is where our ancestors…”
“Are you going right inside?”
Orca ignored Ariel, who spoke proudly, and asked me.
Are you going right in?
“Wouldn’t that be nice? It’s not too late, so it’s better to finish quickly…”
“You don’t know what’s inside. Looking at the conditions here, I don’t think there’s anything dangerous… But everyone seems tired. Let’s rest today and go back tomorrow.”
“Um… That’s not too bad either. Are the others okay?”
“What am I…”
“I like it.”
“I’m fine too.”
Everyone was in favor of it. Apparently, as Orca said, he was tired.
We decided to spend the night inside the elves’ temple. As long as the furniture inside remains intact, I can sleep more comfortably that way.
Because the temple was spacious, each person could be allocated a room.
My room was empty except for the furniture I really needed. It’s probably because Seris sold it the other day and took it all with her as a butler. I laughed and lay down on the bed.
Seris and Kara will come to your room soon. Both must be piled up as much as I haven’t been in a week. You should release them all today.
Thinking so, I waited for the two to come.
-Smart.
You’re here.
“I didn’t sleep. Come in.”
The door opened with the sound of a doorknob turning. The door opened and appeared was not the person I expected.
“Orca…? What are you doing here at this hour?”
“Let’s go out. The scenery here is nice even at night.”
“You mean now? Must it be now? Not now, but later…”
“Now.”
Orca said with a smile in her eyes. Knowing the meaning of that eye smile, I had no choice but to sigh and nod.
I’m just trying to make it fit.
* * *
“It’s only been a week, right?”
Kara said in a slightly excited voice. As much as she hadn’t been hugged by a meteor for a week or so, she was the one she was looking forward to tonight.
“I want to see Yoosung soon…”
And it was the same with Seris. She wanted to knock over the meteor and crush it.
So, the two women knocked on Yooseong’s door with their own expectations.
“Brother, we are here.”
-…
“Brother?”
Kara tilted her head and grabbed the doorknob. Kirik. The doorknob turned easily, as if it was not locked. Kara opened the door. The interior of the empty room was then revealed.
“What? Brother, where did you go?”
“It looks like that. Let’s wait inside.”
Seris and Kara sat on the meteor’s bed and waited for him. However, no matter how long he waited, he showed no signs of returning. Tired of waiting, Kara fell asleep in bed first.
And Seris…
“No way..?”
Feeling chills running down my spine, I kicked out the door and ran out.
It seems that there is something out there that should not be missed.
