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We dealt with the demon and set off for the Empire early in the morning by cart.

“Can’t we just sleep a bit more at the inn and head out in the morning?”

You could ask that, but I really hate getting tangled up in bothersome things.

It was fine to take care of the demon, but the problem was that the demon we dealt with was actually the Marquis and the lord of the Marquis Territory.

If we had dealt with the demons and the demonization, it would have been fitting to receive a reward, but just the thought of being summoned by the Emperor and having to follow all the formalities made me want to leave quickly.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t just leave without giving an explanation of the situation, so I left a note detailing what had happened.

The butler seemed competent enough, so he should manage things himself.

And if he’s not an idiot, he should be able to deduce who the culprit is from our disappearance, so I made sure to tidy things up.

—

Knock knock.

“May I come in, Guild Master?”

Even though the butler knocked, there was no response from inside the room.

Usually, there would be an immediate response, but after a few more knocks, he felt something was off and placed his hand on the doorknob.

“I apologize for the intrusion.”

As he opened the door and stepped inside, the sight that met his eyes was that of a figure resembling the Marquis, crumpled in a corner with the stench of blood wafting around.

“……!”

The overall appearance certainly looked like the Marquis, but judging by the dull skin tone, incomplete horns, and wings, he was no longer human.

“W-What is this…?”

There was a note stuck to the demon’s face.

The butler leaned in closer to read the brief message on the note.

[Your Marquis, Kylar.]

In the middle of the note was written:

[Stole from the vault for overtime pay, sorry.]

And at the very bottom:

[If you spread rumors about who killed him, I’ll make you just like the one in front of you.]

—

“Yawn~”

“Luke, is it really okay to leave things like that?”

“Then what more should we add?”

Shouldn’t they be thankful for what we’ve done? We were on a monster subjugation request, not a rescue mission for the Marquis Territory!

If it’s their own territory, they should handle it among themselves; how much more do they expect us to do?

In this world, there’s no overtime pay, yet they want to exploit people to the limit.

If I hadn’t raided the Marquis’s vault, I would probably be breaking into the homes of the local citizens like some green-cloaked hero.

Trying to catch up on lost sleep while using my knees as a pillow, I arrived in the Empire just as the sun began to rise after leaving the Marquis Territory.

—

We first headed to the Adventurer’s Guild to receive our reward.

Since our main job is being adventurers, we come here often, and it feels like home now since we’ve been here almost daily.

But for some reason, the Adventurer’s Guild was bustling today.

More than when we dealt with that pig who had sent assassins after us.

Honestly, there was a guilty conscience, but we had just handed that problem today, so there was no way the news could beat us back.

Could it be that an S-Rank Adventurer has arrived?

“Glad to see you’re safe.”

As I moved towards Adela, she greeted me with that line.

“How did the designated request go?”

“Handled it cleanly.”

“That’s a relief. The requester wasn’t as strange as expected, right?”

“No, he was definitely strange! I kicked him once for squinting and then punched him again for being bothersome.”

“……”

It seemed like Adela was speechless, almost as if she was moved to tears.

I guess she can’t find the words to express her gratitude.

I’ll be storing this as a debt, and she can pay me back slowly later.

I took out the stamped request form from my inventory and handed it to Adela.

With this, the designated request is officially over.

“But why’s it so noisy since the morning?”

“Ah… well, something big happened.”

“Did the Emperor die or something?”

“……That statement could get you executed for insulting the royal family, so please be careful.”

“What’s the big deal? Everyone eventually dies.”

“I really don’t want to get involved as an accomplice, so please…”

Humans are destined to die, after all.

If an invasion of the Empire occurs and the Emperor’s in danger, maybe I’ll lend a hand.

Death isn’t a bad thing, right?

In fact, they say death is a luxury, don’t they?

I’m just trying to help someone indulge in that luxury.

“So what’s this big deal about?”

“This morning, Crown Rodian, the head of the Marquis House, was found dead in a state of demonization.”

“Huh…”

We definitely killed him this morning, but news travels fast.

How could the news spread faster than us who just jumped on the cart right after the killing?

“News travels fast, doesn’t it? Does the receptionist have some secret trumpet magic?”

“No, we have a magical tool for urgent contacts.”

Of course, it’s a magical tool.

If there weren’t any, this world would be as primitive as someone who can only start a fire with their hands.

“So if you have such a handy tool, why are you still writing letters?”

“Using it requires a lot of magical power, so it can only be used in big incidents like this.”

Tsk. I wish we had smartphones.

I should have commented on that modern fantasy novel next to the first place.

“That’s why it’s a complete mess right now. This news has probably reached the Emperor’s ears, too.”

Well, being a Marquis puts you just below the Duke, right?

A noble that high betraying humanity wouldn’t go unnoticed.

I’m glad I just left a note behind.

Had I stayed longer, people from the royal family might have rushed over for my “merit.” Just imagining it seems bothersome.

“But are you going to disclose this information? It seems like all the adventurers here already know.”

“Sigh… That’s how information works. No matter how much you try to conceal it, it ends up leaking somewhere. Once information is out, it rapidly becomes rumors, and those rumors spread uncontrollably.”

So this is why rumors are terrifying.

The truth or falsehood isn’t important; what matters is how quickly it spreads.

“What’s the current situation?”

“The royal family is looking for someone to manage the now-vacant Marquis Territory. The Academy is in chaos, too. Now, with the Rodian name wiped from the Empire, all the students linked to the Rodian house at the Academy are being held responsible.”

Wow, the guy had kids too?

I feel sorry for whoever that is.

Studying diligently and then getting screwed over because of a bad father.

“The handling of demons is quite severe.”

I thought it would end with a demotion to Count or confiscation of property, given his position as Marquis.

They’re making him disappear entirely.

“Because he’s a traitor to humanity.”

True, once the label of traitor is placed, it’s practically game over for your life.

In some past life’s game, there was a cat-eared girl who betrayed the others, and she faced terrible treatment afterward.

It was natural for her to gain anti-fans, and memes emerged, leading to countless abuse images relating to that character.

By now, the Marquis’s child at the Academy is probably labeled “the traitor’s son.”

“Speaking of which… wasn’t Luke the one who went to the Rodian Marquis Territory…?”

“No? Yes.”

Clap!

The moment someone clapped loudly, the Adventurer’s Guild fell silent as everyone’s attention turned to the source of the sound.

It wasn’t from the first floor but from slightly above, and when everyone looked up the stairs, they saw a lone man standing there.

It was someone I was familiar with.

He had a scar running horizontally across his right eye, and the streaks of white in his hair hinted at his age, but the immense presence emanating from him was nothing like a typical adventurer.

That remarkable person was none other than Argo, the A-Rank adventurer and Guild Master of the Empire branch of the Adventurer’s Guild.

He was the first person I saw when I came to register as an adventurer, and I hadn’t seen him since then.

“Good to see everyone lively in the morning, but I’d appreciate it if you kept my dignity in mind.”

Standing on the stairs as if on a podium, Argo smiled.

Well, his mouth smiled, but the look in his eyes was anything but friendly.

At that, the room fell silent.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Adela?”

I asked Adela because I didn’t get it.

“To the Empire, it’s shameful for a noble of such stature to betray the state, and discussing it is unwelcome. Especially in front of a group of unpredictable adventurers.”

“So?”

“Don’t you understand what I’m saying…?”

“Nope.”

“…Sigh. The point is, keep a lid on it with the adventurers.”

Oh, I get it now.

They could have just asked us to keep our mouths shut instead of beating around the bush.

This is why I chose sciences over the arts.

“Alright. Thank you all for your understanding.”

As Argo turned to walk away, he seemed to remember something and turned back.

“By the way, a formal request from the Academy has come down for adventurers to assist with their practical training. Is there anyone interested? They require D-rank or above.”

The Guild went eerily quiet in response to his words.

“Seriously, no one at all? The reward is quite tempting.”

When Argo asked again, the adventurers remained silent.

“Luke, why isn’t anyone volunteering?”

“Adventurers are oil, and Academy students are water.”

Two elements that must never mix.

When I first stepped into the Adventurer’s Guild wearing the Academy uniform, I was picked on for it.

I haven’t seen that bald man in a while, though.

If I go, I’ll just get bullied by the Academy students anyway, regardless of the good pay.

Wait, if only the students were there, it might be better.

Some professors are high on superiority and might not hesitate to belittle me right off the bat.

So, considering the relationship between Academy students and adventurers, it’s reasonable not to go.

“Ah…”

“Now that we’re done here, let’s take a break.”

As I turned to leave, suddenly—

“Hey you. Stop those Academy student antics.”

It seemed someone was looking for someone, but it didn’t bother me; I was just going to leave.

“Luke. Stop right there.”

Even without calling my name, after being pinpointed, I remembered that I was wearing the Academy student uniform.

No wonder everyone was staring at me after that “Academy student antics” line.

“I am not Luke!”

“Help with this request, and the Guild Master will grant you a chance to take the B-Rank promotion test.”

“Wait! I am Luke!”

Absolutely abusing his authority, huh?

Loyalty for loyalty!

 

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