22 – Familiar Faces #2
There were many familiar faces in the ‘Dictator’s Sword’ guild. Most of the guys having tea time in the guild house hall were people I knew.
The “Dictator’s Sword” guild had recruited a lot of boys this time. Thanks to Yuri, perhaps.
“It’s quite ironic.”
“If I had known she was that kind of woman, I would have given her a good beating.”
“It’s a bit funny to talk about it now, but honestly, her appearance wasn’t good. It felt ominous.”
Amidst the murmurs of the guild members, the guild master sighed.
“I received a lot of investigations about that. They asked if we were involved too.”
“Really?”
I didn’t know. I just reported it to the authorities and didn’t care.
Even without me paying attention, things progressed swiftly. When I woke up, Yuri’s neck was cleanly cut off from the guillotine, which was quite fascinating.
“I shouldn’t say this in front of you, the victim… but now that it’s all over, I’ll say it.”
“……”
“I was really frustrated back then. We put so much effort into making things easier for the kids.”
Just the appearance was strange. The guild master was one of the few adults who treated the boys well.
“We always get misunderstood.”
“That’s the hardest part. We try to be kinder because we know we look fierce.”
“What can we do? We were born like this.”
In reality, the boys who chose the “Dictator’s Sword” looked happy.
When they were taken from their hometowns to the labyrinth city. Thinking about how they were crying like calves being led to the slaughterhouse, they had become much happier.
The eyes of innocence were more accurate than expected. The children had found kind adults who would take care of them.
And me?
I stuck my head into the mouth of the monster that wanted to devour me. Even though I was foolish, this was too foolish.
It felt like I was taking away the soul of a worn-out adult.
“Ray!”
Brown came down from the second floor. I waved my hand at Brown, who smiled widely when he saw me.
Lauren and Kali were next to Brown.
Lauren and Kali. They were thieves who explored the maze together a week ago.
When Lauren saw me, she smirked and murmured.
“What’s this? Why did Ray come to a guild full of idiots?”
“hahahaha….”
I didn’t shout, but I might as well have. In fact, I might as well have told all the sisters in the “Poison Dagger” guild house.
“Idiots?”
“Who are we?”
“Who told us about it?”
The sisters of the “Poison Dagger” guild murmured.
I closed my mouth, sweating coldly. I wanted to argue, but I decided to observe the situation because I felt like once I spoke, I wouldn’t be able to take it back.
As Lauren rolled her eyes, she burst into laughter.
“I was joking! Just kidding! Ray, why were you so scared?”
“…I’m sorry…”
“Well, anyone could have said that by mistake! It’s true that you’re useless compared to Sue!”
Lauren patted my shoulder and shouted. The sisters’ gaze focused on me.
Everyone’s eyes sparkled. It was the expression of someone who had found an interesting toy.
“Oh, really? Did this kid say they would catch the thief?”
“Kiyaa. What part of us does this little one think is useless?”
“This is too much. It’s going to hurt our feelings.”
Each thief spat out their frustration, their voices filled with resentment. Their simultaneous attacks made my mind dizzy.
Especially the swaying movement drained my soul.
“Ugh, ugh…”
“Stop. Stop.”
If the guild master hadn’t saved me, I might have shown myself in a very embarrassing state.
I stumbled and awkwardly moved away, covering my stomach with my hand. I followed the guild master into the inner master’s room of the house.
The guild master handed me a cup of hot cocoa and asked.
“So, why did you come to our guild?”
“…Well…”
I briefly explained the situation I was in.
“You’re going back into the labyrinth?”
“Yes.”
“Weren’t you supposed to come to Labyrinthus with the kids?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“If you go in again, are you planning to explore consecutively?”
Looking at the persistent guild master, I confidently nodded.
“It’s something I decided to do because I thought it would be okay.”
“…You really are mature. Just like Brown and the others said… I understand why the recruiters didn’t want to take you away.”
That’s how it seemed in the eyes of the adult women. I had no idea.
“Lauren and Kali also praised you a lot.”
“What about those sisters?”
“They said they’ve never seen a child who gets along so well with Suin.”
“….”
I don’t know how to react to this unexpected praise. I feel embarrassed and can’t lift my head.
“Ahem! Well, let’s get to the point! The matter at hand!”
“Right, let’s talk business. I want to hire either Lauren or Kali as mercenaries. Is that okay?”
“…Yes. Since those sisters formed a party with us, they seem more likely than other adventurers.”
“The important thing is their willingness. We can’t force them into the labyrinth if they don’t want to.”
I agree. I hope we can have cooperative members in our party as much as possible.
That’s why I specifically chose Lauren and Kali. Those sisters know the stability of my “Soul Protection”.
“I managed to handle three people.”
Two of the “Miracle Vanguard” and one Suu. I endured for quite a while, even expelling those two trash who tried to betray me from the party.
I have proven myself against those annoying sisters. There was no need to fuss about it.
“I know. I didn’t expect everything to go smoothly when I came here.”
“I’ll call them.”
The guild master left the room for a moment. It didn’t take long.
Not long after, Lauren and Kally entered the master’s room.
“Hmm, so you came because you needed a guide.”
“To be honest, when I saw you guys, I roughly guessed that was the reason.”
The two of them sat down on the sofa, chuckling.
If we really had to compare, Lauren is the boss. I lowered my head and made a request.
“…The debt collection was just a joke…”
“Do you admit that thieves are important? Or not?”
“I admit it. Thieves are an important class. More so than warriors.”
I stammered.
“I thought Su saved me. But it turns out that wasn’t the case. If I hadn’t met you guys there, Su who can’t even find his way properly, and I would have wandered through the labyrinth without any food and died coldly.”
“Hmm, that’s true.”
“I only thanked Su… I pretended not to know that you guys were the real benefactors. Can I thank you now? If you allow me, I will at least bow.”
“Did you butter up your tongue? Why is this kid so good at talking?”
Lauren, who was still holding back laughter, stared at me intently.
“Are you the same age as Brown?”
“Yes, he’s a friend.”
“The atmosphere is so different. There must be a reason why the kids talk about you.”
“….”
We traveled together for about two weeks, sometimes less than three days. Because we met in the worst situation of conscription, we formed a stronger bond than a normal meeting.
“I need a guide….”
Kalli, who was murmuring to herself, hesitated for a moment before making a decision.
“I only need one guide, right? Then I won’t do it.”
“….”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Ray. I just want to take a break. I never planned on going to the labyrinth in the first place. I only thought about it because you asked.”
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“…Thank you for considering it…”
Lauren’s voice trembled slightly.
Kalli stabbed Lauren’s side lightly and spoke.
“Stop teasing me, Ray. Give me an answer already.”
“When did I tease you?”
“You’re not teasing me now.”
Kalli continued speaking.
“You said that coming to us meant you trusted us, right? You can’t pretend not to know even after asking for a favor.”
“Tsk.”
“You said it was sad because you were hurt by the Trash Guild.”
“Quiet.”
Lauren glanced at me. He awkwardly smiled as if trying to act cool for no reason.
He tormented me with mistakes, stumbling, and playful words in front of others, but behind my back, he exchanged kind words, saying that I was a pitiful child and that he had to help me?
It was touching.
Squeezing out crocodile tears, I called Lauren in a pitiful voice.
“Lauren, my eyes…”
“Ahem, ahem! Brown won’t be entering the labyrinth this time. That means I have some free time, right?”
Lauren chattered on incessantly, offering one excuse after another for why she had made that decision.
“If there’s no boy to take care of, I have to take a week off. Depending on Brown’s condition, it might even be a month of rest. That’s a bit…”
“….”
“During that time, why don’t you go down into the labyrinth and mine some magic stones? You could earn quite a bit of money. 2 silver? 5 silver? At least 10 silver. If you don’t go down, you won’t be able to earn that! Oh, what a waste.”
“Then let’s go mining magic stones together. We needed a guide anyway.”
“Is that so? hehehe, it seems we have a mutually beneficial party!”
Inhale.
Su couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Lauren’s exaggerated performance. Cali also followed suit, giggling and laughing.
Lauren’s face turned red with embarrassment. It even reached her ears, as if she was feeling ashamed.
Lauren stood up abruptly.
“…Ah, no, I don’t want to. I don’t know either.”
“Sister, please come with us. If it’s not you, there’s no one else who can guide us.”
“….”
She clung to Lauren’s arm and pleaded. It was definitely effective.