144 CHAPTER IX -- MY SKILL IS… (1/2)

Now we were sitting in the reception room of the Adventurer's Guild.

I was going to report to the guild's receptionist and run away, but I couldn't do it.

I hope it'll be over soon~.

While I was thinking that, an old man came in.

”I heard you guys trampled the dungeon?

Since you're the head of the guild, can't you be a little more polite in your wording?

Well, you're an adventurer by training, so what can I do?

And I like that you don't seem so competent. He doesn't seem to ask the hard questions.

I observed the guild leader as he entered.

”Yes, sir.

That said, I'm surprised that two dungeons were trampled in such a short period of time: ......

Oh, you're bringing it up right now.

”What?　Two dungeons?　What do you mean?

I was a little deliberately surprised.

”Oh, you don't know. In fact, a foggy dungeon was trampled a little ways from here the night before last.

'What?　Who stepped over it?

You don't know me, but I ask questions on purpose.

It's like you're trying to prove you don't know me.

Oh, but it's kind of suspicious, isn't it?

Well, I don't think this old man's got that much to worry about.

I don't know. They said it might have been Leonce Muldeen, but he was trying a different dungeon.

Oh, I guess you cleared me up right away.

Yes, sir. That was the day I defeated the 10th floor boss.

What's going on here?　Did you guys clear the tenth to thirty floors in two days?

'Yes, I did . Other than the last angel, I'm not strong, so it was a smooth ride.

I'll be honest about this area because even if I lie about it, it will be easy to find out if you look it up .

''I see. ...... As expected, you've only stepped through the dungeon once. So you're not really involved in the fog dungeon, are you?

That's impossible. How are you going to capture two dungeons at once?

Wouldn't that be normal?

Well, you're right. Huh, I can't wait for them to find it. My lord wants me to report back to him as soon as possible on who's stepped on it, but it's not going to happen soon, no matter what I think: ......

That makes sense. I'm sure you'll be desperate to find the guy.

Well, good luck finding someone else.

All right, we're done, you ready to go?

Yeah?　Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll let the top brass know you made it through the dungeon.

Thank you.

'Come to think of it, Leons is in the guild, isn't he?

Yes, you do?

''You'll get your rank up, come back to the guild later.

Ah, so you're going up in rank.

It's a bit of a shame since I was planning to raise my rank with Belle .

''It doesn't matter if it's the guild in the imperial capital, right?

Yeah, I'm good everywhere.

Okay. Bye.

When we were done talking, I took the two of them and moved on.

They moved in front of my room.

Okay, I'm home.

You, the night before last: ......

Hey!　You don't know who's listening.

I held my tongue as Frank almost said something I shouldn't have, and I panicked.

'I'm sorry,'

Let's talk about it another time. Anyway, I know you're tired, so let's break up.

From now on, I don't have any energy left in me to explain my plan to you two, so I'm sorry.

Yeah, that's okay.

Okay. Master, it was fun!　Please invite me back!

If you get a chance.

Having said that, when would you step through the next dungeon?

I'm home.

Welcome home.

Welcome home. Did you enjoy hitting the dungeons with your friends?

...... Huh?　Why is your uncle here?

He's coming out to greet you and Belle, you were so surprised you had to do a double take!

Now, why do you think that is?　Can't you imagine?

'What, er, ...... that you've conquered the mountain dungeon?'

No, no. I wanted to ask you about that foggy dungeon that was invaded the day before yesterday.

”Foggy dungeon?　I don't know ...... I mean, I was fighting a tenth floor boss in a mountain dungeon the day before yesterday, you know?

I wondered if this answer was too tough for my uncle ......, but I gave the same excuse as I did for the head of the guild.

'But Leo-kun can do it, can't he?

Again. You're giving me too much credit!

Well, if Leo-kun wants to keep it hidden, that's fine. I kind of understand your purpose. Didn't this happen because the dungeon collapsed of its own accord?　Let's just say that. Maybe the word will spread throughout the Empire in a week, and the attention on Leo won't go that far.

Well, it's still a bit of a stretch to fool me.

More importantly, I appreciate your suggestion.

The only reason I want to hide the fact that I broke into the battlefield is to buy time for those guys to find the culprits, and also to keep the public from knowing about the war by being too obvious, so I appreciate that response.

'It's not a rumor, it really is, isn't it?　But I'll just say thank you for being so honest.

You're welcome. And a message from the Emperor. Don't take this on alone, okay?　This isn't your own war. If you need a hand, come to me now. Because, sir.

It's not my only war, or .......

But I don't want to die, and there are people I don't want to let die, so I'm not going to cut corners.

Tell them I understand.

All right. But still, Leo's getting his prize again. A marquis at last. You can even become a duke in a lifetime, just like the hero.

The marquis or ...... is next to the duke, so I guess we're already second from the top.

I'm sorry about this, so from now on, no more rewards, would you please?

If you live your life the way you want to, it just happens before you know it: ......

I mean, I'm getting into too much trouble.

I'm so lucky if you only look at my status.

That, or maybe it's just bad luck?　I'm sure you do.

I'd rather live in peace. .......

Oh, but if we were at peace, wouldn't we have such a fun life?

I mean, he's a nobleman, but he's the youngest son, and normally he wouldn't have been able to marry Shelly or Leena.

Which makes us lucky.

That's nice. It's working out for the people.

I guess so: ......

For people. .......

'Are you worried about the city losing its dungeons this time?'

'Well, yeah . I'm sorry to think that I'm going to put you through even more pain because of me when you're just suffering from a bad government.

No matter how much I thought it was more for me than for others, I still felt guilty about this plan.

That's just how it is. Then why don't you build a place where those people can escape?

'Yes. . That's what you have to think: ....... Yeah, I'll do my best.

Let's keep working on developing our territory.

Yeah, good luck. Besides, you're tired for now, so why don't you get some rest.

Yeah, okay.