Chapter 253 (1/2)

Death Mage 253 – Recruiting new members!

With the false identity of an Elf Bard na the city

Being a bard was a profession that did not require being in any particular Guild, so bards were even more like wanderers than adventurers Thus, it wasn't uncommon for those with bounties on their heads and spies for intelligence organizations to disguise themselves as bards

However, an Elf bard with blue hair and eyes was very conspicuous, so the city guards at the gate assumed that Randolf couldn't be someone with a bounty on his head and quickly let him enter

Morksi was a city of co, and it had worked in Randolf's favor that there were plenty of bards a them

“But things aren't going very well,” he said to hi in a bitter s is rather poor, if I do say so myself”

His objective in disguising hi to the city of Morksi had been to meet Vandalieu He wanted to meet him and see what kind of person he was

But the city guards had informed him that Vandalieu had already departed for Alcrem

Perhaps it was because I flew here, so I didn't pick up the infores and cities on the way that I nors would co here on foot would have taken me nearly athe highway in plain view of other travelers, so it can't be helped, Randolf told himself

He rented a roo hi information

He was currently a bard who had cos about the ruo around the town and ask people questions By paying for the lunches of adventurers andother bards, he could hear plenty of gossip

The infor to him Several of the main rumors he had heard were true, and on top of that, the Dhaht district, the hero who had protected the city, the inventor of Magic Itenized as a saint by the Church, and the recipient of a decoration awarded by the lord of the realm

He had learned all of this diverse infor to the townspeople a little It was difficult to believe that a single person had achieved so s

And the achievements of one other individual in particular were impressive as well

One adventurer that Randolf had started up a conversation with, a ade,' had nothing but praise for the actions of an individual named Darcia

“Speaking of what Darcisan and the others did back then! You could really tell that Rodriguez is a B-class adventurer, and Si as well, but Darcisan was really the best!” he said fervently

His passionate tone was likely to be partially due to the fact that he was having a drink after an early 's hunt, but he truly admired Darcia

“Using 'Fae for at the front to take down one of the bandits herself… Truly a I wish I were there to see it!” Randolf responded enthusiastically, hisfuriously in the meantime

It is good that Natania is back on her feet, but I would never have iined that she'd have become Vandalieu's disciple So, it really was hi that time when I left her in the care of the one-ar the case, it really was himent? But the people around him are no ordinary people, either Her in particular

Randolf considered the stories he was hearing about Darcia, whohly, as well as those about the two Ghouls Vandalieu had brought into the city fro Wolf' Michael, Kanako and the others… and Natania

This is true for the one-ar At best, she should have been ithin the reals Even if their Magic Item artificial lie Her growth is simply too rapid

The othera different companion of Vandalieu

“Rock, what are you saying? Rudolf-san, the 'Giant Slayer' Basdisan, is even ! As an axe-user myself, I can't help but be in total adht, but I was really moved by her morale speech!”

“No, no, you have to think about Zadiris-chan Iand all, but nobody beats Zadiris-chan in being adorable! I really feel like she's doing her best, even in practicing for the stage Isn't that awesome?!”

“I prefer Kanako-chan It's true that she didn't really stand out during that battle, but I don't think anyone's irl leading the others on stage and supporting the performances”

“Adorable… Isn't she a little too cunning to be called that? You have to give that one to Julianchan Looking at her reminds me of my niece and really calms me down”

“Ue?' And could you please tellto is?” asked Randolf, not knowing thethat there was one na about

“Huh? You don't know, Rudolf-san? You said you came to this city because you're interested in Vandalieu, so I was sure you knew,” said Rock

“Yes Actually, I wanted to get to this city as quickly as possible, so I didn't even stop at the villages and cities on the way here,” said Randolf

“I see In that case, I'll show you once I've finished eating this We were actually thinking of going to watch after we finished lunch”

Randolf learned that the 'stage' was one where several of Vandalieu's co and dance for so the off his Ghouls and Dark Elves that were rare around these parts… was difficult to believe Was his objective perhaps to deepen the people's understanding of Ghouls?

If Randolf went there, he would likely be able to see Vandalieu's co about their normal routines

“And it is the first ti of this person named Juliana,” said Randolf

“Oh yeah, she's one of Vandalieu's familiars She's apparently some kind of mutant born between a Minotaur and a human, but I don't know too much about it”

“She's adorable; she looks just like a huirl but with a cow's horns She's still little, so she didn't join the battle at the front gate, but she's so at Vandalieu's food carts, which is where we met her”

It seemed to Randolf that Juliana had not recovered in the same way that Natania had

But what does this irl? There has to be a lieous a mutant can be! he couldn't help but shout to himself internally, despite his wealth of experience as an adventurer

Mutants were individuals that possessed characteristics and abilities that others of its race did not normally possess Randolf had slain numerous mutants in his career, such as Goblins that breathed fire, Kobolds with venoe Boars with horns

To begin with, Minotaurs and Ogres were considered to be races that produced e about ai's oviduct In fact, it could even be expected

However, thatlike a cow-type Beast-kin, which didn't exist, was impossible

But it would be strange for the bard nay

“I would certainly like to meet her,” Randolf said with a nod

However, his ht processes

Well, there are souise themselves as humans And at the very least, it is a true fact that these people have oes by the na without having seen her for myself But… even if she does resemble the huh it is questionable as to whether one can consider her to be the mother

Randolf decided not to deny what he was being told just because they did notto deduce why Vandalieu had na monster 'Juliana'

“Sorry to tell you this, but Julianchan has headed to Alcreht now,” said Rock

“I see, she's gone to Alcrem…” Randolf muttered

Juliana was apparently headed for the capital of Alcre after her and Vandalieu briefly crossed Randolf's ainst it

Leaving on the same day he arrived would simply draw too much attention And since some of Vandalieu's companions still remained in Morksi, Vandalieu would likely return to the city at some point

With that being the case, it would be best for Randolf to stay and keep gathering infor to actually make several perforh he had only chosen this occupation as a disguise

It would be suspicious for a bard to have , after all, Randolf told himself

Fortunately, Randolf had previously learned how to play the lyre and the dru Back when he was still inexperienced as an adventurer, he had earned his living by i what bards did

Randolf's thoughts wandered for a o

“If we leave now, the stage perfor e arrive What'll you do? Are you going to co Randolf out of his short trance

“Ah, yes Let me accompany you,” Randolf replied

They left the dining hall and headed for the stage set up in the city's plaza Vandalieu's co and danced here once every two days

When they weren't using the stage, it was used for the songs and performances of other bards and entertainers, as well as plays perforroups However, it was said that the 'concerts' performed by Vandalieu's companions were the liveliest events

“I see I can see why this is so popular,” said Randolf, seeing the concert for hi why Rock and his cohly of it

“Everyone, we are so very terribly grateful that you have all gathered here to see us again!” Zadiris said to the crowd

“Today's performance will be a trio withour hearts out, so we hope you enjoy it!” said Kanako

“Alright, let's go Transform!” shouted Basdia

The three of them held up their transfor to the high-tempo music

The audience was dazzled by the unusualness of the transforht perforic On top of that, the perfor the audience to join in to create a sense of unity

It was very showy Those who believed that ht to be a more refined art would certainly not be fond of it

But at the very least, Randolf preferred the showy concert taking place before him over the refined kind of music

Leaving that aside, those three… They are quite the fighters The female Ghoul warrior named Basdia is particularly capable She is on par with the Five Knights of Alcreer than them And it would be best to assume that these itereater functions than the ruht to himself

He let out a sigh as he realized hoerful Darcia was if she had fought alongside Basdia and played an even bigger role than her in battle, and how capable Vandalieu must be to have tamed Basdia

If Duke Alcre careless, it was possible that there would be one less duchy in the Orbaudom this year

By the tih Randolf's un Basdia and the others left the stage, and Aran singing some hymns

Fortunately, the priests were dressed normally and did not dance

Rock and his coe, but once the priests' hy voices were quite loud, but… it was considerably less entertaining than the concert

“What do you think, Rudolf-san?” asked Rock “Quite a, isn't it? There were three performers today, but sometimes there are more and so perfore”

“There are all kinds of things during the short breaks, too We have hymns from the priests at the Communal Church and a sermon from Priest Are musical performance competitions sometimes,” said one of Rock's party et the chance?”

“Yes, it was very interesting I don't think I'll get bored while waiting for Vandalieu-san and the others to return,” said Randolf, deciding to stay in the city of Morksi as the bard named Rudolf

Vandalieu and his companions took no notice of Randolf, who had entered the city of Morksi under a disguise

Vandalieu had seen a blue-haired Elf enter the city through the Gole Familiars positioned on the city's walls, but he had not made the connection that he was the S-class adventurer known as Randolf 'the True'

If Randolf had hostile intentions towards Vandalieu or his coer Sense: Death' detecting the s intent Indeed, several assassins who had been hired to murder Vandalieu's allies had already been buried in this way

However, Randolf's current objective was to gather inforht Thus, he did not direct any kind of killing intent towards Vandalieu's allies

In addition, Vandalieu and his companions were famous as heroes who had protected the city There were plenty of adventurers, travelingabout them

Vandalieu's surveilling eyes took no particular notice of the addition of one blue-haired Elf

And the three stage perfor in a tent set up at the back of the stage Naturally, they hadn't taken notice of Randolf, either

“I've talked about this with Van, but I'e,” said Kanako

Basdia nodded calaro”

“What does this have to do with your father?!” Kanako asked incredulously, surprised by the idea of having the two-aro joining them as a new member

“Ito see Ghouls as 'people' rather than 'highly intelligent hu that it was about time to show them a Ghoul man,” said Basdia

“There are large differences in appearance between et used to me and Basdia, their overall impression of Ghouls as a race will not improve, will it?” said Zadiris

“Your reasoning is surprisingly serious, but… I don't know about having hiood idea to have such a wild show all of a sudden,” said Kanako

She understood their point, but at the saaro as ato introduce a new culture, it was best to start with h the members that had been introduced to the public so far were certainly far froin's standards

“Well, since Kachia is planning to go to Alcre Bilde? We can rule Tarea out, since she's busy helping Van build Artifacts… randmother or one of the forested Basdia

“Either way, they would have to enter the city through the gate I think it will be difficult until the boy 'returns,'” said Zadiris