In a forest where sunlight poured through the leaves, a mighty roar echoed, piercing the peaceful afternoon silence.
“We have won!”
Skoll’s declaration amplified the orcs’ cheers.
Brandishing their thick limbs, the orcs swarmed over the adventurers’ corpses. Amongst the orcs, baring their fangs and letting out chilling laughter, gleamed bloody swords and spears.
Skoll clenched his fists and shouted at his tribesmen.
“Look at these worms! Chk!”
“U-! U-!”
At the chieftain’s words, the orc tribesmen raised their blood-stained weapons high.
Beneath the orcs were the corpses of the adventurer Et and his party members.
They had climbed the mountain range after hearing Lloid’s words, but unfortunately, they had encountered Skoll.
This was the end for the adventurers who blindly pursued rumors.
“Tribesmen, always remember today’s events! That death is the only fate for those who know no honor!”
“U-! U-!”
Before dying, Et had offered money to Skoll, begging for his life.
That action had only provoked the orcs further. Feeling insulted, Skoll had ordered the adventurers to be killed.
As a result, the adventurers had become cold corpses. However, perhaps still unsatisfied, the orcs kicked at the torn armor of the bodies, venting their anger.
“There’s no need to collect the corpses of those who know no honor! It will only dirty our hands!”
“U-! U-!”
As a testament to how much Skoll and his orc tribesmen valued honor, they did not touch the gold coins and jewels the adventurers carried.
They wore expressions of disgust, as if looking at something unclean.
Another tribesman pounded his chest, echoing Skoll’s sentiment.
“Chik! The chieftain is right! We cannot dirty our hands because of these bugs who know no honor!”
Seeing this, the surrounding orcs laughed even more boisterously.
Only the thrill of battle and the joy of victory shimmered in their sharp eyes.
The sounds of mad laughter echoed through the forest, seemingly tearing it apart.
A moment later, Necros, who had been silent behind them, revealed himself.
Skoll smiled in response.
“Lord Necros! Thank you very much for giving me the chance to judge these honorless worms!”
“Clack, clack.”
(I merely did what needed to be done.)
“Kuhuhu! In all my life, I have never seen a warrior as honorable as you!”
Skoll was further moved by Necros’s words.
To simply say he did what needed to be done.
Skoll understood that it would be ideal if all warriors in the world were like Necros, but reality was not so.
That was why Necros’s actions seemed truly great to him.
“Tribesmen, listen! We must all strive to become honorable warriors like Lord Necros, through constant practice and training!”
“U-! U-! U-!”
Although Skoll thought this, he had no intention of letting Necros, who was practically a benefactor, leave just like that.
No matter how much the other party refused, he had already received a favor.
It would be a disqualification as a chieftain if he did not provide a proper reward for it.
For an honorable warrior, repaying kindness was a virtue to be deeply cherished.
“Lord Necros! Whatever you ask, I will fulfill it! I swear on my name as chieftain!”
Skoll was sincere.
If Necros asked, he would even lead his entire tribe to help.
At Skoll’s heartfelt words, Necros raised his head.
“Clack, clack, clack. Clack, clatter.”
And then he immediately stated his request.
Necros’s request was simple.
Since the honorable warrior Skoll had dealt with those who knew no honor, he himself would handle the disposal of the corpses.
“Chik? No, I never expected such a request!”
Naturally, Skoll was taken aback.
The request was merely to dispose of the corpses for him.
That wasn’t a request.
But Necros was resolute.
“Clack, clack. Clack.”
He stated his claim that the presence of those worms’ corpses in this honorable place would be detrimental to his tribesmen.
Therefore, Necros said he himself would make the sacrifice for the sake of this place filled with honor.
“Kuhuhu! What an honorable warrior!”
Skoll was so moved that tears welled up.
From today, Skoll resolved to become an honorable warrior like Necros.
“It would not be polite for me to continue refusing. Then, I accept, Lord Necros!”
Since an honorable warrior was taking the initiative, it would be strange to stop him, so Skoll reluctantly agreed.
After all, respecting the other party was also a virtue.
Still, his pride as Skoll could not allow him to remain indebted.
“Lord Necros! A warrior like you is always welcome! If you ever need help, you may come anytime!”
Skoll bowed his head as the chieftain leading the orcs, and as an honorable warrior.
Necros was already a warrior of higher honor than himself, so bowing his head was perfectly natural. This was also a form of respect.
“Then we shall take our leave!”
Skoll shrewdly signaled his tribesmen to move back.
The corpses abandoned on the ground belonged to those who were not honorable.
It would be dishonorable to simply watch as an honorable warrior took the initiative to clean up the bodies.
“Clack!”
Necros cheerfully bid farewell to Skoll.
As Skoll and the orc tribesmen disappeared, Necros began to move.
“Clack.”
With a soft sound, the skeletons hiding behind the trees revealed themselves.
They were members of the newly formed assault team by Chief Administrator Celia.
They were all undead troops.
Although Necros did not command the assault team, he possessed a skill.
It was corpse explosion.
Since any undead monster could be detonated at any time, the skeletons of the assault team obeyed Necros as if they were his subordinates’ orders.
“Clack, clack.”
“Clack, clack, clack.”
In the silent forest.
Only the sound of bones gently echoed.
The skeletons busily moved, cleaning up the corpses.
Of course, Necros was also busy.
The more he moved, the heavier Necros’s pockets became.
“Clack…”
And Necros thought.
Since he was here, he might as well check out other places.
With that thought, Necros immediately opened his notebook.
Scratch- scratch-
And recorded.
Ah, this familiar sensation.
It was time to return to his days as an Inspector.
* * *
Rumors continued to spread about treasure buried in a certain dungeon.
The source was unknown, but was there not someone to support the truth of the rumors?
The person named Ralph, who owned a luxury mansion in the Royal Capital, was presented as evidence.
Naturally, the adventurers were in an uproar.
All quests posted on the Adventurer’s Guild bulletin board related to the Silent Mountain Range had already been taken.
Only the story of a dungeon in the mountain range was known, causing this situation due to the lack of its exact location.
Perhaps if they wandered around the mountain range, they might find the rumored dungeon.
Thus, many adventurer parties ascended the mountain range.
On the other hand, there was a group that expressed concern.
“The Guild Alliance Leader is entering.”
The group that expressed concern about the rumors was the Adventurer’s Guild Alliance.
Inside the Guild Alliance office, guild branch managers from all over the continent were densely seated.
Amidst them, a man with a scarred face entered.
He was the head of the Guild Alliance, Kyle, the man who could command all adventurer guilds on the continent.
“Thank you all for attending, even though I summoned you so urgently.”
Kyle bowed his head.
Given the urgency of the matter, everyone had attended the emergency meeting without fail.
Of course, even if the situation were not urgent, no branch manager would have refused Kyle’s summons.
Even if Kyle was a retired adventurer, he was a legendary adventurer of Adamantium rank.
No one would dare to disregard someone who had reached the highest rank as an adventurer.
Rather, the branch managers were busy observing Kyle’s demeanor.
Not only did he have great charisma, but his skills were also exceptional, which was why he led the Adventurer’s Guild Alliance.
“I believe everyone has already heard the rumors.”
Kyle immediately began the meeting to break the heavy atmosphere.
“A dungeon where treasure lies dormant… Is there anyone here who knows well about this rumor?”
“……”
No one answered Kyle’s question.
After all, this was the first time they had heard of this rumor.
If such a dungeon existed, wouldn’t they have formed a party and entered it before anyone else?
As expected, when there was no answer, Kyle moved on to the next point.
“In fact, I have done some investigation regarding this matter. The subject of the rumor is a person named Ralph.”
As the Alliance Leader, Kyle’s connections were considerable.
Kyle had secretly dispatched elite adventurers to the Sail Kingdom to verify the source of the rumor.
The target was the person who became the subject of the rumor, Ralph.
“However, I was unable to make contact with this person named Ralph.”
The branch managers’ eyes widened in surprise at the news that even Kyle had failed.
“No, Alliance Leader. What are you saying? Unable to make contact?”
The subject of the rumor was, after all, just a nouveau riche.
Kyle failed to investigate such a person?
Kyle was famous for reasons beyond being a legendary adventurer.
During his active adventuring days, his work efficiency was unparalleled, and anyone who entrusted him with a task could rest assured.
Thus, the branch managers voiced their disbelief at his failure.
“It seems Ralph has hired mercenaries.”
According to the report that reached Kyle, mercenaries, fully armed and covering their entire bodies, were stationed throughout Ralph’s mansion.
The security was so thorough that even the adventurers sent by Kyle could not find an opening.
“Well, I suppose he got scared after suddenly accumulating wealth.”
“Hmm, it doesn’t seem particularly strange.”
Most branch managers dismissed it as no big deal.
It was natural for someone who suddenly became wealthy to hire mercenaries for security.
However, Kyle felt something was amiss.
It was the intuition of a man once called a legendary adventurer.
Moreover, according to the report, the mercenaries had even covered their faces.
The intention to hide their identities was clear.
But why would they need to conceal their identities?
That point was suspicious and unsettling.
If he continued to pursue this issue, it might be discovered by the Royal family of the Sail Kingdom.
Kyle was cautious about this matter. Even as the Alliance Leader, it could easily be seen as interfering in the internal affairs of the Sail Kingdom.
‘Absolutely not.’
Furthermore, the current Queen of the Sail Kingdom was a figure who had contributed to defeating the calamity and was being watched by the White Church.
There was no benefit in making an enemy of such a person.
However, this matter could not be ignored.
Kyle thought of another solution instead.
“This meeting is not about finding the truth of the rumor, nor about stopping it.”
He could not restrict the adventurers’ actions.
He wished he could control them, telling them not to enter the mountain range, but it was almost impossible unless a single country, like the Sail Kingdom, imposed such a restriction.
Since contacting the person named Ralph had already failed, the Adventurer’s Guild had few options available.
In fact, it could be narrowed down to one.
“The reason I called this meeting is to seek your consent.”
At Kyle’s words, everyone swallowed.
The atmosphere of the meeting suddenly turned cold.
“If this rumor grows beyond our control-”
There was only one reason the Alliance Leader would seek consent at a meeting like this.
“We will immediately deploy Adamantium adventurers to the Silent Mountain Range.”
Adamantium adventurers were the highest-ranked adventurers active in the El Dorado Continent.
Their numbers were so small that they did not exceed ten fingers, even when combining all the branches.
Of course, there were also parties that had achieved Adamantium rank, but that did not mean they were weak.
“Therefore, I propose, as a representative of the Alliance, that anyone who opposes the deployment of Adamantium adventurers to the Silent Mountain Range please raise your hand.”
Kyle’s eyes shone sharply.
Adamantium adventurers were beings of the highest caliber.
To mobilize such beings, the unanimous consent of the Guild Alliance branch managers was required.
“Please speak freely.”
Although his words were gentle, his expression was far from it.
The deep scars across his face made his expression even more menacing.
Under his gaze, which resembled that of an enemy staring down on the battlefield, the branch managers involuntarily held their breath.
“Very well. Then, this agenda is unanimously approved.”
At the same time, Kyle’s expression turned gentle.
“I shall have them notified.”
