After being released from the guards’ station, we go back home, because I can see on Map that everyone’s there.
I take a nap, and wake up after noon. Argo is already up and eating. He says he woke up hungry.
Now that I’m up, Mia tells us what happened after we went to sleep.
“So the army went to the forest to investigate?”
“Yes, with adventurers.”
Apparently they left a while after they released us. And there were some from Golden Sword among them.
Does that mean those soldiers left without resting? Did they ask to rest before we got back to town because they predicted that would happen?
We got back later because of that, but if that’s the case, it makes sense.
“Then someone from the guild came here, and Guilford and the others went there.”
Guilford, Clift, Rurika, Chris, and Sera.
“What did they want?”
I don’t think it’s anything good. I don’t have a good opinion of the guild here.
“Well, in any case, I wonder what the culprit will do. It’d be nice if they left the town, but that ambush was prepared in advance, so that might not be the case.”
Argo says with a sigh.
“I’m pretty sure the culprit left through that passage.”
I say.
“Really?”
“Those replicated monsters were higher level than the ones in town. I think those were prepared in advance. But we don’t know what the culprit looks like, so they could very well enter again.”
I tell Argo what’s on my mind. The real issue is the possibility of whoever left through that passage coming back.
We don’t even know the purpose behind this mess, so that makes predicting what its culprit will do very difficult.
If the idea is to destroy the town, it will be attacked again, but…
Entries and exits are being strictly monitored, but they can’t catch everything.
Also, if the culprit is outside, it will be traders who are attacked next, so they need to solve this fast.
But the biggest issue is that we still have no idea how these monsters are being replicated. Presence Detection and Magic Energy Detection can’t catch them, so we have no countermeasures.
“If the culprit knew about the secret passage, could it be someone related to the person that was executed?”
Mumbles Argo.
Revenge? Could be.
But would someone related just happen to have a skill like this?
Looking at it the other way, if someone were to contract someone else to execute a plan like this, would anyone really get involved with something this big?
Also… I only saw one set of footprints.
“I don’t know what’s bringing that grave look to your face, but thinking won’t get you anywhere. Leave that to the bigshots. We need to decide what we’re going to do. I say that, but all we can do is decide whether to leave the town or stay.”
If we can’t use the dungeon, there’s no point in being here.
“But if we leave, will they let us into the dungeon after this mess dies down?”
“That’s not a problem. It’s not like the guild manages the dungeon.”
“But didn’t the guild give the order to suspend activities in it?”
“That’s because of the urgent situation. If they take it too far, the adventurers will revolt, and people will start considering leaving, like Herc’s clan.”
Argo says how the guild conducts itself is related too.
People have a lot of bottled up complaints ready to burst.
But I’m interested in what Golden Sword is doing. I’m sure they’re not here out of the goodness of their hearts. Maybe they’re just accepting the guild’s quest for its reward.
“Honestly, we have our new weapons, so we could leave. Although that’s a little dangerous, so maybe not just us.”
Leaving with just the five of them is fine, but it could turn into trouble if they’re attacked by replicated monsters.
I’m sure they could beat them back, but if they keep getting attacked and it turns into a long battle, stamina would be a problem.
“Worst case scenario, I could use Transfer.”
“We might ask you to do it if it comes to that.”
As we talk, the others come back.
“What did the guild want?”
“…To apologize.”
Rurika says to Argo.
“Apologize?”
“Yes. Remember how they sent adventurers to investigate after we reported that we hunted the goblins? Apparently they found out said adventurers didn’t really do it.”
“I’m surprised they know that.”
“They found the adventurers they hired in the capital, and Golden sword brought them back to Avid.”
At least the survivors, according to them.
Apparently they were attacked by monsters on their way to the capital, and lost half their party.
And since the survivors were wanted by the guild, Golden Sword caught them. And after questioning them thoroughly, found out they didn’t really investigate. And brought them here.
“Golden Sword didn’t do it out of kindness, it was out of self-interest.”
But Guilford says we were exonerated regardless.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Thanks for the treat.