Chapter 51

The butler climbed the stairs to the left, turned into a hallway, and entered a room. People followed behind him in a line.

The new room seemed to be a parlor, furnished with plenty of seating. At its center stood a brown table that gave off an antique, dignified feel.

Those who entered took seats on the sofas and began glancing around. I didn’t sit. Instead, I walked to the window. John followed me with his usual smile, leaning casually against the wall beside me. Across the room, directly in front of where I stood, the black mage fiddled with their gray staff with one hand.

I pulled my gaze away from them and looked out the window. The mansion stood at a great height, giving me a view of the sprawling city below—and the green moon hanging above it all.

“Please wait just a moment. I will fetch the mayor.”

The butler, deciding everyone had settled enough, excused himself and left.

“What will you do once you get the money?”

John’s voice came softly. The way he asked made it clear he wasn’t considering the possibility of failure. Good. That was the mindset one needed. Thinking you’d fail was the same as ensuring it.

“The mayor will be entering.”

Not long after he had left, the butler’s smooth voice announced the arrival. People rose from their seats.

“Greetings to you all. Please, don’t trouble yourselves and remain seated.”

A broad-shouldered man in his middle years entered with the butler at his side. This had to be the mayor. Though his face wasn’t particularly aged, his hair was neatly combed back and stark white. His clothes were neither flashy nor plain, striking a balance that matched the warmth of the smile he wore.

I felt mana from him—roughly at the Sword Expert level. At his right hip, I spotted a sword. Left-handed, then? In his youth, he must have startled many opponents with that. Humans always panicked when confronted with the unexpected, and fighting a left-hander provided just that kind of edge.

“Would you care to sit?”

The mayor addressed me directly, his tone inviting. I gave a small nod and answered bluntly.

“I’m fine.”

“How dare you speak so before the mayor!”

The butler, who had been quiet until now, barked out and stepped forward. “How dare you”—so he was trusted deeply. What was his name again?

“Leave it, Aldor. And what about the gentleman beside him?”

So, Aldor. Likely from one of the butler families of renown.

“I’m fine as well.”

John, ever-smiling, answered with ease. The mayor gave him a light smile before shifting his gaze to the black mage standing opposite me. His expression didn’t change, but I caught the slight tremor in his aura.

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s proceed.”

The black mage, who had spoken first in that eerie voice, still toyed idly with their staff. Restless, perhaps. I expected the butler to react.

“Urgh…”

Sure enough, the butler looked unsettled, though he dared not raise his voice. A muffled groan was all he managed. Did I really seem that easy to push around? The thought passed, and then the mayor spoke.

“Now then, let us begin. Aldor, stand quietly to the side.”

“Yes, Mayor.”

At his words, Aldor bowed and stepped aside.

“As you all know, minotaurs have begun appearing suddenly.”

The mayor sat in the chair before us and eased into his explanation.

“Where exactly they came from is unclear. But after three subjugation attempts, we’ve determined their number does not exceed twelve. And beyond that, there are no more.”

Twelve. That was a manageable number. Their size might be considerable, but for me, they posed no problem. Still, three failed attempts meant the city had been humbled. This time would be different. I was here.

The mayor continued.

“From the west gate, it is about a day’s journey. There lies a mountain range cutting through the plains. The road through that range is now blocked by the minotaurs. Because of this, our trade with the city of Palo has been severed.”

His voice grew heavy with frustration. He must have felt the strain.

“The road through the mountains is the only connection between Palo and us. Creating another passage would take years, and even then the distance would make it useless. If you defeat the minotaurs, each of you will receive fifty gold. Furthermore, anyone who kills more than three will receive an additional fifty gold.”

With that, the mayor closed his mouth. His offer was carefully calculated. I wondered how much profit they gained from dismantling a single minotaur to put up such a price. Should I look into dismantling one myself? A fleeting idea, but I reminded myself I wasn’t doing mercenary work for pocket change.

Ever since meeting the Sage, my thoughts had been less tangled, but old habits lingered. Maybe clinging to those musings was what kept me sane in the Demon Realm.

Still, his last words stuck with me. More than three meant another fifty gold. So if I killed six, would that be a hundred?

I opened my mouth. “If I take down six, that’s a hundred gold?”

The mayor looked stunned, eyes running over me from head to toe. I could guess what he was thinking—too young to be taken seriously. This youthful appearance was an irritation.

“Yes. If you kill six, you will receive one hundred gold.”

“And nine?”

Before the mayor could answer, another voice cut in.

“A brat still wet behind the ears, blinded by gold!”

“Exactly. Every group’s got one fool like that who rushes in and dies. Kekeke.”

“Kid, don’t get ahead of yourself. You might end up dead before you even get married. Kukuku.”

Laughter and mocking voices rippled through the room in agreement. Pathetic fools. Not worth my time. I ignored them and pressed the mayor again.

“Nine?”

“Nine is still one hundred gold. I’ve no wish to see a young man throw his life away.”

His tone shifted, from respectful to casual, but I didn’t mind. Still, “no wish to see you die”—to me, it sounded like he was telling me not to get cocky. John must have heard it the same way.

“Sounds like he’s telling you not to make trouble, doesn’t it?”

I nodded at John’s words and folded my arms, leaning back against the wall. Quick on the uptake, this one. I really needed to finish this subjugation quickly, move on to bigger jobs, and make him my subordinate. He was exactly the kind I liked—someone I could see following me without hesitation.

As for the black mage, I was still weighing it. I’d decide during the hunt whether to bring them under my wing or leave them alone. While I mapped out those thoughts of the future, the mayor’s voice cut through.

“Departure will be tomorrow afternoon, so please prepare accordingly. Six Sword Experts, one Black Mage, and twenty-three Paladin-level warriors will accompany you. From our side, seven carriages with seven drivers, plus nine additional attendants, will be sent. In total, thirty-nine of you will embark. Lastly, each of you will be given a private room for the night. Aldor will show you the way. I ask that you all give it your best.”

Finishing his speech, the mayor left through the door.

Click.

As soon as he was gone, the room filled with chatter. Carriages, was it? Good. Like the last job, I’d get to travel in comfort again.

Amid the noise, a smooth voice rose.

“Since departure is tomorrow afternoon, please have all preparations completed. Now, follow me. I will show you to your rooms.”

Aldor the butler opened the door, and people began filing out. The black mage left with them. Oddly enough, the staff they carried had no crystal orb at the top to channel mana, as most did. Just for show? But no—the distorted aura clinging to it told me it wasn’t mere decoration.

What exactly was that staff?

“Whistle~ Tomorrow’s going to be interesting, isn’t it?”

John whistled lightly, walking beside me. He was acting far too familiar. I didn’t mind, but what was his aim?

“That’s right,” I answered.

And it would be. A new battle with monsters. A chance to see how the black mage would handle a minotaur. But more than anything, I wanted to uncover the truth of that staff.