Chapter 83

“Alice, how many are left? …Alice?”

After the underworld crews entered the forest, I moved quickly to strike the headquarters of the guilds participating in the operation.

Of course, they came at me shouting “Who are you?!” but I wiped them out effortlessly and freed all the Elves held at their bases.

I had asked some of the Elves to join this operation and help with the liberation efforts. Since this was originally the Elves’ battle, I left the task of freeing their kin to those who wanted to participate but didn’t have much front-line combat power.

And now, I had just finished off the seventh underworld guild.

“There aren’t any left… urgh.”

I had been carrying Alice as I moved, but it seems she got motion sickness. She had been frequently screaming “You’re too fast! Too fast! Way too fast!” from my back. I had to hurry because the annihilation battles on the other side were finishing faster than expected, but… yeah, sorry about that.

I figured if she had the energy to scream, she was fine—turns out I was wrong.

“I see. Well then, shall we take a leisurely stroll for the last one?”

“The last one? This is the end of the list.”

“There’s still one left. The Black Fang Wolves.”

Alice flinched, then immediately made a disgusted face.

“Let’s just stop. They didn’t even participate in this operation, did they?”

“No way. There’s no chance the guys who tried to kidnap Titania’s contractor are uninvolved. Relax, I’m just going there to tell them ‘never do this again.’”

“That’s basically telling an underworld guild to quit their jobs.”

“That’s why I’m just going to tell them to stick to their secret maneuvers involving human-on-human squabbles.”

I think that’s where the demand for underworld guilds lies. So, all I have to say is: Don’t mess with us. Keep it between humans.

“Alright, I’m heading out.”

“Wait for me!”

Despite her complaining, Alice followed along. The Elves imprisoned in the basement of this guild were being handled via Tiamat, so it wasn’t an issue. They’d probably feel safer being rescued by their own kind rather than by a human like the ones in the underworld guilds anyway.

Alice and I left the guild and headed toward the Black Fang headquarters.

The air outside was cool and free of that heavy, unpleasant atmosphere. Perhaps because the air had been thick with the scent of blood until a moment ago, it tasted even better now.

“Haaa… and here I thought we were finally done…”

“Don’t be like that, Alice. I have to at least give them a warning. We’re the ones who suffer if they try the same thing again.”

“I understand that, but this is Black Fang. I’ve heard they have many more members capable of direct combat compared to the guilds we just hit. It’s dangerous.”

“You seem to think I’m going there for a fight, but that probably won’t happen.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not that they didn’t participate in this operation. I think they withdrew from it.”

“And your reasoning for that?”

“Intuition!”

Alice looked even more anxious after I said that, but I’m fairly sure I’m right.

First off, it was the Black Fang Wolves who came to snatch the contractor, Wilos. I can’t imagine a guild that tried to seize the key to the operation being unrelated to it. In other words, they ran.

They likely know I crushed their members. The guys at the shop were using magic communication items before I broke them, so I should assume my existence is known. If they thought they could kill me, it wouldn’t be strange for them to have come after me already.

But they didn’t.

The fact that they didn’t suggests they are, at the very least, wary of me.

“Is ‘intuition’ really going to be okay?”

“It’ll be fine, fine. I’m not going there to start a war.”

Alice still looked uneasy, but she seemed to understand that a word needed to be said.

We entered a forest different from the Great Forest and aimed for the Black Fang guild. Unlike the Great Forest, this woods felt strangely devoid of life. I wonder what the difference is?

Alice was trembling, clinging to my cloak. I found out later that she is deathly afraid of undead-type monsters.

Pushing through the woods, the Black Fang guild finally came into view.

“Looks like this is it.”

“This is definitely it.”

There was a massive sign that read “Black Fang Wolves,” and a wooden plaque made of dark wood with a black wolf carved into it. If this isn’t it, it’s a scam.

“What are you going to do, Alice? Want to wait here?”

“No, I’m coming with you. I’d hate to end up as a hostage if I stay out here.”

“Fair point. Makes sense.”

I pushed open the guild doors.

Stepping inside, I was a little surprised by what I saw.

There are many more powerful presences here compared to the underworld guilds I’ve crushed so far.

The eyes watching me aren’t full of contempt, but caution. They have their weapons ready and are radiating bloodlust, yet there’s no sign they intend to strike. These guys are highly experienced; every slight movement, the way they sit, and the way they stand shows they are ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

I see, so these are the members of Black Fang.

If they fought as a pack, even Ouka might find it a struggle.

“I have no intention of fighting. I want to speak with the Master of this place.”

“Sir Ryu, you’re being too blunt!” Alice whispered to me, but the other side was already moving.

“Do you have business with us, member of the Light-Light Intelligence Department?”

An elderly man emerged, flanked by four members. I hadn’t expected the Black Fang Master to show himself so readily.

“I’m just a Tamer. I’ve been commissioned by another party regarding this Elf kidnapping case; the Light-Light Intelligence Department is just a collaborator.”

“…I see. May I ask what your business is, then?”

“Two things. First, I want the whereabouts of the Elves you sold and the evidence to prove it. Second, I want a promise that you’ll never hunt Elves again. That’s all.”

Perhaps surprised that I didn’t say I was here to arrest them, the tension from the weaker-looking members eased slightly.

“Is that all?”

“That’s all for me. I have no interest in killing you, and no reason to.”

“…Regrettably, the Elves were sold to other underworld guilds. I have evidence of the sale, but I don’t possess anything that links directly to the nobility.”

“That’s fine. My goal is to recover the Elves and the Spirits. Dealing with the nobles is this guy’s job,” I said, gesturing to the intelligence side.

“…Hey, go fetch the documents.”

“Yes, Master.”

One of the men surrounding the Master disappeared into the back to retrieve the evidence.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“No thanks, I’m on the clock.”

“By the way… are you truly a Tamer?”

“I am. Though most people don’t believe me.”

“How did you acquire such power?”

Hmm, how should I put this? I got strong because monsters kept chasing me?

…That would be even harder to believe.

In that case…

“If you live in the middle of the Great Forest, you naturally end up about this strong.”

That was the only explanation I could come up with.

At this answer, every single person except me wore a look of utter shock.

Wait, did I screw up?

“To think… living in the heart of the Great Forest as a Tamer… truly astonishing.”

“Sir Ryu, you lived in a place like that!?”

Alice too?!

Ah, I see what’s happening. If I had a combat-oriented job, they probably wouldn’t be this shocked, but because I’m a Tamer—a class not exactly meant for fighting—they’re losing it.

Yep, I definitely botched the explanation.

“By the way, how long did you live there?”

“Roughly… two or three months?”

Ooh! The room erupted in noise again! Even that surprised them?!

“Listen up, we’re going on an expedition to the Great Forest soon.”

“Wait, Master! We’ll get eaten alive if we do that!!”

“But if it’s just for a month, we can manage. I’ll take only the elites.”

“You’re asking us to die!”

“I’m going too, so relax.”

…The atmosphere felt nothing like an underworld guild. It felt more like a surface guild.

…Even if they are a bit more bloodthirsty.

“I’ve brought them. …Did something happen?”

“Nothing, just discussing our next training grounds. You won’t do anything if we hand over these materials, correct?”

“I told you, I’ve got no intention of doing anything. I’ll take these gratefully.”

I took the documents from the man, but just before leaving the guild, I left them with one last tip.

“Master. If you’re going to aim for a spot, the eastern side is better. There are many beast-types there, so at the very least, you won’t starve.”

That’s all I said.