After The Battle Ended

After defeating the goat head, I rested, then left the dungeon and headed to the adventurers’ guild.

While selling our spoils, we reported the goat head as well.

It was a monster that had never been seen on the D Layer before, and even the knowledgeable Misha didn’t know it. It was probably worth telling them.

Perhaps our credibility had risen because of the previous matter of defeating the area boss, because the guild staff member listened to us seriously.

“…Understood. We will investigate immediately.”

After that, for a while, we spent our time lazing around at the inn.

At the end, I had overturned everything at once with Sword Saint power, but the damage I had taken in the mortal battle against the goat head was something that couldn’t be ignored.

As we spent our time like that—

“May I have a moment of your time?”

A guild staff member came to visit us.

Apparently, he had come to report what had been learned about the goat head from the other day. He was rather conscientious.

It seemed there had been a hidden room near where we fought, and the goat head was apparently a monster sealed away inside it.

“We have not yet been able to decipher the letters written on the coffin, but it seems its attack power was 1100 and its defense power was 850.”

…Around B-rank, maybe.

That certainly would have been hard for me back when I was a Warrior…

“If it was sealed away, does that mean someone woke it up?”

The staff member nodded at Misha’s question.

“Yes. It seems they thought there might be treasure there—but I’m sorry, I cannot tell you their name. Please understand.”

“Ah, no, well, that’s fine.”

I answered that way.

That certain someone probably hadn’t done it with any ill intent… Things that happened in the dungeon were mutual. It couldn’t be helped.

“Was that someone safe?”

“Yes. Their life is not in danger.”

I see, that was good.

Once he finished reporting to us, the guild staff member bowed his head to us.

“Following the area boss—this was clearly not a monster that should have been on the D Layer. If Ios-san and the rest of you had not been there, there would likely have been tremendous damage. Thank you very much.”

“Haha… No, it’s all right.”

After seeing the guild staff member off, Misha poked me with her elbow as I stood there silently.

“Hellooo? What’s wrong?”

“Hm? Ah…”

I scratched my cheek and continued.

“No, it’s just that I was thinking I’ve become someone who can be thanked by guild staff like this—someone in a position to contribute to other adventurers.”

“What a very big shot you are, poke poke! Poke poke!”

“Hey, hey, stop it.”

I smiled wryly as I escaped from Misha’s poking attack.

Feeling good, we went out to the tavern for the first time in a while and raised a toast.

“To Great Teacher Ios, the guild’s hero!”

Misha shouted while raising her mug.

“…No, no, that’s an exaggeration. Let’s see, for today’s feeling… To Piptat, which has done so much for us, maybe.”

“Hahaha! That’s right!”

Misha and I clinked our mugs together.

Leaving Piptat—that plan had not changed.

I thought I’d probably come back again anyway, but even if I didn’t, I would never forget Piptat.

The turning point of my life was here.

When I had been depressed, I had been able to ride fate’s rising current here. Those vivid days would never fade inside me.

This was the place that had repainted all my despair into hope.

Soon, we would leave that Piptat and set out for a new world. In search of something new that made our hearts dance.

That was why I murmured in a small voice.

“Bye-bye, Piptat. Thank you—”

The next day.

After drinking a tremendous amount, I woke up past noon. Thanks to my full-on binge eating and drinking, I wasn’t hungry at all.

“Now then, time to handle my daily routine…”

I murmured while stretching.

My daily routine—gathering alchemy stones. Somehow, it had become a habit, and I made sure to go once a day without fail. It was an extension of taking a walk.

I quickly put on my sword and armor.

By sword and armor, I didn’t mean B-rank equipment, but the ordinary broadsword and chainmail I had been wearing back when I came to Piptat.

It was simply because I felt embarrassed walking around the F Layer in full-power equipment. That area was for beginners, after all…

I put small items like tables into the pouch hanging from my waist.

At that moment—

I picked up the black coin on the table.

It was something that had remained after the goat head disappeared.

I had received a message saying,

so when the goat head was defeated, this was probably the only thing that came out.

As for what this was… I didn’t really know.

I had tried having it appraised at the adventurers’ guild, but they said they didn’t really know, and I had used Misha’s connections to have it examined at Piptat Magic Academy, but—

“They said they don’t know. Including the material.”

Misha had returned it to me yesterday, saying that.

“They said it’s interesting from the academy’s perspective, so they’d like you to sell it to them.”

“…Hmm… I’ll think about it.”

Even if they asked me to sell it, since its identity was unknown, they couldn’t put a price on it either…

I caught the coin after flicking it with my finger with a ping. I put it into my pocket as it was and left the room.

I descended into the dungeon and cut down a gray ghost.

Ohh! Since there was the boost from the Sword Saint skill, my sword cut far better than usual!

I obtained the magic stone and alchemy stone that rolled down.

…This alchemy stone had also done a lot for me… Casually speaking, if I hadn’t been able to obtain these, I would have had a very hard time with money.

While feeling grateful, I put the stone into my pocket.

At that moment—

“…Hey, you… Don’t tell me you’re Ios?”

When I was suddenly called out to, I flinched.

No, that was wrong. It wasn’t because I was suddenly called out to. The reason I flinched was—

Because I recognized that voice.

It felt as if my heart had been gripped by a cold hand.

When I turned around, there stood—

“Iiiiiiooooooos! Long time no see!”

My childhood friend—my childhood friend who had abandoned me.

“Grail…!”

The sound spilled from my mouth.

The Warrior Grail, who had the Swordsmanship skill, was standing there.

With a smile like a carnivorous beast that had found its prey.