Chapter 32: The Consequences of One’s Choices (7)

Chapter 32: The Consequences of One’s Choices (7)

It was quite the godsend that I had a map and even marked directions on it.

With the assistance of the Archmage’s {Haste}—it was my first time receiving a buff!—I managed to get out of the underground cave while limping but still rather quickly.

It would have been seriously annoying if more Demons had appeared, but it appeared that the dungeon hadn’t reset yet, so I couldn’t see any more mobs.

Unlike before, when I had to search around and somehow find my destination, all I had to do now was rush toward an already designated goal. That meant as long as I had this map, I could take the shortest route available.

As such, I got outside faster than I had expected. No sooner than I set foot outside could I see smoke rising into the sky from one side of the city.

I only ever saw smoke that thick when a building was burning. Still, it was rather strange for a fire to suddenly break out at this time.

Moreover, if it were just smoke from a normal fire, red and green wouldn’t have been mixed into it. That definitely had something to do with the Quest.

“That’s...”

“Oh, it’s Sir Wizard!”

“And next to him is...”

If I wanted to go there, I would first have to get over these riverbanks.

While limping a little, I made my way toward the slope. It was around then that those who had formed a barricade around the riverbanks noticed us and came down.

“Thank you. Please help him before me.”

“Not necessary.”

My HP was almost full.

For some reason, my recovery rate significantly slowed after reaching 70%... Well, 70% was enough.

The problem was the penalties I received due to fatigue and my injuries.

“Those wounds...!”

“We’ll help you immediately!”

“I should have said that I don’t require any.”

In fact, I required it, and very badly at that, but I had to maintain my character.

I mean, if anyone here thought the Demon had devoured me, I wouldn’t even be able to resist right now.

For that reason, I stubbornly marched ahead, tears in my eyes. The blood that hadn’t even dried yet left marks on the ground.

“Don’t be stubborn. You surely overexerted yourself just coming here with that body of yours. Even your internal organs have been gnawed at.”

“Whaaat?!”

However, the Archmage—fortunately—called out to me. An ursine Shaggi adventurer lifted me with his giant hands.

“...! Don’t touch my body...!”

“Look, I know that you’re strong, but please let us save your life.”

Usually, I could have easily shaken him off, but with my body in that state, I found it rather difficult to resist. The Archmage probably made the others do this precisely because he knew what state I was in.

“I don’t care ab—!”

“There’s still a battle left for you to fight.”

“...!”

Was I hallucinating, or did I see the Archmage grab the back of his neck? Of course, I couldn’t actually have seen it, as I had no eyes on the back of my head.

Didn’t he know that if he put it like that, I would have to give up on any rest I might have been able to get and rush ahead?

Thanks to him, I really couldn’t rest now. Aaargh.

I glared at the Shaggi, who had one eye covered with a bandage, and let out a sigh.

Still, I felt rather comfortable. I was draped over his wide shoulder like a sack of potatoes, so I didn’t look all that cool here.

“Cough.”

“...!”

It was a bit problematic that I continued coughing up blood as if my wounds had opened up again. My HP started to drop again, as well.

“Are you really an adventurer?! How could you act so ignorantly?!”

Someone—probably a healer, as they were wearing a red cross badge—rushed toward us from behind the barricade and nagged the adventurer holding me.

That had been rather unnecessary as I already received all the help I could before coming up the riverbank.

“I’ll treat you right awa—”

“That smoke.”

I barely managed to lift myself without falling to the ground. Actually, it probably wasn’t due to my own merit but the Shaggi adventurer who held me changing his way of support. Anyway.

“What is it?”

“We don’t know, either.”

“I can’t see the Inquisitor with you. Did she perhaps head to that place?”

“Ah, yes, Sir Wizard. She called it suspicious and immediately headed there. She probably took some people with her, though. We stayed behind just in case.”

I spat out the last blood clot stuck in my throat. Blood, along with various pieces of organs, scattered over the ground.

“Wait, there’s so much blood...! Let’s transport him to a hospital first—”

What?! The hospital? I stood up using the sword I had been holding onto so stubbornly as a walking stick.

I no longer knew whether I was still playing a game or actually performing. I was worn out and exhausted, but I couldn’t stop here.

Roleplaying was one thing, but if I thought about this matter a bit further, there was no way a Quest could proceed completely without the involvement of the player...!

Of course, there were some games where certain tasks could be completed through just the NPCs, but... there was this general rule applicable to all games: when NPCs worked on the player’s behalf, the results were almost always subpar.

“I’ll go. You rest here.”

“Even sages know how to speak nonsense, huh?”

“What are you even going to do with that body?!”

No. My HP was still around 70%. If I wanted to fight, I could. I was pretty much used to that dizzying feeling now. Probably?

“There’s nothing you can do there.”



「❖ The Truth Behind the Curtain

∎ Thwart the Demon Worshipers’ plans

∎ Optional: Demons eliminated 221 / ??」



They probably wrote that into the Quest because it had to be me who did it. As such, I had to go.

In his hand was some dye powder he had been carrying in small quantities for a long time now. It was an item that would change the color of smoke when thrown into a fire.

Hisssssss.

As expensive as it was, its effects were outstanding. The smoke rising from the massive bonfire quickly changed its hue.

Just in case, he mixed two colors and threw them in the flames to make sure people would notice.

“Good."

Now, all he had to do was hide. Even though he didn't do anything wrong, he still decided to do that.

There was no guarantee that the first person to see the signal was an ally.

“...Wow, it's as if they've been waiting for it."

He saw some suspicious people running straight for this place.

“Who are they?"

On the surface, they didn't seem any different from typical civilians. However, with the trained eyes of an experienced thief, he could see various flaws: the shoes were far too clean, their worn-out clothes looked to have been borrowed from several other people, and their skin was as white as if it had never been scorched by the sun before.

He could already glean so much information from their appearance while hiding in a far-off place. He could tell even more than that from them. No matter how he looked at them, they were suspicious.

“Did they catch on?"

“Damn it, there was only a little bit left..."

Even more so, after hearing those remarks without any tension in their voice.

Deathbringer threw away all the excitement and confidence he had just felt about his success and tried to think as calmly as possible.

It would be easier to follow them than kill them, but would he gain anything from that?

That massacre just now was only possible because numerous variables happened to overlap.

He needed a more reliable force than himself. An unstoppable force that could completely ignore and wipe out anything those Demon Contractors threw at them, like that damn priest or the Demon Knight.

“Shit, that was our golden opportunity to be rid of that Hero."

“What's done is done. It seems like the underground cave has already been completely destroyed."

The problem was that, because he was alone, he couldn't both give chase and inform the others.

“Let's retreat. We have to get out of this city for now."

“Right."

Ah, he really didn't want to use that method.

He swallowed his slight displeasure and held his breath. Rip. Then, the sound of something tearing sounded out.

“Let's flee before others arrive!"

A new shadow joined the ones of those fleeing men.

“Please guide me."

[Shadow Mark]. It was a skill only a few Information Guild members could learn.

It was also the most formidable tracking skill out there. One could locate their enemies by tearing off one’s shadow and attaching it to theirs.

“Now, to the Temple..."

Ah, he had forgotten something.

“There's no way those damn bastards would listen to me."

Even when he told the priests he was there to watch the horses, they told him to leave as they couldn’t confirm whether he truly was there on behalf of the owner. So he had to sit on the wall and watch them in secret.

So would those priests believe him now? Nope, never! Not in a trillion years!

“I guess the Adventurers’ Guild would work."

Of course, the only ones there seemed seriously injured, so would they even be enough?

Still, it would be better than him pursuing them on his own. Since they already knew him, he could at least communicate with them.

“Uuugh."

How did he even get caught up in all this?

Deathbringer groaned in frustration as he started moving his feet. Since the situation was urgent, he had to rush.

“You!"

“Hey, if it isn't Miss Self-Righteous."

Then he came across someone he hadn't expected. Maybe it was fate.

"You came at just the right time. Hey, Iron Wall, I came across some people who seem to be Demon Contractors. Come with me, will you?"

“...Are you completely sure?"

“Ah, whatever, then don't come."

“No, I'll come along! Guide me!"

It probably wasn't just him who noticed they’d kind of gotten closer.

* * *

“Hey, what happened here?"

“Huh? Who're you—"

“Ah, aren't you the wizard who came along with the priest?! And... you're also alive? You actually came out of the sewers alive?"

“He's very tired, so it's best if you don't talk to him. Rather, could you please step aside for a moment?"

“Ah. Yes, of course. Feel free to pass."

“...”

“The priest said there were some traces to be found here... Does this place look any different in your eyes, Sir Wizard?"

“...This."

“Is there any problem?"

“It definitely looks like the Inquisitor has been here. Do you know where she went?"

“Pardon? The priest? She took some people with her to investigate West Street. We stayed here to guard the evidence."

“West Street. Understood. Demon Knight! Let us go!"

“Wh-what is going on?"

“We must catch the Demon Worshipers before they can escape the city or begin another ritual!"