As we approach the guild, it becomes increasingly apparent that Gerard has already spread the word about our situation as I asked him to. Some expressions are fearful, some hostile, and some are even grateful, but almost everyone stares.
"It seems that word of our meeting with the council has spread…we should prepare for a tense welcome at the guild." (Alto)
That's a serious understatement, but I nod my agreement.
When we finally enter the guild, the raucous laughter dies abruptly, and dozens of stares fixate on us. Yup…we're totally not leaving here conflict-free. I sigh deeply, and we make our way over to reception.
Melanie takes in my arrival with a nervous expression. Come on now, Melanie, don't tell me you're surprised that I survived you selling me out. I direct a smirk at her.
"What's the matter, Melanie? You worried about your little stunt with Gerard?" (Mizuki)
Her face goes pale.
"W-Wait a second, Mizuki, I was just doing my job! There's no need to take that personally. Gerard told me that you sorted things out, and that I'm to assist you with whatever you request!" (Melanie)
I make a placating gesture and smile, and Melanie seems to relax.
"No worries, Melanie, I'm not upset with you. I just couldn't resist teasing you a little. Speaking of requests, Levi here and his party members have decided to join my party. Also, Alto and Zara have completed the job requirements for A-rank, and just need to take their exam with Gerard. Can you assist us with both matters?" (Mizuki)
Melanie makes an annoyed face at the mention of me teasing her, but she quickly becomes shocked by my requests. I hear several whispers emerge behind me as well.
"Uhm…well, regarding Zara and Alto, Gerard left instructions earlier to promote them to S-rank once the job requirements were met for A-rank. He said something about seeing enough of you for a lifetime, and the private exam being pointless. As for the other matter…Levi, is what Mizuki says true?" (Melanie)
Damn, Gerard, do you just not give a shit anymore?
Levi steps forward and nods politely at Melanie.
"Yes, Melanie, that's correct. We'd like to join Mizuki's party officially. However, we'd like to keep our A-rank status for now…we're not in a hurry to garner the same notoriety that Mizuki has by advancing to S-rank." (Levi)
Well, I want to be offended that he just implied everyone hates me, but...yeah. Melanie's eyes widen in surprise at Levi's confirmation, and the whispers behind me intensify.
"Okay, I understand. Mizuki, that will bring your party total to eight, which is the guild's maximum allowance. Are you okay with that?" (Melanie)
"Yes, that's fine. Thank you, Melanie. Zara and Alto, please hand over your guild cards so she can officialize your rank up!" (Mizuki)
They nod and comply, and Melanie smiles as she takes their cards and disappears into the back of the guild. After she disappears, I detect something behind me with magic sense. I quickly slow time and turn around to inspect the magic signature.
To my surprise, there's a man flying towards me in slow motion with a dagger aimed at my neck. I recognize him…it's that hothead from Kent's party that accosted me last time and got his wrists temporarily broken.
He's clearly trying to kill me, even after I let him off with a warning the first time. I sigh deeply. I can't afford to let it slide…there has to be a proportionate response from me.
In one smooth motion, I step forward and grab his neck and the wrist of his dagger hand, then I drop the time spell. He immediately begins struggling while making a choking noise. At this point, my party and others in the guild start to register what happened.
"Alright, all of you listen up…I'm only going to say this once! It seems that this man had enough of an issue with me or my party to try and murder a fellow adventurer. If that also applies to any of you, you should know something…" (Mizuki)
I squeeze and flick my wrist on the man's neck, and I feel a sharp snap before he goes limp. There are a few cries of surprise from within the guild.
One man jumps up, but he's quickly grabbed on the shoulder and pushed back into his seat by another man – the now dead attacker's companion from last time. The pair are watching me carefully.
I set the poor man that attacked me down against a nearby wall, and I shut his eyes. Then, I turn back towards the guild and stare at them evenly for a moment. The guild hall falls eerily silent.
"…while I don't like it, people who try to take my life or the lives of my party members will die – no exceptions, and no second chances. I'm sure Gerard has told you all the situation by now. So, if you want me out of the picture because you're afraid of the Empire, or just because you hate me…step forward. I'll fight you in single combat, to the death, with no help from my party." (Mizuki)
I glance around the guild hall, looking for any potential threats. After a few moments, nobody moves or speaks up. However, the two guys that almost made a move are still looking at me murderously. I lock eyes with them.
"Your hostile stares aren't going unnoticed." (Mizuki)
After a moment, the guy that tried to stand up before, does so again, and he forcefully slaps the other guy's hand off his shoulder. He directs a venomous glare at me.
"I'll gladly take you on."
I nod at him and look to the other guy.
"Care to join your friend for support?" (Mizuki)
The one I'm addressing clenches his jaw and shakes his head. Huh…smarter than I thought.
I turn back to the guy that wants to kill me.
"Okay. Before we do this, I think you owe everyone here an explanation. Adventuring is a dangerous enough job without us turning on each other. This man here…" (Mizuki)
I gesture towards the fresh corpse against the wall, and the other adventurers become clearly uncomfortable.
"…I killed in self-defense. So, what about you? What is your justification for wanting me dead?" (Mizuki)
I direct the final questions towards the man who has agreed to my deathmatch. His face twists into a scowl.
"Don't play dumb…I know that your party killed Kent, and two more of our fellow adventurers as well."
Intense whispering breaks out among the adventurers, and many of them are staring at me expectantly. Well, it's about time we finally bring that whole situation to light. After all, Elmesia has bigger issues.
"That's a serious accusation…why would we do something like that?" (Mizuki)
The man looks confused then angered by the question, but his companion grimaces.
"I…who cares why you did it! We all know you're guilty…everyone here has heard about what you did!"
The man gestures towards the other adventurers in the room, and there's a round of quiet confirmations.
"You say that everyone has heard about it, but from who? What evidence did they provide to make you all so convinced? I'm very curious about the source of your certainty." (Mizuki)
The adventurers all begin whispering and looking between one another. They grow louder for a while, but as they quiet down, most of them seem to be staring at one person – the man's companion. The companion meets my gaze with a frustrated expression.
"Well then, it seems like you're the one that everyone heard these rumors from. Would you like to tell us all why you're so sure that I killed Kent, and why I would do such a thing?" (Mizuki)
The man turns to his companion expectantly.
"Lewis, tell them what you told me! We can finally get this guy for what he did!"
Lewis looks at me hesitantly. Oh yeah…Lewis spread some BS about why Kent was killed.
"That's right, Lewis, tell everyone what happened. After all, your friend here has obviously been misinformed to be so angry with me. Knowing that, are you really about to let him fight me to the death?" (Mizuki)
Lewis grimaces, but the man interjects first.
"Shut your mouth! Are you just going to lie and pretend you people didn't kill Kent!?"
"Not at all. After Nina was registered with my party, and Kent failed to recruit her, he and those other two tried to ambush and kill me in the woods. They thought Nina would join them if I was dead. Apparently, Kent wasn't above killing fellow adventurers to get his way. So, I killed Kent and the other two, just like I killed that poor man leaned against the wall over there – in self-defense. If you think I'm lying, why don't you ask Lewis?" (Mizuki)
The adventurers begin whispering again, but this time it seems that they're conflicted.
"Do you think that could be true!?"
"No way, you've met Kent, he was a good guy."
"I don't know…this isn't the first time I've heard rumors about him bullying new adventurers."
"Now that you mention it, Mizuki and Nina have never gone out of their way to hurt someone…them killing him for no reason seems strange."
Hearing the tone of the crowd, the man turns to Lewis expectantly. However, Lewis can't look him in the eye. After a moment…
"Don't fight him, Tate." (Lewis)
Tate's eyes go wide in surprise as he glances between Lewis and me. And the whispering in the guild intensifies.
"Lewis…what are you…" (Tate)
Tate keeps staring at Lewis, but Lewis seems to have said all he's willing to. I see Tate's expression of anger towards me break for the first time…then it's directed at Lewis.
"Lewis, how could you keep that from us!? Lark…he's dead because he thought…" (Tate)
Lewis's face grows more shameful at the mention of who I assume is the corpse I created. He quickly rises from the table and pushes past Tate, then exits the guild. After, the guild erupts in angry discussion.
Levi catches my gaze and looks at me questioningly and hopefully…like he's asking for me to trust him. I'm a little hesitant at first, but I nod my approval eventually.
Levi steps forward and clears his throat. The guild begins to quiet down as he prepares to speak. I just watch him curiously.