"Marcel? What a surprise! When did you get here?"
"Well, just now. I came directly to the Guild after reaching Springbell"
It didn't take me much time to reach here as I just took the portal. It was still afternoon so I thought about making some money.
"Well, you don't have to be sad. We are always with you, Marcel."
'Hmm... What?'
"How about I buy you lunch tomorrow? Wouldn't that cheer you up? Hehe... Leave everything to this big sister here."
"No... What are we talking about again?"
"You don't need to be ashamed, Marcel. Participating in the competition was also a thing to be proud of."
"Umm... Thank you?"
I still didn't get what she was talking about but I thought it was something about the competition.
"Hehe... No problem. But which round were you eliminated? I saw your preliminary round by the way, and I really thought you had a chance to win. Ahh! I-I am just saying I was on your side."
She just kept on blabbering without giving me a chance to talk. But at least thanks to that we were finally on the same page. Though she still misunderstood the intention of my visit.
"Umm... Sorry to interrupt you Bella but I am still in the competition. It was just postponed because of a terrorist attack."
For a second her eyes widened and she covered half of her face with her hands. More than being shocked, it was because she was very embarrassed as her face grew red like a tomato.
"I-I-I see. I h-heard about something like that... Ha.. Haha... Why didn't I think of that?"
"It's okay. I am just here to earn some money before the final match."
"F-final? Y-y-you..."
I thought she couldn't make a more amusing face but I was wrong. Her red face of embarrassment changed in just a second to a face of utter disbelief.
"Yes, you heard it right. I am one of the finalists. Then see you at lunch tomorrow, Bella"
I was slightly worried that some flies might enter her mouth if she left it open like this. Leaving her there, I went to the quest board to see my options for making money.
'Hmm...There are very few quests than usual. It only shows the adventurers suddenly became a little more active. Did the Guild Master ask them to gather experience before fighting the monsters in Lumina Town? '
|B Rank Quest| Kill the bandits in the East of Springbell Reward: 12 gold
The bandits in the East of Springbell are causing great trouble to the civilians. They assault both males and females other than stealing their money. The Guards also ignored us saying they will stop eventually.
'What the hell is this nonsensical reward? Why didn't anyone take this request?'
"If you are thinking of taking that mission, just forget it."
It was a man who looked in his late thirties. It was also not my first time meeting him as I saw him a few times during my earlier stay here.
'What was his name again? Hmm... Gor- something? '
"Gorang, how are you?"
"Who the hell is that? I am Gorinn, you grey haired prick!"
'Ah... I forgot this guy has a really foul mouth'
Unlike his mouth, he was a really kind guy. Gorinn was a dwarf and an A rank adventurer. Despite his foul mouth, everyone here likes his company.
"Well, I am sorry. I am not really good with names. But why did you say that about the quest uh...Gorinn"
"They are not your usual bandits. Some say that a few nobles are backing him. There are also rumors that they conduct bets for the Blood Legacy competition."
'I see. Nobody actually wants to go against the nobles.'
The Princess already told me some confidential information yesterday about these nobles and how the people were not evacuated in time because of those greedy aristocrats.
Although I was quite furious at those nobles, I was not some kind of hero to avenge the deaths of some people who I didn't know of. But of course, that didn't mean I was not taking this request. Though my reason was a completely different one.
This quest means 'Easy Money'!
The bandits hideout was a place for betting that means there had to be a fortune. I didn't know how much but I knew it wouldn't be a small amount of gold.
Gulp!
Even if the nobles later find out the culprit, Marcel Mistmer will already be gone. I was already thinking about changing my identity as 'Marcel Mistmer' was too eye-catching now and this would be a very good 'last hurrah' before winning the competition.
'I should pay a visit to that Prof. Larry and ask him to make another identity later. Maybe I should find an artifact to change my hair colour too. This hair really adds a signature to me.'
I was so immersed in all these thoughts that I already forgot I wouldn't be back here again if I win. My life here was already growing up on me.
"So are you going to do it? "
'What the... Is he still here?'
I thought Gorinn was here to select a quest but it seemed he was here just to warn me. He really was a good guy.
"No. I don't think so."
'There will be no problem even if they find the culprit later doesn't mean that there will be no problem if they find it now. I don't want them to try anything during these ten days.'
I planned to hide my identity for now while making my fortu... I mean while avenging those poor civilians.
I walked up to the board and grabbed a paper from it.
|D Rank Quest|
Guard the school for six hours on July 8 Reward: 2 gold
The Bright Day Middle School is having its graduation ceremony on July 8. We need some adventurers as guards for the day.
The job starts at 6 o'clock in the morning.
'That's tomorrow morning. Sounds good'
It looked like they posted it a few days earlier but still no one was accepting it. That was how unpopular the guarding jobs were. I also wanted a job with more combat in it but this was the only job remaining with a decent amount of pay.
'By the way, why is this guy still waiting here?'
I thought it would be quite awkward to leave like this so I asked him a casual question.
"Say Gorinn, why don't you have the dwarvish accent even when you are a dwarf?"
"You punk! I stayed here as an adventurer for fifteen years. You think I can't learn your simple human accent."
'Well technically, I am not a human either. But the humans and demigods do have the same accent. Is it because we are half human too?'
'But fifteen years? No doubt he's an A rank adventurer.'
***
The sun was about to set completely and the evening dyed in orange hue was starting to turn darker. I tied my hair into a knot and wore my black costume with the large hood.
I still don't have a mask due to my financial situation and also I didn't see a mask that stood out like Ava's. Since I couldn't hide my face, my decision was to remove every witness there.
I arrived near the East of Springbell in an hour. I was worried that it would take me more time to find their hideout as the exact location was not mentioned in the quest, but I guess there was a different reason for that.
I could already see their people roaming around the streets, acting like kings while others tried to avoid them hiding their fears. These people kept announcing that they belonged with the bandits without even opening their mouths.
'I need someone lucky to show me to their base. Ah! Found you'
***
Crash!
In the East of Springbell, just near the area where Marcel was present, a small uproar suddenly erupted by the side of the streets. The people around just dodged their eyes to some other directions after taking a small glance. This was what normal lives to them meant.
"You wrench! You still haven't paid your tribute and now you're going around buying these shits. If you don't have money, where the hell did you get this!"
"P-please...my son... he hasn't eaten anything since morning. This...this is all we have. I-I promise, I'll pay you... n-next week, please"
It was a young woman begging on her knees to return her bag of groceries. She had a pretty face but she looked thin as a rail. Her face had a few bruises and with one hand she was trying to wipe the never ending tears from her eyes and with the other she was constantly pushing her child behind her back.
'The situation here looks more dire than I thought.'
Slap!
"Do you think I am a fool?"
The thug slapped her again and pulled her by the hair. He scanned through her body with a lustful expression lingering in his eyes.
"Hmm... Okay then, how about this? I return this to you and in exchange you have to share some time with me."
"I-I...."
It was obvious what he was planning. In fact, it was clear she wasn't the first victim of this situation. She had a son to feed and she had no money and no power.
What could a mother like her even expect from this cruel world?
She closed her eyes but the tears were still brimming down. She wanted to call for help but who would even help her?
Just as she decided to accept that cruel fate of hers, a deep voice resounded the entire area.
"How about you spend some time with me?"