Chapter 28. Platinum Rank Adventurer
Crack!
With one hand, the Giant, Galliark, pulled out his axe and strode forward. Behind him followed a freckled woman wearing a golden plate around her neck, and a bespectacled man.
A massive shadow was cast before Iris.
"Hey, woman."
"Y, yes?"
"The Undead should've come this way, do you know where they went?"
The voice alone carried an overwhelming weight.
Iris swallowed hard, and barely opened her lips.
"Th, they're all dead."
"What? All dead?"
Even if there wasn't a strong one, their numbers should've been considerable, yet wiped out in an instant?
Galliark stared at Iris intently. No matter how he looked, it didn't seem like this blue-haired woman's doing.... Lifting his head, he turned his gaze toward the other adventurers.
Not a single gold-rank plate hung on their necks. To annihilate so many in such a short time, even he couldn't do it. There was no way some silver-rank or lower riffraff could've pulled it off.
Then he saw Verden.
'That bastard?'
With that air of "I'm special," Galliark smirked. Brushing past Iris, he headed toward Verden. With each slow step, the air grew heavier.
His bulk larger than an Orc, the adventurers unconsciously stepped back a pace.
The Platinum Rank adventurer, Galliark, now stood before Verden.
"Hey, ash-haired brat. The Undead that came through here, did you kill them all?"
In Verden's blue eyes, Galliark was reflected.
"And if I did?"
"And if you did? That's not something you should be saying right now. That was our prey we were chasing. Showing such an attitude isn't right. That's outright cutting in line."
Verden knew nothing of the adventurer rules.
At that moment, rox rushed forward and gave a small bow to Galliark.
"M, my apologies for the late greeting, Sir Galliark."
"Hm? You know me?"
"I once saw you from afar, back when you were in another city."
Butcher, Galliark.
That infamous name was terrifying beyond compare. Whether bandits or demi-humans, all were cleaved apart by his colossal axe and monstrous strength.
Years ago, when drunk and rampaging, he had beaten a knight who tried to stop him into pulp with his bare hands — a deed that spread his notoriety far and wide.
Yet, even after half-killing a knight, he was never expelled from the guild.
Because he was too strong. Because the guild needed him. A Platinum Rank adventurer was a being who existed outside equal rules.
'But why is that monster here....'
rox swallowed dryly, then continued speaking.
"I, if I may explain... the Undead were chasing people, and the situation was dire. We had no intention to cut in. We weren't even commissioned for this request."
"So you're saying you're innocent?"
"..."
"That's not how it works. Judging by appearances, you lot seem like adventurers hired by the Lord of viron Territory..."
Galliark beckoned with his finger.
The bespectacled mage behind him, goad, handed over a paper stamped with the lord's seal. Galliark unfolded it right before rox's eyes.
"This is...."
"It states that if the Lord of viron directly subjugates the Undead, he'll provide a corresponding reward. Do you understand now? You handled what we were chasing, which by the rules means all the reward goes to you. Even if you didn't know."
Galliark gripped rox's shoulder.
"As an adventurer, you should know this well. Adventurers are sensitive about their bowls of rice. I especially despise those who covet mine. And..."
"Ugh...!"
Crunch. rox groaned under the savage grip.
The pain was unbearable, yet no matter how he tried, he couldn't pry the hand away. All he could do was endure the moment.
The power of a Platinum Rank adventurer, beyond gold, was something no ordinary adventurer could withstand.
Galliark brought his face close.
His chilling voice burrowed into rox's ear.
"A silver-rank maggot like you, daring to meddle. If you don't want to get crushed to death here and now, keep your mouth shut. Understood?"
Nod, nod. rox desperately bobbed his head.
With a light flick, Galliark tossed rox aside. Then came the crushing weight of his aura, pressing down on all around.
As if faced with a natural predator, everyone trembled.
Except Verden.
"What's your name?"
"Asher."
"Asher? Hm, Asher. No plate, so not an adventurer, I take it... well, no matter. You heard what I said earlier, right? We've been robbed of our reward thanks to you lot. We practically handed you the prey. So isn't it only proper we receive some compensation for our trouble?"
Galliark rubbed his fingers together.
"Half. Hand over half of the reward you'll receive, as a down payment. I'd say that's quite a generous offer."
Though he was huge, Galliark wasn't brainless.
Building on his physical talent, he had climbed to Platinum, the third-highest rank among adventurers. Whether by force or persuasion, handling people was trivial to him.
'Honestly, I'd like to take it all.'
But that would cause backlash. That would be troublesome.
To maintain his current benefits, he had to move within the rules of adventurers, even if begrudgingly.
Even if the full sum was pocket change to him, he had no intention of yielding an inch.
Since he'd moved anyway, at least a day's worth of drinking money should be taken. In fact, this way was better for Galliark. If he took the reward formally, then taxes, guild fees, and other nonsense would follow.
Galliark extended his hand.
A hand calloused so thick, no blade could cut through.
"You're not thinking of refusing, are you?"
"..."
His coercive stance sought to subdue Verden.
If one wanted to avoid needless conflict, backing down here was the wise choice. The existence before them, the Butcher, was strong. The Platinum plate proved it.
However.
Verden now was also among the strong.
From his pocket , Verden pulled out money. Just a single 1,000-Elk note.
Letting it go, the note fluttered past Galliark's hand and fell to the ground.
"Thanks for the effort."
Throb. A vein bulged on Galliark's forehead.
***
People gaped at Verden's action. Even Galliark's companions were stunned.
How many who provoked the Butcher had survived? Most were split in half by his axe, or left half-crippled for life.
...A suffocating silence filled the air.
Galliark and Verden. Neither averted their gaze.
Crack. The Butcher loosened his neck, baring his fangs.
"Do you have a death wish?"
"That's what I should be asking."
If he sought to take by force, then Verden would resist with force.
'This bastard....'
Seeing that Verden had no intention of backing down, Galliark's face twisted with rage.
To not only reject his offer but to outright disregard him. Unforgivable. He had to break something, at least one bone, to feel satisfied.
As Galliark's shoulder twitched, Verden immediately stepped back three paces.
Hm? Galliark narrowed his brows and advanced a step. Verden retreated four paces further.
"Hah. Are you suggesting we play tag? Come stand before me right now, and I'll forgive you. Come here."
Yet again, Verden moved back.
This son of a bitch.
What the hell was he trying to pull? Not fleeing, not standing to fight either.
'Wait a moment.'
Galliark's eyes suddenly sharpened. With a staff strapped to his back, the man was clearly a Mage.
It was common sense, the most basic of basics, for a Mage to avoid close combat in battle. And now, the distance between Verden and Galliark was far more favorable to a Mage.
'Could he actually intend to fight me?'
Against the one called the Butcher? This was the first time he had encountered such a situation, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.
As he wondered how to proceed, his companion goad stepped forward.
"Mr. Galliark, I'll handle this one."
"You?"
"Yes. From the looks of it, he's just a Mage who doesn't know his place. It would be better for a fellow Mage to teach him a lesson. If we kill him rashly, it could be troublesome. Consider it an act of mercy, sparing one life."
Galliark pondered, then gave a nod.
That man, Verden, seemed crazy. There was something about killing him that felt oddly unsettling.
"You, you said your name was Asher? You seem confident in your ability, but you clearly don't know your place. I'll do you the favor of showing you exactly where you stand."
goad removed his glasses. At the same time, magic power spread across the area.
The suffocating pressure twisted the faces of those around them, some even gagging. Verden simply stared at goad.
'About third-tier?'
Comparable, perhaps, to that thief named Vilshen. Nothing particularly worth guarding against.
More than that, "mana coercion" was it.
Verden realized he had never actually tried it himself.
He had always thought that wasting his magic power and mana circuits that way was pointless, better to cast an actual spell instead.
Still, since the chance was here, it wasn't a bad idea to test it.
There was a proper specimen before him, to show how much his magic could oppress another.
Verden's blue eyes gleamed.
A massive tidal wave of magic burst outward, aimed solely at goad.
***
goad glanced around.
Nothing. It was as though he had fallen into an endless sea. His body felt unbearably heavy, his breath stifled. He struggled desperately to survive, but there was no escape.
This ocean was too deep.
His gaze dropped. Beyond the dark blue stretched a void, a yawning abyss.
Slowly, his body was being dragged down. The light grew distant, darkness gradually swallowing him whole. His hand reached upward one last time, before the world blacked out.
"...!"
Thud. goad collapsed.
His entire body trembled, drool trickling from his lips. The light had vanished from his wide-open eyes. The freckled woman, Nerien, rushed over and checked his body. His life was not in danger.
"What the, what just happened?"
Verden's magic had struck only goad. That was why no one else could understand what had just occurred.
Only Galliark faintly sensed it. The fist he clenched was damp with sweat.
'Me, nervous?'
Unbelievable, but undeniable. The sensation of being momentarily overwhelmed still lingered. He rubbed his hand to wipe away the sweat.
Galliark lifted the corners of his lips, baring his teeth.
"Interesting."
He hoisted goad onto his shoulder.
"Asher. I'll remember that name."
Leaving behind those words and a meaningful grin, Galliark departed. Once they were gone, the adventurers collapsed limply to the ground.
"W, we're alive...."
All shared the same thought, and all turned resentful gazes toward Verden.
Naturally, Verden didn't care in the slightest.
It was only after some time had passed that they set out once more for the territory.
***
Because of the clash with Galliark, and escorting the rescued people, their arrival was far later than scheduled.
They proved themselves adventurers, finally passing through the castle gates at night, and entered inside. As expected, the atmosphere in the territory was grim and heavy.
Even on the way here, traces of pooled blood were everywhere, and Undead had appeared twice.
Unable to leave it all to Verden, Iris's team and rox, along with the adventurers, had dealt with them directly. Thankfully, no one was injured.
Now they headed to the adventurer guild, which had taken charge of commanding the subjugation of the Undead.
Upon entering, a knight in full plate approached.
"I've heard the reports from the soldiers. You were delayed escorting the people, you've done well."
No one found such casual speech strange. A knight was of noble standing, after all.
rox stepped forward and spoke.
"Thank you. But has the subjugation plan been set?"
"Of course. Since it must be done quickly, we expect within two or three days. Tomorrow, we'll push the front line up to the tunnel entrance, then you adventurers and priests will enter and complete the subjugation."
"...Can that be done in that time?"
"Yes. A Platinum Rank adventurer has joined the subjugation this time. Ever heard of the Butcher? A bastard vile enough to lay hands on a knight, but his skill is unquestionable. You'd best cooperate with him as much as possible. Or, if you dislike him, feel free to run him through."
Of course, that last was a joke.
"For now, get some rest. I'll have you woken in the morning, so don't worry."
"Understood."
An Undead subjugation with the Butcher. The thought of Verden clashing with him again was terrifying.
At the inn, they begged Verden. Please, don't oppose the Butcher.
"Sure."
It was hardly a trustworthy answer.
That night, the adventurers couldn't sleep soundly.