Chapter 31 Finally Cross Path With Them （2）
As the Guild Master’s expression hardened, the faint trace of amusement vanishing from his face. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, fingers interlacing beneath his chin. His tone dropped, calm but edged with tension.
“The heroes have been tasked with investigating a series of disturbances—both outside and inside the city.”
He shifted his gaze toward me, eyes narrowing. “Raito… have you heard about what happened in Altheria?”
That name made me straighten slightly. “You mean the group of adventurers who were working with the Maleficarum?”
A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he gave a low chuckle. “So you do know about it.”
I gave a small shrug. “Actually… I was the one who took them down.”
The room went still.
Every pair of eyes—Daito’s, Yanie’s, even the Guild Master’s—snapped toward me in disbelief. The heroes exchanged startled glances, as if wondering whether they’d heard correctly.
The Guild Master blinked once, then let out a laugh, full and booming. “So you’re him? Hah! The reports said a single adventurer wiped out the entire group, but I wasn’t expecting that person to be standing in front of me. That explains a lot about your strength.”
I gave a modest shrug. “One of them picked a fight with me. The rest just… followed.”
The Guild Master smirked and leaned back in his chair. “I see. Guess they learned the hard way.” Then his expression sobered again. “Anyway—sorry, I got sidetracked.”
He straightened, tapping his desk lightly with one finger.
“The heroes have been sent here to investigate a string of disappearances. Over the past month, people have been vanishing without a trace—merchants, travelers, even city guards. At first, we thought it was just crime or slavers, but the pattern… it’s too deliberate. Too clean.”
I crossed my arms, frowning. “And you think the Maleficarum are behind it?”
The Guild Master nodded grimly. “With the recent reports from Altheria mentioning their activity, it’s a strong possibility. The timing matches too well to be coincidence.”
A heavy silence settled over the room. Even the heroes, so bright and confident moments ago, seemed to dim under the weight of his words.
I broke the silence first. “So, do we have any clues? Anything to start with?”
The Guild Master shook his head. “Only that the disappearances always happen at night. We’ve increased the number of guards patrolling the streets, but whoever’s behind it moves like a shadow. No one’s seen them up close and lived to tell about it.”
I exhaled slowly, glancing toward the heroes. “Then the only way to find them… is to be out there at night.”
The Guild Master nodded approvingly. “Exactly.”
I gave him a half-smile. “Alright then. I’ll help them with the mission. But…” I raised a brow, “I expect to be paid handsomely for this.”
The Guild Master chuckled. “Of course. Don’t worry about compensation—I’ll handle it personally. Just make sure the heroes get through this in one piece.”
I smirked and turned toward the door, feeling every pair of eyes on my back. “No promises,” I said lightly, “but I’ll do my best.”
I turned toward the heroes, meeting their curious stares. “Well then,” I said with a small grin, “I’ll see you all tonight.”
Daito nodded, his confident smile never fading. “Right. We’ll be ready.”
I gave a brief nod in return, then turned and headed for the door.
As I stepped out of the Guild Master’s office, I could still feel their gazes on my back—curious, uncertain, maybe even a little uneasy. The sound of my boots echoed against the wooden floor as I descended the stairs, each step pulling me further away from that heavy room and its tense air.
The moment I stepped outside, the crisp afternoon breeze brushed against my face. The faint noise of the city—merchants shouting, carriages rattling, adventurers chatting—welcomed me back to reality.
I let out a slow sigh and muttered under my breath, “So that’s what they look like now…”
Memories flickered in my mind—faces from another life, smiles from a world long gone.
They’d changed so much since that day we were summoned.
Stronger. Sharper. More confident. But deep down, I could still see it—the same spark in their eyes, the same fire that burned back when we were just normal kids trying to find our way.
And Daito… he hadn’t changed at all. Still friendly as always. Still bright. Still carrying that effortless charm that made people naturally gravitate toward him.
I shook my head, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Some things never change,” I murmured.
With that thought, I walked down the cobblestone street, letting the city’s familiar hum drown out the storm of thoughts in my head. The sun was beginning its slow descent, and tonight, it seemed, would be long.
As I continued down the street, something caught my eye—a blacksmith shop tucked between a potion vendor and a leatherworker’s stall. The faint clang of metal echoed from within, sharp and rhythmic.
“Another blacksmith shop, huh?” I muttered, slowing my pace. “Maybe it’s better if I buy a new sword.”
The Flare Sword and Glacier Sword at my sides had started making fights far too easy. There wasn’t much thrill left in swinging blades that cut through everything without effort.
“Maybe it’s time I try something different,” I muttered. “Something less... overpowered.”
Pushing open the wooden door, a small bell jingled overhead. The air inside was warm, thick with the scent of heated steel and oil. The rhythmic hammering stopped, and a man stepped out from behind the counter, wiping his hands on a soot-stained cloth.
He was broad-shouldered, with a trimmed beard and burn marks scattered across his forearms—clear signs of a veteran blacksmith. His eyes were sharp but friendly.
“Morning,” he greeted, voice rough but steady. “Name’s Okubo. What can I do for you?”
I nodded in greeting. “I’m looking to buy a new sword.”
He squinted at me, studying my face for a moment. Then his eyes widened slightly in recognition. “Wait a second… I know you. You’re that kid from yesterday—the one who took the Adventurers’ Trial.”
I raised a brow. “Oh, so you heard about that?”
“Heard about it?” He let out a hearty laugh. “I was there! Watched the whole thing. You took down those adventurers with a single move—damn impressive, if you ask me.”
I rubbed the back of my neck with a faint smile. “Yeah, well, I was getting bored, so I figured I’d wrap it up quickly.”
He roared with laughter. “Hah! You sure did. Still can’t believe the look on those guys’ faces.”
His laughter faded into a grin as he eyed the swords at my waist. “So, what’s a guy like you buying a new sword for? Those blades you’ve got look top-tier. Enchanted, too, if I’m not mistaken.”
I nodded slightly. “They are. They’re powerful—maybe a bit too powerful. Every fight lately’s been over in seconds. No challenge left.”
Okubo blinked, then chuckled under his breath. “So let me get this straight—you’re looking to buy a weaker sword to make battles more interesting?”
I scratched my head and gave a sheepish grin. “Something like that.”
He stared at me for a moment, then burst into another laugh. “You’re a strange one, kid. Most adventurers would kill for swords like that, and here you are trying to make things harder on yourself.”
“Guess I just like a fair fight,” I said with a shrug.
“Fair fight, huh?” Okubo grinned, nodding approvingly. “Alright then, I think I’ve got something that might interest you. Follow me.”
Okubo led me through a doorway at the back of the shop, and we entered a spacious room filled with weapons and armor neatly arranged on wooden racks.
The faint metallic scent mixed with the earthy aroma of coal and oil.
Swords, axes, spears, and shields lined the walls, each one catching the light from the forge’s glow in a different way.
“Here,” Okubo said, gesturing toward the rows of gleaming steel. “See if anything piques your interest.”
“Right,” I replied, stepping forward.
I walked slowly along the display, scanning the variety of swords—broadblades, rapiers, curved sabers, even a few massive greatswords. But as I moved deeper into the room, something in the far corner caught my eye.
It was a sword displayed on its own, resting on a wooden stand. Unlike the others, it had a slender, double-edged blade, straight and elegant. The grip was wrapped in faded dark-blue cloth, and the guard was simple yet graceful—nothing ornate, but beautifully balanced.
I stepped closer, my eyes widening. “No way... this looks like a Chinese han jian sword.”
Okubo noticed my interest and walked over, a curious glint in his eyes. “You interested in that one?”
“Yeah,” I said, unable to look away.
He nodded slowly. “That sword’s been here for years.
My father bought it a long time ago from a traveling merchant.
Tried to resell it plenty of times, but no one ever wanted it.
We told customers it’s made from mithral, but even then—no one bit.
Guess it just didn’t look fancy enough for most adventurers. ”
My eyes widened slightly. “Wait—it’s made from mithral? But that’s one of the strongest materials in the world! How could anyone pass that up?”
Okubo shrugged with a small laugh. “Beats me. Maybe people just don’t have interest because of how it looks it doesn't look like a traditional long sword.”
I ran my fingers lightly along the scabbard, feeling a faint hum of energy beneath the cool surface. “Would you mind if I bought it?”
His brow lifted. “Really? I thought you were looking for a weaker sword.”
“Yeah,” I replied, grinning faintly, “but I also don’t want something that’ll snap in half the first time I use it.”
He let out a laugh. “Fair enough. My father’s original price was two hundred gold coin, but—”
“I’ll take it,” I said quickly, cutting him off before he could finish.
He blinked, surprised. “Are you sure?”
“You don’t have to worry,” I replied, pulling a small pouch from my item box. “I’ve got the money.”
He chuckled and nodded. “Alright then. Grab the sword and meet me at the counter.”
“Right.”
A few moments later, we stood at the front counter. The jian rested across the polished wood between us. I handed over the coins, and Okubo counted them before giving a satisfied nod.
“Alright then,” he said. “That’s two hundred gold coins paid in full for the sword.”
“Thanks,” I said, lifting it carefully.
He smiled. “Hey, kid—thanks for buying that sword. My old man will be happy to know it’s finally off his back.”
“Don’t mention it,” I said with a small grin, storing the blade into my item box. “Well, I’ll be going now. Thanks again.”
“Don’t mention it,” Okubo replied, waving as I headed for the door.
As I stepped outside and back onto the street, the air felt cooler, carrying the faint scent of smoke and bread from nearby vendors. I glanced down the road, the noise of the city filling my ears.
“How strange…” I muttered to myself. “Ahan jian sword just sitting here all this time but how?”
I paused, a faint smile forming. “Hmm. Doesn’t matter. I’ve always been interested in this kind of sword anyway.”
I stretched my arms high above my head, a grin tugging at my lips. “Can’t wait to try out this sword,” I said with a laugh.