The Genius Necromancer of the Barbarian Race

Chapter 84 : The High Society of Odheim

The High Society of Odheim

The twilight of Odheim was always red.

The sea breeze carried the lingering scent of roses, and that aroma filled the salons where nobles gathered.

"To think I'd live to see a day when all of Odheim's nobles come together. It's a day worth celebrating."

The salon in Odheim permitted entry to only the upper class. One of the nobles gathered there sipped red wine from a glass before quietly speaking.

"Is it true that a vampire was involved with one of Odheim's roses?"

A middle-aged man asked quietly, gazing at the woman savoring the deep crimson wine in her glass.

This man was Balthazar de Lanchard, a noble overseeing Odheim's merchant guild.

"It's true. The 'Bloody Rose' was a rose born by a vampire's hand."

A woman dressed impeccably in silver attire replied.

If even a single drop of the wine she was drinking had fallen, it would have left a conspicuous stain, but she simply kept bringing the glass to her lips without care.

"... And yet the ones who solved this problem were an adventurer party from outside? And a newly formed one at that?"

Another man interjected, stroking his scruffy beard with a sneer.

"An adventurer party called 'Dungeon God'! Even the name sounds unsophisticated."

"Sir Heinrid? Even if the name is tacky, their strength is real. Vampires are at least intermediate-rank undead, no matter how weak the individual. They're much stronger than ordinary monsters."

"Hmph, elenora! I said the name sounds unsophisticated, not that their skills lacked!"

As Heinrid snorted, the woman named Elenora set her glass down and spoke softly.

"So? How should we deal with them?"

As Elenora spoke with a hint of mockery, everyone's attention turned to her.

"Indeed, no matter the adventurer party, the commotion they caused in Odheim cannot be overlooked."

"I'd personally like to just toss them in prison and keep them locked up."

"That's one option, I suppose."

The nobles of Odheim did not look favorably upon the adventurer party 'Dungeon God'.

In truth, the 'nobles' who essentially managed the city were not fond of adventurer parties.

Sure, they closed dungeons and killed monsters, but in the end, they were an unruly private group. There was no reason for nobles to like them.

They could become a loophole to disrupt noble politics and order.

Balthazar sipped his wine and set the glass down. His eyes gleamed sharply in the candlelight.

"It would be difficult to apprehend them publicly. There's an Adventurer's Guild here in Odheim, after all."

"That's true. The citizens would want official punishment, but as adventurers, they were just doing their job."

"So what should we do?"

At Heinrid's question, elenora replied quietly.

"For now, we should wait and see. Those two ignorant barbarians, it wouldn't be strange if they caused trouble at any moment, would it?"

"That's true."

"tsk, filthy adventurers. To think their party even has two vulgar barbarians."

Heinrid spat out insults as he rose from his seat.

That marked the beginning of the nobles' departure, each exchanging polite farewells as they left.

After leaving the salon, heinrid began walking toward the wagon that would take him to his mansion. As he did, a man approached from the shadows.

"Assemble people to send to the adventurer party, 'Dungeon God'."

Heinrid, who had so openly voiced his displeasure regarding adventurers and parties...

Yet, as soon as he exited the salon, composure settled over his face.

"The adventurer party that stirred up trouble in Odheim this time? But why...?"

At the servant's question, heinrid spoke as if it were obvious.

"This is a party that wiped out a vampire clan. The first day the Bloody Rose was distributed in Odheim was, at most, fifteen years ago."

"Yes, that's correct."

"If a vampire has been raised on the tributes supplied by the Rose of Blood merchant guild since then, it wouldn't be an ordinary one."

To wipe out such a vampire clan and close a dungeon...

For 'nobles' who gathered private soldiers, they were talents one couldn't help but covet.

"They are strong. Strength that's just now beginning to make waves."

And—

"There's no one in this world who dislikes money."

"... Then I'll send someone to hire the Dungeon God party."

"No matter their price, just tell them we accept for now. I'll handle the rest."

Even among nobles who managed an entire city, competition was inevitable.

And what mattered in that competition was strength.

The nobles were well aware of this.

That's why other nobles in Odheim began to act much like Heinrid.

As Elenora boarded her wagon, she opened her fan to shield her face.

"I want to have a personal conversation with the adventurer party, 'Dungeon God'."

"I'll send someone. If Lady Elenora summons them, even an adventurer party will have no choice but to answer the call."

"Yes, of course. After all, I am Elenora—Elenora Berkheim."

She lowered her fan just slightly, the corners of her lips curling as her narrowed eyes flickered over the scenery outside the window.

"If you can send someone, do it as soon as possible. I'm sure we're not the only ones thinking along these lines."

Murmuring to herself, elenora's prediction was not mistaken.

"If they want, tell them I'll help secure a knighthood in the Kerval Kingdom."

Balthazar, who had regarded the Dungeon God party with the most skepticism, was also preparing to send someone to entice them.

Thus, every noble who had gathered at Odheim's salon prepared to send people to the Dungeon God adventurer party.

To sway them.

To bring them into their own group of private soldiers.

* * *

"Hic, sniff... I'm so relieved. I thought you'd throw me out because of what happened...!"

Fortunately, the misunderstanding with Serena was resolved.

She really was certifiable.

She preferred the unpredictable and dangerous life of an adventurer—never knowing if she'd even survive—from the peaceful life of a noble in a good family. Truly crazy, that one.

At any rate, after finishing the security investigation, we headed for the Golden Chain's mansion.

Should I say it was a reward for helping Marcus, the 'young master' there, by dealing with their nemesis—the Rose of Blood merchant guild?

He told us we could stay there as long as we wanted.

"If you're grateful, show it with money."

Of course, I made it clear. If you're really grateful, pay up.

"Haha! The Rose of Blood merchant guild is on the verge of collapse, right? If we want to seize that position, our outgoing money is about to be astronomical."

Marcus replied. "We don't even have enough for ourselves!"

What a shameless guy.

Still, since he'll cover food and shelter, at least our living expenses will drop for now.

I was thinking of staying in Odheim a while anyway, so this worked out.

"What are our plans from here?"

"Hmm."

At Serena's question, I let out a small sigh.

I'd obtained the Rune of the Abyss, but for some reason, I didn't feel like leaving this place yet.

Three hundred years ago.

The adventurer who was certainly a 'Player'. I felt a growing urge to dig up information on that adventurer.

"I'd like to spend about three days in Odheim investigating. In the meantime, how about everyone enjoys free time?"

"Three days, you say?"

I nodded at Serena's question.

"Sage! If you need time, I am willing to wait as long as necessary!"

Barkal didn't seem to mind at all.

"I-I can wait too, brother, if that's what you want!"

With both their approvals, I supposed there was no problem staying in Odheim a while longer.

Still, since we'd be off on our own for three days, I grew curious how the others would spend their time.

"I plan to walk around Odheim and soak in the scenery."

Serena answered with a gentle smile. Maybe, after everything that happened, it was less sightseeing and more an attempt at reflection.

"How about you, Barkal?"

Truth is, this was the question I cared about most.

Of all of us, Barkal was the one whose actions worried me.

"I will train."

Training?

"Yes! I saw something like a training ground at this mansion!"

A training ground, huh. I think I saw that too.

Whether Golden Chain or Rose of Blood, since both merchant guilds set up training grounds for their guards, odheim's public safety must not be that good, I guess.

"Amazing, Barkal, my brother. Your unceasing training must surely set an example for other barbarians."

In any case, that meant he'd stay put at the mansion rather than wander off. I felt relieved at that.

"Kuahahahat!"

Hearing he'd be an example, Barkal broke into a cheerful laugh.

"Thank you, sage! I'll do my best to be a good example!"

Yeah, work hard at that.

Just don't go anywhere else and stay right here.

What are the odds of an incident happening while he's just stuck in the training ground, after all?

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