novelraw Chapter 96 : Dungeon God, Wanted.
Chapter 96 : Dungeon God, Wanted.
Dungeon God, Wanted.
The day before returning to Iushil.
I headed to the stable and was loading a few simple belongings onto the wagon.
Food supplies and tools needed for dungeon exploration provided by the Golden Chain. It wasn't much, so I didn't need help from Barkal or Serena.
Purr.
While I was loading the cargo alone, krunga came over and started acting affectionately.
Then, at the entrance to the wagon, it looked at a broken pillar—the spot Barkal would hit every time he went in and out with his axe.
"Is the axe heavy?"
As if it could understand human speech, krunga nodded its head.
"That axe is Barkal's weapon. I hope you'll endure it."
You could say it's his tool for making a living. Without it, we wouldn't even be able to buy you hay or carrots, you know?
At my words, krunga let out a deep sigh. The way it sighed seemed so human.
I'd always known our beast was smart, but was it this clever?
"Thank you for understanding, krunga."
To soothe its complaints even a little, I decided to take out a carrot from the cargo compartment.
As I stepped inside the compartment—
"Hm?"
I saw a dark shadow deep inside. I was sure I never loaded an item like that.
I got closer and touched it—the sensation through the large piece of cloth was strange.
My fingers sank in; it didn't feel rigid, but more like skin.
"Kyaaah!"
When I touched it, the shadow started to move.
What the—?
Startled, I hurriedly raised the mana lantern and reached for the Blood-Colored Awl at my side.
Looking past the cloth, I saw, just as I expected, a human outline. And those brown hairs seemed quite familiar.
"Miriam?"
When I spoke, the brown hair withdrew and then a face popped out.
"Haha, nice to see you. I knew we'd meet again."
"I figured I might see you again."
The First Finger of the Disguiser.
I'd thought our paths would cross again.
"But I didn't expect it to be this soon."
"Ha, me neither. Didn't think I'd see you so quickly."
Miriam gave an awkward laugh.
"What were you doing in here?"
"Huh? Ah..."
"If you were stealing, I'll call Barkal right away."
"Wait! Can we talk for a moment?"
Talk, about what?
No matter how I knew her, stealing was something I couldn't forgive.
If any items from here went missing, I'd have to buy replacements.
Which would mean extra expenses.
"So, let's not call Barkal, yeah? It's a little better for people with sense to talk things over, right?"
With that, miriam let out a long sigh.
"To begin with, you can't talk reason with barbarians. Their heads are full of fighting; how can you reason with such thick skulls..."
As she spoke, she glanced sideways at me.
"Ah, but you're different, Dmihtan. I would never put you in that 'barbarian' category."
I didn't say much. Still, since I looked like a barbarian on the outside, she hurriedly began to make excuses with shaky hands.
"None of that matters. Why are you here? Just answer that."
"Ah, alright! I'll get to the point! That's what you want, right!?"
"That's right."
"Umm..."
Miriam trailed off. After sighing for a moment, she admitted defeat and spoke up.
"Could you...take me with you?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly how it sounds. When you leave this time, I'd like you to let me ride in your wagon."
I looked at Miriam with narrow, suspicious eyes.
"Why would I do that?"
Maybe she didn't expect such a blunt response, because Miriam looked embarrassed.
"We kind of...have a connection, don't we?"
What nonsense.
"I'd rather you tell me the real reason."
Why she needed to leave this place.
And why she tried to sneak onto the wagon at night.
Miriam's expression grew noticeably dark.
"I...got fired."
"From your job?"
"Yes."
Her matter-of-fact tone almost made me laugh out loud.
But what does getting fired have to do with fleeing in the night?
"There was...a misunderstanding..."
And what misunderstanding was that?
She told me briefly about the situation.
Ebel, the Disguiser, had given her the name "Elenora's errand runner" and then disappeared.
Now the suspicious gazes were falling on her, who had remained behind at the training grounds.
"That does sound troublesome."
"See, right? If they start investigating, I could be in trouble too."
Her identity as the First Finger wouldn't be discovered, but the fact that she was a Disguiser could be exposed.
That seemed to make Miriam anxious.
"If that's the case, I understand."
"Really!?"
When I agreed easily, miriam's eyes brightened.
"Dmihtan! Thank you so much!"
"There's a condition."
"... A c-condition?"
This time, the word "condition" seemed to terrify her.
"W-what's the condition?"
Isn't it obvious?
That shiny magical item.
"Is it...money, by any chance?"
"It is."
"Haha."
Miriam forced a sheepish smile.
"What a joke! Between us, that's..."
Her voice trailed off as she looked into my eyes. Realizing I wasn't joking, her face stiffened.
"If you refuse, use another wagon."
"Wait a moment!"
When it seemed like I was about to refuse her a ride, she started to panic.
Since she'd gotten involved with nobles, she couldn't use a regular wagon. She had no other choice.
She took out 10 silver coins.
I shook my head.
"T-that's twice the price of a wagon ride from Iushil to Odheim!"
So she took out 1 gold coin.
Again I shook my head.
"T-t-that's not enough!?"
This time, she offered 2 gold coins.
I shook my head.
"T-that's a peasant's monthly living expenses!"
Three coins.
"T-this is my last! I don't have any more!"
I held up five fingers. Miriam cautiously tried to lower two of my fingers, but it was no use.
* * *
At dawn, with everyone gathered at the wagon to depart for Iushil, Barkal and Serena glanced at Miriam.
"Miriam, she'll be accompanying us to Iushil."
When I gave a brief explanation, Serena nodded in understanding.
"Rat."
But Barkal didn't look convinced.
Why is he acting like this?
"That one's a rat."
Rat?
At first, I didn't get what Barkal meant.
But after thinking for a bit, I remembered when Barkal used that word.
"Miriam."
"Yes?"
"Are you a rogue?"
Rat.
Barkal tended to call rogues that way.
"I am."
"Rat! I'll tear you apart right now!"
* 〈Thrag wishes for rats as tribute.〉
Ah, so that's why he had a complaint.
"Calm down, Barkal. If not for Miriam, you'd never have found your Erindal."
When I gestured at the axe, Barkal scowled.
Not much later, still sulking, he climbed into the wagon.
After watching Barkal, I sat in the driver's seat and took Krunga's reins.
Maybe it was because I told them we planned to leave at dawn, but Marcus and Lendorn were there waiting for us at the entrance to the Golden Chain merchant guild.
"Is it time for you to go?"
"Yes."
Marcus and Lendorn.
Both of them strode up and shook my hand.
"It's a shame I didn't have a chance to properly repay the debt of saving our lives."
"If you truly feel that way, you may stay here longer."
"Hrmm."
When I said I wouldn't refuse his hospitality, marcus gave a fake cough.
I could tell he actually wanted us to leave.
"See you again. Be sure to drop by if you ever return."
After saying our farewells to Lendorn too, we left the Golden Chain merchant guild.
"Grrrr."
Even as we left, I could still hear something like Barkal's growl from behind.
"P-please calm him down. Dmihtan! Please say something to Barkal big bro!"
I answered Miriam.
"I'm watching you, so don't even think about stealing anything."
Not that I don't understand. Rogues do have sticky fingers.
"I-I know the difference between right and wrong."
Taking Miriam's fuss in stride, we headed for Odheim's city gate.
At the entrance, guards were stationed.
When I first entered Odheim, the security wasn't this strict.
Perhaps because of the recent "vampire" incident, security had been tightened.
"Thank you for your hard work, security."
I greeted the guards first. When they saw us, they began murmuring among themselves.
Maybe they recognized the heroes who defeated the vampire and saved Odheim.
"Uh..."
Why were they hesitating?
One guard went into the station and came out with something resembling a warrant.
"D-don't tell me I'm already wanted?"
Miriam's anxious voice came from behind. There's no way she'd be wanted already. Not even a day has passed.
But if so, this would be the end of our acquaintance.
"Adventurer party Dungeon God!"
Huh?
The guard called out to us.
"What is it?"
"We wish to express our gratitude for eliminating the vampire from our city, odheim."
"No need to thank us."
If they were that grateful, I wanted to ask for money, but in this world, guards were notoriously underpaid.
How much could I expect, really?
"To show our gratitude, though it's not much..."
The guard showed us a wanted poster. On it, it said the adventurer party Dungeon God was wanted.
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**New Names, locations, skills, techniques**