novelraw Chapter 156 : Urban Legend
Chapter 156 : Urban Legend
Chapter 156: Urban Legend
The slums south of Narvik.
Though called a slum, it was not a lawless pit like a high-crime district.
The facilities were simply outdated, and those who were naturally impoverished had gathered to live there.
It was a scene that stood in contrast to the slums of other cities.
It was also a characteristic of a city bordering an Uncharted Area.
Just a short distance away, one could enjoy freedom without law—there was no need to deliberately draw the attention of the guards.
That was why there were more petty criminals than vicious felons.
“Is this the criminals’ den.”
“This isn’t the place, Sigbard.”
Sigbard and Aelin followed behind Robin.
The street had fewer people than other districts.
No one recognized the three of them.
Even so, people kept their distance from Robin’s path.
“It’s nice and quiet.”
Serena tapped the ground with her wooden staff.
Each time she did, those nearby naturally stepped aside.
‘She looked like some back-alley boss.’
Even though no bad rumors circulated about her, people avoided Serena.
It was because they had learned that nothing good came from getting entangled with the strong.
Some Adventurers acted spitefully over trivial matters.
It wasn’t enough to call the guards, but it was the sort of mischief that grated on one’s nerves.
Regardless, Serena’s steps were light.
“I could have gone alone.”
“What are you saying, Robin. You were going to do something this interesting by yourself?”
Only Robin had received the designated request.
It was merely a simple patrol, nothing difficult, yet the three followed as if it were only natural.
“If we map the Underground Passage, it’ll be useful.”
Sigbard and Aelin had come out of personal interest.
Serena was much the same.
“Robin, can’t we buy some skewers on the way?”
“…This isn’t a picnic.”
Though far from serious, there was no harm in going together, so he accepted it.
“But let me say this again—I have no intention of splitting the reward.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I won’t get in the way.”
With things having turned out this way, they arrived at their destination with the intention of matching their teamwork.
A building that looked like an ordinary house.
At a glance, it had clearly been abandoned for a long time.
He examined the entrance, wondering who would come and go from such a place.
“What does it look like to you, Aelin.”
“Someone’s been coming and going recently.”
Aelin pointed to the wall near the door.
Looking closely, there were handprints.
“It looked like someone grabbed the wall while drunk.”
The relaxed atmosphere tightened slightly.
When he gave it a push, the door creaked open.
Inside, there were no traces of habitation. When they lifted the carpet near the fireplace, a hidden hole was revealed.
Sigbard went down the ladder first.
“Watch your head.”
The tunnel’s ceiling was so low that they had to bend at the waist to move through it.
They had descended quite deep from ground level, and it was dark.
Still crouched, Sigbard fumbled and pulled out a lantern.
Aelin and Robin followed down, and just as Serena’s feet touched the ground—
Click.
The lantern in Sigbard’s hand burst forth with bright light.
“Damn, my eyes.”
Serena covered her eyes at the sudden illumination.
Robin and Aelin turned their heads as well, and Sigbard scratched the back of his head and apologized.
“My apologies. Even a lantern being too powerful can be a problem.”
“…That’s no ordinary lantern. What did you bring?”
“It’s a lantern with an Artifact embedded in it that increases brightness. I splurged and bought it.”
“How much did you pay.”
“A whopping 5 Silver. Seeing this brightness, it wasn’t a waste.”
Robin smacked his forehead.
To spend 5 Silver on nothing more than a lantern.
No matter how good the performance, a lantern was still a lantern.
5 Silver was expensive.
‘It was his own money, so I couldn’t really say anything….’
He was about to nag him but closed his mouth.
If Sigbard liked it, what could he do?
‘At least we won’t trip over any rocks.’
As Serena stared at him, Sigbard hurried to take the lead.
Before long, the ceiling gradually grew higher, and even Sigbard could straighten his back.
“It’s a Forked Path.”
“Take the second one from the left.”
Robin had been told in advance that there would be a Forked Path, so he immediately gave directions.
If it were their first time here, it would have been easy to get lost in this structure.
Robin himself did not know where the other paths led.
Step, step.
About twenty minutes after entering the Underground Passage—
Aelin raised her hand and stopped them.
“There’s someone.”
Following Aelin’s guidance, the passage widened further.
Several open paths stretched out on both sides of the widened corridor.
In a place reminiscent of an ant nest, Aelin did not hesitate.
“This way.”
The further they advanced, the more complicated the path became.
Having strayed from the designated patrol route, Robin focused on memorizing the way back.
Just as it was becoming difficult to grasp their position, Aelin pointed in one direction.
She also brought her index finger to her lips.
“…….”
While everyone held their breath and waited, Aelin slowly approached.
A door so camouflaged it was only noticeable upon close inspection.
As Aelin examined how to open it—
Clunk.
A gap opened right in front of Aelin’s head as she bent her knees.
She was the first to realize what came next.
Thwip.
A crossbow fired.
Thud.
It aimed precisely for her helmet.
“Aelin!”
Robin caught Aelin as she fell backward as if paralyzed.
“Ugh… I’m fine.”
Thanks to the sturdy helmet, her life was not in danger.
Even so, being hit at such close range carried considerable impact.
“Open the door!”
There was no longer any need to move in secrecy.
When Sigbard swung his rod, the door shattered with a cracking sound.
Tat tat tat tat.
The sound of someone running away echoed, but it did not last long.
With a rumble, the ground split apart, and it was obvious without looking that the person had fallen flat.
Serena withdrew her staff and approached the fugitive.
“Name’s Vanque. Bounty’s 3 Silver. So there really was a true criminal hiding here.”
The man, his foot caught and unable to move, struggled in vain.
When Sigbard struck the back of the man’s neck, he lost consciousness on the spot.
Only after subduing him did Serena turn back and ask,
“Aelin, can you move?”
“This much is nothing….”
Robin supported her, but she staggered as if drunk, unable to steady herself.
“Let’s rest for a moment until you recover.”
“Thank you…….”
Somewhere in the Underground Passage.
They halted the patrol briefly and took a rest.
It did not take long for Vanque to wake up.
Feeling a throbbing sensation at the back of his head, he lifted it—and the moment he came to his senses, his eyes met Sigbard’s.
“Gasp……!”
“The 3 Silver’s awake.”
He wanted to flee, but he was, of course, bound.
Whoever had tied him had done so tightly; every movement made the rope bite into his wrists.
“Hey, big Adventurer. If you let me go here, I’ll give you 10 Silver.”
“You mean you’ll hand over the money you have.”
“That’s right. So how about we settle this amicably.”
Sigbard pulled out a pouch containing ten Silver Coins from his pocket.
“If this is what you mean, I’m disappointed.”
“…I have a stash hidden away. Don’t you want another 20 Silver?”
“You just made a mistake.”
When Sigbard clenched his fist, it looked sturdy enough to crush iron.
“You’re going to talk anyway. Why should I grant your request.”
“…The bounty on me is for unintentional property damage. I’ve never harmed or hurt anyone.”
“So you’re saying we should let you go because you’re a decent man. Don’t worry. For that much, even the guards won’t execute you.”
“No, if I’m dragged to them, I’ll be tortured until I die. I’m certain of it.”
“Aren’t you overestimating yourself. They don’t put that much effort into a petty criminal.”
As Vanque kept talking in an attempt to persuade him—
Robin appeared.
Come to think of it, the other two women were nowhere in sight.
“You’re awake. Can you walk.”
“So you’re the leader of this team. Hear me out.”
He offered bribes and information that might tempt any Adventurer, but Robin remained indifferent.
“You can make me work as much as you like.”
“What would I use a criminal’s labor for.”
“I’ll definitely be of help.”
“That’s enough.”
When the helmeted woman approached, Vanque shut his mouth.
That woman would surely want to kill him.
His prediction was wrong.
Aelin asked probing him,
“Vanque, what are you.”
“Just a citizen struggling to get by day by day.”
“Not that. I’d like you to tell us about the organization you belong to.”
Vanque looked at Aelin as if asking what nonsense she was spouting.
A helmet that remained intact despite being struck by a crossbow.
A voice that did not match the crude helmet caught Vanque off guard.
“You don’t work for some secret organization plotting sinister schemes from the shadows?”
“A secret organization? Even children wouldn’t believe such rumors…….”
Vanque trailed off.
Serena appeared belatedly, dragging a man along.
The man trembled in fear, unable to resist.
“This gentleman says he has something to tell us.”
Pushed in front of Vanque, the man squeezed his eyes shut.
“This man… Vanque works as a lackey for rioters.”
“Rioters? Explain in detail.”
Grit.
Vanque ground his teeth and glared at the man.
The man seemed more afraid of Serena than Vanque and continued haltingly.
“The fall of the Empire… criminals plotting to overthrow the Imperial Family…….”
“Wait.”
Vanque stood up calmly.
It was so natural that for a moment it was hard to tell what was happening.
Looking down at the man composedly—
Thud.
He hurled himself forward.
He tried to stop the man from finishing his words, but—
“Ghk, ghk……!”
Sigbard’s thick hand tightened around his neck until it was just short of crushing it.
“Continue.”
“Th-the rebels’ gathering… th-that is the group Vanque belongs to.”
“The name?”
“Th-the Hand of Liberation. That’s what they’re called.”
Sigbard released Vanque.
Falling to the ground, he gasped harshly for breath.
Robin crouched in front of him and met his eyes.
“That’s what he says. What’s the story, Vanque.”
“Cough! Haa!”
“I’d like to hear more about the Hand of Liberation.”
Vanque lowered his head deeply.
There was no escape left for him.
The Guild was bustling with Adventurers.
People arranging requests and running about to recruit party members.
Through that throng, a black-haired young man entered.
The Guild doors did not close, and bound men were dragged in one after another behind him.
At a glance, they were criminals with bounties on their heads.
Leading four men, Robin approached the receptionist.
“You’ve already completed the request.”
“We cleaned up thoroughly.”
When he pointed to the men behind him, the receptionist nodded.
After the criminals were taken away separately, Robin was guided to the reception room.
“The client will be pleased. To achieve such results in just one day after taking the request, that’s impressive!”
The receptionist who brought tea and refreshments smiled brightly.
From the Guild’s perspective as an intermediary for requests, swift handling was naturally a good thing.
Humming lightly, the receptionist set down a money pouch.
“Request reward 1 Silver and bounty 13 Silver. A total of 14 Silver.”
Robin checked the amount and put it away.
Normally, he would have to write a report, but anyone could see the request had been clearly completed.
The receptionist exercised discretion and skipped the reporting process.
“How was the Underground Passage. Was it really so dark and damp that it felt like a ghost might appear?”
Without showing annoyance, Robin answered the receptionist’s questions sincerely.
Being confined indoors due to the nature of clerical work, the receptionist enjoyed hearing stories from outside.
“Wow! Really?”
“You must have worked hard. I should have brought a cold drink instead of warm tea.”
“You and your companions seem to get along well.”
He recounted the events smoothly without exaggeration.
He spoke of the request and described the process of capturing the criminals.
They chatted so much it felt like quite the lively conversation.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“It’s my job, and I’m paid for it. If you’re curious about anything else, feel free to ask anytime.”
“Sir Robin, you’re skilled and well-mannered.”
In the warm atmosphere, it was about time to take their leave.
As the receptionist tried to pack some refreshments as a token of gratitude—
Robin asked casually in passing,
“Have you ever heard of the Hand of Liberation.”
“The secret organization shrouded in mystery? It’s quite a famous urban legend.”
“It didn’t seem like just an urban legend.”
When the receptionist tilted her head, Robin gave a small smile.
“Did you know that the Hand of Liberation exists here in Narvik as well.”
“Ha ha ha! What a mischievous joke!”
Both of them burst into laughter together.
Robin gratefully accepted the refreshments the receptionist offered.
“If there’s work next time, please entrust it to me. The pay is quite good.”
“Of course. I’ll spread plenty of good rumors about you in the Guild!”
Leaving the Guild, Robin walked slowly.
What would happen to the criminals he had handed over?
Reviewing his conversation with the receptionist, he watched the children passing by.
Children smiling brightly for whatever reason.
‘You really can’t let your guard down.’
The receptionist who had answered his question with laughter.
Was it coincidence, or calculated behavior?
He could not read whether the eyes hidden behind that smile were trembling.
‘Let’s just focus on my own work.’
Looking down at his feet, a neatly paved road stretched beneath him.
A paved path symbolizing a prosperous city.
A border city where, a little further on, a path made by nature would appear.
Which side had he just stepped into?
Had he unknowingly involved himself in something dangerous?
“Four skewers, please.”
Though he had heard dangerous talk, it had been a flawless execution of the request.
With the jingling Silver Coins and appetizing skewers in his arms, he headed toward the inn.