Chapter 11

### Chapter 11 – New Adventurer Bern (9) – Preparing the Gift

When Bern and Blankah reported the completion of their guild quest, this was the first reaction they received.

“Did goblins kidnap and coerce humans to extract their knowledge? A mob numbering over two hundred, all equipped with armor and weapons? And their leader possessed intelligence superior to the average human, with plans to absorb human civilization? Then, two adventurers wiped them all out? Blankah, have you secretly become a playwright?”

It was understandable to see why the guild had their doubts. While adventurers often embellish their tales, this seemed to be taking it too far.

However, Blankah insisted that anyone who doubted should come and check for themselves. Her passionate declaration that she’d resign as a handler and work as a clerk if it wasn’t true convinced the bewildered guild secretary to send out investigators, just in case.

“…Damn. I’ve never seen so many goblin corpses piled up like this. If we’d arrived a few days later, the scene would have been a chaotic mess.”

“There are clear signs of a large number of them—maybe a hundred—being wiped out in a single attack inside.”

“There are also marks of humans being held captive.”

At first, the investigators were mostly overwhelmed and astonished, but as the investigation progressed, their faces grew grim.

It was already unusual for nearly a hundred goblins to stay united under one banner, but the fact that the entire force was equipped, however rudimentary, and that some had custom gear, was no trivial matter.

The veteran investigators soon realized that this situation could have potentially become a disaster capable of ravaging the entire kingdom.

The report from the investigators went directly to the Eastern Branch Chief—a rare occurrence for a Grade 2 quest—and he cursed under his breath.

“Was this simply left unattended until it escalated so far, and then reported to us as a simple goblin extermination?”

The Branch Chief squeezed the Artzar Baron’s territory, and initially, they claimed they didn’t know either. But, under continued pressure from the guild, the Baron responded with arrogance, claiming, “It only escalated because you guys didn’t move fast enough!”

Thus, yet another page was added to the long history of animosity between the Adventurer’s Guild and the nobility.

Of course, this was a quarrel between the higher-ups.

To the lower-level adventurers and employees, the immediate concern was still the payoff.

“First, we cannot give any more money.”

When the secretary saw Blankah’s expression souring, he hastily added on.

“After you reported the situation, if the guild had time to reassess and adjust the contract with the client accordingly, a fair remuneration would naturally have been expected. But you two solved it before the reassessment could even be completed, so the original rate stands.”

“And how about the real reason?”

“… Artzar has brought other nobles on board. They’ve flatly refused any additional compensation. They’re basically daring us. Even our external secretary is grinding his teeth.”

In terms of pure military strength, the adventuring guild branch could easily hold its own against the Barony.

How much power could those who couldn’t even govern their own lands properly possibly wield?

But if the guild were to use force to ‘levy’ additional tax or payment from the Baron, then the entirety of the kingdom’s aristocracy would stand against them.

After all, despite being notoriously corrupt, the nobility are fiercely protective of their authority and the current system.

“Still, if we don’t let them outsource jobs to us, they’ll also be in trouble. Soon enough, they’ll cut off some subordinate and claim ‘I didn’t know it would escalate like this,’ and we’ll reach an agreement. Until then, wait a little longer.”

“No, it’s fine. How long would that take?”

“…Are you suggesting the guild opens its coffers to pay you personally? While a direct cash payment might be difficult, I might forgive your debt to the guild if that’s any consolation.”

“Not really. Let’s keep it official.”

Blankah stretched out three fingers and said,

“Bern, upgrade us to Grade 3 adventurers. We deserve it, don’t we?”

“Wait, before you started, your request was to take Grade 3 quests together, which involves at least three successfully completed quests.”

“The quest’s nature has changed, so naturally, the reward should change too. We have enough merit to justify this advancement, don’t we?”

“The guy just hit Grade 2 less than a week ago.”

“The guild values achievements, not seniority. Isn’t that what you always say?”

The secretary’s face crumpled in frustration but ultimately, he sighed in defeat.

“There won’t be any monetary compensation, though. Even if Artzar caves in later, none of it will go to you.”

“Fine with us.”

“Ah. Go, go. Talking to you is exhausting.”

The secretary waved his hands as if trying to shoo away flies, and Blankah walked out of the office without displaying any obvious frustration.

At the guild entrance, a young man greeted Blankah with a deep bow.

“Greetings, Senior Sister!”

The nearby adventurers began gossiping, and Blankah’s face turned red as she snapped in irritation.

“I told you to just call me Blankah! What kind of ridiculous ‘Senior Sister’ nonsense is this!?”

“Lord Brother is lord brother, and lady sister is lady sister. How could I casually address the one who saved my life and even healed my ankle?”

This man named Renya was one of the slaves Bern and Blankah had freed.

Even in the cave, Renya stood out with his sharp and adaptable demeanor. While most of the other former captives scattered to find new settlement sites, Renya insisted on tagging along with Bern and Blankah under any role, whether as a pack animal or helper.

Blankah distrusted Renya’s shrewd nature immediately but Bern argued for keeping him along.

The reason, however, was somewhat alarming.

“Originally, his type instinctively detects danger with an uncanny accuracy. Keeping him around for observation may prove beneficial.”

‘Let’s have our own “canary in the coal mine”!’ There wasn’t much to comment on that.

“Did the mission go smoothly? Lord Bern mentioned reserving a table at the restaurant and asked me to inform you once it’s done.”

If only that blasted ‘Senior Sister’ nonsense could be excised. He’s not even that much younger than her.

Sighing deeply, Blankah followed Renya to a reasonably priced but not overly luxurious restaurant where they joined Bern, who had already taken a seat.

“Negotiations have been successful. Since the secretary handles things swiftly, it shouldn’t take longer than tomorrow for our Grade 3 adventurer certifications to come through.”

“Thank you. Renya, what about you?”

“Of course, Lord Bern! I have successfully changed my affiliation. I’m no longer under the Southern Eastern Branch but now belong to the Eastern Branch! Please take care of me. I will serve you with all my heart!”

“Wow.”

“Yes, please take care of me.”

Blankah’s reaction seemed to cringe at the theatrics, but Bern showed no such discomfort.

As the Crown Prince, Bern was accustomed to flattery and sycophancy in all its forms. Compared to those subtle manipulations and scenarios, this overt pandering was almost refreshing and amusing to him.

“Is there any talk regarding the materials gathered by the goblinkind?”

“Not really. Anyway, initially, those spoils were supposed to be ours, so even if anyone said anything, we wouldn’t have to worry.”

At a glance, it seemed like the two had only managed adventure-related honorifics without much financial gain, but that wasn’t the whole story.

The vast amount of resources the Goblin King had amassed to build his kingdom was immense.

Though selling meat and oil might not have been practical due to their perishability, the same wasn’t true for leather. By weaving together large slabs of leather, Bern managed to haul an enormous load alone.

The profit wasn’t life-changing but was certainly a decent amount.

“Since you have a debt with the guild, don’t you want to pay it off first? If you’re short on funds, I can help with my share.”

Upon Bern’s suggestion, Blankah firmly shook her head.

“No, that wouldn’t be right. Unless we had initially agreed to allocate a fixed percentage of our rewards to party funds, financial transactions must be strict between allies. Otherwise, many thriving parties fall apart.”

For Blankah, Bern was a lifeline she couldn’t afford to lose.

It would be foolish to cut the rope she’d tightly gripped just because her current situation seemed dire.

“Besides, the guild typically doesn’t push for immediate repayment as long as they see consistent attempts. In fact, they prefer it to stretch over a longer period since they have interest on it.”

Blankah didn’t disclose how before meeting Bern, she hadn’t been able to repay her debt consistently, which was why she had to work as a receptionist.

She didn’t want pity.

To avoid it, strengthening her capabilities was imperative.

“Let’s take proper quests from Grade 3 level once certification comes in tomorrow. For today, let’s eat and rest. We’ll meet at the guild early tomorrow morning. Does that sound good?”

“Understood.”

“Yessir! Let’s eat now! The food will go cold!”

While they continued eating, Blankah’s thoughts were preoccupied with future plans.

“Buying decent magical tools with this money seems unrealistic. Even the scrolls are on the edge… Magic Potions? They might be practical, but they’re consumables, which is concerning… I should probably save a bit more, right?”

What Blankah didn’t realize was that Bern was silently observing her deep in thought with an unusual expression.

***

After parting from the group,

Bern entered his room at the inn and lapsed into silent contemplation.

A sinister whisper reached his ears from the shadows.

“You know, she’s a remarkable woman. Even with a guy who seems able to solve any problem right next to her, instead of relying on or begging him, she strives to catch up. Why not go comfort her a bit? Hmm? Or offer physical comfort, if you know what I mean? After all, the spell duplication you learned can take care of night work. Just relax and let it happen.”

“…After staying quiet for so long, is that really the first thing out of your mouth?”

Lucidra paid no mind to Bern’s sarcasm.

“Then what should the demon say? Should I gently suggest a morning walk or something wholesome like that?”

“Oh, that’s a brilliant suggestion. As a mage, I should focus on physical training alongside spellcasting. It’s commendable how helpful your suggestions have become. I’d appreciate it if you continue in this same vein.”

“…”

Lucidra’s appearance was unseen, but Bern could roughly imagine the expression on her face.

Undoubtedly, she must have looked sour.

“Rather, do you have any interest in a deal with me?”

“…A deal? You? What’s the occasion?”

After teaching the Crown Prince her spell of duplication, Lucidra had repeatedly offered various contract propositions, only to be met by a steadfast denial from Alondre.

However, now that the other party was bringing up contracts, curiosity outweighed amusement.

“Any spells or methods that would be helpful for a mage? Anything come to mind?”

“If I do, why would I bother trying to barter it for knowledge you already possess? You know plenty already, don’t you?”

“The techniques I know and use come from the Empire’s independent development. If they leaked externally, it could cause significant trouble. Moreover, it could jeopardize Blankah’s safety.”

“Ah, so you wish to use my power? What’s your price?”

“The magic and souls from the monsters I tamed as adventurer Bern. You may consume them. The ratio will depend on how valuable and consequence-free the techniques and spells are.”

“That’s absurd. Even without your permission, I can consume souls and mana on my own. Would you dare give it as payment? And it’s not even the whole amount—just a ratio?”

“What’s your point? If I hadn’t established a passage with my duplicate spell, you’d still be tethered to your physical form, unable to move beyond the castle. Should I start charging tolls now?”

“…You really treat that adventurer woman half the attention and kindness you show me. You know, right?”

Lucidra complained in irritation but realized nothing could faze Bern, then sighed.

Then, she proposed,

“How about Essence Drain?”