Even if I Die, We Go Together
Thanks to the blessing of Liberas, the dungeon that had not collapsed finally crumbled the mont we escaped.
In fact, the sound of the dungeon collapsing made my heart sink.
It ant one less way to prove our innocence.
That's why, when the security guards burst in, I felt even more anxious.
Rozenkranz had been cooperating with vampires, using people as sacrifices to cultivate a rose called the "Bloody Rose"!
Who would possibly believe such a story? And Rozenkranz certainly wouldn't confess it himself.
"... You people, again?"
Thus, the security unit of Odheim, alerted by the commotion, arrived. The guards' faces were familiar.
Of course, they were the very guards we'd beaten up before. Among them, the veteran fighter nad Kalec frowned at the sight of us.
"Two barbarians. Ever since you two showed up, there's been nothing but trouble."
"It's not like we wanted all this chaos."
From the start, weren't we the victims here?
Barkal might be a bit flashy, but this ti we were certainly not at fault.
Anyway.
We explained everything that had happened to the guards, including Kalec.
And we explained what the "Rose of Blood" rchant guild had been up to.
"... So, that's what happened."
As we spoke, kalec's eyes grew shadowed.
He didn't seem inclined to argue.
"We'll investigate the full details ourselves."
"What should we do, then?"
"We'd like your cooperation until the investigation is concluded."
Well, that was only to be expected.
"Guards of Odheim! You have lost to us!"
While I was conversing with Kalec, Barkal suddenly butted in.
He snorted loudly, glaring at the guards.
"Well..."
Kalec didn't deny it.
"We do not take orders from those weaker than us!"
Here he goes with his nonsense again.
"We'll cooperate."
I cald Barkal down and promised the guards our cooperation for now.
* * *
Watching her comrades, Dmihtan and Barkal, walking away, Serena looked troubled.
As fellow mbers of the "Dungeon God" adventurer party, Dmihtan and Barkal were heading off sowhere with the guards. No doubt they had gone to participate in the investigation.
Of course, Serena had tried to accompany them as well.
― Don't you have sothing you need to do?"
Dmihtan had dissuaded her.
Sothing to do. Serena quickly picked up what he ant.
Thus, she moved her feet, searching for a spot with a more comforting view.
Serena's eyes were drawn to a hill, covered in the distinctive red soil of the Rozelia region.
At the far end, beneath an olive tree.
There, Serena, having carried Garbidal's bones, began to dig the earth with the shovel she'd brought.
A small hole ford. Serena carefully placed the bones inside.
There wasn't any special marker to leave behind. Perhaps just the olive tree would be enough of a mory? Thinking so, Serena quietly went about her task.
"... That's a familiar face."
Just then, a voice ca from behind. Serena turned her head.
Standing there was the oldest-looking man among the security mbers from Odheim.
"My na is Kalec. I'm one of Odheim's security."
The man introduced himself and stood still, gazing at Serena.
"I am Serebrina Lightbringer. As you can see, I serve Liberas as a cleric."
"Cler... Hmm."
At the word 'cleric', kalec choked, coughing lightly.
Though she wore the attire of one who served Liberas, her rough fists and the bloodstains on her clothes made her look far from a typical 'cleric'.
"Whose grave is this?"
Kalec asked calmly, and Serena replied.
"Garbidal. It's my father's grave."
Kalec's eyes widened slightly at the na.
"... Your father?"
"Yes."
"So it wasn't just my imagination."
Kalec peered into Serena's eyes.
"Now that I see, your eyes are just like his."
Kalec's voice grew louder as he spoke. Serena simply gazed back quietly.
"Did you know my father well?"
"We were friends. We both left Odheim around the sa ti, aiming to beco adventurers."
Kalec spoke as if recalling old mories.
"When I ca back, garbidal was already being shunned, known as the 'adventurer with the scent of roses.'"
Serena nodded silently.
"If you're curious about the guy, ask . If it's sothing I can answer, I'll do my best."
Serena was sowhat surprised by Kalec's offer.
Even though he was her father, she'd never actually seen his face. All the sa, she suddenly found herself wanting to know what kind of person Garbidal had been.
"Then... may I ask you just a little?"
She did not cry.
The absence of tears pained Serena's heart, but she swallowed it down, thinking it was a pain she could soon forget.
* * *
Although we expected the investigation to take more ti, Barkal and I were released faster than I thought.
Considering the scale of the commotion, it wouldn't have been odd to be kept for a whole week. But being a "silver rank adventurer party" seed to help a lot.
Above all, the "Golden Chain" rchant guild's help in proving our innocence was significant.
"In the end, the nobles of Odheim don't care what sort of chaos is happening. All they care about is the money in their pockets."
Marcus from the "Golden Chain" spat as he looked up at one of Odheim's tall buildings.
Then he muttered, "Those damned bastards."
"Thanks for your help, marcus."
At my words, marcus gave a slight smile.
"I told you, I always repay debts one way or another. It's the rule of our Golden Chain guild."
A debt, huh.
Co to think of it, that's how I ended up getting involved with this guy, trying to get paid back.
But now that I think about it, this help was sothing I deserved anyway—shouldn't the debt be repaid separately?
I nearly spoke my mind, but held myself back.
We did find a Rune of the Abyss.
And picked up a lead on a 'Player'.
Though, from 300 years ago.
"By the way, I already knew Bloody Roses weren't ordinary, but I didn't expect them to be in league with vampires."
"What's going to happen to the Rose of Blood guild now?"
I asked, curious.
They were one of the major rchant guilds powering Odheim, after all.
Marcus just shrugged.
"Unless they have a ridiculous amount of money, this is how it ends."
He made a throat-slitting gesture across his neck.
But isn't a major rchant guild with a footing in the city supposed to have ridiculous amounts of money?
"Maybe if they had enough wealth to buy a whole country, they might survive?"
Then they're basically dood.
Having gotten out—though it didn't really feel like an acquittal—Barkal and I had nowhere else to go, so we headed straight for the Golden Chain guild's mansion.
Co to think of it, there are two famous rchant guilds in Odheim.
And I've managed to cause trouble at both.
"Th-thank you for your hard work."
Serena was waiting for us as well. It'd been about a day since we were summoned by the security unit, and in that ti she seed to have collected herself.
Or did she really pull herself together? Honestly, she didn't seem much different from usual.
"Sorry I couldn't help with making the grave."
"N-no! You've done more than enough for ! Thank you so much!"
Serena bowed deeply in gratitude.
"It was for a comrade! Through fire or water, I can go anywhere for a friend!"
Barkal replied as if telling Serena not to mind.
"But with this, your business in the Rozelia region is resolved."
I said to Serena.
That now, the reason for her coming here had been resolved.
In fact, one might say this also fulfills the reason Serena beca an adventurer in the first place.
So.
The ti has co for Serena to quit being an adventurer.
"You're right. The reasons I ca here are all resolved now."
She smiled softly.
"In a way, it was a long journey. I simply wanted to know how the only family mber whose whereabouts I knew was doing. Why he abandoned , too."
As she spoke calmly, she shrugged a little.
"I guess it wasn't abandonnt after all."
Hmm.
I let out a brief sigh.
"Still, I feel relieved. To be honest, I kept wondering what I'd do if he turned out to be a bad person!"
She said she felt lighter.
Judging by our conversation, it seed like her mind was made up.
She had decided to stop being an adventurer.
Honestly, that was the best path. After all, Serena's original goal was to find her father's whereabouts.
Now that she'd found them, she had no reason to keep playing adventurer.
In fact, her family was quite well known; she'd be better off going back and living a comfortable life as a noble.
"If you think so, I'm glad."
"Yes!"
"Serena, I believe you'll do well wherever you go."
"Yes... Yes?"
I held out my hand.
Serena tilted her head in confusion.
She seed about to ask what I ant, but soon seed to sense sothing.
Grab.
Serena took my hand firmly.
"I wasn't asking for a handshake."
"Huh? Then...?"
"It's because of our promise."
"What promise?"
Don't you rember?
"The Iron Fortress ring you have. Didn't we agree that you'd return it if you ever left the 'Dungeon God' party?"
"What?"
Serena's face began to show visible panic at my words.
Did she really forget? Or is she just pretending?
"I-I have no intention of leaving the party, you know?"
Pointing at herself, Serena protested as if she didn't understand.
She said she didn't intend to leave the party?
Don't lie!
Living out your days comfortably as a noble, doing what you want—
vs.
Risking your life in dungeons as muddy as a swamp.
Who in their right mind would choose the latter?
Could she really just want to keep the Iron Fortress ring? I didn't think Serena was that type, but people's hearts can change in an instant.
"Serena."
"Yes?"
"Just give the ring."
"N-no!"
Serena hid the ring on her finger as she spoke.
"If I give this, then it really ans I'm getting kicked out!"
It's not being kicked out—returning it before you leave was part of the contract!
"Please! If I'm not in this party, there isn't any other party that'll take !"
Saying so, Serena clung to my knee.
But you're a noble! Surely you could get a ring like that anyti!
"Serena... let go, please!"
"No!"
She's insanely strong!
I can't shake her off!
***
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