Chapter 3
Arwintar, often regarded as the manifestation of the Empire's power, contained many surprising assets. One of them was something the majority of travelers were amazed of: that every road in the capital was covered by stones.
Amongst the surrounding countries, even within the technologically more advanced Theocracy—the thought of having to cover the roads of an entire city in stonework would make most cower. Of course it wasn't possible to do the same for every city within the Empire, but the fact that the capital of the Empire was capable of achieving this further reinforced its might. It was something which often made the diplomats from other countries sigh.
Especially the design of the roads since whenever one walked on the flat stone slabs, he would immediately be able to appreciate their elegance and practicality. And unlike the typical roads seen elsewhere, the main roads in Arwintar were segregated into separate lanes where the ones in the center were the driveways for carriages and the lanes on the two sides were the sidewalks for pedestrians. To ensure safety, sidewalks were raised higher from the ground and protected by a fence. At night, street lights which were placed in sets on the side of the roads lit up, powered by magic. Furthermore, platoons of knights regularly patrolled the streets to ensure the peace.
On one of these roads within the Empire's capital, a young man could be seen all humming and smiling as he strolled leisurely on the sidewalk. The man was maybe 170 cm in height and looked around twenty years old. With blonde hair, blue eyes and a healthy, tanned skin, his features could only be described as common throughout the Empire.
He was not the pretty boy type. If put in a group of ten people, the man would definitely not stand out. However, an indescribable charm radiated from him which seemed to attract other people. It might be because of the invigorating smile on his face, or his confident way of walking.
And with every step he took, a metallic jingling which sounded like it was caused by the friction of chains could be heard from beneath his. Knowledgeable observers would realise that it was the noise made from wearing chainmail.
Two swords hung from his waist. From their length, they seemed to be short swords. Parts of the handles were completely covered by the hand guard, with the blades hidden in the sheaths. One could tell that they were definitely not cheap. And finally, a mace and a mail breaker were stored behind his waist.
Possessing two weapons was considered normal for this world. However, it was quite uncommon to see someone with weapons which could be used to slash, pierce, and make bludgeoning attacks.
As such, to an average person, the man would seem an adventurer. However, the well-informed ones would be able to tell that he was a worker simply from the fact that adventurers were required to wear metallic plates around their necks.
Worker. This word was used to describe people who left the career path of an Adventurer.
The job given to adventurers was directly provided by the Adventurer's Guild, where the content and difficulty of the tasks were thoroughly investigated beforehand. Only the ones that were deemed suitable were assigned to adventurers and had corresponding ranks according to the difficulty of the task. In other words, what did not fit into the Adventurer's Guild categories would be instantly rejected.
For example, work that might damage the ecological balance of an area. The Adventurer's Guild would never issue requests involving the removal of monsters that play certain roles in a habitat. This was due to fear that the removal of the monster might trigger the collapse of the ecological balance in the area, which might result in hordes of other monsters leaving their environment and causing damage to human settlements. However, if said monster left its habitat by itself and entered human territory, it would be treated as a separate matter entirely.
In other words, adventurers were defenders of the status quo.
But the world did not operate on principle alone. Regardless of how one would describe things, there were people who were willing to take on high-risk work simply for the reward. There also existed the kind of people that simply enjoyed slaying monsters. These people, when compared against the adventurers that stood in the light, preferred to stay in the darkness. The "dropouts" amongst the adventurers. That was what some people called them.
However, not all workers were the kind of people that were previously mentioned. Hypothetically speaking, if a young village boy was heavily injured and an adventurer group that was capable of performing healing magic happened to pass by, were they allowed to cast the spells to save the boy for free? The answer was no. There was a rule that strictly forbade adventurers from using healing magic on the common people unless a certain fee was paid.
This was because the common usage of healing magic was restricted by the temples, where the patients were required to come to the temples and pay a certain fee in order to receive healing. If the adventurers ignored this system and freely went around healing people, the temples would become unable to feed themselves. For this reason, the temples in all countries had strongly pressured the Adventurer's Guild into enforcing this regulation. If adventurers were unable to obey the rules, then they could opt to become a worker.
Although this example made the temples seem like the bad guys, this rule was not without good reason. Due to the influence of magic on the daily lives of people, magic could be considered as another political tool for power. In order for the temples to provide benefits to the people without becoming controlled by politics, the only source of income they could receive would be from the people. In exchange, the temples provided healing, cleansing of the undead, as well as researching and developing new healing spells.
If the adventurers ignored the regulations and used their healing spells freely, the temples would be forced to become more secular and their initial ideologies would become corrupted.
As such, there were always two sides to a story. Without light, there would be no shadow. The existence of workers could be described in the same way. For money, they were willing to ignore regulations and often make a mess of things, however, there were also cases where they had brought benefits to the people, such as the creation of cheaper medicine. Which is why every country's government allowed their existence and sometimes used them for special cases.
Anyway, this was the profession of that young man who nonchalantly walked around in the streets of the Arwintar.
Hmm... what to buy? He asked himself. There were simply too many things Hekkeran wanted. For the time being, I should probably focus on defensive magic items first. First buy what I need, then deposit the rest of the money.
Hekkeran scratched his head. If it's like that, as the vanguard, I need way more magic resistance, maybe it's time for me to take out my savings as well. But if for some reason I still need to rely on subjugating undead from Kattse Plains to make a living, it might be better for me to buy something which makes me more resistant to poison, paralysis and sickness.
Magic items were highly valued in this world. Especially the ones that were useful during battle were highly sought after by adventurers. If it was a first-rate item, then he would simply give up on buying it. For the time being, the items on his mind were not the extremely expensive ones. But, it would still require years of saving in order for an average person to purchase them. That was why he was taking his time to properly think things through.
His relaxed face, which couldn't contain the smile behind his excitement suddenly became tense the moment he sighted a group of knights currently standing by the side of the road. The group composed of light and heavy-armored knights were standing guard at a road junction. Due to the Temple of the Four Great Gods being in the vicinity, the amount of patrols in the area was high. Although these knights wouldn't just suddenly start questioning normal people who were simply passing by, Hekkeran could still feel the gaze of the knights gathering on the weapons that he was carrying.
It was alright for adventurers, but for workers like Hekkeran that had absolutely no backing from organizations or persons of influence, it wasn't wise to get into conflicts with knights tasked with protecting the Empire. As he had hoped, Hekkeran walked by without incident. After checking his face with the list of wanted criminals and not finding any match, the knights made no further movement.
Having made past the territory of the temple, he finally relaxed and set his sights further ahead. A huge building came into view, and along with it, the sound of cheering, battle and the thirst for blood. That unique building was the Grand Arena, one of the most iconic places in Arwintar.
For Hekkeran, who had seen enough blood spilled during work and had no interest in gambling, the arena was a place which held no meaning to him. However, to the populace of the capital it was one of their most important sources of entertainment. Even from where he was walking, the cheering could be heard. It seemed the arena was completely packed today as well.
"The excitement is always high. Stupid crowds, they like violence only because it doesn't concern them."
In the past, Hekkeran Termite had brought his worker team to the arena, where they had to fight continuous hordes of monsters. Because monsters did not accept surrenders, losing would result in death. Of course, it wasn't like casualties never occurred during battle between humans. On a typical day in the arena, it was very rare to not see a single person die. If something like that did actually happen, the pressure exerted by the audience was strong enough to kill someone, since the events with many deaths were very popular. Among these, the one with the highest casualty rate was therefore the most popular one, the Grand Combat Tournament.
Hekkeran spat on the paved road. He had absolutely no interest in seeing such bloodthirsty scenes taking place, and had no desire to visit that place. However, events that happened in the arena were hot topics that people often talked about, so there were always reasons to go.
I'm not planning on entering today, but when I get back I should probably ask for the highlights. It seems like the matches that took place today are quite exciting.
While trying to memorize the plans that he made, Hekkeran started walking towards an area that contained variety of shops. Soon after, he saw the familiar sign which said 'The Singing Apple Pavilion'.
Due to its name, the shop was said to have started with the gathering of bards who had built their instruments using the wood of apple trees, but now it was a bar and an inn. From the outside, it seemed a bit outdated, but the interior was surprisingly tidy and in good conditions. It kept the cold out, the floor was kept well polished. The quality of the shop was actually quite high but not overly expensive. To Hekkeran and his comrades, no in fact, to the majority of the workers, this place was regarded as the best 'discreet' inn without a doubt.
Although it could not be compared to the top-class hotels in the Empire, those type of hotels were better suited to the adventurers who stood on the public stage. Firstly, the tasks given to workers usually required discretion. Eye-catching hotels in public places weren't convenient at all for the kinds of people that required such services. But at the same time, they couldn't always meet in shady locations and conduct their business there.
Next would be the need for multiple teams of workers to stay in the same spot at the same time. Therefore inns like "The Singing Apple Pavilion", where guests could discuss things in private, were ideal locations that met the clients' needs. Due to the fact that workers did not have the support of an organization like the Adventurer's Guild, the clients were required to search for worker teams themselves. It would be very troublesome for everyone if each group of workers stayed in a different place.
Furthermore, from the perspective of the workers, staying near each other brought about a sense of camaraderie, as well as the benefit of avoiding conflicting jobs that would cause unnecessary bloodshed.
And last but not least, which would also be the most important reason, food and booze here is really nice. While thinking about tonight's dinner, Hekkeran opened the door to the inn. If supper was his favorite pork stew, he would be very happy. Having these kind of thoughts as he entered, the words that he heard were not the typical "Welcome back" or "Hi, Hekkeran" which he would expect but—
"—I told you already! I don't know!"
"No, no, even if you say that ..."
"It's not like I'm that girl's guardian or her relative. It's impossible for me to tell you where she is."
"Aren't you comrades? I can't simply take 'I don't know' as an answer and leave. This is my job after all."
On the first floor of the inn, in the center of the dining area, a man and a woman glared at each other.
Hekkeran knew that woman well. Though her eyes radiated an intense ferocity, the feature that stood out the most were the pair of ears which were far longer than those of a normal human. That said, her ears were still only about half as long as those of typical elves. That's right, she was a half-elf.
Elves tended to be slimmer when compared with humans. It seemed like the woman here had also inherited this trait. Be it the area around her chest or her waist, there were no visible curves on her body. She was as flat as a board. From afar, it wouldn't be surprising if people mistook her for a man. Clad in neat leather armor, without the typical bow and arrows on her, the only weapon she had right now was the short dagger on her waist.
Her name was Imina and she was one of Hekkeran's comrades. Actually, his dearest one.
However, Hekkeran was unfamiliar with the man currently arguing with Imina.
Although he appeared to be groveling in front of Imina by lowering his head, not a single shred of sincerity could be seen in his eyes. In fact, the feeling present there was disgust. At least for now, it appeared that he was trying to keep things civil. The man's arms and chest were packed with muscles. His appearance alone could force anyone standing in front of him to give him what he wanted.
While he didn't seem like the type of person who relied on violence to get things done, Imina was still capable of handling him if he did. Even though Imina didn't appear to be very strong, deep in her body dwelled a strength that was enough to take care of thugs who only relied on their muscles.
Noticing that Imina's voice was starting to become strained with emotion, Hekkeran hurriedly interjected.
"What's wrong, Imina?"
Hearing the sound of a familiar voice, the half-elf turned her head and was surprised when seeing Hekkeran.
For a ranger like Imina, who excelled in perception and awareness of her surroundings, not noticing Hekkeran's approach showed just how distracted she had been earlier.
"...Who the hell are you?" asked the man who was viewed as an intruder by Hekkeran.
Having met his gaze, the worker felt that the atmosphere between them was on the verge of coming to blows. However, for someone like Hekkeran, who had survived countless life and death situations, the gaze was nothing compared to the intense stares of ferocious monsters.
"... That's our team's leader."
"... Oooh, so this is the renowned Hekkeran Termite."
Hekkeran was disgusted by the sudden change of attitude. Even though Hekkeran didn't knew the purpose behind the man's visit, if he came all the way to what was considered by Hekkeran's team to be their stronghold, the inn, the chances of him not recognizing Hekkeran were non-existent.
Perhaps the harshness in the argument from before was to measure the extent of what Hekkeran was capable of. If Hekkeran displayed even a slightest hint of weakness, the man probably would have proceeded to use intimidation next. Amongst workers or adventurers, there were many who were capable of slaying monsters but hesitant towards humans. Even then, the most they would do would be to take a step back, but if things were pushed too far, it would definitely end in a bloodbath.
Even though we just met, he's already like this... This guy is definitely the type I can't stand.
While it was true that this was one of the commonly used methods for negotiation in their world, it was a method Hekkeran didn't like. He would much more prefer it if the other party got directly to the point instead of going about in circles.
"... Could you be a little quieter, please? This is an inn, and you're disturbing other guests. I'd be much happier if you could do that."
Although he was saying that, not a single guest could be seen nearby. Just where did all the people go? It wasn't as though they hid themselves away, the guests of this inn were already quite used to this kind of talk because the majority of them were also workers in the first place.
However, it was truly a rare occurrence for this place to be so devoid of people.
Hekkeran glared at the man using a strength on par with mithril-ranked adventurers. As though confronted by a monster, the man wilted.
"I-I… I'm very sorry. I did not intend to do that initially."
After managing to calm his voice down, the man attempted to speak once more. However, he instantly became quiet again when he saw Hekkeran's glare. Judging from his reaction, it was clear that the man was used to this kind of work, where violence was a common occurrence.
What's a guy like this doing in here? Although the type of work that Hekkeran's team did was under-the-table business, he didn't recognize this man, and Hekkeran had no idea why he had been sent here. He simply didn't fit the profile of someone who came bearing requests. That bothered Hekkeran and he ended up weakening his gaze to ask directly "... Just why are you here?"
"About that, I'm looking for a person that you also knows, Lady Furt."
Hearing the name Furt, the image of a person appeared in Hekkeran's mind. Even so, it was hard to imagine that she would have any connections with this man. That was Hekkeran's conclusion.
"Arche? Did something happen to her?"
"Arche... Ah! That's why. I got confused just then, but we're both talking about the same person here, Arche Eeb Rile Furt-san."
"And!? Did something happen to her?"
"No, no, I only wish to discuss something with her... The content of the discussion is private, that is why I wanted to know when she would return."
"As if I would know that", Hekkeran replied sharply.
For someone who was never direct when speaking, the man was briefly stunned by Hekkeran's words.
"So, this conversation is over."
"I-It can't be helped then. If that's the case, I'll have to wait here."
"Get lost."
Hekkeran gestured to the entrance of the inn with his chin. Hekkeran's attitude shut the other man up once more.
"I will make it clear, I don't like you at all. I simply can't tolerate guys like you within my sight."
"But this is the tavern area, I can..."
"Ah, that's right, isn't it? This area is indeed the tavern. But don't forget this is also a place where drunks get into fights." Hekkeran smiled at the man. "But you don't have to worry. Relax, even if you're gravely injured, we have a priest here who's capable of using healing magic to heal you."
"As long as you pay the right price, that is. It can't be helped that we have to charge you, or else the temples would become very annoyed. We definitely don't want to attract any assassins sent by the priests," said Imina. A grin was visible on her face. "Well, at the least we'll give you a discount. Remember to thank me for that, won't you?"
"If you plan on threa—"
The words coming from the man halted midway as he saw the dramatic change on Hekkeran's face. The worker took a step forward, all the way until the distance between their faces was a fist away.
"Hah?! Threats? Who's making threats? Is it such a big surprise that bars have fights? What the hell, I give you good advice for living a long and healthy life and you say I'm making threats? Are you disrespecting me?"
Hekkeran's current appearance was something only people who had faced death could possess.
Confronted with the pressure coming from him, the other man took a step back. He clicked his tongue for a bit and then reluctantly walked towards the entrance. Although he wanted to hide the fact that he was frightened, one look at his back was all it took to confirm it. As he reached the entrance, the man turned his and shouted at Hekkeran and Imina one last time.
"Tell that brat from the Furt family! Tell her the deadline is approaching!"
"Hah?!" Hearing the iron in Hekkeran's reply, the man quickly scurried away.
As soon as the man disappeared, Hekkeran's expression quickly returned to normal. The change was so sudden that onlookers might have thought that the entire scene had been nothing but an act. And then, Imina started clapping, as though he had really pulled off a great performance.
"So, what that all about?"
"I don't know. He only told me as much as he told you."
"Damn, I should have listened more before getting rid of him." Hekkeran held his head in defeat.
"Just wait and hear it from Arche once she gets back."
"... But it's no good to pry too deeply into things."
"Well, even though what you said is correct, you're still the leader. Do your best!"
"In that case, I will use my authority as the leader to order you to ask her about it. It would be much better if a fellow woman like you were to ask her about it, don't you think?"
"Come on, give me a break, I don't want to ask either."
The two smiled bitterly at each other. There were a few rules in common between adventurers and workers, where certain things were simply not done. The first would be to uncover a teammate's past. The second would be to display excessive greed. In the case of the second rule, to some extent, it was unavoidable due to the fact that many people chose to be workers for personal gains. However, even that had a limit. Too much avidity could cause a team to lose its coherence. It was difficult to trust those who were constantly grumbling about money. Letting teammates watch your back during dangerous moments was a fundamental part of teamwork and unity. As such, all teams needed a minimum level of trust between each other. But how much could you trust someone who was known to be greedy when you take on a high-risk, high-reward job?
Currently, it seemed like there were problems relating to Arche, which would affect her reliability. That simply wasn't a matter which could be easily overlooked. During the course of their jobs, they would be putting their lives in each other's hands. As such they couldn't afford to have even a trace of doubt in their teammates.
Hekkeran shook his head, while displaying his reluctance on his face.
"Looks like it can't be helped, then. I'll have to ask when she comes back."
"I'm counting on you..."
Hekkeran narrowed his eyes at Imina, who was smiling and waving her hand. He said, "Don't you think you can get away. You also need to come talk to her with me, yo."
"Eh, ehhh..." Although Imina clearly wanted to refuse, she gave up as soon as she saw the determination on Hekkeran's face. "Oh well, it can't be helped. Hopefully it isn't anything big..."
"Anyway, where did Arche go?"
"Ah, she's gathering the information behind that job."
"Aren't Rob and I in charge of that?"
After returning from Kattse Plains, they had only just received a new commission, with pretty good terms for the nature of the work concerned. As such, they had began the preparations for taking the job. Originally it should have been Roberdyck, who was best suited for this sort of thing, to research the background of the commissioner as well as the compensation.
Hekkeran was to head to the Empire's Administrative office to collect the payment for completing their undead subjugation. All work related to eliminating undead on the Kattse Plains was treated as government work by the Empire. Also, he was to use alternative methods to gather similar information as Roberdyck. Imina and Arche should have waited at the inn.
"It wasn't just that. Rob needed help investigating the history and conditions around the area of operations."
Hekkeran nodded his head, as a look of understanding dawned on him. Although Arche had dropped out of the Imperial Magic Academy, she probably still had some contacts there. She was probably more suited at gathering academic-related information and she could also visit the Magician's Guild to collect additional material.
"So that's why she went along. Rob is also quite knowledgeable, and has connections to the temples. Anyway, how did it go?"
Hekkeran made a satisfied sound as he sat down into a chair and spoke up.
"Although the request was only offered to workers, the content of the job isn't anything bad. The reason why they chose to hire workers this time around is probably because the location of the job is somewhere adventurers can't go. However, just like the client said before, it seems like they've made contact with other teams as well."
"Are we really working with other teams? Even if it is said that the ruins they discovered appear to be untouched, for them to be willing to invest this much without any definite gains seems a bit…"
"That Greenham guy was saying the same thing. But in the end, 'Heavy Masher' seems to be planning to accept the request. If we don't decide by tomorrow, things might be troublesome."
So far Hekkeran's team had only listened to the contents of the request, and they had yet to accept it. Although they promised to give the client a reply by tomorrow, if they were going to accept, they would have to start preparing immediately.
"And then, at this important juncture something else comes up… Are the two things somehow connected?"
"We can't rule out that it was done by another team that wanted to make a fortune with this, but I think we should still wait and listen to Arche's explanation before deciding. If it really is a scheme started by another team, do we back out or carry on?"
"Of course we continue. If they plan on starting a fight, then we just need to keep whacking them until none of them dares to mess with us again, till we knock all their teeth out."
"That sounds quite excessive."
Although Imina seemed overly harsh on the outside, Hekkeran also thought her approach to solving this problem was a good one. While it wasn't too big of a deal to be looked down upon, their reputation would also drop if they backed out. Losing reputation was something that those in the worker profession wished to avoid.
At the same time a fiery determination burned within Hekkeran's eyes, a squeaky sound of doors opening came from the entrance. The figures of two people walked into the inn.
"—We're home!"
"We have returned!"
The first words sounded somewhat whiny and belonged to a girl, followed shortly by the voice of a man whose eyes were filled with righteousness. The momentary pause came from the hesitancy of covering up the soft voice of his female companion.
The girl that first walked in was not too thin. The words 'young beauty' would describe her the best. With the appearance of a late teenager, the girl had delicate features and shoulder long hair. Hers was an elegant beauty, but every now and then she gave the impression of being a lifeless doll. Her hands grasped an iron staff that was around the same height as herself. The surface of the staff was covered with symbols and runes. She wore a loose robe, and under that, sturdy leather clothes which offered quite a bit of protection. She was obviously a magic caster.
The man was wearing full body armor, although he had taken the helmet off, and over the armor was a surcoat embroidered with the symbol of a crest. A morningstar hung from his waist and a necklace bearing the same crest as his surcoat laid around his neck. With a neatly arranged hair and a well-trimmed beard, the man gave off a hearty impression and seemed to be in his thirties.
These two were the comrades that Hekkeran and Imina were waiting for, Arche Eeb Rile Furt and Roberdyck Goltron.
"Ooh, welcome back!" Said Imina and Hekkeran at the same time.
Could this be described as good timing or bad timing? "What's wrong? Did something happen to the two of you?" Roberdyck used a tone that did not display any seniority to the two of them. One of the reasons was due to personal choice, the other was because of the mutual equality between workers.
"Th-there's no problem."
"Tha-that's right. Just as Hekkeran said."
Arche and Roberdyck both watched as the two of them waved their hands in denial.
"Umm, speaking of which, this isn't a good place to talk, how about we go over there?"
Being done with joking around, a serious expression appeared on Hekkeran's face as he pointed towards a circular table at the back of the tavern area.
"Before that, err. About the drinks—Oi, Imina. Where did the owner go?"
"...Out shopping. I'm watching over the place for him."
"Is that so? Then what should we do? Is it fine for me to casually take out a bottle or two?"
"I'm fine with not drinking."
"Ah, I'm also fine, thanks."
"Ok. In that case... then let's start the meeting of 'Foresight'."
The relaxed expression on every member's face vanished. At the same time, they leaned forward onto the table, bringing everyone closer together. Although there weren't any other guests at the moment, this sort of behavior had become an old habit that was hard to break.
"First, I would like to confirm the content of the commission."
Once he made sure he had everyone's attention, Hekkeran continued. His tone and expression were completely different from before. As the leader of the team, it was necessary for him to act serious and maintain dignity when the situation called for it. That was only expected of him.
"The client this time is Earl Femel. The content of the request is to survey some ruins, most likely an underground tomb, discovered within the territory of the Kingdom. The compensation consists of a down payment of 200, followed by another 150 after completion. The quality of the contract and the total amount offered as reward is extremely high this time around. Not to mention that there's going to be a bonus at the end based on the results of the investigation. All magic items discovered during the investigation will belong to the Earl; however, the person that discovers them will receive an additional bonus of half the market price of the magic item. As for things like gems and precious metals, artworks and other treasures, after their value is verified, half the amount will be given to the discoverer.
Also, they've made contact with other worker teams as well. Based on how events might unfold, it's most likely going to become a joint operation… alright, I think I've said enough."
After sharing the information he obtained with Arche and Roberdyck, Hekkeran returned to the content of the commission.
"The maximum duration is three days. The aim is mainly to explore the inside of the tomb. The important part to note is, it's suspected we might encounter monsters during the investigation, but what types are currently unknown. From the looks of things, this commission really seems to be just a simple investigation."
It was very common for monsters to use abandoned ruins at the outskirts of human civilisation as their lairs. As such, the "survey" tasks given to workers tend to be regarded as a reconnaissance by fire.
"The most important aspect about this commission is that it seems like the tomb is unexplored."
The moment that was said, the atmosphere surrounding the group changed.
Two hundred years ago, during the time of the Demon Gods' unrest, many kingdoms perished. It wasn't just human kingdoms that were destroyed, countries composed of demi-humans and other heteromorphic species perished as well. The ruins of these civilizations often contained many priceless treasures and the possibility of finding powerful magic items was also high. Finding these treasures was a dream shared by both adventurers and workers alike. As such, unexplored ruins were something that adventurers and workers all wished to find. And suddenly, here it was, right in front of their eyes.
Having confirmed the excitement within the eyes of his comrades, Hekkeran passed the ball to the two that went out for intelligence gathering.
"Finally, the provisions required for the trip to and from the site will all be covered by the Earl. That is all the information that I've gathered. Next, Arche, Roberdyck, tell us what you found out."
"In that case, I'll start. Earl Femel's standing within the palace isn't very good. There are rumors that the Blood Emperor is giving him the cold shoulder. However, from what I've gathered, it does not seem like he is in need of money..."
"Regarding the ruins discovered within the territory of the Kingdom, both Arche-san and I have tried researching the past history of recorded civilizations. So far, we are unable to find any records of ancient cities being built near the site of the ruins. If it indeed is a tomb, we should have been able to find clues left behind in books... Truthfully speaking, I can't figure out why there would be a tomb or anything at all in that location. Only a few small villages exist near the area, perhaps it would be better to search for information there."
"That can't be done. We've been ordered to keep this operation has secret as possible. The client wishes for as few witnesses as possible. In other words, we shouldn't be making any unnecessary movements."
"Right, that region belongs to the Kingdom. If this gets exposed, we might end up becoming enemies of the Kingdom and the Vaiself family."
Exploring the ruins discovered in a different country, this kind of borderline illegal work was the reason why workers were selected instead of adventurers.
"So… what we're doing is just plain old dirty work?"
"Although it can be seen that way, there's still a slight delicate issue."
"That's right. If the Empire's workers are caught inside the Kingdom, the Earl will definitely get dragged down along with us."
"Which brings us to the main question. Where did this information on the discovery of the ruin come from?"
"Yeah. No matter how I think about it, it's strange."
The four of them became more troubled after this. Should they accept the request or not?
Unlike adventurers, who had the backing of an entire guild, it was absolutely necessary for workers to properly investigate all details regarding the offered work before deciding. First, they had to thoroughly investigate the client's background and his connections, then the work location. Finally, based on the details gathered from the description of the job, a decision is made on whether or not to accept it. Even after having done all of that, sometimes it still wasn't enough. If one wasn't capable of doing this, then they should quit being a worker. No matter how good the payment for the job might be, it would be better to reject it if you couldn't wash away the dirt that ended up staining your hands.
"… I've confirmed the payment already, this was given for the initial deposit."
Hekkeran placed a metallic plate on top of the table. The surface of the plate was inscribed with countless different small glyphs and runes. Although he was given the plate, he had to return it if they decided to reject the commission.
"I've already checked it with the Imperial Bank. The sum has already been credited to my account, it can be converted into cash any time, if we accept."
The metallic plate was a type of guarantee that was used by banks within the Empire, in a similar role as a cheque. In order to prevent counterfeits, the plates were made with an extreme care and delicacy. Although the creation process was extremely long and would definitely incur additional fees for people to use, the advantages still far outweighed the drawbacks.
"From the looks of things, it doesn't seem like a trap... well, I knew they were dead serious the moment they paid the deposit."
If it was a trap, there shouldn't have been a need to pay such large deposit. However, it might just have been made to let people think this way, although Hekkeran didn't believe he had somehow offended the nobleman enough to merit a trap specifically to target him.
"I—"
"Stop. Imina, I haven't finished yet. Please, keep your thoughts a little more flexible."
"Yes, yes. Let's hear them then. About this job that's offered to us... it seems that they're quite pressed for time, however, there are still points I don't agree with. For example, hiring multiple worker teams, what do you make of it?"
Just as Imina pointed out, considering the amount of time it took to contact multiple teams, it would have made more sense to pick the first team that agreed and rush to the tomb's location, considering that jobs like this required great haste.
"I'm not sure either. To begin with, I don't understand why they're trying to rush this. I also didn't receive any information on any emergency situations happening to the Earl. It's not as if there are any events or ceremonies coming up in the next few days. The only thing I can think of is that they're afraid the ruins might get discovered by the Kingdom. And hiring multiple teams might just be enough to sack the place in time."
"About that, Hekkeran. Did you hear anything from Greenham?"
"There's not much to be said. I only went and asked if they were also contacted, but it seems that they were also coveting for information regarding this commission. It was already hard enough not to reveal anything to them."
Hekkeran shrugged helplessly.
"If that's the case, then perhaps there's a third party who's also aiming for the ruins?"
"That's definitely a possibility. If that's true then it would explain why so many workers are being hired. Oh… that's right, it seems that something big happened recently in the Kingdom. However, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the area close to E-Rantel..."
"Let's hear more of this, Rob."
Due to the lack of accurate information, Roberdyck could only explain what he heard in bits and pieces. Since most of the details relating to the incident were pieced together from rumors, the overall picture that was painted at the end wasn't very clear or reliable save that a disturbance had occurred in the Kingdom's capital, which was far away from the newfound Tomb.
"Hmm, we can say for sure the incident is not related in any ways."
"If that's the case then… hiring multiple worker teams, and considering that the job location is within the territory of the Kingdom, is it possible that we're likely to end up clashing with Kingdom soldiers that were sent to explore the ruins? If it's like that then there's no point in collecting further information inside the Empire."
"The other thing to watch out for is an ambush made by the teams of other hired workers. I most definitely don't want to lose my life just as we reach our goal."
"We also need to watch out for ambush made by adventurers. Although speaking of this, I would prefer it if it was done by adventurers. At least we can try to negotiate with them and it wouldn't be as treacherous as one set by other workers."
"If it's done by workers, then things will most likely end in blood."
"… What should we do, leader?"
The overall issues had been raised and discussed, and each member's opinions had also been voiced. What was left were a few remaining speculations before coming to a conclusion.
"Before deciding, I have one thing to say... I think there's a need for everyone to hear this."
Hekkeran sighed deeply and Imina, who sat beside him, momentarily held her breath.
"Arche, a strange man came and said he wanted to see you."
Hearing this, an eyebrow went up on Arche's usually expressionless face. Seeing this reaction, Hekkeran understood that Arche knew the man.
"What did that guy say at the end? ...What was it again?"
Hekkeran blatantly asked Imina. What he received in return was a stare which said what the hell?! However, after realizing that Hekkeran had really forgotten, Imina replied in a tired voice. "He said 'Tell the brat from the Furt family. Tell her the deadline is coming!'. These were the exact words."
Being thrown into the spotlight, Arche took a deep breath and said with a heavy voice.
"I'm in debt."
"Debt?!" Hekkeran exclaimed in surprise.
Of course, it wasn't just Hekkeran alone, Imina and Roberdyck also had shocked expressions. Since there were no ranks within their team, the income was shared equally. And thinking back on the amount of money they had earned so far, the notion of being in debt was ridiculous.
"… How much do you owe?"
"—Three hundred gold coins."
Hearing that reply from Arche, the three of them glanced at each other once more. The amount that was owed was something that normal people wouldn't even be able to dream about. It was something even workers of their level wouldn't be able to earn in one go. Although the deposit for their current given request was three hundred and fifty gold coins, that amount was for the entire team. After subtracting the cost of maintenance as well as buying necessary equipment and items, the amount left for each member was only around sixty gold coins. Furthermore, their team was counted among the top of the worker profession. Using the same set of criteria as assessing adventurers, they would be equivalent to the mithril rank. Even at their level, they couldn't earn that much in a go. That showed just how much of a debt it was.
Arche's face began to cloud up as she felt the doubtful gazes of her companions on her. It was clear she wanted to avoid this conversation. However, if she didn't answer it now, it wouldn't be a surprise if she ended up being expelled from the team. After a moment of consideration, Arche finally opened her mouth.
"... Since my family considers it a huge disgrace, I have never told this to anyone, but… the Blood Emperor revoked my family's nobility status."
Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord el Nix. Renowned for staining his hands with blood. Due to certain events that took place, the previous Emperor was forced to retire. Soon afterwards, what used to be one of the Five Great Families of the Empire, the family of the Blood Emperor's mother, was accused of assassinating the Emperor and eradicated. Things turned sour after that, where the brothers of the Blood Emperor died one after another. During that time, it was as if the winds that blew within the city carried death itself, and near the end, even his mother got caught in it and perished.
Of course, there was opposition during this period. However, this opposition was meaningless to the Blood Emperor, who already controlled the Empire's knights during his time as the crown prince. Using overwhelming military force, every aristocrat that was capable of opposing him was cut down like wheat before the scythe. The only ones who remained were those who pledged their allegiance to the Emperor from the bottom of their hearts, and thus it ended with the complete centralisation of power in him.
However, the Blood Emperor didn't just stop there. Many leftover aristocrats had their nobility revoked due to incompetence. Instead, capable commoners were given the chance to rise in status.
All in all, there were two main points that surprised people the most. First was that the national power of the Empire did not drop a single bit during the mass removal of aristocrats. Second was that the Emperor who had achieved all of this was only a boy one or two years past the age of ten.
So, it wasn't rare to see families that lost their nobility status. Howewer—
"—Even now my parents still live the same lifestyle as before. Of course we can't afford the cost. That's why my parents ended up borrowing money from shady places."
Hearing this, the three of them glanced around at each other. Although the three of them hid it well, feelings of anxiousness, irritation, unpleasantness and anger passed between them.
"I have confidence in my magic abilities. I wish to join." These words had been said by a slender child holding a staff taller than herself. The image of a small child with an expressionless face, who was holding her staff with both hands while standing before them, suddenly came back into the minds of Hekkeran and the others. Later, the image of their stunned faces after they saw the display of Arche's strength in magic came into view in their heads, resounding with nostalgia.
In the two years that went by, after experiencing numerous adventures and having survived adventures where even one wrong move would result in death, the money that they had gained was quite a considerable amount. However, Arche's equipment had hardly changed since the beginning.
The reason for that was finally made known.
"Is this for real? Should I go and have a proper 'talk' with them?"
"I think it's about time for your parents to hear the voice of God. No, perhaps they should meet the fists of God' before that."
"I don't think their ears haven't been listening yet, maybe I should start making holes in them."
"Guys, please calm down. It's already gotten to this stage, what I want to say is, depending on the situation, I plan on taking my sisters away from my parents."
"You have sisters?"
Seeing Arche nod her head, the three of them looked at each other once more. Although they didn't say it out loud, but deep down in their hearts they started to feel it might have been better to give up on this particular request.
It was true that workers had a higher income than adventurers. However, the amount of danger they faced was also much higher. Although they tried their best at making sure the work they took on was as safe as possible, the chances of encountering situations outside their calculations was still quite high.
A single slip might result in a tragedy for her sisters. However, it was pointless to keep thinking along these lines.
"Is that so? Then let's put this topic on hold for now. We will let you handle your current problem... Anyway, back to our main discussion topic, do we accept the offered commission or not?" Having said this, Hekkeran cast a cold gaze at Arche.
"Arche, I don't want to make it sound bad but you don't get a say in this."
"…That's fine. For someone who's in desperate need of money, I can understand my vote would be compromised because of my debt issue. Truthfully, I had thought that I might end up becoming removed from this team."
"What are you talking about? After having a magic caster as skilled as you join our team, it would be a huge loss for us to simply let you go!"
This statement wasn't meant to provide any comfort. It was the truth. Arche's innate talent was a pair of eyes blessed with miracles, had helped out Hekkeran's team multiple times in the past. If a name had to be given to Arche's innate talent, All-Seeing Eyes would be the most suitable words to describe it. Arcane magic casters were surrounded by an invisible aura which wrapped around their body. However, Arche's innate talent allowed her to see it directly. Not only that, she was even able to see which tiers of magic the opponent was capable of using. The advantage of being able to gauge the power level of opponents went without saying.
There was only one other person known of within the Empire that also possessed this ability. And that person was the Empire's highest ranked magic caster: Fluder Paradyne. Although their eyes were the only things they had in common, it showed how gifted Arche was.
"… To think that the Magic Academy would let such a talented child go."
"Exactly. To be capable of using the same tier of magic as me at such a young age is simply unbelievable. Perhaps it's possible for Arche to reach the 6th tier in the future."
"I think that would be quite difficult to achieve. However, I would be happy if the possibility exists."
Just as the previously broken atmosphere was about to recover, Hekkeran clapped his hands. Everyone's attention once more focused on the topic at hand.
"Now now, about the current request, do we accept or not? Roberdyck?"
"I have no objections."
"Imina?"
"Why not? This is the type of work I've always wanted to do."
The work given to workers usually wasn't trivial stuff. Only a few days ago, they were still on the Kattse Plains exterminating undead. Work like that was quite different compared to what was offered now.
"In that case—"
"—If it's for my sake, please don't. Even if we refuse the offer this time I still have other ways."
The three of them glanced at each other and a smile then appeared on Imina's face.
"No way. If you think about it, the request this time isn't the typical shady work. The reward is also really generous. Right, Rob?"
"That's how it is. It isn't for your sake at all. There's probably lots of undiscovered items within the ruins. Isn't it so, Hekkeran?"
"There you have it, Arche. Though it's regrettable we can't make it known that we're the first explorers of the ruins."
"… You all have my deepest gratitude."
Seeing Arche lowering her head, the three of them looked at each other and smiled.
"Well then, Arche and I will go and convert the plate into cash. The two of you go and prepare the necessary items for this adventure."
The items necessary for work could include all kinds of things like rope or oil, as well as certain magic items. For someone with a meticulous personality like Roberdyck and Imina possessing the skills of a thief, this sort of work was perfect for them. On the other hand, one could say that Hekkeran was simply unsuited for tasks like his.
"Alright everyone, let's begin! ... Arche."
Turning towards the caster who was tilting her head with a baffled description, Hekkeran finally said out loud what he wanted to say before.
"The income from this commission isn't enough to cover your debt."
"No problem. This much should be enough to extend the deadline by some time."
"… You can borrow the rest from us."
"That's right. You can always pay us back later using the income earned from future jobs."
Of course it wouldn't be given for free since 'Foresight' members are all equal.
"… Hold on to it for now. I've already returned most of what my irresponsible parents borrowed. But give me some time to consider things through."
"That's fine. Take your time."
The four looked at each other one last time before heading off to complete what they were tasked to do. That was not a look colleagues shared, but one good friends would.