Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha (LN) - Volume 2 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Contract by Magic 

Sheila’s expression caught my eye as I turned around. It was deathly serious, enough for me to realize that something had finally gone wrong. It didn’t seem like I would be able to talk my way out of this situation easily. 

Not having much of a choice, I walked toward the guild’s front door once more, stopping right before where Sheila stood. 

“...Did you need... Something from me?” 

Although my speech was still somewhat halting, it was a vast improvement from the guttural sounds I previously produced during my time as a Ghoul. 

Likewise, Sheila’s voice was far from normal. It was clear that she was troubled, burdened with something she just couldn’t say. 

“...Y-Yes. There is something I would like to ask you... If possible, could you follow me to this room over here...?” 

It seemed Sheila had no intention of discussing this in public. 

There were many ways to interpret this: at the very least, she wanted the matter we were about to discuss out of earshot of the various adventurers milling about in the guild. If I had to guess, Sheila already figured out who I was, along with the fact that “Rentt Faina” had registered as an adventurer twice. For some reason, she kept this secret under wraps, so maybe Sheila understood that I had some deep, personal reason of my own for doing so. 

Of course, this didn’t automatically mean Sheila discovered the fact that I was an Undead. As to whether Sheila would keep that secret... That was another matter altogether. 

If I, as a human, had registered under a false name... That was something that could possibly be forgiven. Having registered under a false name, however, and as an Undead... That may be unforgivable in its own way. 

What should I do...? 

It was a difficult situation. Judging from Sheila’s expression alone, I understood there was no walking away from this encounter. If I refused to speak with her now, it would merely serve to complicate matters. Perhaps I could get by with a minimal explanation, but to do this, a conversation with Sheila was inevitable. 

“...I understand. Where should... I go?” 

“Ah...! Thank you. This way, if you please...” Sheila’s expression lightened up a little at my response. 

Despite her generally apologetic demeanor, I resolved to explain as little as I had to—but what if she asked me to take my robe off? Did I have sufficient excuses for how I looked? I would attempt to convince Sheila as much as possible without revealing the fact that I was an Undead. 

Steeling myself, I followed Sheila into the guild’s halls once more. 

After being led into a part of the central guild hall that was off-limits to all but guild staff, I was ushered into a small room, with Sheila closing the door behind me. Other than Sheila and myself, the room was empty. 

After probing around the room and checking its confines, I discovered that it was mostly free of magical tools that could record conversations, nor were there any strange magic circles in place. Such tools were expensive to begin with, even for a well-funded organization like the guild. 

Of course, Lorraine had a tool capable of such. She kept her fair share of secrets from me, and I was not about to ask where she had obtained such a thing. Maybe she got it as compensation for her aid in a clandestine matter or something; that was the most reasonable explanation for it. 

“Well, then, Rentt... I suppose you, of all people, would know what I am about to ask, yes?” 

Sheila’s words had a strong edge to them. She wasted no time in getting to the point. Although her tone of voice wasn’t hostile, it was strict, as if she would immediately see through any sort of lie. This was apparent in the way she had emphasized my name; but in the end, I knew what she was about to ask, and why I was led here. 

And yet, there was no way I could simply tell Sheila about everything that happened up until now, nor was I intending to do so. I knew, for my part, that Sheila wouldn’t be satisfied with such a bare-bones explanation. 

This was why I decided to explain most of what happened, leaving out certain crucial details, or at least glossing over them. I had to be able to control the flow of the conversation, so I answered Sheila’s question with one of my own. 

“...Before we go on... I would like to... Affirm. One thing... Did you lead me here... In the capacity of a guild... Staff member. To tell me that you... Would not find fault. With me signing up... Under another name? Is that why... We are here...?” 

“...I am the one asking the questions here, Rentt. Originally, that is a violation of the rules and cannot be tolerated. As such...” 

I knew what Sheila was about to say. Although the guild’s rules were rather porous in various aspects, registering under multiple names was against said rules, on the surface of things. This was why a member of the guild would not simply forgive such a thing. Similarly, me standing in this room would be a relatively pointless venture, given how this conversation would turn out. 

Negotiation was no longer my concern—I decided to be realistic about the matter at hand. 

“If I cannot... Have that guarantee. Then I will be... Taking. My leave. And then I... Will not. Show my face here... Ever again. How about... That?” 

It would not affect me much in the long run since I wasn’t about to give up on my dream of becoming Mithril-class. 

I already had another solution: I would simply move away from Maalt, and register again at a guild elsewhere. As I have mentioned many times before, the guild’s rules were porous at best; there were too many holes in them to count. 

Although registering and starting anew from Iron-class was troublesome, I suppose I had no other choice now that it had come to this. Changing how my mask looked, or minor details like the color of my robes wouldn’t be hard either, hence my statement. 

Sheila, however, opened her eyes wide at this, panicking. 

“W-Wait! That isn’t...” 

“Sheila. I am... And have... Been. Afflicted by a big... Problem. Even if... It is with an organization... Like the guild. I do not... Want to be stabbed. In the back. So... At the very... Least. I need to understand... That I will not be... Persecuted. For what I have to... Tell you. Otherwise... I will refuse. To say... Anything. Of... Course, I would have you... Sign a magically... Binding. Contract... So you keep... Your word.” 

“Rentt... Did something that terrible truly happen to you?” 

It seemed Sheila didn’t think my actions were the result of a life-changing incident. Maybe she was under the impression that I was only changing my name, just as I had changed my appearance with a robe and mask. 

Reality, however, was very different. I would probably never be able to show my body to any living human for the rest of my life. There was no knowing if I would be hunted the very next day should I do so, possibly even by the very same adventurers that I had dined and explored with before. 

Under these circumstances, there was no easy way for me to explain exactly what had befallen me, but this wasn’t a matter of me not trusting Sheila. The problem laid with her affiliation: Sheila was, before anything else, a staff member of the adventurer’s guild. She had a moral responsibility to protect the safety of Maalt and its denizens; should she ever come across anything that would threaten this safety, she was to report it to her superiors, then oversee the process by which said thing was removed. This was why the adventurer’s guild existed in the first place. 

With that, what I could tell Sheila was limited. She had her obligations, and I had my reasons. 

The only reason I told Lorraine was because of her relatively isolated social position and eccentricity. Other than that single exception, I decided to not speak of my condition to anyone else, and this held true for the case of Clope the blacksmith, as well. 

But Sheila was a different question altogether. This was no longer about personal preferences or how well I had gotten along with her in life; all this didn’t change the fact she was in a position that had certain social obligations. 

I nodded at Sheila, awaiting her response. Sheila, for her part, closed her eyes, appearing to be lost in thought for quite some time. Finally opening them, she stared straight at me before saying something that caught me completely off guard. 

“Rentt... To tell the truth, I have not reported what you did to the guild. I could not be sure it was you. I did, however, discuss my concerns with the staff member who followed your party today, so they know of my thoughts on the matter. In any case, about how you registered twice and all that—I don’t intend to say a thing, so...” 

...A most unexpected development. 

“...Are you surprised?” Sheila asked, looking up at me with a somewhat bitter smile on her face. I nodded in response, at a loss for words. 

Of course I would be surprised. Sheila was a staff member of the adventurer’s guild. One did not simply march into the guild, register, and become a staff member. Unlike registering as an adventurer, one had to overcome a series of difficult tests and selection processes to even be considered for a position. 

Guild staff were obviously paid a relatively higher salary than most, and unlike adventurers, they didn’t have to expose themselves to danger on a regular basis. It would also be easy for a guild staff member to net a capable adventurer for themselves in time; so goes the common wisdom in these lands. 

Due to these factors, a position within the guild was a popular and highly desired posting for young women in general. A woman in such a position wouldn’t want to be fired from their position, so guild staff members in general were often fiercely loyal to the guild. They would thus keep the guild’s secrets and report any bits of information, no matter how small, to the guild the instant they learned of anything. Such was the status quo. 

But Sheila had not reported my activities to the guild. It was impossible for me to not be surprised. 

“It goes without saying that I would not want to be fired...” Sheila continued. “But then, the guild is not as strict with its employees as the rumors would have you believe. If anything, the guild paints in broad strokes, and seldom cares too much about the small details. That is the current tendency and trend of the organization. I am sure you can see that from the rules concerning multiple registrations. In fact, the reason for young female staff members working so hard to appease the guild is not because they do not want to get fired, it is because they would like the guild to introduce a good husband to them. Well, that is the implication, anyway...” 

That was the first time I had heard of anything of the sort. Was it not easier for a staff member to pick out and approach a capable adventurer on their own? Sheila, as if sensing this, continued her explanation. 

“Well...if you did find one in a place like Maalt, then sure... But most high-ranked adventurers gather in the large cities, right? If one is not transferred to a prestigious location like that, one would never meet with a capable adventurer to begin with! So they all work hard to get transferred to the capital...and then put on all sorts of finery and go looking for husbands—that is the trend, either way. Of course, I don’t have any ambitions of the sort, so me not reporting you to the guild does not really cause that many problems...” 

Now that I thought about it, highly-ranked adventurers, such as those of the Gold, Platinum, or Mithril-class, would definitely be found in the capital, or at least in large cities. In order to be transferred from such locations, staff members would have to work extra hard to appease the guild. This was taking into account that it was difficult to become a staff member in the first place, as it would be a competitive environment among those who had been selected. Surely appeasing the guild was an important thing. 

Yet, Sheila doesn’t desire this...? Is that really true? I couldn’t help but arrive at such a question. 

Male staff members of the guild did seem a little more carefree and occasionally more careless than their female counterparts. I suppose that was because they didn’t seek promotions or transfers to big cities. While they might have such intentions, the big cities were filled with skilled adventurers, but their salaries were probably paltry compared to the city big shots. Perhaps, to these men, it just did not matter as much. 

These observations added some weight to Sheila’s monologue of the guild’s internal situation. Sheila’s apparent disinterest in a transfer was another issue in and of itself. 

In fact, if this was all part of an elaborate ruse that ended with Sheila reporting everything she heard here to the guild, my hands would be tied, and I would be caught and executed. Not a good way to end the day. 

It was not like I didn’t have a speck of trust for Sheila; I had known her for quite a long time, but not quite as long as Lorraine. Although I couldn’t trust her unconditionally at this point in time, she was an extremely trustworthy and reliable member of the guild to work with. 

Going by my gut feeling alone, I felt that she was not lying to me. However... 

My doubts seemed evident to Sheila, who answered with a statement of her own: “...Well. I know you would not just trust me that easily. I completely understand that. I am employed by the guild, and have ethical obligations to follow, after all... All that is true. That is why I prepared this in advance...” 

Saying so, Sheila withdrew a rolled-up sheepskin scroll from her uniform pocket, holding it open before me. The surface of the parchment was marked with all sorts of glowing lines and complex-looking letters. I could tell exactly what it was just from a single glimpse. 

“...Magically binding... Contract. I see. You... Really. Brought one with... You.” 

A magically binding contract, as its name suggested, was a specific kind of magical tool. It was a contract that bound the signees together with arcane means. It was a convenient and versatile tool, created with specially-sourced sheepskin parchment and ink. All one had to do was pen the details of the contract, then have both individuals sign it. Should either one break the contents of the contract, they would suffer a penalty of sorts. 

The value of these contracts greatly varied, taking into account various factors such as the details of the contract and the strength of the penalties involved. What Sheila was holding in her hands was of average value, about two places below the most expensive type, and two places above the most basic. For normal purposes, a parchment of this quality was more than sufficient, and the penalties it could inflict were also reasonably heavy. Sheila had obtained the most expensive kind of parchment for this sort of purpose. 

I could see that she was serious about this discussion. 

“Rentt. I don’t know what kind of problem is haunting you...but could you please tell me? I only want to help. This does not concern my relationship with the guild...it only has to do with you. You are the reason I am the person I became today. If needed, I will write my name down on this parchment without hesitation... I also have a solution in mind for the staff member that I discussed this with today.” 

Perhaps telling Sheila herself was acceptable, given that she had come armed with a magically binding contract. As for the other staff member whom Sheila had talked to... 

Sheila couldn’t just undo her conversation. It seemed near impossible to have him keep the secret all to himself. But Sheila continued. 

“...Well, you see, the staff member in question is actually my brother. This was why I was able to so easily talk this over with him... But even if I were to tell him to keep it to himself, it would not be much of a guarantee. If it must be done, I could easily take this contract to him, as well. All he has to do is add his name to it, and even if he refuses, I have my ways...” 

I did recall Sheila mentioning something about her brother, quite a long time ago. To think that both of them had ended up in the adventurer’s guild; I found it somewhat surprising. 

It wasn’t too strange for me to not know of this, though. Guild staff sent on missions to observe monsters and their population amounts, along with members who did more clandestine work such as observing progression tests, usually never showed their faces as a rule. The fact that he had appeared before us at the receptionist’s counter was probably due to curiosity, as he couldn’t help but wonder who exactly this strange adventurer his sister had taken a liking to was. At least, that was my educated guess. Either that, or he was one of those individuals who enjoyed putting his older sister on a pedestal. It probably wasn’t too kind of me to think that way of someone I didn’t even know, though... 

Sheila’s next statement, however, put that assumption to rest: “My brother will be transferring to the capital as of next week. Unlike me, he is on a sort of elite career path, with this being his last job in Maalt. There was probably no other chance for him to meet with you, so this was why he wanted to see you for himself. He didn’t want to pointlessly worry.” 

I suppose this was why he showed his face. He was going to be working in another location anyway, so it most likely mattered little to him. If he was transferring to the capital, the possibility of him being sent out on such combat-oriented assignments again was slim. If anything, he would be eventually aiming to climb to the rank of guild master, or something along those lines. Sheila’s decision to stay in Maalt may have simply been to allow her brother to go in her place. 

Concluding her explanations, Sheila posed a question to me: “So, that is how it is... What about it, Rentt? Will you tell me about the situation that has befallen you? Having an adventurer’s guild staff member on your side is a very useful thing when you are in trouble, you know?” 

Honestly speaking, despite Sheila’s repeated assurances and apparent sincerity, I still had my doubts. I mean, Sheila had been suggesting this to Rentt Faina, a human. Former human. Would she go back on her word if she found out I was now an Undead? There was no telling, and I couldn’t shake that feeling. 

However... 

Sheila had gone through the trouble of preparing a magically binding contract. The fact that I still doubted her was an insult to her resolve. And it would be difficult to go against the terms expressed on such a contract, but not impossible. There were many ways to undo it or escape from it, but none of them were easy or trivial. 

In fact, I already understood exactly how serious Sheila was about this entire matter from the very moment she had produced the scroll. Even if the contract were broken in some way, there still remained the question of the penalty. Exactly how heavy would it be? 

“...Personally. I would like to... Believe you, Sheila. You might think I am... Nitpicking. On details... But what would you... Have the penalty... Be?” 

Sheila stared straight at me, immediately offering her response. 

“I have no intentions whatsoever on breaking this agreement, so any penalty is fine. Even if it means making me quit the adventurer’s guild, or turning me into a personal slave... Anything. It’s fine.” 

Personally, I felt that both of those penalties were excessively heavy. While I was concerned about being hunted down as some sort of rare monster, stripping Sheila of her position as a guild staff member after everything she did to attain it was nothing short of cruel. As for turning her into a slave... That was simply absurd. For one thing, the ownership of slaves wasn’t legal here. 

As I thought about what would be a more reasonable penalty, Sheila had already laid the scroll out on the table in the middle of the room. She started writing before I could say anything in protest. Shortly, Sheila held the scroll up before me. Written in clean letters on the parchment were the following words: 

“Should this contract ever be breached, Sheila Ibarss will voluntarily resign from her post at the adventurer’s guild and all related organizations. In addition, she will also perform the necessary procedures to give up her free will and rights in a territory where slave ownership is recognized, summarily handing over her ownership rights to Rentt Faina.” 

No, no no no. This was too much. It was impossible for me to sign something like this...! 

Although I wished to voice my protests, the contract was already written. We would have to purchase another parchment to set new terms and set this one aflame. 

At least, that was what I wanted to say, but I wasn’t blind to the determination in Sheila’s eyes. This was what she was willing to give up just to hear what I had to say, and it appeared Sheila made up her mind on this matter a long time ago. Apparently I no longer had a say. 

The fact that she dragged me into this room and patiently stood here as I endlessly hesitated, and now this contract... There was no way I couldn’t affirm with her, at this rate. 

Sighing, I turned to Sheila. “...I understand. Let us affirm... The contents of the contract... And then sign it. I will tell you... Everything. After that.” 

Sheila finally smiled in response to me relenting. 

“Yes! I will write down all the other appropriate terms now, just hold on for a second...” 

And so Sheila explained and discussed the relevant details, perhaps a little too happily, and finalized the contents of the contract. Confirming that everything was in order, Sheila penned out the rest of the contract with astounding speed, the feather quill in her hand waving to and fro like a flag in the wind. 

“Well, then... I have no... Choice. I will... Tell you.” 

Although I felt somewhat coerced into all this, the other terms of the contract were all fair and reasonable. Even then, having someone in the guild who cooperated with me was something I could hardly pass up on. But would any living human follow through should they understand my current situation...? 

That was my biggest worry. Barring Sheila, would such a person even exist? That was the reality of the situation. 

Maybe this circumstance was inevitable. Be as it may, I found myself somewhat at peace with the current situation. 

But where should I even begin? It was a difficult subject no matter how I approached it, but maybe it would be easier to start from the very beginning. Part of the contract stated that Sheila may not reveal my true identity to anyone without my written consent, so I suppose there was no longer a cause for concern. 

Sighing, I slowly lowered the hooded section of my robe. The most convenient thing to do was to remove the robe entirely, but I didn’t have the courage to do so in front of a young woman. Either way, just seeing my face alone would be enough of a shock to most people. 

Although I didn’t exactly have a hole in my head, the flesh on my face was rotted and, in some places, still dry. Compared to when I was still a Ghoul, though, this was a lot closer to being human—for an Undead, anyway. 

“Wha...?! T-This... What is...” Craning her head in a mixture of confusion and fear, Sheila slowly walked around me, peeking at me from various corners. 

Standing before me once more, I changed the shape of my mask to show Sheila my face. If I had to say, this was the most visually impactful spot on my being since the lower half of my face was nothing more than teeth, half-rotted gums, and a somehow intact jawbone. 

Lorraine, being a monster scholar and all, was very used to sights like this, and didn’t seem all too surprised. Sheila, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be taking in the sights all too well. Her face was now a pale shade of blue, and her knees seemed to shiver as she sat down on the ground, no longer able to stand. 

“...Are you... All right?” 

Although I asked after her kindly, the paleness in Sheila’s face hardly faded. I suppose she was too shocked to speak. 

“...You see. Maybe it was... Better. To not have asked... At all. I look monstrous... No?” 

Sheila shook her head rapidly at my words. “That’s not true!” she shouted, before continuing on in a softer voice. 

“...That’s not...true. I had no idea, Rentt... No idea that something so...awful happened to you... But I hated not knowing anything even more. I am surprised, but...I am glad I know now...” 

I was relieved Sheila didn’t scream at me to pull my hood back up. 

“Well...? What do you... Think?” 

Sheila paused before answering. 

“...How do I put this...? You seem very injured... No, gravely hurt... And you cannot be cured? But there are healing magics, or high-quality potions... What about the Church? The priestesses should be able to do something...” 

It looked like Sheila didn’t understand the full extent of my condition. I had no choice but to explain. 

“No... It is not like... That. I have become... A monster. This body of... Mine. Is that of a... Thrall.” 

Although I explained it so quickly, and in simple terms, it seemed to have taken Sheila quite a while to wrap her head around what I just said. 

“Eh? That is... What?” 

I continued my explanation. 

“A while ago... As you know, I went... Exploring. In the Labyrinth... Of the Moon’s Reflection. I found an... Uncharted area... And went in myself... But then suddenly encountered a Dragon inside... And died. When I woke up... I had become a... Skeleton. So... Having no choice, I defeated... Other monsters there. And then through... Existential Evolution... I evolved... Changed. And now I’m a Thrall... What do you... Think? Interesting story... Right?” 

A self-deprecating way of saying it, but I couldn’t deny it was actually somewhat interesting. I smiled wryly in spite of myself. 

“No... Something like that happened...? No...” Sheila, still speechless, shook her head slowly. But this was the reality of it. 

The average person would never believe such a tale to begin with, so a reaction like this was nothing short of what I expected. Judging by Sheila’s reaction and current condition, I assumed she needed some time to come to terms with what I said. 

“I... Understand. That you are confused... Having heard such a thing... Out of nowhere. So... Take a while and... Think. About it from my... Perspective. Do you really think... It is all right. To cooperate with... Someone... Something, like me? Of course... I have no intentions of... Hurting people. All I want to do... Is to keep working. As an adventurer. I suppose it is difficult... For you to suddenly... Trust me. Although we have signed... A contract. If both parties agree... It can be undone. In any case... I should be going back... For today. You should think about... If you can trust me. As a person... That is.” 

With that, I turned, intending to leave the room. 

If Sheila refused to cooperate with me, for whatever reason, then all I had to do was undo the contract, and undertake the appropriate preparations to leave Maalt behind. There was no need to drag Sheila down with me; she had her own life to live. 

In such an event, having told everything to Sheila meant that staying in Maalt could lead to my arrest. All I had to do was migrate to another region which wasn’t much of an issue at all. As long as I was prepared to cut off all my social ties, I could very easily live on my own. As for Lorraine... I suppose she would come with me, provided I asked nicely. 

Then— 

“Please, wait!” Sheila shouted once more, as if to stop me from leaving. 

I turned around, looking at Sheila in the eye. 

“I... I believe you. I believe in you, Rentt... Even if you did become a monster...you wouldn’t hurt people... I mean, you’ve always been so kind, Rentt! So I... I’ll cooperate. I will work with you,” Sheila said, in a voice that was almost pleading. Slowly, she staggered toward me, grasping my hands with hers somewhat forcefully. 

“Rentt... From now on, if you ever have any problems with the guild, talk to me about it... I’m sure... I am sure that I would be able to help...” 

With that, Sheila finally relaxed her grip, looking up at me with a faint smile on her face. 

*click* 

With a familiar sound, the door opened to reveal a familiar space, and an equally familiar face from within. It was the face of a woman whom I had known for a considerable amount of time. Logical, messy, and occasionally prone to playing annoying pranks on others, but overall a gentle person— 

Lorraine. 

“...Hmm? What do we have here? You have someone with you, Rentt? How rare. Don’t tell me—you’ve made your move on her, eh?” 

Judging by the slightly crooked smile on Lorraine’s face, one would suppose she was joking. But I could sense a strange tension in the air—or maybe I was just tired from the events of the day. 

The person Lorraine referred to was none other than Sheila Ibarss, a member of the guild who was currently standing behind me. After our discussion of the matters at hand, I had mentioned to Sheila that Lorraine was privy to my circumstances, as well. Upon affirming that I did live with Lorraine as a temporary arrangement, however, Sheila insisted on coming along for a conversation of sorts. That’s not to say I didn’t inform Sheila of said arrangements before. While she was not surprised then, she seemed lost in thought now, a complicated expression on her face as she followed behind me. 

What exactly is Sheila thinking about? 

I, for one, had no idea. But we were nonetheless in agreement that a conversation with Lorraine was due posthaste, so off we went. 

Besides Lorraine and Sheila, the first person to know of my true identity was the adventurer Rina Rupaage. Clope and his wife, Luka, most likely understood that I was under some sort of extenuating circumstance or another, but chose not to pry. The two had their own positions in society to consider as well, being part of a business that had connections to the local government and church. Perhaps they figured out that I had become an undead monster, or perhaps not; there was no way to tell. 

In any case, I would regale Clope with my tale another time. As for now, I chose to appreciate their hospitality and silence. Their favor would not go unpaid, though. While I certainly did intend to act on it sometime in the future, now was not the time. 

A statement from Sheila jolted me out of my thoughts, and back into the situation before me. 

“No, Miss Vivie. Rentt has not done anything to me. However, we did...speak, about some things. Specific things.” 

While that seemed to be enough for Lorraine to understand the gist of what happened, I didn’t think Lorraine understood the extent of Sheila’s knowledge from those words alone. It was up to me to disclose such information, and I didn’t expect Lorraine to perfectly infer my intent. 

Sensing that this was not a conversation to be had at the door, Lorraine took a step back, as if to welcome us in. 

“...Is that right? In any case, do come inside. It is somewhat messy, but make yourself at home.” 

There was something off about Lorraine’s statement—why was it this messy? I cleaned and arranged her home just before I left for the progression test. It was unnatural for it to be in such a mess again in such a short time, even if I took Lorraine’s habits into account. 

At least, that was what I thought... 

In the silence of the abode, Lorraine’s magical timekeeping device whirred and clicked at regular intervals. Said device was worth its weight in gold, as commonly, only nobles and the wealthy could afford such a specialized magic tool. And yet, Lorraine had one, for reasons unknown. 

Given its girth and general size, I assumed Lorraine built it from scratch in her spare time. As usual, I found myself in awe of Lorraine’s odd sense of practicality. In a sense, Lorraine was capable of many things, maybe even everything... 

Except for chores and other domestic pursuits. The reason for this escaped me, but I did have some ideas. After all, I did assume responsibility for Lorraine’s house chores at some point in time in the past, and then simply continued doing them. That realization, accompanied by a somewhat sinking feeling, permeated the entirety of my soul. 

...Perhaps this was a thought best left for another time. 

“...Well, then. Let us speak. So, you heard...certain things from Rentt, you say? Allow me to be blunt: just exactly how much have you heard?” 

Lorraine’s seemingly normal question was accompanied by a stern tone of voice. The atmosphere immediately took a dark turn, surprising even myself. Turning to Sheila, I was equally surprised to find a previously unseen expression on her features. There was a certain light in her eyes, as if she made up her mind on one thing or another. 

“...Well. I heard from Rentt that he has become...a monster. And that he doesn’t attack people...” Sheila responded, her voice soft and occasionally unsteady. I felt a mix of emotions behind her simple words. As to what exactly they were...I had no idea. 

Lorraine, as if immediately understanding the situation, snorted with laughter. 

“Hmph! That is everything, is it not? And yet you followed Rentt home in such a fashion? Did you not feel endangered?” Lorraine asked, leaning forward. 

Sheila, on the other hand, shook her head. “No... No, not really. Rentt was going to your home, so it did not seem suspicious in any way.” 

“Is that not only because you lack a sense of danger? Think about it; Rentt is an Undead, and I am a scholar with a dubious reputation at best. Well, at least here in Maalt. And then what would happen if a young girl, say, of your age, wandered into the den of a monster and a witch? Perhaps you would be thrown into a cauldron of sorts and steamed alive... Or maybe we would devour you where you stood. Is that not the common assumption on the streets?” Lorraine said, referring to herself as a man-eating witch for reasons unknown. 

Although Sheila understood that this was a joke of some kind, she was now evidently uncomfortable. Her face tensed up as she forced a well-practiced guild staff smile onto her face. 

“No, of course not... I would never think of you as a witch! Even I know that you are a well-respected scholar, Miss Vivie.” 

“Just ‘Lorraine’ is fine... But no. You see, that is merely how it looks on the surface. To tell the truth, I sneak out to the streets of Maalt every night, seeking out vulnerable young girls and preying on them for their blood. A most delicious taste, yes, and good for one’s health, too. Did you know that it does wonders for one’s complexion?” 

Lorraine’s expression did not seem to match up with her casual jokes. I found myself unable to read Lorraine’s intent since her words seemed almost threatening. In the next moment, however— 

“...That is what Rentt has become. Do you really understand?” Lorraine asked haltingly, ending her statement with a forceful curve ball of a declaration to Sheila. 

Lorraine was expressionless as she spoke. She was neither angry nor hostile, dropping the fact as if it were the most normal thing in the world. One would think that such questions were the norm in this abode by Lorraine’s appearance alone. 

I felt a primal sense of fear rising up from deep within me upon realizing Lorraine’s perspective. To her, the guild staff member who sat across from her was not human, but merely an object to be dealt with accordingly depending on how they answered the question at hand. Perhaps this was a natural response to things, given our circumstances. 

Cruelty... It was a cruel look. This was how Lorraine looked when faced with a monster on one of her expeditions. If I had to guess, her mind was now filled with various methods of eliminating the target before her. 

In a conversation I had with Sheila after this incident, she revealed to me that she never felt so intimidated in her life. Sheila, being the guild staff member that she was, didn’t have much in the way of field combat experience. She wasn’t entirely devoid of it, as all guild staff members receive basic combat training as part of their program. She was able to defeat Goblins, Slimes, and the like with some assistance from her more combat-oriented peers. 

But in those moments, Sheila felt pure fear. She had only seen monsters from afar up until this point, and they were now prancing about before her, with their eyes meeting hers, making their intent to kill clear. Here, Sheila found herself finally understanding why adventurers sometimes involuntarily held their breath before monsters. Although she logically knew that these monsters had to be slain, the conflict of duty and fear in her heart threw her emotions into disarray. 

But that was relatively normal, and not much of a problem. What truly scared Sheila was the presence of a certain fragment in her thoughts, though it was small: the ability to take the life of another living thing before her in the name of necessity. She had chosen to justify such thoughts by thinking of the benefits slaying monsters would bring to humankind. Much like her peers, she couldn’t afford to hesitate when taking another life, as long as it was for her own benefit. 

Sheila’s combat training experience taught her that much, and that was why she now found herself rooted in place. Staring straight into Lorraine’s eyes, Sheila understood. This was the very same expression she had leveled against Goblins and Slimes in the Labyrinth. She did not, however, expect another human being to look upon her in the same way. 

Sheila had no choice but to understand that Lorraine would eliminate her if the latter found her response to be anything less than satisfactory. It wasn’t necessarily murder since that was only possible when the other party recognized their victim as a human being. 

Lorraine’s eyes, however, spoke of something else. 

To Lorraine, this would be nothing more than a simple act of disposal. She could easily set a variety of objects on fire and reduce them to ash, human or otherwise. Even Sheila understood that Lorraine had the capability to erase another being’s existence without the slightest hint of hesitation. After all, Lorraine was an adventurer, and an experienced Silver-class one, at that. One had to answer carefully; that was most likely the singular thought that flowed through Sheila’s mind right then. 

Steeling herself once more, Sheila’s lips parted. 

“I...understand.” 

It was a small, almost inaudible response, much like the flickering flame of a small candle before a storm. This flame, however, continued to burn in the face of adversity. 

“I understand.” 

Sheila’s repeated response now brought with it a certain degree of force; her voice was now louder, and more audible, but it was directed more at herself than anyone else. That was how it sounded to me. 

Lorraine, finally understanding Sheila’s intentions, smiled, her features softening at last. “...I see. In that case, there will be no problems.” 

Sheila seemed ready to collapse at those words. 

“You must understand, it is not in my interest to terrify young girls. But, in any case, it is late. Shall we have dinner?” 

Upon hearing her words, I slowly began to realize why Lorraine had previously said and acted the way she did. 

“... Rentt... I’ve heard the stories, but you’re really good at cooking, aren’t you...?” Sheila said, a complicated expression on her face. 

The lone table in Lorraine’s home was now adorned with a variety of dishes, meals that I had prepared for Lorraine and Sheila. It wasn’t anything too special. To me, this was classic home-style cuisine, something I was used to preparing. Personally, I felt the food in question tasted acceptable at the very least. 

I suppose male adventurers who had knowledge on the culinary arts were few and far between. After all, few adventurers had the stamina to prepare their own meals after an exhausting day of hunting monsters in the Labyrinth. They would be ready to fall face-first onto their beds. 

Adventurers, for their part, usually made much more than a merchant or a peddler, so even if they were to eat at a tavern or eatery every single day, it would hardly dent their income. This made adventurers who were well-versed in food preparation quite rare. 

Female adventurers, on the other hand, often aspired to be hired on by the guild as staff, and for that very reason practiced cooking in their free time. There was no such trend among male adventurers. It was more common for male adventurers to dedicate their lives to climbing the adventurer ranks. One may argue that it was easier for either gender to carve out a career as an adventurer; to me, they each had their respective challenges. 

I, however, had picked up my cooking skills back in my home village, from the same herbalist who taught me my other survival skills. Thinking back on it, I often assisted with preparing meals while she was busy synthesizing some sort of medication. She would also occasionally toss some herbs into the pot for good measure. It was a perfect learning environment for future herbalists and the like, and while it did equip me with a general knowledge of plants and herbs, I also ended up learning how to cook along the way. 

“One Rentt per home—society should be that way, you see. He does everything, mostly for free, as well... But there is now a fee. I suppose you could say that I pay my dues in...that fashion,” Lorraine said, pointing toward the bottle I held in my hands. 

It was the very same bottle that had been enchanted with preservative magics: the bottle that contained Lorraine’s blood. A single drop of it was all that I needed for my dinner. 

Sheila’s face once again turned a pale shade of blue upon hearing that the bottle I carried with me at all times contained blood. I suppose this was why Lorraine said what she did in the conversation prior. 

“I see... A Thrall is a lower-class Vampire of sorts, so...” 

It seemed Sheila was quick to come to an understanding of the situation. 

I was, for all intents and purposes, a monster seated at a human’s dinner table, licking blood from the mouth of a bottle. To the average passer-by, I probably seemed more like a masked man licking a reddish fluid from a small rod that was lowered into an innocuous bottle. It wasn’t an intimidating sight, perhaps more eccentric and strange. 

“That is the state of affairs, yes. That aside, am I to understand that you two have signed a mutually-binding magical contract?” Lorraine asked, casually steering the conversation toward discussing the minute details of the contract between Sheila and me. 

There was no obligation for me to tell Lorraine of the specifics, but given that we were all in on the secret now I supposed it was better to speak of it with all parties present. 

I nodded in response. “...Yes. It is basically... A contract that... Prohibits Sheila from saying... Anything about what I... Really am.” 

“Hmm... I am curious about the specifics, yes. Perhaps we should leave that for after the meal. Trivialities, really,” Lorraine said, spooning a portion of her meal. 

Sheila, on the other hand, eagerly withdrew the sheepskin scroll from somewhere within her guild uniform. 

“I have the contract right here. Would you like to see it?” she asked, offering the scroll to Lorraine. 

Lowering her spoon, Lorraine accepted it, unfurling and holding it up to her face. 

While we had already signed the contract, and it largely didn’t seem to have any problems, Lorraine was specifically skilled at checking documents and the like for loopholes, which was exactly what she was doing. I personally didn’t feel Sheila would willingly violate the terms of the contract, but the possibility of her subconsciously revealing information was indeed a risk. It would also be unfair to Sheila if accidental slip-ups resulted in her leaving the guild. 

But a more sinister thought crossed my mind: I couldn’t discount the possibility that Sheila could be mind-controlled by a mysterious third party sometime in the future. Such magics did exist somewhere in the world, and while those with a strong will could resist such an attempt, the weak would be mentally broken, and easily forced to divulge any information they held. 

If such an event did come to pass, both Sheila and I would be in a disadvantageous position. Thus, having someone like Lorraine go through the contract was essential. 

Lorraine’s disposition and skills contributed greatly to our purpose. The contract was magical by nature, and was best scrutinized by someone who had an in-depth knowledge on magic and the like. Lorraine wasn’t a lawyer or official of the law by any means, but the extent of her knowledge was more than enough to verify the validity of the contract at hand. 

It didn’t take long for Lorraine to fold up the scroll once more, apparently ready to deliver her verdict. 

“...At a glance, I suppose there are no obvious issues. There are, of course, a dozen issues I could nitpick on. That aside, this looks mostly fine, as long as Sheila herself does not speak of Rentt’s so-called secret to any external parties. The main consideration here, then, would be an event wherein you are involuntarily controlled by some sort of invasive magic... In which case, I suppose you would have to give up your current life and become Rentt’s slave.” 

“Is there nothing... That can be done about... That part of the contract...?” 

“Well, all magical contracts of this nature suffer from similar problems. In the hypothetical event that Sheila ends up being controlled by magic against her will, and ends up on the road to slavery as a result of the contract’s binding effects, then all you have to do is cancel the contract from your end, Rentt. If she does, in fact, become your slave, her ownership rights are automatically transferred to you anyway, so you can resolve the issue from there. Either way, there seem to be no issues with this part of the contract.” 

Personally, I felt those very details of the contract had a dozen problems of their own. For some reason, though, it apparently worked from a logical perspective, and that was that. 

“In any case,” Lorraine continued her explanation, “should such an event really come to pass, you could skip all the troublesome paperwork and just cancel the contract with a mutual agreement. What I had just mentioned was merely a worst-case scenario...” 

Lorraine’s worst-case scenario was severe indeed. In the event of Sheila being controlled, and the magic being so strong that it could not be dispelled, the contract would carry out its effects, and we would have to live with the results. Under normal circumstances, I suppose one didn’t have to go that far in planning for a worst-case scenario. My circumstances, however, were far from normal. Lorraine’s sense of caution was warranted, to say the least. 

“As I was saying... This secret is now shared between the three of us. We must each do our part to ensure that said secret is kept. As Rentt intends on continuing his adventurer career, your role is particularly important, Sheila, so we are counting on you, in more ways than one.” 

“Yes... Of course, that is what I intend to do, but...” 

“But?” 

“It’s just that, Rentt has been...standing out a bit too much recently...” Sheila said, glancing in my direction. 

“Did something out of the ordinary happen...?” Lorraine turned to me with an eyebrow raised. 

“There are...several reasons.” 

“Oho. Several?” Lorraine tilted her head slightly as Sheila attempted to continue her explanation. 

I suppose Lorraine herself could understand why I would attract attention as I currently was, but I didn’t realize there were several reasons contributing to this fact. 

“Well... First, there is the problem of his appearance... Although, I would not call it so much a problem, I suppose. There are many robed adventurers...and many more dress just as strangely at the guild, so...” 

A fact of the guild that was more than obvious to me. Even I was aware of the fact that I stood out as much as the next adventurer. 

However, a combination of factors in my appearance complicated matters. Specifically, a mask made of bone and my pitch-black robes. My wrinkled skin, visible in some places, didn’t help matters much either. I suppose I ranked somewhat highly on the scale of strange appearances. 

Lorraine nodded, apparently agreeing wholeheartedly. 

“Yes, verily. If memory serves, were there not some more strangely dressed individuals? Like that one man clad in rainbow-colored clothing...with a big feathered hat on his head. Is he doing well?” 

“...Ah! You must be referring to Augurey. He set off for the capital a while ago...saying something about how the wind was calling to him. He was skilled, yes, but he was a strange one... The guild has gotten quieter without him around.” 

I, too, knew of this Augurey. In fact, I got along with him pretty well, having participated in some of his last-minute parties, as well as the tavern conversations that came after. Contrary to his flippant appearance, his skill as an adventurer was formidable. 

Similar to me, Augurey’s singular problem was that of his appearance. As Lorraine accurately described, he stood out far too much with his flamboyant getup. I had even witnessed monsters swarm around him more than once. Monsters were living things, just like us, so the violent combination of colors must have been particularly eye-catching to them. 

It was common knowledge that monsters followed Augurey everywhere he went, be it the forests or inside the labyrinths. As a result, both he and I were mainly solo adventurers, if only because no one was keen enough to party with someone who could attract monsters to them just by standing still. Compared to that, my appearance was much more normal—subdued, at the very least. 

To think that he went all the way to the capital... 

Adventurers were known for being flexible when it came to their base of operations, so farewells or goodbyes were always around the corner. Even so, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat lonely at Augurey’s departure. We were comrades in solo adventuring, if I had to say, but I suppose that was how things were in these lands. 

Sheila continued her commentary. 

“No matter what, Rentt’s appearance contributes to him standing out, at best. Again, I wouldn’t really call it a problem... But, he did go and defeat some Orcs immediately after registering, and then went on to pass the Bronze-class progression test with flying colors... Under normal circumstances, I suppose we would just assume that Rentt was a skilled swordsman prior to becoming an adventurer. However...there have been a few incidents of new adventurers going...missing, as of late...” 

Sheila’s commentary suddenly took a strange turn. Perhaps it was eye-catching for me to have defeated Orcs and advanced in rank in such a short time, but these instances were by no means rare. Even new adventurers could have been skilled in various fields, martial or otherwise, before registering with the guild. All they had to do, then, was study for and adequately pass both parts of the progression test. 

Sheila’s mention of new adventurers going missing, however... 

Why would I be connected to such an issue? 

Meeting my gaze, Sheila continued on. 

“The authorities are looking for the perpetrators... Of course, we simply assumed they had fallen to monsters in the labyrinth at first. But, if that were true, other adventurers would have found their remains by now... So therein lies the problem. We have found nothing, and new missing persons cases keep popping up...” 

A fallen adventurer’s body could simply be absorbed by the labyrinth after they had fallen, or consumed by monsters. In such a case, however, their clothing or pieces of equipment would be left behind. Organic matter was absorbed at a faster rate than inorganic matter by the labyrinth, but even if their bodies were absorbed, guild-issue adventurer identifications were enchanted with the appropriate magics to ensure their longevity. Even if one found nothing else, one would eventually come across an adventurer’s identification card. 

I heard tales of some cards being recovered decades, even a century, after the owner’s death, but new adventurers do not venture to such depths for this to occur. Should they fall, their cards would be recovered relatively quickly being closer to the entrance. 

Having an adventurer completely vanish in the labyrinth, card and all, was highly unnatural. This was further exacerbated by the frequency at which it was occurring recently. 

“Someone could say it was just a coincidence, that the fallen adventurers’ cards had been dropped into a corner someplace... That is also possible. Actually, that is certainly the most likely explanation. However, the frequency at which they have gone missing is far too high to be natural. We have no proof, of course, but it is indeed strange. One common possibility that the guild arrived at was that some unscrupulous individual has been targeting new adventurers specifically...either by attacking or kidnapping them...” 

I suppose the guild had a point. New adventurers were disappearing at alarming rates, and their remains couldn’t be found. If the rate was more reasonable, perhaps the guild wouldn’t have arrived at such a conclusion. One could even assume the perpetrator was targeting new adventurers, killing them, and stealing their belongings; that was entirely possible. 

“Even if they are new, they are still adventurers; they do not fall that quickly, nor that easily. It would be possible for a high-ranked adventurer to do them in, of course... But the guild has observed no strange behavior from any of the higher-ranked adventurers in Maalt thus far...” 

“I see. So to summarize: if one was pressed to look for a culprit, the skilled, and yet strange-looking Rentt would be the most likely individual to point one’s finger at?” 

Sheila nodded at Lorraine’s conclusion. “That is exactly it. To make things worse, he advanced to Bronze-class so quickly... There is no shortage of individuals who spread unfounded rumors of him due to jealousy or envy.” 

“Jealousy...?” 

A strange emotion rose up from within me upon hearing those words. I never once thought of myself as someone to be jealous of. Rather, I should be the one being jealous and envious of the people around me. 

Realistically speaking, I should probably be more upset at the fact that certain individuals had pinned a crime I did not commit upon me. But instead, I somehow felt strangely delighted. 

To think, other adventurers are jealous of my achievements...! 

Lorraine looked at me with an expression of distaste. 

“Oi, Rentt. It is hardly time to be gloating over your achievements. If this goes on, I would not find it strange to see you being lynched by an angry mob. Of course, the guild probably would not make any strange moves on you with such flimsy reasoning...” Lorraine didn’t seem very confident in her own words. 

Sheila, turning to Lorraine, immediately addressed her concerns in a somewhat flustered manner. 

“O-Of course! Rentt may look strange, but he does good work as an adventurer! The guild would never mistreat an adventurer who is beneficial to the cause.” 

“...Am I to assume that if Rentt were of any other personality, he would be quickly gotten rid of? How terrifying.” 

I suppose I couldn’t blame Lorraine for interpreting it that way, as the guild’s perspective on the value of individual adventurers could indeed be a fearsome thing. But that was just the reality regarding the ways of the world. 

I personally contributed my fair share to the guild as of late; not only did I return with the promised Orc materials in the allocated time, I had also packaged them in a way that preserved their freshness. Adventurers who were capable of such a task were few and far between—in Maalt, at least. 

While the typical skilled adventurer could kill an Orc without much issue, adequately preparing the meat for transport was another matter. 

“In any case... Those are the reasons for your precarious position, Rentt. Do be careful...” 

Following our conversation, the three of us sat and discussed potential countermeasures, only to find that there were no simple solutions to the problem at hand. I suppose this was how it would turn out from the start, but Lorraine took extra care to warn me about the missing adventurers case. 

Although we couldn’t come up with a concrete solution, we eventually decided that I should, at the very least, refrain from exploring the labyrinths for a period of time. I didn’t find this to be a very practical suggestion, being a monster that sought to advance to another stage of Existential Evolution. If it were for a few days, I would manage, but days would stretch to weeks, and weeks to months... Hardly a positive prospect. 

There were monsters in the forests, mountains, and elsewhere beyond the town, but labyrinth monsters were still the most efficient to hunt. The labyrinth brought with it a wide range of conveniences, from being able to estimate a monster’s strength by the floor it lived on, along with the fact that certain floors were only populated by certain kinds of monsters. Conversely, monsters in the wild were somewhat irregular and unpredictable. One never knew what would be found in the hills and the like. Therefore, hunting outside the labyrinths was decidedly inefficient. 

But I was not keen on being blamed for some mysterious incident simply because other adventurers were jealous of my progress. 

Taking all the above factors into account, we eventually decided that I would stay put for a short while. If the situation still did not change after that, I would return to my prior activities. 

In the event of my return to exploration, it was decided that I should have a party member with me in the name of safety. However, it was also possible that I would undergo Existential Evolution while fighting monsters in the Labyrinth. Existential Evolution wasn’t something I could control; its involuntary nature meant that any party member I brought with me would have to know of my circumstances. This narrowed down the pool of candidates considerably. 

While teaming up with Lorraine or Sheila was the first thought that occurred to me, both of them weren’t practical companions, for an assortment of reasons. Lorraine had her daily work to tend to, and couldn’t always accompany me to the labyrinth. Sheila, of course, had her work as a guild staff member, not to mention the fact she wasn’t exactly part of the guild’s combat roster. 

It would seem like there was no real alternative to me exploring the labyrinths alone, although I suppose a short rest wouldn’t do too much harm. 

In any case, I could easily wait a few days. If I didn’t set foot in the labyrinth for a while, the suspicions surrounding me would dissolve gradually. That was the plan, anyway. 

I was still able to take on other assignments that didn’t involve going into the labyrinth, much like the busywork I was used to dealing with in life. Those particular skills hardly left me, and those types of assignments were never in short supply. I suppose there really wasn’t too much to worry about. 

There was also another reason for me holding back on the exploration for now: I had unfinished business in Maalt, specifically with the blacksmith, Clope. A considerable amount of time had passed since I placed my order, so maybe it would be ready by now. Such was the impression I got when I occasionally stopped by his workshop after my recent labyrinth excursions. 

With that being said, there was only one way to find out: a trip to Clope’s was in order.