Chapter 26: Where Is My Money

“Guildmaster Sage, I’m back!”

Gregor’s loud voice echoed through the Hall, carrying a mix of exhaustion and joy as he stepped inside, weighed down by heavy leather bags. He looked worse for wear; nearly half of his armor was missing, and blood splattered across various parts of his body.

He had two heavy sacks slung over his back, a large waterskin tied to his waist, and several pouches dangling from him. The unpleasant odor clung to him, dirt smeared across his face, while disheveled green hair framed his sweaty forehead.

Sage glanced at Gregor before smiling at Village Chief Edmund. “Speak of the devil.”

With a wave, he called out to Gregor. “Hey there, green hair.”

Gregor approached slowly and dropped the burdens onto the table with a heavy sigh. He unstrapped his swords from his waist and let them fall to the floor before plopping down into a chair, breathing heavily.

“Guildmaster, could I get some water? I’m really thirsty after that long journey,” Gregor said while wiping sweat from his brow.

Sage rolled his eyes at Gregor’s request. Did this guy think that he was just an errand boy? After all, he was the first Guildmaster in history!

What kind of journey could possibly warrant such fatigue? It was only ten kilometers between the village and the city, something that should take no more than one hour for someone like Gregor.

Despite these thoughts swirling in his mind, Sage found himself moving to fetch a large mug of water for Gregor.He sat down again as he watched the young man gulping it down as if he hadn’t had a drink in ages.

“Ahh,” Gregor sighed as he set the mug on the table and wiped his mouth. “That hit the spot.”

He glanced around briefly before turning to Sage and then looking at the old man across from him with raised eyebrows.

“Guildmaster, who’s this old-timer? Is he your illegitimate grandfather?” Gregor asked curiously as he sized up Village Chief Edmund.

Sage felt momentarily speechless; he hadn’t realized this green-haired adventurer had such a loose tongue.

Shaking his head, Sage replied, “No, he’s not my illegitimate grandfather. His name is Edmund Roke, does that ring any bells?”

Gregor paused for a moment as recognition dawned on him. He pointed at Edmund excitedly. “Are you the Village Chief of Wrenford Village?”

Edmund chuckled softly and nodded. “Yes indeed! Not Guildmaster Sage’s illegitimate grandfather.”

“Hehehe,” Gregor laughed awkwardly before adding, “Sorry about what I said earlier.”

The old man waved it off with a smile. “No worries! It’s good to joke around sometimes.”

“Thank you, Village Chief Edmund.” Gregor stood up respectfully before sitting back down again.

Sage chuckled and said, “Anyway, we were just talking about you. Village Chief Edmund has been quite worried about how long it’s taking to complete the mission he posted.”

“Ahhh! Yes, yes, the mission.” Gregor seemed to snap back to reality, a proud smile creeping onto his lips. “Look, I’ve already completed it.” He patted the two heavy bags resting on the table, producing a muffled sound.

The old man across from him visibly relaxed, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest. A smile began to tug at the corners of his mouth.

“Oh, you’re quite fast! You accepted the mission yesterday and you’re already done? That’s impressive!” Edmund stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“Of cour….” Before Gregor could finish, Sage interrupted him.

“Of course! This is the number one establishment in Greyvale City: The Adventurer Guild. Here we prioritize speed above all else. Our motto is: Integrity, Efficiency, and Speed. As you can see, this type of mission is nothing for the Guild; anything can be accomplished as long as you come to us.” Sage stood up and dragged his chair back with a screech as he positioned himself proudly in front of them.

Village Chief Edmund and Gregor exchanged quick glances at the sight of the skinny Guildmaster boasting shamelessly in his baggy pants as if he might be blown away by a gust of wind.

“Ahem! Guildmaster, I was saying…” Gregor coughed softly but was cut off once again by Sage, causing his lips to twitch in irritation.

“Anyway, Village Chief Edmund, please take a look and verify that the mission has been completed.” Sage shot Gregor a quick glance and gestured toward the two sacks on the table.

Edmund shook his head slightly before turning to Gregor. “Adventurer Gregor, could you please let me confirm it?”

“Oh yes,” Gregor replied quickly as he opened one of the sacks. As soon as it was unfastened, an oppressive pressure swept across the table along with an overwhelming stench of blood that made the old man’s face pale slightly.

Looking into the sack’s contents left him shocked; inside lay a massive black head.

“I… Is this…the head of the Alpha Phantom Wind Wolf?” The old man stammered while reaching out with trembling fingers to touch it.

“Yes, Village Chief; this is indeed the head of the Alpha Phantom Wind Wolf. The wolves attacked Wrenford Village under cover of night, always their preferred method for striking. After dispatching its minions, it finally showed itself. Following an intense battle, I managed to kill it with one blow that severed its head,” Gregor explained with a grin plastered on his face.

“Finally, this nightmare is over. The villagers can finally sleep peacefully,” the old man muttered, his voice trembling with emotion.

Sage and Gregor remained silent as they watched the old man wipe away his tears with the corner of his cloth.

A heavy silence enveloped the Guild Hall. Gregor shook his head slightly, feeling a wave of pity for the old man.

After a moment, the old man raised his head and offered an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry for making such a scene.”

“It’s alright, old timer. Anyone in your position would feel the same way,” Gregor replied softly, a flicker of pain crossing his green eyes as buried memories resurfaced, but he quickly pushed them aside.

Sage, standing off to the side, raised an eyebrow and exchanged glances between Gregor and the old man before shaking his head.

“Village Chief, you’ve seen the evidence that our mission is complete. If you have any doubts, feel free to return to your village and confirm with the residents. Should anything seem amiss, don’t hesitate to report back to us; we’ll investigate further,” Sage said, breaking the silence.

The old man nodded gratefully. “Don’t worry, Guildmaster Sage; I trust your Adventurer Guild won’t deceive an old man like me, especially since I trust Adventurer Gregor.”

“Good,” Sage replied before turning back to Gregor. “Hey green-haired one, I’ve been meaning to ask: why do you look so miserable?”

Gregor was taken aback by Sage’s casual address and rolled his eyes but sighed in response. “Well, I wouldn’t look this miserable if that Alpha Phantom Wind Wolf hadn’t been so cunning and cowardly.”

“What happened?” both Sage and the old man asked in unison, curiosity lighting up their faces.

“After realizing it couldn’t defeat me and after I dealt it a life-threatening wound, it charged toward the village and unleashed one of its signature abilities: the wind bomb. I had no choice but to take that attack head-on. I managed to dissolve it but ended up with some injuries myself; that’s how I was able to kill it.” Gregor rubbed his temples with a resigned smile as he recounted his battle with the Alpha Phantom Wind Wolf.

“Wait! That really happened? How’s the village? Is anyone hurt?” Edmund exclaimed suddenly, shock written all over his face as his beard billowed in disbelief.

Sage raised an eyebrow at both Edmund and then at Gregor before smirking knowingly. Gregor returned a smile toward Edmund.

Feeling embarrassed by his own reaction, Edmund’s cheeks flushed as he turned apologetically toward Gregor. “Please forgive me for my outburst! Thank you for saving my village; I’m deeply indebted to you.”

Gregor chuckled softly and waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry, old timer. I understand your responsibilities as the Chief of the village; the safety of your people is paramount. Any honorable warrior would do the same as I did, no one should stand by while ordinary folks are in danger.”

Sage smiled at Gregor, reflecting inwardly, “What an admirable warrior. Should I seize this opportunity to promote my business further? Nah, that’s not necessary.”

“Alright, now that everything’s settled, I need to head back and take care of matters in the village,” the old man said as he prepared to leave the Guild Hall.

“Oh, before you go, Village Chief,” Sage called out. “If any trouble arises that you can’t handle alone, remember that the Adventurer Guild is here to help. Also, could you connect us with your fellow Village Chiefs? I’m sure they have their share of challenges needing assistance.”

Gregor sat nearby, speechless as he rolled his eyes at Sage’s shamelessness.

The old man chuckled and waved goodbye. “Don’t worry, Guildmaster Sage; I’ll do my best to recommend your services to my friends. Adventurer Gregor, thank you once again. If fate allows it, may we meet again.”

“Take care on your way back and watch over your health,” Gregor replied with a wave.

Village Chief Edmund slowly exited the Guild Hall, disappearing into the warm golden sunlight.

As soon as the old man was out of sight, Gregor turned back to Sage and asked with a hint of urgency in his voice, “So… where’s my money?”

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