An Unexpected Opportunity

“Ugh, ugh…”

It wasn’t anything else that flew in through the smashed window—it was a person. A groan escaped from the man’s lips.

Rozenkranz examined the face of the man writhing in pain. He didn’t know his name, but he recognized his face—he was one of the mercenaries hired to guard the entrance to the mansion.

Useless bastard.

Rozenkranz cursed inwardly.

“Rozenkranz, sir, it looks like those two barbarians have come.”

Isabella spoke as she looked out at the scene through the broken window.

“What?”

Rozenkranz was clearly unsettled by her words.

It was not uncommon for those who once left the Rozelia province in search of wealth and fame to return to their hometowns as time passed.

The reasons weren’t clear, but people speculated that the beautiful scenery of Rozelia lingered in their memories, drawing them back.

As a result, odheim’s security force possessed remarkable power for the city’s size. Many returning adventurers found work as mercenaries or security guards due to homesickness.

“You said the security would arrest them, but that doesn’t seem to have happened, has it?”

At Isabella’s mocking remark, rozenkranz nearly snapped at her to shut up. He inhaled deeply to calm his emotions.

“I never had a reason to capture those barbarians in the first place. If you wanted them caught so badly, you should have done it.”

“I’d love to, but the sun hasn’t set yet.”

Isabella flashed a faint smile and gestured toward the sun visible beyond the window.

They could do it anytime if they felt like it.

Rozenkranz bit his lip and began putting on his coat.

“Why are you suddenly getting dressed?”

“I’m going to talk.”

“With barbarians? Do you think you can reason with them?”

“I only need to buy some time, so it doesn’t matter.”

Once he fixed his coat, rozenkranz spoke in a confident tone.

“Do you have any idea how many gold coins I pay the nobles around here?”

Given the amount he routinely paid, it wouldn’t be strange for the nobles themselves to step in to mediate this situation.

“As promised, I’ll take care of those two barbarians, so wait here.”

Thinking this, rozenkranz strode out with a self-assured look on his face.

Isabella, apparently not dissatisfied, crossed her arms and watched him leave.

After the sound of the door closing echoed, isabella shrugged her shoulders and smirked.

“Well, he’s good at handling things, so it should be fine.”

She walked over to the window and gazed outside. The red horizon of Odheim was slowly being swallowed by darkness.

As the sunset faded and the darkness deepened, her pale skin looked even whiter.

“If nothing else happens, just a little longer…”

Clang—!

The sudden crashing of glass echoed again, and bewilderment flashed across Isabella’s red eyes.

This time, what crashed through the glass was none other than Rozenkranz himself, who had just left with such confidence.

“Ugh, ugh…”

Rozenkranz groaned, unable to collect himself. Seeing him, isabella opened her mouth incredulously.

“What on earth is going on?”

* * *

What was that?

One of the guys Barkal just threw through the air was dressed in really expensive clothes.

Well, whatever.

If he’d really been that important, he would have put up more of a fight or brought other security guards with him.

“Brother, I feel like I’m truly alive!”

People who appeared to be guards for the “Rose of Blood” merchant guild were being tossed about by Barkal. Through the gaps of his skull helmet, I could see his sharpened eyes, clearly enjoying himself.

As if it was genuinely fun for him, he declared, “This time, I’ll throw that one over there!” and then grabbed a charging guard—throwing him perfectly at his indicated target.

“Aagh!”

Meanwhile, another guard started rushing at me.

*【Using Skeleton Summon.】*

Maybe it was the fear of Barkal that dulled him, or maybe it was the resonance with Chunsik, but the man’s movements were quite predictable.

I redirected his straight attack with my exoskeleton, then brought down the Blood-Colored Awl on the back of his neck.

The moment it connected, he slumped to the floor like liquid.

“Bwahahahaha!”

Meanwhile, Barkal was practically playing “slap match” with people, using humans instead of cards—which was rather unsettling.

“Wh-why are you doing this, barbarians?!”

A man, dressed as a butler, shouted at us with a furious voice.

Barkal answered, “We are here to create a reason!”

“A-a reason?! What reason?”

It didn’t look like talking to Barkal would get anywhere, so I intervened.

“You people—the Rose of Blood merchant guild reported us for violating the Security Code.”

“S-Security Code?”

The old man who looked like the butler blinked in confusion, as if he genuinely didn’t understand. His eyes didn’t look like he was acting.

“I-I will explain.”

At that moment, someone descended the stairs.

It was the third man Barkal had thrown.

The one in the expensive coat—or rather, the coat that used to be expensive, now ruined by Barkal’s throw.

“Did you return for another round of fun?”

Barkal beckoned as if to offer him another toss if he came closer. The man, who seemed to be the head of the merchant guild, shook his head vigorously.

“Was it you who reported us under the Security Code?”

“Y-yes.”

“I see.”

I nodded. As I did, Barkal continued sweeping through the area, swinging Erindal around.

“Wahaha!”

“W-wait! I’ll explain!”

“Go ahead.”

“It was a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”

Did he really think he could write this off as a misunderstanding between us?

“What is your name?”

I asked the man in the coat.

“R-Rozenkranz.”

“I am Dmihtan.”

After exchanging names, the man who introduced himself as Rozenkranz grimaced in pain as he nodded.

“Thank you for acknowledging it was you who reported us. However, rozenkranz, I don’t like settling matters with the word ‘misunderstanding’.”

What misunderstanding could there have been in the first place? We had only just arrived in Odheim as ordinary adventurers.

Still, it was undeniable that we had suffered from this man’s actions.

“If there is someone who was harmed, then compensation is in order. Isn’t that basic?”

“Uh, um…”

“Barkal.”

“Wahahaha!”

Crash—!

At my command, Barkal immediately swung his axe. Every decoration in its path was smashed to pieces, and even the statue holding a bouquet of roses collapsed in a heap.

“S-stop! Fine! I understand!”

“What is it that you understand?”

“I’ll compensate you! It was my mistake to report you!”

Finally, he’s making sense.

I’m curious what his motive was in trying to frame us, but wouldn’t it be right to get some money while we can?

Let’s think of what we can get out of him. What losses did we suffer?

First, emotional damage.

We were suddenly regarded as criminals and almost arrested, so that’s certainly mental stress.

Second, physical damage.

We fought with security and broke things in here—that counts as damage.

Third, wasted time.

We spent too much time on this.

Fourth, reputational harm.

The reputation of the adventurer party “Dungeon God” could have been tarnished.

In any case, there’s a lot that needs compensation. Demand everything!

― Master.”

Just as a smile crept to my lips at the thought of compensation, I heard Chunsik’s voice in my head again.

What is it?

― Nearby.”

What is?

― I sense a faint presence nearby that feels similar to yours, master.”

A presence similar to mine.

Startled by those words, I scanned the surroundings.

There’s no doubt—what Chunsik is sensing must be the “Rune of the Abyss”.

Our reason for coming to the Rozelia province was to find the “Rune of the Abyss”.

I thought it would take a while, but to find a lead so quickly…

“If you’re so eager to compensate, I can’t refuse that.”

I feigned composure once, then spoke.

“There’s something I want.”

“W-what is it?”

“The Rune of the Abyss.”

I stated my objective bluntly, watching Rozenkranz’s face.

At the mention of “Rune of the Abyss”,

Rozenkranz frowned for a moment, seeming to think.

He doesn’t know.

So he isn’t the one. Then where’s the “Rune of the Abyss”

Chunsik sensed?

“I’m afraid I don’t know of such an item…”

That settles it. He really doesn’t know about the “Rune of the Abyss”.

If he did, he would have recognized it immediately.

“Then give me money.”

* * *

After receiving compensation from Rozenkranz, we left the Rose of Blood merchant guild’s mansion.

What we got was a pouch containing ten gold coins. It was about as much as you’d get from a ‘Silver-rank Commission,’ so I couldn’t feel too bad about it.

But I felt oddly conflicted. It didn’t feel like the time to care about money.

“In the end, we never heard the reason.”

Barkal stroked his chin as we exited the mansion, sounding disappointed.

“I have a hunch, Barkal.”

“Oho… Sage, is that true?”

Though I wasn’t certain.

“Amazing! I haven’t got a clue myself!”

Lost in thought, Barkal adjusted his helmet and said, “Honestly, I had nothing in mind. Who knew throwing things would be such fun!”

Yeah.

He seemed pretty excited earlier.

“I think someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes.”

“Behind the scenes? With those weaklings?”

At Barkal’s question, I shook my head.

It’s certain the Rose of Blood merchant guild knows nothing about the Rune of the Abyss. But Chunsik says he definitely sensed the Rune’s aura in that mansion.

This is only my speculation, but maybe something related to the Rune of the Abyss is hidden nearby, and someone related is using Rozenkranz.

But there’s no way to find out for sure. I’d like to investigate the mansion’s deepest rooms, but if we did, we’d run into all of Odheim’s security.

Let’s think as hard as possible for a way.

Thinking that, I headed toward the Adventurer’s Guild—to meet Serena.

“Brothers! My eyes nearly fell out waiting for you!”

We really did keep her waiting. We parted ways in broad daylight, and now the sun was already setting.

“I apologize, Serena. Things came up on our side.”

A lot had happened. As I apologized briefly, Serena seemed to accept it.

“It’s all right. Honestly, the reason we came to Rozelia was for me anyway, so as long as you don’t abandon me, I’m fine!”

It’s a bit late to abandon her now, we’ve been traveling together for a while.

“Anyway, I had things happen to me too.”

What kind of things?

Looking at Serena, she spoke without hesitation.

“It was pretty sudden, but one of the merchant guilds here asked me to test their products!”

That is sudden.

But just one of the merchant guilds?

“Which merchant guild was it?”

“The one called Rose of Blood… Huh?”

I grabbed Serena’s hand and declared,

“Serena, accept that commission!”

—

**New Names/Locations/Skills/Techniques:**

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep