Chapter 245: Early morning on the second day

TDADP chapter 245: Early morning on the second day

The Vermillion Bird Gate is one of the four main gates of Tencassi, Udon Kingdom´s royal capital. In front of the huge gate that protects the South, many people from today's surrounding cities and villages, as well as from other countries, came to form a long line. Wouldn't it be illegal for people who try to bring in suspicious items and criminals to get into such a large number of people and enter illegally? The guards were on the lookout. It is not uncommon for some to refuse to inspect personal belongings or body checks and to mess with the guards. The guards, who have to inspect a disgusting number of people, are busy, physically and mentally exhausted. Among the many jobs of the guards, it was a nod to be counted as one of the hard work. However, such events as yesterday......do not happen so often.

「Captain, I was surprised yesterday」

「Hmm? Ah that boy」

A man called the captain wipes his sweat on his forehead and remembers the tale of Yuu and Lawrence´s men yesterday. In short, it was exciting. The good thing was that Lawrence´s men, who want to do whatever they want as they are backed by the Finance Minister, were humiliated in front of a large crowd. It's also a shame. With just one boy, Lawrence's executives, including Bugsy couldn't even do anything and they left helplessly. All people living in the royal capital would have felt the same.

「I didn't know that such a child is a B-rank adventurer」

「Surely, you wouldn't normally think of that child to be a B-rank adventurer」

「Captain has seen many famous adventurers, right?」

Asked by a young guard, the captain with white hair remembers the adventurers he had met in the past while touching his chin.

「You've been a guard for a year. There are plenty of opportunities to see high-ranking adventurers in the royal capital. That's right. Famous are 『Spirit Knight Goriva』, 『Calm Water』 Ranfa, 『Dragon Tamer Unmo』, 『Dragon Spear Fang』, 『Blind Loriens』――recent days, there are 『Tempting Valley Darling』, 『Rock Face』 Furgo and 『100 Demon Beast Hugo』. The atmosphere that every adventurer wears is different from ordinary people. They were the ones who could be told that they were not simple at a glance, even from a distance, so that they couldn't compare to us. They were the only people coming in」

「Amazing....... But these are adventurers who always make a name for themselves in other countries!!」

The guard seemed excited and frequently murmured, 「Wow」. However, did a doubt come to mind by chance? He asks the captain again with shining eyes.

「Who was the most amazing adventurer you've ever met, Captain?」

「That's the leader of 『Red Meteor』」

The captain responds immediately without showing any worries. However, the guards seemed disappointed to the reply.

「The leader of 『Red Meteor』 is a dwarf called 『Little Devil』, right? Then, the vice leader is more famous」

「Ah no, no. You're not talking about the current leader, right? It is said, that the former leader was called 『Ice Blood Judgement Sky』」

「I heard that nickname for the first time」

「Well, that's right. It's a story from decades ago, when I just became a guard」

「So, is that guy strong?」

「Strong. First of all, from the equipment, the order is different from that of the adventurer in the vicinity. I don't know what kind of technique or magic he used, but magic armor that contains high spirits and uses their power I heard that it was grade 2 and I still remember that it was further accumulated. It was armor that covered the face, but from the long ears protruding from the helmet and the appearance of an elf I know it was a woman」

「2nd Grade! Isn't it a lie, Captain? I wonder how many adventurers own the same grade as Param-sama's holy sword and Gareth's battleaxe」

The guards were surprised that the captain, who had seen many adventurers over the years, said the most amazing of them was someone with a second grade of armor, which he called magic armor, rather than that person being a elf woman. In a small country, it is not uncommon to be treated as a national treasure from Grade 3 such as weapons and magic tools. If it becomes Grade 2, it is a level that is owned by a large power and some medium-sized powers and is given to national treasures or talented generals and knights. Moreover, even if it is said to be a gift, it is not a true gift. Most of the time, if you don't serve the country, you will be obliged to return the treasures.

「Just because that person was well equipped doesn't mean she was strong」

「No, that's――」

There, the captain hesitate to answer. He decides in his mind, though he worries whether he should say it.

「Do you know the story of the broken barrier of 『Devil's Prison』?」

「Don't be joking. If that were the case, it would be a big deal」

The guards shrug their shoulders and turn a suspicious eye toward the captain because the story is too impossible to tell a lie.

「Well, it's possible that you don't know. Just because things happened, the top immediately gave a order. How do I know that? I just talked about 『Ice Blood Judgement Sky』, didn't I? I was stationed at 『Devil's Prison』 at that time. To be precise, it is the fort that surrounds the entrance. As you know, it is an A-rank labyrinth and it is a dangerous place. The barriers that are stretched around are tightly controlled by high-level barrier masters and sages, but only once, somebody broke the barrier. Anyway, they don't know who the culprit was....... Moreover, I and all the people around me and my boss were in a panic, as demons were popping out as if they were waiting for the barrier to be destroyed. Not only the upper layer, but also the monsters from the middle layer. The guards and knights in the fort couldn't deal with them and I thought it was a verdict that the boss decided to seek the help of adventurers there」

The guards listened seriously to the truthful captain's speech.

「What happened to that?」

「Hahaa. No matter how much I work with adventurers, I realize by intuition that I can't survive. The others were prepared to die. I wonder why they didn't escape? Even though the barriers in the area have survived, the neighboring villages and towns are unlikely to survive, but perhaps it is a catastrophe that costs at least hundreds of thousands of people. Everyone is prepared to die in order to earn time. The demons of the A-rank labyrinth 『Devil's Prison』 were so out of the ordinary, but they appeared at that time. A group of 『Red Meteor』 leaded by 『Ice Blood Judgement Sky』 appeared. When it comes to its strength――hey!! What's up there!!」

Finally the captain interrupts the story. Beyond that line of sight was the appearance of an elf woman who was walking in line. The elf woman was so lightly dressed that you didn't think she had traveled to the royal capital. It is a common story for merchants to put items in a item pouch and travel in everyday clothes as a measure against bandits, but the captain was familiar with the clothes worn by elf women. Although the design is a little different, this is the uniform of a receptionist girl of the Royal Adventurer Guild.

「Ah, sorry」

「What is that attitude!」

The captain's story was disturbed at a good point, so the guards treats the elf woman with a strong attitude without hiding their annoyance.

「Don't speak out so loud. I'm an elf and it resonates in my ears」

「Who do you think is to blame!?」

「I'm in trouble. I know you're at work, but I'm in a hurry. Even with this, I kept running from Kamar City for days and finally arrived」

The conversation between the guards and the female elf helps the captain answer the question of the uniform.

(I see. That was the uniform of Kamar City´s adventurer guild. Hmm? Has she been running for days? From Kamar to the royal capital? What does that mean?)

Looking at the feet of the female elf, the shoes were so beautiful that you couldn't imagine running for days. In the first place, elves, who are inferior in physical ability to humans, cant reach the royal capital in a few days even if she continued to run.

「You're not really suspicious, are you? Look, I have a guild card. If you ask in Kamar City Adventurer Guild about Edda Arndt――」

「Everybody's in a hurry. There are people like you who don't follow the rules, so the peace is disturbed! And what is that!! That black guild card!! I've never seen a guild card like that!! There is a suspicion of forgery, so I'd like you to come here!!」

Contrary to the guards, the captain´s face turns pale as soon as he sees the black guild card, as if a icicle was thrust into his spine. That is not all. Sweat gushes from his whole body. It is not a sweating effect due to body temperature regulation. It's because of fear and tension.

「Wa, Wait! Le......Let's go over there, n......no, I'll show you around」

「Captain? What is this elf?」

「It's okay! You don't have to say anything extra! I'm in charge here, so go back to your post!!」

The captain guides Edda away from the puzzled guards.

「M, My subordinates are rude. They are young men who just became guards, so please forgive them......」

「Ah, it's okay. I told you selfishly, so its my fault」

Edda is guided by the captain and proceeds into the gate with the long line of people waiting to enter the royal capital. The captain cannot even make eye contact with Edda's blunder, but Edda seemed to look at his face many times. Edda speaks to the captain, who is breathing in, saying that his role is finally over.

「I thought I had seen you somewhere before, but you have aged a lot. I didn't think you´re still a guard」

「He? That is......no way?」

「Thank you for your guidance」

When Edda thanked the captain, she disappeared into the crowd. The captain who was standing there perceived everything in Edda´s words. Who is the elf woman with the black guild card who knows him. On that day, to the lifesaver who left shortly after saying thanks. The captain kept bowing until he could not see the back figure anymore.