Chapter 76

“It was the Sword of Tasuki,” Diamond muttered. Nick etched the name into his mind with rage. “Is he…a holy sword?” “He’s a holy sword created in ancient times with a focus on recreating the abilities of holy armor. Outstanding people with the potential to be heroes are always being born throughout the world. The holy sword’s purpose was to grow by incorporating not just their skills but their spirits, too. The idea was for him to eventually develop a soul stronger than the demon god’s… But he’s known by a human name now. He’s likely been mutated,” Diamond explained. “What’s his name?” “Callios.” The idea of Callios targeting Karan again sounded like a delusional conspiracy. Or a paranoid theory grounded on pieces of shaky evidence. It was terrifying to think this was reality, but Nick pushed aside the fear with anger. “Where is he?” he asked. “I don’t know. But…Garos wasn’t the Sword of Tasuki’s wielder. He was just under his control. There has to be someone else. His true wielder won’t be controlled,” Diamond said. Those words made Nick realize who they should be looking for. Though it was more like he had been choosing not to look the entire time. He hadn’t wanted to consider who among Garos’s companions could be stationed above him. He could only think of one person. “Take care of Karan,” Nick said. He gently patted his friend on the head, then walked over to Garos and closed the corpse’s eyes. Then he left the stage in pursuit of his new target. The doors of the Adventurers Guild branch called Manhunt slammed open, causing everyone inside to look toward them suspiciously. Only adventurers visited Manhunt. Doctors and traders frequented other branches to request certain materials, but those people had no business here. The only non-adventurers who ever came here were resentful victims who wanted to put a bounty on someone’s head or citizens who wanted to complain about a violent adventurer. As such, the adventurers here were used to kicking out guests who came bringing trouble. One of the regulars started to stand up, feeling excited at the opportunity for a fight. “Oh, it’s a Survivor. This is unexpected,” the deerian receptionist said, surprised. “It’s just Nick. How hard is it to go through a door quietly?” “Aw man, it’s one of the dudes. Where’s Lady Tiana?” The adventurers muttered complaints, but Nick ignored them and spoke to the receptionist. “I wanna put up a bounty,” he said. “Huh? You?” the deerian asked. “Argus from Combat Masters. I learned he’s working for the demon-god worshippers.” Everyone who had been drinking, playing cards, or perusing Wanted posters fell silent. Argus from Combat Masters was well known at the Manhunt guild. That wasn’t just because his party could conquer labyrinths without relying on magic. Argus had a reputation for being potentially the strongest adventurer alive due to his barehanded fighting skill. And Nick—his pupil who had defeated the demon-god worshipper White Mask—was going so far as to put a bounty on his head. Not a single one of the grizzled adventurers in the guild thought he was joking. Instead, his declaration struck an ominous sense of fear in their hearts. “I wanna explain, but it’s complicated. Is the back room free?” Nick asked. “Y-yeah. Wait here as I open the conference room… Huh?” the deerian said, pausing right before she turned around to go to the conference room used to ask clients for details. “What?” Nick responded. The deerian stared at Nick. Actually, she was staring behind him. A woman’s image was reflected in her pupils. Nick immediately spun and threw an elbow, but the woman easily blocked it. Nick kicked at her shins next, but she blocked that, too. He didn’t feel like his movement was hindered by his fatigue at all, but he couldn’t hit her. “That’s enough passion for one night, Nick. There are things you should hear and do, but for now you need to sleep. There’s no way you’re not exhausted after using a powerful ancient spell twice.” “…Alice!” Alice’s muscular arms wrapped around Nick’s neck, and she held him until he fell unconscious into her arms. “Good night, Nick. Rest up for the real fight.”