Did they take this job to fill time in between their assassin gigs? Do they have a personal vendetta against this organization? No, judging by the way they acted when they checked over the job specs, they clearly have nothing to do with the organization.
“Guess it’s a different reason,” I muttered to myself.
Egar glanced at me, but I ignored him. I didn’t want to tell them what was on my mind, nor did I want to stick my neck out for them any further than I already had. Ignoring them was my best move.
We returned to the adventurer guild to tell them the job was done and hand over our magic bags full of evidence. The guild employee checked the magic bags and nodded.
“No problems here. Your job is complete, and you’ll receive payment within two days. Thank you for your work, gentlemen.”
“Thank you,” we all replied.
The three of us walked out of the adventurer guild together. We would part ways there, and then I’d find something to do.
Well, that job finished sooner than I expected. I guess I’ll go for a drink. It’s been a while. I’ll head to a nice tavern with a quiet atmosphere…
“Do you know of any low-key taverns around here?” Lange asked.
That brought three places to mind, all of which were perfect for winding down after a job. The first, however, was not suitable for adventurers, as noblemen frequented it. The second was a haven for adventurers, but the barkeeper there hated noise, so everybody drank in silence. The third place was known for its tasty snacks. And since it was near the adventurer guild, adventurers would behave themselves there.
“I know a couple places—any specific requests?”
“Somewhere with good food,” Egar said.
Okay, that meant we would go to the third place.
I glanced at Egar and Lange. They’d both looked irritated ever since we’d finished our job.
Is it really a good idea to knowingly take them to that tavern in their condition? That’s kinda risky. What if they cause a problem…? You know, I’d better take them to the second place. The barkeep there is an information broker in this town. Even if something shady goes down, he’ll help you clean up the mess for the right price—or so I hope.
“I was gonna go drinking anyway—wanna come with me?” I suggested.
I could have just told them the tavern’s name and been done with them, but I was worried. I didn’t want them to trash the tavern I’d recommended.
“Yes, please. Thanks,” Lange said. Egar nodded in turn.
Yeah, these guys definitely look unstable. Is it really okay for them to drink like this?
“Are you guys okay?” I asked.
Egar’s eyes widened slightly—but a smile quickly filled his face.
A smile? Not quite. That’s the way a face twitches when its owner is filled with disgust. Well, it looks like a smile to an untrained eye, but not to me. That smile looks familiar, though. Where have I seen it before?
“We’re all right,” Egar answered.
“Okay then…”
They knew they were angry, but they couldn’t do anything about it. Killing people for money did make someone carry a lot of darkness in their heart.
Aha! Now I know why they reminded me of church assassins. They remind me of her. That lady assassin from the church…
I gave the two a critical looking-over. They were highly aware of their surroundings, yet there was a faint look of fear on their faces and a bleak air hung about them. Could it be that they, too, were church assassins?
I’d had a run-in with a church assassin about three months ago. I had just completed a classified job and was on my way home when I heard somebody crying. When I went to see what was wrong, I found a woman weeping. She was wringing a baby’s neck and sobbing that she didn’t want to kill it. I immediately rescued the baby from her—but it was already dead.
When she saw me, she smiled. Yes, that was where I’d seen that smile before. Those fake smiles on Egar’s and Lange’s faces were just like that woman’s smile that night. A twisted smile shrouded in darkness. A smile that had given up on everything.
After she smiled, the woman tried to kill me. From the way she was moving, I could tell she was no ordinary human being.
I killed her—or, more accurately, I helped her kill herself. She lunged at me with a weapon raised high but showed no signs of swinging it. When I realized that, I lowered my guard…and because of that, her death wasn’t instantaneous.
Her final breaths were filled with terror. She trembled and sobbed, “I don’t want to go back to the church…I’m scared of them…I don’t want to kill” while she died. I was dumbstruck to find out that she was an assassin for the church, since I thought dealing with them was nothing but a nuisance.
So I hesitated for a moment after she died. If I left her there, the adventurer guild would investigate her and return her remains to her associates—in other words, the church. And for some reason, I found the idea revolting.
Hoping to grant the final wish of the poor woman who had drawn her last breath with tears in her eyes, I decided to conceal her death. But if I buried her in the forest, monsters would probably dig her up. So I took her body deep into the forest and burned it, thinking that would keep her safe from the church.
Soon after, the church sent in an investigation request to the adventurer guild to find a woman who had stolen money from them and ran away. When I read over the woman’s stats, I knew it was her. And when I saw the phrase “dead or alive,” I chuckled softly. I’d helped her escape them.
“Oops, there’s the place.”
I had gotten so lost in my thoughts that we almost walked right past it. That wouldn’t do. I was in dangerous company.
I looked at Egar and Lange, who didn’t seem to have any opinions to give.
“Welcome, gentlemen! I have a table for three in the back.”
I was going to sit in a different spot, but the tavern was busier than I expected. I’d thought they would be emptier this time of day, but I guess I was wrong.
The waiter took us to our table, and we ordered our drinks and snacks. We didn’t have much to talk about, so we all drank in solemn silence.