Extra 6
The magician Balan, affiliated with the Magic City Endymion, reported to the guild leader the details of what had transpired after parting with the “Black Fang Hyena”.
The newly-formed dungeon in the Yuguru Great Forest, the teleportation gate within it, its destination, the safety of the journey and the magical circuit, and the fact they were attacked by a mysterious girl wearing a mask.
The middle-aged magician reported everything just as it happened.
「――――That concludes my report.」
「Hmm… The teleportation gate leads to the Add Mountain Range and the Guor Volcano…」
Both areas have towns and villages nearby, and there are also branches of the guild.
Investigations seemed to have been underway at those branches where the teleportation led.
「Yes. When I teleported there, I spoke with a magician from the Harshad Holy Kingdom to the north, and a samurai from the Wano Country to the east. From various angles, we verified that the time taken for teleportation and its stability appear to be very high.」
In Balan’s hand as he explained was the report on the teleportation gates in each dungeon.
In order to share information among the various guild branches, they had carefully scrutinized each other’s verification results.
This had already been agreed upon among the branch chiefs.
「Hmm… I see… Mmm…」
While looking at the report and the document in front of him, Gerald Oswell, the branch head of the Adventurer’s Guild in the Magic City Endymion, sipped his tea.
Next to the parchment, a variety of sweets had also been laid out.
The muscular, rock-like man, who sported a goatee and whose bulging muscles were clearly visible even through his clothing, drank tea and stuffed his cheeks with sweets.
This man, with this appearance, was quite a sweet tooth.
It was quite a mismatching sight, but Balan didn’t even bat an eye.
Because if he made a fuss, he would undoubtedly be beaten to a pulp.
「……If this teleportation gate can continue to be used, trade between countries will dramatically increase.」
「Yes. There’s also a staircase leading to the second floor of the dungeon, which I explored together with the members of the ‘Black Fang Hyena’.」
As a result, they only found a few golems wandering around.
Their strength wasn’t too formidable, just beginners or so.
There was no significant danger.
Moreover, they did not approach beyond a certain distance from the entrance, and would only attack the adventurers if they ventured deeper.
Furthermore, several treasure chests were discovered, apparently containing quite valuable magic stones and weapons.
「………Is there a possibility for these golems to appear on the first floor?」
「I can’t say for certain, but it’s highly unlikely.」
「What’s the basis for that?」
「I’ve analyzed the magical formula built into the golems. The formulas they have are for ‘dungeon defense’ and ‘attacking intruders within a certain range’. So, as long as we don’t provoke them, there should be no problem.」
Balan suggested that if there was any issue, they could station guards at the stairs to the second floor.
Upon hearing this, Gerald opened his mouth.
「Neither the north nor the east have decided what to do with this dungeon――more precisely, the teleportation gate. After all, it’s a dungeon. You can’t say there’s no danger. The only ones who are making good use of such things for national interest are the Hà Giang Empire, which has the ‘Fáfnir.’ They’re even going so far as to create a ‘lid’ for the dungeon. Their emperor has been crazy about dungeons for generations.」
「Isn’t that a problematic statement?」
「Hmph. There’s no one here but you and me.」
「Well, that’s true.」says Balan as he scratched his thinning hair.
His demeanor was very middle-management-esque.
His antiquated glasses were a good representation of his sentiments.
「But, Branch Leader, if hypothetically this teleportation gate could be used…」
「…Yes, a solid trade route would be established between the north, west, and east. Each country’s industry would develop dramatically. The existence of this teleportation gate will undoubtedly cause a transportation revolution.」
‘Still,’ he said.
「It’s not for us to decide. It’s for those above to judge. Anyway, good work on the report. Take a rest. As for the ‘masked girl’ mentioned in your report, I’ll look into it as well.」
「Yes, sir.」
After their encounter with the masked girl, Balan and the ‘Black Fang Hyena’ were found on a highway around Endymion by a guard passing by.
At the driver’s seat of the wagon, a large amount of soil had been heaped, indicating that someone had used a golem to transport them.
It was unknown who had carried them this far.
However, Balan expressed his gratitude in his heart to this unknown individual.
「Well then, Branch Leader. I’ll take my leave now.」
As Balan was about to leave the room, Gerald called out to him again.
「Ah, sorry. Can you wait a moment?」
「What is it?」
「The adventurers you hired… they were the ‘Black Fang Hyena,’ right?」
「Yes, that’s correct. Why?」
Did he find something troubling?
Balan was satisfied with their work.
He was surprised they were still C-Rank.
Given their combat abilities, he thought they could rank higher.
「Are they also from the Borhelic Kingdom?」
Balan thought to himself, ‘So that’s it.’
It was a question he had half expected.
「Yes, currently, that country is the most chaotic on this continent. It seems they also moved to this country for the sake of their livelihood.」
Since the large-scale subjugation battle in the Eld Desert, the Borhelic Kingdom had been in decline.
With the depletion of magic stone mining, the economy was visibly deteriorating.
Even the Magic City Endymion, which imported magic stones from there, was suffering a significant impact.
Above all, a substantial number of refugees were flowing from there.
「So… it seems that Eclair’s presence was substantial.」
Eclair Löwenherz.
The name of the man who had been the Prime Minister of the Borhelic Kingdom.
He was reported to have died in battle during the operation in the Eld Desert.
「Was the Guild Master acquainted with the Prime Minister of that country?」
「Yes. He had managed everything, including the import of magic stones and the transportation of magic tools. I’ve never seen a man as capable as him. He was also very keen on nurturing his successor…」
Regrettably, Gerald threw a piece of candy into his mouth.
He continued,
「Including the issues of the “Dragon Slayer” and “World Piercer,” I still can’t accept the decisions of that country.」
「Guild Master… You shouldn’t say such things out loud…」
「There’s no problem with saying anything inside this room. You know that.」
「Yes, you’re right…..」
The barrier spread throughout this room was a sturdy one, making full use of Endymion’s technology.
It could block sound, signs, and even scents from the outside.
Still, the timid Balan couldn’t help but be wary of whether there were people around.
His appearance as he wiped his cold sweat with a handkerchief was rather pathetic.
「Balan, be mindful. That country will probably collapse in a few years.」
「Is it true?!」
Balan was genuinely taken aback by that statement.
「The one who is currently managing that country is the ‘Witch of Reynolds.’ She’s been an unpredictable woman since the old days. We can’t expect much from the puppet royalty, either. We need to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Those at the top―――the council is said to be already formulating countermeasures.」
「I- I understand」
「Ah, and there’s one more thing… I need to confirm.」
At this point, Gerald looked at Balan again.
Faced with that excessively serious expression, Balan couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.
「Wh… What is it?」
What could he be asking?
Sweating internally, Balan waited for Gerald’s words.
「The ‘Black Fang Hyena’ that accompanied you… Why do they dress like that?」
「Uh…」
This time, Balan was completely at a loss for words.
While Mr. Balan was having trouble responding at the guild…
As for the five members of the ‘Black Fang Hyena,’
The Mohawk leader, Sub, were having a meal with his wife and two children at their new home.
The tattooed man was caring for his elderly mother.
The fat shorty were cleaning the town.
The sunglasses’ dude was dashing through back alleys with a mysterious beautiful girl who fell from the sky, fighting against mysterious men in black suits.
Each of them was doing their own thing, it seemed.