I looked up at the sign.
[Information Guild]
– All the information in the world is here –
“Genia, is this the right place?”
“Yes, it’s the largest information guild in the capital. We sometimes call it ‘SeMOI’ for short. They even gather gossip and publish newsletters, so it’s quite popular.”
“….”
Aren’t information guilds usually secretive?
It was the first time I had encountered an information guild that openly proclaimed its identity like this.
With an uneasy feeling, I reluctantly moved my heavy legs and entered inside.
“…Genia, is this really the right place?”
“I-I’m also visiting for the first time… but it should be the right place.”
The interior was filled with countless stacks of papers, like a tower. The whole space was so full of paper that I couldn’t even see what was in front of me.
Moreover, just touching it lightly would make it come tumbling down, so I had to be careful even with my steps due to the precarious paper tower.
In the end, Genia took a few steps inside and gave up.
“Um, milady. Can I wait here? I’m scared I might accidentally knock something over if I go further.”
“Sure.”
Leaving Genia behind, I carefully made my way through the multitude of paper towers until I reached a worn-out desk.
Sitting in front of it was a man who glanced at me over his glasses while reviewing documents.
His hair was messy, his face worn out from fatigue, and his beard was unkempt.
He seemed more like a poorly-kept hermit than an office worker who worked overtime as if it was his daily meal.
“How did you come here?”
“I came to trade information.”
“What kind of information are you looking for? Depending on the information, I can guide you to the right person.”
Originally, I was planning to buy real estate-related information, but I changed my mind.
After pondering, I finally spoke up.
“Hunter.”
The man let out a deep sigh as if the ground was collapsing beneath him.
It seemed that there were more than a few people looking for information about the Hunter.
“I should either write it on the door or… Sorry, but it will be difficult to provide information related to the Hunter for a while.”
“Why?”
“His Majesty issued a ban on it.”
“Oh, I’m not here to buy.”
“Then…”
“I want to sell. Is that not possible either?”
The man, who was partially lost in drowsiness, suddenly sharpened his gaze.
He adjusted his crooked glasses that had slid down to the bridge of his nose.
“We only deal with information from reliable sources. We need to be able to ask for accountability if it turns out to be false. Excuse me, but can you confirm your identity?”
I pushed my hood back.
Upon seeing my radiant silver hair and vivid green eyes, the man stood up abruptly.
“C-Cra..! Milady…?”
“Yeah, nice to meet you. I’m that crazy lady.”
“Uh, I-I misspoke! I’m sorry. Please forgive my rudeness!”
I flipped my hood back and asked again.
“Forget about the apology. Is this enough to confirm my identity? Or do you need something else?”
I assumed that an information guild would have access to at least the Hunter ranking list. So naturally, they would know who is the number one Hunter.
That’s why I revealed my face, not as a lady but to leverage my position as a Hunter.
To my surprise, the man politely bowed his head.
“I have confirmed it. Thank you for your cooperation, Lady Astel Lutieous.”
“Now, who should I sell the information to?”
“For any information related to the Hunter, you must go through the Master. I will guide you to the Master.”
The man led me down the stairs into a dimly lit area.
“It’s a bit dark. Please be careful and follow me.”
As we descended underground, I noticed a single thick wooden door.
I followed the man but stopped in my tracks.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Is someone inside here?”
With an unexpected question, the man turned to me instead of knocking on the door.
“It’s the Master’s office, so of course the Master is inside.”
“Alone? Are there any visitors?”
“No one has visited the Master today. Why do you ask…?”
“Does the Master know how to use a sword?”
“A sword? The Master has never wielded even a kitchen knife.”
“…Step back.”
I pulled the man back and took out Arondite from the storage.
The man was startled and crouched down in shock.
“Um, wait, milady! Why are you taking out the sword so menacingly!”
“I smell blood.”
“…Blood smell? Uh, I don’t smell anything.”
“Are you proud of being dull? I don’t lie about things like this.”
“Could it be that you’re mistaken? Unless the Master committed suicide, there shouldn’t be any smell of blood here. But our Master, as a noble, has a lifelong wish to live up to 200 years. He wouldn’t be someone who would take their own life.”
“In that case, it means there’s someone else inside besides the Master.”
“…!”
The person with Mister. They must be the protagonist who filled the underground with the smell of blood.
I waited until the man evacuated up the stairs before opening the door.
With a creaking sound, the rusty latch slowly opened, revealing the interior of the office.
A middle-aged man wearing a black robe from head to toe, who appeared to be a villain and the master of the information guild.
Both of them looked at me simultaneously.
“Ugh…”
The Master, who was in agony, forced his weary eyes open.
It was as I expected. The Master was being tortured by the villain.
“Save… me. Please…”
The Master was pinned to the chair with a longsword piercing his shoulder.
Blood flowed from the wound, staining his entire upper body red.
‘That’s why there was a strong smell of blood.’
I stood with Arondite held like a staff, slightly crooked.
“Could you tone it down a bit? The smell of blood is making me feel sick.”
The villain, who was sitting slanted at the desk, stood up leisurely.
Their height seemed taller than Kael. Their face was covered by a robe, so I couldn’t see their expression, but they didn’t seem tense at all.
‘Even though they were caught torturing someone, they seem so relaxed.’
The villain, who had been silently watching me, tilted their head to the side. Their hood shifted, revealing a glimpse of a white chin before disappearing.
Finally, a deep, resonant voice with a hint of arrogance emerged from within the hood.
“Such lack of manners.”
Unknowingly, I gripped Arondite tightly. For a moment, my hair stood on end.
Since possessing this body, it was the first time I felt so tense.
The villain asked again.
“Do you have business with him?”
“Well, I’ve come this far. Can you step aside now? It’s a personal matter.”
As I casually replied, the villain lightly tapped the Master’s forehead. It wasn’t a particularly threatening gesture.
But the Master, who was already trembling with fear, flinched as if he was in a competition.
“Master, didn’t you say there was no appointment?”
“N-no, I didn’t… Ugh… I really didn’t!”
“Every time you open your mouth, it’s a lie. I should’ve cut off your tongue instead.”
“This… This is really not a lie! I don’t know this person! Please believe me!”
“Believe you? Don’t make me laugh.”
There was no hint of anger in the villain’s voice. It was calm, as if having an ordinary conversation.
Yet the Master was terrified, as if he had received a death sentence.
“This… This time, I really had no choice! I didn’t do it because I wanted to!”
“So tell me who ordered you to do it. Who made you do such a thing?”
“If I say that, they will kill me! Please, just give me a chance to explain!”
“If you don’t tell me, you’ll die right now in my hands.”
“…Please, just pretend you don’t know about this incident. If you do, I promise, I promise it won’t happen again, even if it means I die!”
The Master’s desperate plea echoed through the underground chamber.
The villain bent down, bringing their face close to the Master’s ear.
“Fine, keep it hidden until the end. Actually, I don’t really want to know.”
The villain lowered the hand that was resting on the Master’s forehead.
The hand, which had gently touched him, stopped around his shoulder.
Then, playfully tapping the hilt of the sword with their elongated fingers, the blade embedded in the shoulder shook, causing the wound to open up and blood to gush out.
The Master screamed in pain, tears streaming down his face.
“Uh, uh, stop, please, stop! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything, so please stop! Ahh! Stop! Aaah!”
Their eyebrows furrowed instinctively.
We’re not sure about the exact situation, but it seems like the Master did something wrong to the villain.
That’s why the villain came seeking revenge.
Of course, we didn’t have any intention of interfering in their business.
Whether they seek revenge among themselves or deceive each other, it’s none of our concern.
But causing unnecessary pain like this is not revenge, it’s torture.
‘Master already said he will talk? Then why is he torturing him again? Isn’t that person a perverted jerk?’
