They arrived back in Nodome the capital City of Nodal. They all looked haggard and drained, when they arrived in the guild all eyes turned to them.
Whispers began to fly. You look like shit, what happened? Asked one adventurer guy with a grin,he was dressed in shining blue armour carrying a long spear on his shoulder.
He was a silver rank adventurer who was an E rank expert, his name was Lux and he was known as the guild idiot, not because he was stupid but because he eccepted almost any kind of mission regardless of it prize.
His motto was "no money is little money" They were certain if he was not away for another mission with his party he would've accepted this mission as well and strangely Cathra wished he did.
The adventurers followed them with their eyes as they approached the counter. Oh hey Clark, Lisa waved her hand at them, they ended up in her counter.
So what can I help you guys with? She asked with a smile. Iron placed a bag on the counter. Oh what this? Cores, monster cores. Yes, monster cores of course monst... Monster cores? I thought you were dealing with beasts.
So did we but they were damned monsters. Oh that must've been hard. You have no idea. I'm sorry about that, the guild should've done more research on the matter.
Yeah well that goddanmed too late now isn't it, look at Clark, poor guy lost his arm. Yes she is right indeed, I think we deserve compensation for this emotional turmoil, said Lux with a grievance.
Alright come on let go you money grubber, he was pulled away by the ear by Anna his party mage, she was a very beautiful woman with purple hair and a matured look dressed In a purple witches attire that was a bit revealing.
GIVE ME MY CUT LATER, ouch ouch ouch, cried Lux as he dragged out the door, the rest of his party following after them. Alright, now then, how many cores do you have?
Iron poured the cores on a bowl placed in the counter. There were so many of them that they flowed out of the bowl and hit the ground with clicking sounds.
The rest of the guild got quiet, the only sound that could be heard was the clicking of the monster cores. Victor had a proud look on his face showing everybody his smug smile.
Oh my oh my, that a lot isn't it? I told you, you have no idea how hard it was. Lisa counted the cores, 432 G rank monster cores, 5 rank F and....she was quiet for a while a..rank E?
The last part sounded like she was not sure, this is rank E right? I'm not mistaken right? Cathra just sighed, fatigue still visible in her face.
The guild erupted, the whispers were no longer whispers, the Mad healer did it again, so what going to be his excuse this time? The mad healer is truly impressive, as a new adventurer he had already taken down 2 rank E creatures, I have been an adventurer for 3 years man and I still struggle with F rank beasts.
That because you are a coward. We are in the same party you idiot if I am a coward what does that make you, a friend of a coward. Huh, you wanna go asshole? The two adventurers were about to throw hands before one of the clerks stopped them, they both had foolishly infatuated looks in the faces while looking at her.
Noel ignored what the adventurers were saying.He was not going to make any excuses this time, he did not care enough to, unless they ask him they can say whatever they want but they don't have any proof it was him who killed this thing, infact it wasn't, of that he was certain.
Victor was frowning hearing what the other adventurers were saying, those praises were supposed to be his. How do you guys know it was him, it could've been the others, afterall they are of higher grade and they are fighters unlike him. This made Victor smile until another spoke.
Oh really, then why have they never killed one before he joined them? So are you saying, that a healer killed a monster two ranks above his own.
No but even if it was not him,he is mostly like the reason they were able to, it also more believable that someone who had once returned with a corpse of a Rank E beast is responsible for the death of a Rank E monster than people who had not.
The other members of the party besides Victor ignored the argument. Lisa paid them after calculating how much the cores are worth plus the mission reward.
They made over 75 gold coins. They were now eating in the guild. It is time we divide the reward, said Victor with a sly smile. As you know the reward is divided based on contribution which is fair.
So then with that in mind I think everybody should be satisfied by their cut. He passed Cathra and Iron small bags of money. The two of them did not even bother looking inside.
They knew Victor so they were certain they did not recieve a fair cut but they were not going to argue with him about it. Cathra was nervous, the two of them were out cold so they did not see what she saw, did not feel what she felt.
The fear, the uncontrollable dread that overtook her when that thing in Clarks body looked at her, she was certain that was not Clark, she refused to associate that creature with the emotionally detached Clark, that thing had emotions, true emotions and that why it was so terrifying to her, she could sense what it wanted, she had a feeling falling into it hands would be a fate worse than death.
She was afraid Victor would trigger that monster, she was certain that thing could kill all three of them before the others could interfere.
Her heart almost left her chest when Victor passed a single silver coin to Clark. She had expected him to be angry, to release the creature inside him, she was ready with a spell any moment, not to fight, she had no delusion of defeating that thing without preparation but his expression did not even change.
He just pocketed his coin then stood and left, the lack of reaction angered Victor even more, he was about to shout or mock or something when Cathra held his hand and shook her head.
Noel saw all of this and ignored all of it, he had accomplished his goal with these people, it was time to cut ties.