Chapter 23: Deneb, You’re Dead

The next morning.

I headed to the Hunter Association Office as usual.

Except, instead of going straight to the reception desk like always, I first sat down on a chair in the corner.

There’s someone I need to wait for. There’s money I need to receive.

It’s the bounty I’m supposed to get for catching the Bandits.

I asked Deneb to handle it, so she took care of it, right?

Imagining how much the bounty would be put me in a good mood, and a smile naturally spread across my face.

But my smile didn’t last long.

‘When is he coming?’

No matter how long I waited, Deneb didn’t show up.

There’s a limit to indulging in happy fantasies.

No matter how long you just imagine things, it’s meaningless if it doesn’t come true in reality.

‘He’s not the type to run off…’

He’s not strapped for cash to begin with, and he’s not ungrateful either.

‘Did something happen to him?’

Suddenly I’m getting anxious. Why are you making me worry for no reason, you bastard.

‘Ugh…’

As time passed, the number of people dropping by the office kept increasing.

The more people there were, the more stares I felt on me.

I fixed my gaze toward the window to avoid those looks.

—You killed them!

—Murderer!

‘…I know.’

Every time the auditory hallucinations came, I repeated it to myself inside.

No one knows I’m Yoschuko Verdiol.

But the memories remain.

The looks of disgust and the voices are still vivid in my ears.

‘Waiting any longer is just a waste of time.’

I got up from my seat and headed to the reception desk.

“Oh my, Verdi.”

As I went to my usual spot, Irene called my name in a cheerful voice.

“Were you waiting for someone?”

She must have seen me sitting alone earlier, because Irene asked me.

“There was. But there wasn’t.”

I answered vaguely. Whether she didn’t understand the meaning of my words or not, Irene tilted her head silently for a moment, then held out a piece of paper.

It was a sheet with information on a raid hosted by the Hunter Association.

“Where do you want to go today?”

“The place with the fewest people.”

“Then this place should be good. It’s a bit far, though. Is that okay?”

The spot Irene pointed to with her finger was a Gate located the farthest from the office.

Usually, Hunters prefer Gates close to the office.

On the other hand, I, who preferred being alone, often went to faraway places.

Maybe that’s also why I always rush to the bathroom every time I come back.

Because it’s too far.

“Fine.”

But I have no complaints. If worst comes to worst, I can just use a speed spell.

And for me, worrying about the people around me is more exhausting than going far.

‘Deneb, you’re dead.’

How dare you break our promise?

After signing the documents, I immediately turned my steps toward where the Gate was.

* * *

About an hour before Verdi arrived at the Hunter Association Office.

Deneb, excited at the thought of meeting Verdi, had come to the office earlier than usual and waited for her.

Maybe because it was still early, the office door was locked, so she had to wait outside, but that didn’t matter to Deneb right now.

‘Hmm, there’s nothing weird about me, right?’

He checked his reflection in the office’s glass window.

Yeah, nothing strange. He looked just like usual.

‘…Would it have been better to dress up a bit more?’

Deneb wanted to make a good impression on Verdi.

Even though she was the same gender, Verdi had a bewitching charm that drew people in regardless of sex.

The first time he saw her, her outstanding looks made him forget even his important business.

And her skill in the Gate, overwhelming the Bandits and the boss.

If someone saw that and didn’t get drawn in, that person would definitely be the strange one.

And.

‘If I make a good impression, she might convince Verdiol hyung-nim.’

Verdi is probably Verdiol’s only disciple.

A month had already passed since news of Verdiol stopped.

Right now, Verdi is the only link between Deneb and Verdiol.

That’s why Deneb couldn’t let this opportunity slip.

She would definitely reunite with hyung-nim.

And if they met again—

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

That was when—

A man’s voice came from behind Deneb.

“Huh?”

When Deneb turned around, a handsome young man with gray hair and neat clothes was standing there, smiling.

It was a face Deneb had never seen before, but the moment Deneb spotted the emblem embroidered near the right chest of her clothes, Deneb immediately knew who she was.

‘The Royal Knights’ emblem…’

He was one of the members of the guild he belonged to, the Royal Knights.

Since Deneb rarely showed up at the guild house, she had no acquaintance with most members except for some of the senior guild members.

That was why, even though they belonged to the same guild, this was a face they were seeing for the first time.

“You’re the Little Master, right?”

Little Master…

In truth, I wasn’t a master at all, just an ordinary guild member.

“…Yes.”

The senior Hunters of the guild, who had always given Deneb special treatment despite being only a D-Rank Hunter, came to mind. Deneb answered weakly, a complicated expression on their face.

“I’m Marcel. I joined the guild not long ago.”

“I’m Deneb.”

Normally, Deneb always revealed her full surname when introducing herself to others, but this time they didn’t.

After all, since they were in the same guild, the other person probably already knew, and more than anything—

If it weren’t for Wilhelm hyung-nim, the S-Rank Hunter and guild master, Deneb was nothing more than a Low-Rank Hunter who would be looked down upon. That was why Deneb didn’t want to flaunt the Lucius surname, at least not in front of fellow guild members.

“Nice to meet you. Shall I keep calling you Little Master?”

“Please call me Deneb.”

“Then, Deneb.”

A bitter smile formed at the corner of Deneb’s mouth.

‘Nim… He looks older than me, too.’

But that thought was brief.

“The Guild Master is looking for you.”

The moment Deneb heard Marcel’s next words, she froze on the spot, as if turned to stone.

* * *

The Royal Knights guild house, as it appeared in Deneb’s eyes, was still grand, splendid, and enormous.

It was her own guild house, and she had visited just a few days ago, but it was still a place that didn’t feel familiar.

“Let’s go.”

Guided by Marcel, Deneb stepped inside the guild house.

As soon as they entered, dozens of guild members came into Deneb’s view.

True to the name of the Five Great Guilds, they were all skilled individuals who had surpassed the minimum requirement for a High-Rank Hunter: B-Rank.

Looking at them, Deneb made a silent vow. Someday she too would become a High-Rank Hunter like them.

And when that day came, wouldn’t she be able to stand proudly, without shame, even when called Little Master?

—Master’s Room

Gulp.

Arriving in front of the Master’s Room, Deneb swallowed nervously out of habit.

[ Come in. ]

Wilhelm was the same as always. Even without showing himself, he could sense a visitor by their presence alone and grant entry.

“Excuse me.”

Marcel went ahead and opened the door. There, sitting in the guild master’s seat, was Wilhelm.

Wilhelm had been looking elsewhere for a moment, but only turned his head once Deneb and Marcel had stepped inside.

“Sit down.”

His voice was still deep and dignified. But Deneb, who knew Wilhelm better than anyone else in the guild, could sense that something was slightly different from usual.

‘Is he angry?’

Deneb felt a jolt of alarm.

The moment their eyes met, a frightened Deneb quickly looked away.

‘Why, though?’

What could he be angry about?

At that moment, yesterday’s events and the request Wilhelm had made flashed through Deneb’s mind.

—Bring that girl here, no matter what it takes.

‘No way.’

Was he angry because Deneb hadn’t reported what happened yesterday?

Thinking about it, Deneb supposed it made sense.

Large guilds were always desperate for talent.

So much so that they even used their own High-Rank Hunters as scouts.

Deneb thought that if her brother, who was prioritizing Verdi above all else, could be furious just from the lack of a report.

“Why didn’t you report?”

Deneb’s intuition was correct.

At this point, there was no other choice.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Deneb quickly bowed her head in apology.

Wilhelm was the guild master of a major guild!

They must want a talent like Verdi more than anyone else.

Wilhelm, who must be anxious about losing such an extraordinary talent to another guild at any moment, and I hadn’t reported it.

Hyung-nim trusted me and entrusted this to me, and I betrayed that trust, so of course he’d be angry.

Tears pricked at my eyes just thinking about getting scolded.

But then.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“…?”

Did I mishear that just now?

“Lift your head, Deneb.”

“Yes…”

At Wilhelm’s words, Deneb lifted her head.

Hyung-nim’s expression looked a bit more relaxed than before.

“Did you do something wrong?”

“Huh? Ah, no…”

Deneb answered no without thinking.

‘What, what is this?’

Wilhelm’s face, asking me that, was still expressionless, but he tilted his head slightly as if he genuinely didn’t understand why.

“hyung-nim, then, by any chance, is it about…”

“I heard about what happened yesterday.”

“…!”

As I thought, hyung-nim was calling about Verdi’s matter—

“I heard you were attacked by Bandits. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes…”

It wasn’t that?!

‘Then what was today about?!’

Deneb felt a whirlwind of emotions.

“I asked if you were hurt anywhere.”

When Deneb didn’t respond, Wilhelm asked again.

“Uh, no, sir!”

At the unexpected question, the tension melted away in an instant, and Deneb’s tongue got twisted.