Chapter 98: An Assassin is Following Us?

Now that Ryan had shown part of his skills, the dwarves had no choice but to accept that he was not incompetent at all.

On the contrary, they were now cautious, and of course, they could not explain how someone of B-rank had so much power.

But of course, that was only normal. Although relics to alter stats existed, it probably made no sense to them that someone with that level of power would try to hide their skills and take a job like this.

But now they were simply relaxed, eating during their rest hour.

The woman poured herself a drink and, after taking a sip, she sighed and settled into the spot where she was sitting.

"Yes, although there really isn’t much to say about Rigal. He took care of that nation’s demon king and has ruled as a demon king ever since."

"You mean he killed him in one-on-one combat?"

"Yes. Some demons are quite proud, and Rigal at that time had a lot of fame and power. So he issued a challenge against the demon king—a duel to the death for the title."

"And the other demon kings didn’t object?"

"Not at all. Although they tend to have their differences, they don’t usually intervene in another demon king’s problems. In fact, that’s how they rise; a demon with enough power eventually ends up killing a demon king and taking his place."

"I see... but Rigal rules over beastmen and demons alike, doesn’t he?"

"Yes, although that isn’t common. Most beastmen have preferred to flee, even though the church is hunting them down."

"So they have a horrific fate, huh. But why are they fleeing from Rigal?" Ryan asked with curiosity.

"Hmm, although it’s only a rumor, they say Demon King Rigal has alchemists experimenting on beastmen and demons, trying to create some kind of hybridization."

She paused and drank again.

"And I shouldn’t say this, but it’s good to know the exiled elves offered them a home, although... most likely, they’re all dead by now."

"Hey, you’d better shut up. Stop saying those things. If some holy knight hears you, you’ll be in serious trouble."

"That doesn’t matter. It’s not like they can just come in here like it’s their home."

Then, the dwarves began to argue among themselves over differences of opinion regarding the beastmen and the church.

Ryan remained reflecting on all of that.

For it was not the first time he had interfered in matters involving Demon King Rigal.

’I guess at some point, I’ll have to face that demon king. I’m sure he must already be looking for a way to capture us and kill us.’

Ryan was conscious of what that implied.

He was already in the demon king’s sights.

’But when that moment comes, I will be the one to end Demon King Rigal’s life.’

After a while.

The dwarves went back to work.

They continued without rest hour after hour.

During all that time Ryan kept the place safe, although he couldn’t help but wonder why there were so many monsters coming out of the mines as if it were a dungeon.

Although it also bothered him that since he became S-rank, neither monsters nor dungeons gave him experience anymore.

He already knew this, of course; the current way to obtain experience was through his debt skill and by killing demons.

When nightfall arrived, the dwarves stopped and informed Ryan that it was time to leave.

Ryan went straight to the inn. When he arrived, Irina and Karol were already there.

"Ryan! You’re finally here. We finished earlier," Karol said as she approached him.

Irina also greeted him with a smile.

He commented that he had been distracted on the way.

Then they had a trivial conversation about what they did and how many monsters they handled while guarding the dwarves.

Then Irina approached him.

"But you know, there’s something that worries me, and I was talking about it with Karol on the way before you arrived." Irina looked at Karol, and then she nodded.

And a barrier deployed, covering the room.

"You can speak now, so no one will hear us."

"Eh? Tell me what’s going on?"

"It’s just... ever since I left the mines, I’ve been followed," Irina remarked.

"And me too. It’s a nuisance."

"I see. Even I had already noticed it. I’m being followed as well, and they aren’t dwarves. They must be adventurers. I was thinking of leaving them be, but if they’re watching the whole party, then there must be something more to it."

Ryan sat on one of the tables in the room.

He crossed his arms, thinking.

But Karol moved closer to him.

"Do you want me to handle it?"

"...Can you do it without causing a disaster in the city?"

"Hey! Of course I can. Don’t compare me to that destroyer, Helen."

"Haha, all right. But go with Irina."

"Yes!" both responded in unison.

Then, Ryan took off the relic that held the permanent skill to reveal stealth and gave it to Karol.

"Use this. I’m sure some of them must be using stealth."

Karol took it and put it on.

And before they left, Ryan gave them one more instruction.

"Leave at least one of them alive. We need to interrogate them and see what they’re planning. Bring them here, but be careful so that no one notices."

After they left, Ryan took a bath and put on comfortable clothes.

He used that time to manage his stat points, the ones he had earned during the trip.

He applied them all to agility.

After a while, Irina entered through the bedroom door, and before saying anything to Ryan, she ran to the other end of the room and opened the window.

’They arrived sooner than I thought.’

Karol flew in with one of the surviving adventurers.

They were dressed entirely in black.

The suit completely covered their body.

"They were all a group of assassins," Karol said as she stopped floating in the air. She landed softly on the floor but let the body she brought fall with a thud.

Ryan approached.

"Is this the only one left alive?"

"Yes. Some tried to escape, but Irina took care of them. She’s quite a useful girl, you know?"

Ryan approached Irina, stroked her head, and congratulated her.

"Hey! I did a good job too."

"Yes, yes... but is this one unconscious?"

"I’ve drained all their mana, so they lost consciousness."

Ryan observed the body on the floor, but there was something strange. Even though the chest area was covered by a thick tunic, a bulge was noticeable.

Ryan knelt in front of the body.

With both hands, he pulled open the tunic.

When he did, two large breasts popped out, left exposed.

"I thought so. It was a woman."