Volume 1, Chapter 18: Lord of Underground Labyrinth④
After Lambert’s group went into Ainsaz’s Underground Labyrinth, a certain group appeared. The group of fifteen men was wearing white clothes with similar designs; each of them were also wearing conspicuous red mantles, showing that they belonged to one group. They were members of the biggest guild in Ainsaz, 《The Dragon’s Enchanted Metal》 guild.
Beside the leader, a one-eyed man with the biggest build amongst the group, stood Cradle, whose entire body was wrapped in bandages.
When this group appeared, one of the government officials, who managed the labyrinth’s entrance, went to the one-eyed man and bowed to him.
「If it isn’t the guild master of 《Dragon’s Enchanted Metal》, Titan-sama!」
Speaking until that point, the government official then looked around the vicinity before he continued to speak with an even lower voice.
「…four members of 《Spirit’s Dusk》 just entered the Ainsaz’s Underground Labyrinth a while ago.」
「Humph, what a lucky coincidence. Those guys entered the labyrinth right when we the Dragon’s Enchanted Metal guild are about to continue our labyrinth exploration.」
The guild master of Dragon’s Enchanted Metal guild, Titan, said with a sadistic grin after he heard the government official’s words.
「No way. Isn’t this your own work, Titan-sama? Threatening those small fry companies who are collaborating with 《Spirit’s Dusk》 to give them a harvesting commission.」
Cradle asked. A huge and disgusting grin etched on his face. It was not only him, but also Titan. The guild master who was grinning the same way as Cradle when he heard the rhetorical question.
「That stupid guild master happily jumped in as soon as he got a harvesting commission from the company that worked with his guild. Really, the foolishness of the guild master brings their subordinates trouble. You bastards are lucky since you work under me.」
The members of《 Dragon’s Enchanting Metal》 guild simultaneously laughed when they heard Titan’s words.
《Dragon’s Enchanting Metal》 guild was backed by Earl Aubock. Not only did it have a powerful influence amongst their peers, they also had similar influence amongst the companies. As such, they could control the movement of other guilds by using their influence in the companies who were collaborating with the other guilds.
So, they could create an advantageous situation for their own guild while lowering public trust towards other guilds. For example, forcing the companies, who were collaborating with the other guild, to not give any jobs to their partners. Or, another example, forcing the guild to refuse their partner companies by asking the partner companies to give them dangerous quests.
Those methods were the main forte of 《Dragon’s Enchanting Metal》 guild, making it so that any guild who made 《Dragon’s Enchanting Metal》 guild their enemy were unable to survive in Ainsaz.
「Well, anything can happen inside a labyrinth. And, even if there are eye witnesses, we just need to kill them. GAHAHA! Humph, there’s no difference between being killed by demons or us. In the end, they’ll be dead either way.」
「But, I wonder why Earl-sama even wants to destroy that puny guild.」
「You better stop digging too deep into this matter. Not even I, the great Titan, was able to disobey Earl-sama. So you better watch your step.」
Titan said with a light smile on his face, and since Cradle was not a stupid man, he dropped the question and only laughed along with Titan.
「Come to think of it, Cradle, what about the girl you took a fancy to? I thought you’re going to rape her once she left 《Spirit’s Dusk》, but…」
「Can we not talk about this matter?! Even though I just want to steal that girl away before we crush that puny guild, that sh*tty girl’s foolishness knows no bound! She rejected me until the end!」
Just thinking of it made Cradle’s eyebrow wrinkled in frustration. He swung his sword that was still in its scabbard to the side and then stabbed it into the ground in front of the government official. The scabbard was stabbed deep into the ground, making a loud reverberating sound.
「H-Hiiii!」
The government official was so scared that he fell on his butt with a scream. He then tentatively touched his ears, sighing when he found that his ears were still attached to their proper place. He had thought that the gale coming from Cradle’s swung sword had sliced his ears.
「W-W-What are you doing!」
Cradle ignored the government official’s scream and turned around to face Titan, strapping his sword at his belt again.
「That woman is the first target, can you let me kill her?」
Cradle asked with hatred-filled eyes as his purple-snake-like tongue licked his lips.
「Hahaha, I can’t bring myself to hate that upfront attitude of yours!」
After laughing heartily for a while, Titan then led the members of 《Dragon’s Enchanted Metal》 guild to enter the underground labyrinth, briefly casting a glance to the government official from over his shoulder.
The official was stretching his hands towards Titan, as if he was trying to stop him.
「P-Please wait a minute, Titan-sama! At least… The entrance procedure…」
Titan glared at the government official from over his shoulder, eyes glinting dangerously.
「Are you trying to make trouble with me?」
「M-My apologies, Titan-sama!」
Still in his sitting position, the official hurriedly bowed his head to Titan to get away from him.
「Humph. You incurable idiot, who do you think I AM? You would of already been dead by now if you meet me in my younger years.」
「Hahaha… Titan-sama is scary indeed. By the way, Titan-sama, let me tell you that you’ve to pay attention to that armor dude who I told you about before. I underestimated him before and ended up like this!」
「You want to kill that armor guy too?」
Cradle let out a cramped smile when Titan said that with a devilish smile on his face.
「I-I don’t think I can win against him by myself but… Can you leave him alive? This hatred of mine won’t disappear unless I show that armored bastard a hell in this world.」
「I refuse. The one who is gonna kill that armored bastard is me. It’s been a while since a bastard who seemingly can match my power appears. Oy, the rest of you lot, just focus on protecting the entrance so no one disturb me.」
「B-But! It’s That bastard! That bastard is looking down on me!」
「Didn’t I tell you that I’m gonna avenge you? What are you feeling dissatisfied for, Cradle?」
Though dissatisfied, Cradle only glared at Titan and didn’t say anything more.
「Where’s your reply, Cradle?」
「Y-Yes… Please avenge me, Titan-sama.」
「GAHAHAHA! Good, or don’t tell me that you’re going to attack me with your sword?」
Cradle shook his head repeatedly when Titan said that. He was left with no choice but to obey him since he knew that his end might be worse than their current target if he didn’t obey Titan.
「… Oi Golba, Dolmira. Take THAT out.」
Two fat men, who up until now were standing quietly by Titan’s side, took out two huge gloves that released a blue shine and equipped them to Titan. Seeing that sight, Cradle was dumbfounded. He had never expected that Titan would go that far.
「Titan-sama… Don’t tell me, that’s…」
「Yes, my specially made glove with plenty of Organ[Enchanted Metal]. You pipsqueak won’t even be able to swing this 『Dragon’s Enchanted Claws』 properly if you try to equip it.」
Titan flashed an evil grin as he swung his glove equipped hand at the wall. Meanwhile, the people who were around at that time felt as if the place was swaying when the clanking sound of a glove hitting the wall resounded.
「Y-Y-You… Went as far as using your personal weapon.」
「Cradle… You know what will become of you if that guy turns out to be a small fry, right?」
「U, Uhm…」
Titan laughed as he entered the labyrinth, leaving a pale-faced Cradle behind. But, he gritted his teeth when he saw the other members of 《Dragon’s Enchanted Metal》 guild had already followed after the guild master, hurriedly going into the labyrinth as well.
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