The Sword of The Past: 8

Chapter 8

Coincidence or not

The association building was fuller than ever when I returned. Everyone was bustling around. It was hard for me to maneuver in all this racket. I had to push people out of my way as they were yelling about joining their party and whatnot.

“Sarah, what going on?” I asked at once when I reached the receptionist’s desk.

“Give me a moment,” She was busy signing and stamping papers, but once done with one pile, she turned to me. “Levi, a ruin was discovered.”

“A ruin? How big?”

This was something new. Near the Iron town, the last ruin was discovered twenty years ago before I was born. Many lost their lives trying to explore it, but those who survived became rich. There was a big chance of treasure or artifacts to be found.

“I don’t know, but the magician in the association said it was at least a thousand years old and was covered in illusion magic.”

At Sarah’s words, I knew I had to explore it. If it was an ancient magician’s palace or laboratory, it was bound to have some priceless books or artifacts.

“Was there any announcement about the exploration team?” I asked.

“No, the association still is securing the site. Now there is your reward for a job well done.”

“Thanks.”

“Now you go rest. I will not approve any of the jobs you take until you have rested.”

“Fine, fine.”

I agreed with Sarah. She was the only one who could approve jobs for Bronze rank hunters. I wouldn’t want to anger her. I needed to resupply, anyway, so it wasn’t a problem to take a few days off.

…

Just as I finished buying supplies, I decided to bring Guts to a sewing shop. I thought to get Guts a backpack with the extra money I had. I saw some hunters bringing mules to carry equipment once, so it should work with Guts.

Even though Guts wasn’t a full-grown Iron wolf, he was bigger than most dogs. He could help me carry my food supplies. Of course, I needed a special backpack for Guts. So I was waiting in line to talk with the shop owner.

Once it was my turn, I didn’t waste any time and told the owner what I wanted. The owner was a middle-aged man with black hair and a mustache. After taking measurements from Guts, he told me to come back in two days.

I agreed as I could take a new skill to learn in the next few days with everything being taken care of. As I walked back to my apartment, I heard a groan from a nearby alley next to my home. With my curiosity winning over me, I walked to check who it was.

Unexpectedly it was Markus. He lay on the floor next to the wall. I saw that he wore dirty and tarnished clothes, taking a closer look at him. He smelt of spirits. I got sick from only smelling the alcohol on him.

“Markus, what are you doing?”

He answered with a groan. For whatever reason, I decided to take him to my apartment.

‘What are you doing, boy?’ The Heavenly Demon asked, bewildered. ‘It is your chance to break his legs and arms.’

‘I think what you are doing is right, son. Helping others in their worst is a good quality to have.’ The Saint told me with a proud voice.

‘Don’t listen to that bastard, boy.’ The Heavenly Demon disagreed immediately. ‘You won’t gain anything by helping him, don’t try to become some good guy. Trust me, it only bring you misfortune and trouble. Break his legs and leave him be.’

It was tempting to do so, but I couldn’t. I owe money to Markus, and I was too close to repaying him. I couldn’t let him just die, and all my hard work be for nothing. There was no way I would let my suffering be for nothing.

…

Guts growling notified me of Markus waking up. He was passed out for half of a day, but finally, he woke up. Markus looked around the room, then his eyes made contact with mine. At first, he looked surprised, even shocked, but quickly calmed down.

“Levi, is that you?”

“It is.”

“Where am I?”

“At my home.”

“And what am I doing in there?”

“Talking with me.”

He seemed to have enough of my talk as he closed his eyes for a few moments. I gave him a glass of cold water in the meanwhile. Markus drank it in one gulp and then coughed. I gave him some time to rest and then asked what I wanted.

“What happened to you? And where are Jack and Jonny?”

“They died.”

“Ah, I see.”

That would explain a lot. It was a long time since the last time I met with Markus. Jack and Jonny were always with Markus. Even when I was still a part of the party, they were close. Still, I could only imagine what Markus was feeling, for I didn’t care about them.

“You see? You don’t understand anything. You know nothing.” Markus’ outburst didn’t bother me in the slightest.

“People die. Hunters die more often. There nothing strange about it.”

“We shouldn’t have. It was supposed to be some criminal, a thief, who broke into the Lord’s library. We were hired to capture the thief. It was supposed to be a simple job, but it quickly went wrong, very wrong. The man we found wasn’t some common thief. He was a monster. My attacks didn’t even reach him.”

“What do you mean?”

Markus was a great swordsman. He could wield two longswords simultaneously. It was hard to imagine someone who could dodge his attacks, even Gold-rank hunter, wouldn’t be able to easily defeat Markus.

“He called himself the Master of shadows. It was true. He could use shadows to hide, to attack, and to move. Jack was ripped apart by him, Jonny was sucked into the shadow, and he was gone. I only survived because two Gold-rank hunters showed up. If not for those twins, I would have died too.”

“Lex and Lux?” I asked for confirmation and was given one.

“Yes, you know them?”

“I had an encounter with someone I shouldn’t have. You could say that the twins saved my life, but I probably would have escaped by myself anyway.”

As I explained to Markus, a thought came to my mind. Was it a coincidence that they just to happened to show up at the last moment, two times now?

“So they explained to you too that there are all kinds of necromancers and dark magicians gathering around the Iron town?”

“Yes. It so happens that ruin was discovered not long ago too.”

I could see that Markus understood where I was going with this, but he didn’t like it. His face was contorted with anger as he tried to stand up from the bed. Guts leaped in front of him and growled in warning.

“Get this mutt out of my face.”

“No.” I didn’t do as Markus told me, which made him laugh for whatever reason.

“Hahaha. Why did you even bring me there?”

“Because you were drunk nearby, I got curious of what happened to you and how else I could give you the money I own to you.”

“How about you help me if those bastards are looking for something in these ruins? I want to stop them.”

“That stupid, if we meet any of them, we would be killed.”

“Even if you say that, will you not go to the ruin?”

It was hard to answer. It could be that those monsters discovered the ruins. I wouldn’t be able to survive the encounter if I met them. But I couldn’t simply give up on it either. I could find artifacts or something like that in ruins. It would make me a rich man.

“I don’t know.” That was the only answer I could give to him.

“Come with me, and all that you own me will be forgotten.”

“Why would I go with you? I can pay you back anyway.”

“With who else will you go? You don’t know anyone else.”

“I don’t need anyone else. I couldn’t trust you to have my back anyway. It would be better to go by myself.”

“Don’t be stupid. You don’t have the skills needed to survive in ruins all alone.”

“I have Guts,” I replied to Markus.

“I will give all my skills to you.” Markus sounded desparate.

“You don’t have anyone else either?” I asked.

“You were not the first nor the last one I scammed. I wanted to become a Gold rank, but for that, I needed money. People told me that I had the talent to reach my goal, but talent isn’t enough. You would need various skills at your disposal if you wanted to be a Gold rank hunter. Skills that cost a fortune.”

“So that was why you are such a scum?”

“It was the easiest way, and I didn’t lose anything. Now it is different. I don’t care about the rank. I saw a monster kill my friends, and two Gold rank hunters couldn’t even capture him. Even if I become a Gold rank, I wouldn’t be able to defeat that monster. So what the point?”

“And? What that should mean to me?” I really didn’t care about his reasons.

“I will give you all the skills books I have and train you in them personally. In a week, you will be able to learn a half dozen powerful and useful skills. All I ask you to come with me to that ruin. If I could find some powerful weapon or artifact, I might be able to reach that monster.”

“One artifact wouldn’t change much, you know that. Are you trying to kill yourself?” That was the only conclusion I could reach from Markus’ words.

“What it matters to you? All I have now is anger in my heart. I can still hear Jack’s and Jonny’s screams. Every time I close my eyes, I see their terrified faces. I tried to drink myself until I forgot, but it didn’t help me. The Only way for me to escape this nightmare is to kill that bastard or die trying.”

After his explanation, I could see a possibility to work with him. We were on the same party once, we could fight together. The most important thing was that I knew Markus has skills and experience that I don’t have yet.

“I see. If we meet with those monsters, can I count on you to stay behind while I run away?”

“Hahahaha. You have not changed at all. Yes, you can leave me to buy you the time to escape if you promise me that someday you will kill those bastards.”

“If I am feeling strong enough to do so.”

“That good enough for me.”

So it was decided that we would work together once again. To me, it was the best opportunity to become stronger. That all it really matters to me in the end, becoming stronger.