Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord

Chapter 84 - Quest In The Burning Dungeon, Part 2

["There's something I wanted to ask,"] the guardian said as the two neared the guild hall—a much larger and more imposing building than Marcy's guild.

"Okay?" Van replied, squinting slightly as his gaze shifted away from a group of adventurers approaching them.

["Why were you asking that server if she was a Feline halfing?"]

"...It's nothing," Van said after a brief pause. "I've traveled around the world, and for a moment, she resembled someone I used to know."

'Though if that person ever saw me alive, she'd probably try to kill me on the spot...' Van sighed internally.

["Oh...?"] the spirit murmured, a trace of curiosity in her voice. ["You seem rather young, though."]

"...I'm 42 years old," Van replied flatly, his tone dismissive as he squinted away from the adventurers passing nearby, their presence grating like sunlight cutting through a darkened room.

'Tsk. Damn it... Why does it hurt my eyes to look at adventurers, especially the human ones? It's like they're constantly emitting sunlight... I thought my eyes couldn't hurt anymore, anyway.'

["I-Impossible... Are you using a certain kind of magic to maintain a youthful appearance?"] she stammered, disbelief laced in her tone.

Van's patience snapped. "Alright, that's enough," he said sharply as he squinted his eyes. "I figured you already knew who I was, considering you were with that scumbag knight."

["...I do not. If he did something to you prior to last night, it was probably without my knowledge."]

"Oh?" Van raised an eyebrow, a cynical smirk tugging at his lips. "With the way he forced himself on you, I'm surprised he'd bother to keep that of all things to himself."

[...]

The guardian looked away, a faint grimace flickering across her face at Van's remark. It was the kind of reaction Van had grown numb to, his heart steeled against the discomfort of others.

["...I believe you can take it from here, Master?"] she said, her gaze fixed on the towering guild hall. Her tone was colder now, yet still gentle, as though carefully measured to avoid provoking him.

"...Yeah," Van sighed. "Go back to the spirit world," he said, watching as she dissipated without another word.

'Now then...' Van exhaled, turning his attention to the grand doors before him. His gaze traced the structure, taking in its imposing size and intricate design.

'It's much bigger than Marcy's... Marcilla's guild hall. I guess this is the go-to spot in the Capital,' he thought, his eyes following the steady influx of adventurers coming and going.

The crowd paid him little mind, though their murmurs and glances carried a subtle edge of suspicion.

"Who's this guy...?"

"I don't know, but he reeks of trouble. Let's go..."

"Stay on your guard. I don't like him... There's a scent of blood coming off him..."

"A mercenary?"

"No way. They wouldn't let him in if he were just some wandering nomad."

"Maybe he slipped by the guards..."

"And that helmet—still wearing it here? Only one reason to hide your face in the capital..."

"He's a felon, isn't he?"

The whispers floated past Van, brushing against his ears like a faint breeze. He didn't falter, his steps steady as he approached the heavy doors.

'But nobody's entering the guild hall. What's up with that...?' he wondered, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings before landing on a piece of paper pinned to the doors.