Chapter 92 - Quest In The Burning Dungeon, Part 10

"Say, Arnolt. Have you seen Van?" Unicus asked, his eyes sweeping over the camp with a hint of curiosity."Hmm... Nah. Haven't laid eyes on the kid since we settled. Almost forgot he existed," the dwarf replied, taking a hearty bite from the game he'd roasted earlier, gripping the cooked meat by the bone."Hmm..." Unicus hummed softly, his brow furrowed in thought."Relax, Unicus," Arnolt said, glancing at him with a dismissive wave of his hand. "The kid carried that oversized backpack like it was nothing. This forest is crawling with C-Tier monsters, sure, but they're nothing he can't handle with that fancy armor. Even that snobby elf admitted as much earlier.""I'll...!" A feminine voice suddenly cut in, startling the two men.Both turned to see Sylva standing behind them, her silver hair shimmering in the firelight. She stood stiffly, her hands clasped in front of her, her expression determined."I'll look for him," she declared, her voice steady but her posture a little too rigid.'He went into the forest earlier... Perfect. This is my chance to tell him what he needs to know about his father... I just wish Vaelthir had fallen asleep sooner,' Sylva thought, her gaze briefly flicking to her elven butler, who snored softly in his sleeping bag nearby."Ah? You sure, Sylva?" Unicus asked, raising an eyebrow at her sudden outburst. "Arnolt's probably right—there's nothing to worry about. The kid's got that armor—""It's alright!" Sylva interrupted, her voice rising slightly. "This is a C-Rank forest, and he's only F-Rank, right? Even with that armor, someone should check on him. It's better to be safe."Arnolt and Unicus exchanged a brief glance."...Well, if you insist," Unicus said with a small shrug and a warm smile. "Just make sure you take care of yourself out there.""Heh. Good thing that noble brat has someone thinking about him," Arnolt chuckled, his tone innocent but unfiltered as he tore another bite of meat.Sylva froze mid-step, her face flushing a deep crimson.'NOOOO! DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!!!' she panicked internally, stealing a quick, nervous glance at Unicus. 'What if... what if he thinks I ACTUALLY like Van!??! What if everyone thinks I do?!'"T-then... I'll... I'll go," she stammered, her voice cracking slightly as she hurriedly spun around. Her movements were stiff and awkward, the heat rising in her cheeks as she practically bolted into the forest.Unicus watched her go, his eyebrow raised in mild confusion. Turning back, he caught the sly grin spreading across Arnolt's face."What?" the dwarf asked, feigning innocence, though his chuckling betrayed him.Unicus sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You really don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you?""Ah, quit your whining," Arnolt replied, waving a greasy bone for emphasis. "The whole party knows that kid's got the hots for ya. You'd have to be blind not to notice."Unicus frowned, clearly unamused. "She's young, Arnolt," he said firmly, his tone carrying a subtle warning. "It's probably just admiration. And I'd rather she didn't dwell on it. And..."Arnolt's grin faltered slightly as he noticed Unicus's hand rising to his face, his fingers brushing the golden ring on his finger. The firelight cast a warm glow on the band, its gentle gleam at odds with the sorrow etched into Unicus's expression."... I'm still married," Unicus said softly, almost to himself, his thumb running over the ring's smooth surface. His gaze was distant, as though he were looking past the fire and into a memory only he could see.Arnolt's grin faded entirely. For a moment, he simply looked at his friend.Finally, he spoke, his voice low and steady. "We'll get her out of there," he said. "She won't suffer for long."Unicus nodded slowly, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I know," he murmured, "I just... I just hope she's already gone. That she's just an animated corpse and not... still alive, still feeling... That.. Burning..." His words trailed off, his hand tightening around the ring; as he glared momentarily at the campfire's glow.Arnolt placed his meaty hand on the axe at his side, his grip firm. "No matter what, we'll make it right," he said.Unicus exhaled, his chest rising and falling with a deep breath as he steeled himself. 'Airi... I'm coming...' he thought, clutching his ringed hand tightly.Across the camp, Savathon and Vaelthir lay still, pretending to sleep; overhearing Unicus and Arnolt's conversation.They were at constant odds, though this time - they shared a thought.That they will not fail this quest.The fire crackled softly, its warmth doing little to ease the chill of their thoughts.-----------BACK AT THE CAPITAL-------------The night was silent and heavy, the kind that made even the faintest sounds seem amplified. Marcy lowered her bandana, her gaze drifting toward the quarters where the demons resided inside the guild as she rested on the counter.'They've been awfully obedient... They don't even leave their quarters except for baths and bathroom. I suppose it's safe if I step out for a bit?' she mused, stretching lazily as her eyes scanned the area.Before long, she exited the guild and found herself standing outside the tavern house where Van was staying.'Good thing he lives above a tavern,' she thought, her eyes assessing the dimly lit building. The windows were dark. 'Is he already asleep?'Approaching the entrance, she spotted a dwarf stepping out, a trash bag slung over his shoulder. He moved toward the nearby dumpster with deliberate care."Ah, Galdo!" she called out loudly.The bearded dwarf froze mid-motion, a visible shiver running down his spine. Slowly, he resumed his task, tossing the trash into the bin before turning to face her."...Miss Veil," he muttered, nodding curtly. But before his eyes met hers, he cast a sharp glance around the area, scanning the area like a hawk.Marcy sighed, rolling her eyes."My daughter's not here," she said flatly. "You can talk freely."The dwarf visibly relaxed, though his guarded demeanor never entirely faded."What is it, Miss?" he grumbled, folding his arms across his chest."Ah, nothing..." she replied, averting her gaze and scratching her head awkwardly.'Ah, nothing?' Galdo's brow furrowed as he studied her, the shift in her usual demeanor not lost on him. 'That's not like her at all. She's actin' like she's nervous 'bout somethin'.'She hesitated before finally speaking again."Just... you have a new tenant, don't you?""Ah, that brat?" he spat, pointing at the apartment above. "Yeah. Walked in here about a day ago, and lemme tell ya, he pisses me off already. Leaving shit out here and—"The dwarf suddenly bit his tongue, remembering whose presence he was in."... Is he yer... friend, or somethin'?""No, no... Just someone," Marcy replied, shaking her head. "W-w... What kind of shit did he do..?" she added quickly, half trying to shift the conversation.'For that mountain lion ta' stutter... Just who was that brat?'"He tossed heaps of wood and broken furniture next to the garbage. Kid's got no manners, makin' my Ami clean it up. Though..." The dwarf scratched his beard thoughtfully. "He did call that spirit to help her out—""Wait a minute," she cut him off. "Spirit?""Yeah. Brat's got a high-leveled spirit he controls. Ordered her to clean up after him; she helped Ami with her business."'A high-leveled spirit...? Van doesn't use magic..! It can't be the wrong house, too... Does he have a beggar livin' there?' Marcy narrowed her eyes in thought."Is he currently in?" she asked."Nah. He took off this morning, wearing finely-crafted black-metal armor. Haven't seen craftsmanship like that since my time at the village a millennia ago."'Dwarf-created armor... It is him... He's strong enough not to get robbed, right?' she thought, though she couldn't fully reassure herself."I'm going in the house, Galdo. I'll pay for any damages.""... Arrgh, why do ya bother tellin' me? Ya just go ahead and do as ya like either way..." he grumbled, turning back toward the tavern.With a sigh, Marcy followed him partway before heading up the stairs to Van's apartment."Just," Galdo said, stopping her."If ya happen to look for 'im..." He hesitated, his gaze averted."Keep an eye out for Ami. She also took a day off, makin' me do all the work. When she gets here... I'mma give her a good thrashing," he muttered, though his tone softened as he spoke.Marcy smiled softly at the dwarf, who stood still with his face turned away."Sure. Rest easy, Dwarf," she said bluntly.Galdo didn't respond or even nod, disappearing back into the tavern.Marcy resumed her climb, and without much thought, pushed the door open. It gave way easily—nothing broke.The door wasn't even locked.'That helmet-head doesn't even bother locking up...? Seriously,' she sighed, stepping inside. Moonlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the space—though to Marcy's sharp eyes, the room was already painfully clear.'What the... fuck just happened here...?'Her gaze swept over the wreckage: a broken floor, almost no furniture, a cracked wall, a crumbling ceiling, and a ruined, torn bed.'Vandalism...' she thought, narrowing her eyes as she examined the room. 'This seems deliberate. And... coupled with it, I can see it... There was a struggle. Was his house broken into?'She moved slowly, her steps deliberate as she surveyed the apartment.'... It wasn't a struggle. It was a one-sided slaughter,' she concluded, entering what remained of Van's bedroom. Her eyes fell on the shattered window.Leaning out, she noticed shards of glass scattered on the darkened street below.'Someone managed to escape...'She pulled back into the room, her brow furrowing.'Guess I'll be tracking whoever dipped. I just hope that helmet-head didn't get himself into trouble.'