XXI Hierd's Day Off

The day after, Hierd awoke. He was too tired to even get-up from his sleep. But, after a moment or two, he slid off his bed and onto the wooden floor. He expected for there to be a knock on the door, but no such thing came. "Thank the lord, Adelheid's not come knocking down the door!" 

He stared outside, it was raining snow. He never thought of winter when first it came. He never had experienced it before in his world, in his country. For it was always rain that came. "I guess the gang's all okay." He fixed his face. "I should take a short break."

He smiled, "But what shall I wear? I wanna wear some cool ass shit. Hmm... I want a navy blue colored trench suit, trousers, and I want black-colored pointed leather shoes."

[REQUEST GRANTED: NAVY-BLUE TRENCH SUIT, TROUSERS, AND BLACK-COLORED POINTED LEATHER SHOES]

After a second, the aforementioned garments had spawned suddenly on-top of the unmade bed. He walked towards the drawer, undressed, and put on his dress suit and briefs. He then tied his tie round, and made his way to the bed. Putting on the suit, trousers, and the shoes. 

He made his way to the mirror and looked at himself. "Damn, I'm dripping right now."

He made different poses, smiling as he admired his suit. 

*Knock, Knock!

He immdiately stopped his model charade. "Coming!" He made his way to the door and opened it. 

"Good Morning, lord." It was the engineer, Dior. And the architect. "We were wondering if we can get more of the said cement?" He said with a pleading face.

"Sure, you may wait for me in the living room." 

"Thank you, my lord." They bowed and walked away. Hierd closed the door. 

It took some time; fixing himself-up, brushing his teeth, and putting on some perfume like last time.

He stepped out, looking as dashing as ever. Made his way down his manor, and towards the living room. The maids who walked beside him his entire trip down had opened the doors leading to the room. When he entered, the people inside bowed to him. 

As spacious as one would think, the living room was one of the centerpieces of the manor, with the chimney providing heat, it was quite cosy. And the window that veiled the light of day had lit-up the room in-a-way that it provides a dark-gloomy atmosphere, one would expect a German villain to pop out from one of the room's shadowed corners

Hierd made his way to the sofa and sat opposite where they had. "Well then. The cement yes? I have already taught it too you of how to do it, so I will bring a truck-load of them to you. But where? The snow rains down still, it'd be hard to distinguish much however."

"We have a warehouse nearby the pier." Dior smiled. "We think that'd be a good place, it is a little cramped however, lord."

"All is good." He looked behind him and gazed at the maid. "Can you please get my squad here?" 

Noticing that his gaze was pointed at her, she blurted; "Ah! Yes, lord." She bowed before making her exit.

"Thank you." He looked back to the engineer. "I will send them there, may you please tell me how they can know whether they're at the right place? "It blends in with the monotony of the pier, and of the winter's." -he took a second to give way for his thoughts- "I think we can put some number of our own personnel at the entrance. It shall guide the truck if ever the vehicle be seen. My lord, shall it suffice?"

"Yes." He smiled.

That expression of his said that this informal meeting was concluded.

"We will be going now, lord." Said the architect. 

"Thank you." They both said; making their way out.

"Stay warm." He gave his goodbye to them. And as the door had closed, another opened. The door behind him swung open. It has his squad. 

"Good Morning, lord." They went over to him and a did a little bow. "What do you need?"

"May the two that I taught to drive," He pointed at them. "There are multiple boxes of cement, gravel, and water at the storage room downstairs. You may ask the assistance of your comrades or the maids in bringing them to one of the trucks stationed outside."

The two nodded. 

"Then, you are to go to some building nearby the pier, the engineer had said that there were some people who will be at the front of it to guide you. I do not know it's exact location. You may go now."

The two drive-experienced soldiers calmly went their way out of the living room, leaving the three who were not able to join left standing for themselves.

"What of us three, lord?" Inquired one of them after some awkward silence.

"You are to accompany me on my day out. I wish to take a break." He stood up. "And you" -he pointed at them- "three will guard me."

"As you will, lord." 

( * ) 

The cold of the outside blasted the four heat-conditioned men. And Hierd shivered internally, but dared not show it. "I wish to go to the adventurer guild." He said it while remembering those three adventurers he talked to before. 

"I remember telling them that I wanted to see their adventurers, or something of that gist, I'll meet up with them at the adventurer's guild. Hopefully, they're there. But, winter is the month of Auferstehen... What even does the guild do in Auferstehen? What does anyone do in Auferstehen? Questions, questions. I'll have a bit of a talk with the adventurer's guild today and maybe the merchant's guild tommorow. But I mainly want to observe the three adventurers."

They nodded in approval to his ask and began walking. 

The adventurer's guild; to his knowledge (there wasn't plenty of), was a guild 'as old as time;' remarked of his squad's soldiers. And that; 'they are a guild who's power can outrival even small countries.' Inquiring more from his squad soldiers, they were once adventurers until, last year. When Ridge village had collapsed, they were needed in Venit Ille. They had done a multitude of tasks, jobs. Ranging from helping the people, to doing commisions inside the guild. "I thought there would be monster extermination tasks. But I guess this is more realistic than I thought?"

"Are there monster exterminations?" Hierd questioned with great intrigue.

The three looked to themselves, asking the sky for questions. "Monster... Exterminations...? Lord?" 

"Yes...? Is there a problem?"

"Last I remember, the need for monster commisions were a long time ago. When my mother's mother was still a child, I'd say." 

"Why so?"

"'The world has succeeded in their crusade.' I quote this from the king." 

"But Auferstehen lives on?"

"That crusade was dedicated to the monsters who lived in the surface." One said with a stern face. "There were a variant of Auferstehen monsters who could live without the cold of winter nor the clouds of white. Those had exploded in population and were detrimental to the good of the nations. Decimating the people, making Auferstehen worse, but, as the guild, the adventurer guild, the kingdoms, the people"- he took a quick breath- "gradually began killing them all, ending that variant."

A step in winter snow, Hierd thought of that 'variant' with mystique. "Will that variant come back?"

"That I do not know, my lord." He answered swiftly. "It's been years and years and years."

The silence that ensued afterwards had said that the conversation was over and his soldiers had shut-up and stayed silent.

Walking aloft the city's streets. He waved at his citizens with a smile on his face. The people were delighted that he crossed their paths. They wished to give him gifts, to make their products free for him only, and offering him all their hospitality. But he said to those he passed; "No thank you."

He hadn't a need for such things. If he really wanted something, he could spawn something with the power he has. And it would be even more better than what the people could give him.

With a manly stride from road to road, the four had reached some market that was located north, they were near to the guild, however, Hierd had some moments of intrest regarding it.

"The market, so much people are still outside though it is the month of Auferstehen." Commented Hierd. 

"I believe that is because of your presence, lord." Replied one of his soldiers. "They feel safe when they see your soldiers march outwards and come back with stern faces. I could say that because of that, their morale has certainly greaten."

"Well isn't that good?" Hierd smiled. "I wish to go and look at the market."

"Lord, the market is a detour towards the adventurer guild." 

"That I know, I wish only to look at"- His eyes met with some jewelry- "the people's effects."

"If you wish, lord." He bowed. 

He walked towards the jewelry stand. The wooden roof was covered in snow and it looked as if the shopkeeper, from afar, was shivering even still in the mass amount of clothes he wore. 

"Oh its the lord!" Shocked was the shopkeeper. "We are truly humbled to have you look at our accessories! You may browse all you want, and keep the thing you wish." The man had stood immidiately up from the wooden stool he sat upon. 

"No, no." He interjected. "I won't do that, I shall pay."

"If- If that is what you wish, my lord!" Hierd could see a sweat roll down his face.

The thing he was attracted by was a blue gem encassed in it's necklace, of sorts. It was something he had never seen before. And it looked to have glowed, even under the winter's clouds. He pointed at it and the shopkeeper noticed. "What is this, blue gem?"

"Ah, that, my lord?" He took a closer look. "That is a magical gem."

"Magical gems?" Hierd thought. "What do they do?" He picked it up to examine it.

"There are... Many kinds of gems, each color represents the elements. And that one, my lord. Is for the ones who's affinity for water is better."

Hierd did not care for what affect it would be that a gem could do to one. He cared only for the looks of the blue gem. And, staring at it. Engrossed by it's flares. He wanted to buy it. 

"I shall buy it. How much?" 

"It costs five-hundred copper."

"Holy shit I don't know shit about money. I don't even have money!" He stepped back and glared at his soldiers. His deep, intense stare had brought them to realize what he had really wanted. And soon, one of his soldiers gave in and emptied his wallet to puff out five-hundred copper. Hierd looked at the copper he gave to the shop keeper. It wasn't really five-hundred copper coins. More of, five copper coins. "So a single copper coin is a hundred? How much would a gold coin cost?" He wondered on, but not one thought could ever lead him to a coherent answer. 

"Thank you, lord!" He bowed. "May you come back again some other time!" 

Hierd and his squad made their exit. And he wore the gem necklace from his neck soon after. 

( * )

Even from the outside of the guild, the adventurer's numerous voices had screamed out. As if were it a lava excaping a volcano. His soldiers went forward and put their hands on the front door's handle.

they opened the door of the adventurer's guild.

The adventurers, upon seeing the lord. Had turned from loud to silent. He took a step inside. 

They all stood up and bowed to him. And as his feet took the last step and stopped at the receptionist desk, they sat down, quietly so. 

"Good Afternoon, lord." She had maintained her composure in spite of his presence. "What is that you wish?" 

"An audience with three adventurers and the guild chief." 

"Ah, yes, yes. Please hold on, my lord." She hesitatingly stepped away from the desk and towards some backdoor. 

The large main room, where the adventurers sat on wooden benches, with ale on their tables and steak in their mouths. Was as silent as ever. Only the wind of the outside was heard. He heard a door open from the upstairs. 

Hard thuds had pounded the wooden floor, going down. 

"Good Afternoon, my lord." Gerald bowed down low. "What is that you wish?" 

He had rotated his body towards Gerald who was left of him. Hierd had heard mumbles and whispers amongs't the crowd of adventurers. Saying; 'The Tiger's bowing to the lord?' And, 'the Tiger's weaker than the lord?' Such talk had piqued his intrest. "An informal talk, of sorts. And too that I wish to meet with three adventurers."

"And they are?" He pursued the answer of.

"A woman and two men, all in one group." He probed his brain for his memories. "And uh; one of the men have blue hair and one has red. And too is the woman a mage."

"I think I may know who they are, my lord!" Said the receptionist. 

"Who may they be?" His gaze was intent on the woman.

"They are quite the active team, I believe I may be able to get a contact of them during your time with the... Chief."

"Thank you." Then he stared back at Gerald. "Well then? Let us go to your office."

( * )

Inside, a roar of noise came from downstairs. Chatter, that is was. "Don't worry about it, lord. The guild's always noisy. It's baffling that they were silent for the length of time that you were downstairs."

"They're scared of my presence. And of the guns I hold." He rested comfortably on his wooden chair that he was given. 

"Then. What is it that you want?" he put it blunty. 

"What does the guild do in Auferstehen?" 

The harsh light that the window gave had given the room quite the darknes. Staring at him, Gerald's face looked aggresive and chiseled. Foreboding to say the least. 

"The guild remains silent. The members usually are with their familes, in Auferstehen."

"Why are you still operating then?" He inquired. "There are still many people in the lobby."

"Well, we feel safe. I feel safe. Everyone feels safe. With you in charge and the soldiers there; I don't think we would have much to worry about." -his face had shocked when a thought came to mind- "Did'ye come because the army's not capable enough!?"

"No." He inched his chair closer to the desk. "I simply wanted... Some informal talk."

He wept a relieved sigh. "Thank the lord! I thought this city was done for!"

Hierd laughed nervously. 

"Say, lord. That craft's guild business. About this.... New factory?" He probed the thought in his head. "Will the adventurer's guild and the merchant's guild be going down the same thing?"

"I feel like I've answered that," -"But I can't remember"- "But I guess I have a new answer for that otherwise."

"Which is?" He leaned in closer to him. Putting his two arms onto the table. Awaiting his answer. 

"There's a possiblity. That I too will ban the guilds from my nation. For I wish total dominion over my lands. What do you feel about that?" Heird's face remained blank.

"Nothing, lord. Heck, I'd even appreciate that!" A cheery laugh. "The guild's gone under, I tell you! And your kingdom, this country, I wanna be a part of it!"

"Good to know." He grinned.

*knock *knock

The door opened. It was the receptionist. 

"Lord," she bowed. "Chief." She bowed again. Then, looking at Hierd. "My lord, the adventurers you asked for are downstairs waiting." 

Hierd then looked at Gerald. "Guess I'll be going. Thank you for the chat." 

"Too you to, my lord." He stood up, bowing.

As the lord was seen exit the room, the adventurer's guild turned silent once more. For the deep thuds his leather boots had punched the wooden stair. The atmosphere inside had certainly gloomed. Reaching down, he saw the three standing anxiously. 

Seeing him, they bowed. "Good Morning, my lord!"

"Good morning." He said with a smile. "Do you have a commission right now?"

"Uh-uh, no lord." The girl had said, stuttering. "We-we were ju-just about to get one."

"Ease yourselves." Hierd walked closer to them. "You are not in fear of anything around me. I am not like the others, nor will I be worser."

"Okay, lord." She said, trying to ease her self to the best of her ability. The blue-haired guy behind her walked away and towards a big board full of paper commisions. It was quite foreboding to say the least, that board. He then picked a random one after a second of looking at it.

He went towards Hierd, "This, my lord will be our commission today." 

( * )

In the forest, far beyond Unchean or Venit Ille. The adventurers, Hierd, and his squad, kept the winter venture into the deep dark lands twas the forest. They went to the forest by foot only, and because o that, their legs ached. And Hierd's leather shoes were suffering, crying taking ever step. "Now really wasn't the time to do this, I should've worn my boots! God! This walk is fucking killing me!" 

The snow had covered the ground in it's white veil. And the cold had certainly pierced their bodies. And the walk by foot in the forest cold was much tiring to all of them indeed.

"How much longer?" Said Hierd, panting from the severe length by the trek. 

"N-not much, my lord." Said the blue haired guy.

Hierd had spawned in a STG-44 (hiding when he did it). His soldiers had already seen that gun when they were at his cabin, and looking at it now, they were still intrested and were very much so admiring the iron and it's more sophisticated design compared to the Kar98k rifles they were holding. 

"You have yet to tell me your names, why don't we get the basis of introduction first?"

They all stopped. "I assume that is right, my lord. We should take a small break as well?"

( * )

They had set up a small fire, with the help of the squad and the adventurers, there was a small camp set-up with a pot standing in the fire's ire. Stew was cooked and served. "I humbly apologise if this isn't to your taste, my lord." Said the blue-haired man. 

"There is no need to apologise, food is food. Good or bad." He smiled after recieving the hot bowl of stew. It was a mix of carrot, something, and something else. (Hierd doesn't cook). He took a bite. "Mid." 

"So, what're your names?"

"Yes, umm." Started the girl. "I am Marie Herr." -She pointed to her friends- "The red haired man, is Rodge Peters, and the blue haired man is Harold Peters." 

"Good Afternoon, all, I am Hierd Die Grace. Nice to meet you all." He smiled after taking another bite. 

"Lord?" Harold walked closer to him. "May I know that thing the soldiers hold?"

"Ah these?" He grabbed his STG-44. "These are called guns."

"Guns?" 

 "You'll get to get these if you're a part of the army." He smiled. 

He backed away. "I don't think I'll be fit for your army, my lord."

"Why so?"

"I... I am not as good as a soldier."

"Not anyone is good to be soldier, they need to be trained properly, then, and only then, could they be considered a soldier."

"Bu-but." He stuttered. "Still."

"All is okay, Harold." He chuckled a bit. "I just wanted to tempt you a bit-"

"My lord." They stood up suddenly. "Please be quiet."

Alerted, he too stood up. "What is it? What happened?"

"Footsteps." He had his kar98k aimed at the woodline infront of them.

"Too good to be animals." Another said. 

The adventurers looked at them with much confusion. But, understanding the situation also, put out the fire with water and readied their blades and wand. That direction was quite dark, nothing could be seen even under the winter white. The soldiers and the adventurers hid near trees. 

Hierd prepared his STG, aiming down his sights at that deep beyond. Whispering; "Are you certain?"

"Yes, my lord." He huddled up in the tree's roots. 

The snow began piling up their gun's barrels. Waiting for the nothing, or that ignorant something. When suddenly, Rodge edged closer to Hierd. Making small tip-taps to the snow ground. 

"M-my lord." He nodded his head to constitute not being able to bow in his proned position. "I ha-ve a... Seeking suspicion, that we've been... Spotted by a banditry."

"A banditry?" Hierd put two-and-two together. "That commision. It was called an extermination mission. So we're exterminating human-bandits?"

"The smoke would've had shown our location. Were we near the spot?" Continued Hierd, his eyes still focused on the trees. 

"N-no, not at all, my lord."

Under some minutes of waiting, nothing came to be. "Let us crouch slowly towards the forest. And get closer to the bandit's camp." Suggested one of the squad soldiers. 

"Let's do just that." Hierd said.

The seven had slowly walked over, from tree-to-tree. Aiming at every direction to see if they were being ambushed or not. And once they were in that dark clearance. They looked back at their camp.

"Bandits." Hierd frowned at the idea that if they were just minutes late, a battle would've ensured. The bandits were scouring ever inch of that campground. Looking for evidence of footsteps and of where the supposed 'camp-goers' went. 

"Take the opportunity. Lets make a stride farther inwards." Said one of the soldiers, taking out his luger and unequipping his Kar98k, putting it onto his back. The rest followed him. The cold was unbearable as the tree's shade made the ground colder. But they pushed on. 

They stopped when there was a snow field, devoid of trees. From the left could one see. "The bandit's camp." Said Marie. "My lord," -she turned over and looked at him- "That is the commision's... Mission." 

"Kill and provide evidence?" He questioned.

"Y-yes, my lord." She held her staff up.

"Do-don't stand up." Blurted Hierd. "Let's think of a plan first, why don't we?"

She quickly proned down onto the winter ground once more. Her face groaned in the ache of the cold hitting her chest. 

"My lord," said one of his soldiers. "I suggest we four stay in the woodline, we will provide recon support to the ones who will charge at the camp. I do not think that group we saw earlier will be back for awhile. So when we take the first shot, it must be absolute."

Hierd took some time to think. "How about one stays in the woodline? And we, I and six others will then be the ones... leading the charge." He didn't sound confident in his last sentence.

"You will be going directly there lord!?" Exclaimed one of his soldiers. "That's insane! I cannot let you."

"My word will be absolute." His face frowned. He then stared at the camp with observant eyes. "It's a simple camp, not like a base, more of just a resting ground. I'd assume that a bandit's M.O is that they'd have a secret base that hides away money and slaves. And this is clearly not that."

"What are you suggesting, my lord?"

"That we just shoot with everything from afar." He turned to Marie. "You are a mage, right?"

"Y-yes, lord." 

"What is your most powerful spell?" 

"Uh..." She looked at her two companions which were distressed. "That would be; Ifernium. My lord."

"What is it?"

"Ah, um." She began mumbling. "Ifernium is a wide range magical spell with... Devastating enough effects..."

"However...?" He hastened to conversation.

"It takes thirty minutes to conjure a magic circle, and only then do I need to chant the words to ignite it's being."

"What a fucking hassle; aren't there like magics that can level fucking mountains in five seconds? What the shit is this fantasy world." His face was disapointed.

"Are there other spells you have, preferably relating to fire?"

"W-well. Yes, my lord. It is a fireball spell, it only has a radius of five steps, however."

"Hmmm... That's not good enough, I suggest we just take aim here. A faster approach." He then looked at her companions, and after some thought. "Do you two have bows?" He questioned, fully knowing that there weren't any strapped to their chest, he questioned just because they had arrows strapped to them.

"Y-yes...?" 

"Unbelievable."

They pulled out a pouch of sorts. They unthreaded the pouch's seal and out came a glistening glow of yellow light, remeniscent of gold. They put their hands inside of it, and out came a short bow.

"Un-fucking-believable."

"I want you to take aim at the village with fire-tipped arrows. Using"-he glanced at Marie- "her fireball spell. Surely the fireball isn't that explosive?"

"N-no, my lord. I can control it's output."

"Good."

Harold and Rodge then opened their medicine straps. And out came their white bandages. With an adhesive sludge of sorts, they then began putting them on their arrows' sharp wooden tips. Putting it on all their arrows, Hierd instructed for Marie to glaze the tip with fire. Igniting; "It's ready." Hierd smiled. "When I give my go, shoot at the camp, got it?"

"Y-yes, my lord." 

Hierd turned to his soldiers. "Aim." 

...

"Fire!"

Three shots of lead pumped straight into their barbaric skin and grimy heads. 

And after, fire rained down below, and in rapid succession, the camp was wholly englufed under flame. 

Hierd takes aim.

Thirty rounds of straight-hot metal pierced the skulls of thirty bandits. For each round, the forest was bid with it's hellish scream. 

Shouts had ushered from that camp, and while it had still been burning. Several bandits had escaped it, only for faith to bring them bullets into their skulls.

After what seemed like ten minutes. The shouts from that camp, were far over. 

"Do you think the group from before will come back?" Questioned one of the soldiers. 

"No, they would've had seen it already, and coming back to a wrecked battlefield is like a person commiting suicide." Replied Hierd. His gaze then met with the three shook adventurers. 

"I'm sorry about that firing, you aren't used to the sound. It must've hurt your ears."

"A-all is f-fine, my lord." Said Marie, who obviously was not fine. 

"Go down there, I'm sure you can handle the straddlers, and get your proof." 

"Th-thank you, my lord."

Hierd smilled in response. The three carefully went towards the camp, with Rodge and Harold carrying their blades and were preparing for any attack to come their way. Walking in the mess, they found no such thing as a threat. The fire still spread some ways, but it was gone. All there was, were carcasses of human and some animal, and the remains of a camp. 

Inside one of the bigger tents, was a sword of inumerable length and weight. "Take a look at this, Marie." Rodge slid his fingers on the sword's blade. "This could count as evidence, right? I mean, there's nothing really left."

"Y-yeah, that's evidence worthy, I think." She chuckled nervously. "L-lets go back to the lord before we undermind him too much."

"You don't need to worry that that much, Marie." Harold interjected. "The lord is better than the old weasel before him."

"Y-yeah, I shouldn't w-worry. You're right, Hal." She smiled, not to comfort herself, but to comfort them. 

Rodge grunted as he tried to painstakingly wield the sword with all that he could. "I think we two should carry this thing."

"I-I can help carry it too!" 

"No, no, you shouldn't Marie. Allow us to handle it, you should lead the way."

( * )

Hierd saw the three rise out from some burnt tent's orrifice, with a giant sword carefully being held by the two men. Their brawn was clearly being tested, and they were tip-toeing upon failing and losing that said test. When they got to Hierd and his squad; the two laid down the sword on the winter snow. Taking a breather after all that heavy weight. 

They admired the sword that was just put onto that ground. Commenting on it's length and it's weight.

"That is one big sword." Said Hierd. "I've yet to see something like this before. But why would anyone even need nor want a big sword? It's too heavy for any use."

"Maybe it is a relic and an ornament, my lord?" Said one of the soldiers. 

"Maybe." He stood up. "Anyhow, the commisions been done. Lets head back to the city and supply the evidence?" 

"Yes, lord."

Already taking his couple of steps, Hierd said. "Oh and, let my soldiers carry that, you obviously would be struggling to carry such things, you three, especially because of your ages."

Marie held that word in her head, blushing. "Does the lord think I'm young!? I'm nearing my thirties!" 

( * )

"Captain!" They shouted. "De' camp's been destroyed! And the sword's gone!" 

In a well-lit cave, this huge bulk of muscle, sat on a throne of rock. With skulls of human and animal near it's vicnity. And hearing that newfound news. He was not happy.

"You shitheads!" He shouted. "Why did you" -he stood up and walked to them- "not protect, the fucking, sword!" He bashed the head of one of them on the rock ground. 

His brain matter was splattered everywhere. And the others there were looking at the body of a friend no-longer alive. Their hearts had sunk below their feet, and they began to plead for their life. 

"If you want to live." He put his head closer to one of them; "BE FUCKING USEFUL!" 

"Y-yes! Y-yes! I will, my lord, we will find the ones who d-did it!" 

"You better fucking do." He sat on his stone throne once more. "Because any one who tries to do, that? To us!? Will never live to tell the tale."

( * )

It was dusk when they got back. And the city was as lively as ever. Opening the door, of the adventurer's guild. The adventurers once again shut up, but looked at the blade that the soldiers were handling. It was brought and placed onto the receptionist's desk. 

"Goodness!" The receptionist lady was wholly suprised at the hunk of iron thrown to her table. Marie handed the commision paper. "Ah, so thi-this is the evidence?"

"Y-yes." She chuckled nervously. 

The whole room was looking at that blade with questions rolling in their heads. It was big, too big to be held by any sensible person. And the sheer fact that seven people managed to defeat a bandit camp. Had awestruck them. Whilst the three, who even they thought did not do much, were still smiling and enjoying the fact they helped in taking down bandit camp. 

The receptionist lady had then came back with a bountiful of money in hand. "Congratulations on completing your extermination commision. This is the money you recieved, and there is a bonus for the sword left." She slid the ten pieces of gold towards them. 

The three were looking at the stack of gold with stars in their eyes. And they drooled in the fascinating glow it gave off. Hierd, upon seeing this; "You may keep that lot of money, I merely wanted to observe."

"That can't do, my lord!" Said Rodge. "You may get whatever much you wish!"

"Then..." Looking at the stack. "I'll take one." 

All of them looked joyous, and as the coin was taken. Hierd bid adew to the three and left the adventurer's guild. He heard a blast of music, chant, and laughter inside. And from what the last soldier who left the doors entailed; "The three were being carried by the back and being offered beer."

Hierd chuckled, then smiled.