Chapter LIII - Office Master (part 2)

"Okay. Then, what do you wish to know?"

"I want to know if telling you anything will do any bad to me. Just to let you know... I hid all of these facts for a reason."

"I know, and I understand. Secrecy is of utmost priority, you can take my oath."

The Office Master pledged, and I unfolded my hands to turn to Klane.

"Your boss is so horrible."

I said so boldly to Klane, and she only looked so annoyed.

"H-He is your boss too!!"

"He is?"

"Ekhem... Let's not get sidetracked."

The Office Master cleared his throat as he walked back to his chair, and he sat back down on his usual position.

"The dungeon boss. Would you mind... telling me what that monster is? And how exactly did you kill it?"

The Office Master asked kindly, and I began to ponder deeply. It's true that this guy is indeed Klane's boss, but that doesn't mean he is an ally to me.

He is powerful, for sure. Not in terms of magical strength or anything like that, but his position is very important.

From the way he talks, and the way he wishes to know about my role...

It's almost as if he is the underground King of Mazino.

"There's no point in learning about him."

I said out of the blue, which confuses him.

"And why is that?"

"Because there's only one of him in this world."

He was confused by that answer, but he pulled his chair closer to the table. He is listening closely, because he knows that I am not done.

"Go on."

"His name is Galar…"

I explained everything to him about what I know. Of course, I left the part about him telling me about the existence of the other gods.

I simply mentioned that there could be other beings like him. Other… stronger… beings.

He was extremely taken aback from my story, but he somehow had already predicted it.

"Gods… and you managed to kill him? With your own sword?"

The Office Master was quite bummed out by my explanation. I recalled how Hod and Valey helped me in that battle. Without them attracting Galar's attention, I wouldn't be able to kill him.

I told the Master about how the battle went. I didn't go into too much detail, like my red eyed form or anything like that. I just told him about the major events that happened in the battle. 

He hummed for a while before finally replying. He suddenly stood up and asked for the paper in my hand.

"I understand. It seems like... this was really a one off coincidence."

The Office Master said while studying the paper in his hand. He then turned to me with an understanding look.

"Tell me something... Rize. Had you and your team not killed the red orcs and the orc god... what would've happened then?"

The Office Master asked with such a concerned look, and I can only imagine that happening. If I were to die that day... what would've happened to the world?

"There were over three hundred red orcs on the surface, with one high orc leading. However, there are at least a quarter more underneath the dungeon, alongside the tens of high orcs with them. 

And counting their leader in the equation... I'd say the answer is very obvious.

Invasion, and not a light one."

My answer shed some light to just how dangerous that situation truly was, and the Office Master stared blankly at the paper in his hand. He pondered about things for a moment, but then he turned his back and sat back down on his chair.

"You saved the kingdom... and we didn't even realize it. In fact, I even considered you a threat... I express my apology."

He said to me while lowering the paper, but his expression states otherwise.

"A reward, however... is a little difficult. Considering everything was done in secrecy, sadly, the Office cannot bestow you any--"

"I don't need it. If I wanted it, I wouldn't have kept it all a secret. However... keeping it a secret alone is all I ask."

The Office Master then turned his head away, and I realized what that gesture meant. I took a step forward, but Klane quickly grabbed my arm.

"Do not... reveal this to anyone--"

"Sadly, I cannot. 

The world needs to know if there is danger rising from underneath our feet. If such gods can very easily come out from dungeons, that changes everything.

Dungeons... They are already a very dangerous existence. And now you're telling me Black ranked gods can come out of it randomly? You want me to keep silent about that?"

The Office Master gave his perspective away, and I realized I made a mistake in keeping everything a secret. Had other gods appeared from dungeons, then it for sure will result in the deaths of simply anyone who tried to conquer it.

Not even Jonus can deal with the likes of Galar, even when he used the flame armor form that he showed me today. If a White ranked adventurer like him were to fall, then the whole kingdom would collapse.

The situation... was far more serious than I anticipated. The Office Master is right to be taking this direction.

"Then, my privacy. If you can't keep Galar a secret--"

"I understand that you are young, and that you wish to avoid problems in itself. However, I can promise you that there are better ways we can approach this.

If anonymity is what you wanted, then I can assure you that will be the case. However, I still cannot ignore your worth."

The Office Master put away the paper to the table, and he kept his cold eyes on me. I realized that he wanted something out of me, and he will do everything in order to obtain it.

"What do you want?"

I asked coldly, and he didn't even need to think for a moment.

"For now... stay put."

"Pardon?"

"Until tomorrow, please stay put. I don't want you to go on any missions until tomorrow. I'd like you to join an emergency meeting."

An emergency meeting...? Me?

"What?--"

"Sir?"

Next to me, even Klane had to speak out. All of this is too sudden, and certainly Klane was not informed.

"I... have something that I wish to speak to the council about. So Klane, please inform Keila, Jrake, Rath, and all members of the Office Council. Just the ones who can make the sudden schedule. Tell them that this isn't exactly an emergency, but I wish for them to be present for the important discussion."

"Yes, sir!"

Without much questioning, Klane quickly straightened up and shouted as an answer. She quickly realized there was something missing in what the Master had told her.

"At what time and what place, sir?"

"The usual place before the second bell. Also... tell them that it will be regarding our situation with Veldonia."

The Master said to Klane, and Klane turned her concerned gaze to me.

I only became confused as to why she turned to me, but the Master seemed to be having ideas that would involve me.

Am I... going to be in trouble?

Before I could ask, the Office Master stood up again. He walked up to me, and handed me his hand for a handshake.

"Apologies for... all the things I've said just now."

He said with such an apologetic tone, and I realized he might be saying it genuinely. I grabbed his hand for the handshake, and he firmly held my hand.

"My name is Valon Mazino. Sorry for introducing myself so late.

I hope you can come to the meeting tomorrow. If you do, I'm sure you'll find so many opportunities for you to take."

The Office Master said to me while shaking my hand firmly, but I am still keeping my guard on him. He did apologize, but I'm still not confident that I can trust him fully.

Whatever. I will decide that tomorrow.

"So... He is from the royal family of the kingdom?"

I asked Klane after we left the room, and Klane quickly turned to me, quite panicking.

"Why did you not tell me that you were fighting a Black ranked monster!?"

She asked with so much worry and concern, but I just chuckled.

She definitely knows why. This whole thing she's doing right now is the reason, after all.

Klane let out a sigh as she turned back to facing the hall in front of us, and I carefully placed my hand on her shoulder.

"I... nearly died that time. Truth is, Hod and Valey could've died as well."

"You're stupid. You're so stupid."

Klane said some more, and I wrapped my arm around her small body. I hugged her a little as we walked in the hallway.

"Sorry~... but we got trapped, so we had no choice but to fight. And we won, so no complaints!"

Klane let out a sigh hearing that. She didn't really press me about it anymore, and I guess she understood. I pulled away from the hug, and Klane turned her eyes to me.

"There are a lot of branches from the family. The current queen is the true oldest blood of the Mazino family, but she also had siblings."

Klane suddenly said, and I realized she was talking about what I said regarding the Master.

"Oh… 'That' queen had siblings?"

"Yes. Master Valon is her youngest brother."

What?

"So… he is like…"

"Yeah. You could say he was once a prince."

"Oh…"

"The Swordsaint is also a part of the royal family."

"R-Really??!"

Okay... too much information, but how come I never knew about this!?

She told me how Fran's mother is the queen's younger sister. The third child was Master Valon, and I was quite surprised at that.

So, the Adventurers Office was actually led by a royalty... how surprising.

We arrived at the receptionist's room, where she will be taking over the role from Keila pretty soon. I will be left with nothing to do.

"So, what now?"

I asked her, and Klane let out a sigh before answering.

"Now, I have to send a letter to all the acquaintances of the Office for an emergency meeting. You should try to reserve your energy for tomorrow."

"W-Why?"

"Just a simple warning, Rize… The meeting can be quite exhausting."

Klane said as she entered the receptionist room, and she closed the door before greeting her friend.

I simply walked away and left the Office, pondering just how tiring a meeting could be.

It was already afternoon by the time I walked out of the Office. A few hours later, it will be the third bell.

Stay put, huh…? What can I even do, anyway?

'The meeting can be quite exhausting.'

Klane's words rang in my head, and I began to grow concerned.

I just hope that my abnormal magic energy can make up to that exhaustion. Hopefully, having magic can help me to not get tired during the meeting.

I'll just come and find out what exactly will happen during the meeting.

Which, of course, I regretted later on.