[The main editor’s quality has not been up to par these past few days. I’ve gotten rid of him… and found a good replacement. While they’re being oriented, Eris from ILA will be handling NDE. She proofed these chapters and the promised chapters throughout this weekend. She’s very fluent in Korean so if you find any odd corrections; it’s due to a more accurate translation.]

Must Save, On the Stage (2)

“I was introduced to you by my Master. I am Louise.”

“Oh, that’s the badge of.…! Welcome!”

The party consisted of three mercenaries, which was issued to head immediately to the Phoenix Guild. There they were treated the same way as they were in the Mercenary Guild. The gatekeeper banged his head on the floor just from looking at the Astray badge on Louise’s shoulder. If Evan were to see this, he would have been in shock, saying, “Wow, this place has youngins that know how to do such grand bows…!”.

“I’ve been waiting for you! I’ll show you to the lobby first, and if you would like to drink a cup of tea while waiting…”

“Thank you.”

She followed the gatekeeper into the lobby and rested on the sofa. Since the Mercenary guild, Renail was greeted with the utmost respect by the other explorers. That made her curious, so she asked.

“Unnie, I know that things are going smoothly because of the badge.… but if a badge with such ability was to be forged, wouldn’t it be a big deal?”

“Well, Master told me that no person could ever counterfeit this badge and so relax.”

Louise had never dared to think of forging a badge symbolizing the Astray inside Sherden and was caught off guard by Renail’s question. Save, who was listening to the conversation between the two women, was shaking his head.

[Astray Knights badge]

[Option: Unable to forge (this and other uniquely designed badges can only be produced by the original manufacturer. All other forged badges are destroyed by the power of the Rune Raidho of order and discipline. The power of witch Melonia protects this power.)]

‘The ‘one’ has been dealing with such unknown creatures like witches.’

The witches’ existence had not been officially confirmed, though they caused quite a buzz in some legends. But the one had found and acquired these witches!

‘They might even be the ones who were originally committing evil. If the ‘one’ had personally reformed them and acquired them…. yeah, that makes sense.’

Louise was only checking lightheartedly, but she became deeply concerned. Her investigations weren’t entirely wrong either; it was enough to cause goosebumps!

“There’s no way someone could easily forge it when his seal is on it. Trust me, Renail.”

“Hm, that might be true. Well, there must be something because we get a free pass even in the Phoenix Guild, which is far from ordinary. Speaking of which, Unnie, I was shocked that the Phoenix Guild was commissioning us!”

“Well, I’m sorry about that, but…Renail, did you understand just from what I said?”

A Guild member finally came out while Louise’s Party was having a friendly conversation. Although he wasn’t the guild master, he seemed to be a combat team leader.

“Hmm…are you the new talent from Master Evan? You all look good.”

But after checking the group, this guy started speaking rudely out of nowhere. The moment had finally come where Evan’s badge didn’t work! … Well, it did work, but in a negative way. He knew the power that came from Evan’s name but could not connect the two due to his one-dimensional thinking.

‘He might be trying to provoke us on purpose.’

As soon as she came to that thought, Louise quickly calmed her soaring anger. She did so because she wouldn’t play at the other person’s pace. Furthermore, a hasty response to the provocation could cause trouble for Evan. But when Louise tried to eye her party members from reacting hastily, Save opened his mouth.

“Hmm, you sure do have an eye. Maybe members in bigger guilds truly are different?”

“Recognizing us means…have you been rooting for us by any chance?”

“…What?”

Save, and Renail didn’t get angry at the Guild member’s words in the first place! Instead, they were happy he recognized them from a glance!

“Everything you said is true. It’s an honor that ‘the one’ has personally chosen us. I’m unsure of my role in the huge flow one created, but I plan on giving my everything.”

“To think you were in the same position as us… We should be more comfortable with each other moving forward. We’re looking forward to working with you.”

“What, what are these kids…!?”

Just as Louise thought, the guild member intended to provoke the group and was now backing away baffled. The light jab he threw came back as a hefty cross thrown by these fanatics.

‘How did Master Evan … I mean, how did he get these lunatics to work under him!?’

As they approached him, their sparkling eyes contained only sincerity without a shred of deceit! Only those who were sincerely proud to be used as Evan’s talent could make such a face! This unknown fear intruded upon the Guild member’s body.

“Hmm! You are Master Evan’s associates, though I heard it’s unofficial. Anyways, good. It’s indeed easier for us to have people with who we can trust our work.”

“Yes, we look forward to working with you. We are ready to do anything.”

The member let out a cough to avoid revealing that he had been frightened and began to speak, completely ignoring the prior conversation. Louise responded to him, even as she thought of escaping alone from this place.

“Okay. I heard you cleared the 10th floor of the dungeon, so I’d like to leave you with a few requests that can be solved in there.”

“The 10th floor…yes, please tell us.”

Of course, the Louise Party had only conquered the dungeon to the fifth floor. However, they were confident of breaking through at least the 20th floor by following Evan’s attack method. This confidence was neither arrogance nor delusion; instead, it was conviction stemming from their belief in Evan, which had led them to this place. And considering their abilities, that was correct. No point in mentioning this, but they had Save, who could instantly check other explorers’ capabilities. There was no way of misjudging the party or their strategy.

“No, there’s no need to write it down. I’ve got the documents ready, so I’ll hand them over.”

“Thank you.”

The Guild member handed Louise the documents he had prepared before they came out in the lobby. The point where he handed over a request without a formal interview was when this drama’s clumsiness started unraveling.

“Then…Yes, your seal here, please.”

After checking the seal, Louise received approval from the Phoenix Guild to work as a mercenary. Thus, their first request as mercenaries officially began.

“This isn’t saying to complete everything and return. However, more than seventy percent of the requests must be accomplished to be considered successful, so keep that in mind.”

“We’ll try to complete everything. When is the deadline?”

“Three weeks. I’ve heard that the Guild Master has a lot of upcoming work for you, and we’ve set your schedule up pretty tight, but I’d still like you to do your best.”

“Of course.”

Three weeks. It might be a different story for a regular party, but for Louise’s, who knew all the ins and outs of the entire dungeon, time was more than ample. This fact was the same when it came to reaching the 10th floor of the dungeon. Even as Louise thought about exploring the dungeon in more depth, she nodded at the fact that following Evan’s plan was the best way to get stronger. This was Evan’s way of giving them a growth guideline through the Phoenix Guild.

“I’m a little nervous about being in charge of this commission.”

“If I hadn’t met Louise, I would have started my mercenary career in a much worse form than this.”

“Yeah, but somehow I feel that I would have met you regardless.”

“What a coincidence. So do I.”

While Louise was receiving the Phoenix Guild request, Save and Renail unexpectedly had an amicable conversation. Surprisingly, since their dramatic consensus over the previous sandwich case, they had been slowly getting along even as they argued here and there. After some time, the two were now at the beginning stages of flirting and expressing their feelings. Louise, who had no choice but to listen to their conversation, ground her teeth by herself.

“Well… Miss, if you ever feel lonely, let’s go out for a drink sometime.”

“Thank you for the gesture.”

Louise rose from her seat after denying the Guild member, who was poking at the opportunity. But then, Save sharply gazed at him, just as he had done in the Mercenary Guild.

“This is…!”

“Where is the Guild Master? I have an urgent report!”

“The Master should be in his office. What’s the issue?”

“Outside the Western Wall…No, it’s not something I can discuss here. I need to see the Master!”

The Phoenix Guild was suddenly filled with murmurs after the member burst into the lobby. The Guild member, who was responding to them, was perplexed as well. He motioned for the rest to go outside.

“It seems like something’s going on, but don’t worry. It’s not going to be a big deal. However, things might get difficult with outsiders, so I think it’d be best for you guys to leave now. I look forward to the request.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Louise didn’t ask any further because she was aware of the situation. This situation happened precisely when their party was visiting the guild; Master was so conscious about timing!

“What could it have been? If it’s something that makes the Phoenix Guild fuss and moves its people…”

“It probably isn’t a monster. Maybe it has to do with magic?”

After receiving the request and leaving the Phoenix Guild, Renail spoke about the disturbance that had just happened. Louise, who knew the full extent of the situation, responded otherwise.

“Black magic. I don’t know for certain, but there were traces of black magic.”

Renail and Louise, who were beside him, had turned stiff at Save’s nonchalant comment.

“Um? Is black magic so taboo that I can’t even talk about it?”

“Save seems to know everything, but he’s blind in strange ways.”

Renail sighed and explained, as Louise had turned entirely stiff.

“Black magic is magic against ethics. Just learning it makes one subject to criticism, and legend says it can turn one into a Demon. Thus, it was determined as heresy all over the continent. One could say that all orders hate black magic and those who have mastered it.”

“If you look through continental history, the most tragic or impactful events involve black magic. Thus, black magic is also called the harbinger of disaster.”

“The harbinger of disaster, I see.”

“So even if they’re guesses, don’t speak of it freely. At this level, we can’t participate and make it out alive. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything. I didn’t hear it.”

“But…”

Save was about to say something but didn’t. He seemed to think for a moment, then firmly nodded as he gathered his hands together.

“If the one will lead me, I will charge forward, unafraid.”

“Yeah, you’re your usual.”

“Now, now, don’t think of such a horrible thing. Let’s get ready and head into the dungeon.”

While Save and Renail smiled at each other, Louise, whose face was half despair, urged the party forward. That was how Louise’s party got back into the dungeon as they faced the ‘harbinger of disaster’ in plain sight.

[TL NOTE: If any of you guys are confused, Save is referring to Evan as ‘the one’.]