Chap 84: The Former Guild

If my guild, Devil’s Triumph Nightmare, is made up of nothing but handsome men, beautiful girls, and other beauties—besides me.

Then Crimson Rose, led by Ceris, is a guild of nothing but beautiful women and other beauties.

Furthermore, I hear the popularity and renown of Crimson Rose have spread not only throughout the city but also among nobles and even to other countries.

In fact, as we’re walking through the city right now… countless women are letting out excited cheers for Ceris and her group.

Me? I’m doing my best to erase my presence so I don’t get in the way.

“Crimson Rose is amazing. It’s a massive guild that practically everyone knows now.”

When I said that, Ceris let out a little laugh.

“Isn’t that the same for your guild, Crow? Numbers aside, the renown and skill of Devil’s Triumph Nightmare are on par with ours. Depending on the time and place, maybe even more so…”

“Is that… a good thing? Or a bad thing?”

“If I had to say, it’s a bad thing.”

“It’s a bad thing.”

“A bad thing~♪”

Following Ceris, even Sierra and Ruela shot back with an instant reply.

Well, I kind of already knew that.

“That said, the good part about Devil’s Triumph Nightmare is that its members are all good-looking and skilled. Conversely, their merciless use of force is what makes them stand out in a bad way among nobles and adventurers.”

Sierra explained it clearly.

So basically, they’re a popular legion of beauties and handsome guys, but they’re a huge pain to have as an enemy? Is that it?

Well, everyone in my guild… they might not kill, but they show zero mercy. Even I start to feel sorry for them. The enemy, I mean.

The fact that everyone is so conspicuous means…

“So by contrast, I don’t stand out at all, do I?”

I wear a mask, but my face is ugly, and my build is average. I don’t have any particular talents.

I’d like to think my skills are decent for an adventurer, but in my guild, I’m the weakest.

I’m well aware of how plain I am.

“Yep. As I thought, I don’t stand out.”

“”No, no, that’s the one thing you’re not.””

Sierra and Ruela denied it in unison.

They’re twins, so their timing is perfect, huh.

That’s not the point. Are they saying I stand out? In what way?

Ceris was chuckling to herself.

“The leader who wrangles all of them couldn’t possibly fly under the radar.”

Ceris smiled, but her voice carried a hint of seriousness as she continued.

“The one person in Devil’s Triumph Nightmare you absolutely must not mess with… that’s you, Crow.”

“…Really?”

I tilted my head slightly.

“But, you know, I’m the weakest in the guild, and I’m pretty plain. If you were going to target someone, wouldn’t I be the first one?”

Taking out the weak ones first is the basic enemy playbook, isn’t it?

“Crow. This world isn’t all about strength, you know.”

“Oh?”

“The risk-management skill to sense ‘if I mess with this person, things will get ugly.’ That’s important, too. Because targeting you… is basically declaring war on every single member of Devil’s Triumph Nightmare and accepting that you’re going to get beaten to a pulp. You get it? …Well, that includes us, of course.”

“I see?”

I didn’t really get it, but I nodded anyway.

“Yes, you don’t seem to get it. Crow. I think you put yourself down way too much. And that’s precisely why, today…”

Ceris started to say something.

—And in the next instant.

“A thief! Someone, catch him!!”

“My child’s been kidnapped!!”

“Hurry! They ran that way!!”

“Where are the adventurers or the city watch?!”

Shouts and screams flooded my ears.

I looked ahead. Beyond the crowd, I could see men in robes sprinting away.

Then, a deep sigh from Ceris.