When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword - Chapter 64

When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword

Chapter 64   Rumors

The next day.

We resumed our journey towards the Guild headquarters.

Once again, we pushed ourselves to walk the long road ahead.

From the forest to the lake, and now stepping into the marshlands.

According to the map, the next stretch leads back into deep forest, so we’ll be in these lush green areas for a while.

There’s supposed to be a small village along the way, so for now, let’s aim for that today.

If all goes well, tonight I might be able to let Citrine and Dia sleep in a soft bed.

As we courageously continue our journey, I suddenly voiced a question that had been on my mind.

“By the way, what was that ‘Adventurer Kidnapping’ incident all about?”

The incident of ‘Adventurer Kidnapping’ that Charm-san and others had been talking about.

It had been a frequent topic, but I knew nothing about the details.

What exactly was it about?

As I casually brought it up during our journey, Dia unexpectedly replied.

“Oh, I actually looked into that incident a bit.”

“Huh, really? When?”

“This morning, while you were confined to the inn. I was curious about it too, and didn’t have anything else to do.”

Hmm, I see.

Regardless of whether there was anything else to do, it’s natural for Dia to be concerned about this incident.

To repeat, Dia became an adventurer to search for her missing parents.

And it seems both parents were adventurers themselves.

So Dia should actively investigate any incidents that seem related.

Adventurers can gather a lot of information, and they have access to confidential matters only disclosed to adventurers.

‘The incident itself seems to be the same as the one Charm mentioned before, about adventurers going missing.’ ‘It seems likely that the culprit of that incident is a ‘demon,’ and they might be abducting adventurers.'”

“‘Not missing,’ but ‘abducted.’ Is there any basis for that?”

“It seems there isn’t concrete evidence, but there have been sporadic eyewitness reports of seeing a ‘demon’ just before adventurers went missing. So there’s speculation that the demon might be kidnapping them. Though details about their methods are unclear.”

“Hmm, I see.”

According to what Charm said, adventurers who went missing didn’t return after going to the area.

So maybe demons are targeting and kidnapping adventurers in that area.

It would be easier to take adventurers away within the area.

Unlike in town, there aren’t other adventurers nearby, and it’s possible to take advantage of them fighting monsters.

It’s a mystery that other witnesses are there, and the method is unclear, but it’s quite possible that adventurers are being abducted by demons in the area.

“It seems like quite a significant incident, with nearly thirty adventurers missing.”

“Th-Thirty people!? That includes not just Copper-ranked Bronze and Silver-ranked adventurers, but also skilled Gold-ranked adventurers…”

“Yes. So the Guild has started to view this incident as dangerous and has begun requesting investigations from adventurers ranked Platinum and higher.”

Thirty missing people.

That’s far too many.

Charm’s assessment was that adventurers who gave up on their requests for completion had disappeared on their own, but it’s hard not to suspect foul play when thirty people have vanished.

Moreover, with reports of demons being sighted, the Guild has no choice but to act.

Helio-kun was probably entrusted with investigating the ‘adventurer kidnapping’ incident by the Guild.

Soon enough, Milchronde’s Adventurers’ Guild might also receive requests for investigation.

Thinking such relaxed thoughts, Dia’s following words made me doubt my ears.

“According to rumors, even that ‘Hero Party’—’The Famous Girls’ Night Party’—is getting involved in investigating this incident.”

“Huh…”

The Hero Party?

Is that referring to the most powerful party led by Hero Parlti?

The adventurer party Ruby joined after the Blessing Ceremony three years ago?

Memories of that time involuntarily flashed through my mind.

“‘You cannot become an adventurer. If you push yourself to fight, you will surely become prey to demons and monsters.'”

I still remember it vividly.

Immediately after the Blessing Ceremony, those merciless words from the current strongest adventurer.

Having your dreams denied by the hero you admired, it inevitably leaves a mark.

White hair cascading to the waist. Skin as pale as clear water. And that expression as cold as ice.

The figure of that ‘Hero’ I saw back then, I can’t forget it even now.

So, the Hero Party led by Hero Parlti is investigating this incident?

Could it be that Ruby, too…

Thinking of my childhood friend with flowing red hair, I tried to ask without showing too much agitation.

“W-Why would a prestigious party like the Hero Party be investigating this incident?”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure. But it seems to have become a serious matter, so perhaps they received a request for investigation as well?”

Well, that would be a reasonable assumption.

But even so, their response seems somewhat excessive.

The Hero Party is reputed to be the strongest among existing adventurer parties.

I’ve heard their usual tasks involve subduing formidable demons or capturing renegade apostates.

Even if the ‘adventurer kidnapping’ incident is being taken seriously, isn’t it too early for the Hero Party to step in?

Or could there be some other reason they’re acting?

“…”

Well, no matter how much I think about it here, I won’t find the answer.

In any case, we must first resolve Citrine’s situation.

We need to obtain permanent residency for her in the town, ensuring Citrine can live safely and securely.

We can think about everything else afterward.

Well, I’ve been wanting to see Ruby soon anyway, so once Citrine’s matter is settled, it might be good to investigate that incident.

If we pursue the adventurer kidnapping incident, we might naturally get closer to the Hero Party and have a chance to meet Ruby.

Three years have passed, and I may not have changed much in appearance or stature, but I wonder how Ruby has grown.

Just when I was thinking such relaxed thoughts again, suddenly a hoarse voice came from somewhere.

“Hahaha, seriously, you came to a place like this!”

“Huh!?”

Instinctively, I reached for the rusted sword on my back and positioned myself to protect Dia and Citrine.

Turning towards the direction of the voice, there stood a dead tree.

An ordinary, worn-out dead tree that grows everywhere in the swamp.

Then, someone appeared from behind it.

At first glance, he looked like a “tall, muscular man.” But upon closer inspection, it was clear he was not a normal human.

A large body covered in green scales. A long, elongated face. Sharp red eyes wide open.

In short, a crocodile-man.

No, not human. Clearly, a demon.

Why would a demon be here?

And as I wondered…

“What the—!?”

Following the crocodile demon, one by one, “demons” began appearing from behind the dead trees.

A demon resembling a rhinoceros with gray skin and long horns.

A bee-like demon with yellow and black striped skin and pitch-black eyes that looked terrifying.

There were also demons resembling fish, bears, and even ones shaped like flowers.

In total, twelve of them. Each held a grotesque artifact in one hand and wore a faint smile as they looked at us.

What are these things?

They suddenly appeared from the shadows of the trees.

Were they hiding there all along? All twelve of them? Behind those skinny dead trees?

That’s absolutely impossible.

And there’s more to question.

Glancing at Dia, who was clearly shocked behind me, I furrowed my brows in secret.

Why couldn’t Dia’s “intuition” sense them?

Dia’s intuition isn’t infallible, but if there were this many demons lurking, Dia should have sensed something.

Even if not Dia, I should have noticed some trace if I hadn’t been so engrossed in conversation.

Or did I let my guard down that much?

Anyway, I drew the rusted sword, ready to respond at any moment, and pointed it towards them as I asked,

“Who are you?”

This group of demons that seem to make this area their stronghold… something feels off.

It’s clear they have business with us, appearing like this.

Yet their lack of immediate aggression is quite unnatural.

Thinking this, I decided to inquire further, and the first crocodile demon opened its large mouth.

“Well, that’s our line. Who the hell are you guys? We’ve only got business with one ‘kid’ trembling back there.”

“Huh?”

Reflexively, I turned around.

There stood Dia, frozen in surprise, and…

“…Citrine?”

There, trembling all over, was Citrine with a pale face.