Living as an Unemployed in Another World

12 – 1. Mule’s Footsteps (12)

12.

We took a seat at a stand table in the lobby and faced each other. The party he led gathered in front of me again after almost five days. I glared at Gerald once, then stopped ignoring him and asked how he was.

“So, how are you all doing?”

“Ahahahaha… ….”

Catching my gaze, Hilda scratched her temple and laughed awkwardly.

“hahahaha, it’s just the same…… What about Jin? What’s going on with the Adventurer’s Guild?”

“It’s just that the barrel business isn’t working these days, so I came out to visit the new inn and see the city. What about you?”

“We… ….”

Yeah, Hilda stretched her tongue. Anyway, it’s true that I was staying at the ‘Siren’s Song’ with Gerald, so it seems a bit embarrassing.

“We are also staying there. Speaking of clearing the dungeon, it failed.”

Ahahahaha, Hilda laughs awkwardly. I glanced at the faces of the other party members. He is trying hard to pretend to be friendly when I come, but unlike usual, he has a timid expression.

“Remember? Have you all forgotten what happened in the dungeon too?”

“Yes…… Earthquake. How?”

When Hilda asked in a panic, I just said that I heard such a story because I have connections in the guild. Other people’s expressions become a little mysterious. I hope I don’t misunderstand you again with this.

“Yeah, well, I heard everything, so I have nothing to say.”

“What did he say when we left the inn? For sure…… ‘Who am I? Artifact holder Geral——.'”

Kieek! Gerald roared like a crow. Thanks to this, he received the stinging glare of other adventurers. So, who wants to be confident and make a dark history? As if he couldn’t do it, he drooped his shoulders and confided.

“You are right. The attack failed, and he came back safely, but he doesn’t remember what he did there. Even with recovery spells or potions, it can’t be restored at all.”

“You guys too?”

As I looked at the others except for Gerald, they nodded silently. In terms of chronological order, Gerald’s party was the first to clear the dungeon before anyone else. So to speak, he is the number one victim of the Artifact’s power. Maybe you can get some clues from their stories. I urged him to tell me in detail what had happened that day.

“Grunt, I don’t really have much to say. Because I don’t remember what happened in the dungeon. Yes, I definitely rode a wagon and headed to the mine in the morning. I felt a tremendous magical response right from the entrance that not only Zenith, but even us who are not spell users can feel it. On the surface, it was just a deep cave in the middle of the mine. Everyone made up their minds to catch a big number and went in with preparations…….”

“Did you enter?”

Gerald shrugged his shoulders as if asking something. I mean, I don’t remember anything after that.

“The sun was setting when I came out. When I came to my senses, I couldn’t even think of going back in, and I barely remembered it after I came down the hill. That we came to raid the dungeon.”

“… ….”

“However, with wounds in the mouth and potions consumed, everyone was visibly tired. In the end, going back into the dungeon would only lead to dog death, so I returned to the city for now even though I wondered what it was. And the adventurers who entered behind us are like this one after another.”

Gerald realized that they had failed in the dungeon raid only after seeing the same phenomenon happening again and again. He murmured as if lamenting.

“Everyone only remembers going in and out of the dungeon, and I can’t remember anything in between. Looking at the wear and tear of the equipment worn and the number of potions consumed, it seems like a considerable amount of time has been spent, but no one remembers what they did or fought against in that dungeon.”

“… ….”

After hearing the story, I rested my chin quietly and thought. Certainly, having an equal effect on so many humans would be impossible unless it was an artifact-class power. However, all artifacts are only tools after all. It’s not impossible to say that it’s an artifact that goes out of control by itself, but it’s a defective product. It is correct to classify it as a ‘cursed item’ like Punta is chasing, rather than an artifact. Artifacts only refer to things whose composition is close to perfect.

So, there is a high probability that someone is using an artifact in the dungeon to erase the adventurers’ memories…… The probability that it is a low-intelligence monster is rare. I suddenly met Zenith’s eyes. If she is a wizard, she must be well versed in these conversations. I told everyone, but my eyes turned to her and asked.

“Couldn’t there be a separate culprit? The range of effect is too wide to just say that there are artifacts there.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The culprit…… Isn’t it the work of an intelligent being? Although there is no possibility that it is a monster. It means you are not human.”

When I said that, Janice blinked her eyes for a moment, then shook her head. How do you know When I expressed my doubts, Hilda explained to me instead.

“We thought so too at first. Since he had no memories after entering the entrance, he must have had a fight with someone and suffered from amnesia magic. However, looking at the traces of the fight, it is certain that there was an engagement with the monster. Perhaps an oversized, toothy monster.”

“…… Mental Barrier [Protection]? There was a strong magic reaction from the entrance, so I don’t think Zenith didn’t use it.”

Even if you don’t remember, you can roughly tell what kind of magic was used there by looking at how much slots were consumed after a battle. When I pointed out the point, Janice nodded.

“I used it. Perhaps, it was of no use.”

That’s right. Since the spell to lose memory is mental magic, there must be people in the Wizardry class, including Zenith, that don’t work, but I haven’t heard of anyone like that at all.

“Could it be a dragon?”

Hilda cautiously interjected. In fact, it reminded me of when she said she was big and had teeth. Gerald is skeptical.

“Dragon, that’s an absurd story.”

“But, as Jin said, it is intelligent enough to handle artifacts, is large, and has teeth marks.”

“Hilda, don’t you know how big the dragon is? If he had been bitten, he wouldn’t have had any legs left. It’s hard to live in such a narrow cave in the first place.”

“Will there be little dragons too? For example, before becoming a saint.”

“Hatchling? If so, did our party run away from the hatchling? Giggles.”

“Don’t laugh!”

Bang! Hilda slammed her table in anger. After all, this is one of the countries where dragons are notorious. Unless you are a dragon slayer-level adventurer residing in the royal capital, dragons seem to be treated as out of the question even among monsters. Then Gerald calmed her down and said.

“Why not? I thought that too at first, but did a dragon really need to use such magic in the first place? I have the confidence to run away if I put my face in once.”

“I see… ….”

Hilda looked a bit disappointed. She brushed her little hair, Gerald giggling. I understand. It’s a world where just surviving a dragon is a big achievement.

I also think the same. A dragon wouldn’t learn such a small magic. Besides, most dragons are famous for being ruthless towards adventurers who encroach on their territory, so it makes no sense to talk about it now. One breath would turn it into ashes, but the fact that there was a battle couldn’t be established.

So what is it? It’s too broad to be seen as the effect of the dungeon itself, and the process is complicated, so pass. If that happens, apart from the fact that there was a skirmish in the end, there is a high possibility that the person behind it is a human…… Who would have done that?

“Jin?”

Is there anyone who can fight and win many-on-one against all the best adventurers in the area, including the East Side? No, rather than simply fighting and winning, he had to control his strength so as not to get hurt, play with the memories of all opponents attached to him with his overwhelming magic power, and even send them back safely. And that legend will continue as long as the dungeon is not closed. That is impossible no matter what High Wizard comes…… No.

“No.”

“Jin?”

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No, it can’t be.

But.

As far as I know, there is only one ‘human’ with a twisted temper and strong enough to do such a thing.

“…… Goes.”

“Huh? Are you going? Already? Eat some rice…….”

I immediately got off the table and walked away from them. I heard a series of calls from behind, but I pushed the adventurers to the side, opened the swing door, and left the guild.

“Jin!”

It’s still daytime, but it’s getting darker before my eyes. Darkness falls.

Before stopping by the inn, I checked the extras, and the suspicious circumstances are only speculation.

So, no.

Should not be. I hurriedly ran to the bakery.