Volume 2 Chapter 30 Hero, the Loser Howls in Distant Anguish
S-rank adventurers left behind in the hidden dungeon by Demon Lord Zeke were rescued.
Carrying everyone in the dungeon, Zeke returned to the guild using teleportation magic.
He stepped through the door of the guild hall.
"E-everyone...! The [Silver-Winged Karma] are back!"
"""W-what did you say!?"""
Wha...!
The adventurers surrounded Cecily's party.
"Welcome back, Cecily! I'm so glad you're safe!"
Everyone was happy about Cecily's return.
"Sorry for worrying you all. But thanks to this Lord Zekefried, we were saved!"
At Cecily's words, the adventurers' gazes gathered on the masked man.
"...Well, that's hard to believe."
Zeke muttered quietly.
But, wha...!
As the adventurers cheered, they gathered around him.
"Thank you! For saving Cecily and the others! Thank you so much for saving our hope! You're amazing...!"
Everyone was someone who had been helped by Cecily.
When they were asked for help, they felt frustrated for not being able to do anything.
Then Zeke came and brilliantly saved them.
Everyone was deeply grateful to him.
"Oh! You all made it back!"
"Guild Master! We're back!"
Cecily spoke lightly to the Guild Master on behalf of the group, explaining what had happened.
"What! Zekefried, you really are something else...!"
The Guild Master patted Zeke's back.
"Oh, I need to think about the rewards for this quest. Hmm... Considering the rescue of Cecily and what happened in the dungeon, how about an S-rank promotion?"
"W-what!? What did you say!?"
Everyone present showed expressions of shock.
"Is there something to be surprised about?"
In response to Zeke's question, the Guild Master laughed and answered.
"It's rare for a newcomer to get promoted right after joining. To go from the lowest F rank to S rank in one leap is unprecedented!"
"Is that okay?"
"Of course! You've made that much contribution to the guild! Let's get started on the S rank promotion process..."
Then, at that moment.
"W-wait a minuteeeeeeee!"
The voice raised belonged to the man who had been silent until now... the former hero, Makhen.
He had gotten trapped by a dungeon trap and couldn't move.
However, he managed to escape when the dungeon vanished.
After that, he returned here together with Zeke's teleportation.
"What is it, Makhen? Is there a problem?"
"There's a huge problem, Guildmaster! This guy is...! A Demon Lord!"
Makhen was frustrated.
The Demon Lord had made a great performance on his first day and got promoted to S rank... but he couldn't accept that.
"Just to prove it... look!"
Makhen reached for Zeke's mask.
But Zeke swiftly brushed his hand and foot aside.
"Ugh!"
The adventurers around laughed at Makhen as he fell face first.
"What was that? So lame! Must be a baseless accusation. He talked big to become an adventurer but didn't achieve much... He should know his place, that loser!"
Makhen grit his teeth and said.
"L-look! You saw it, right? He didn't want to take off his mask! That means! He doesn't want his true face seen!"
Makhen said triumphantly.
"Think carefully, all of you! This is a Demon Lord! An enemy of humanity! What would happen if we made him an S rank? How would the other guilds treat us!?"
"Shut up, Makhen."
The guildmaster looked coldly at the fallen former hero.
"No matter who Zekefried is, it doesn't matter. Considering his strength and contribution to the guild, we're promoting him to S rank."
"B-but! He is a Demon Lord...!"
"Adventurers are free. Anyone can become one. There are probably some shady folks here too. Still, we accept each other and walk together. That's the Adventurers' Guild."
The adventurers around, including the Guild Master, nod.
"Zeke's strength and noble spirit were proven in this quest. If he truly is an evil Demon Lord, I don't understand why he would save Cecily and the others."
"W-wait...! He must be plotting something...!"
The Guild Masters sigh with cold eyes.
"Enough about Zeke."
"Not good! Guild Master! We need to investigate properly! This guy...!"
"Next is about Makhen, your treatment."
"Huh...? Treatment?"
The Guild Master looks down at Makhen and says.
"Why did you go into the dungeon without permission?"
"Huh...? Ah...!"
Only those recognized by the Guild Master can enter the dungeon.
"You came back with Cecily and the others. Why were you there?"
"I-I wasn't... I'm..."
Cecily comes over and points at Makhen.
"This guy is one of the rescuers saved by Lord Zeke. So he was in the dungeon. Without permission."
"Y-you...! Don't say unnecessary things!"
Makhen is intimidated by Cecily's glare.
"You broke the rules and went into the dungeon, yet you put my matters aside? That's quite convenient for you."
"W-wait...! That's a different issue, isn't it!?"
However, no one mentions Zeke in this place.
Zeke entered legally with the Guild Master's permission.
"Makhen. You are sentenced to 2 months of suspension."
"Two months!? How am I supposed to survive during that time!?"
But everyone had already lost interest in Makhen.
"Now...! Let's all celebrate the birth of a new S-rank! It's on me!"
"""Oooooooh!"""
Everyone was looking at Zeke with eyes full of expectation and envy.
"Mr. Zeke is really amazing!"
"Right? From the moment he got here, he had this extraordinary vibe!"
"He's nothing like that idiot over there, seriously!"
Everyone left Makhen behind and went deeper with the guild master.
"Ah, geez! Those fools! He's a Demon Lord! He'll eventually show his true colors and attack! When that happens, I won't care if you regret having him as an ally! Ugh! Those fools! Ugh, ugh, ugh!"
...But not a single person listened to Makhen's words.
Left all alone, Makhen felt out of place in the celebratory mood and sadly retreated from the scene.
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