Chapter 207

As the atmosphere rapidly turned threatening when he shut his mouth, Roan finally made a decision.

“Ah, and so Yorus finally reached the end of the world, the pit crawling with magical beasts…….”

To just continue the fan service!

— Woah, woah! It’s the pit!

— Oh my gosh! Lord Yorus is so cool!

Since he still had some distance to cover anyway, playing along moderately was also a method.

Even the holy knights of the Order of Yorus, who stood blocking the way to deeper areas from time to time, did so.

— Huh, wh-what?

— We must open the path for that gentleman!

*Clank—!*

Seeing Roan coming with a string of enthusiastic followers trailing behind him, they would clear the way on their own.

But this led to an unexpected side effect.

‘……I want to meet an appropriate person soon.’

To obtain the Corrupted Holy Mark, he only needed to meet an executive of the Thieves’ Guild—that is, a priest of suitable rank.

However, because Roan kept reciting the scriptures like a concert, a crowd had gathered like clouds before he knew it, leaving absolutely no opportunity.

— Huh? Priest, when did you come out?

— You fool! If someone who memorized the entirety of Volume 3 has come, how could I not come out?

— That’s true! Uwoooooh!!

……The very executives Roan needed to meet had also rushed out to listen to the recitation and cheer, which said it all.

He could not suddenly grab someone who had come out to listen to the recitation and say, “I would like to buy some information.”

Doing so would inevitably expose him as an outsider.

In the end, practically pushed forward, Roan reached the deepest part of the Thieves’ Guild.

— Branch Manager’s Office —

He ended up arriving at the room where the Gilsburg branch manager was.

— As expected, he came to see the branch manager!

— Whew! I feel like my body has fully relaxed for the first time in a while!

— May the glory of the night be with you!

The followers, as if finally satisfied, shouted and dispersed in small groups.

Roan watched them with a slightly dumbfounded look.

‘……A free pass all the way here, seriously?’

Although the followers loved Roan’s recitation suspiciously much.

Honestly, he had thought at least one person would block his path in the middle and ask for his business.

Guiding someone straight to their boss just because they memorized some of Yorus’s scriptures, what were they thinking!

……Of course, since there had never been such an outsider until now, he could not entirely blame the Order of Yorus.

— What business brings you here?

A holy knight—dressed like a thief—guarding the front of the branch manager’s office asked Roan.

‘Took you long enough!’

Roan clicked his tongue.

Even the question was not sincere, but almost a formality.

Since the holy knight’s eyes looking at Roan were already filled with respect.

Roan contemplated for a moment and spoke.

“……Are they inside?”

Though he did not look like it at all, a holy knight guarding the branch manager’s office was a highly skilled individual even within the branch.

To the point that the current Roan could not guarantee victory or defeat.

Thus, for now, he had no choice but to gloss over it.

When Roan said that, the holy knight nodded deeply as if he had expected it.

— Of course. She is waiting for you.

*Creak—*

The holy knight politely opened the door leading inside the branch manager’s office.

Inside was pitch black without a single light.

But in this place serving Yorus, most rooms had roughly that kind of atmosphere.

Roan bowed his head once to the holy knight and quietly walked inside.

‘I managed to get this far easily, but……’

Roan swallowed hard.

He had not intended to meet the branch manager, but since it had come to this, he had to be prepared.

For the branch manager of Gilsburg’s Thieves’ Guild was by no means an easy opponent.

*Thud—*

As soon as Roan went completely inside, the door closed again.

He waited for a moment.

If it went according to the original pattern, the other side would probably react first.

*Rustle—*

It was as expected.

“!”

Roan was slightly startled to feel someone rising like a shadow behind him and pointing a sharp dagger at his neck.

Experiencing it in reality, it was far more stealthy than expected.

“Kid. Who are you?”

A mature, sultry female voice reached Roan’s ears.

“…….”

Roan remained silent for a moment.

He intended to gauge how the opponent perceived him first.

“Since they said someone found the temple’s entrance and was reciting Volume 3, I also searched the Order’s register. But you weren’t there. That means you’re an outsider…… Are you a lackey of those black mage bastards?”

‘How did she know?’

Was this the caliber of a Thieves’ Guild branch manager and high priest of the Order of Yorus?

……Of course, it was not.

As mentioned earlier, it was simply because the Order of Yorus and black mages were rivals competing over the Empire’s night and back alleys.

The Order of Yorus was a primary target for black mages among numerous other orders.

The crazy black mages, devoid of faith and conviction, wouldn’t surprise anyone no matter what they did.

Of course, every time that happened, the Order of Yorus would track down the culprits to the very end and repay them several times over.

However, instead of answering, Roan lightly released dark mana.

*Frizzle—*

It contained no intent to attack; it was merely a proof of his existence.

“Hmm. A taciturn kid, I see. But what to do…… Even if you are a clergyman, that doesn’t mean your crime of entering this place as a mere outsider is forgiven.”

*Press—*

The branch manager’s blade pressed a bit harder against Roan’s robe.

If a little more strength was applied, Roan’s neck would be pierced in an instant.

“State your business, kid.”

The branch manager whispered.

It was a seductive voice that would make ordinary men sell their entire souls.

Roan answered calmly.

“I came to buy information.”

“……What?”

Unlike before, the branch manager’s voice shook slightly.

“……Is that true?”

“Would I dare lie before the Guardian of the Night?”

He was sincere.

There was no need for Roan to lie to her, and he had absolutely no intention of fighting her.

Since it was hard to guarantee victory even against the holy knight at the door, she, the branch manager, was a powerhouse Roan could never defeat even if he died and returned to life.

And at the branch manager level, she could discern the sincerity in the opponent’s words to some extent.

Thus, she became even more dumbfounded.

“……Aren’t you an inspector sent by the Holy Emperor’s Palace’s Inspection Cardinal?”

“I am not. But if you thought I was an inspector, why did you point the knife……?”

“Shut up. Nor are you a professional assassin hired by another branch?”

“If I were, I wouldn’t have caused such a commotion.”

“……True.”

The branch manager withdrew the dagger aimed at Roan’s neck and stepped in front of him.

*Whoosh—!*

At the same time, the lights on the walls of the branch manager’s office flared up.

The branch manager revealed in the middle of the narrow, old room was in her mid-thirties.

Perhaps due to the nature of her profession, she was a beautiful woman dressed in revealing clothes.

With strong features, blazing red hair, and even a mole beside her nose.

‘Well, considering the holy arts of the Order of Yorus, that probably isn’t her real face.’

It was likely a type of confusion holy art that altered one’s appearance.

At any rate, the branch manager asked as if she were experiencing the strangest thing in her life.

“I mean, who on earth breaks into the branch manager’s office to buy information?”

To put it in perspective, this was akin to walking straight into the bank president’s office to set up a savings account.

Or walking into the mayor’s office to print a copy of one’s resident registration.

‘Be even more shameless!’

However, Roan knew the best strategy that worked in times like this.

“They all cleared the way on their own, though.”

“What? No one blocked you? Not even once?”

“Yes.”

When Roan nodded calmly, the branch manager scowled deeply.

“Those bastards reported that you were utterly unstoppable…… Hey, is anyone outside?!”

*Clack—*

— Yes, Branch Manager!

— Bring all the executives here! No, just summon the Guardian Priest!

— Yes!

Not long after the holy knight at the door disappeared, a priest with a genial impression rushed into the office.

He was also one of those who had cheered during Roan’s recitation session earlier.

— D-Did you call?

“You, you…… did you just let an outsider in without catching him even once?!”

— I-I’m sorry. But the summoning circle at the temple entrance was perfect, and wait, he even saw all the signs that only our branch recognizes! Besides, isn’t he reciting Volume 3 of Yorus? I really thought he was from another branch…….

“Then you should have at least verified his token!”

— Forgive me! But what token could be more certain than the scripture itself!

There were indeed many reasons for being completely unable to stop someone.

The branch manager placed her hand on her forehead as if getting a headache, then waved her other hand dismissively.

“Enough, get out before I lose my temper. You are banned from collecting protection fees for a week.”

— H-Heh!!! ……Understood.

The Guardian Priest was startled by the heavier-than-expected punishment, but soon accepted it and quickly left the room.

Honestly, if an outsider had walked straight into the branch manager’s office, he would have had no excuse even if he were demoted from his position.

The branch manager now looked at Roan and asked.

“Yeah, thinking about it, they wouldn’t have stopped you. Kid, what on earth is your identity? Big sister is really curious.”

The branch manager’s expression as she spoke looked innocent, contrary to her appearance.

Roan recalled things that shared a similar level of reliability with a Thieves’ Guild branch manager’s innocent expression.

Harden’s deep smile.

And perhaps Professor Uli’s grumbling about having no money.

……Meaning, they must absolutely never be trusted.

“Every piece of information has its price.”

A naive person might have fallen for her charms and revealed it.

But within the Thieves’ Guild, even the most trivial piece of information was an asset with its own value.

How much more so for his own identity, which could practically be compared to a house deed.

There was a good reason Roan had pulled his hood down so low all the way here.

At that, the branch manager chuckled and muttered.

“So experienced…… Truly experienced for your age…….”

Though it would normally be an unpleasant matter for a branch manager, she seemed to find the situation rather interesting.

The branch manager, pondering to herself, spoke with a captivating smile.

“It’s almost as if you’ve frequented the Thieves’ Guild dozens of times. Not that it’s possible.”

“…….”

But he had.

Not dozens of times, but perhaps hundreds of times.

Roan was confident that if all the times he frequented the Thieves’ Guild in “God & Devil” were counted, it would be more than that branch manager’s.

When Roan remained silent with such complex feelings.

“?”

The branch manager tilted her head slightly.

Observing him, his reaction seemed to indicate that was indeed the case.

However, considering Roan’s apparent age, it was truly impossible.

“Anyway…… Fine. Even if you’re not of our Order, seeing as you know Volume 3 of the scriptures, you don’t seem like an ordinary brat. I’ll specially sell you information this time. There won’t be a next time.”

“Thank you.”

“Sit here.”

The branch manager offered Roan a shabby chair.

Roan obediently sat in the chair, and the branch manager sat on the table with her legs crossed instead of the opposite chair.

It was the closest position to Roan.

The branch manager asked to confirm.

“You know what it means to buy information from the Order, right?”

“Yes.”

The Order of Yorus operates on the principle of directly exchanging information for information.

Of course, in most cases, they just accepted money since negotiating was a hassle.

But this meant she would handle it strictly by the rules this time.

The branch manager smiled satisfyingly.

“I like how straightforward you are. So, what are you curious about?”

“Secret Vault Number 3.”

“……?”

At the words Roan suddenly brought up, the eyes of the battle-hardened branch manager shook slightly.