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The Mist Vol 3 Chapter 3
🕑 Added 2024-09-04 11:40:34 +0000 UTCVol 3 Chapter 3
The receptionist, who had been listening nonchalantly at first, raised their head with very surprised eyes when Kapros finished speaking.
"The desert? You mean the one next to the city?"
"Is there another Desert of Death besides that one?"
When Kapros replied bluntly, the receptionist alternated between looking at the ledger and Kapros for a while, just fiddling with their glasses. Finally, as if having made a decision, they opened their mouth.
"Information related to the Desert of Death is beyond what we can handle lightly at the reception. I'm afraid you'll have to go up one more floor. As you go inside, you'll find a central staircase and guards protecting it."
The receptionist quickly scribbled something on a business card-sized piece of paper and handed it to Kapros.
"Give this paper to them. They'll let you through then."
Kapros nodded and turned around.
"Let's go, Kran."
"Oh, okay!"
As they went inside as instructed, there was indeed a staircase guarded by security personnel. While there were occasional passersby, no one was going up. As they approached, the guards predictably crossed their spears to block the way.
"What is your business?"
"We have matters to attend to upstairs."
When Kapros held out the paper the receptionist had just given him in front of their eyes, the guards, who had been scrutinizing it as if to verify its authenticity, soon withdrew their blocking spears.
"Go on up."
As they slowly climbed the stairs, Kran pressed close to Kapros with a dubious expression, covering his mouth with his hand and whispering in a low voice.
"They should all be the same information guild, so why do they need to have guards just here? Surely they're not just putting on airs to intimidate us."
"Just be quiet for now."
"Ah, got it."
As they went up with their senses on high alert, they saw a quiet interior unlike the bustling and busy atmosphere from earlier.
"What brings you here?"
At that moment, Kran stiffened in surprise at the sudden sound of a man's voice. Kapros was also a bit startled, but he maintained an expressionless face as he turned his head to the side, where he saw someone sitting at a reception desk. The receptionist had a somewhat gloomy impression.
"Um... We, that is..."
"We need information on how to cross the Desert of Death."
Interrupting Kran's words, Kapros answered, and the receptionist's eyes narrowed.
"The Desert of Death... you say?"
"..."
As the receptionist's eyes narrowed, the tension increased, and Kapros was recalling images of various spells in his mind when suddenly, the receptionist broke into a wide smile and stretched out both hands to grasp one hand each of Kapros and Kran, shaking them vigorously.
"What, what's going on?"
Looking at Kran's dumbfounded face, the receptionist's eyes sparkled.
"Hahaha, of course we have that. Welcome to our Information Guild's Bala Monyak branch. What did you say earlier? A way to cross it, you said?"
"Yes."
"Hmm... This isn't a commonly sought-after piece of information. May I step inside for a moment?"
When Kapros nodded, the man stood up with a bright expression and disappeared silently into the shadowy inner corridor. When he returned after a while, he was holding a thick scroll. As he untied the string sealing the old paper that seemed like it might smell of mold, the paper unrolled downward with a puff of dust.
"Cough, cough."
Kran covered his mouth and coughed.
"Let's see... First of all, it doesn't seem like we have information that's 100% match for 'how to cross the Desert of Death', but we do have information about a person who disappeared into the desert and came back a long time ago."
"There was such a person?"
"Yes. When I say a long time ago, it was about a few decades back. But a few years ago... hmm. It says he died. Ah, that's unfortunate. However, his family has been dealing with mysterious medicinal liquors for generations, and his descendant is still living in this city. While we don't have much information about the descendant, we can at least tell you where they currently live."
Kapros nodded carefully.
"That would be good. What's the price for this information?"
"It's not much for this level. About 5 gold should do."
...Since when did 5 gold become 'not much'? At this nonsensical statement, Kapros turned around to see Kran nodding ever so slightly, barely perceptible. It meant to pay it for now, even if it seemed a bit expensive. In the end, after obediently paying the money and obtaining the home address of the descendant of the person who had crossed the desert and returned, they were able to leave the Information Guild with a warm send-off from the smiling receptionist.
"It can't hurt to build up credit with the Information Guild. Even if it seems a bit expensive, what can we do? The one who needs something has to give. I heard some people tried to run away without paying and kept experiencing inexplicable terrible things. They posted about their experience of crying and paying five times the original price before they were finally free."
Kran said, swaying with his hands clasped behind his head.
"Mm."
If that's the case, there's no helping it. They had to do something in this situation, after all.
The place they arrived at was an ordinary residential area. Due to the characteristics of the city, all the houses had similar colors, so it was impossible to tell which was which without looking at the numbers written in front. In the end, it took quite a bit more time than expected to find the right place.
"Is this it?"
"Seems like it."
"Alright."
Knock knock knock.
As Kran knocked on the door with a determined expression, there was a sound from inside for a moment, and then someone poked their head out through the gap in the door.
"Hm? What's this handsome man doing here? What brings you here?"
The person who poked their head out was a woman with luscious dark brown hair gathered to one side and draped over her shoulder. Seeing the friendly gaze of the person, Kran's expression brightened considerably.
"Hello, kind and beautiful lady. I am... Oof! Gack!"
"We apologize for the intrusion. We are people who have come to ask something of the person living in this house. We heard there was someone here deeply involved with medicinal liquors..."
As Kapros spoke, covering Kran's mouth and pushing him aside, the woman, who had been looking them over with an interested gaze, smiled brightly.
"Then you've come looking for me. I've been getting a lot of handsome visitors lately. That's nice. Come in."
Comments
Jesse Gibson
Eh?
