Earth: The Second

Payday

The second floor of the building is no different. Adventurers are surrounding the pinboard, with the receptionist at the end of the hall, the only difference is that these adventurers are more well-equipped, and their amount is not much as adventurers on the first floor. Once more, Kiki and Adma walk through the receptionist, Kiki greets one of them and state her business with the guild master. 

Fortunately, he is present and available. Kiki and Adma passed the door on the counter, and soon after, they have arrived at the guild’s main office. It is spacious, with a guest table in the middle of the room, right across the office table where a figure of a man is writing a document seriously.

He looked like past 50 years old, with balding hair, and kind of fat. Probably that is what happens if you’re working in the office for more than 10 years, nonetheless, he still gives a sharp eye like a predator.

At first, he looks so focused on his paperwork, but when he sees Kiki coming past the door, his face brightens.

“Kiki! Ah! I have been waiting for you!” Said the man, he turned from grumpy old man into cheerful uncle when seeing his niece.

“Good day, Mr. Wesser,” Said Kiki politely.

His bright face then start fading when he sees an unfamiliar figure that accompanying Kiki. Certainly, he did not expect that this man will take Izanagi’s place.

“And what about you young man? I believe we haven’t met before right?” Asked Wesser, but his voice is different, it’s like there is a sensation of mistrust, coming from him.

“Mr.Wesser, he is…”

“Adma,” Adma replied shortly, not letting Kiki finished her explanation. 

“I guess… Something did happen to Izanagi and the rest of the crew?”

Kiki goes silent and looking down. “Yes.” She then replied. Wesser got up on his chair, and walked to the pantry at the side of the room. He then prepared three cups of tea.

 “Must have been a long journey, Kiki. Just take a seat first… I want to hear your story,” said Wesser. Both of them did just as he said, and Wesser brought a tray with tea, sugar, and biscuit.

“There you go, feel free to eat and drink while you tell the story,” said Wesser again. Adma on the other hand started to worry if Kiki’s emotional scar would open up again.

“It’s… Terrifying, inside that ruin, sir.” Kiki takes a deep breath, and she started to explain what happened that day.

Kiki is telling the story as if she once again experiencing them all over again. She talks faster when it comes to the scary details, such as Yulia’s suffering, and Mila’s death, finally, she can’t hold her emotion anymore and end up crying.

“I see, what a tragedy befall Izanagi and the other,” comment Wesser. He looked sorry, but Adma for some reason, can’t point out if that man is sincere or not.

Wesser does think the same way to the man in front of him.

“A ruin, Dark Monster, and a girl at the end of her life. Now I wonder, what role you have in this, young man?”

***

“I saved her,” replied Adma, simple and clear.

Wesser lifts his eyebrow. “And with how may I ask? When a group of balanced-skill adventurers can’t stop an evil force, how can one man kill a monstrosity alone?”

Wesser’s voice started to more and more like a challenge for Adma. He, on the other hand, trying his best to not escalate the situation, especially, not in front of Kiki.

Wesser then leans back on the chair, he took a cup of tea and drinks half of it. 

“Kiki, what did Izanami said about the quest?” asked Wesser again.

With a little sobbing, Kiki tried to answer his question. “I remember that he said as long as we entered the ruin, and mapping what inside of it, the mission is accomplished.”

“Hah! So that’s what he thinks!” Wesser suddenly screamed and gotten off the chair. He staying away from the guest table, with a heavy dissatisfied look on his face. 

“Mr. Wesser?” Kiki started to worry.

“I have to clear this out for you, Kiki, that your team leader is a sly fox!” the guild master started to breathe heavily, and his eyes glaring at both of them. “Day after day, he always came to my office, asking for ‘secret mission’ like a beggar! He said that he wants to help your orphanage, but I know that he used his savings for booze and women!”

Wesser then back to his working table.

“Kiki, the quest I give to Izanagi… No, to YOUR team, is to bring back the Artifact!” as if he can’t hold his anger anymore, Wesser is now shouting angrily to Kiki and Adma. On the other hand, those two have no idea, what ‘artifact’ he is talking about.

“You’re making Kiki scared, old man.” 

Adma also got up from his chair, feeling disturbed by the guild master’s reaction.

Wesser then looking deeply at Adma.

“Well, then why don’t you try me, young man? You have what i’m talking about, right? The Artifact?” asked Wesser.

“I have no idea, but as long as I understand, you’re the one who gives Kiki this job. Now the monster has been killed, and the ruin has been explored. It’s your turn to pay up.”

“I’m not going pay anything for anyone who won’t finish their job!”

That’s it.

Adma won’t tolerate this guy anymore.

His companion just lost all his friends for the cost to live, and this old man, selfishly spouting everything he wants.

As if moving on his own, Adma took a step forward, his fist clenched, and flying straight into the direction of the guild master’s face. 

“Stop it!” 

Kiki’s scream comes right before Adma strikes Wesser. In confusion, Adma looked back to the girl.

“I have heard the story… About machine from ancient civilization which can light up in the darkness, or a carriage without a horse, that can walk from itself. Some are even deadly, being used as weapons, or become a national treasure,”

Kiki paused for a moment, then looking back to Adma and Wesser.

“They are called Artifact, and usually found inside a ruin,” said Kiki again.

From her story, Adma just realized one thing. 

That he is the artifact and he is the one that Wesser wants.