If You Cheat, Just Don’t Tell Me - Chapter 18

“Hey, got a minute?”

Brushing off the old man I was supposed to be inspecting with, I found myself urged by Alta onto my motorcycle, heading toward the Adventurer’s Guild.

I was worried about Freya too, but if she’d taken off in a carriage, there wasn’t much I could do. And I could pretty much imagine what those two would get up to riding in the same carriage together.

As Freya had said, the deadline for the conditions must have arrived. I didn’t know if it was today or tomorrow, but there was no doubt time had run out. Whether it was the Fidel family or the Spirits family, negotiations were probably about to begin.

…Well, considering Freya was in that carriage, she was likely heading to the Fidel estate.

We arrived at the Adventurer’s Guild. Parking my bike out front, we hurried inside.

The guild, usually a noisy yet orderly space, was now a flurry of activity. Staff rushing about, adventurers deep in discussion with them.

…I decided to push thoughts of Freya to the back of my mind for now. Not that I’d stopped thinking about her entirely. I just needed to shift gears and focus on what was right in front of me.

“Hey, got a minute?”

“I’m a bit busy right now. Oh, it’s you, Dicca.”

I called out to a nearby staff member. I’d gotten plenty of jobs through this guild, and I’d even founded my clan through them. I was on familiar terms with most of the staff.

“There’s something I want to check.”

“Probably about all this commotion, right? I’d love to chat, but I’m swamped at the moment. Could you get the details from the receptionist over there?”

“Got it. Sorry for taking up your time.”

“Not at all. We were going to have to reach out to you or rather, to the Steel Whirlwind anyway. It’s a big help that you came to us first.”

With that, the staff member I’d spoken to hurried off again. I’d gotten a rough idea from Alta on the way here, but judging by this staffer’s reaction, Alta’s story seemed to be on the mark.

I headed over to the reception desk as directed.

“Looks like what you said was true, Alta.”

“Wouldn’t lie about something like this.”

Alta and I went to the reception desk alone; I’d told the others to wait in the guild’s lounge area. Having everyone here would just get in the way.

At the counter, another adventurer was talking with the staff, but when the receptionist spotted me, she wrapped up her conversation and called me over.

“Dicca! Perfect timing!”

“I got the gist from Alta, but can you fill me in on exactly what happened?”

“Absolutely! I’ll explain right away! The situation is urgent!”

Urged on by the staff, Alta and I were led to a meeting room in the back of the guild. There, we would hear what was going on.

“I see.”

“We can’t force you. But the Steel Whirlwind is the only group that can handle this. The guild’s position is that we’d really like you to accept. Considering the urgency and danger, we can offer this much as compensation.”

The reward the staff member presented was an amount I’d have given my right arm for. Enough to buy a noble estate.

With this much, I could help the Spirits family, help Freya. But the offered reward came with a condition. I wouldn’t get the full amount unless I fulfilled it.

“…Let me think about it.”

“Hey, Dicca?”

What we heard in the meeting room didn’t differ much from what Alta had already told us. It was just more detailed.

According to the guild, a massive monster outbreak had gone out of control. A so-called Demonic Invasion Stampede was underway. The monsters’ target wasn’t this town, but the city on the other side of the grasslands.

A lookout from that city had spotted a huge horde of monsters charging toward them at terrifying speed. The city’s defenses alone wouldn’t be enough to hold them off. If things continued as they were, both the city and its residents would suffer massive damage.

They’d used the guild’s communication equipment to send out distress calls to nearby towns, but regular adventurers or armies still reliant on horses and carriages wouldn’t make it in time. So, the Steel Whirlwind—our clan, whose members all ride motorcycles was singled out for the rescue request.

Faster than horses, with more endurance than horses. If anyone could make it in time, it was us on our bikes.

“I need to step out for a moment. I’ll be right back. I’ll give you my answer then. Hey, Alta. You come too.”

“Dicca? Why not answer right away?”

“Shut up, just come with me.”

I brought Alta out of the meeting room and headed to the lounge where my comrades were waiting.

“Everyone, gather round.”

I called them over from where they’d been waiting separately. Under normal circumstances, I’d hesitate to have a discussion like this here, but there was no time to be picky.

Dozens of my comrades gathered around me. I looked over each of their faces one by one.

My history with these guys didn’t start with us being best friends. There were those I’d brawled with. Drifters who’d wandered in from the fringes of society. Others who’d been brought along by someone asking, “Can he join us too?” All sorts.

I hadn’t been interested in them at first. Couldn’t have cared less, honestly. That was the unvarnished truth. I figured I’d leave town soon enough and never see any of them again. That’s how it was supposed to be.

And now? Look at us. I went and formed this clan. I became its leader. I literally, truly, ended up as these guys’ boss. And with that came this thing called responsibility.

“The guild’s approached us with a rescue request for a Demonic Invasion. They say we’re the only ones who can make it in time because our whole crew rides bikes.”

Even the usually loud and rowdy ones knew when to read the room. They were all listening to me with serious expressions.

Seeing them like that, I couldn’t help but feel I had to say it.

“I’m thinking of turning this request down.”