I turned to Clementine, who had been watching with keen interest, arms crossed and an amused smirk playing on her lips.
"Now then," I said, my voice calm but firm, "where is Nfirea?"
Clementine hummed, tilting her head. "Oh? You actually care about that brat?"
I gave her a pointed look. She chuckled.
"Relax, relax. He's inside the chapel. Khazi-chan wanted to use him for the Crown of Wisdom ritual. You should've seen it! That old man was so excited when the brat managed to activate it."
I glanced at Solution. Without needing to be told, she stepped forward and gracefully extended her hands, presenting me with the Orb of Death. Its eerie glow pulsed softly in her grasp, a stark contrast to her serene expression.
"Alex-sama," she said, "the Orb."
I took it from her, feeling the raw necrotic energy swirling within. A simple flick of my fingers, and it vanished into my inventory.
"Let's go," I said.
Solution nodded without question, and Clementine stretched her arms lazily before gesturing toward the chapel.
"This way~"
The chapel was eerily silent as we stepped inside. Dim candlelight flickered against the old stone walls, casting long shadows across the pews. The scent of blood and rot lingered in the air, remnants of whatever rituals had taken place here.
And there, at the center of the room, stood Nfirea.
He was perfectly still, his eyes open but completely vacant.
A golden circlet sat atop his head—the Crown of Wisdom.
I took a step closer, observing the unnatural stiffness in his posture. It was as if he had been frozen in time, trapped within the crown's control.
"So? What do you think?" Clementine asked, grinning as she leaned against a pew. "Pretty neat, huh? That thing completely hijacks the wearer's mind. Khazi-chan wanted to make the brat his obedient little pet. But, well, that's not happening now, huh?"
Solution stepped beside me, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "This artifact is problematic, Alex-sama. Shall I remove it?"
"No need," I replied.
I raised my hand, magic gathering at my fingertips.
Then, without hesitation, I crushed the Crown of Wisdom.
The golden circlet crumbled instantly, shattered fragments falling to the ground like broken glass. A pulse of magic erupted from it, and Nfirea let out a sharp gasp before his body gave out.
He collapsed.
Solution caught him effortlessly before he could hit the ground, her movements fluid and practiced. She adjusted his unconscious form in her arms, checking for any lasting effects from the crown's control.
"He has merely fainted," she confirmed. "His body is stable, and there are no external wounds."
"Good," I said.
Clementine let out a low whistle. "Wow, you're really efficient. No hesitation, no unnecessary drama. I think I'm starting to like you even more."
I ignored her comment and turned toward the exit. "Let's go."
With Solution carrying Nfirea and Clementine walking beside us, we left the chapel behind. The graveyard, once a battleground, was now eerily still. The dark clouds that had loomed overhead began to clear, allowing the faint glow of the moon to illuminate our path.
As we stepped beyond the graveyard's gate, the tension that had lingered in the air finally faded.
The mission was complete.
And now, it was time to return.
•••
As we stepped beyond the graveyard's gate, I was met with a surprising sight. A large group of adventurers had gathered, their weapons drawn, prepared for battle.
It seemed that the guards stationed at the graveyard had indeed followed my instructions and contacted the Adventurer's Guild.
But their battle never happened.
The moment I destroyed the Crown of Wisdom and took Nfirea away, all the undead tied to its influence had crumbled to ash. The adventurers were left standing in confusion, weapons raised but with no enemies remaining.
Among them, a man stepped forward.
Pluton Ainzach, the guild master of E-Rantel's Adventurer Guild.
He was a burly man, built like a seasoned warrior, with a sharp gaze that missed nothing. His eyes flickered between me, Solution, and—most notably—Clementine.
His brow furrowed. "And who," he asked, "is the new lady in your group?"
I glanced at Clementine. She smiled, resting her hands on her hips, looking completely unbothered by the scrutiny.
"Clementine," I answered simply.
Pluton narrowed his eyes. "…That name sounds familiar."
Clementine's grin widened, but she said nothing.
Rather than pressing the issue, Pluton let out a deep sigh. "Regardless, you have my thanks. You saved E-Rantel from what could have been a true disaster."
He looked over the remains of the battlefield, the ashen remnants of undead creatures scattered across the ground. The adventurers around him were still murmuring among themselves, struggling to understand what had happened.
Pluto returned his gaze to me. "You can expect a rise in your Guild rank for this. Given the scale of your achievement, I doubt anyone would object."
That was good to hear. My current rank was Copper, the lowest rank an adventurer could have. If I were going to establish a stronger presence in this world, raising my rank would be a necessary step.
However, I had something else in mind.
I reached into my inventory, using my pocket to hide, and retrieved something small, the size of a fist, and still radiating a sinister presence—the remains of the skeleton dragon.
The moment it appeared, a wave of oppressive energy filled the air.
The surrounding adventurers flinched at the sight of the massive skeletal remains, their eyes widening in shock.
Even Pluton, a seasoned warrior, stiffened for a moment before regaining his composure. "That's—"
"A skeleton dragon," I confirmed. "Defeated it inside the graveyard. I figured the Guild might have some use for it."
Silence fell over the gathered adventurers. Many of them looked at me with newfound respect—or perhaps disbelief.
Pluton, however, studied the remains carefully.
"This is an incredible find," he admitted, rubbing his chin. "A high-tier undead like this is no joke. Just how strong are you…?"
I smiled but didn't answer.
Pluton exhaled, shaking his head. "With this… I'd say your rank increase won't just be a minor one. Copper to silver wouldn't be enough. This could push you to Mithril or even Orichalcum."
That was what I wanted.
Rising through the ranks quickly would open up more opportunities and allow me greater access to the Guild's resources, not that I needed it anyway.
I nodded. "Then I'll leave it in your hands."
Pluton gave me a firm nod in return.
Then, I motioned toward Nfirea, who was still unconscious in Solution's arms. "I'll be leaving him in your care. Make sure he returns home safely."
Pluton's expression softened slightly. "Of course. His grandmother will be relieved." He gestured for one of the adventurers to step forward and take Nfirea.
With that settled, I turned my attention back to Clementine.
"One more thing," I said. "Can you arrange a Guild ID for her?"
Pluton's eyebrows rose. He gave Clementine another assessing look before glancing at me.
"…You vouch for her?"
I nodded.
Pluton hesitated for a brief moment, then sighed again. "Fine. But she'll start at Copper rank, just like any other new adventurer."
"Alright," I nodded.
~~~
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