Ding-ding—
Crack.
The door swung open, and the familiar bell chimed.
A smiling voice accompanied the sound.
"Mrs. Malisi, long time no see."
The fat middle-aged woman seated behind the counter instinctively looked up.
"Are there any rooms available?"Minori stepped into the small inn where he had once stayed before.
"Some."
Mrs. Malisi stared at him, her expression momentarily stunned—and then, recognition dawned in her eyes.
But when her gaze dropped to the creature trailing behind Minori—a small, malevolent-looking hellhound—she instinctively took a step back.
"Don't worry," Minori said lightly. "It won't cause any trouble."
"...I hope so. But it'll cost an extra silver coin!" Mrs. Malisi warned, her voice sharp but not truly hostile.
"No problem," Minori agreed without hesitation.
This modest inn, located directly across from the Adventurer's Guild, had seen its fair share of strange guests.Mrs. Malisi was clearly an experienced woman who understood the ways of adventurers and travelers.
"This is five silver coins," Minori said, drawing four coins from his pouch and sliding them across the counter. "The same double room as before."
He paused, then casually added:
"Has anyone come looking for me since I left?"
Mrs. Malisi scooped up the silver coins, rubbing them between her fingers with practiced ease.Without lifting her head, she replied:
"I remember a woman stopped by once."At this, she finally glanced up, an amused, almost teasing look in her eyes.
"If I'm not mistaken, she was from the Purple Secret Medicine House, little brother."
Minori's expression didn't change, but a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I'll be leaving again shortly," he said, voice even. "I'll leave the room in your care."
"Rest assured," Mrs. Malisi said, flashing him a knowing smile."When you return, it'll be clean and ready for you."
—
Minori stepped out into the street.
The faint smile on his face vanished without a trace.
"Purple Secret Medicine House," he murmured under his breath.
Despite the name suggesting alchemy or potions, the establishment was one of the three major brothels of E-Rantel.And in that sense, calling it a "secret medicine" for men was not inaccurate.
Eight Fingers.
A cold sneer tugged at the corner of Minori's mouth.
The underground criminal organization known as Eight Fingers had spread its influence throughout the Re-Estize Kingdom.They were powerful.
But that mattered little to Minori now.
A month ago, he would have been cautious.Now, with his current strength, unless Eight Fingers sent their most elite assassins, they would be nothing more than an annoyance.
That said—
He had no intention of barging into the Purple Secret Medicine House recklessly.It would be foolish to act on such thin information.
The prostitute they had sent was a low-ranking pawn.For the brothel to rise as one of E-Rantel's top three establishments, it must have powerful patrons behind the scenes—perhaps even city officials like Panasole.
The complex web between Eight Fingers and the Kingdom's nobility was well-documented.After all, even when the Slave Department Minister had been captured in canon, the nobles had intervened to release him.
The other brothels—Heavenly Full Moon Court and Amber Honey—were likely under Eight Fingers' control as well.
It was better to draw them out than charge into their den blindly.
That was why Minori returned to the small inn he had used before.
For now—
He had more pressing concerns.
Money.
After paying five silver coins, he had only six gold and two silver left.
A paltry sum.
Not even enough to purchase a simple mithril-alloyed weapon, much less one capable of channeling magic.
Fortunately, he had gained considerable loot during his expedition into the Great Tob Forest:
Two bone chains from the hellhound corpses.
A massive black-green snake corpse—difficult to handle but potentially valuable.
Most importantly, two large baskets of rare herbs collected from the goblins' offerings.
—
After leaving the inn, Minori ducked into a nearby alleyway.When he emerged, he carried a large black bundle—his spoils from the forest carefully packed inside.
He wasn't sure whether E-Rantel had a black market,but in cities like this, aside from the Adventurer's Guild and the Magician's Guild,there were also guilds dedicated to:
Herbs,
Commerce,
Appraisal.
Strict procedures ensured better prices but at the cost of time and paperwork.
Most adventurers, disliking the hassle, simply sold their goods through the Adventurer's Guild,accepting a cut in their earnings for the convenience.
As he approached the Adventurer's Guild, the atmosphere grew louder and more chaotic.
Shouts, laughter, and drunken brawls spilled from the open hall.
Adventurers clad in mismatched armor, armed with bows, swords, and staffs, lounged around rough wooden tables.
The air stank of sweat, ale, and cheap tobacco.
Minori, wrapped in his plain black robe, didn't stand out much.
At least—
Until they noticed the small hellhound trotting at his side.
There were adventurers who tamed monsters,but they were rare.
Minori immediately drew curious and wary glances.
He paid them no mind.
Instead, he listened.
—
"Dammit!"
"Still no word from the Guild?"
"What the hell's happening in the Tob Forest?! Why aren't there any goblins anymore?"
"Bastards!"
"I was counting on goblin ears to make some easy coin!"
The drunken complaints of low-ranking adventurers filled the hall.
Minori's expression didn't change, but inwardly, he sighed.
He had almost forgotten.
For these struggling adventurers, hunting goblins was their lifeline.Now that he had slaughtered a large number of goblin tribes, the ecosystem had been thrown into chaos.
Even if he hadn't exterminated them completely, the goblins had learned caution.
They no longer appeared near the forest edges.
"...Tch."
Minori clicked his tongue lightly.
Given the situation, it would be unwise to hand in dozens of goblin ears right now.It would invite far too much suspicion.
Soon, it was his turn at the counter.
Without wasting words, Minori dropped his black bundle onto the wooden desk with a heavy thud.
"I want to sell these," he said calmly.
The female receptionist—a woman in her twenties with brown hair tied beneath a headscarf and a tight-fitting uniform—smiled professionally.
She pulled open the package—
And froze.
Inside were two bone chains, dark and gleaming with a faint metallic luster.
For a moment, she hesitated.Then she lightly touched one of the chains.
Despite their massive appearance, they felt unnaturally light.
Her face grew serious.
Without a word, she bowed respectfully to Minori and hurried away, disappearing into the back offices.
—
Around him, the murmurs began.
"Wait—that's the bone chain of an evil hound!"
"Hiss—!"
"That's serious loot."
"So that's why his pet looked familiar."
"Ha! You? You've never even seen an evil hound in real life!"
"I remember the last time something like this showed up...it was nearly half a year ago."
The atmosphere shifted.The adventurers now regarded Minori with wary respect.
Dealing with an evil hound was no small feat.