Published: July 3, 2025
Chapter 11: Twilight Land
On that day, a carriage bearing the crest of the adventurers' guild, with a shield at the front, stopped in front of the Run Adventurers' Guild.
Descending from the carriage was a man, approximately one hundred eighty centimeters tall, with a sturdy build. His hair and beard were white and long, and he held a staff larger than himself in his hands.
He was clearly a mage.
However, he possessed an additional characteristic—an intimidating presence.
The moment the man opened the door and entered the guild, the atmosphere inside changed.
Most of the adventurers and staff present did not know who the man was.
Even so, they could not help but feel the overwhelming sense of intimidation radiating from him.
Ignoring the gazes of the adventurers, the man approached the front counter.
Behind the counter stood the receptionist, Nina.
As soon as the man entered the guild, Nina stood up immediately. She knew who he was.
When the man stood before her, Nina bowed deeply and spoke.
"Grand Master."
The words, though not loud, reached the ears of everyone in the guild.
However, even after the words reached their ears and they understood the meaning, they remained silent.
In the absence of sound, a tense atmosphere spread.
They wanted to voice their surprise. They wanted to, but… no one opened their mouth.
Only one person did. The man who was called Grand Master.
"Please guide me to Master McGrath."
"Understood."
Nina responded and led Grand Master Finley Forsyth deeper into the guild.
The sounds returned to the guild only after the two had disappeared for a while.
"Grand Master…"
"Master McGrath, I apologize for my sudden visit."
"No, please, this way."
Hugh indicated the upper seat of the reception set, sitting himself in a lower position.
Due to his position, Finley was the superior.
As soon as the two were seated, Grand Master Finley spoke up.
"Elsie has returned from Twilight Land. It seems she has gathered various insights and has retreated to her laboratory again..."
Elsie was Grand Master Finley's daughter, and she was the woman with whom a marriage proposal had once been considered for Hugh.
"Elsie is affiliated with the Royal Magic Guild, right? If I recall correctly, she is currently dispatched to the Magical University while retaining her position. Truly impressive."
Hugh engaged in the conversation, deliberately keeping his emotions in check.
His back was damp with cold sweat.
"It seems she is burying the pain of heartbreak in her work."
"Ugh."
Hugh had been the one to turn down the marriage proposal with Elsie.
Moreover, for some reason, the well-known beauty in the royal capital, Elsie, had been quite taken with Hugh, and Finley, her father, was very enthusiastic about the marriage.
Yet, Hugh had refused the proposal… and Elsie had suffered heartbreak. That was three years ago.
"That's fine. I am not blaming you for that. If Elsie encounters someone she wishes to marry in the future, then she can consider marriage at that time. Women no longer need to marry for the sake of their families… it is not such an era anymore. The Forsyth family name is not something that must be desperately passed down to future generations."
Grand Master Finley Forsyth was a nobleman with a legitimate count title.
While it was certainly possible for his only daughter, Elsie, to inherit the family as a female count, it was something that Elsie herself did not desire.
He did not know the reason. Finley did not particularly wish to know.
Having lost his wife early on, it was no exaggeration to say that Finley had raised Elsie alone. Therefore, he wished to let Elsie decide about the family's future as she liked.
"Now, I came here because I can only rely on the City of Run."
"Is that so? It also concerns something that cannot be discussed over 'communication'?"
In the office of the Run Adventurers' Guild Master, there were alchemy tools for communication that could connect to the Royal Castle and the Royal Capital Adventurers' Guild.
However, it was not perfect in terms of security.