Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Bignosio suddenly opened his eyes and lazily stared at his teammate "What are you suggesting? That young man right row is at the peak of his popularity and besides that, he is also strong enough to beat a battle grizzly alone".

Although it left a bad aftertaste in his mouth to admit, but young man as an adventurer was better than him. 

"That's where you are wrong leader" the astute looking teammate pointed.

"A Battle Grizzly is an existence classified as a Strong class and it is not unusual for some of them to even reach the Elite class. How can that newbie defeat it so easily? Not to mention accurately guessing the place as the lair of battle bears. Doesn't all that seem too much of a coincidence?".

The words of his teammate caused an unusual emotion to flicker in his eyes, he turned his head and asked curiously "What do you mean?".

The shrewd looking teammate shrugged his shoulders and replied "Don't tell me leader that you don't suspect it? The young man appeared after the campsite had already developed into a chaotic battleground. Where was he before this? Don't tell me that he wasn't able to spot the fire around the campsite and the sounds of battle?".

Bignosio finally straightened his back and his face looked like he had solved some puzzle.

"Do you mean that he purposefully lured the battle bears deep within the forest to our campsite?".

"Yes, and he did that so as make his story more convincing. As for taking out the Battle Grizzly, I assume that it was already quite tired and injured after being repeatedly attacked by the guard commander and all of us. He only came in afterwards to sweep all of the rewards"

The astute looking man smiled derisively.

CRACK… due to clenching his hands so tight, the aura around Bignosio became wild and caused his seat to crack in some places.

"Bastard… so that's how it was… no wonder. Tch, you will regret trying to make a fool out of me" a fury surged with his heart.

Seeing that his leader has finally decided to make a move, the shrewd man whispered something to his ears. Bignosio smiled after listening to it for a while.

By now, the sun had already set, the area inside the forest was completely dark, hidden by the canopy of the tall trees. A perimeter was formed with the guards and adventurers as sentries around the camp.

A line-up of wagons was parked in one corner of the area and in the middle was a large fireplace surrounded by many erected tents. Bustling sounds of the people could be heard as they crowded over the fireplace and basked at its warmth.

Food was prepared and swiftly passed over to all the members of the convoy. At the seat of honour, sat Cynthia surrounded by her guards and Alvara beside. Sounds of activity rang out continuously and everyone present except those assigned with the task to monitor the surrounding area was present.

Simon however, did not partake in such activities and quietly lied down on his seat and looked at the canopy of trees that did not allow even a little bit of moonlight to penetrate through.

<br/>Adalinda beside him was chewing on the tip of her thumb and brooding over something. She muttered in a voice that only she could hear "What's taking them so long? Those bodies should have been found out by others now".

While the both of them were minding their own business, suddenly they heard approaching footsteps and turned their head only to find a familiar adventurer.

"Haha, what's with this silent and gloomy atmosphere here? The talk of everyone's discussion is quietly sitting here all alone, why don't you two join us there?" the adventurer that approached them was none other than Chuck.

Simon simply shook his head throwing some excuse in the mix.

"I'm not used to it and besides I'm quite enjoying this peace and silence".

Adalinda as usual ignored everyone's existence.

"Haha, in that case let me enjoy this peace and quiet along with you" Chuck said as he passed over one of the mugs containing ale in his hands.

"Don't tell me that as a man you don't drink?".

Simon glanced at the outstretched hand containing the mug and the silly smile of Chuck. This time he did not reject the offer and took the mug containing the ale before gulping down a mouthful of it.

Simon was quite curious about the alcohol of this world and how they fared against the ones from his world. The taste that he got was a little crude and unlike the mellow taste he was used to; nonetheless, the alcohol of this world, more appropriately the alcohol brewed by the humans of this world had a different taste altogether.

It might be because the process of brewing was different or maybe the ingredients used were unlike anything he had seen. All in all, the ale was pretty good in his opinion.

Just like his previous self, the current Simon who was a demon noble was also not completely unaffected by the intoxication of the alcohol. A slight reddish hue appeared above his cheeks.

"That's more like it" Chuck loudly proclaimed and gulped down the ale in his mug.

"Where is mine?" just when they finished drinking their alcohol from their mugs, a soft voice came from beside Simon.

Adalinda looked at the two people who were merrily drinking, her unhappy voice sounded.

Chuck seemed as if he was lost for words, no matter how he saw it, Adalinda looked just like a little girl no less than fourteen years old. Even if she was a provisional adventurer, how can a little girl demand to drink alcohol at such a young age? Little did he know that her real age was something he wouldn't even be able to imagine.

"Why don't you munch on this chicken drumstick?" Simon said pretending to take out a chicken drumstick from his space ring.

"Do you think I'm some little girl who will be happy with just some food?" Adalinda folded her hand and stared back.

"How about a cola along with it?" Simon nonchalantly added.

"Cola? What's that?" The little girl immediately became interested and her unhappy mood dissolved like it was never there. After being given food, this little grandaunt who acted like a mighty being high above all others, silently munched on it.

Meanwhile, at the centre of the camp where the large fireplace was located, a commotion had suddenly erupted.

Simon arched his brows as he detected multiple presences silently approaching his way. By now, he was quite familiar with everyone and knew that the ones who had approached him, were the members of the convoy.

The wagon where the three of them were seated was suddenly surrounded by seven adventurers wearing mocking smiles on their faces.

"Aren't you the provisional adventurer Simon that everybody has been talking about lately?" one of the adventurers surrounding their wagon came up to them and asked.

Seeing their peculiar behaviour and the sadistic look in their eyes, Simon immediately understood that something was going on. He nodded his head and questioned, "That's right, is something wrong?".

Chuck too scanned the area and narrowed his eyes, with his relationship with the adventurers, he could easily identify who these adventurers were. This group of people belonged to the same team as Bignosio.

What are they here for? While he was thinking that, the adventurer who was addressing Simon, licked his lips and smiled "Nothing it's just that our leader is looking for you. Come with us to the fireplace where everybody is".

His tone sounded more like an order than a request.

Eyeing the centre of the campsite where the commotion had erupted, a crimson glow surreptitiously flashed in his eyes. Simon sighed in exasperation and lazily got up from his seat.

"Sounds interesting I'll come too…hehe" Adalinda unceremoniously decided to tag along.

Seeing that the provisional adventurer was coming with them without making any fuss, the sadistic smiles on the faces of these seven or so adventurers deepened.

"In that case, I shall come along too" Chuck smacked his hand on his thighs and got up. The adventurers revealed an ugly but they did not dare to stop him.

At the centre of the camp, near a big fireplace multiple groups of people were currently seated together as they merrily conversed with one another and enjoyed their meal when suddenly a loud laugh sounded out.

The mood around the campsite was instantly broken. Bignosio wearing his armour made of Whitesilver and carrying his weapon, approached them.

Alvara the guard commander who was as usual seated beside Cynthia, immediately placed her hands on her weapon and inquired apprehensively "Shouldn't you be acting as the sentry tonight? Why have you left your post?".

Bignoiso smiled when he felt all the eyes focus on him "The Guard Commander need not worry, I have asked someone to replace me for some time". 

His words made everybody curious… what important matter did he have to leave his post and place a replacement to come here?

"Is that so then may I know what matter compels you to leave your post so abruptly?" Alvara asked while still maintaining her caution. With her keen eyes, she could naturally tell that the man was anything but good, even the way he looked at her Miss and herself, was lascivious.

Bignosio ran his gaze at the body of the guard commander and the extreme beauty beside her and smiled delightfully. "Of course, I have some important matter to discuss with everyone hence I ask you all to please listen to me. Yesterday after the attack at our campsite by the battle bears, I did some investigation."