A Bottom-Tier Adventurer Devoted to Supporting Their Idol Activities: Every Time, They Offer Rare Materials and Stir Up the Elites - Episode 34: Tomage’s Conflict and the Gray-Haired Hero. The Underground Guild Gets Hype

Episode 34: Tomage’s Conflict and the Gray-Haired Hero. The Underground Guild Gets Hype

“Hey, Tomage.”

At a bar in the central district of the royal capital where adventurers gathered, a red-haired young adventurer was drinking alone. Two men approached.

They sat on either side of the clearly drunk Tomage at the counter, didn’t even bother ordering, and went straight into conversation.

“Isn’t it time you stopped running from everything with booze?”

“Here, drink some water.”

One of them pulled Tomage’s glass away. And the other offered a leather pouch filled with water.

“Leave me alone…”

Tomage reached for the glass. But the man had already placed it deep behind the counter, where the barkeep quickly cleaned it up.

“Hey, Tomage. Your party members came all this way because we’re worried about you. No more drinking today.”

Even the barkeep spoke up from behind the counter. Seemingly feeling a bit guilty, Tomage reluctantly took the water and gulped it down.

“Phew…”

He sighed, and a bit of rationality returned to his face.

“So? You came to check how pathetically drunk I am?”

Tomage asked. He laced his words with self-deprecation.

“We’ve got some interesting news.”

One party member smiled meaningfully.

“What kind of news?”

Tomage’s face grew more focused, interest piqued.

“The gray-haired man’s been found. He’s with Lamberto and will be arriving in the capital soon.”

“What…!?”

His expression shifted instantly. It was as if the alcohol had left his body.

“You mean the masked gray-haired guy? The one who took down the lightning mage?”

“Yeah. He’s the very reason we—and you—got it all wrong.”

All three men’s eyes sharpened.

“What now?”

“I don’t know yet… But I feel like once I meet him, I’ll find the answer.”

Tomage’s eyes lit up like flames. His drunken state had completely vanished.

“Just waiting around is boring, right? Let’s take a request from the Adventurers’ Guild. You’ve gone rusty from all that drinking.”

One of his party members teased. Tomage scratched his head, looking awkward.

“Yeah, sorry. I’ve been sulking. Becoming an A-rank adventurer felt so far away… But if the gray-haired guy’s back, then it’s different. I’ve got a lot I want to say to him.”

“Right.”

“Yeah.”

The three of them synchronized their breaths.

“Alright. Let’s hit the Adventurers’ Guild. Time to go wild again.”

“That’s the Tomage we know.”

“Countin’ on you.”

The three men rose energetically, left the noisy tavern, and headed toward the Adventurers’ Guild.

#

A veteran-looking adventurer with graying hair entered the royal capital’s Adventurers’ Guild. Tagging along with him was a young man with gray hair and strange attire

It was A-rank adventurer Lamberto, and the mysterious amnesiac man—Renya.

The previously noisy guild went dead silent. Every eye turned to them.

Only their footsteps echoed.

As the two neared the counter, the line of adventurers parted to give way. They yielded their spots.

Renya’s lips curled in satisfaction. He was clearly pleased with the treatment.

“Is the guild master here?”

Lamberto asked. The male receptionist stiffened and replied in a flustered tone, “Y-Yes, he is!”

“Tell him I’ve brought the gray-haired man.”

“Understood!”

The staffer stood up hurriedly and rushed upstairs.

While they waited, Renya slid his gaze over to a female staffer behind the counter with a slithering look—like a snake spotting its prey.

“Hm? What’s up, Renya?”

“Nothing. Just admiring how many beautiful women the capital has.”

“Good grief… It’s true what they say—heroes love beauty…”

Lamberto looked exasperated.

Just as Renya was about to make another comment, hurried footsteps approached.

“Thank you for waiting! Please come with me to the reception room!”

The male receptionist had returned and promptly led them upstairs. They followed him through a heavy door into a grand reception room.

A fat man with slicked-back black hair greeted them.

“I’m Aston, Guild Master of the Linde Kingdom Adventurers’ Guild.”

“This gray-haired man is Renya. I believe he’s the man we’ve been searching for…”

Lamberto introduced Renya proudly.

“I’m Renya.”

“I’ve heard the story. Please, have a seat.”

Aston offered them leather sofas and sat heavily in his own.

“Truly striking gray hair. And the eyes too.”

He inspected Renya as if assessing goods.

“Is it that rare?”

“Yes. At least around the capital, it’s nearly unheard of.”

Wiping sweat from his forehead, Aston continued.

“So, Renya has lost his memory, correct?”

“Yeah… I don’t remember anything from before I met Lamberto…”

Renya replied with an exaggerated downcast gaze. He was looking apologetic.

“I’m not blaming you. We’re certain Renya is the hero who saved the kingdom. There aren’t many powerful gray-haired men out there, right Lamberto?”

Aston turned to Lamberto.

“I confirmed the Earth Dragon’s corpse myself. The magic stone is right here. Taking down an Earth Dragon alone is no small feat.”

Lamberto patted the backpack on the floor. He was praising Renya’s strength.

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”

“Tch. Typical unassuming powerhouse…”

“Ahahaha! Well, it’s a good thing! We’re gaining a new force in the guild. Renya, I hear you want to register with the Adventurers’ Guild. Is that true?”

Aston’s gaze sharpened.

“There doesn’t seem to be another path.”

“Good! Then let’s begin the process. Renya will be registered as an A-rank adventurer right away. This will be the first time in our kingdom’s history. I hope you’ll meet our expectations.”

Renya nodded magnanimously.

“If my strength can be of use, I won’t hold back.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Afterward, Aston and Lamberto explained the structure of the Kingdom’s Adventurers’ Guild and its relationship with the Empire.

By the time Renya and Lamberto left the guild, the sun had completely set.

#

[130th Underground Guild Meeting – Minutes]

Guild Union Member 1 

⇒ FAKE Roger appeared!! Name’s Renya!!!!

Guild Union Member 2 

⇒ Eh…!? What do you mean??

Guild Union Member 3 

⇒ A-rank adventurer Lamberto found a young gray-haired man in a village in the south. The Adventurers’ Guild identified him as “Masked Man” and immediately gave him A-rank status.

Guild Union Member 4 

⇒ !?!?!? He self-proclaimed “Itchau! Masked Man” or something?! That guy’s nuts! It’s the Itchau guy!?!?!

(Note: “Itchau” is a slang that can also mean “I’m coming” in certain context. So you get the gist of it.)

Guild Union Member 5 

⇒ Apparently, he’s got amnesia. So he probably doesn’t even know about Roger’s “Itchau! Broadcast”…

Guild Union Member 6 

⇒ LOL this is some divine prank LOL

Guild Union Member 7 

⇒ The timing’s too perfect. It seriously feels like a god’s involved.

Guild Union Member 8 

⇒ I WILL make Renya-kun say “Itchau!” someday!!

Guild Union Member 9 

⇒ Leave him alone LOL that’d traumatize him for life LOL

Guild Union Member 10 

⇒ You think the good gods stepped in to fight back against the Evil God? That’s wild

Guild Union Member 11 

⇒ Honestly, that theory might be right~

Guild Union Member 12 

⇒ But seriously, is this Renya guy actually strong? He might look like Itchau Masked Man, but if he’s weak he’ll get exposed real fast

Guild Union Member 13 

⇒ Nah, seems like he’s the real deal. Took down an Earth Dragon solo.

Guild Union Member 14 

⇒ Yup, leaning hard into the good gods theory now

Guild Union Member 15 

⇒ “Itchau Masked Man” is such a funny name, it’s stuck in my head

Guild Union Member 16 

⇒ I already forgot his real name, but I’ll never forget Itchau Masked Man

Guild Union Member 17 

⇒ So like… The Empire and the Evil God’s cult are gonna go after Renya now, right? Probably throw monsters at him like crazy. Rare ones, corrupted humans, the works.

Guild Union Member 18 

⇒ For sure.

Guild Union Member 19 

⇒ And you guys are just gonna leak rare monster info to Roger for fun, huh?

Guild Union Member 20 

⇒ You know it.

Guild Union Member 21 

⇒ That means Roger and Itchau Masked Man are totally gonna run into each other LOL

Guild Union Member 22 

⇒ Yup, bound to happen

Guild Union Member 23 

⇒ And even though Roger is the real Itchau Masked Man, it’s already become Renya’s embarrassing past LOL

Guild Union Member 24 

⇒ LMAOOOO

Guild Union Member 25 

⇒ Can’t wait for these two to meet~

Guild Union Member 26 

⇒ Oh yeah—Tomage thinks Renya is Itchau Masked Man… and now he’s suddenly A-rank? No doubt he’s gonna be jealous.

Guild Union Member 27 

⇒ So we’re getting a Roger × Renya × Tomage love/hate triangle?!

Guild Union Member 28 

⇒ UOOOOHHH!! This is getting so chaotic!!

Guild Union Member 29 

⇒ Tbh Roger only has eyes for Ellel-chan

Guild Union Member 30 

⇒ And that’s what got us into this entire mess to begin with…