The carriage stopped in the central area of the guild street.

At a glance, the busy place appeared to be a regular commercial district.

There were shops and inns, but true to its name, it was a street where various guilds coexisted.

‘Servant Guild, Mercenary Guild, Merchant Guild… There’s nothing that isn’t here.’

They said even places that engage in dangerous activities exist if you venture into the back alleys.

But places more special than that were usually shrouded in veils.

I looked at the scattered signboards to find my way.

‘Let’s see.’

I had previewed the map, but the street I actually encountered was broader and larger than I thought.

It wasn’t easy to look around with the large crowd.

As I stood still, Rudbion attempted to move forward.

“I will take out the map.”

“Ah, don’t!”

I hastily grabbed his wrist. I felt his hand twitch as he was about to take out the map.

“Showing a map or wandering too much in a place like this will mark us as newbies.”

It was basic knowledge for travelers that I found on the internet.

‘We could get robbed or dragged into a back alley… Anyway, something dangerous could happen.’

Rudbion might protect me, but it was best if such events didn’t happen at all.

“Come on, let’s go!”

I clenched his wrist and pushed through the crowd. My grip tightened as I felt like I would lose him if I let go.

I sensed Rudbion hesitating as he followed me while I was finding my way.

“Um, so, ah, over there!”

I saw the sign for the Florist Guild. After passing it, the pub called ‘Fairy’s Oaken Barrel’ should appear.

The aged entrance of the pub appeared just like in the original story.

‘There it is.’

Before approaching, I stopped in the alley and adjusted my robe.

‘No one probably cares about me… but I’ve always wanted to do this.’

With my head thoroughly covered, my heart pounded as if I became an important person.

Rudbion was watching me do this.

“Ahem, here it is.”

Not knowing what I was thinking made me feel a bit embarrassed.

Instead of feeling awkward, I pointed at the entrance of ‘Fairy’s Oaken Barrel’.

“…Are we going into a pub?”

“Ah, no, that’s not it.”

Rudbion asked with a stern voice.

‘Didn’t I think to keep my going to the pub a secret from Kashar?’

It would look weird to overly deny it too.

“You’ll know when we enter. But are you feeling hot? Your face is red.”

For the first time since finding our way, I noticed Rudbion’s face had turned quite red.

He hastily stepped back, seemingly unaware of his red face. My grip on his wrist loosened as a result.

Rudbion seemed to fix his gaze momentarily on his wrist before looking up.

“…No, let’s go.”

He bowed his head and went in.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

We hadn’t had much time to get closer.

Instead of hiding my awkwardness, I followed Rudbion.

Since it was still daytime, there were only a few customers.

As we sat down at the bar, an older bartender eyed us.

“What will you have?”

He looked quite annoyed at the newly arrived guests.

His inhospitable attitude was also just like in the original.

I didn’t mind and stated my request.

“I’ll have a green caterpillar with mushrooms.”

The bartender’s hand, which was wiping a glass, stopped.

An instant tension filled the atmosphere.

‘Has the password changed?’

That horrendous menu was a code to meet Elbitor, the top boss.

If one wanted to do business with Elbitor, they’d have to find the boss.

But to meet the actual boss, the approach needed to be different.

‘Elsius sought help here.’

Elsius, who had run away from Kashar, needed a place to hide.

Unable to protect Elsius, the temple confines him. He had to find a new place to be, or he wouldn’t even meet Michael.

It was to find a power that would hide him that he had visited the guild street.

From there, his relationship with the Elbitor boss also began, starting with healing the injured princess.

This password also came around that time.
“Follow me.”

The Master exited the bar with a stern face.

I followed behind him, sighing internally.

‘Phew, thank goodness.’

It seemed the password wasn’t incorrect, fortunately.

‘I did manage to remember it after all.’

It had been so bizarre that it had stuck in my mind, which was crucial.

The Master opened the door leading downstairs.

I swallowed dryly and descended the staircase.

‘There should be another door inside.’

There was a door in the basement connected to Professor Freesia’s room.

It would seem like you could just go in, but of course, you couldn’t.

Beyond that door was a basement labyrinth laced with magical landmines.

Entering recklessly could result in facing lightning or fireballs and departing for the afterlife.

‘Should I say this is fitting for a wizard?’

That’s why the Master’s presence was necessary.

The only ones who knew how to navigate past the magical landmines were their guardians and their creators.

‘Is that it?’

At the far end of the dim basement illuminated by a torch, I saw a worn door.

But even before we reached that place, the Master’s steps halted.

“Hold on.”

“Yes?”