In the dusty office stood two people. A father with no son and a daughter who thought of her father as an annoyance.

“I see.” Mr. Bentley replied. “A demon with various other demons before it. You've stumbled on quite a worrying discovery. Given the fact the two down there seemed unshaken, I can imagine you haven't told anyone else?”

“Correct, who knows what they might think or who they might spread it to with that sort of information. I hope you'll send a letter to the capital about this. If they can't even spare us help, they should help out in stopping whatever this is and not leave the problem to the government.”

“Sorry, dearie but unless the government sees it as such, the adventurer guild isn't going to do anything. We aren't a charity after all nor are we another wing of the government. We work as long as we're provided a job.”

“What a farce. I can't believe I've joined such an organisation.” Elizabeth bitterly commented.

“Now, now I didn't say they couldn't do anything, I just feel these cultists will have to become a more established threat such as goblins or ogres for things to pick up. In fact, your letter might be the first step to this becoming a reality.” He backpedalled.

“It better be. In the multiple months I've been in this organisation, I can't help but be dissatisfied. I know this parish isn't exactly seen as important in anything other than farming these days but I can't believe the state the guild has left this parish in. I mean, you can barely make do with the potions they stock you.”

“Easy, Elizabeth, this parish has pretty low traffic when it comes to adventurers so it makes sense why they can't treat us like the other branches.”

“Trust me I know, but is consistency so much to ask for? Sorry, I got off-topic. I remember seeing other branches when I was applying and *sigh* I mean no disrespect Mr. Bentley but are the other branch managers so concerned with their image that this was the only place that'd accept me? A place with little to no image?”

“Haha, I'd like to say they rejected you for other reasons but I'd be lying. After all, if this corrupt old man didn't accept you I'm not sure who would have.” He responded in an almost gleeful tone.

“Don't you feel that label a bit harsh Mr. Bentley? You do what you have to keep this branch functioning.”

“Corruption's corruption Elizabeth, whether good or bad. Accepting you into the guild the way I did certainly falls under that. Even the way I accept everyone into this place would be corruption. We can't even afford to do proper tests.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“I see. Well, it is a sorry state of affairs that a corrupt man like yourself has a better character than most of the other branch managers.”

“I'm not sure about that but I welcome the compliment you've given this old man.”

Although they didn't discuss much about the cultists today, Elizabeth felt she had said enough and made her exit.

She calmed herself down as she walked down the stairs. (“I may have let my dissatisfaction show too much. Bless Mr. Bentley but I can't believe I'm no closer to my goal now than I was when I started. Well, that's a lie, I now have Tibaut on my side and that's about it. I imagine Tina and the others will leave to go live with Mr. Bentley as soon as we have Ezekiel’s funeral, plus I'm not sure I'd want to poach the talent of a deceased friend, so I won't consider them a part of my plans. Sigh, I'm thankful that the commission request we got from the parish over is still available but it's part of the blacklist, so there’s no guarantee we'll complete it even with our skills. How long will it take me to catch up with them and how much longer will it take me to surpass them?”)

She walked up to Tina and the pair said goodbye to the receptionist before leaving.

----------------------------------------

“So have you decided on what you'll do after you leave my care?” Elizabeth asked.

The pair were now at the edge of town heading back to the mansion.

“No idea. I was thinking about reviving our guild but I'm not sure how well it'd go without Ezekiel. Maybe even move somewhere else that has a better branch, though I'm not sure the other girls would agree.”

“I see. Well, until you're ready, you stay with us.”

“Don't worry, I know you're not the type that'd kick us out.”

Tina held her hands behind her head and looked up towards the sky. (“As if, I'm not leaving until I surpass you.”)

----------------------------------------

The duo of Lily and Tibaut headed inside and made their way to the basement.

Agnes was still outside playing with the wolf and Ruby, quite kindly agreed to stay with her and show her around the mansion later.

“Hey, Tibaut, you ever gonna bang Vanessa.”

Various indescribable sounds came out of his mouth as he tried to recompose himself.

“What the hell kinda question is that!?” He boisterously answered.

“So is it a yes or no?” She asked unfazed.

“(Ugh, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to interact with Lily. Does she consider me a friend or does she misunderstand my friendship with Vanessa and is trying to do her friend a solid? Actually, now that I think about it, how would I categorise most of the people I know? I mean other than Vanessa I'm not sure most of the people I know would call me their friends.) Um, uh…”

Seeing how flustered this question left him, she decided to back off for now.

“I hope you can give a more favourable answer next time.”