With Borus' help, I was introduced to several craftsmen that agreed to sell me tools and give me a quick training on their trade. This way I will get the skills without browsing hundreds of loot crates and learn the more delicious appraisal skills. Going forward I will need more information.

We also met several merchants that were departing town before noon. They only didn't leave with the first rays of dawn because they needed to load cargo at the merchant's association. We gave them a letter and a vial of honey as a souvenir. I made sure to tell them that the honey came from the dungeon. Borus showed his 500-carat amethyst to several of them. I could swear I saw dollar signs floating in front of their eyes.

This way the news about the treasures of the dungeon is already out on their way. There is no going back now.

I rented a two-horse uncovered wagon for the day. They wanted to loan me free, but I handed them a silver coin in any case. I will return them before dusk.

I drove back to Helen's place, picked up the crew and then we went out the east gate. The road has a curve and goes behind a hill shortly after, and there is nobody watching over there. I stop the cart and serve everyone a light lunch.

"How were you girls' morning?"

"It was fantastic! Sister-in-law's belly is already showing, and she is no longer sick every day. We talked a lot."

"What about you, Beowulf?" Marcy asks.

"I met dozens of merchants and craftsmen. I made connections and arranged to learn several crafts tomorrow. I also sent word of the dungeon to the outside world through some merchants that left earlier today."

"And why are we here outside town?"

"To make our triumphant return. I want the fact that our party returned victorious and wealthy from the dungeon a public statement. Raise awareness. Spark greed. Make people look at the dungeon and hunt it, instead of being hunted."

"That is a lofty goal."

"Why are you doing it, Beowulf? It is strange that you want attention now."

"Helen, before I answer you. Marcy, are you staying behind?"

"Yes. I will deliver the baby and help nurture it for the first season. I might be free next summer."

"And you, Zahariel. What are you going to do? Is there anything you want to do?"

"I want to see what you are going to do in this world, Beowulf. I don't have anything else I can do on my own. The gods' souls are destroyed. Lucifer is dead. All the other seraph are also gone. Only a handful of demons remain. The war lost its reason for existing. The world both won and lost it."

"Back on Earth, we call that a pyrrhic victory. When you win but is damaged so bad you actually lost."

"I just love the wisdom of Earth. Reminds me of the summoned heroes."

"Say, can I ask you two favors?"

"Sure, what are they?"

"First, I want you to help me craft some items. Second, I want you to stay behind and assist Marcy in whatever she needs. Also protecting Helen's... our family."

I load the cart with the monster's proof of subjugation that we brought. Mostly the bosses and other high-ranked mobs. The crown jewel is the whole body of the ice widow. It is completely intact, except for the burn marks on top of its head and a hole at the back from where I removed the pemadra. I take a sword from the item box and shove it in the hole until the hilt. The spider's legs were too long for the cart, so we had to put it on its back and tie up the legs. It is even better to show 'hey check out this huge spider we caught.' The spiked pillbug rings are also impressive.

We drive the cart to the guild. The streets were filled with people that gathered to see the dead ice widow and the monster parts in the cart. The usual shouting I heard in Mirfield is back, minus the sexual soliciting. I think the girls around me were a good deterrent. Some children were playfully running after our cart. By the time we reached the guild, a lot of people had gathered around.

Every adventurer that has not left town is out to see us. I can see Soren's trademark squirrel tail and several other whats-her-name-again guild receptionists. The library girl, bitter one, and in front of them all Kareena.

I pass the reins to Marcy and stand up in the coachman's seat. "Guildmaster Kareena, we triumphantly return from our dungeon expedition. The safety of the town is assured once again!" I say without letting a drop of sarcasm or contempt ooze. Cheers erupt. People love good theater play. Not that I am providing one, it is just their taste that is bad. Oh, that scowl. I live for that scowl right now. Are you disgusted? Please be.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"Can you circle around and enter through the back gate, Beowulf," Kareena shouts over the crowd.

"Surely can, wise guild master. It would be preposterous to ferry the body of A-rank Ice Widow from the front anyway."

We drive the cart through a back alley and reach the guild's back gate. There is a small courtyard that is connected to the training grounds and Soren's warehouse. The guild peanut gallery and the devoted women that make it run smoothly were already present.

Kareena steps forward with an angry teacher aura. "Beowulf, why this commotion?"

"What commotion, guild master. People would naturally become curious if they saw a cart like ours in town."

"I received a report you have been seen in the merchant quarter this morning, why haven't you came straight to the guild upon your arrival?"

"Because I had to rent a cart to drive the stuff here." I tap on the spider furry body. "You really didn't expect me to CARRY all this stuff by myself into town, did you? I think it would attract even more attention."

"Yes, such a huge spider, it would really be troublesome..."

"Yes, very troublesome. Not to mention it stinks. Upsie daisy!" I lift the spider corpse from the cart and jump outside. "Hey, Soren my dear! Could you please appraise this baby for me?"

Soren is at the warehouse loading bay literally drooling at the spider body. Are those tears in her face? "Ice widow? And almost intact?" She squeals. I don't know if it's her squirrel nature, but she is very squirrel-like right now. Her excitement is overflowing.

"A-rank Ice widow. Almost intact. Its core is gone..." I remove the sword from the hole. "But it is all yours. Please treat it with care. Where should I put it?"

Kareena stomps near me and gasps. "You broke a core with a single sword blow? This technique is my brother's..." What is it again? She is pale as if she saw a ghost. A technique to break cores? A monster version of her {Heartseeker Blade}? Dangerous.

"No technique. I just got a good shooting position lined up." I must admit it was very easy to shock the shit out of this spider's brains from the inside of its jaws.

While we talk Marcy drove the cart and lined it up with the loading platform. Helen steps out still holding Zahariel in her lap and gets to my side.

Soren wakes up from her excitement. "Beowulf put it on that dismantling table over there, I'll begin working on it right away!"

 People crowded around the cart, well within ear reach. "And the rest of the stuff? I got here B-rank shredder pillbug, B-rank phoenix butterfly wings and eggshells, C-rank blood mantis, B-rank dragon cockroach, two C-rank harmonic bee queens, nine d-rank silk hoppers, five d-rank luminescent centipede, twelve d-rank huge frostworm, two dozen rare magma ant nymphs, a lot of frigid beetle carapaces, and a lot of hollow lacewing wings. And a lot of minor bug species that are supposedly uncatalogued. Please check their species."

I should mention here that Marcy has already appraised everything.

The adventurers that are here compose the scum of the guild. They only take a request when they need money. The lazy, greedy, boastful types. Emphasis on greedy. They are literally drooling and following the monster parts that are moving into the warehouse with their heads like a herd of puppies following a steak being moved in front of them.

It is Helen's cue. "Boy, this dungeon surely was packed with valuable stuff. I am tired of seeing you carry all of it, dear."

"It is a man's job to carry heavy stuff, my love," I answer while transporting the crates of monster parts. Soren has drafted several other receptionists to do their work. The library girl is there with a clipboard making notes.

I approach Marcy and ask "What is the name of the library girl again?"

"It is Imayne."

Half an hour later, everything was accounted for and safely stored in the guild's warehouse. We depart leaving a happy Soren dismantling the spider's corpse.

Imayne comes with a clipboard after everything was accounted for, "Beowulf, can you please confirm this manifest? I think everything you brought us is listed in there," I take the clipboard and check the list. I pass it to Marcy and she checks it also.

"Everything is in perfect order, as expected. The calligraphy is superb." Marcy returns the clipboard, and the Imayne smiles. Time to oil the gears.

"Imayne, I have something for you girls. It is a little souvenir of us all from the dungeon." I take a nice wooden box from my backpack. A potion holder box. "Here. The dungeon's golden treasure."

Her eyes sparkle. I gently push the box to her, she puts the clipboard beneath it and takes the box. "Thank you!"

"There should be one bottle for each receptionist. I will give the guild master's souvenir myself. Can I trouble you with handing them over?"

"No trouble at all! Thank you so much, Beowulf!" She blushed! I made the guild's ice queen blush!

Imayne leaves, and Helen is pouting. Did I do something wrong? Marcy is making a face too...

"You philanderer! Do you really have no idea what you are doing to these ladies?" Marcy asks.

"Does your culture have any customs regarding gifting honey that I am unaware of?" Because to me, I am trying to be very businesslike.

She looks at me with a 'hopeless guy' face and explains, "You are supposed to give expensive gifts only to ladies you are interested in."

"Have I just wooed the entire guild?" I think it is better to not mention the female merchants back at the other guild.

"Pretty much," is the answer I receive from them.

I hang my head. "Is it that bad?"

The seraph resumes his point. "Not really. You already walk with two beauties by your side, I am sure people misunderstand your relationship. Strong men can have several wives if he can provide for all of them. And all of us saw the tally of Marcy's appraisal. That haul will make some serious gold. Probably set a record."

The materials we delivered were evaluated by Marcy at around 70 gold coins. Several of the monster species are not even listed. There is a bounty of several silver coins for each new monster species, according to the rank. The phoenix butterfly is one such monster, the shredder pillbug is one also. There were a dozen other minor bug species that were new too.

 We reach the waiting room of the guild master. Yvonne is waiting for us.

"The guild master is reading some reports and will see you soon. Please help yourselves to some tea and cookies."