GILF Hunter

Chapter 465: 465 Distance

Holy knights were prostrating themselves before Ian, bowing their heads.

The room in the labyrinth took on a very solemn atmosphere, reminiscent of a temple during scheduled prayer time.

The members of the Ian Mercenary Group kept a slight distance, exchanging glances. In such an atmosphere, they couldn’t mindlessly approach Ian’s side and strike up a casual conversation.

Ian felt a throbbing headache as he watched the scene.

He wondered if the boss wasn’t completely dead and was still continuing its mental attacks. He glanced sideways with that thought, but there was only a pitiful pile of bones that should now be called a corpse.

Even the Knight Commander and Frenda, who should have put a stop to such irrational behavior, had joined the ranks with expressions as if they had achieved enlightenment.

’...Rin. What are you doing?’

’Ah, well, given the mood...’

Rin, who had been gauging the atmosphere and was about to prostrate like the knights, stood back up with an embarrassed expression after Lia pointed it out.

It wasn’t that she had witnessed a miraculous scene and suddenly felt a surge of faith.... She didn’t really know what was going on, but since all the knights were doing it, she was just trying to follow suit for now.

Since Rin and Lia weren’t near Ian when he used the dice, they didn’t even know why Ian had ended up looking like that.

In an atmosphere so solemn that even breathing was audible, it was difficult to have a proper conversation. Rin whispered very softly to Lia, who was right next to her.

’But what is this? Why is the Leader glowing?’

’...He probably used something weird again.’

Lia didn’t know the reason either, but... wasn’t it always like this anyway?

With that thought, Lia didn’t ponder it too deeply.

After a long deliberation, Ian spoke to the prostrate knights.

’Everyone, please stand up.’

’...Yes.’

It was a sight that made him wonder how on earth he should stop this. However, when Ian made the request, everyone hesitated before picking themselves up.

Normally, they wouldn’t stop praying no matter the interruption... but hadn’t the very object of their prayer commanded them to stand?

Since prayer is usually directed at statues or paintings, this was a first-time experience for the knights as well. As Frenda stood up first, the other knights had no choice but to follow suit while watching her.

Seeing that, Ian thought they might actually be more reasonable than expected and began talking to the knights.

First, Ian’s initial attempt was to tell them the exact facts.

Of course, he first considered the extremely bleak situation at the time and the unstable, weakened mental state of the members.

Add to that the dramatic effects of these traits that appeared by chance, and the uncontrollable, brilliant visual effects...

Ian fully understood that to the eyes of the clergy, it could be perceived as a very significant appearance.

He also knew that if a cleric saw this, they would either want to prostrate themselves flat on the floor or tie him to a stake and light a fire... one of the two.

Ian decided to deny it very firmly so that the knights wouldn’t have any strange misunderstandings.

’Listen carefully. I am just... an ordinary mercenary leader. This is the effect of a magic item I obtained by chance.’

’...’

The knights’ gazes shifted slightly. The halo above his head was emitting a dazzling light, spreading its radiance.

’...’

The knights, who had been blankly staring at Ian with their heads raised, turned their gazes slightly to exchange looks among themselves.

Then, they nodded with faces as if they realized what Ian wanted to say.

’Ah...! I see. You’re an ordinary human. Understood!’

’I will make sure to say you were an ordinary human.’

’...’

Interpreting words in a way that was convenient for oneself was a very basic skill for a religious person.

To Ian, it didn’t seem like they understood properly at all.

Seeing that, Ian immediately moved on to his next plan.

’Everyone, look over there. We need to check the loot.’

’Loot?’

Ian’s second attempt was to divert the expedition’s attention elsewhere.

The reason the knights participated in such an expedition was ultimately for the fame and performance records they could gain upon success. Most of them were knights who were very thirsty for such records for various reasons.

And the fame gained from a successful expedition was ultimately determined by how great the loot was.

No matter how much one explained in detail how dangerous the place was or how great the monster they fought was, it was just a boring and pedantic story to people who hadn’t seen it for themselves.

In the end, the value of the expedition was decided by how grand and expensive an item they could bring back to flaunt before people’s eyes.

So, at Ian’s mention of loot, everyone couldn’t help but be intrigued.

Unfortunately, however, most of the monsters in this region were composed of shadows and darkness.

Their corpses had melted and vanished without leaving anything behind.

While some monsters’ corpses alone had very high value, conversely, there were monsters like these that were completely broke, leaving nothing behind.

The only thing that could be called loot from a monster here was the massive pile of bones left behind when the boss died.

That didn’t mean there was no reward for this expedition.

Although there were no boss drop items, a clear reward for the Deep Floor was guaranteed to appear.

’Ah... there really is something over there!’

Airi unknowingly raised her hand and pointed to one side of the room.

Everyone’s gaze turned that way. Indeed, something unidentifiable was emitting a small light there.

If it had been in the dark, they would have easily spotted it glowing, but because Ian’s light was too strong, no one had noticed until now.

Following Ian’s suggestion, everyone slowly moved toward it.

Ian’s plan to divert attention to the loot seemed to be nearly successful. Ian’s thoughts also briefly moved to the reward that would have appeared this time.

What appeared as a reward for the Deep Floor was mainly special-grade artifacts.

They were special artifacts that were difficult to obtain through ordinary means.

Unlike some artifacts obtained so far that were used personally, these were very powerful artifacts that exerted influence on a city scale.

They were items that could raise stats city-wide, trigger special events, or even allow the construction of special facilities called [Ancient Structures] within the city.

’I see. So it’s an artifact that has been slumbering since ancient times...’

After hearing Ian’s brief explanation, Frenda muttered and reached out toward the mysterious artifact.

As she approached, the artifact, which had been floating high in the air, slowly descended into Frenda’s hand.

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

[Holy Grail of Light]

- Artifact Item

- When placed in a city, increases the stress recovery speed of all residents

- Accelerates mental power recovery speed in places where there is light

- Amplifies holy magic effects by 15%

- Provides an unlimited supply of holy water when placed in a temple

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

’...’

’...’

Everyone’s gaze turned to Ian again.

They had expressions as if they had achieved a thrilling realization of why he had participated in such an expedition personally.

’This is also... truly a coincidence.’

’I see.... Understood.’

It was a response that seemed to imply, ’As expected.’

The knights also nodded with determined faces, as if they would keep the secret no matter what happened.

This was... the fault of the game company that had ignored all inquiries to add a trait ON/OFF function and never created it.

Ian concluded as much.

＊ ＊ ＊

After such twists and turns, the expedition finally left the labyrinth and came up to the surface.

Everyone looked a mess, but there were no fatalities.

The Labyrinth Guard Captain who greeted them congratulated them, saying it was miraculous that such a large number of people returned without a single death.

...The fact that something truly miraculous had happened inside was a secret known only to the members.

The knights quietly met each other’s eyes, faces still showing disbelief.

’Loosen the rope on the other side more!’

’It’s fixed!’

The temple’s auxiliary personnel who had rushed out from the city to meet them, and the guild’s transport team, were loading the luggage brought out by the expedition onto wagons.

The Deep Floor expedition took an enormous amount of luggage in, but they came out with massive luggage several times that size.

It was the skull of a monster so huge it was difficult to move.

Although it was just a simple bone with no particular use, it was brought out as proof of subjugation since it was the best thing to show someone.

Thanks to that, from the moment they entered the city, the expedition received more attention than when they had departed.

Ian tried to stand at the back to be as inconspicuous as possible, but for some reason, the knights constantly shifted positions to ensure Ian was in the center.

The wagon also naturally adjusted its speed to match the knights’.

As a result, the Ian Mercenary Group was positioned in the most prominent spot. It was right next to the wagon carrying the monster’s massive skull. It was also next to the box containing the Grail.

...Fortunately, the duration of the dice Ian used was for one expedition.

As soon as they left the labyrinth, the expedition was judged to be complete, and the changed potentials immediately returned to normal.

Since the suspicious light was no longer emanating, he could fortunately receive only a very general level of interest.

Frenda was at the very front of the procession, dealing with the gathered people just as she had when they departed.

The knights were the same. They must all be exhausted from the long expedition, but it was a great professional spirit.

’...?’

Ian, walking while blankly looking ahead, suddenly met the eyes of Frenda, who had looked back.

Frenda, upon meeting his eyes, gave a small smile and then nodded with a face of understanding.

It was a smile whose meaning—what she understood—was completely unknown, but they were too far apart to talk, so he couldn’t ask.

Frenda turned her head again and waved to the citizens as if nothing had happened.