Reinhard figured there was probably some experiment or at least a magic circle activation that needed a ton of energy happening down in that underground area, but what he found next was far from normal. In the morning, when the prince or the guards weren't really watching the important zones, he went closer to the underground area and caught a strong, nasty smell. Then it hit him — it was the stench of that Earth Lizard he'd taken down before. Now even more confused, he started to really believe some kind of magic ritual was going on in there, but not wanting to get caught snooping around, he backed off and left the area.
"So yeah, that's what I found. That's why I'm reporting this to the Guild. I'm hoping you guys will step in and deal with this, 'cause chances are, this might affect the future of the Kingdom too."
"Hoho, so what's your plan then, young man?" — Gadra
"Yeah, actually, I've got something interesting that might add to your assumptions," Kraugel chimed in.
He shared what he found in the stinky room under the church, which got Reinhard thinking even harder.
"I see… so there's a chance all this is tied to demons, huh? I guess it's not a stretch to assume that, makes sense, makes sense..."
"Ahem, in that case, I've got a plan," Gadra added.
Not long after, Kraugel left the room and met up with Towa and Gumi waiting outside, and said..
"My trial to move up to S Rank is about to start, let's head out!"
Kraugel had previously asked for his reward after capturing the Kingdom's S-Class fugitives, the Fingers. His reward was the chance to take the promotion test to S Rank. Gadra had tasked him with clearing an A-Rank dungeon in the Western Forest as a team and bringing back proof of the clear. Although Gadra did mention..
"Oh yeah, if I'm not mistaken, there's already a party that challenged that dungeon before you. What were they called again… ah right, 'Sword Feather.' They're a party made up of A and B Rank adventurers, so their group's officially still A Rank, but they're trying to move up to S as well. Say hi from me if you run into them! Hoho..."
Kraugel had already walked a good distance away from the Guild building..
"Towa, report what you found last night."
"Yes, Sir Kraugel," Towa replied.
Towa said he didn't find anything special. But he did see a man wearing white clothes that looked like a priest's outfit. The man had blonde hair and round glasses. He kept going in and out of the church with six people wearing black robes. According to Towa's magic perception, those six were strong and skilled. Before he could do much, one of them noticed him and smiled at him. Towa ran away, but the person didn't chase him at all.
"I see. Then, if you were to fight that person seriously, do you think you'd win?" Kraugel asked.
"I've done a lot of calculations, but since my condition in this world is different from my original world, the outcome is always the same. I'd most likely lose," Towa answered.
"I understand..."
Hermit, I think we'll need to talk more about this—
Thud!
While walking through the crowd, Kraugel bumped into someone.
"Ah, sorry, miss. I was daydreami—!..."
She disappeared. It felt like she hadn't even been there.
Hermit, did you see her just now? We share the same vision, right?
Did you see her? A woman with white hair and long rabbit ears?
[I don't have an answer for that.]
[What are you talking about, Master?]
You didn't see her just now?!
"Hey, Towa, Gumi. Did you see the woman I bumped into just now?"
"Bumped into? What are you talking about, Master/Mr Kraugel?" Towa and Gumi said.
What… why is no one aware of her… Hermit, answer me!
[Old data detected.]
[A new file has been received from an unknown individual.]
What? Wait, what does that mean?
[Unique Skill – Extractor has been received]
[The skill will be adjusted to fit the user]
Another skill? Just how many more am I going to get?
[Hermit is modifying the skill. Process starting]
[Modification complete]
[Unique Skill – Extractor has been modified.]
[Unique Skill – Greed has been obtained]
[Unique Skill – Greed is Under Hermit's Authority ]
Hermit, what is this Greed capable of?
[ Report ]
[ Greed is able to change the opponent's cognition slowly through conversation ]
[ Greed is able to copy someone's skills by directly experiencing that power himself ]
It feels like a cheating thing huh..
[ Report I don't agree ]
[ From the results of my analysis, there are still many skills with abilities that are equal or even stronger than Greed ]
Ahahaha, I don't know where this [Greed] came from, is it possible... The previous woman. oh never mind, what's more important...
"What the Hell are we actually witnessing what other crime this is, damn it."