"So that's what happened… Thank you for protecting the city and defeating the Orc Emperor."
We have returned back to Melk and reported the guild master. We also told him about how I'm the one who finished it and someone else destroy the corpse. But we ask him to keep my strength as secret and just said it was collective achievement by magic combination.
"That's worrying to know that there's someone or group out there is involved. And that Orc Emperor, from what I heard, its size is about 180 cm?"
"Yes. We're about the same height."
I answered honestly.
We're all in guild master room. Just Kron, my party, and the two parties who stayed until the end. The other who retreated to ask for reinforcement weren't here.
Well, after what happened, they don't even bring a reinforcement. They did help with the defense of the city, but they never said anything to the guild about us asking for reinforcement. Their only achievement is the Orc Wizards or Orc General they fought on the way to the settlement.
And also, thanks to the other who keep secret about the fact that we killed the Orc Emperor, my party's achievement is just guiding everyone and also the one who responsible for planning the combination magic.
The parties who didn't participate in the final battle can't say anything about it. They just regretted that they were too quick to run away. It's good enough for them to not become hostile to us.
Back to the guild master, he's summarizing the event that happened.
"So the Orc Emperor is bigger than an average Orc Emperor. It might be a mutated monster. Or worse, the man who destroy its corpse, the organization where he belong is responsible in an experiment that makes the Orc Emperor mutated. Which means there's a chance that there are many other mutated monster made by those organization."
"And I will destroy that organization!"
Thanks to the effort of everyone, no one died in this event. Not even those who defending the city. Just the two fake A-rank hunters who died as they lure the orcs here. As for the one who survive, he's in jail now.
The only casualty in this horrifying event is just Kron's hair roots. That's why he's so adamant in taking down every single one of the organization who might be responsible for this.
Of course I haven't told anyone yet about the truth that there is an evil organization trying to conquer the world. Everyone is not yet ready for the truth. And I still don't know if there are members of the cult among the parties in the battle. Although I feel like the chance is low.
After the battle, we got to know each other better. They are all good people. They also worried about me when I fought the Orc Emperor.
Seeing Kron's baldness, the guild master decided to give him something to cover his head.
"I have something that might help you cover your head. How about this bandana?"
The guild master gave Kron a blue bandana from his desk.
"I don't know about that. I might look like someone who's desperate to hide my baldness if I wear that."
"Then I'll take it."
Faster than anyone could react, I grabbed the bandana and wore it on my head.
"How do I look? Do I look like someone desperate to hide my bald spot?"
"Nope. Not at all."
"I think you look good in that."
Of course the one who answered are my girlfriends. They are honest girls.
"Give me that! This was given to me not you!"
Kron take the bandana from my head and wore it. No one saying anything about his ne looks.
"Say something! Where's my praises!"
Kron got angry when no one is complimenting him. He's my new friend so I will lend him a hand.
"Bro. In the end, it's all come down to the face."
"Spare me the truth!"
Of course when I said I will lend him a hand, it means to tell him the truth. To make him realize how the world works. That's a good thing to do as a friend, right?
"That's one thing taken care of. Now as a reward, for Roy and his party, we will increase your hunter rank by one level. Which means for Roy, Angela, and Kayla, they will be given a C-rank and a gold card. As for Sophie, she will be a D-rank."
"Are you sure? It was just not long ago when I was active as a hunter. Is this okay to raise my rank this fast?"
Sophie thought that she doesn't deserve to get her rank raised. But the one who answered her question is not the guild master, not me, not Angela or Kayla. It was one of the girl from another party who I helped in the settlement to kill the Orc General. Her name is Vivian. A member of Hector's party, led by Hector. He's someone who used his own name as the party's name.
"I think you are more than deserved to rank up. You are brave enough get close to the Orc Emperor and shock that monster. Not a single one of us other than Roy, dare to do that."
"…then I'll accept it. Thank you for the reward."
"Please keep up the good work. I believe you will soon raise your rank again and won't be left behind by Roy and the other."
The guild master encourage Sophie to keep up the good work. Her lightning element is very useful and I believe she can be the strongest in that element in the future.
The guild master also gave us some money to spend. Then he proceed to give other hunters the reward they deserve.
All of us decided to use some of that money to celebrate tonight. We ate, drank, and had a lot of fun until late at night.
Before we went home, Kron pulled me for a private conversation between us two.
"Roy. Do you know about that secret organization?"
I think he's already know that I have some idea about the organization behind the Orc Emperor's incident. So I told him what I can.
"For now, it's just a speculation. And there's no evidence of their existence yet so I can't say anything to you."
"Basically, you're saying that there's a chance that there's a traitor among us. And you still can't trust me with that information yet. Have you told your party?"
"You're sharp. Yes I have. I can trust her. But you, we just met last night."
"I guess you're right. I also can't trust someone I just met last night in an instant."
"You don't look down at all even after you know that much, huh?"
"Of course. It mean I just have to find out about them myself or get you to trust me more. I believe in the future, you will tell me everything you know about them. I just have to make you trust me more until that day come."
"Good luck with that. What will you do after this?"
"Get stronger. I will travel to another city and hunt some strong monsters. I don't think I will be able to get to S-rank soon after what happened. I will get stronger and defeat all those responsible for what happened to my hair!"
"Revenge of the bald!"
"Yeah! Revenge of the- NO!"
"What's wrong? If you one day want to write an autobiography about yourself, you need a title, right? I think Revenge of The Bald is a good title."
"No! I'm not planning to write a book about myself!"
"Even if you don't, once you gain reputation and popularity around the world as you improve your ranks by getting some achievements, someone will make a story about you. Then you need to prepare about getting such title in the stories someone else wrote."
"Grrr…. That mean I just need a nickname so I won't be called the bald. How about Blue Bandana?"
"The Blue Bandana That Hides His Baldness."
"No! Just Blue Bandana!"
"Good luck in spreading your nickname."
"Sigh… Roy, you're a good man. I hope we will meet again in the future. Maybe our path will cross one day."
"Or maybe I can just give you my address so you can visit me from time to time. After graduating, I will move to Cassau. I don't know the address yet, but in the future, you might be able to find me there."
"…I was just trying to be cool. In the story, usually we part way with something cool. Not exchanging home address. Can't I be cool for one day?"
"Nope. Your coolness disappear either when your hair roots burnt, or when you meet someone cooler than you. Like me! If you need anything, you can visit Cassau. I don't have a house yet, but I will be soon. Good luck in your journey to be strong."
"Goodbye… Clarence. I hope I can see some more of your performances."
The day after, we meet again just before he left the city. He felt extremely awkward because we have said goodbye last night, but I don't care. In fact he should be more embarrassed. He is a fun guy to tease.