"Hey, did you hear? Apparently, people keep collapsing at the magic stone mine in Forcania, northwest of the royal capital, and nobody knows why."
"The investigation teams they sent ended up collapsing too — some of them even died, apparently."
"Ordinary monsters near the mine have been dropping dead left and right, but nobody can make it deep enough to find out what's going on."
This was the ominous chatter I heard the moment I walked into the Adventurers' Guild lobby.
Adventurer rumors tend to get exaggerated with every retelling, but it sounded like something really had happened at the mine.
Still, the kingdom would probably handle something like this, right?
They might put out a quest eventually.
So I decided to wait and see.
That was when a man walked out from the guild reception desk and bellowed in a booming voice:
"All adventurers, this is a mandatory summons! His Majesty requests that all Mithril Rank and above assemble!"
You've got to be kidding me.
Doesn't look like "wait and see" is an option.
Since it was a royal decree, any adventurer who failed to show would have their license revoked.
What's more, even if you were in the middle of a long-term commission, you had to drop everything and come — and you wouldn't be compensated for the breach of contract.
◇◇◇
"As most of you already know, people have been continuously collapsing at the magic stone mine in Forcania territory, northwest of here, and some of those who collapsed never woke up. Multiple investigation teams have been dispatched, but every single one has ended up in the same situation."
The Guild Master of the royal capital's Adventurers' Guild addressed the gathered adventurers.
"We believe this is comparable to a stampede or a major disaster. On that basis, the kingdom has ordered an investigation and the elimination of the cause. For this operation, you will be accompanied by the knight order led by Baron Douglas. Baron Douglas, if you would."
A portly man stepped forward in front of the Guild Master.
He was wearing a suit of armor, though he looked rather cramped in it.
"I am Douglas. Ordinarily, the knight order under our nobility would be more than sufficient for this task, but I decided to grant you wretches an opportunity to train yourselves. Grovel on the ground and show your gratitude, you lowborn scum!"
For some reason, Baron Douglas wore a smug expression as he said this.
The adventurers' faces simultaneously hardened.
"Hmph — that's the face of people who aren't convinced. But I couldn't care less what you think. Don't even dream of defying me. Mithril Rank or not, you'd rank among the lower echelons of my knight order. Wiping you all out would be trivial."
Even the Guild Master wore the look of someone chewing on something bitter, but he held his tongue.
"If you understand, then do as we say and try your hardest to stay out of our way and stay alive!"
With that, Baron Douglas turned and left with his entourage.
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Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Fist God] [Spear God] [Scorching Magic] [Freezing Ice Magic] [Tempest Magic] [Rock Iron Magic] [Holy Magic] [Dark Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Thunder God Sword] [Phantom Thief Gentleman] [Ninja Master] [Seeker of Truth] [Miraculous Strength and Divine Might] [Swift as the Wind] [Pain Dampening] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance] [Dark Spirit's Protection] [Super Intuition] [Heaven's Gate] [Abyss Contractee] [Magic Hand] [Treasure Search] [Temptation] [Incitement] [Eloquence] [Fortune] [Growth Speed ×10] [Growth Limit Breakthrough]
Rank: Orichalcum