The mayor sat down, clasped his hands on the table, and smiled.
It was the smile of someone who had gotten out of a lot of trouble.
"Young man, I believe you. I really do. But understand... without the monster cores, how can I officially confirm that the dungeon has been cleared?"
Haru remained silent.
"Those are the rules," continued the mayor, opening his hands as if he were innocent. "I don't make the laws, I just follow them."
"Aldric."
The mayor blinked.
"What?"
"Aldric, the map guy," Haru repeated. "He's alive and can tell a lot about certain things that happened in the dungeon..."
The mayor's smile became a little less comfortable.
"Ah... well..."
"Not to mention," Haru continued, "that half the village probably heard something earlier today. Noise coming from the direction of the Vandris mansion."
The mayor opened his mouth. It closed.
"Well, that can be interpreted in several ways..."
