Danmachi : Ashen Knight

Guild Headquarters – Afternoon

The Guild was as busy as ever.

Adventurers lined up at the reception counters, some collecting rewards, others reporting quests. The air was filled with chatter—stories of battles, near-death escapes, and occasional bragging.

Orcbolg ignored all of it.

He stepped forward, stopping in front of Eina Tulle's desk.

She looked up from her paperwork and sighed. "You again?"

"Need to report."

Eina adjusted her glasses. "Let me guess—Dungeon activity?"

He nodded.

Her expression turned serious. "Alright. Tell me everything."

A Concerning Report

Orcbolg spoke concisely, detailing everything from his last dive:

Almiraj moving in coordinated formations.

Kobolds setting traps.

Monsters withdrawing from fights instead of fighting to the death.

Eina listened carefully, taking notes.

When he finished, she frowned. "That… isn't normal."

"The Guild knows something."

She hesitated. Then, quietly, she admitted:

"There have been other reports. Nothing confirmed, but some adventurers have mentioned strange behavior in the middle floors."

She tapped her pen against the desk.

"But monsters don't just 'evolve' like this. Not unless something is influencing them."

Orcbolg remained silent.

Eina sighed. "I'll bring this up with the higher-ups. But don't expect immediate action. Unless we get solid proof, the Guild won't intervene."

Expected.

Orcbolg stood.

"Don't do anything reckless," Eina warned.

He didn't respond as he turned to leave.

He had his answer.

The Guild wasn't acting yet.

Which meant—he would investigate himself.