CHAPTER 482: INFORMATION GATHERING

Thanks to the information that Elaina received from the Goddess of Medicine about the Plague Bringer and its potential to become a Calamity Summoner, Elaina decided to head to the Adventurers’ Guild and visit her Grandparents. By now, the officials and employees of the Adventurers’ Guild already know Elaina by now. Even her registered name has been revised entirely, and now she is using her maiden name since she is no longer married to her former husband. She can’t keep on using the Luminiera family name after divorcing Alfred.

Since the people of the guild already know her, they treat her with respect, which allows Elaina to request a meeting with her grandparents at any time to discuss matters with them. Elaina is taking advantage of this to relay information to them without getting delayed by waiting for a few days.

However, it seems her timing today was not a favorable one.

"I’m sorry, Miss Zangarde, but you just missed them by an hour. They have just departed to go on an expedition to a newly discovered dungeon in the neighboring kingdom and brought along a few adventurers with them," The receptionist revealed.

"What? Does that mean they won’t be around for a while?!" Elaina frowned.

"Yes, Miss. Approximately a week or two, depending on their situation there. If they can wrap up their expedition much earlier, they will return much sooner, but if something else comes up, it might also delay their return."

"...Alright, thanks. If they ever returned, please tell them that I came looking for them and I had to say something to talk to them."

With no luck, Elaina is stuck waiting for them, but she can’t afford to keep waiting forever. If what the Goddess of Medicine said is the information of the Plague Bringer, she can’t afford to just sit around and wait for disaster to strike. The attack of the black locusts is devastating, but not to the point that it would be enough to outright kill people. Food supply is not abundant right now after the black locusts ate the supposed harvest, but that won’t kill people immediately.

Despite not ending lives directly, it is still called a plague, but that plague is the tamest of the plagues available that Elaina knows. There are more plagues that would be outright dangerous if they spread and infect people. So instead of waiting for her grandparents to return home, Elaina decided that she had to take these matters into her own hands.

Instead of heading back home after her failed attempt to catch up to her Grandparents, Elaina decided to check on the books of the Adventurer’s Guild Library, where one can find information regarding other kingdoms, other continents, and collections of monster bestiaries found in various places.

Heading to the Monster Bestiary Section, Elaina tried searching for the Plague Bringer but she couldn’t find any records of them and instead found the relevant information she is looking for on the other form of the Plague Bringer once it is matured; the Calamity Summoner.

She already got information from the Goddess of Medicine earlier so she didn’t need much about it. What she needed information of is how to find and mitigate the abilities of the Calamity Summoner once she meet it and possibly, a reliable way to kill it safely. It is a monster she have yet to face and a monster that she barely have information of. She needed all extra bits of information to ensure she won’t be jumping into danger.

As she was browsing the books in the bestiary section, a familiar voice speaks behind Elaina.

"Elaina? Its rare you are here. Are you looking for something?"

Looking behind her, she finds Alfred standing behind her holding a few books that seems he is going to borrow. Most of them are monster bestiary books. Based on his attire, he seems to be not on duty and seeing him here, it also seems that he is not part of the expedition that her Grandparents conducted.

"Ah, Alfred. I am currently looking for some information of a certain monster and came here looking for it. What about you? I am quite sure you are not a studious type of person even back when you were the emperor."

Alfred chuckled. "You are right which is why I have to be now. Since there are foreign monsters I have not faced in Luminiera Kingdom nowadays that I have become part of the Former Heroes’ special force, I needed to be well informed with various monsters to ensure that I can use my knowledge in case we face them and not just keep on relying with the Former Heroes to keep saving my hide after every fight."

Elaina always see Alfred before to be prideful with his abilities as a swordsman. He always conducts battles against monsters and show it off to his soldiers making all of his fights with monsters turn into some kind of show. Perhaps going with the former heroes has changed his perspective on battles and have already taken initiative to change for the better.

"How are the twins? Have they been well? I haven’t visited for quite some time since there are busy times happening especially the latest situation with the black locusts swarms," Alfred asked.

"Thankfully, they are still doing good. They are currently practicing to fight monsters now and I am training them with the way of the sword."

"With how the world is being unpredictable nowadays, teaching them a way to fight back is indeed a better option than sheltering them from danger. Thanks for being there considering I am a bad father."

Elaina nodded and smiled. Although she still couldn’t forgive Alfred, considering that his former actions are something he wouldn’t have in control for, the damage is done and it is hard to trust and forgive him for that. At least, he is taking an effort to be a better person now.

"By the way, let’s return to the subject of monsters. Since you said you have met multiple monsters while working with my Grandparents and have been reading bestiaries about monsters, have you ever encountered a monster named as Calamity Summoner or read a bestiary entry on them?" Elaina asked.

"Calamity Summoner? They are a rare monster but we did vanquish one not too long ago with your Grandparents on the neighboring kingdom. We have dealt with them before they began causing dangers and summoning plagues. I still remember it was a bit dangerous at first since they are capable of unleashing plagues to use to attack people and also they are capable of using curse magic as well. But why do you ask?" Alfred tilted his head.

"I have ’t talked about it to anyone right now. I was planning to discuss this matter to my Grandparents but they are on an expedition which is why I am currently doing something else. Considering that you work for my grandparents I think you qualify enough," Elaina’s face turn serious.

"Eh? What for?"

"Remember what happened to the current swarm problem that happened just a few days ago? Well, I think this was just thr beginning. It seems the kingdom will soon be suffering a new problem again in the few more days."

"What? But how?"

"I suspect that a monster is doing this and it is currently doing something."

Alfred frowned and remembered the monster Elaina asked about. "Don’t tell me it is the Calamity Summoner?"

Elaina nodded. Learning this, Alfred’s face turned grim.

"Wait for me on the farm, I will gather my gear. If you plan to find that enemy, we will need ample preparation."