How to Survive as a Mage Inside a Game-Chapter 32: Information Guild (1)

But apparently, it was with some mage named Fluren.

That was the real problem.

‘Come on, for fuck’s sake. If you had any decency, you’d at least tell me where this Fluren bastard is.’

At the very least, it could’ve said which school he belonged to or something.

This wasn’t some modern-day social network. How the hell was he supposed to find a person with just a name and a job in this ridiculously huge medieval continent?

Even on Earth, where he came from, that would’ve been damn near impossible.

His brow furrowed automatically at the quest’s shitty excuse for a clue.

Karl sighed and shoved the scrap of paper back into his inventory.

‘Not like I’ve got a choice. It’s the only lead I’ve got.’

He’d have to make it work somehow.

At the same time, a bit of unease crept in.

If it really were that easy—find Fluren, get the Fragment, go home—then why the hell was he dragged into this game world in the first place?

No doubt, this was going to be a hell of a rough ride.

He was starting to think this might just be another path leading right into the main quest.

But one thing was clear: whatever the quest’s intentions, Karl had no choice but to chase this lead now.

Because he wanted to go home more than anything.

After standing there in thought for a while, Karl decided to change his destination.

Originally, he was supposed to head straight to Hirloren for the main quest, but fuck that now.

If he was going to find some random stranger, he needed information.

And luckily, Karl knew exactly which group handled more information than anyone else on this continent.

Even better, they didn’t hoard it. They sold it, and they’d even track things down for you—if you were willing to pay the right price.

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Karl gave one last glance toward her, then turned and headed for the horses.

She didn’t matter to him anymore.

‘I’m going to need the Information Guild’s help.’

* * *

A dark room.

A woman sat in a chair, and across the table from her stood a middle-aged man.

Her expression was far from pleasant as she listened to the man’s just-finished report.

It had been a request from a wealthy patron with whom she had close ties.

And just as the agents sent out for the job were about to finish their investigation, three days ago, every single one of them had been wiped out.

The man’s report just now had confirmed who was responsible.

The problem was, they were someone she couldn’t afford to fuck with.

“Blood Skull, huh...”

Her amethyst eyes scanned the report in her hand.

A criminal organization with a notorious reputation across the entire continent.

She had a vague idea why they’d gotten involved this time.

Some very unexpected information had come up during the investigation.

A variable had appeared in what had seemed like a low-risk job.

It was a pretty fucked-up situation, but the next step was already decided.

This was an organization built on handling information, and as one of the top ten such groups on the continent, their protocols were thorough and precise.

“Contact headquarters immediately. Raise the branch’s security level to Stage 3. Recall all external agents and follow the standard procedures. We’ll adjust the rest as the situation develops.”

“Yes, understood.”

The man gave a respectful nod and turned to leave the room.

The woman, still frowning and stroking her chin, called him back.

“And compile a full report on all agents of Grade 2 or higher—their profiles and their recent activities.”

“...Their activities? You mean...?”

“Yes. There’ve been a few things bothering me for a while now... I think we’ve got a leak.”

“......”

“There’s no one I can trust more than you, Uncle Tomk. I’ll need you to handle this.”

The man nodded again and turned away.

As he stepped out of the dark room, a fleeting shadow crossed his eyes before vanishing.

* * *

The great city of Ormantis.

After changing course from Dwayne Castle in Kakun, Karl had ridden northwest for a solid fifteen days to get here.

“Damn, this place really is different.”

Karl led his horse with one hand, looking around at the bustling streets.

There were a lot of armed people in the crowd, but that made perfect sense considering this city’s nickname.

‘The City of Mercenaries, huh...’

This was where the headquarters of Lytan, the mercenary guild that dominated half of the western continent, was located.

No wonder there were so many mercenaries walking the streets.

‘Just because they put Lytan’s HQ here, the whole place got flipped upside down. Ten years ago, this city didn’t have anything special going for it.’

Back when he played as a marksman, Ormantis had been nothing like this.

Fewer people, fewer buildings—a much quieter place overall.

But it seemed everything had changed once Lytan moved in.

Naturally.

Where mercenaries gathered, clients looking to hire them would follow.

And if it was a major HQ and not some backwater branch, the flood of people was going to be insane.

Not counting the clients, the sheer number of mercenaries who lived here was massive, not to mention the newcomers trying to join, and everything else...

Some merchant groups had probably set up shop here permanently just for convenience. What more needed to be said?

‘Even the quality of their gear’s different.’

Weren’t rural mercenaries supposed to barely have a blade to their name, let alone armor?

Here, most mercenaries walking the streets were geared up with proper weapons and armor.

Some of them looked like they were way above average, even for mercs.

Karl glanced at them as he walked, but didn’t slow down.

He hadn’t come to this city for anything related to mercenaries.

“Hm...”

Eventually, he arrived at a tavern and stared up at the sign.

“Good, the place hasn’t shut down.”

Herlando.

One of the top ten largest information guilds on the entire continent.

One of their branches was located in this city.

Back when he ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) played as a marksman—ten years ago now—he figured the place might’ve closed by now, but it looked like it was still standing just fine.

Karl pushed open the door and stepped inside.

An old man was humming to himself, polishing a glass behind the counter.

No one else was in sight.

The place was tucked away enough, and it wasn’t exactly a busy time for taverns right now either.

The old man glanced at Karl and spoke.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“Kid, you here to get drunk in the middle of the day? By yourself, even?”

“......”

Karl said nothing as he walked up to the old man, pulling out a silver coin and a copper coin from his coat.

Then, masking his uncertainty, he spoke with a blank expression.

“One glass of Belisarong. If you don’t have it, just bring me the cheapest rum you’ve got.”

“......”

The old man paused for a moment at that order, staring quietly at Karl.

His strange expression made Karl wonder if he’d screwed up.

‘I swear this was the right passphrase... did they change it?’

It had been ten years since he’d last used this contact code, so honestly, it would’ve been more surprising if it hadn’t changed.

But then, the old man nodded, set down the glass he was cleaning, and spoke.

“Come with me.”

Following the old man, Karl was led into a room that looked like a liquor storage.

The old man pushed aside a barrel in the corner, revealing a hidden passage leading underground.

“Head in first. Don’t turn anywhere—just walk straight through.”

Karl nodded and did as told.

The old man followed close behind, lighting the dark passage with a Light spell.

Karl didn’t even flinch—he’d known the man was a mage since he walked in.

Eventually, they reached a small room at the end of the passage. Inside, there was only a simple table and two chairs.

“Wait here for a bit.”

The old man left, closing the door behind him, leaving Karl alone.

Karl sat down and fidgeted with his hands.

‘Something feels off...’

He didn’t know how long he waited.

But then, footsteps grew louder, closer, and the door finally opened. Four people walked in.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

The voice came from the woman leading the group.

They were all wearing masks, so he couldn’t see their faces.

Karl, the only one with his face exposed, couldn’t help but feel like he was getting the short end of the stick.

Not that he’d have even been let in if he’d shown up in a mask.

[Lv.21]

[Branch Manager of Herlando]

[Lv.31]

[Herlando Combatant]

[Lv.33]

[Herlando Combatant]

[Lv.30]

[Herlando Combatant]

Karl quickly scanned them with his newly unlocked system function, then got straight to the point.

“I’m here to place a request.”

Honestly, what else would someone come to an information guild for, if not to buy information? It didn’t even need saying.

The woman took the seat across from him.

Of the other three, one stood next to her like a bodyguard, while the other two flanked Karl from behind.

She stared at him in silence for a moment before speaking again.

“What kind of request do you have?”

“I’m looking for someone. I only know their name, surname, and that they’re a mage. Can you find someone with just that?”

“......”

She didn’t say anything for a while.

He couldn’t see her face behind the mask, but she was probably giving him a look like, Seriously, that’s all you’ve got?

“...I can’t guarantee results, but we can at least start the search.”

“Oh, really?”

“But that’s not the important issue right now.”

Clang!

A pair of blades suddenly at his throat.

Karl glanced down at them, then looked at the woman.

“What’s this supposed to be?”

Her voice had turned cold.

“I should be asking you. Who the hell are you, coming in here using a passphrase we shut down ages ago?”

“......”

Karl felt a bit embarrassed.

‘Shit, so it was outdated.’

Honestly, he’d half-expected this.

Herlando wasn’t some ragtag gang of street informants. They didn’t take jobs from just anyone.

Their usual clientele were nobles or rich bastards with plenty of coin to throw around.

Even if he had used the right passphrase, without solid credentials, Karl wouldn’t have gotten jack shit from them.

Credentials. Solid proof of identity.

Karl happened to have exactly that.

The truth was, he figured as long as he got inside, he could deal with it somehow.

“Alright, can you take those swords off me?”

“......”

“There’s a reason I used that old passphrase. And I can prove who I am, right now.”

Karl reached into his inventory to pull out his Altius ID, but—

Step, step...

Footsteps, again.

Click!

The door swung open.

A middle-aged man stepped inside.

The woman turned, clearly thrown off.

“Wait, why are you coming in—”

Shing!

Like a bolt of lightning, the man drew his sword and sliced the throat of the bodyguard standing beside her.

“......!!”

The two holding blades to Karl’s neck panicked, ready to lunge, but the man’s sword was already at the woman’s throat.

She and the others froze, staring at him in shock.

Karl blinked, looking around the sudden chaos.

What the hell is going on now?