The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the Adventurer's Guild, a towering structure that lood over the bustling streets.
Unlike the polished halls of the nobility, the guild was built for function rather than grandeur.
Strong stone walls reinforced its exterior, and large wooden beams frad the entrance.
A massive iron sign hung above the double doors, marked with a symbol of crossed swords and a shield, weathered by ti but still standing strong.
Elysia turned to Bel and Crest, her expression sharp but amused.
"Listen up, boys. From here on, you're not in noble territory anymore. The guild has its own rules, and let tell you, they aren't kind to the weak. If you're expecting special treatnt because of your upbringing," she gave Crest a pointed look. "you're going to be disappointed."
Bel simply nodded, unfazed. Crest tensed but remained silent.
Elysia smirked.
"Good. Now, let's get you two signed up."
She pushed open the doors, and the sll of sweat, ale, and tal greeted them instantly. The guild was a chaotic mix of voices and clinking mugs, laughter and heated discussions filling the air.
Groups of adventurers gathered at round wooden tables, so deep in conversation over maps, others arm-wrestling or just laughing. A massive board at the far end of the hall was filled with parchnt, likely quest postings.
The guild was a lting pot of races. Humans made up the majority, but there were plenty of dwarves drinking in the corners, a few elves dressed in lighter gear discussing quietly among themselves, and even a towering beastkin leaning lazily against a post.
A few adventurers paused their conversations to glance at the newcors, eyes scanning them with vague curiosity.
Bel could feel it. The weight of their stares. It was his presence again. He clenched his jaw, hoping to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Elysia strode forward confidently, leading them past the crowd until they reached a wooden counter near the back. Behind it sat a woman with short silver hair, her piercing green eyes lazily scanning over paperwork. She wore a simple tunic, her sleeves rolled up, revealing toned arms.
Despite her casual posture, there was an unmistakable sharpness to her gaze, soone who had seen and handled more than just paperwork.
Elysia leaned against the counter, flashing a grin.
"Riona, it's been a while."
The woman, Riona, glanced up, unimpressed.
"Elysia," she drawled. "You finally back to do so actual work?"
Elysia laughed.
"Nah, just babysitting. Got two new recruits here for registration." She gestured to Bel and Crest. "Get them signed up."
Riona sighed, setting her quill aside.
"Great. More reckless kids looking to make a na for themselves." She eyed the two carefully before grabbing a pair of docunts. "Nas?"
As she went through the registration process, Bel's attention drifted. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the various adventurers. He noticed that while most had returned to their business, a few still cast lingering glances his way.
It wasn't open hostility, but it was clear, they sensed sothing off about him.
He exhaled quietly. Hopefully, things would stay peaceful.
"Just so we're clear," Crest's voice snapped him back to the present. "I'm only here now because my father insisted."
Bel turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
Crest's expression was unreadable, but his voice was firm.
"Since it seems like my future is being decided alongside yours, I only ask one thing: stay out of my way. Let's not pretend we're allies."
For a mont, Bel simply observed him. Then, slowly, a smirk spread across his lips.
"Finally," he said, his voice amused. "We're speaking the sa language."
Riona leaned forward, sliding a few sheets of parchnt toward them.
"The last step in your registration is completing an E-rank quest," she explained. "Once you succeed, you'll receive your official adventurer card, placing you in the Tin rank, the lowest."
Bel crossed his arms, listening. Straightforward enough.
"Advancing through the ranks requires completing various types of quests," she continued. "Gathering materials, delivering items, escort missions... and of course, extermination." She t their gazes, her expression sharpening slightly. "Execution quests are mandatory. If you can't handle taking a life, you have no place here."
She flipped over three quest sheets, each detailing weak monsters roaming the outskirts, goblins, dire rats, and so type of mutated wolves.
"You can pick one. Once the job is done, you'll officially be registered." Then, as if rembering sothing, she turned to Elysia. "Naturally, you're forbidden from interfering."
Elysia waved a dismissive hand.
"I know, I know. But trust , I won't need to."
Bel leaned forward, scanning the three quests. Before he could decide, Crest swiftly grabbed one.
"I'm taking this one," he declared, showing the quest about mutated wolves.
Bel arched an eyebrow, watching as Crest held onto the parchnt like a treasure. He didn't even check the details, he just picked and took it.
Riona raised an eyebrow.
"Confident, are we?"
Elysia chuckled.
"Not bad, Crest. Finally taking so initiative."
His gaze drifted back to the remaining options. Goblins or rats, already less seducing. His fingers tapped the parchnt lightly, considering it. If he had to waste ti proving himself, he might as well pick sothing worth his effort.
He tapped the papers with his fingers before looking at Riona.
"Can I take both?"
A brief silence followed.
Riona blinked. Elysia tilted her head. Even Crest glanced at him, half-annoyed, half-curious.
"Both?" Riona repeated, as if checking she'd heard correctly. "You're not even an adventurer yet."
Bel shrugged. "
You said these were easy, right? If they're as simple as you make them sound, I don't want to get bored. Might as well make the most of my ti."
Riona sighed, rubbing her temples.
"You're not the first to act tough, you know. Overconfidence gets people killed."
Elysia smirked.
"Gotta say, I admire the enthusiasm. But rules are rules. You're still a rookie, an unregistered one at that. You have to start from scratch."
Riona nodded.
"Exactly. You'll follow protocol. One quest. Complete it, then we talk about multiple assignnts."
Bel exhaled through his nose, thinking. The whole process felt like a waste of ti, but if that's what it took to get through this quickly, fine. He reached out and took one quest.
"This one."
Riona accepted it with a nod.
"Ah? A fan favorite."
Once their target confird, Bel and Crest split up, each heading toward their respective locations.
Crest made his way to Grimclaw Ridge, a rocky outcrop rumored to be infested with mutated wolves, while Bel set off toward South, in a remote village nestled near the base of the Blackthorn Mountains.
His mission? Goblin extermination.
Goblins weren't just weak little pests like so liked to believe. They were demons in the shape of wretched, green-skinned creatures, intelligent enough to raid, ambush, and worst of all, breed like insects.
Everyone knew the horror stories. Farrs disappearing overnight, travelers being found mutilated in the woods, entire villages going silent, only for a goblin nest to be discovered weeks later, filled with human remains. And for the unfortunate souls they didn't kill right away...
Yeah. Bel didn't need to think too much about it.
They weren't just monsters. They were a disease, one that needed to be eradicated at its roots.
He folded the parchnt with the quest details and slipped it into his pocket. This wasn't like hunting wild beasts. Goblins weren't any other creature. They were demons, with purple blood.
Which made them perfect prey.
Bel's golden eyes flickered. Goblins were weak, but weak enemies that ca in numbers ant danger for so, but for Bel it ant satisfying farming. If they had a nest, he could rake in a ridiculous amount of experience in one go.
A massacre was long overdue.
And judging by the reports, the village was dealing with more than just a small infestation. Villagers had been disappearing for weeks. Tracks leading into the woods had been found, but no bodies. A pattern every so people knew well.
This wasn't just a few stray goblins, this was a den.
A perfect hunting ground, and as big as it was, it could only had one consequence: the desperate need of help, in the form of multiple requests.
Bel wasn't the only one on his way to South Hollow.
At the sa ti, a small group of young adventurers gathered at the entrance of the forest, their hands gripping their weapons with a mix of excitent and nervous energy.
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