Chirp Chirp Chirp
With the rising of the sun, the once silent streets were filled with a cacophony of noises from the busy crowd. The empty roads which seemed to be deserted were now bustling with life.
The first bell reverberated throughout the whole city and the bustling day became even livelier. People went out of their houses oer another and stall owners started to set up their merdise. It was the start of another day.
Knooock
"Grey, are you ready?" ［Yuna］
Apanying the knog on the wooden door was a familiar soft voiaturally, the voice came from Yuna whose room was just a few steps away.
"Just go ahead a first. I'll be there shortly." ［Grey］
"Okay～." ［Yuna］
As Yuna's voice faded away, the sound of light footsteps could be heard eg in the corridors just oher side of the door.
Grey oher hand tinued with what he was doing before Yuna came. He prepared everything in his "Iory" that could be sold, anizing the tents from least to most valuables, in hopes to get rid of the unems soon.
Soon after Grey finished his task, he walked outside his room and headed towards the dining hall, whilst humming happily. A single gnd one could easily tell he was in a happy mood. After all, today will be the day where Grey and Yuna will bee adventurers!
Excited at the thoughts of adventures, Grey hastily yet politely finished his breakfast, daydreaming of the adventures he will experieer finally being an adventurer. A profession he could only dream of in his past life.
Yuna, who was sitting in front of him giggled softly as she witnessed aed Grey humming happily as he ate his breakfast. It was an expression she only saw from time to time in the forest.
With breakfast finished, Yuna and Grey then headed to the Adventurer's Guild, and with the help of Helen's dire, they were able to arrive there without getting lost.
In parison to the buildings adjat to it, the guild building was one which could easily be described as "massive". It stood more than 8 meters tall and was easily lohan 30 meters. It was a building which imposed a sense of intimidation towards those who g it.
Not only Grey, even Yuna who wasn't as excited as Grey was amazed by the domineering aura of the establishment. It was one which truly symbolized the strength of adventurers.
The moment Grey and Yuered, they were greeted by all sorts of people. There were the stereotypical muscledheads, there were those with a body full of scar, those carrying staves, and even nky men which looked like they'll break at any moment.
On the sides, there were a number of ters which dealt with iations, dismantling transas, and various miseous jobs. One could evehe arguments between the adventurers and the clerks assigned in those ters.
On the bad, there was an exceedingly rge ter which could easily handle 5 people at the same time. It was where the people give and receive quests, the terpiece of the whole establishment, the reception.
"Good m, how may I help you?" ［Receptionist］
When it was Grey and Yuna's turn, a woman ie teens weled the two with a bright smile which screamed professionalism.
The woman easily caught Grey and Yuna's attention, not because of her charisma nor fair face, but because she was a therianthrope belonging to the fox tribe. It was the first time both of them had seen a beastkin so up close.
"Ah, ummm... We would like tister as adventurers." ［Grey］
When the receptionist heard Grey's words, she suddenly started sg the two with her eyes. She was staring so hard, it felt like a hole was b through their bodies.
"I... Is there a problem?" ［Grey］
"Ah, I apologize for my rudeness! I was just surprised by how young you two were... Well, I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, may be you two will bee the rising stars of the guild!" ［Receptionist］
With a bright professional smile, the receptionist quickly recovered from being flustered in just a fra of a sed, unlike Helen who easily became casual.
While the receptionist wasn't lying about being surprised by their age, the real reason she scrutihe two was because of their excellent looks. She had initially thought that the two were children of nobility, but without any proof, she quickly dismissed such thought.
"Since you're registering, please fill out this form and imprint your mana in this part. We'll firm the authenticity of the form using your mana with a magic tool ter. After that, there will be an examination. But before that, you will o pay a 50 kiel registratio's alright to not pay it immediately, we will just deduct it on the quest rewards you'll earn ter." ［Receptionist］
Having received both the instrus and the registration form from the receptionist, Grey and Yuna then filled it out with the information required such as name, age, sex, race, attribute, etc., there were also parts which was more about personal information but it tional to fill it in.
For the abilities, Grey and Yu it both bnk, wishing to reveal their abilities only in dire circumstances. After all, only fools would carelessly reveal their abilities,
Immediately after the two fihey paid a bronze for the registration fee and the receptionist brought their forms with her for verifiier, they were led by aaff member for their examination.
"Please wait for the examiner here," ［Staff］
Having pleted his task, the staff slightly bowed his head and headed back to his work area, leaving Grey and Yuna aloh one another.
"Ummm, Grey... are you nervous?" ［Yuna］
Yuna asked as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers. Even her ears were pointing downwards from ay.
"Hm? Not really. From what I know, the exam should only sist of a battle against summoned monsters. sidering this is a test for H-rank adventurers, we should easily be able to defeat them." ［Grey］
"Haah... I really envy your ess." ［Yuna］
"Hmm... If you're nervous, should I hold your hands?" ［Grey］
"hy all of the sudden?!" ［Yuna］
Hearing Grey's nont proposal, Yuna's face immediately turned red both from fusion and happiness. It portunity that only es on a blue moon.
While Grey, the one who offered the proposal, wasn't moved by the slightest. It probably wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he hasn't even realized what kind of proposal he just thoughtlessly said. After all, he was the type to say things before thinking.
"Well, I heard that holding hands make people calm down. So I thought it might help you out." ［Grey］
"Th... Then I'll take you up on your offer..." ［Yuna］
When Grey offered his hand, Yuna meekly pced hers on top of his and lightly held it, with their fingers interlog with one another.
As time passed, Yuna's grip became tighter by the sed. Her nervousness was now repced with a pure and i happiness, as a wish to hold Grey's hands even longer bloomed inside her heart.
A few mier, a burly aged man came trey and Yuna. His hair gray as ash and his eyes as sharp as a fal's, the man stood more than 2 meter tall, easily dwarfing everyone Grey had ever met.
??Appraisal?? ［Grey］
-----------------------------------
[Salferine]
[Name] Gaston
[Race] Human
[Sex] Male
[Age] 56
[Status] Healthy
[Mana Capacity] 772 [Mana Quality] C
[bat Power] 993 [Threat Level] C
[Attribute] Null [Magic Proficy] Intermediate (37%)
[Css] Swordsman [on Proficy] High (68%)
[Physical Enha] 70%
[Ability] Sharp Sense (2☆)
-----------------------------------
"So you're the ones applying today, huh?" ［Gaston］
With a deep and husky voice, Gastoed the Grey and Yuna as he scrutihem with his sharp eyes. Eyes which showed the experience behind his years.
Evehey were much strohan Gaston, Grey and Yuna still felt an aura of intimidation bearing upon them. It was intimidating enough to send cold sweat down their spines.
"Hahahaha! Despite looking so young, you surprisingly hold yround against my aura! You really 't judge a book by its cover, huh?!" ［Gaston］
As quickly as it bore down ohe aura of intimidation quickly dissipated as if it was here to begin with. It seemed like the examiner was testing whether Grey and Yuna had the guts to bee adventurers.
With the examiner's aura gone, Grey and Yuna quickly rexed their bodies and their heart rates returo normal. It was the first time the two had been intimidated so much despite having fought so many monsters.
"You two, follow me. Let's get your rank examined." ［Gaston］
Despite saying things so calmly and domineering, inside of Gaston's heart...
'I don't know why but I feel like I'll see something amazing today! I hope you two won't disappoint me!' ［Gaston］
... his blood was boiling in anticipation. He could barely trol his excitement that the moment he saw Grey and Yuna, he subsciously released his aura upon them.
While he was surprised by his own as, he was more surprised when he saw that the two which were subjected to his aura just simply flinched when they faced against it. It only meant ohing... they were at least as strong as him!
With his "Sharp Sense", Gaston had never been wrong wherusted his guts. It was something he had only felt a few years ago when another young man pletely turhe guild upside down.
Led by Gaston, the three shortly arrived at the examination room. It was a very spacious room which easily exceeds 5 meters i, and located he entrance was a rge metallic floating orb.
??Appraisal?? ［Grey］
-----------------------------------
[Device]
[Name] Summoning Orb
[Description]
An orb which summon a creature that will obey the will of the oivating it. The said creature only stay within a certain range from the devid its strength and form will depend on the mana stone used as a base and the amount of mana used.
-----------------------------------
"I'll quickly tell you the rules so listen carefully. Your exam is a practical one. I will summon a creature and you'll have to defeat it. Depending on how well you fare, you will immediately bee either an H, G, or F-rank adventurer. And if you fail, you'll only be an apprentice adventurer." ［Gaston］
Without useless nonsense, Gaston expihe details of the exams pin and simple. And although Grey and Yuna already khe tents of the exam, they still nodded quietly after Gaston's expnation.
But while listening to Gaston's expnation, Grey noticed something amiss from it. It had a little yet critical detail which was somewhat different from what he knows with his knowledge.
"Huh? You move up until F-rank if you pass? I thought you only get up to H-rank when passing?" ［Grey］
"That's how it was until a year ago. You see, the main headquarters issued a reform on the registration system, saying it's a waste of time for strong individuals to start from the lowest rank." ［Gaston］
"Then why didn't they do it for all the ranks?" ［Grey］
"It's to build up trust. Even if an adventurer has the strength of A-rank, if they 't even do an F-rank quest properly, then having them as an A-rank is pointless." ［Gaston］
"I see..." ［Grey］
Quite different from Grey's knowledge, adventurers could now rank up until F-rank during the examinations. It was a deade by the guild's executives after much sideration.
Although it was quite helpful towards their current situation, it made Grey realize something critical. It was that his "knowledge" only taihings from 3 years ago. Everything that had ged within those 3 years had already bee a mystery which was out of his scope.
"If you 't tinue, I will stop the exams, so don't be worried and fight until your heart's tent." ［Gaston］
Or so Gaston said, but deep inside his heart, he khat there was o say such words. After all, with their strength, they would probably decimate every single mohat will be summoned.
With eyes full of vigor aement, Gasted Grey and Yuna to quickly take up the exam. It was the moment where he would know if he'll experie another amazing spectacle,
"Yuna, do you want to go first?" ［Grey］
"Un." ［Yuna］
Forcefully quering her nervousness with a strong will, Yuna stepped ihe examination field. The moment she held her daggers, she had bee a pletely different person.
The aura Yuna excluded with her fighting spirit was something one could easily trample against those weaker than her. Like a sharp dagger, her eyes scrutihe room, preparing for the moment the enemy appears.
Despite being the examihe moment Gaston sensed Yuna's overwhelming mana, his body greatly tensed up. It was then he realized that his initial assessment was pletely off... she was much stronger!
Gurrruuukー
The first mohat was summoned was a goblin, but not even a sed had passed, Yuna immediately vanished into thin air. The moment she reappeared, she was already behind the goblin's back, and the goblin iion had already lost its head.
The goblin didn't even realize that its head was cut as its face didn't even tain any hints of surprise nor fear. In fact, the goblin's head was like a bnk vas, void of any expressions.
Buhhiiiii...kkkk
Following the goblin, a G-rank orc appeared as the oppo, and like the goblin before it, it also lost its life without even realizing it had been killed. Against Yuna, they were all insignifit.
For the F-ra, what came was an ogre, and needless to say, its head came flying to the air without even a fra of a sed. Its life was mercilessly ended by the daggers of Yuna, who now looked like a phantom whose sole purpose was to kill.
Seeing Yuna's feat, Gaston became speechless. As even though he's a k himself, it would still take him a couple of seds to defeat an F-rank ogre. Not to mention how fast Yuna was. His eyes couldn't even follow her!
"Did I pass?" ［Yuna］
As soon as the ogre fell to the floor, Yuna immediately released her fighting spirit aurned into the i-looking elven girl that she was. A transformation which didn't even take a fra of a sed.
"Ah, y... yes. You passed with flying colors." ［Gaston］
"Is it my turn?" ［Grey］
Quickly after Yuhe examination circle, Grey stepped in to take the exam. And soon enough, a goblin simir to the one Yuna fought was summoned by Gaston.
??Air Bullet?? ［Grey］
Unlike Yuna who went with dagger arts, Grey decided to go with magic spells for a ge of pace. He also didn't release much of his fighting spirit, knowing that his oppos will only be low-rank monsters.
At first Gaston was disappointed with Grey's ck of fighting spirit, but the moment Grey fired the spell, he was shocked to the point where his mouth became wide open.
Uher "Air Bullets" where a bullet of air be seen flying towards the enemies, Grey's spell didn't show Gaston anything. It was too fast faston to notice. In his eyes, a hole suddenly appeared in the goblin's head for no reason, causing it to lose its life and fall ft straight to the ground.
It was the same for the ord the ogre, they seemed to have just died suddenly with a hole in the middle of their heads. Although Gaston couldn't grasp how Grey made the "Air Bullet" shoot so fast, he was sure of ohing, that is... if ever he were to be hit by the same spell, he would iably die!
Even more than Yuna's strong fighting spirit, Gaston became more terrified and amazed at Grey's ess as if he was deg that no matter what stands in his way. he would be able to defeat it.
'Hahaha... Looks like uild is gettiars!' ［Gaston］
Although he khat he would not stand a ce agaiher Grey and Yuna, Gaston became excited at the thought of fighting the two. It was like a thirst inside of him which he wao quench but he couldn't.
"Looks like you really 't judge a book by its cover. Hahahaha!" ［Gaston］
Gaston ughed boisterously as he thahat his guts were right. He had bee too excited that he almost fot that he was still dug an examination.
Grey and Yuna oher hand were puzzled by the aged man's as. They were especially curious about the quote they had been hearing here and there.
"Oh, are you curious about uild's motto?" ［Gaston］
As if he was reading their minds, Gaston quickly expio the two about their guild's motto and how it came to be, a motto which apparently started to spread about 8 years ago.
From Gaston's words, it all started when one day, a young man who was barely 16 registered as an advehe other adventurers mocked and made fun of him. In respoo that, the young man challehe adventurers in a duel. And the result... Well, the young man one-sidedly crushed the adventurers.
Starting from that day onwards, the adventurers never id a hand on the newers, fearing the same tragedy might befall onto them. Today, the young man is still w as an adventurer, and an A-rank at that. He was an adventurer whose name spreads far and wide in the kingdom of Alfrione.
"But that happened a long time ago, now, some advery to stir up trouble with the newers whenever he's not around. But I think they'll meet their match sooner rather than ter."
Gaston ughed with a mischievous smile, clearly meaning that the ones who'll be those adventurers' match was Grey and Yuna who were standing quietly before him.
"Ah, right. I suppose I still haven't introduced myself, and I am the Galderia Branch Guildmaster! It's great to have you!" ［Gaston］
Although Grey had already expected that he was the guildmaster with his high stats, it was still a little shog when the fact had been revealed by the person iion, especially when it was done in a boisterous manner.
"I'm Grey. as you have seen, I specialize in wind magic." ［Grey］
"Yuna, I'm an assassin and my specialty is ice magic" ［Gaston］
Reciprog Gaston's greeting, Grey and Yuna shook Gaston's rge hands as they introduced themselves oer the other.
"Well then, Grey! Yuna! I wele you to the Adventurer's Guild!" ［Gaston］
CHAPTER 11 END
