Hushed whispers of last night's incident swirl throughout the guild.
“I heard the inquisitors raided the black market last night.”
“Apparently, the former priestess of the Crystal Tear order was present.”
“Rough morning, huh?”
Mina looks frazzled, with bags under her eyes, trying to stifle a yawn.
“Good morning Eris…” she said sleepily.
Eris places a gold coin on the counter.
“Thanks for always helping me,” she whispers. “This is for you.”
“...”
“This is too much.”
“Keep it,” Eris hissed. “I’m skipping town.
“..!”
“What why? Where are you going?!”
Eris shakes her head sadly.
“I may or may not have gotten into some trouble…”
Mina sighs.
“How can I help?”
“If a priest comes by, can you vouch for me that I’ve been training all night in the guild?”
Mina scratches her head thoughtfully.
“Alright.”
She paused.
“But please do tell.”
“I visited the black market,” she whispered. “I think a priest saw me on the roof of a nearby building.”
“Oh then you are fine. It is an unwritten rule, but adventurers actually frequent the black market.”
In the city of Wesclim, some goods are extremely hard to come by. Some professions require rare materials or monsters to utilize effectively.
“The mercenary guild also frequently works with the black market,” Mina explained. “We, the guild, made an agreement to not intrude on each other’s business.”
“Oh..”
“The church frowns upon the illegal activities but for many adventurers, it is a necessary part of their jobs. It is kind of like an open secret.”
Eris thanked her and left for the training grounds.
“Shall we get started?” said Erik, as he took a sip of his tea. “Now show me what you’ve learned.”
“…”
“Use your sword as an extension of your body. Embody your will into your blade, willing it cut through anything.”
He clenched his teeth, sweat dripping in concentration, then sliced a boulder clean in half.
“Until you get to at least this level, I can’t consider you as a true swordsman.”
They repeatedly met up for practice everyday.
The day of the adventurer’s test is fast approaching.
“Good luck on your test!” Mina waved enthusiastically.
“I am your test proctor. Today we will be subjugating a small goblin settlement to the west of the city. Although they are weak monsters, they are intelligent, capable of working together, using basic tools, and setting traps. Be careful as I won’t step in unless there is a life and death situation.”
He nods grimly.
“Yes you over there? Yes I am an inquisitor. We will be staying in the city for a few more days as an emergency proctor.”
Murmurs spread throughout the group.
Recently after the last major battle against the demon king, there has been an influx of immigrants who want to become adventurers looking to make a living.
“This will also teach teamwork and solidarity with other future adventurers. I wish you all luck.”
Most of the aspiring adventurers are a ragtag group of middle aged men.
Although their equipment is worn and low quality, they have a hopeful look in their eyes, eager to make a living.
“Anyone who lacks a weapon, please take a spear from the barrel over here. You will be expected to return them afterwards. The guild lacks the funds to provide weapons for every adventurer. Now up and at it.”
They scramble for weapons, soon beginning their march to the Calarin Forest.
Nobody questioned why Eris, a child, is joining them. There are also many child orphans of war looking for work, although most work odd jobs like delivering letters and gathering herbs.
“I didn’t know you would be joining us,” said Eris.
“The guild sent me as a supervisor and emergency healer. Wounds are pretty much expected, and I can support you guys with my skills,” explained Mina. “Recently, there are increased reports of monster attacks. I would be lying if I said I was not worried…”
She trailed off.
All things considered, the expedition went pretty smoothly.
With her hawk eyes ability, Eris easily spotted the makeshift traps, earning her murmurs of approval among the group.
The night is approaching, staining the sky a deep, red-orange hue, as if it is warning of what’s to come.
“Halt,” the inquisitor said as he pointed to the ground. “Scratch marks, and goblin tracks. We are getting close, ready for your weapons.”
The group noticeably tenses up, readying their swords and spears.
Eris grasps her pommel, ready to draw her rapier at a moment's notice.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Slowly, they approached the settlement.
A small clearing, with a couple of huts, surrounded by trees.
“Huh, no goblins here.”
It was deadly silent.
“Wait…. Above!”
It was an ambush.
Goblins appear to fly out of the trees, wielding small clubs and daggers.
This is the first time Eris met a goblin.
Pale green, with jaundiced eyes, covered by a small, stained cloth.
Long ears and a pointed nose, smudged with dirt, they appear in droves.
“Heheheh kikiki.”
Eris drew her rapier, and held her dagger in a reverse grip, readying herself.
Unfortunately, it was the first time most of the group were wielding a weapon.
Cowering, a man appears to wet himself, paralyzed with fear.
A couple worked up the courage to point their blades and spears at the goblins, but they were swinging them wildly at the goblins.
Only the inquisitor, Eris, and Mina are actually putting in work.
“May the goddess bless this blade.”
His sword glows a dim white light, slicing cleanly through a goblin.
Meanwhile, Mina is bringing back the others, treating their wounds and applying hexes on the goblins.
“Here take this,” said Eris, procuring poultices and tossing them to Mina.
“Thank you!”
She dashes towards the goblins, hopping and weaving amongst the trees, piercing the goblins, and stabbing the dagger into their shoulders.
Eris recalled the words from her training.
“The sword is an extension of your body.”
Using aura, she stimulates her nervous system, willing it to increase her reaction speed.
[Life drain]
[You have recovered some stamina!]
[You have recovered some stamina!]
[You have recovered some stamina!]
The burning sensation in her muscles momentarily falters, and she continues to slay goblins.
[Your level has increased to 10. New skill(s) have been obtained]
Race: Progenitor Shapeshifter
Title: The Enforcer
LVL: 10
HP: 525
MP: 170
ATK: 35
DEX: 32
[Berserk lvl 1]
Gain a 50% boost to stamina and attack power. Sacrifices half of your maximum MP. Exhaustion status effect for 12 hours after usage.
Exhaustion inflicts a stamina multiplier of 0.75
Duration: 3 minutes
Cooldown: 24 hours
The beast feasting on a bloody corpse… It seems to look up, with a piercing, golden gaze.
Frightened, I quickly scramble away - Unknown
“Activate [Beserk].”
Power surges through her body.
Her MP drops sharply, near zero, just outside of the backlash zone.
After a few minutes, all the goblins have been slain.
Eris collapsed in a heap.
She shut her eyes.
“Our hero!”
“Let the child sleep, she has done enough.”
“You’ve passed the test.”
A blustery wind whistles between the trees.
She could taste blood on her lips.
[The penalty is mild]
When she opened her eyes, she looked down.
“gur -guk?”
Pale green limbs.
Goblin children are playing in the village.
Some are working to build huts.
A dandily dressed demon walked into the village.
“I… Bless you with my presence.”
He disappears and appears behind the village chief, placing his hand on his head.
The chief collapses.
“Listen here, pitiful goblins. This place will be a river of blood. A group of aspiring adventurers will arrive in a few hours. I will help you prepare an ambush, then I will be off.”
He gazes over the group of goblins, wings flapping in the air.
Everyone is silent.
And everyone immediately got to work, some evacuating, some creating crude weapons.
Suddenly, the scene shifts.
She hears the final death throes of the goblins.
Then, she locks eyes with herself.
Panting, crazed and covered in blood, she dashes towards her.
She did not know when it happened, but a sharp pain stabbed her chest… Literally.
She touches her abdomen, feeling the sticky, red liquid.
‘I’m dying,’ she thought. ‘Is this how dying feels?’
The world fades to black.
[Penalty has ended. Returning the first person point of view]
[Basic trap setting obtained!]
She gasps for air.
“Where am I?”
The door creaks open.
She looks down, and her wounds are dressed.
Her belongings lie on a bed stand next to her.
“You have been out for 2 days, Eris. You got me worried,” chastised Mina. “This is the room behind the adventurers guild, it’s common for guild workers to live at the guild.”
Eris glances around.
There is a sleeping bag on the floor.
“Thanks for letting me stay in your room and treating me,” she said apologetically.
“By the way, here is some porridge. You’ve passed the test, here is your license!!”
She looked at the card.
E rank.
“Now eat up. By the way, you look an awful lot like someone I knew back when I was living in a church-run orphanage…” she trailed off. “Anyhow, congratulations!!”
She quickly exited the room.
Eris unwrapped her bandages.
‘They healed pretty well,’ she thought. ‘Just a few light pink scars.’
She quickly consumed the porridge, put on her equipment, and left.
Eris greeted Erik, and left for the blacksmith.
“Yer late!” exclaimed Baern. “I’ve heard how you’ve rescued the newbies. Great job on your first group subjugation, ‘ere is your armor request.”
[Baern’s Light Armor]
Crafted with aged leather from bovine beasts and lined with lesser direwolf furs, this is perfect armor for a novice adventurer. Crafted with dedication, the breath of the blacksmith is imbued in the armor, boosting the effects.
+15 defense
+15 dexterity
+15% blunt damage resistance
+5% stealth in dark environments
Weight reduction rune applied
Engraved
[Baern’s Arm Guards]
Crafted with high quality fabrics, it is tough yet comfortable to wear.
+5 defense
+5 dexterity
Less likely to be disarmed
Engraved
[Baern’s Leather Sheath]
Crafted with shadow bat leather, it’s exceptionally flexible.
+5 defense
+10 dexterity
+10% stealth in caves
+15% draw speed
Quick draw rune applied
Engraved
Baern wipes his nose.
“A little something extra for you,” he winked. “I already know you’ll be ya legend.”
“...”
“Thank you!”
She tried on the armor and equipped the sheath.
‘Pretty light,” Eris commented.
She takes a few steps, then tries to run in them.
“and comfortable!”
“Now shoo, I need to concentrate on blacksmithing,” he said as he pulled down his goggles. “Good luck out there!”
She decided to go back into the forest.
It took almost half the day, but she reached where the goblin settlement was originally.
The corpses are near dry, reeking of decay.
“May the goddess have mercy on your souls.”
It’s hard to kill, especially when you know that aside from their appearance, they live just like the rest of us.
‘Why are they considered monsters? Is it because we don’t speak the same language? Are WE the real monsters…??’
Long ago, it was said that the goddess created everything.
She loved all her creations, even the goblins.
The bodies are cold.
Eris closed the eyes of the dead goblins, clasping her hands together in prayer, shutting her eyes tight.
It’s peaceful.
She felt calm.
After a moment, she began to bury the bodies.
By the time she is done, she’s exhausted.
The smell of fresh dirt permeates her nostrils.
[Empathy obtained!]
Your perception of people in danger or distress sharpens. You feel a strong attraction to assist.
Long ago, our ancestors, driven by a sense of kinship, developed the ability to sense the suffering of others nearby. The bond now stirs within you,
Eris wipes her brow, and leaves for the city.
Faint rays of sunlight began to peek over the distant mountains, casting a faint, golden glow on the landscape.
She breaks into a brisk jog.
“Halt, identity?”
She presents her adventurers card.
“Clear.”
The guild just opened their doors for the day, with the adventurers slowly trickling inside.
Some could be seen stretching.
‘I suppose I can take my first request as an official adventurer.’
She glanced at the board.
[Gather herbs | Difficulty : F rank]
5 copper coins (increases depending on what you gather)
[Investigation Difficulty | rank : C rank]
Investigate the source of the increased monster activity
5 silver coins
Hazard pay possible
[Party request | Difficulty rank : E rank]
Looking for a healer class for our new party “Midnight Maulers”
Contact the guild receptionist for more information
[Porter request | Difficulty rank : ? ]
Looking for a porter for our dungeon dive, meet us at the training grounds at 3pm!
Eris scans through the quests.
Adventurers could only take quests a rank higher than them if they have a higher rank accompanying them. For example, between an A rank and a C rank, they could take a B rank quest but not an A rank quest.
You need at least 5 completions of a quest above or equal to your rank to proceed to take the rank up test.
You have to be careful, deaths are common and they are almost never investigated.
“Looking for a vanguard for our dungeon dive! We pay based on contribution! At least E rank!!”
“Hello, I am a E rank spellsword known as Eris, may I join?”
“Really?? You would join us? Come to the training grounds and demonstrate your ability.”
He turns around and talks to his party members in hushed whispers.
“Sorry that I’m doubting you, but spellswords are quite rare, especially one of your age…”
“It’s okay, let’s go.”
‘Icicle blast.’
By encasing an orb of water in ice, then freezing it, the water would expand, increasing in volume and exploding.
The training dummy is encased in dozens of icicle shards.
Eris quickly unsheathed her sword, cleanly piercing the dummy in one fluid motion.
The party stood with their mouths agape.
“W- welcome to the team…”