The room was, large enough to allow the dozen adventurers to stand comfortably around the table in the centre, which was also suitably large. The room was cool, the stone around them doing little to warm the group, though the tiny crystals set within the wall provided plenty of light.

The Vice Master stood at the head of the table, still adorned in his breast plate. The other adventurers also wore parts of their armour, carrying their weapons at their side, save for a half elf, who, like his two companions, wore no armour, though they carried their weapons proudly.

“Thank you again for answering my summons,” Paul began, nodding his head to the adventurers in gratitude. “The Adventurer’s Guild appreciates your rapid response.”

“As long as we’re paid well,” one of the adventurer’s replied, a young devilkin woman, a companion to another devilkin who shot her a look. The young woman smiled innocently, a charming smile which lightened the mood in the air.

Paul tapped the four different outposts on the map. “It is fortunate we had created such outposts previously, two years prior. I will send the Red Scarves deal with the outpost to the south east, for it is the which requires the least support.”

“Understood,” Red Neck Stephen replied, not arguing the point, and no one else dared to suggest anything by Paul’s words.

“The Grave Sword will take the outpost to the north, the Firewalkers to the south east, and finally, Fate’s Golden will take the outpost to the south west.” Paul tapped each of the outposts on the large map of Red Oak and its surrounding area.

“Which is the most difficult outpost?” a Grave Sword asked.

“The south western outpost,” Paul replied.

“We should take it,” the Grave Sword said, their eyes falling onto Adam and the Iyrmen. “No disrespect to you Iyrmen, but we have more experience.”

Adam eyed up the Aldishman, an older man, in his late forties or so, with pale skin, black hair and black eyes, which was so common in the north. He wore a breast plate made of darker steel, and he carried on his back a large blade made of jagite. Not the same kind of jagite Adam had bought previously, but true jagite.

“I respect your advice, but may I ask how large is your group?”

“We are six total,” the Grave Sword replied. “We will be supported by several other adventuring parties, each also at bronze rank, like yourself.”

“We number almost forty, with the weakest of us being Experts,” Adam replied. “Well, technically the weakest of us are direwolves, but they don’t count. No, actually, the weakest of us are elks, magical steeds, but you know what I mean.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty one, just like my companions around me,” Adam said, motioning his head to Jurot and Kitool.

“I understand why the Iyrmen are here, but why do you stand among us?”

“I’m the leader of Fate’s Golden.”

“You?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“What?”

“A boy like you?”

“Yeah, a boy like me.” Adam returned a smile towards the older man, his neck pulsing as he did.

“Adam and his companions are dependable,” Paul stated.

“I have no doubt the Iyrmen are dependable, but have you ever taken part of an outbreak?” The northerner stared at the young man before him, who was as new as the dawn.

“Funny you should mention that, considering the outpost the Vice Master wants us to commandeer is the very same we built,” Adam replied.

“An outpost which was led by another,” Paul informed the Grave Sword. “However, Adam and his companions completed the request with a great performance.”

“I do recall allowing you to pay someone else more when we did most of the work,” Adam replied, standing up a little taller, his eyes narrowing slightly as he continued to smile.

“The Adventurer’s Guild places great trust in Adam,” the Vice Master stated, noting the way Adam was beginning to smile. ‘Please, Adam.’

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“You are rather young,” one of the Red Scarves stated, crossing his arms as he glanced between the trio. “It is no offence to you, young man, but if you fail, we will also be effected by the rumours.”

“Adam is strong,” Jurot finally said when Adam let out a sigh, which meant he was ready to blow.

“Yeah, I got third in the Noonval Tournament,” Adam said.

“Third?” the young devilkin woman asked, before her eyes soaked in the sight of the Iyrmen around Adam. “I thought I recognised those faces! Didn’t you place first, and didn’t you place second?”

“Yes,” Jurot replied, while Kitool bowed her head.

“I thought another Iyrmen had taken third?”

“I came third in the other segment,” Adam stated.

The devilkin woman squinted at Adam. “You’re Purple Adam?”

Adam let out a sigh, frowning slightly. “Yeah. That’s me.” ‘Why couldn’t I get a cool nickname?’

“Third place is impressive, but you’re still third among cubs,” the Grave Sword said.

“I was politely asked not to beat Sir Roseia and Sir Karra, so I surrendered against them,” Adam replied, recalling how annoying the politics had been.

Paul cleared his throat. “We have heard news the outbreak will be full of birdcats, duabears, and flame wolves. There are rumours of a tyrantboar sighting, so please take care.”

“A tyrantboar?” Jurot asked, perking up.

‘That sounds cool,’ Adam thought. “How powerful is a tyrantboar?”

“I would be able to face it alone, but others may not,” Jurot replied.

“That strong?” Adam whistled, raising his brows in shock. “I guess we gotta be careful then.”

Paul’s eyes fell to Adam, hoping the young man was going to be careful even without the news of the tyrantboar. “It is no ordinary tyrantboar, for it’s grown into something beyond a typical tyrantboar. Even I couldn’t deal with it alone.”

Adam whistled, throwing a look to Jurot. “You want to take it on together?”

“Okay.”

“You would deny an Iyrman the right for a good story?” the Grave Sword asked. “If he has no respect for you, you may join our group instead.”

Adam’s brow pulsed, his eyes snapping to the older Aldishman. “There’s nothing wrong with brothers sharing in their glory.”

“Brothers?”

“A tyrantboar would probably be a nice souvenir to bring back to the Iyr,” Adam said. “Right, I should probably go shopping for some gifts too.”

“How can you talk about shopping when we’re having an important discussion?”

“With my mouth?”

“Are you a fool?”

“Yes,” Adam replied, letting out a soft chuckle, before glancing to his side to see his brother nodding his head. “Oi.”

The Grave Sword turned to face Paul, who was sighing, rubbing his head. He had forgotten how troublesome Adam was, even if he did good work.

“Haven’t I matured, Vice Master?” Adam asked, smiling towards the Vice Master. “If it had been a younger me, I would have said so much more to aggravate the elder and coax him into a fight, but I decided against doing it. Though, I wonder if you would have stepped up if I had started to defend myself against the old man?”

“They do not understand how valuable you are.”

“If I’m valuable, then why don’t you speak up?” Adam asked, his smile growing wider. “Even I have my limits, you know? Just because I’ve grown, I do spend most of my time with Iyrmen, and I’m more than happy to draw my axe and shield to show some no good punks what’s what.”

“If you wish to fight, I would be eager to play,” the older Aldishman said, his lips showing the hint of a smile.

“What do you think, Jurot?” Adam asked, eyeing up the Aldishman. “Think I could take him?”

“You would defeat anyone within this room, six to four,” Jurot replied, crossing his arms. ‘I wish to fight too.’

“You must not know who I am for you to say that,” the Grave Sword said.

“Eddard Black Blood, son of Edward Grave Sword,” Kitool said, finally speaking up. “You slew many drakes in North Aldland. You clashed with Black Blade a few years ago, though were unable to claim the title.”

‘Black Blade, eh?’ Adam thought. ‘So is this guy on the same level as the old man?’

“At least one of you knows who I am,” Eddard said.

“I agree with Jurot,” Kitool said. “Even the Vice Master would find Adam troublesome.”

Paul straightened up, narrowing his eyes at the young Iyrman. He raised a brow towards the Iyrmen, who both nodded in response. “Adam, are you free for a bout today?”

“Yeah, but I wish you would have asked me yesterday,” Adam replied. “I had two crits in my back pocket.”

“Crits?”

“Nothing. Anyway, what do you need?”

“I would like to assess you to rank up,” Paul replied. “If you are that strong, you will need the appropriate ranking.”

“Aren’t I already going to rank up once I’m done with the quest?”

“Depending on the results of the test, you may receive additional stamps.”

“Ah? What about Jurot and the others?” Adam asked.

“What about Jurot and the others?”

“Well… I’d rather just stay the same rank as them. Anyway, it’s not like I’m strong because I’m strong, I just can fight in a way that allows me to punch above my weight. Without this axe of mine, I’d probably lose against you.”

“Would you be willing to fight Braun?” Paul asked. “It would be off the record.”

‘Wouldn’t that give me a lot of XP?’ “Sure.”

“Would it not be best for him to face me?” Eddard asked. “It would allow us to deal with our issues.”

“No killing, right?” Adam asked.

“I wouldn’t dare to kill within the domain of the guild.”

“Oh? What about outside?”

“I’m from the north, boy,” Eddard replied, his eyes growing darker.

“I’ve heard only good things about the north from my brother,” Adam replied, bowing his head lightly.

“Once the bout ends there will be no issues,” Eddard replied, almost instantly calm again.

“I’m down to fight you, but what about betting on it?”

“What is the bet?”

“One hundred gold?”

“What of your axe and my blade?”

“What’s your blade?”

“Greater Enhanced.”

“Oh yeah? What does it do?”

“What does your axe do?”

“It can smite, and more,” Adam replied.

“My blade strikes harder than most,” Eddard replied.

“Hmmm…” Adam thought for a long moment. “It’s a bit awkward if we bet our weapons, since the entire reason we’re here is to help Red Oak out. How are you going to do that without your trusty weapon?”

“You’re wiser than you look.”

“Plus, what am I going to do with a greatsword?” Adam asked. “I’m a nephew of the Rot family, don’t you know?”

‘Rot?’ Eddard thought.