Chapter 18 "Blade and Judgement"

"You want to join a party of high-ranking adventurers?" Elle asked, smiling at me from behind the counter. "Oh, I see. Trying to raise your rank now?"

"Well, it's not just that," I replied. "I need to save money. I might not be able to accept as many missions in the future."

Her smile faded into a curious expression. "What do you mean by that?"

I hesitated, feeling a bit shy. "I’m planning to enroll at the academy."

Elle blinked in surprise, taking a moment to process my words. "Enrolling at the academy? So, you're planning to change careers?" She smiled again, this time with approval. "That’s good to hear! Being an adventurer is dangerous work. If you graduate from the academy, you could land a nice office or administrative job."

I didn’t correct her assumption. It was easier to let her believe I wanted a safer career, so I just nodded.

"Do you have any suggestions for a party of high-ranking adventurers I can join? Or any difficult missions I could take part in?"

Elle tilted her head slightly. "Your friends are still on a mission, right? They should be back in about five to seven days. Don’t you want to wait for them?"

"No, I’ve been out of work for two weeks now. I can't afford to wait. Besides, after their mission, they’ll probably want to rest for a while before taking on anything new."

"That makes sense," she said thoughtfully, scanning the board behind her. "We’ve got a few missions available. There's a dungeon-clearing mission in Glawo Duchy, a delivery job for the Lerk Trading Company, but the highest-paying one right now is from a noble. It's an escort job, paying ten gold coins. His territory is on the eastern part of the continent, though—it’ll take more than a month to get there."

"I’ll take it," I said without hesitation.

Elle gave me a worried look. "Are you sure? Working for a noble can be... tricky. They’re not always easy to deal with."

"I’ll be fine," I reassured her. "As long as I keep my head down and stay out of his way, I don’t think there’ll be any problems."

She nodded but leaned in, her eyes serious. "Just remember, no matter what he does, as long as it doesn’t harm you, don’t challenge him. Stay out of his way."

"I will," I promised.

"Good," she sighed, seeming relieved. "Come back here around three o’clock. The Rank A adventurer who’ll lead the mission will be here by then. You’ll need to make a good impression on him. Even though I’m letting you join, he has the final say. If he doesn’t think you’ll be helpful, you won’t be allowed to come."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

Since my meeting wasn’t until three, I decided to visit the Brave Tavern. It had been two weeks since I last stopped by, having spent most of my time at the public library. The district had a different feel during the day—kids played in the streets, and there were fewer customers inside than at night.

As I entered, I immediately spotted Rina at the counter. She smiled brightly as soon as she saw me.

“Caelan! It’s been a while! What happened to you?” she asked. “We knew you didn’t join Jason and the others on their dungeon mission, so we expected you to visit alone, but you never showed up. We were really worried. Mr. Edmond even stopped Mayi and me from heading to the Willow Guild to ask about you!”

Her words warmed my heart, filling me with a sense of guilt. It felt good to know people cared.

“I’m sorry,” I said sincerely.

“It’s okay, but next time, don’t disappear like that! Let us know what you’re up to,” she scolded lightly.

“Okay, I promise,” I replied.

Rina joined me at a table, since the tavern was quiet. I wasn’t hungry, so I ordered some dessert, which Mayi brought over with a beaming smile.

“Caelan, I’m so glad you’re safe! We’ve missed you,” she said, blushing slightly.

“Mayi ’s been waiting for you every day,” Rina said teasingly.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered again. It felt like I’d been apologizing since I stepped into the tavern.

"It’s fine, we understand you’re busy," Rina said. “But what mission did you take? I thought you weren’t interested in raising your rank.”

“I haven’t taken a mission for two weeks,” I admitted. "I’ve been spending my time at the public library in the central district."

Both Rina and Mayi stared at me, wide-eyed. They clearly didn’t expect that answer.

"Someone told me I might find useful information there, but I didn’t find anything in the end," I explained.

"Oh, I see," Rina nodded. "So, what’s next?"

“I’ve decided to accept a long-term mission. If everything goes well, I’ll be gone for more than a month.”

"More than month ? What kind of mission takes that long?" Rina asked, concerned.

“It’s a high-ranking escort mission for a noble,” I said.

“An escort mission? But why? I thought you weren’t interested in raising your rank or doing dangerous jobs,” Mayi questioned.

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"I’m not. But... I need the money," I admitted. "I’m planning to enroll in the academy."

The two of them sat there, processing my words. Rina was the first to react, clapping her hands together. “That’s wonderful! It’s a great idea. Adventuring is dangerous, after all.”

Mayi nodded, looking relieved. "Yes! And if you graduate, you’ll have more options."

I let them believe that was the whole reason. Telling them the truth would only lead to questions they wouldn’t understand unless I explained my entire situation. We chatted for a while longer, catching up on the past two weeks.

“So, these new friends of yours, are they the ones who convinced you to go to the academy?” Rina asked.

“Sort of,” I replied vaguely.

“Bring them by sometime. I’d like to meet them,” she grinned. “New friends, new customers.”

I chuckled. “So that’s your plan.”

She laughed. "You got me."

As I glanced toward the counter, I realized I hadn’t seen Mr. Edmond since I arrived. "Where’s Mr. Edmond?" I asked.

"He’s dealing with some personal matters, but he’ll be back before nightfall," Mira said.

We continued talking until it was time for me to leave for my meeting at the guild.

I arrived at the Willow Guild a half-hour early and sat at the counter, watching the adventurers around me. Most were human, with only a few elves and dwarves scattered among them.

As I waited, a tall man entered the guild. His wavy, shoulder-length dark hair framed a sharp face, and his piercing eyes held the weight of secrets. A well-groomed beard and faint scars hinted at a life of hardship, while his calm confidence was quietly intimidating.

His outfit blended practicality and artistry—a tunic tucked into fitted pants, a leather belt with pouches and straps, and a cape draped over one shoulder. A massive sword was strapped to his back. His very presence seemed to shrink the room, and people instinctively moved aside as he passed.

He approached Elle, spoke briefly, and then they both looked in my direction. Elle gestured for me to join them.

"Caelan, this is the man I mentioned. He’ll be leading the escort mission. His name is Lucan, a rank-A adventurer."

I stood up and greeted him. “Nice to meet you. I’m Caelan.”

He looked me up and down, scrutinizing me with a hard gaze. “You’ve only been an adventurer for a month, and you want to join a high-ranking mission?” His voice was deep and commanding. “Do you really think you can handle monsters and bandits?”

“Yes,” I said firmly.

He didn’t seem convinced. "I’ve heard that answer plenty of times, but most of them end up dead or running away. We’ll see if you’re any different. Follow me."

Let’s go to the backyard,” he said, his tone is serious. I took the sword, feeling the weight of it in my hand.

I knew immediately what this was. He wasn’t taking me out for a simple spar. He wanted to test me—see if I was capable enough for the mission or just dead weight. I had been an adventurer for two months, but I’d never seen the backyard of the guild. I followed him, my heart beating a little faster.

We stepped into the open yard behind the guild, and I was surprised by its size. The space stretched wide, mostly bare except for a few weathered wooden posts scattered around for training. The ground was hard-packed dirt, marked with the occasional scuff from past sparring sessions. In contrast to the lively noise inside the guild, the air here felt still, almost tense.

He walked over to one of the posts and grabbed a wooden sword, its surface worn smooth from use. Without a word, he tossed another one to me, and I caught it, feeling the weight settle in my hands.

“We’re going to fight,” he said, turning to face me, his expression serious. “No rules. You can defend, attack—whatever you want. Just give it everything you’ve got.”

I nodded, gripping the wooden sword tightly. “Understood.”

“Are you ready?” Lucan asked, smirking.

“I’m always ready,” I replied.

There’s something different about him. His aura—it’s as if he’s a completely different person. But talk is cheap. Let’s see if he’s as strong as he looks, Lucan thought.

With no warning, Lucan surged forward, his wooden sword slicing through the air. I met the strike with perfect composure, our weapons colliding in a sharp crack. The two of us locked blades, faces inches apart in a tense struggle for dominance.

Lucan pressed forward, his strength apparent in every sinew, but I held firm, my muscles trembling with effort. So this is the physical strength of an A-rank adventurer, I thought, beads of sweat forming as I finally twisted free, forcing our swords apart.

Using the momentum, I ducked low and spun in one smooth motion. My leg shot out in a sweeping kick, striking Lucan squarely in the stomach. The impact sent him stumbling backward, barely maintaining his footing.

Lucan straightened, his eyes narrowing. I underestimated him. His age and appearance are deceiving. I can’t afford to hold back anymore, he thought.

With a grunt of determination, Lucan launched a series of relentless attacks, his wooden sword a blur. But no matter how fast or precise his strikes, I was faster. I parried each blow with almost casual efficiency, sidestepping as if I could predict his movements.

Frustration flickered in Lucan’s chest, growing with every failed attempt. I challenged him to judge his abilities, but... why does it feel like he’s the one testing me?

Our gazes met, and Lucan faltered for a moment. My calm, unwavering eyes held no arrogance, only focus—a focus that made his movements feel sluggish in comparison.

Just as he prepared another strike, I moved.

Instead of advancing, I ducked under his blade with flawless timing. In one fluid motion, I swept my leg behind his right knee, unbalancing him. Lucan stumbled, his knee hitting the ground hard.

Before he could recover, I circled around him, silent and swift, positioning myself behind him. The cold press of wood against his neck froze him in place.

“It’s over,” I said softly, my voice steady.

Lucan froze, breathing heavily. What just happened? he thought, stunned. He didn’t overpower me... he outmaneuvered me.

I stepped back, lowering my weapon. “Are we done?” I asked, my tone calm but commanding.

Lucan slowly stood, dusting himself off. He smirked, though his pride was stung. “Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. I didn’t expect that. You’re stronger than I thought.”

Lowering my sword, I wiped the sweat from my brow. “Thanks.” My chest heaved, but I couldn’t help but smile

“When I first saw you, I thought Elle had recommended you because she was fond of you. I figured you didn’t have the skills for this mission and would just slow us down. But I see now I was wrong.” He looked me over with a new respect in his eyes.

He nodded, smirking. people talk. They say Elle's got a soft spot for new adventurers with... unique features. The way she talks about you—she sounds proud. Makes people think there’s something going on.”

I blinked, confused. “Wait, there’s a rumor about me and Elle?”

I felt my face flush with embarrassment. “That’s the first I’ve heard of it,” I muttered. “There’s nothing special between us. We’re just... adventurer and staff. That’s all.”

“If you say so.” He shrugged, still looking amused. “Anyway, you’ve proven yourself.Come back tomorrow, same time. We’ll discuss the mission and everyone’s role. You’re in.”

With that, I knew I had secured my place in the high-ranking mission.