I haven’t checked my status update in a month, have I? I should try to check it out today. If my mana growth is less than 0.5%, I’ll have to try new methods of training Alan thought to himself. He then turned to the boy and asked, "What’s your name?"

"It’s Bell, sir," the boy replied as he walked forward toward the guild hall, with Alan following him.

With that, Alan and Bell walked inside the adventurers' guild hall. Since it was evening, the location was bustling with adventurers of all stripes.

Most of them were eating their dinner, ordering alcohol, and recounting their day's events to others. Some stood in front of the main counter, collecting their payments for the magic crystals they had brought in. These magic crystals worked as a source of energy in the world of Aeriandor and were obtained by mining the high mana density regions of the dungeon or by defeating the monsters that basked in this mana.

The monsters found in the dungeon had their hearts replaced with a magic core. The potency of these mana cores was significantly higher than magic crystals that were obtained through mining. Depending on the monster and its scarcity in the market, these could earn adventurers a huge amount of money.

The other way for adventurers to earn was through the flesh obtained from the monsters they slayed. Monsters like the Mammoth, Dragon, Night Wolf, Drake, Griffith, Great serpents and many more commanded a huge price in the market. This was one of the reasons why the butcher industry worked hand in hand with the adventurers guild.

"Sir, come here!" Bell called out loudly, catching Alan’s attention, and making the taller man realize he had been standing taking in the scene like it was his first time in a guild hall.

Alan walked toward Bell, who was now sitting at an empty table with four chairs arranged around it. He took the seat directly opposite Bell.

"Is that the Solo Knight?" a young male adventurer at a nearby table said, pointing at Alan.

"Seems that way. Guess he finally realized that staying alone isn’t ideal for an adventurer," the female adventurer mumbled with a small chuckle.

"He might be strong, but I guess he's finally maturing mentally," the younger boy whispered, also chuckling. At this, the female adventurer burst into laughter.

Why exactly do I have such good hearing…? Alan wondered as a gloomy feeling settled in his heart.

Bell raised his hand and shouted, "Miss Elyza!" while waving in an attempt to get the waitress’s attention.

Alan looked at Elyza—her characteristic white tail and ears making it obvious that she was one of the demi-humans, though he couldn't quite put his finger on whether she was a luprian or Canorian.

She was wearing a simple blue maid outfit with a white apron. Her long black hair flowed freely, and her eyes matched its color. She walked toward the table, glancing at Bell's dirty outfit. "Did the slimes give you any trouble?" she asked with a hint of concern.

Bell shook his head. "No, the slimes were easy, I was just beaten by another adventurer because I supposedly bumped into them."

"Who was that adventurer?" Elyza asked sternly. Alan noticed how her ears stood up and her tail stiffened as she asked the question—both clear signs of aggression.

Alan examined Elyza’s eyes closely, there was a piercing intensity to them. Then, noticing the movement of her tail and ear, he nodded to himself. She’s definitely a luprian, he concluded.

"It was, uh..." Bell mumbled, his brows furrowing as he gave a thoughtful look, trying to recall the adventurers "I actually don't know who they were, and even if I did, you shouldn’t concern yourself with the likes of them," Bell remarked, after taking a moment.

"I shouldn’t?" Elyza repeated his words in a now calm tone.

Her attention then shifted to another person sitting at the table. A look of shock crossed her face as she finally noticed Alan. She walked toward Bell, bent her head to his ear level, and questioned, "You do know who he is, don’t you?"

Alan was able to pick up on the conversation thanks to his immaculate sense of hearing, and he pretended not to notice whilst he savored the flattery thrown his direction.

"He’s Sir Alan, the one who saved me today," Bell replied with a smile, as he looked in Elyza’s direction.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Please don’t mind if he misbehaves, Sir Alan," Elyza remarked.

"Don’t worry about it, miss. I don’t think I’d be angry with someone who’s treating me to food," Alan responded with a small smile. "Could you get me a plate of well-cooked steak? And if possible, with more spices."

Elyza simply nodded. "I sure could. It'll just be a few minutes sir," she said. Then, looking toward Bell, she narrowed her eyes, silently warning him not to say anything wrong.

They seem to be getting along well, Alan thought to himself. His gaze then wandered across the guild hall. The usual chatter of adventurers boasting of bravery, mocking someone’s foolishness, and bursts of laughter filled the air. Wooden jugs brimming with booze were scattered across each table.

"Sir Alan?"

"Yeah? What’s up?" Alan asked, turning his attention back to Bell.

"Are you a famous adventurer?"

That’s embarrassing to answer. How should I reply? If I say yes, won’t that sound cocky? Alan considered before speaking. "I think you could say that. I mean, I’ve been an adventurer for a few years now, so maybe that’s the reason," Alan answered.

"Few years? You don't exactly look old to me," Bell said as he took a sip from the glass of water in front of him.

"I wouldn't say I am old," Alan added with a shrug. "I mean, I’m still 19. The thing is, I started adventuring quite early on, so that's the reason for my experience," Alan added.

"You are older than me, then," Bell said, a thoughtful expression spreading on his face after his words.

"What's your age?" Alan questioned, slightly curious about the young adventurer who sat in front of him.

"I'm 16—practically an adult!" Bell declared with enthusiasm.

"Barely," Alan added, narrowing his eyes with skeptism.

"Yeah, yeah," Bell replied with a dismissive expression.

Alan looked at the boy, a smile spreading on his lips as he found Bell’s attempt at being sarcastic humorous.

"Sir, can I ask something?”

“Go ahead.”

“What's your rank?”

That, I can surely answer, Alan thought, mentally nodding. "I’m an A-rank adventurer."

"A-rank?!" Bell shouted, nearly jolting against the table, his face filled with shock.

Alan simply nodded.

"So that’s why Miss Elyza told me to be careful around you?" Bell said with a sheepish chuckle.

That is correct to a certain degree, but mostly because I don’t prefer the company of strangers, Alan thought. His thoughts took another turn. Wait, is my image really that bad? The only thing I do is politely ask people sitting next to me to leave me alone, is it that bad? "I messed up, didn't i?" Alan mumbled, looking down at the table.

"Did you say something, Sir Alan?"

Before Alan could say anything the doors of the guild swung open, and the royal knights of Alcia marched in. Leading them was a tall, imposing old man clad in gold-and-steel armor, the golden alloy signifying his status as the city’s head knight. He had grey hair and black eyes. At once, the guild’s lively atmosphere quieted as adventurers turned their attention to the unexpected visitors.

Alan’s gaze landed on the rolled document in the head knight’s hand. Did an emergency quest come up? he wondered, keeping his eyes fixed on the knight as the man approached the guild’s head receptionist.

Vanessa, the guild’s head receptionist, had neck-length green hair styled in a middle part hairstyle. Her dark brown eyes were sharp, and she was about as tall as the head knights’ shoulder.

Handing her the document, the knight began speaking with a deep voice. "I have come following the instructions of sir Viscount to deliver a message to all capable adventurers.” He said. Every adventurer in the association hall was now completely focused on the head knight’s words. “It concerns a goblin horde that is set to attack the village of Arcek," He declared.

The knight’s words were met with a brief silence before the entire guild hall erupted into laughter and mocking comments.

A middle-aged adventurer, spoke up in a mocking tone. "They can’t even handle goblins without us now?"

A girl in a blue outfit sitting at the back with her party—chuckled as she remarked, "The knights of Alcia are too scared to fight goblins now! Cowards!"

The knight, unfazed by the commotion, raised his hand to regain control of the room. Then, in a louder voice, he continued, "I suggest you stop your chatter. If I were you, I wouldn’t be so quick to make assumptions before hearing the full message," he said sharply. "Their numbers exceed ten thousand. They have already razed several villages near the city of Brimstone before changing course. Among them are five or more Goblin Kings, and most of the horde consists of Hobgoblins."

The middle-aged adventurer’s expression changed to a shocked one.

"Did he just say there are Goblin Kings in the horde?” one adventurer remarked.

“Hobgoblins are tough, and there are more than five thousand of them? All the adventurers here would barely be able to defeat them!"

"You’re right; it’s too dangerous," the female adventurer from before added.

The knight raised his hand again, silencing the murmurs. "The city is in a dire situation right now," the head knight continued, his tone shifting from stern to pleading. "The adventurers of the The Iron Fang Guild have gone to investigate the dungeon on the southern side of the city, leaving our defenses weakened."

"What does that mean?" an adventurer questioned.

"Our hands are tied—we cannot assist you in protecting the people of Arcek," the knight replied, his gaze lowering with a hint of shame.