The next day, I don the leather pants that Josh had provided. I do this in the small restroom constructed from sturdy stone walls and a wooden floor, conveniently located near my room. With precision, I fasten my sword behind my back, ensuring it's within easy reach whenever I might need it.

"All set!" I announce as I finish my preparations.

Descending the stairs, I make my way towards the front door of the inn. The female innkeeper, adorned in a white apron, bids me farewell with a cheerful voice.

"Feel free to come back anytime!"

Stepping out, I'm greeted by the beauty of the morning. I take a moment to let my eyes adjust to the daylight before turning my attention to the right. There, I find Alpha standing there, waiting for me by the guild house's entrance while folding his hand.

"Good morning. Did you get enough rest?" Alpha greets me warmly.

"Yes, I feel fully prepared for whatever today brings," I respond with confidence.

"That's good," Alpha acknowledges. "Today, we'll go on a quest while we await news from the capital. Let's head inside."

Looking around in curiosity, I turn back to Alpha, "Wait, where's Josh?"

Alpha reassures me, "He'll join us shortly."

With that, we step into the guild room together, ready for the adventures that await us.

I take a moment to survey my surroundings, noting that it doesn't differ much from the pub I visited yesterday. The walls are constructed with old-looking, light brown bricks on one side and sturdy wooden walls on the other two sides. A single, ornate door and a couple of open windows provide ventilation and glimpses of the outside world. However, there's no food in sight here.

Several round tables, each capable of accommodating six chairs, are scattered throughout the room. Maps are laid out on each table, accompanied by parchment sheets. Various adventurers, clad in a variety of armors, are engrossed in their own parchments. Some of them proudly display their battle scars while recounting their recent adventures.

The room is bustling with adventurers of diverse backgrounds, each immersed in their tales.

What distinguishes this place from the bar I visited yesterday is a sizable guild board hanging prominently on the wall behind the reception desk. The board is divided into six sections, each marked with a letter: [S], [A], [B], [C], [D], [E]. Each section sports several torn papers pinned to it, except for the [S] rank board.

These letters denote the quest ranks. Typically, [S] rank quests are of utmost importance and urgency, while [E] rank quests are considered the most basic. [C], [D], and [E] rank quests are typically tackled solo, while [B] rank and above require a party of at least four adventurers, unless special permission is granted. [S] rank quests are reserved for critical national matters, often tied to major wars or significant events.

Behind the reception desk, two young women in dark green and white aprons catch our attention. One of them waves enthusiastically in our direction.

"Welcome to the guildhouse!" the girl greets us warmly.

"Hi. I'd like to take on a [B] rank quest, please," Alpha confidently requests as he approaches the reception desk, gently placing his right hand on its surface.

The girl at the desk offers a polite explanation, "I see you have a party of two. [B] rank quests typically require a minimum of four adventurers in a party."

Alpha, displaying his usual self-assured demeanor, responds, "I am General Alpha. I believe you know me well enough to understand that we can handle a [B] rank quest just fine."

However, the receptionist hesitates, explaining, "I apologize, but you need a proof badge to..."

Alpha cuts her off, interjecting with a pointed finger at his face, "What are you talking about? My face is proof enough!"

Convinced by his confidence, the receptionist relents, saying, "Uh, I am sorry, but I still can't let you take this quest..."

I take a quick glance behind me and notice that Josh has arrived. He quietly closes the door behind him before joining us.

Alpha, always one to gauge opinions, inquires, "So, it'll be the three of us. Any objections?"

However, a sudden revelation catches the receptionist's attention, and she exclaims, "Wait, aren't you... the Mighty Hunter Josh?"

Josh, looking a bit bewildered, stops in his tracks. "Huh?"

Stuttering with fluster, the receptionist continues, "I-I believe that's what they called you. If you're joining the party, I think three of you will be sufficient!"

Alpha and Josh exchange an amused glance, and Alpha can't help but express his dismay, "Seriously, Josh? You've been away for a year, and yet they still know you better than me? This is humiliating!"

Stolen story; please report.

Josh, equally perplexed, retorts with a frown, "How should I know!?" Meanwhile, the receptionist secretly winks at him, adding a touch of intrigue to the situation.

"Ahem..." The other receptionist clears her throat, breaking the brief silence. "I shall make an exception and assign the quest to the three of you."

She leans in and whispers something to her colleague, who blushes and starts jotting something down on a piece of paper.

"Wait, wait, waaaaaait! I want to join too!"

before we can proceed further, a voice from a nearby table suddenly chimes in, catching our attention. A person with vibrant yellow hair, dressed in a fancy suit, raises their hand and swiftly approaches us.

"Wait, Rue?" I exclaim, recognizing the newcomer.

"Raiken?" Rue responds, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Josh, curious about our connection, inquires, "Do you two know each other?"

I explain with a grin, "Well, we only met yesterday..."

Josh approaches Rue, playfully rubbing his ear as he scrutinizes the teenager. He addresses Rue with a teasing tone, "So, you want to join us on a [B] rank quest? That's not a task for kids like you."

In response, Rue pouts and raises his right hand high above him. Suddenly, a dark purplish light emanates from his hand, taking the form of an impressive bow. As the light gradually fades, a unique two-headed, dark-colored dragon-shaped bow with yellow crystal eyeballs for each head is revealed. The most intriguing part is that the bow lacks a string, making it all the more mysterious.

Seeing this, memories of Horroundeous' Glaive come rushing back to me. The resemblance is uncanny.

Once the bow is fully formed, Rue grabs its grip and lowers his hand. Alpha, our stoic leader, can't help but widen his eyes in astonishment as he gazes at Rue and his extraordinary weapon.

"This is..."

Alpha's voice trails off as he observes Rue's extraordinary weapon. Rue, wearing a confident grin, addresses Alpha directly, "You seem to know what this is, don't you?"

Alpha nods, his tone filled with awe, "[The Stringless], in human language. It's one of the artifacts that have been lost for hundreds of years. To think that this kid possesses it... Wait, is this the real deal?"

Rue, clearly enjoying the attention, tightens his grip on the bow with both hands. A small, purplish light emits from it, causing the bow to split into two daggers.

Alpha can hardly contain his astonishment as he exclaims, "By the divines... Where did you get this artifact!?"

Alpha's shock prompts him to reach out and grab Rue's shoulder, but Rue quickly reassures him, saying, "Relax, relax! My old man gave it to me before coming to this continent! It's not like I stole it or anything!"

Alpha releases his grip on Rue's shoulder, and Rue playfully smirks at each of us. He casually tosses his weapons up in the air before making them disappear with the same purple light.

As we try to make sense of the situation, I can't help but ask, "Now, wait. Can someone explain what's going on? Why are you so surprised, Alpha?"

Alpha, collecting his thoughts, begins to explain, "I've read about it. In the thousand years of history, there are three known artifacts. They were used to seal Ergardia the Calamity back then. The bow that kid possesses is one of them. It went missing about fifty years ago, according to the books. I never thought I'd actually see it."

He continues, sharing his knowledge with us, "All the weapons we witnessed just now have a bifurcated nature, merging two types of weapons into one. Additionally, you can summon and wield the weapon effortlessly."

With an enthusiastic clap of his hands, Rue breaks the tension in the room. "So! Am I invited or not?"

Alpha, seemingly unfazed, nods and replies, "I see no problem with that. Very well, you're in. Please add the kid's name to the list. That makes four of us."

Rue's excitement knows no bounds as he mumbles, "Did you hear that? I'm officially joining their party!"

However, Alpha, with his stern demeanor, stares directly at Rue, prompting Rue to quickly correct himself, "Pardon me?"

"Forget it! I'm just grateful I can finally take on a [B] rank quest! The lower quests always yield less Cevel, and I'm tired of that." Rue scratches the back of his head, nervous.

Suspicious.

"Alright. Let me provide you with a briefing," The left receptionist raises her right hand, displaying the letter she had written, signaling that she's ready to provide us with the necessary information.

"A week ago, our eastern watchtower was attacked by bandits. They claimed the tower as their own and settled there. Our scouts report that there are dozens of bandits residing in the tower, led by their leader. Your task is to infiltrate the tower and eliminate the bandit leader. Once that's accomplished, the remaining bandits should likely abandon the tower. After reporting back to us, we'll send our warriors to reclaim the tower," the left receptionist briefs us.

The other receptionist takes the baton, adding, "You have a time limit of four days for this mission. Make sure to submit a report to us before then."

Josh, with his penchant for adventure, remarks, "Sounds like a hunt. It's been a while since we've taken on a major task."

Alpha, always pragmatic, agrees and signs the paper. "I agree."

Turning to me, Josh asks, "Are you ready, Rai?"

I nod in response, my hand instinctively reaching for the grip of my sword. "I'm prepared for our first mission while testing out this sword."

With the mission officially accepted, Alpha takes charge. "Great. It's settled. Let's stock up on supplies and head out. We have a long journey ahead. I'll meet you all at the front gate."

Alpha and Josh head towards the exit, ready to embark on this new adventure.

"This is going to be interesting!" Rue exclaims cheerfully. "Right, Raiken-Nii?"

"Um..." I scratch my cheek. "I suppose so..."

#

End of Chapter 15