Chapter 02

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"Oi oi what have we got here ? A newbie adventurer ?"

The man who spoke these words was walking towards the boy. He was a well built man in his prime with a balding head and tanned skin. Even the full plate armour he was wearing could not hide his bulging muscles. He stood over seven feet tall with a large broad sword strapped on his back. Many scars were visible on his rough barbarian like face showing he was a veteran of many battles.

"...umm Garet-san please don't bother him"

The receptionist meekly protested but he paid her no mind. Garret was the strongest adventurer in the guild A Grand Knight. He didn't care of others' opinions.

"Oi bastard whats up with that appearance ? Take dat damn hood off and show us yer face ya hear ?" He said with a sneer

The boy ignored his words, keeping the cloak on and,

"Miss as i was saying i would like to register. What do i have to do in order to become an adventurer ?"

(Huh, really, these pitiful mobs. They just have to appear like some third rate villains.)

"Eh..huh?..w-well that is .....you just fill up this form and pay the registration fees of two silver coins......"

The whole guild turned silent. Garret had a hobby of harassing novice adventurers. But till date no one had ever shown the nerve to balantly ignore him. A few muffled laughs emerged from some of the adventurers. Garret immediately looked towards the ones who laughed with a murderous gaze silencing them in an instant. He was furious. Never had he been so balantly insulted in his entire career.

"YA DAMN BRAT!"

Enraged he rushed towards the boy who had ignored him and tried to grabbed him by the cloak. But before Garret could even get his fingers on the boy's cloak something unbelievable happened. Just when the people thought that Garret would definitely catch this unfortunate boy, the boy turned around and grabbed his large arm with his. Garret tried to free his hand but the boy's grip was like an iron clamp. He couldn't budge his arm. He tried to get it off with the help of his other arm, but still couldn't free his arm.

"Dont bother people you shouldn't bother, or else you will regret it.....like this"

Along with those words, the boy swung his hand holding Garrets arm, flinging the big man in air, and with his other hand, he punched the falling body. Garret who wad in mid air was hit in the solar plexus and was sent flying, out of the guild while taking a large part of the wall with him. It happened so fast that almost no one could understand what happened. The big and burly Great knight Garret had been punched out of the guild by a boy, making a hole in the wall on his way out. When some of the adventurers went and checked on Garret's condition they found him alive but his armour had a large dent where the boy had hit and the big man was coughing blood. He likely had some broken ribs on him. The Adventurers sucked in cold breaths. Being veterans themselves, they knew how strong Garret was as a Great Knight level warrior. What power was it that could send a Great Knight flying with just a punch ? They looked at the boy who indifferently returned to the receptionist. The other Adventurers took note in their heads, 'Don't mess with this kid'.

☆ ☆ ☆

After he spent a good long hour being interrogated by the guild-master, he was finally allowed to register as an adventurer. Thanks to the little receptionist lady who was the witness that he did what he did in self defence. After that matter was sorted out, the receptionist gave him the form for registration. It was fairly simple. Just the name, age, contact address (if any), home Village/hometown (optional) , and Class. He filled it up as follows.

Name : Shiro

Age : 15

Contact Address : - - - - -

Home town / Home Village : - - - - -

Class : Swordsman

After he submitted the form the receptionist checked it.

"Mr. Shiro eh? Thats quite an uncommon name there. Are you perhaps from the eastern country ?" The receptionist asked while putting away the papers.

"....Yes you may say so...(Actually where I am from is also called the East, though you surely would not know of that place...)" (Shiro)

"..I see no wonder since you have black hair...." (receptionist)

Now that his hood was down ( which he had done on the protest of the old guild master ) she could she his extremely handsome face, which seemed to emanating an unseen aura of nobility from it.

"...But just 15 years old huh? I know that the minimum required age of being an adventurer is twelve years but isn't it still too early for you? The life of an adventurer is hard you know."

"....I have my reasons..." he replied quietly.

"I-I see..well i wont pry any more. Please submit two silver coins as the registration fees."

The currency in the Germania kingdom consisted of various types of coins. These were divided as follows.

10 small copper coins = 1 copper coin

10 copper coins = 1 Large copper coin

10 large copper coins = 1small silver coin

10 small silver coins = 1 silver coin

10 silver coins = 1 Large Silver coin

10 large silver coins = 1 Gold coin

10 Gold coins = 1 White Gold Coin

The young boy named Shiro, took out two silver coins to the receptionist and she handed him a card. It was a simple iron metal plate with his name, class and rank engraved. The symbol of the guild which was a sword over a shield was also engraved onto it and coloured in gold on the plate. There was a small black coloured circlular gem attached at one side of the card.

"Please put a drop of your blood on this gem here."

He did as told by the receptionist and pricked his finger with a needle the receptionist lady gave him and a drop of blood fell onto the gem. The gem absorbed the drop of blood and glowed red.

"This is your adventurer's guild card. It is the proof that you are a registered adventurer. You can also use it as a bank card for the guild bank. As long as It is with you the faint red glow will be present on the gem. If someone else tries to use it, in your stead, the gem will burst and the culprit will be deslt with according to guild rules. This plate will aslo serve as your identity card and is valid in all the countries, which have a branch of the Adventurer's guild. Please be careful and don't lose it. If you do lose it you have to pay one gold coin for reissuing the plate."

After that the receptionist described to him the rules and workings of the Adventurers guild. Basically,

1. Adventurers are ranked depending on their merit and Practical sills. The ranks start from F → E → D → C → B → A → S → SS → SSS → SSS+. These rankings are Different than Knight ranks and are based on various criteria like work ethics, work record, physical abilities, quests completed, merits etc. While most cannot rank more than A there are some adventurers who surpass the A-rank and go to the S, SS, SSS and SSS+ ranks. Such individuals are said to be one man armies as their strength is humongous. But such people are very rare and in the current time Germania dosen't have even one S ranked adventurer.

2. An adventurer can raise his/her rank by completing a certain number of quests which is fixed for each rank. Quests are ranked from F to SSS+ depending on the level of difficulty. An adventurer may only accept quests which are at his/her own rank or at most one rank higher. Accepting a quest and not completing it within the specified time or under the specific conditions will automatically lead to failure of the quest and a fine will have to be paid. Interestingly, rank ups may aslo be done in light of great achievements and completing quests which were other wise too high for ones current rank.

3. Adventurers may sell any loot or materials they have to the guild at a price higher than the market value. They can get discounts on weapons, armour, potions etc on selected shops affiliated with the guild.

4. Fights between adventurers within the guild are forbidden however, the guild shall approve of duels in the guilds training field. If an adventurer is found guilty of hurting or the murder of another adventurer without a justified reason, the said adventurer will be kicked out of the guild and heavy punishment will be imposed on him/her, even death sentence in severe cases.

(How very impressive. I have heard of the ways of adventurers but getting firsthand information is totally different. Their management policies are very standardised and precise.)

"Well that will be all. Do you have any questions ? If not then you can go choose any F or E rank quest which you like and bring it to the reception so that we may designate it to you."

"Thank you"

Shiro slightly bowed and putting turned towards the quest board. Numerous parchments with the details of quests written on them were pinned up on the board. Many adventurers were busy deciding which quest they would take. Shiro too went in and searched for a quest but as soon as he neared the board, other adventurers moved aside to give him space. He didn't mind. Within seconds he found his target. Snatching the page from the board he went back to the same receptionist and presented her the paper.

Quest : Goblin subjugation.

Rank : E

Issued by : The Mayor

Details : Goblins have been increasing in numbers lately. There have been many attacks on people and even on caravans. Subjugate the goblins lurking in the forests near Helmsberg. Subjugate Minimum 20 goblins.

Reward : 5 copper coins per goblin subjugated.

Time : One week.

The receptionist was a bit worried that the young boy took goblin subjugation as his first quest. Goblins were vicious vermin who were hated by humans. They attacked small villages, pillaged, killed and ate the cattle and slaughtered men while they kidnapped women, raped them and used them for mating. Goblins individually had the physique and strength of a grown child, but what they lacked in strength they made up in their numbers. A goblin horde often consisted of more than 20 goblins while large hordes led by a goblin king or goblin shaman may even grow to the hundreds. But she could not stop him from taking the quest.

(Well this should do just fine, this young master I hasn't hunted some goblins in a while.)

"Ah Mr. Shiro, bring the right ears of each goblin as proof of subjugation. And be careful, they can be quite cunning."

Shiro nodded and silently left. While walking out of the east gate, he showed the guard his guild card and exited the town.

" So the first step complete without much of a problem. Now then lets move on to the next, but before that...."

He held the handle of his sword tightly.

☆ ☆ ☆

Outskirts of the city of Helmsberg.

It was dusk. A lone boy walked along a dirt track through the forest. This boy of course was Shiro. He was looking for the goblins which as a matter of fact were more active during the night. While he continued to walk through the now dark forest, his eyes suddenly sharpened.

"About time...."

All around him the bushes were rumbling and the wild gurgles of a certain group of monsters could be heard. Shiro, closed his eyes and focused his attention on his surroundings; his right hand never leaving the guard of his sword.

Suddenly a horde of monsters jumped out from the forest all around him. These were humanoid creatures which had short bent bodies barely 4 feet tall, with pointed noses and dirty green skin. They smelled like filth and their open mouths showed nasty teeth and dripped saliva. Goblins. There were about 20 or so goblins currently surrounding Shiro. Most had clubs and roughly made spears in their hands while a few had daggers and iron swords with them, possibly spoils of their previous crusades. However being surrounded by these goblins shiro didn't move an inch. His breathing was calm, his posture straight. It was as if he had no care for his foes.

One of the goblins which was bigger than the rest had a broadsword in its hands. It was nearly twice as big as the other goblins and a dirty olive green in colour. A Goblin General. A rare species of goblin which was far superior in strength and ability than the common goblins while not much smarter. It raised its sword and charged at the puny human with its.

*Click*

Shiro calmed his breathing. With one hand on the sheath, he coldly gazed at the approaching goblin. The mongrel, with its blood shot eyes rushed in and swung his sword. It hsd obtained this sword after ambushing and killing a group of adventurers. In the last moment when the goblin came within his range, Shiro moved. His feet made swift movements and in a flash he appeared a few feet behind the goblin general. His back facing the monster. The surrounding goblins watched dumbly making 'gigigi' sounds. Strangely the goblin general swung its sword and then stopped. The sword fell from his hands. A few moments later, the top of his body starting from the right soulder the head and the left shoulder slid off slantingly and fell down. The goblin had been sliced into two, it died without knowing how. The sword was back in the sheath, no signs of it ever being drawn. Only a single type of sword could achive this speed. Only that one type of sword could split an enemy in half with such precision. The sword Shiro was using, was one never before seen in this world. It was, a Katana.

"Now the rest...."

In the silent forest these cold words echoed followed by deathly wails. Even the passing people heard them from miles away. They trembled and thought that some deadly monster was running rampart in these regions. Most of those who heard these wails ran away, someone even posted a quest requesting a search of the forest for this 'deadly monster' but as expected they never found one. Oblivious to all this Shiro continued on his job and after a few tens of minutes the forest once again returned to silence.

* * * * *

It was almost the time for the gates of the city to be closed for the night, as was the rule in Helmsberg, when Shiro silently walked back inside the town. He went straight to the guild to submit his spoils for the completion of his quest. He went to the receptionist who had registered him to finish the procedures.

The receptionist lady was a girl in her early twenties but looked younger. She had a nicely developing body with fair skin and moderately long, voulimous dark brown hair and pale purple eyes. This was the very receptionist who had just joined the guild a few months ago and also the one who registered Shiro. Her name was Rea. Although she was new, she was good at her job. Currently afted the day's hectic work, the Guild too was to be closed. Most adventurers had already left for their homes and the inns they stayed. The staff was tyding up and perparing for going home. Rea, however was sitting on her usual desk, her face supported by her hands, a dazed look in her eyes. She was thinking about the new adventurer Shiro who had just registered today. He was a handsome young man, and the first impression she got of him was that of a quiet and introverted person, yet also a mysterious person. In her career as a receptionist, she had met a variety of people, but Shiro was the first of his kind. Especially, the fact that he had such strength in his little body to knock out a Great knight in one throw and injure him. He must be a Great Knight too at the least. If that was the case, he would be a genius among geniuses, but, if he were above the level of a Great Knight, then...... Rea shuddered at the possibility. And in such a time some one sudde ly knocked on her desk, breaking her out of her daze.

"Ah! Eh....Mr. Shiro! "

She blinked her eyes as she looked at the boy before him. He was standing before her, his expression aloof as usual. In one of his arms he was holding a large bag.

"Just Shiro is fine. I have come to submit my quest Miss receptionist."

Rea steadied herself and calmed her thoughts.

"Rea. My name is Rea, you should call me that ok ?"

Shiro blinked and then nodded.

"...but then, are you returning only now ? At such a late time ?"

".....yes..."

"...what!?...don't tell me you were out there hunting goblins all this time ?"

The young boy nodded expressionlessly. The receptionist felt worried for him, for such a young boy to be fighting monsters even in the dark was really dangerous. Even if he was strong who knew when he would make a mistake.

"Listen Shiro. I know you are quite strong but please don't take unnecessary risks. Its dangerous to stay in the forest at night, alone, even more so."

"..I see...ill keep that in mind..."

"Haaa...thats good then. So what did you need from me ?"

"...yes...Its about the quest. I completed it." He presented the quest paper to her. After going through it, Rea put it aside and stood up.

"I see you completed it... very well please follow me."

She led him to a separate room which was used to sort monster materials brought by the Adventurers.

"Now then lets see...hunting goblins was it. Please place the subjugation proofs, the right ears of the goblins here."

Nodding Shiro put down the large bag he was carrying all this while. The size of the bag was almost as big as him yet he carried it with ease. The receptionist opened the bag to check the number of goblin ears. It was a nasty job. Well someone had to do it and she was paid for it.

"Lets see...1...2...3...4....5...si-Eh? Whats this......huh?....What the!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The shout of the receptionist echoed through the guild.

( Did I do something that shocking ?)

Shiro tilted his head looking at the fainted Rea.

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