The receptionist stood up from her seat and greeted the guest with spreading lips. Her voice echoed through the room a stark reminder of how lifeless this place was. She stared at the two and suddenly stiffened upon witnessing someone's familiar approach.
Jin stood before the receptionist and softly said, "We just want to see the situation, but it seemed this place was pretty empty. Where are the adventures?".
"...".
His question was enveloped in eerie silence as the receptionist's gaze was directed at Silvia, who stood beside Jin.
Her mouth was agape, and the brain started to halt. She could not determine which was reality and which was a dream anymore.
"Um, excuse me?". Jin waved his hand before the receptionist, jolted her mind, and bowed her head.
"Yesh! How can I help you, Lady Silvia Frost!?". Her voice stammered while she responded to the wrong person.
"No, please be at ease. I'm here to guide the person beside me."
"Eh!?".
The receptionist turned her gaze to Jin. The boy's chilling gaze jolted her trembling body. She gulped her saliva and then, 'bam,' slammed her hands toward the counter until it cracked.
"I'm truly sorry for ignoring you". Her head lowered until it almost touched the desk.
"No, it's okay." Jin swung his palm sideways and stared at the woman before him.
"No! This is not right, as someone that works in Adventure Guild, to ignore a client; I have failed as a receptionist. I'm truly sorry…". Her large brown eyes wavered before tears started to accumulate. Unaware of what kind of tears she has.
Jin's eyes narrowed as he felt a throbbing in his head. He exhaled heavily, trying to pacify the woman. Thankfully, Silvia mediated in between, so the situation died down before it escalated to worse.
"*snif, *snif, I am truly sorry, and thank you".
"It's okay". Silvia parted her stiffened lips, forcing a smile.
He stared at an empty space, exhaling all the irritation in his head. 'Huff, forget it'.
Jin turned to the woman and went straight to the point. "Is there any quest I can take here?".
The receptionist straightened her posture and then spoke after calming down. "May I see your Guild card?".
"Here". Jin took the card from his Item box, startling Silvia and the woman with wide eyes.
In a blink, the receptionist switched expressions and took Jin's card. She traced the card with her finger, nodded, and returned it to Jin.
This shows how trained and professional they were when facing the client who came to the guild. They did their best to support the client and guide them for the sake of both parties.
"Yes, that was certainly our card, however." She paused, her face darkening as she stared at the quest board. "We don't have many requests," she said.
"Why is that?". Silvia repeated the word Jin had in mind.
Jin stared at the receptionist, who bit her lips, and her grip tightened under the desk.
"...As you guys know, the Duke territory is one of the safest towns in the Kingdom".
'Safest? No way'. Jin crossed his hand on his chest; his eyes were staring at the silver-haired girl beside him.
"Ah, but the safest doesn't mean any criminals didn't happen or something of the sort." The receptionist gulped before continuing, "I am talking about the absence of beasts and monsters that roam outside the wall. "
"I see". Jin and Silvia nod their heads in unison.
Silvia, especially, heard some of it from her father about how the town was. As the receptionist had said, no activity or large-scale monster has wreaked havoc within the forest or villages within the Duke's territory in years.
The town also had no authority over a dungeon, so it was not strange when the Adventure guild, whose main purpose is to subjugate beasts or monsters and explore the Dungeon to harvest its Mana stone, had little purpose in this town aside from business trips or passing by.
Jin separated from the groups as he walked toward the quest board. He saw only some parchment stamped on the Copper rank. He scanned the board, and his eyes landed on a quest stuck on the Iron rank board.
His gaze swayed, and he looked thoroughly at the detail of the quest: 'Investigate nearby villages who are having a problem with disappearing cattle.'
"Well, I should just go to a blacksmith and shop…!?".
#####
[Side Quest opened]
[Side Quest: Newborn Dungeon (Optional)]
Detail: Investigate nearby Dungeon and reap the reward. This is your only chance to experience the real thrill of an adventure!
Reward: Treasure Chest
Failure: Death
#####
'What!?'. Jin's eyes locked into the translucent panel that popped out before him—his vision flickers before another panel appears.
[Do you want to accept?]
[Yes or No]
Jin stood still, his gaze hovering over the words 'Death' and 'Optional' floating before him. His mind wavered, deciding whether to take a risk or flee the danger.
His mind races, sinking into the depths of his subconsciousness, searching for his core, the thing that shapes him as a whole.
A memory surfaced, sharp and clear. Jin took his vows when he realized he was a mere character in a world bound by predestined fate.
That realization almost shattered his mind. However, Jin refused to obey that fate. He wanted to carve his own, which was far from ruin. And then, the next day, the system appeared to answer his prayer, offering him power.
Jin did not doubt that the system existed to help him achieve his goal. But does a great power always come with a price? He knows it too well from his experience. Is it worth risking everything with his life on the line? '…Yeah, it's worth it'.
Jin decided to believe the system as he ripped the parchment and muttered, 'Yes, I accept'.
'There's no turning back for me'. He walked over to the counter and placed the parchment on the desk.
The receptionist and Silvia stare at the boy's sudden appearance, bringing a parchment quest. They stare at the details and open their eyes in response.
"Are you planning to investigate the cause?".
"Yes, please".
She blinked and stared at his emerald eyes that sucked her soul. The receptionist sighed and then parted her lips in relief. 'I'm glad there is an Adventurer that would help that village'.
"I will process it; please take out your guild card."
Jin tossed the card and let the receptionist's hand blur, scribbling some documents behind the counter before giving back the card. "Very well, Adventure Jin. I wish you the best of luck. Be careful out there."
"Thank you. Can you tell me where the village is from this town?".
"Very well…".
Silvia stared blankly at the two because of the sudden development that happened. She stared at Jin, who took his Guild card and then disappeared, causing her consciousness to snap back to reality as she heard Jin's voice.
"Let's go, Silvia. Can you take me to a nearby Blacksmith".
Looking at his retreating figure, Silvia moved her feet and walked by his side at a brisk pace. "Wait, wait, Jin!'.
"What's the matter?". Jin stared ahead, continuing his walk.
"Is this alright?".
"What do you mean?".
"I mean, is it okay for you to take some quest to investigate a nearby village? Will your parents get angry at you?".
"It's okay. I just went there to investigate, not to subjugate a powerful monster or anything dangerous."
"But!?".
Her voice stammered, but upon looking at the boy's carefree gesture, her mind wavered; she never thought that the boy she used to think as strong was this impulsive.
Usually, the term 'investigate' should be approached with caution. Calculate every loss and prepare for anything that might happen, for it was considered a search into the unknown.
They wouldn't know what danger or fortune awaited them, so Silvia doubted, 'Is it because he is too strong that he could act like that? Or…' Her eyebrows knitted together, crumpling her beautiful face in a deep frown.
"Silvia, which way?".
Jin's voice broke her from her thoughts as she stared before her, facing the black-haired boy searching for a nearby shop.
Silvia bit her lips. Unconsciously, she reached out to the black jacket that still draped her body and exhaled softly, "Follow me."
After deciding which path to take, Silvia takes the lead, and Jin follows by her side. They walk toward the east and then north, following the path that leads them toward a row of tall buildings.
Then, in front of them stood a two-story shop; its grandeur and intricate design scream cash. Separated by transparent glass, in front of him, a banquet of weapons lined up inside a casket.
Without hesitation, Silvia pushed the door, setting off a bell alarm that alerted the clerk inside.
"Welcome to our humble shop. May I help you, Lady Silvia?" The clerk wore a suit like a butler, half her purple hair slicked back, showing her masculine charm and sharp appearance.
"It's been a while, Marni. Get me some light, warm coat, and give this boy a sword".
"Understood. My coworkers above will give you the coat; I will take over from here."
"I'm counting on you. Jin, you don't have to worry about the payment. I will take care of it". Silvia's step was firm as she darted off, leaving Jin with a raised hand.
"Wait, Silvia". Jin's voice softened as he saw Silvia's figure ascend the spiral stairs on the corner.
He stared at the interior. On each side of the wall, Jin spotted a glass cabinet filled with various weapons, from dagger to long sword, adorned with cringe accessories from gold to silver, glittering under the light.
"This way, Dear customer". Marni guided him to another room, which was elongated and a bit dim.
The dim room cast a soft light across the marble walls. Rows of weapons lined up neatly displayed on each side of the walls, a variety of swords and spears, their edges gleaming under the reflective lights.
In the innermost room, long tables polished with oil are filled with a variety of shields. Beside it, several elongated wooden boxes, layered on top of each other, create a drawer.
Jin scanned his surrounding area but found no trace of Katana. He turned toward the woman and asked, "Is there any Katana in here?"
Marni held her chin, deep in thought, as she turned to the boy. "Katana? You mean those curved blades from the land of East?".
"Yes, do you have it?".
"Hmm, please wait for a minute".
Marni stepped toward the layered box. She pulled the drawers out one by one. Her hands scraped away the weapons inside the boxes before she took one Katana out.
"Is this the weapon you seek?".
Jin gulped his saliva and took the weapon from Marni with both hands. The weight that transferred to his skin quickened his pulse as he drew the hilt with a click.
Its silver glint reflected the light, stirring something inside Jin to draw everything out, but he exhaled and sheathed back the blade. "I'll take this one," he said.