Chapter 8 – A New Badge, A New Target
The morning sun barely peeked over the rooftops of Restoria when Blue stepped out of the inn, stretching his arms with a satisfied sigh. The streets were already alive—merchants setting up stalls, workers unloading crates, the scent of fresh bread mixing with the distant aroma of roasted meats.
His S-Rank badge hadn't arrived yet, but that didn't bother him. It was just a formality. He had already earned the respect of King Fen and his men, even if his official hunter status still said F-Rank.
But something wasn't right.
As he walked through the city, a faint prickle ran down his spine—a sensation he was all too familiar with.
He was being watched.
It wasn't just the occasional curious glance from a passing merchant or the wary look from a patrolling guard. No, this was different. This was intentional.
Footsteps that faded into the crowd too smoothly. Shadows that shifted just a second too late. Breathing patterns that tried to match the city's natural rhythm but failed.
Amateurs.
Blue didn't react. If someone was watching him, they had a reason. Maybe it was the guild. Maybe it was the King.
Either way, it didn't matter.
He kept his pace steady, acting as if he hadn't noticed. If they thought they were unseen, they'd get sloppy.
And when they did, he'd decide what to do with them.
But first—he had business at the Hunter's Guild.
The Hunter's Guild
The Hunter's Guild building was massive, towering over the surrounding shops like a fortress. The emblem of a silver wolf's head gleamed above the entrance, a symbol recognized across nations.
Hunters of all ranks came and went—rugged warriors, nimble assassins, robed mages—all moving with purpose.
Blue stepped inside.
The moment he did, the atmosphere shifted.
Hunters were rowdy by nature—laughing, drinking, arguing over past missions—but as soon as he entered, conversations dimmed.
Eyes flickered toward him, some wary, some curious. He wasn't wearing anything fancy, but the way he moved—the ease, the confidence—it set him apart.
A few veteran hunters exchanged looks.
"Who is this kid?"
"Never seen him before."
"He walked in like he owns the place."
Blue ignored them, heading straight for the front desk. A woman with short auburn hair and sharp green eyes sat behind the counter, flipping through paperwork. She looked up as he approached.
"Can I help you?"
Blue placed his F-Rank badge on the counter.
"Yeah. I need an upgrade."
The receptionist blinked, glanced at the badge, then back at him.
"Uh… you know rank promotions require mission records, right? F-Rank hunters can't just—"
Before she could finish, a deep voice cut through the room.
"Hold on."
A man pushed off from the nearby wall, stepping toward them. He was broad-shouldered, wearing dark leather armor, a heavy sword strapped to his back. His presence was commanding.
"Name's Garrik," he said, crossing his arms. "I'm an A-Rank hunter. Never seen you before. What makes you think you deserve a rank up?"
Blue could already tell exactly what was happening.
A newcomer walks in, acts like he's important, and suddenly demands a higher rank? Of course, it would rub people the wrong way.
He could handle this two ways:
Explain everything nicely, or—
Shut him up immediately.
Blue sighed. He was in a good mood, so he chose option one.
"Relax," he said. "King Fen already approved my promotion. I'm just here to collect the badge."
Garrik narrowed his eyes.
"You expect us to believe that?"
Before Blue could respond, the main doors slammed open.
A pair of armored figures strode in—Royal Guards.
The entire room went dead silent. Even the loudest, most reckless hunters knew better than to mess with them.
One of the guards, a sharp-featured woman, scanned the room before spotting Blue. She approached, holding something in her gloved hand.
"By order of King Fen," she said, voice firm, "this is yours."
She placed a small, gleaming S-Rank badge on the counter.
Then, she made sure everyone heard what came next.
"This is not a Hunter's Guild badge." She let the words hang in the air.
"This is a Kingdom Badge, personally granted by King Fen himself. The King sent it to the Guild as a statement—Restoria has a new S-Rank."
She turned to the receptionist.
"Make sure this is documented properly. He is an S-Rank of the Kingdom, not the Hunter's Guild."
The silence in the guild was deafening.
Even Garrik—the confident, A-Rank hunter—stared, stunned.
The implications were massive.
Guild S-Ranks were strong, but they had no political power. A Kingdom S-Rank, however, was a direct representation of royal authority. They weren't just powerful warriors—they were forces of national strength.
It wasn't just a title. It was a statement.
Blue picked up the badge, rolling it between his fingers.
"Appreciate it."
Shifting Tensions
The moment Blue walked out of the guild, he could feel the eyes on him.
Not just the spies anymore. The entire city.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear? The King just granted an S-Rank title to someone new!"
"That kid? He doesn't look like much."
"Idiot! Do you think the King would just hand that out to anyone?"
Blue smirked. Things were moving now.
But that also meant new problems.
He wasn't just some unknown F-Rank anymore. He was officially a major player in the kingdom. That meant every noble, rival, and political schemer would either try to control him… or eliminate him.
And that was just fine.
He continued walking through the city, completely at ease. The spies, the hunters, the nobles—they could all watch him as much as they wanted.
It wouldn't change a thing.
Blue decided to keep the details of his age a secret for now. Word around town had already begun to spread that the new S-Rank was around 18 years old, but for now, he preferred to let people speculate.
He knew they would eventually find out, but for the time being, it was best to remain under the radar and keep his focus sharp.
It wouldn't be long before they came for him.