Andrew, once hailed as a prodigy, was a B-Rank adventurer with the ability to control aura. He stood just one step away from reaching the fabled realm of sword master. Many believed he was destined to become a Awakned one, a shining figure who would leave his mark on the world.
But fate is cruel.
After a tragic accident, everything changed. The man once celebrated as a genius became ordinary. The fire that once burned in him dimmed, leaving behind only the shadow of his former self. Though he remained with the guild, he no longer pursued greatness. Instead, he lived quietly, accepting regular quests, never striving for anything more. His days became a routine, his life without purpose, as if meaning itself had slipped through his fingers.
That was Andrew—the man who had once been a rising star, now reduced to a hollow existence.
Yet, life has a way of weaving unexpected threads. A child entered Andrew's life, and for reasons even he could not explain, he felt compelled to take the boy under his wing. Slowly, reluctantly, he became the child's guardian.
The Law of Adventurers
Long ago, after the great war, countless children rushed to join the Adventurer's Guild, desperate to earn money and forge their own paths. But without proper training or experience, most of them met only death. To end the tragedy, the First Emperor created a law:
No one under the age of sixteen may become an adventurer.
For years, this law stood unchallenged. But time passed, and pressure from nobles who wished for their children to begin training earlier grew stronger. Finally, the rule was altered, lowering the age to fourteen. Even then, the Guildmaster remained firm against reckless change. Instead of further lowering the limit, he introduced a new condition:
If another adventurer was willing to take full responsibility for a child, that child could enter the guild.
It was under this very rule that the boy—Rick—took his first step into the world of adventurers. And it was Andrew, the man who had lost all ambition, who became his guardian.
Thus began a story neither of them could have predicted: the tale of a fallen star guiding a new flame, and the adventure that would change them both.
But being a guardian was not easy. Every week, Andrew had to report to the guild, where officials would check for any abuse or negligence. He was forbidden from taking quests above his own rank and was required to shield the child from unnecessary danger. If a child under his care died unexpectedly, Andrew would be forced to provide solid evidence proving that it was unavoidable—otherwise, he would face punishment far harsher than most.
The reasoning behind these strict rules was simple: the Guildmasters believed children were the future of humanity. Some among them might even surpass today's heroes. Protecting them was not just duty, but a necessity.
Yet not everyone approved. Many adventurers resented the idea. Why shoulder the burden of raising a child without reward? Why take on the constant risks and restrictions? For that reason, guardianship was rare. Few chose it. Fewer still survived it.
Andrew, however, had chosen it. And no one quite understood why.
A Child's First Step
After submitting the paperwork and completing the required procedures, Rick officially became an adventurer. He held his newly issued card tightly, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he sat in the guild's resting area.
Beside him sat Andrew, legs crossed, one hand supporting his chin. Unlike Rick, he looked anything but pleased. His thoughts churned bitterly.
Why the hell did I agree to this? I can barely take care of myself—now I've got a brat to worry about, too. What a hassle.
He sighed heavily, then glanced at the boy.
"Hey, brat," Andrew muttered, his voice gruff, "you got any money?"
Rick blinked, startled by the sudden question. For a moment, he hesitated, clutching his card closer. "My… my name is Rick," he corrected timidly.
Andrew raised an eyebrow, amused. "Yeah, yeah. Now tell me, Rick—do you have any money or not?"
Rick stared at him for a while, suspicion flickering in his eyes. Finally, he answered cautiously, "I… I have some. But don't even think about taking it, or I'll run away."
Hearing Rick's sharp reply, Andrew's temper flared. His brows furrowed, and his voice rose.
"I'm not interested in your money, brat!" he snapped. "I asked because you'll need to pay for your own room and food. Do you understand that?"
Rick shrank slightly but answered firmly, "I know. And I'm not going to ask you for anything. I'll earn my own keep."
Andrew's expression hardened, his irritation mounting. "Kid, you should be grateful. I became your guardian when no one else would. Without me, you wouldn't even be standing here as an adventurer. So show some damn respect."
Rick lowered his eyes, muttering, "Thank you. Not that I asked you."
Andrew clenched his jaw, fighting back the urge to explode again. This brat…
Just then, the heavy doors of the guild swung open. A group of adventurers strode inside, chatting loudly.
"We should've hunted a bit longer," one of them said. "There was still more out there."
"Don't be greedy," another replied. "We already finished our quest. That's enough for now."
The group—four in total—spotted Andrew arguing with Rick. One of them, a tall man with messy black hair, smirked and approached.
"Well, well," he drawled, "what's this? Andrew, since when do you spend your time bullying kids?"
Andrew's eyes narrowed. "Shut it, Kai. Why don't you use your time to finally get yourself a girl instead of pestering me?"
Kai's smirk vanished, replaced with anger. "What did you just say? Are you picking a fight with me?"
Andrew rose to his feet, cracking his neck, a dangerous grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, that's right. I'm picking a fight—with you."
The tension in the guild thickened instantly. Kai's companions, Mark and Ron, stood up as well, fists tightening, ready for a brawl.
Before the clash could erupt, however, a firm voice cut through the air.
"That's enough!"
A woman with sharp eyes and auburn hair stepped forward—May, another adventurer. Her gaze burned with exasperation. "Honestly. Every time you two see each other, it turns into a fight. And this time, there's a child here!"
Andrew clicked his tongue but didn't argue back. Rick, meanwhile, could only watch, wide-eyed, as the storm of tempers brewed around him.
After May's scolding, she walked over to Rick, placed a gentle hand on his head, and asked softly,
"Did they scare you? Don't worry, they're not going to hurt you."
Rick shook his head. "I'm not afraid of them."
May smiled warmly. "I see… you're really brave. Then will you tell me your name?"
"My name is Rick," he replied shyly. "What's yours?"
"My name is May," she answered kindly. "It's nice to meet you, Rick."
As the two exchanged introductions, Andrew and Kai were still glaring at each other, their tempers threatening to ignite once more. May quickly turned back, irritation flashing across her face.
"Both of you, enough!" she snapped. "You're like children! Stop fighting already!"
Andrew and Kai grumbled almost in unison, "Sorry…"
Mark, one of Kai's companions, chuckled nervously. "Calm down, May. You know how it is. Those two fight every time they meet. That's just how they are."
Eventually, the tension cooled, and the group settled at a table. For a moment, silence lingered. Then Mark leaned forward, curiosity in his eyes.
"So," he began, "who's this child? And why were you arguing with him, Andrew?"
Andrew leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "I wasn't arguing. I was… discussing."
Rony, another adventurer, raised an eyebrow. "Discussing? Looked a lot like yelling to me."
Andrew clicked his tongue but didn't answer right away. May tilted her head, pressing the issue.
"What exactly were you discussing with him?" she asked.
Andrew hesitated, clearly reluctant. Finally, in a low voice, he muttered, "I… became his guardian."
The table fell silent.
"What was that?" Mark asked. "Speak up. We can't hear you."
Andrew scowled, then repeated louder, "I said, I became his guardian."
For a moment, everyone just stared at him. Then, as if on cue, laughter erupted.
"You?" Mark choked out between laughs. "You—Andrew—the guy who doesn't care about anyone but himself, becoming a guardian? Is this a joke?"
"Tell me you're not messing with us," Rony added, struggling to contain his grin.
But Andrew's grim expression never wavered. "It's true," he said flatly.
"Is it true?" someone choked out between fits.
"I can't believe it."
"Andrew, a guardian? What a joke!"
"This is really funny!"
The guild echoed with their mocking voices.
Rick clenched his fists, his small frame trembling—not with fear, but with defiance. "Don't laugh," he said, his voice steady. "Even though I look small, I can easily kill a Night Hound."
For a moment, the laughter stopped. The air froze in surprise at the boy's bold declaration. Then, as if the silence had been a spark, the room erupted again.
"Hahaha! So you can kill a Night Hound, huh?"
"Cute, really cute."
"I know—let's call him Night Hounder!"
"Hahaha, yeah! That's a great name!"
Rick's face flushed red, caught between anger and embarrassment.
Andrew pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned. "You brat… can't you stop boasting about killing Night Hounds?"
But somewhere deep inside, a faint spark stirred in Andrew's chest. The boy's words were reckless, even laughable—but they carried the same fire Andrew himself had once possessed.
Eventually, the laughter in the guild settled, and the adventurers began preparing to leave.
May smiled and waved. "Goodbye, Andrew. We should get going. It was a great time—let's meet again." She glanced at Rick with a playful grin. "And goodbye to you too, Rick… or should I call you Night Hounder?"
Mark and Rony chuckled. "Yeah, goodbye, Night Hounder."
Kai smirked as he turned for the door. "Goodbye, Guardian Andrew. Goodbye, Night Hounder."
With that, the party departed, their laughter echoing faintly as they left the guild behind.
At the table, Andrew slumped forward and buried his head in his arms. "It's over," he muttered. "Now they're going to tell everyone in town. By tomorrow, the whole place will know."
Rick tried to smile, puffing out his chest. "Don't worry. People will also know that I'm the one who can kill a Night Hou—"
Before he could finish, Andrew's hand shot out, gripping Rick's shoulder tightly. His voice was low, firm, and dangerous.
"Don't you dare say that again. Not ever. Do you understand?"
Rick froze under Andrew's piercing gaze. His bravado crumbled, and he nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah. I won't say it again."
Andrew released him with a sigh, leaning back. Then, after a long pause, he stood and stretched. His tone shifted, calmer now but edged with resolve.
"Get up, brat. It's time."
Rick blinked, confused. "Time for what?"
Andrew's eyes hardened, a faint glint of his old self flickering through.
"It's time for hunting."