Rick and Andrew were scouring the guild board for a job suitable for beginners. After some time, they finally settled on goblin hunting. With the request in hand, they left the city.
But as they made their way through the streets, whispers followed them.
"Guardian Andrew…"
"Night Hounder…"
Andrew clenched his jaw at the sound, said, "That bastard Kai couldn't keep his mouth shut. Damn, now we can't even walk in town normally."
"What's wrong with that?" Rick puffed his chest. "Can't you tell how cool our name sounds?"
Andrew shot him a glare. "Keep your mouth shut, brat, or I'll throw you into the goblins' den myself."
Rick chuckled nervously. "Y-Yeah, got it."
After that they left the city and headed for forest. After a while, they encountered their first goblin. Andrew stopped and turned to Rick.
"Listen carefully. You'll be the one fighting. I need to gauge your style and level. But remember this—goblins are different from Night Hounds. They use weapons, and they'll show no mercy. If you hesitate, you'll die. Do you understand?"
Rick swallowed hard, then nodded. "Yes. I'll fight."
"Good. Then go."
Just as Andrew commanded, Rick charged. To Andrew's surprise, Rick dispatched the goblin with a single, clean strike.
Andrew blinked but kept his expression unreadable. "Well done. Better than I thought. But don't get cocky. That was just one goblin. Next time, it won't be so easy—they often come in groups. Keep your guard up."
Rick nodded, though pride gleamed in his eyes.
As they continued walking, Andrew's thoughts grew heavy. That strike… he killed with a single blow. No hesitation. No mercy. That wasn't the act of a child swinging a sword for the first time. For him to kill like that… it means only two things.
Either he grew up in battle… or he is child of a noble.
The forest grew darker as Andrew and Rick pressed on, their boots crunching against the fallen leaves. Rumors of goblins in the area had proven true, and the path had led them to a place locals whispered about: the Goblin's Den.
"Now you're going to fight them, young lad," Andrew said, his voice calm but carrying weight. "Don't worry—I'll be here if you need me."
"I don't need your help," Rick replied stubbornly, his eyes burning with determination.
Andrew chuckled. "Night Hound, eh? Very well. Go and fight."
"Don't order me around," Rick snapped, charging forward with his sword.
The goblins shrieked and rushed at him. At first, Rick managed well enough, his blade cutting through their crude weapons. But soon their numbers began to overwhelm him. He stumbled, parried desperately, and sweat stung his eyes.
Andrew sighed, stepping in with practiced ease. His sword cut down a goblin aiming for Rick's back. "I thought you didn't need any help," he said lightly.
"Shut up," Rick snarled, refusing to admit weakness.
They fought together after that, though Andrew deliberately held back. His strikes were precise and efficient, but he only killed enough goblins to ease the pressure. The rest he left for Rick, allowing the boy to struggle, to learn, and to grow.
By the time the sun began to set, the battlefield was littered with goblin corpses. Rick collapsed to one knee, drenched in blood and sweat, his chest heaving.
"You did better than I expected," Andrew said, barely winded.
Rick looked up, exhausted. "Huff… huff… I told you… I don't need your help."
Andrew smirked, eyes glinting. "Of course. You're already a fine warrior."
Rick forced a laugh. "Yeah… just wait. I'll get even stronger." He staggered back to his feet, legs trembling but unbroken.
"Now get up," Andrew ordered. "We need to cut their ears."
"What?" Rick asked, frowning.
"It's proof," Andrew explained. "Proof that we've killed goblins and completed our job. The guild won't just take our word for it."
Rick's gaze drifted back to the corpses scattered across the dirt. His stomach tightened. "So… what happens to all these dead bodies? We can't just leave them here."
Andrew narrowed his eyes. "It looks like your knowledge is lacking."
Rick bristled at the remark and snapped back aggressively, "What did you say?"
Andrew's tone remained calm. "You don't have to worry about dead bodies. There are many wild animals here. By the time the sun rises, there will only be blood and bone."
Rick's expression hardened. "I see."
They walked in silence for a while before Rick finally asked, "Hey, Andrew…"
Andrew glanced at him. "What is it this time?"
"How did we even get the guild system for jobs?" Rick pressed.
Andrew's lips curved into a faint smile. "Ah, that's a good question. Let me tell you a story."
"After the war between demons and humans, when guilds became independent, they faced many problems. At first, there was no ranking system or restrictions for jobs. Many rookies accepted high-paying missions without thinking, and most ended up dead. The guild began to decline, its mortality rate rising sharply.
"At that time, a guild could still issue jobs, but it was chaotic. That all changed when the third guild master took command. He created the ranking system, classifying adventurers based on their skill, and assigning jobs based on both danger and pay. This structure allowed guilds to thrive, but survival was still harsh.
"Later, under the fifth guild master, an important tradition was established: guilds began to take quet from everyone.before fifth gulid master even though there was ranking system but there was not enough job because the job was issued by guild only. But then fifth guild master broke that tradition by allowing everyone to post quest while guild only act as bridge between them. With that guild began to overflow with quest and adventurer. That's how it became the strongest organisation in the world.
Andrew's voice carried calmly as he explained, "Now, anyone who needs materials, protection, or an escort simply posts a job. Night watch patrols, monster hunting, guarding travelers—these are all handled through the guild. The guild itself only takes a small fee for providing a place to request quests. And that," he said, "is how we get our jobs."
Rick frowned. "I see… but what if someone doesn't complete their quest?"
Andrew gave him a sidelong glance. "Then they don't get paid. You only earn money after providing proof of completing your mission."
Rick fell silent. The more he listened, the more he realized how little he knew about the guild. He tucked the new knowledge away, quietly collecting his thoughts.
After some time walking, they reached the guild building. Rick accidentally bumped into Andrew, who had stopped abruptly at the door.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you stopping here?" Rick asked.
Andrew muttered under his breath, "I don't want to go in. Now that everyone knows about me, there will be whispers and hunts. I'm sure my name has already spread."
Rick shook his head. "Hey, what's wrong with you? Let's just go inside and get our pay."
Andrew's expression darkened. "Screw it. Let's go inside."
He pushed the door open. Behind it was a hall full of hunters, all of whom turned to look at them. For a moment, the room was heavy with silence.
"We're going straight to reception," Andrew muttered firmly.
They stepped forward, but before they could reach the counter, voices began to rise.
"Oh, look—it's the Guardian! Andrew, has come with his partner!" someone shouted.
Laughter followed. Jokes and mocking remarks filled the air. But Rick noticed Andrew wasn't angry. His face remained calm, almost serene.
He realized why—these people weren't laughing at Andrew's resolve or mocking his strength. They were laughing as if to say: You are one of us now.
After that, they received their pay. At first, Emy was shocked—Rick was covered in blood, standing silently beside Andrew and started taking out his anger at Andrew. Experiencing all of it Rick felt warmth like he found something invaluable.
They walked away from the guild without saying a word. Andrew didn't scold Rick, and Rick didn't ask anything more.
Once outside, Andrew finally broke the silence. "Thank the gods you didn't say anything stupid back there. Well, forget that—here's your share."
He handed Rick a small pouch. Rick opened it, frowning. "What the hell? Only eight copper coins? That's so cheap."
Andrew shrugged. "That was an E-rank quest. What did you expect?" He waved him off. "Anyway, for now, go home and rest. Meet me here in the morning. Goodbye."
Without another word, Andrew left.
Rick returned to the inn where he was staying. He ordered lunch, ate in silence, then answered a few idle questions from the innkeeper about how he'd become an adventurer. Afterward, he went to his room, washed the blood from his body, and collapsed onto the bed.
Lying there, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts drifted.
"Hey, Mom… can you see me? Look—I'm doing better. I got myself a guardian. Even though he's weird, he's a kind person. Don't worry… I'll make sure your son becomes strong."
A faint smile touched Rick's lips. As his eyelids grew heavy, he felt a warm sensation brush gently across his forehead, almost like a hand. And then a voice—soft, familiar, and filled with love.
"I know, my son."
With that, Rick drifted into sleep.