CHAPTER 9 — A CALAMITY BEYOND REASON
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The heavy wooden door opened with a long creak—like a lament from something long untouched. The air from inside immediately hit them: warm, slightly stuffy, and mixed with a difficult-to-describe scent. The smell of sweat, the smell of metal, the smell of old wood, the smell of lamp oil, and the smell of something else—something he couldn't identify, but it felt like... adventure.
Kyoichiiro stepped in first, his eyes immediately adjusting to the change in light. Outside was still bright, but inside, the light was dimmer—from oil lamps hanging from the high ceiling, from large candles on the walls, from a few stained glass windows illuminating corners of the room with strange colors.
And sound. Sound that washed over them like waves.
Loud laughter, voices arguing, the clinking and clattering of mugs on wooden tables, heavy footsteps on stone floors, the clash of metal—perhaps swords being sharpened, or armor being repaired. All blended into one symphony of chaos that strangely felt... alive.
Aetheria: (Whispering, her voice barely audible above the noise) "So many people..."
Amura: (Beside her, his eyes gleaming) "This is just the beginning. In the big cities, the Guild could be twice as crowded."
Kyoichiiro: (Silent, his eyes moving quickly, observing his surroundings)
The room was very spacious. The ceiling was high, perhaps twice the height of the houses in Fertile. On the left wall, there were large wooden boards covered in papers—likely quest listings. On the right wall, there was a long bar with high stools, where a few adventurers sat drinking. In the center of the room, large wooden tables were scattered, most already occupied by groups of adventurers eating, drinking, or discussing loudly.
But the most striking thing was the people.
Kyoichiiro had never seen so many different races in one place. There were humans, of course—mostly adult men with muscular builds and scarred faces. But there were also those with pointed ears, pale skin, and long silver hair—Elves, Kyoichiiro thought. There were also short, stocky figures with thick beards and large axes on their backs—Dwarves, perhaps. And there were those with animal features: wolf-like ears, furry tails, cat-like eyes, or thin scales on parts of their skin.
Beastfolk, Kyoichiiro thought. Edon once told me about them.
A wolf-type Beastman walked past them without noticing, his large body nearly bumping into Aetheria. Amura quickly pulled the girl aside, saving her from being knocked over.
Aetheria: (Still slightly startled) "I-I... thank you, Amura-san."
Amura: (Smiling) "Be careful. Everyone here is busy with their own affairs. They don't care if they bump into others."
Kyoichiiro: (Remaining silent, still observing)
He saw an adventurer in dented armor, pointing at a map on a table while speaking loudly. Nearby, a group of Elves in green robes were chatting softly, occasionally laughing. In a corner of the room, a small man in a black robe sat alone, reading a thick book with a serious expression.
This place... is like a crossroads of the world, Kyoichiiro thought. All kinds of people, all kinds of backgrounds, all kinds of purposes. They come here seeking work, seeking adventure, seeking money, or perhaps seeking something else.
Amura: (Approaching, his voice low) "Kyoichiiro-san, shall we look at the quest board first?"
Kyoichiiro: (Nodding) "Yes."
They walked along the edge of the room, past crowded tables, past the busy bar, toward the left wall where the large wooden boards hung. Above the board, written in large letters: "QUESTS — RANK F TO B".
Aetheria: (Looking at the board with bright eyes) "There are so many..."
Amura: (Explaining patiently) "This is the quest board. Adventurers can take quests from here. There are various types—killing monsters, gathering rare materials, escorting goods, protecting villages, and more. Each quest has a different difficulty level. Rank F is the easiest, Rank S the hardest."
Kyoichiiro: "Rank?"
Amura: "Yes. There's a ranking system for adventurers. Starting from F, E, D, C, B, A, and S. The higher the rank, the harder the quests you can take, and the greater the rewards."
Kyoichiiro: (Nodding, his eyes moving from one paper to another) "Which ones could we take?"
Amura: (Smiling—a knowing smile) "That depends. First, we need to register as adventurers. Then we'll be tested—basic abilities, basic knowledge, maybe a physical test. From there, we'll get our initial rank."
Kyoichiiro: "What's the usual initial rank?"
Amura: "Usually F or E. But if we're lucky, maybe D."
Kyoichiiro didn't answer. He was still reading the papers on the board. Some writings caught his attention:
"ELIMINATION — Goblin Horde in the Southern Forest. Reward: 500 Zeyn. Rank E."
"COLLECTION — Mandragora Roots (5 pieces). Reward: 300 Zeyn. Rank F."
"ESCORT — Deliver goods to Rimba Village. Reward: 800 Zeyn. Rank D."
His eyes stopped at the last paper. Rimba Village. A familiar name. A name that made his chest feel strange.
Edon, he thought. Claire. The creaking wooden house. Warm soup on cold nights.
He looked away.
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COMMOTION AT THE REGISTRATION DESK
Suddenly, a loud voice cut through the noise. From the registration desk in the center of the room, the sound of an argument—angry voices, frustrated voices, voices refusing to accept reality.
Wolfman #1: (A growling voice, low like a bark) "Why did we only get Rank E?! We've already defeated wild wolves in the hills! That's at least Rank D!"
Wolfman #2: (Also angry, but slightly calmer) "Yes! We've proven our abilities! This is unfair!"
Behind the registration desk, a female attendant with neatly tied blonde hair and a professional—though weary—expression answered firmly.
Female Attendant: (Voice calm, but not soft) "I'm sorry. The strength and rank assessment has been done correctly according to Guild standards. Experience killing ordinary wild beasts is not the same as the ability to face monsters or complete Guild quests. You can raise your rank by completing E-rank quests first."
Wolfman #1: (His fist hitting the wooden table, scattering papers) "Damn it—! This is discrimination! You won't accept us because we're not human!"
Wolfman #2: (Calmer, but still angry) "We've already proven ourselves. This is unfair."
The female attendant didn't flinch. She just looked at them with unblinking eyes.
Female Attendant: "I'm sorry. This is the final decision."
One of the Wolfmen—the larger and angrier one—suddenly swung his fist toward the female attendant. Not at her face, but at the desk before her—a move to intimidate, to show he couldn't be ignored.
But before the fist could hit the table, a large hand—much larger than the Wolfman's hand—gripped his wrist firmly.
A large, bald man stood there. His body was like stone, with muscles seemingly carved from granite. His face wasn't angry, but neither was it friendly. His expression was flat, like someone who had seen this too many times.
Bald Man: (A deep, authoritative voice) "Don't cause trouble here."
The Wolfman tried to pull his hand back—he couldn't.
Bald Man: (Continuing) "You know the consequences of breaking Guild rules, don't you? Suspension. Or permanent expulsion. Do you want that?"
The Wolfman snorted. He pulled his hand back—this time, the bald man let go. The Wolfman grumbled, then turned and walked away with heavy steps, followed by his calmer companion.
Bald Man: (To the female attendant) "Are you alright?"
Female Attendant: (Letting out a relieved breath) "Yes. Thank you, Mr. Goran."
The man named Goran nodded, then returned to his seat in the corner of the room—as if nothing had happened.
Kyoichiiro observed the entire incident in silence. His light blue eyes didn't blink.
So this is the Guild, he thought. A place where strength is measured, where people struggle for recognition, where rules are enforced with an iron fist. A place not as beautiful as Aetheria imagined.
Aetheria: (Whispering, her voice slightly trembling) "That was... scary."
Amura: (Flat) "It's normal. Sometimes people aren't satisfied with their rankings. But Goran is right—they can't break the rules."
Kyoichiiro: (Still observing) "Who is Goran?"
Amura: "A Guild senior. A retired Rank A adventurer. He works here as a guard and sometimes as a test supervisor."
Kyoichiiro: "Rank A?"
Amura: "Yes. There are only a few who reach Rank A in this region. Goran is one of them. They say he once explored a high-level dungeon alone and returned safely."
Kyoichiiro didn't answer. He just stored that information in his head.
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REGISTERING
After the commotion subsided, Amura walked toward the registration desk. Kyoichiiro and Aetheria followed behind.
Amura: (Smiling warmly at the female attendant) "Excuse me, we'd like to register as adventurers."
The female attendant—the same one who had dealt with the Wolfmen—looked at them with slightly startled eyes. Three small children. Two boys and one girl. They were probably still under ten years old.
Female Attendant: (Still professional, but with a note of doubt in her voice) "You... want to register? As adventurers?"
Amura: (Still smiling) "Yes. All three of us."
Female Attendant: (Looking at them in turn) "Do you know the rules for underage adventurers? You need permission from a parent or guardian."
Amura: (Flat) "We don't have parents or guardians."
The female attendant frowned. She looked at Amura longer—looking at his sharp red eyes, at his clothes, though simple, made of quality material. Then she looked at Kyoichiiro—calm light blue eyes, too calm for a child his age. Then she looked at Aetheria—anxious pink eyes, which seemed to want to disappear behind Amura's jacket.
Female Attendant: (Sighing) "Alright. You'll have to take a test first. A basic test to determine your initial ranks."
Amura: "We're ready."
The female attendant led them to a room behind the registration desk—a smaller room, with stone walls and a wooden floor. In the center of the room, there was a large dark gray stone, like granite, with scratches on its surface.
Female Attendant: "This is the test stone. Hit it with your maximum strength. The stone will measure your physical abilities."
Amura stepped forward. He didn't rush. He regulated his breathing, clenched his right fist, and struck the stone with one quick punch.
Thud!
The stone vibrated slightly. On its surface, lines of blue light appeared, moving from the center to the edges, then disappearing.
Female Attendant: (Looking at the result, her eyes widening slightly) "Not bad... your strength is equivalent to a Rank E adventurer."
Amura: (Smiling) "E? Not F?"
Female Attendant: "E. That's good for someone your age."
Amura stepped back, making way for Kyoichiiro. Kyoichiiro stepped forward. He wasn't like Amura—he didn't punch with all his might. He just clenched his fist, then punched the stone with an efficient motion.
Thud!
Blue lines appeared—not as many as Amura's, but enough.
Female Attendant: (Nodding) "Rank E. Same as your friend."
Kyoichiiro didn't react. He just stepped back.
Now it was Aetheria's turn. The girl bit her lip, her hands trembling. She wasn't used to punching. She wasn't used to showing physical strength.
Aetheria: (Whispering) "I... I can't..."
Amura: (Encouraging softly) "Just try. You don't have to hit hard."
Kyoichiiro: (Silent, but his eyes watched Aetheria with an unreadable expression)
Aetheria took a deep breath. She clenched her small fist—her hand trembling—and punched the stone weakly.
Thud.
Blue lines appeared—only a few, barely visible.
Female Attendant: (Still professional) "Rank F. But that's okay. You can still raise your rank by completing quests."
Aetheria: (Her face slightly flushed with embarrassment) "Sorry... I..."
Amura: (Patting her shoulder) "It's okay. We'll help you raise your rank."
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TEAM RANK DETERMINATION
After the physical test, the female attendant brought them back to the registration desk. She wrote something in a large book with a feather pen whose tip was somewhat worn.
Female Attendant: "Based on the test results, the three of you get the following initial ranks: Amura E, Kyoichiiro E, Aetheria F."
She paused, thinking.
Female Attendant: "But... since you're registering as a team, you can get a team rank. A team rank is usually the same as the highest rank among members, but with a note—you must complete quests together to maintain it."
Amura: "What team rank?"
Female Attendant: "C."
Amura: (Surprised) "C? But we—"
Female Attendant: (Cutting in) "Your team has potential. Amura has sufficient physical strength, Kyoichiiro has... something else, and Aetheria—" She looked at Aetheria carefully. "Aetheria has magic. I can sense it. Though it's weak now, it can develop."
Aetheria: (Surprised) "I... I have magic?"
Female Attendant: "You didn't know? That's strange. Usually people with magical talent realize it from childhood."
Aetheria: (Looking down) "I... I never tried."
Female Attendant: "Try now. Focus your mind on your palm. Imagine light. Imagine fire, or wind, or something else."
Aetheria closed her eyes. She concentrated. Her hand lifted—trembling, but lifted. And in her palm, a small spark appeared. Not fire—more like light, like a tiny flickering flash.
Female Attendant: (Nodding) "Light magic. Not very strong, but it can develop. You could become a healer, or a ranged fighter, or many other things."
Aetheria: (Opening her eyes, seeing the small spark in her hand) "I... I have magic..."
Amura: (Smiling) "See? You have talent too."
Kyoichiiro: (Silent, but his eyes carefully observed the spark)
The female attendant wrote something else in the large book.
Female Attendant: "Alright. Your team is officially registered with Rank C. Team name?"
The three of them exchanged glances.
Amura: "We don't have a name yet."
Female Attendant: "You can think about it later. For now, you can start taking C-rank quests."
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OUTSIDE THE GUILD
The air outside the Adventurers' Concord felt fresher after the hustle and bustle inside the Guild building. The city greeted them again with its characteristic symphony: the shuffling of footsteps, the clanging of metal from nearby forges, the tempting aroma of street food, and the glances of adventurers busy with their own affairs. Kyoichiiro walked in front as usual, his steps calm but purposeful. Behind him, Amura and Aetheria followed at a comfortable distance.
After walking in silence for a while, Kyoichiiro broke the quiet.
Kyoichiiro: "You mentioned 'Abyssal Dungeon' earlier?"
Amura: (Turning) "Yes. That's the name of the nearest dungeon recommended for Rank C like us. It's about an hour's journey from here."
Kyoichiiro: "Why do you know such details?"
The question was asked in a flat tone, but carried sharpness. Amura smiled faintly—a difficult-to-read expression, as if hiding many stories behind it.
Amura: "I'll tell you everything later. Provided... we can share our stories with each other. After we trust each other more."
Kyoichiiro didn't respond further. He understood that everyone had secrets, and forcing them now wouldn't be useful.
Kyoichiiro: "In the meantime, we have a more pressing problem. We lack adequate weapons. Before going to any dungeon, we need to find a blacksmith."
Amura: (His face brightening) "Good idea! Coincidentally, I know a good place. Follow me."
They continued walking through the city streets. Kyoichiiro observed his surroundings carefully as usual—without excessive commentary, without easily readable expressions. Architecture, types of people, economic activity—all were recorded in his mind as data to understand this world more deeply.
They turned right, leaving the main road. The atmosphere slowly changed. The streets grew narrower, sunlight diminished, blocked by tall buildings. The mood became quieter, darker. At the corners, several figures—clearly criminals or vagrants from their appearance—were seen lying or sitting silently with blank faces. Yet none of them bothered or even noticed the three children. There was an unwritten rule in areas like this: don't cause trouble with anyone who looks ordinary, because they might be more dangerous than they appear.
They walked past all that without looking back, focused on their destination.
At the end of an almost dead-end street, stood a simple small building. Smoke billowed from its chimney, and the rhythmic sound of metal being forged could be heard from inside. They entered.