We were standing inside Eldrathis's largest Adventurers' Guild, right in front of the main receptionist desk.
Even here—at the heart of the guild—the noise never truly stopped. Voices overlapped endlessly. The clinking of armor, the thud of boots against stone, the low hum of mana from mages nearby—it all blended into a chaotic rhythm that somehow felt… alive.
The receptionist stood behind the counter, flipping through several documents with practiced efficiency. Her fingers moved quickly, eyes sharp as she skimmed through the papers.
After a moment, she looked up.
"Lord Alistair," she said politely, "your son's registration is now complete."
I straightened instinctively.
"But," she continued, tapping one paper lightly, "to formally activate his status as an adventurer, he must complete at least one task."
She turned the document toward us.
"Currently, we have four available F-rank quests."
Her voice was calm, professional—clearly used to explaining this dozens of times a day.
"First," she said, raising one finger,
"a missing cat search mission. Reward: ten small copper coins."
I blinked.
A cat…?
"Second," she continued, unfazed,
"urgent request for ten slime stones. Reward: ten small copper coins."
My ears perked up slightly.
Slime stones… monsters?
"Third," she went on,
"assistance with chopping firewood. Reward: fifty small copper coins."
That sounded more tiring than dangerous.
"And fourth," she finished,
"gathering ten low-to-mid tier medicinal herbs. Reward: one large copper coin and fifty small copper coins."
She folded her hands neatly.
"These are all suitable beginner-level tasks."
I glanced up at Father.
Before I could even think properly, Father spoke.
"We'll take the second quest."
His tone was calm. Decisive.
No hesitation at all.
The receptionist nodded immediately.
"Understood. Please give me a moment."
She picked up a stamp, pressed it firmly onto the quest parchment—
Thump.
A glowing seal briefly flashed on the paper before fading.
She handed it over respectfully.
"Here you are, Lord Alistair."
Then she added, turning slightly toward me,
"You can find slimes near the Monster Forest. The area closest to the city border is safe for beginners."
Safe.
That word echoed in my head.
Father turned to look at me.
"All right," he said.
"Let's go. I'll accompany you and teach you the basics while we're there."
His gaze softened slightly.
"This will be your first real step."
I nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, Father."
Inside my chest, something stirred.
Excitement.
Nervousness.
And a strange, unfamiliar thrill.
My first quest.
My first hunt.
---
We left the Adventurers' Guild soon after.
The heavy wooden doors closed behind us with a deep thud, muffling the noise of the bustling hall inside. Outside, the air felt different—less chaotic, calmer, yet filled with anticipation.
We climbed back into our carriage.
The horses neighed softly as the driver urged them forward, and soon the wheels began rolling over the stone-paved road. The city slowly slipped past the window—tall buildings, narrow streets, merchants shouting their wares, and adventurers moving with purpose.
Time passed quietly.
Almost half an hour later, the carriage began to slow.
I leaned forward instinctively, pressing my face closer to the window.
And then—
I saw it.
"…Big."
No—huge.
A colossal wall stretched across the horizon, cutting the world in two. It was built from thick gray stone blocks, each one larger than our carriage. The surface bore countless scars—cracks, claw marks, and dark stains that time hadn't been able to erase.
Two city guards stood before the massive gate, clad in heavy armor, spears resting firmly against the ground. Their presence alone felt solid, immovable.
My eyes widened.
This was the first time I had ever seen a city border with my own eyes.
I tugged at Father's sleeve excitedly.
"Look, Father!" I exclaimed.
"It's huuugge…! That wall is enormous!!"
Father glanced at it calmly, as if it were nothing special.
"That," he said, "is the city border. It was specifically designed to stop monster attacks."
"Oooh!!"
My face lit up instantly.
A wall to stop monsters…!
The idea alone made my heart race.
The carriage slowed further and finally came to a stop near the gate.
We stepped down.
The air here felt different—thicker somehow, carrying a faint, wild scent I had never noticed inside the city.
When Father approached the guards, they straightened immediately.
Both of them bowed deeply.
Father spoke to them in a low voice, showing his identification. Whatever he said, it worked instantly—the guards nodded and moved aside.
With a deep, rumbling sound, the massive gate began to open.
The metal chains rattled.
Light spilled through the widening gap.
Father and I walked forward, passing through the border gate together.
Behind us, our household guards remained behind with the city guards. They did not follow.
It was just Father and me.
We walked a short distance.
Then—
The world opened up.
A sudden flood of bright light hit my eyes, and I reflexively shut them tight.
Too bright.
Too wide.
Too… much.
When I slowly opened my eyes again—
I froze.
"…Woah…"
Before me stretched a vast, endless field.
Green.
So green it almost hurt to look at.
Tall grasses swayed gently in the wind, dotted with countless wildflowers of every color imaginable—white, yellow, blue, red. Butterflies fluttered lazily above them, and the air was filled with the soft hum of life.
Far ahead, in the distance—
A forest.
Dense.
Dark.
Endless.
Rows upon rows of towering trees stood like silent giants, their leaves whispering secrets to one another. I couldn't even begin to count how many there were.
This scenery—
It was something I had never imagined before.
No walls.
No buildings.
No ceilings.
Just sky.
Land.
And freedom.
I stood there, completely mesmerized.
This was outside the city.
This was the world beyond safety.
And for the first time in my life—
I felt like I had truly stepped into it.
---
But I didn't know it yet—
This simple F-rank task would be the moment where my "normal" life officially ended.
And the path of an adventurer truly began.
---
⭐Author Note
[ Next time: I.. Want to do it too ]