Chapter - 03

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Shiro looked at thhe guild receptionist Reya, who had a blank face now. She looked over again and again as if to make sure that her eyes weren't deceiving her. Before her lay goblin ears. Neatly cut. In the hundreds. It would be safe to say that Shiro had atleast completed a century. The receptionist once again looked at Shiro. His frame was quiet tall for a 14 year old, but beside that he had no extraordinary features (other than his looks but oh well). She found it hard to believe that such a boy could have hunted and subjugated so many goblins.

"Is some thing wrong miss Rea ?" (Well i know this young master I has killed a lot of goblins, but is there any reason to be this surprised ? Its just goblins...)

Shiro asked tilting his head breaking her out of her stupor. She hurriedly shook her head and looked at him with wide eyes.

"Say Shiro ! Did you really subjugate so many goblins alone ?" (Rea)

"....yes i did...." He replied nonchalantly.

"Just how..." (Rea)

"I simply cut them up. They weren't that tough....." (Shiro)

"Just cut them up, huh......?" (Rea)

"Yes" (Shiro)

Rea sunk into deep thought. Just how strong was this young man ? She tried to guess, but looking at his aloof face she could not find anything. Rea shook her head and decided to ask him in a straightforward way.

"Umm...Shiro ? You are a swordsman I belive"

He nodded.

"I see. Do you mind telling me what your warrior rank is ?"

(Now that she asks what should i say. I havent had my rank evaluated in like forever.)

Shiro went quite and didn't reply. Rea thought that he didn't want to say. Most people generally didn't like disclosing their strengths. Fearing that he might get offended, she hurriedly added.

"Ah! I was just curious! You don't have to tell me if you don't want to Shiro..."

"No, its not that...." Shiro shook his head, "I don't exactly know where my strength ranks in the ranks of the Knights." He calmly said.

"Huh ?" Rea was shocked "You mean to say......you haven't had an assesment of your level yet.....?"

"Yes, but if I had to give an estimate, I would say, the man whom i threw out today, the likes of him is no challenge for me whatsoever. He is too weak."

Shiro wasn't like those "smart" main characters of novels who purposely like to hide their strength. Although he would never boast around of his power, he would not hesitate demonstrating it when there is need. Displaying power is, in most cases the best way to keep needless trouble away from you. If you are strong, people will think twice, before trying to pick fights with you. Rea, was speechless. When he heard Shiro call Garret weak she nearly fainted. Though Garret could not be said to be the strongest in Germania, but, he was after all a Great knight ranked warrior. It had to be mentioned that the general soldiers of the army were all Knights, while the elite troops were mostly Great Knights. And the commanders were normally Grand Knights and Generals at Master Knight. As such Garret was among the strong ones. But according to this 15 yesr old boy, he was not worth putting in his eyes.

( A/N : For your reference here : Novice Knight

Further, something was definitely off about this child. He seemed oddly calm despite having faced and killed over a hundred goblins alone. But what concerned her mostly, was the fact, that though one his eyes was covered by a patch, the other which was free looked lifeless. As if it was of a dead person. Rea felt an unknown sense of fear whenever she looked into those eyes. She then gave up thinking on him and asked a fellow guild staff for help to count the ears. There were around 250 ears and the number made her face twitch in shock. Leaving the staff member to do the counting she turned towards Shiro.

"So Shiro we have confirmed that you have subjugated 250 goblins. So that makes your reward 1250 copper coins. Here you go. 12 small silver coins and 5 large coppers."

Shiro put his reward in a pouch when suddenly, a round object rolled out of the bag startling the staff member who was counting the ears.

"Oh... I subjugated this too. It looked like a leader of the goblins. Please see if i can get any money of this."

The receptionist had a bad premonition, yet she went over and looked at the round object.

"Oh.. i see. Its a goblins generals head......."

The next moment a loud thud was heard as a receptionist fainted from shock.

* * * * *

"...that was somewhat lengthy...."

The Shiro was walking down the road towards the inn recommended by the nice receptionist Miss Rea.

"....but to think they would promote me to D rank just like that..."

When it was found out by the guild that Shiro had killed a goblin general the guild master had summoned him directly to his office. Though goblin generals were rare they were not that big of a threat. An experienced D rank adventurer could easily defeat one in a one on one battle. But the fact that there was such a big horde of goblins scurring about near Helmsberg was alarming. Perhaps the goblins were going to raid the city once they gathered more numbers. There also may be many more goblins lurking around in nesrby forests. As such Shiro's work had exposed a potential threat. The Guild master who had a lot of experience as a former adventurer, immediately decided to send people investigate the forests and hills surrounding Helmsberg, for goblin activity.

Also, Shiro had killed a at his age that too along with another 250 goblins made it very delicate situation. If this news leaked out Shiro could be targeted by other adventurers out of jealousy and even more powerful people. T'was human nature to be envious of others. So he made sure none of the Guild staff opened their mouths unnecessarily. The guild master himself promoted Shiro to D rank. He did try to inquire, with all his energy, as to how a young boy like Shiro did all this but the only answer he got was, "I have my ways". Disappointed he let Shiro go keeping in mind to keep an eye on this youngster. Shiro was handed an additional reward for subjugating the general making his total earnings about 14 silver coins. Quite nice for a single quest.

"...well anyway this was an unexpected gain...."

He shook his head and walked on. Being a D rank meant he could take on better quest and earn some more money, further due to this event he would be able to make a foundation as an adventurer more easily. His plan was going soomthly with no loose ends. Once he had his indentity as a well known adventurer, the guild would vouch for him, and his movement across the nations would be much easier. For his desires this was indeed very good. As he kept walking a small smile arched on his lips. His figure was soon lost in the dark night.

* * * * *

Lets rewind the clock to when Shiro just left the adventurer's guild. An old man could be seen pacing around quite impatiently around his office. He appeared to be in his late 50s yet his body was well built like a body builder. This was the Guildmaster of Helmsberg branch Rudeus Harg. A man feared even by the most poweful adventurers of the guild. He was a former S rank adventurer and a Master Knight ranked Warrior. He was on par with the strongest generals of the country. He had retired a decade ago and now worked as the guildmaster of this branch. Yet right now his face was contorted with a frown. The reason was a single youth who had just enrolled as an adventurer today and caused an uproar on his very first day as an adventurer. Shiro. The boy of 15 who had thrown out a B ranked adventurer and Great knight, Garret sending him crashing through a wall and slain over two hundred goblins and a goblin general all alone. What disturbed him more that he could not get a single information out of that boy. His background was clean. He had just arrived in Helmsberg today and caused such astonishing scenes one after the other. During his interrogation he directed killing intent towards the boy in hopes of intimidating him. Yet the boy didn't flinch. His face remained expressionless. Whatever Rudeus tried had no effect. And this was weighing on his mind. He couldn't fathom the boys strength, he was sure that he was stronger than the boy, however, his intution as a warrior told him that the boy was dangerous. He had promoted the boy to D rank to avoid any unwanted complications at the moment yet he felt...no he believed that there was something wrong with him.

"May i come in sir ?"

A soft voice broke him out of his thoughts. It was Rea. She was the promising new recruit. The guildmaster smiled at her and cleared his throat and urged her in.

"Ah you came Rea. Sorry for calling you here. At this hour."

"No its fine sir. So what did you need ?"

Rudeus furrowed his brows.

"Its about the boy..."

"....umm perhaps Mr. Shiro ?" She tilted her head and asked.

"Yes him. I don't know why but i feel something off from him. Call it a warriors intuition."

"...eh...is that so ? Well he is a tad bit strange and probably strong..."

".....i am afraid there is more than that. Sadly what it is i yet don't know. So i have made a decision. From Now onwards, you will be his personal receptionist. Your job is keeping an eye on him. On what quests he takes. With whom he associates in the guild. What he does. Any rumours about him. And above all how he performs in the quests. And you will report to me if you find anything out of the ordinary. Is that clear ?"

"Uhh...." Rea meekly groaned. Being a personal receptionist meant that she had to put Shiro before all other matters. Only a handfull of promising adventurers had personal receotionists, who suggested good quests to them and also helped them with rewards. But, according to the Guildmaster's words, suddenly she was made into a detective from a receptionist, this was a bit disturbing to her.

"No complains. I am giving you this job and you'll do it. Is it clear ?" Rudeus was serious.

"*Gulp*....a-alright guildmaster. I will try my best!" Intimidated, Rea hurriedly nodded.

"Good. And don't worry you'll have a raise in salary. Keep in mind, don't let that boy....Shiro notice your actions. Well then, you may leave now."

Rudeus closed his eyes and leaned back into his chair. Rea hurriedly left the office mumbling about her increased workload.

"Hmm...i wonder what you are hiding child....but i hope you don't become an enemy to this guild or its people....for your sake...."

Rudeus whispered.

* * * * * *

He had a dream.

A dream of a time long past.

A little boy training with a sword.

A kind and beautiful girl whose smile was like and angels.

A city whose buildings reached the sky.

Of people who were so familiar yet were so distant.

The days spent in pursuit of strength and knowledge.

Of the day she threw him away.

The day it all ended and also everything began.

The mother who had abandoned him.

The family which cast him away.

The bloodied halls of a great castle.

The heaps of corpses. Burning and melting.

And amidst them standing a lone figure. Drenched in the blood of those he had slain. The figure turned towards him. His eyes met his and it smiled. But the smile was that of a devil.....

.......and then it all became black.

"....Haaaaa....."

The next day Shiro woke up with a jolt. His body drenched in sweat.

"...those dreams again....why wont they leave me...no scratch that...its ..better i don't forget them....its better...."

He mumbled something to himself. Memories can be painful. Especially some memories. Shiro breathed in slowly till he could control his mind.

"Time to move onto the next step......I have to earn some money first don't I?"

Looking at the 11 silvers he had, he smiled wryly.

He had rested the night in a cheap inn, paying three silvers in advance for two months stay. Taking a light breakfast of bread and meat soup, from a roadside stall, he made his way to the guild. Yesterday he was promoted to D rank. This allowed him certain privileges which he would surely use. Just as he went into the guild all eyes focused on him. Naturally after he caused that scene yesterday. He sighed. He didn't like so much attention. (Why cant they mind their own business ?) Shiro thought. Still he made his way to the quest board and searched for a suitable quest. Soon he found one. It was very common type of quest yet a fantasy would not be a fantasy without it.

"Dungeons"

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