“My lord, here is the Guild’s weekly post.”

Osiric was, once again, inside the study of his leader, Lupin Black, that was sitting against the study table in the large fancily decorated room.

He was only fulfilling the promise he has made yesterday.

After witnessing Ashé exterminate a high-level large category monster, Osiric went straight to Lupin Black and reported about the unusual feat.

Lupin takes the paper from Osiric’s outstretched hand.

The contents of the page consists of a perfectly sketched picture of Ashé Krow. Next to it was only a few words written:

Ashé Krow

Level-2

4 days

The hand that was holding the paper starts to clench. The sound of the sheet as it crumples gradually louden.

Lupin’s face was clearly displaying displeasure. His eyebrows were slightly arching and his eyes has a tint of envy as he looks at the boy’s sketched face.

He slowly lets the paper down on the top of the table and reclines slowly on his soft chair. He rests his elbows on the arms and joins the edges of his fingers from both hands. Lupin closes his eyes and takes a single, deep breath. He reopens his eyelids.

“Osiric, keep an eye on this boy. I want a detailed report on how he operates”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Osiric was standing straight in front of the eyes of his leader. He was well composed and directly making eye contact with Lupin’s tenacious stare.

“I expect a report next week. Leave, now.”

Osiric gave a small, proper bow to the dominating presence. He turns his heels and walks straight to the door.

Ashé’s name is really here.

The Wall was buzzing with chatter and surprise. The cause of the uproar was because of the Guild’s recent post: a sudden nobody has climbed the stairwell of adventure to the next level in just 4 days.

Everyone is staring at the sheet of paper posted on the huge bulletin in disbelief, Including the Sword Princess that was in the front row of the crowd that is surrounding the bulletin.

The face of the young man was clear for everyone to see. More people are attracted t look at the news because of the massive amount of adventurers that has gathered in front of the bulletin.

Even the store owners, guards, and guild members that are situated in the Wall are leaving their posts just to catch a glimpse of the one name next to a portrait on the bulletin.

Ashé Krow

Level-2

4 days.

“4 days eh? The Guild must be shittin’ us!”

“I know right, that’s just impossible.”

“I’ll see it to believe it, that boy should have a mark on his hand.”

“Exactly, anybody here knows where he is?”

“I heard he lives with Mrs. Hudson…”

“Oh, shit…never mind searching for him then.”

In the midst of the constant chattering of the adventurers, Yerin is staring at the sheet on the bulletin, perplexed by the young man that came out of nowhere and now was the talk of the town by accomplishing such an unbelievable achievement.

She too was doubting the legitimacy of the Guild’s post, but there was no reason that she could think of why the Guild would lie.

Everyone was thinking of the same thing.

How?

Slow footsteps were emerging from the Wall’s entrance.

The noise from the crowd of adventurers was slowly dying down.

The sight of a dark haired boy and his ruby red eyes enters their eyes.

Ashé was slightly taken aback by the overwhelming pairs of eyes that was looking at him from all directions.

He expected that a lot of adventurers will recognize him, but not this many.

Whispers were starting to reverberate through the whole reception room, filling the gap of silence that just resonated.

“That ‘Im?”

“He don’t look so strong.”

“He’s kinda cute though.”

“He really does have a mark. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that one.”

“That’s just mad.”

“How the hell did he pull it off?”

From whispers to full blown chatters.

Everyone was talking about Ashé, but he didn’t want any of these. He just wanted to go to the Dungeon today and improve himself. The impressed eyes that was centering on him are all believing a lie, and Ashé is not proud of that, he was only growing more frustrated with the lack of stats he has.

“Ashé…”

A strong commanding voice stood out and catches the attention of the whole crowd, everyone’s eyes are now on the source of the strong feminine voice, the Sword Princess.

“Ohhh… That her girlfriend right?”

“Shut up! You’re gonna get us cut!”

“Ahw, she must be jealous. Getting her record broken and all.”

“’We’re about to see a battle right here.”

Tension was slowly creeping up in the atmosphere between the two adventurers.

Yerin was slowly approaching Ashé. Both of their faces was locked at each other, both straight and unfazed.

The sound of a withdrawing sword could be heard through the whispers. Everyone fell silent from the sound.

A silver blade that is glinting because of the sun has been drawn from the Sword Princess’s belt and was pointing towards the ground.

“Follow me.”

She says with an unwavering gaze towards Ashé, but Ashé was returning the same gaze to her.

“Sorry, I don’t take autographs.”

The young man said nonchalantly. He was standing straight in front of the whole crowd. His face was clearly expressing that he was not interested.

The whole crowd was taken aback by his sudden quip. Everyone’s eyes were shot open when Ashé’s retort reached their ears.

“Oh man, this guy is gonna get cut.”

“Hell lose a limb for sure.”

Whispers starts breaking out from the crowd.

The Sword Princess was still holding her sword, pointing at the ground. She is wearing the same demeanor as Ashé and she was not offended by the disrespecting retort.

“Anyone else that follows should expect to lose a limb.”

She starts to walk towards the entrance, passing Ashé. Her sword was still withdrawn and was pointing at the ground. The radiant morning light was now shining on her as she passes through the tall frame of the Wall’s entrance. Only her back could be seen from all of the adventurer’s perspective.

Ashé slowly turn around and obeys the Sword Princess’s request.

The pair was sitting on a secluded cafe that was a ten minute walk through the mazes of alley ways from the Wall.

Luckily, no one has started to follow them, or else, the whole street or the cafe would have turned into a bloodbath.

Everyone was clearly displaying fear towards the Sword Princess. Her whole presence in Agartha was huge and influencing.

Inside the cafe, it was only Ashé, Yerin, and the old cafe owner inside.

The old man was standing behind a bar. He was brewing tea on the bar table. He was wearing dark tinted glasses. His gray hair was long and brushed back. He was wearing facial hair, a gray mustache with a goatee.

When they first stepped inside the cafe, the old man did not pay them any attention. He was not even fazed seeing the Sword Princess.

It was evident that the old man was aware of the whereabouts of the cafe.

It was obviously a cafe for people to conduct their private businesses, you could tell from the complicated layout of streets in order to reach this place.

Ashé is looking around the small and cozy orange walls of the cafe. Lamps were hanging from the ceiling on top of every table. The whole cafe was fairly lit. The scale of it was average. The place was ornamented with wooden tables and chairs. It was simple looking, but feels right at home.

They were sitting at the very back of the whole room. Next to the bar table of the old man.

“This is a good place for our first date.”

“…W-what?”

Yerin was taken aback by Ashé’s suddenly unexpected words. Her eyes were open with surprise and her eyebrows were slightly furrowed. Her body was retreating from Ashé while her shoulders were raised. Both of her hands were open against Ashé on the table.

“Are we splitting the bill or what?”

“We can worry about that later…”

“Look, I don’t have any money on me. Alright?”

She was displeased by Ashé’s caustic banter. Her eyebrows furrow even further while she squints her eyes on him. Clearly, irritation is starting to build up inside her.

“Hey, I’m serious. I really don’t have any money.”

“I’m not getting anything.”

“What a horrible date you are.”

Ashé looks down on her with a clear sarcasm, shaking his head while clicking his tongue. He leans back on his chair and crosses his arms.

Yerin sits up straight and looks at Ashé. She was hiding her irritation with her neutral facade, but in reality, just a few more sarcastic words from Ashé and he'll lose a finger.

“Tell me about that post.”

She looks straight through Ashé’s eyes, but he does not budge. He stares back at her with the same neutral expression as her, back still leaned on the the chair and arms still crossed. He was clearly displaying that he is not afraid of the Sword Princess, in fact, he has already seen someone that is more and worth fearing, Mrs. Hudson.

“I told you already yesterday, right?”

“Yesterday?”

Her eyebrows raised from Ashé’s words. She slightly tilts her head as she remembers the events that transpired yesterday in the red tree.

He showed her a metallic object while she was sitting on the grass right beside the red tree. That object was the reason for his recent accomplishments.

“Sadly, it doesn’t concern you on how it works.”

“What?”

“Look, I know that you just want to get stronger. I’m sorry but I’m not telling or helping you in any way.”

“…”

She was growing frustrated by the arrogant attitude of the young man in front of her. Her face was starting to form a slight frown while she was looking Ashé straight in the eyes.”

“Kill me now then you’ll never know how this works.”

He reveals the gun and brandishes it in front of her while he was still leaning on the chair. His face was still neutral but his tone was both teasing and growing irritated.

His point was true, nobody in the city knows how the gun operates. The recent discoveries of the exploding leaves of the red tree was only known by him and Mrs. Hudson. If he was to be killed, then the secret will remain hidden.

“I need to be in the Dungeon. Now. Enjoy your cup of tea.”

Ashé stands up from his chair without breaking eye contact from Yerin. She was powerless from Ashé’s wit. She could not do anything and if she was to force it out of him, it would only give her a bad reputation as an adventurer and to the Guild.

Ashé heads toward the exit without batting an eye. He disappears after hearing the thud of the door.

“Are you getting that tea, lady?”

The old man questioned Yerin from the bar. His voice was deep and suave.

“Yeah, I sure.”

Yerin replied, still looking at the door that Ashé walked out of.