*Knock Knock*

“Enter.”

“Branch Manager, there’s an update on the first-year.” A receptionist entered before speaking.

“The Vincent kid? What about it?” The branch manager of the Mission Hall looked up from his paperwork.

“We’ve received a message from his storm falcon. Here you go.” The receptionist presented the note and bowed before departing. The branch manager casually opened up the piece of paper.

Goblin raiding party located. 5km NE of Greenboro. Camp marked on the map.

45 Heads. IMPORTANT. HOBGOBLIN SIGHTED. IMPORTANT.

Side note: Men were seen trading with goblins. They’ve entered Greenboro. Maintaining surveillance until further orders.

The branch manager immediately bolted out of his seat. His eyes trained on the highlighted word: Hobgoblin.

“Why the hell is there a C-rank monster here?” He went for the door and threw it open before speedily leaving. “This mission difficulty has already been upgraded to a C-rank just by the hobgoblin alone. Now there are also humans thrown into the mix? This Vincent kid has such shitty luck!” The branch manager looked grim as he went up to a student worker.

“Good Morning Branch Manager.”

“Find me a reconnaissance specialist. Also, I want a message delivered as soon as possible.” The branch manager ordered.

“Okay, I’ll see who we have available. Right now we don’t have any available birds to use, there’s only an odd-looking storm falcon in the roost, but I don’t recognize it; it came in this morning.” The student worker answered.

“That’s fine. It should be the one I need.” He hastily scrawled onto, rolled it up and then handed it to the student worker. “Once you find someone, tell them to come find me quickly. There’s an urgent mission I need to brief that person on.” The branch manager tiredly sighed as he left. He came like a gust of wind and also went just as quickly, making the student worker unable to know whether to laugh or panic. However, he still followed his instructions.

---

It was midday when Vincent received a reply. He had tracked the three men down the road to the village of Greenboro where they stowed away their cart of luxury goods in a shed. Vincent chose to remain hidden since he didn’t know the identities of these men and it would be best not to draw unnecessary attention to himself.

The reconnaissance mission level has been upgraded. It’s now a rank C reconnaissance mission. A more experienced student will be dispatched to your location posthaste. Your current orders are to maintain surveillance and update us if needed.

Back at the Mission Hall, the branch manager was briefing a woman on the mission detail.

“A first-year student by the name of Vincent has reported a sighting of a possible conspiracy between humans and goblins. The mission was originally a D-rank reconnaissance mission, but with this development it has escalated to a C-rank mission. Your objective is to rendezvous with Vincent and lead the mission. He is currently stationed in Greenboro; he’ll brief you on any new developments once you’ve arrived. We’ll issue you a trail-blazing stallion; I want you to get there as soon as possible.”

The woman had an alluring look in her eyes when she heard the branch manager mention Vincent’s name. She revealed a professional smile.

“Understood.” She acknowledged and left. Outside the office, she stroked her chin, “Is it fate? Meeting him so frequently in such a short time?”

Not long after, she was going over a final check before departing. It was then that a Mission Hall worker ran up to her.

“Student Aya! A new update just came in!” The worker looked like she had just run a marathon as she handed over the message.

Aya briefly scanned over the contents and said, “I understand the situation.” A bird with identifiable golden streaks on its back circled above her when she finally looked up.

“Kueee!”

Aya reached out her arm like a professional falconer. When the storm falcon landed, she lovingly stroked the bird’s beak in a familiar manner similar to the bird’s owner and cooed, “It says here you’ll lead me to him. Please be quick, Emet.”

“Kuee~.”

---

After writing the note and having Emet deliver it, Vincent began to clean up camp. He had seen the men packing their carts full of produce. However, it was simple to tell that under the carts of hay and produce were chests of treasure, the treasure of various unfortunate merchants.

The following morning the people in question set out, bearing for the nearby town of Rohan. Vincent observed them, perplexed because of the women and children that went along with the trio. They were driving multiple wagons and singing a cheerful ditty.

Vincent followed the group from a far way off but was slightly annoyed by their slow pace. Seeing other traveler’s on the road up ahead, he rode up and pulled his hood down to seem friendlier as he asked a question.

“Excuse me, are you perchance traveling to Rohan?” asked Vincent as he tossed a silver coin over.

The traveler looked annoyed by Vincent’s arrogant face, but since Vincent had taken the initiative to pull down his hood and offered a silver coin, the traveler smiled and answered, “Aye. T’is the nearest town.”

“That makes sense. I also happen to be going that way.” Vincent replied in his friendliest tone, which was hard to keep up, “Are we the only two going that way?”

“Nay, there’s another group further on ahead. Their kids were damn annoying, so I decided to let them go on ahead and pulled further back. I suggest you do the same.”

“Mmm, that makes sense. However, I’m somewhat in a hurry, I’ll go on ahead. Thanks.” Vincent quickly bid farewell to the traveler and pulled his hood back up.

As Vincent passed by the group he had tailed for the past few days he couldn’t help but glance over at the carts. A few of the kids on the cart saw him and smiled brightly as they waved. Vincent didn’t return the gesture and rode on ahead.

Since he was traveling at a rather fastidious pace, he arrived in Rohan at midday. He spent this time to groom his horse and also rest. He had been out in the field for a long time and started to smell.

When dusk came about, just before the gates to Rohan were closed the trio, and their family members finally arrived. They all looked weary, but he still saw the excited eyes of the children from his corner of the street. Not long later, they checked into an inn in the bleaker side of town and turned in for the night. Just as he was retreating, a familiar shriek echoed overhead.

“Kuee~!”

“Emet!” Vincent was surprised she returned so soon. “Shouldn’t you be guiding the expert?” He intimately caressed the bird’s beak.

“But I’m already here?” A seductive whisper breathed into his ear. Vincent reacted reflexively by elbowing behind him and retreat as Emet flew up.

“Who’s there?!” His hand reached for the dagger by his side.

“Calm down, Vincent. It’s just me.” The woman. chuckled as she drew herself forward and out of the shadows. It was Aya.

Vincent’s expression furrowed as he asked, “Why is it you?”

Aya looked visibly hurt, “Don’t you miss me?” She teased.

“Not one bit. Since you’re here to lead the mission, I’ll leave it to you.” He spoke coldly and sheathed the dagger, preparing to leave.

“Don’t be like that, Vincent. Stay with Big Sis for a while.” She shamelessly clung to him and started dragging him toward the main street.

“Fine! Just let go of me!” Vincent impatiently said as he waved off the seductress, eliciting a giggle. They soon found the inn Vincent had rented a room. On the ground level was a tavern. Vincent sat down and ordered himself a meal.

“You’ll treat right?” Aya beamed a playful smile, drawing the gaze of all men nearby.

“I’m just a poor first-year student. Senior can’t expect me to treat on the first mission right?” Vincent answered shamelessly as his meal arrived.

“Brat. You should be grateful this Big Sis has volunteered her time to come and guide you. Do you know the hardships I went through to get here so quickly?” She looked aggrieved as she spoke.

“…” It was true, traveling from the capital to Rohan would take a few days even if it were a particularly fast horse. It never occurred to him how she got here so fast.

“It looks like you understand.” Aya grinned in satisfaction and raised her voice, “Boss, two orders of your best ale! My junior’s paying for it, so don’t hold back!”

“You!” Vincent looked troubled but relented and watched as the owner chuckled and placed two beers on their table.

“Gah~!” Aya breathed out after taking a long draft of alcohol. “It’s perfect after a long day’s travel.”

“Hah~…” Vincent resigned himself as he quietly ate his meal. Not long after, he started filling her in on the mission details.

“Okay, okay! I see how it is.” Aya answered in between swigs of ale.

“And that’s it for the updates.” Vincent finished his meal at the same time as the briefing. “Owner, bill please.”

The owner came over, and Vincent quickly paid before getting up.

“Ahhh~! Wait~!” Aya seemed a little drunk as she clung to his arm. “Don’t you dare cheat Big Sis of her drinks!” She seemed to have figured out his intention and clung onto him, refusing to let go and also drawing a few raucous laughter from the crowd.

“Hah~…” Vincent sighed for the umpteenth time in the inn and plopped himself down.

Finally, after Aya finished her last mug, he paid her bill and got up to leave.

“You’ve had enough to drink. You should find a room,” said Vincent as he walked toward the stairs.

“You’re right.” She slurred her words. By this point, any normal person would be passed out drunk on the table, but Aya only looked flushed and tipsy. She followed him towards the stairs.

“What are you doing?” Vincent paused and turned around.

“We should turn in for the night.” Aya smiled playfully.

“Yes, we should.”, Vincent seemed to understand her reason and called out to the owner, “Owner, do you have any more available rooms?”

The owner had overheard the cold youth and the playful woman’s conversation and laughed before replying, “We’re all booked for the night.”

Vincent frowned and turned back to Aya, “That’s a shame. It would be best if we stayed in the same inn. It can save me some time to meet up in the morning. Sorry, but it looks like you’ll have to find somewhere else. We’ll meet back here in the morning.” Vincent didn’t look apologetic at all as he turned around and climbed the stairwell. Aya and the inn owner was left behind at the bottom of the stairs staring dumbstruck.

After a while, the owner coughed and said, “Miss, I was just lying earlier. We still have a few rooms. I sympathize with your plight, so you can stay for free tonight.”

“…” Aya had sobered up and looked like she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I only intended to tease my cute junior…” She felt like she was just rejected as she gratefully accepted the owner’s consolation and turned in for the night.