Five months had passed since Biel’s return. During that time, he had trained, strengthened his skills, and reflected on everything that had transpired. But a persistent restlessness lodged in his chest: he needed answers.
Now, together with his group, they were on the outskirts of a small adventurers' town near Marciler. Biel had made a clear decision: to join an adventurers' guild.
"Listen, friends," Biel said, gathering everyone around him. "My plan is to head to the city of Lunarys, a small adventurers' hub. I want to become one of them—take on missions, rank up, and at the same time, gather information on how to enter Marciler."
Acalia crossed her arms, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Vaya, that sounds like an interesting plan."
Charlotte, excited, nodded vigorously. "Oh, this reminds me of those animes back home where the protagonist arrives in another world, joins a guild, and eventually gains overwhelming power to defeat the Demon King! But in this case," she looked at him mischievously, "I think you're doing it more for fun, aren't you, little brother?"
Biel felt a slight blush on his cheeks and looked away. "Well... partly, yes. I won't deny the idea sounds exciting," he shrugged, "but I also want to discover the truth about why they sent us to the Dark Lands."
Ylfur, the Dark Knight, remained ever imperturbable, bowing his head slightly. "I shall go wherever my master goes."
Sarah, Xanthe, and Raizel exchanged glances and, almost in unison, declared: "We will go wherever you go, too."
Ryder smiled and gave Biel a friendly pat on the back. "Sounds like a great idea. Plus, if we go to a guild, we can improve our combat skills and make some good contacts."
Easton nodded thoughtfully. "And if we find adventurers who have traveled through Marciler, they might give us clues about their security systems."
Biel looked at them all and felt a warmth in his chest. Having such a united group gave him the confidence to move forward. "Then it's settled. We depart for Lunarys at dawn."
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The next day, the group set off. Excitement hung in the air as they walked the dusty path leading to their new destination. After three hours of travel, Lunarys finally came into view. From a distance, the city stood with majestic stone walls surrounding its entire perimeter. Its architecture was robust and practical, clearly designed for defense, yet it held a welcoming air.
Charlotte stared at the structure with bright eyes. "Vaya, it’s just like in the anime!"
Biel nodded, equally impressed. "It’s true. It looks very similar. Though it’s much more imposing in person."
They slowly approached the great city gate, where a pair of guards in leather and metal armor inspected those entering and leaving. Before taking another step, Biel turned to his group to explain the plan.
"Listen, first we’ll register at the Adventurers' Guild. Then we’ll take one or several missions, as we need money to stay at an inn. Since there are many of us, we’ll have to aim for a C or B-rank mission, so I hope they give us plates of that level."
"Makes sense," Easton said. "If they give us low ranks, it’ll be harder to get good rewards."
"I say we let them test our skills in a trial," Ryder commented with a defiant smirk. "That way, we ensure we start off on the right foot."
"That sounds like fun!" Raizel exclaimed, rubbing her hands together enthusiastically.
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The group passed through the imposing gates of Lunarys, entering the bustling city. The streets were packed with merchants, blacksmiths, and tavern-keepers. However, what caught their attention most was the reaction of the local adventurers, who gradually set aside their activities to stare at the newcomers.
"Vaya! Did you see how many there are?" whispered a man with a large scar on his cheek.
"They look experienced... or at least, well-equipped," another commented, examining the group’s weapons and attire.
"The girls are beautiful!" whispered a young man with messy hair, only to receive a nudge from his companion.
"Hey, but that boy with the fragment on his neck... he's quite handsome, isn't he?" a short-haired female adventurer said, provoking giggles and murmurs among her group.
Biel sighed, ignoring the comments as he kept moving forward with an air of determination. Charlotte, however, couldn't help but laugh and nudge him.
"Look at that, little brother, you already have a fan club."
"When is he not?" Easton commented with a mocking grin. "Maybe we should start charging for autographs."
Biel rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Very funny. Let's just focus on finding the guild."
They approached a group of adventurers near a tavern, and Biel asked politely, "Excuse me, could you tell us where the Adventurers' Guild is?"
One of them, a man with a thick beard and a raspy voice, pointed down the street. "Go straight to the end, then turn right. You can't miss it. It's the largest building with a sign of crossed swords and, usually, a lot of drunks at the entrance."
"Perfect! That's exactly the kind of directions we need!" Ryder exclaimed, enthusiastic.
"Why are there always drunks at the entrance of these places?" Xanthe asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Adventurer tradition," Raizel replied, shrugging. "Drinking after a mission is just as important as the mission itself."
"If drinking ten beers and sleeping in a ditch is a tradition, then these guys are true patriarchs," Charlotte remarked with a laugh.
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They finally arrived at the guild. An imposing building stood before them with reinforced wooden walls and a massive sign featuring crossed swords. From inside, laughter, shouts, and the unmistakable clink of mugs could be heard.
As they stepped inside, the hubbub ceased for an instant. Every adventurer turned their head to observe the new group. Murmurs and whispers filled the air.
"Look at those rookies," a muscular man with a scar on his cheek muttered. "How long till they tuck tail and run?"
"It’s a large group... but are they strong or just a bunch of loudmouths?" added another, leaning against the bar.
"Hey, what about the girls? We don't see beauties like that around here often," one remarked with a lewd grin, only to earn a sharp elbow from his companion.
Just as the tension seemed to peak, a deep but calm voice resonated through the hall. "Leave the newcomers be."
A tall adventurer with an imposing bearing, a large cloak, and a greatsword on his back rose from his seat. His presence commanded instant respect. Everyone fell silent. The man smiled slightly.
"Vaya, you bring quite a few companions. It seems you'll have no trouble taking on difficult missions."
"Thank you," Biel replied with a nod.
The adventurer stepped closer. "What’s your name?"
"My name is Biel Laurentis," Biel answered without much thought.
Immediately, the adventurer arched an eyebrow in surprise. "Laurentis? Are you a nobleman?"
Biel blinked, intrigued. "No, why do you ask?"
The adventurer crossed his arms and explained, "In this world, only nobles or high-ranking citizens have a second name. It is reserved for counts, kings, and figures of great importance. No one else carries a surname here."
Biel went silent. He had no idea about this rule. If it were true, his name was raising unnecessary suspicion.
"I didn't know only nobles could have another name," Biel admitted.
The adventurer watched him with sharp eyes. "But you say you aren't a noble... so, why do you have a second name?"
The silence grew heavy. Biel knew he couldn't reveal his true origin. While he tried to think of an answer, Raizel intervened with a confident smile.
"Biel has another name because he aided Queen Yael."
The entire guild gasped. "Queen Yael? The Queen of Spirits?"
Biel took a breath and decided to tell part of the truth. "The truth is... I died and woke up in the spiritual plane. There, I asked Queen Yael to allow me to return to life. She accepted and granted me this name."
The adventurer stared at him, then smiled in amusement. "Vaya, so you've already died."
"That’s right," Biel affirmed firmly.
The adventurer nodded, then narrowed his eyes. A faint blue glow appeared in his irises. "I can see the truth through this magic eye. My unique skill is 'Magic Eye,' and with it, I can see a person's essence."
He relaxed his shoulders. "Well, I believe you. We'll talk more later. By the way, my name is Gaudel."
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Biel and his group moved toward the counter, where they were greeted by a young woman of captivating beauty. Her golden hair shimmered under the lamps, and her sky-blue eyes reflected a warmth unusual for such a busy place.
"Greetings! My name is Aurora; it’s a pleasure to assist you," she said with a kind smile.
"We’ve come to register," Biel said, bowing slightly.
"Excellent! Please take these forms and fill in your details," Aurora replied, handing over several sheets.
The document contained sections for name, age, race, and other personal data. Biel noticed a section titled "Skills" and looked up curiously. "Excuse me, should we write our skills here?"
Aurora shook her head sweetly. "That’s not necessary. Your skills will be recorded automatically when you touch this magic sphere," she explained, pointing to a crystal orb on the counter.
The group took a seat at one of the tables and began to complete the forms.
"It seems we have to write down our race," Biel murmured, scanning the sheet. "Do the different races have freedom in the human world?"
Xanthe nodded confidently. "Yes, all races can live together in peace. There are no restrictions."
"Well, then fill it in accordingly," Biel said.
The forms were completed as follows:
Biel – Human, 17 years old.
Charlotte – Human, 16 years old.
Xanthe – Human, 17 years old.
Easton – Human, 18 years old.
Acalia – Human, 17 years old.
Sarah – Vampire, 117 years old.
Ylfur – Demon, 367 years old.
Raizel – Angel, 1,117 years old.
Ryder – Half-spirit (Spirit and Elf ancestry), 2,342 years old.
When Biel saw the ages of some of his companions, his jaw dropped. "Ylfur, you're 367?! And you, Ryder, 2,342!?"
Raizel smiled serenely. "Human life is short compared to other races. Even if we have many years, we are actually quite young."
"That's right," Ylfur affirmed. "Our ages cannot be compared to human ones."
Biel sighed, rubbing his head. "Well, this makes me feel even younger."
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Aurora reviewed the forms quickly. "Everything is in order. Now, each of you must touch the sphere. This will record your skills and determine your starting rank."
"Rank?" Charlotte asked, tilting her head.
"Yes. In this guild, there are ten ranks: G, F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, and AA. The highest ranks—A through AA—can only be achieved after completing several missions. The sphere can only assign up to B-rank for now."
"I see..." Biel murmured. "Hey, what about Gaudel? What's his rank?"
Aurora smiled with pride. "He is S-rank."
Biel crossed his arms. "S-rank, huh? Well then, let's begin!"
One by one, the group touched the sphere. Everything was going smoothly until it was Biel’s turn.
"Go on, Biel! Don't make the sphere explode," Charlotte teased, nudging him.
Biel sighed and placed his hand on the orb. Nothing happened.
"There must be an error," the receptionist murmured, frowning. "Try again."
Biel repeated the process, and this time, something appeared. But it wasn't just anything.
"Demon King..." the receptionist read aloud in disbelief.
The silence in the hall was deathly. An adventurer dropped his mug; another spat out his drink.
"Demon King?!" someone in the crowd shouted.
Suddenly, the sphere shattered into a thousand pieces.
"Now it’s definitely broken!" yelled one of the adventurers as several backed away.
Biel broke into a cold sweat. Now what do I do... he thought.
"Hide the Demon King skill," Monsfil’s voice echoed in his mind.
"Can I even do that!?" Biel replied mentally.
"Of course. Use a skill-concealment spell."
"I don't know how to do that!"
"Then create one. You have more than enough mana with the Demon King's abilities."
"Mana? I have mana?"
"Don't tell me you didn't know..." Monsfil said with a tired sigh. "Mana is the energy you use when you take your Demon King forms. I can't believe you haven't realized it until now."
"Look, Monsfil, nobody gave me a tutorial when I became this!" Biel grumbled. "Just imagine you're hiding your skill and that's it. Use your head, son."
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Biel closed his eyes and imagined the concealment. Moments later, the receptionist appeared with a new sphere. "Now, this one won't fail!"
Biel touched it again. This time, nothing suspicious appeared. He breathed a sigh of relief as the papers began to fill with glowing letters. Aurora started reading the results:
"Acalia, B-rank. Xanthe, C-rank. Easton, D-rank. Ylfur, B-rank. Sarah, C-rank. Raizel, B-rank. Ryder, D-rank. Charlotte, C-rank... and finally, Biel, with rank..."
There was a pause.
"What...?" The receptionist leaned in closer. "WHAT?! Rank Z?!"
The entire guild was in shock.
"Rank Z?!" Charlotte exclaimed. "I didn't even know that rank existed!"
"Neither did I..." the receptionist admitted, frantically checking her records. "The ranks only go up to AA. Where did 'Z' come from?"
"It must be a mistake!" an adventurer laughed.
"Or a curse!" another whispered, backing away from Biel.
"Or maybe... it's a rank beyond imagination!" Ryder said dramatically, striking a heroic pose.
Biel put both hands to his head. "But what does Rank Z even mean?! Is it good? Is it bad? Is it... a bug in the system!?"
"It means you're special," Easton joked, patting him on the back. "Or a living glitch, one of the two."
Charlotte leaned in and whispered, "We could sell T-shirts that say 'Rank Z' and make a fortune..."
"Don't help me, Charlotte!" Biel groaned.
ns216.73.217.54da2
and then Add to home screen.