1 A strange quest

The familiar view of Ruhan greets me as I come out of my home. After one year I've finally gotten used to this sight.

People of this city are busily going about their usual business as always. Housewives buying daily necessities for their home, adventurers buying and selling all sorts of products and materials to merchants, a shady old dude who claims that he can see the future, etc.

Occasionally you can sometimes see soldiers patrolling the streets.

Ruhan is closer to the border city, which is known as 'Kebis'. Kebis city is an important location as it deals with the risk of foreign invasions coming from the east, especially invasions from the Hegerain Kingdom, our direct rival state. Our state is known as Braham Empire.

While walking in the busy streets of Ruhan I slowly make my way to the Adventurers guild, which is located at the center of our small scale city.

The guild building is four-storied, walls made of magic enforced bricks, looking majestic compared to other establishments in its vicinity.

As I enter the guild my eyes wander around and finally stops at the notice board. I go near the notice board. There are quite a few C-rank and B-rank quests on this one.

My eyes lock on to a certain quest. I take a closer look at this.

Quest- Kobold extermination

Rank- B

Location- Buck-wood valley, near Dias village

Reward- 1 Gold 50 silver.

What drew my eyes on this one was not the quest name but the rank of this quest. Kobolds were the lowest classes of monsters. Usually, any quest related to them would be an E- rank or a D-rank quest at most. Since it is B-rank there might be real trouble.

I take the quest notice to the receptionist closest to me.

'Good morning, Stacy.'

'Same to you, Ziel.'

The beautiful receptionist in front of me replies with a smile.

'I'd like to take this quest.'

I show her the quest notice.

'But you'll need a party for this.'

'Eh? It isn't solo?'

'No, since it's a B-rank quest... .'

'But I don't have a party.'

I reply plainly.

'Then that is a problem,' She says, smiling.

'Can't you let me go alone on this one?'

I say while showing my guild card.

Name- Ziel Artoph

Rank- B

Age- 19

Gender- Male

Quests taken- 46

Quests completed- 41

Quests failed- 5

Work efficiency- 89%.

Skills: [Analyze] [Sharpshooter] [Poison touch] [Elemental Arrow] [Vital Strike] [Takedown]

Special Skill: [Eye of Spettatore]

A part of my skills are all black so that others can't know them.

'That's going to be a problem. But since you are asking me this much, let me try talking to my higher-ups.'

She took my card and went to the room behind her.

After taking 10 somewhat minutes she returns.

'Your quest has been approved, please fill in this form and give a signature here.'

'So easily?'

'Yes.'

After going through the procedures I come out of the guild building. I go to the market and get the necessary supplies for my quests.

Dias village is a village near the merchant city. It takes about 3 days to reach there on foot, on the carriage, it takes 1.

The carriage takes off at noon. I still have a bit time before the carriage takes off so I go back to my home.

As I enter the house without dallying I go straight to the basement or rather my landlord's place.

Usually, houses don't have basements, if anything else they have an extra floor.

Before I entered the room I knocked on the door.

'Enter.'

A barely audible female voice could be heard.

'How are you, Linda?' I ask after entering the room.

'Not good, nor bad.'

'I'll take it that you are feeling well,' I say with a smile.

'What do you want?'

I look at the woman in front of me, brown hair, tied by a side ponytail, perfect curves, a nice face and she's wearing a lab coat.

The smell of youth emanating from all over her body.

'Nothing, I just want to tell you that I'm heading out for a quest, make sure to look after yourself.'

'how much time will it take?'

'2 days, 3 at max.'

Seeing me not leave she asks me if I had anything else to say.

'Aren't you going to wish me good luck?'

'. . .'

'Aah. . . well, I'm off then.'

As I'm about to close the door behind me after exiting I hear a barely audible 'Good luck'.

Smiling I go out of my home and go to the carriage station which is near the city entrance.

I enter the carriage.

I've already talked to the driver that my stop is Dias village.

The carriage starts to move as the speed increases little by little.

In a few minutes, Ruhan city can be barely seen.