Chapter 84 - Quest In The Burning Dungeon, Part 2

["There's something I wanted to ask,"] the guardian said as the two neared the guild hall—a much larger and more imposing building than Marcy's guild."Okay?" Van replied, squinting slightly as his gaze shifted away from a group of adventurers approaching them.["Why were you asking that server if she was a Feline halfing?"]"...It's nothing," Van said after a brief pause. "I've traveled around the world, and for a moment, she resembled someone I used to know."'Though if that person ever saw me alive, she'd probably try to kill me on the spot...' Van sighed internally.["Oh...?"] the spirit murmured, a trace of curiosity in her voice. ["You seem rather young, though."]"...I'm 42 years old," Van replied flatly, his tone dismissive as he squinted away from the adventurers passing nearby, their presence grating like sunlight cutting through a darkened room.'Tsk. Damn it... Why does it hurt my eyes to look at adventurers, especially the human ones? It's like they're constantly emitting sunlight... I thought my eyes couldn't hurt anymore, anyway.'["I-Impossible... Are you using a certain kind of magic to maintain a youthful appearance?"] she stammered, disbelief laced in her tone.Van's patience snapped. "Alright, that's enough," he said sharply as he squinted his eyes. "I figured you already knew who I was, considering you were with that scumbag knight."["...I do not. If he did something to you prior to last night, it was probably without my knowledge."]"Oh?" Van raised an eyebrow, a cynical smirk tugging at his lips. "With the way he forced himself on you, I'm surprised he'd bother to keep that of all things to himself."[...]The guardian looked away, a faint grimace flickering across her face at Van's remark. It was the kind of reaction Van had grown numb to, his heart steeled against the discomfort of others.["...I believe you can take it from here, Master?"] she said, her gaze fixed on the towering guild hall. Her tone was colder now, yet still gentle, as though carefully measured to avoid provoking him."...Yeah," Van sighed. "Go back to the spirit world," he said, watching as she dissipated without another word.'Now then...' Van exhaled, turning his attention to the grand doors before him. His gaze traced the structure, taking in its imposing size and intricate design.'It's much bigger than Marcy's... Marcilla's guild hall. I guess this is the go-to spot in the Capital,' he thought, his eyes following the steady influx of adventurers coming and going.The crowd paid him little mind, though their murmurs and glances carried a subtle edge of suspicion."Who's this guy...?""I don't know, but he reeks of trouble. Let's go...""Stay on your guard. I don't like him... There's a scent of blood coming off him...""A mercenary?""No way. They wouldn't let him in if he were just some wandering nomad.""Maybe he slipped by the guards...""And that helmet—still wearing it here? Only one reason to hide your face in the capital...""He's a felon, isn't he?"The whispers floated past Van, brushing against his ears like a faint breeze. He didn't falter, his steps steady as he approached the heavy doors.'But nobody's entering the guild hall. What's up with that...?' he wondered, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings before landing on a piece of paper pinned to the doors.[CLOSED FOR TODAY]'Goddamn it... I am not going back to Marcy's guild,' Van thought, exhaling sharply. 'Good thing I took this with me.'He reached into his waistbag and pulled out the nobility approval document Nickelson had delivered earlier.'If I just flaunt this, they'll at least excuse me without too much drama. I'm just here to grab a quest and leave.' He slid the parchment back into his waistbag with a quiet sigh, bracing himself as he pushed the massive doors open.The moment the doors creaked wide, sunlight poured into the dim interior, catching the attention of everyone inside. Van's gaze swept the room, landing on a group of adventurers—dwarves, elves, dragonkin—huddled around a single table. At the center sat a weeping knight, his head bowed low as the others murmured words of comfort; while placing some of their hands on his shoulder as he hid his face away.Then Van's presence shattered the fragile atmosphere."H-HEY!" The receptionist, who had been leaning on her elbow behind the counter, shot upright. Her startled voice cut through the murmurs, turning every head in the room toward him. The sudden flood of sunlight from the open door illuminated their tense faces, drawing all eyes to the intruder."THE GUILD IS CLOSED FOR TODAY!" she barked, her voice laced with frustration and a tinge of disbelief at Van's bold entrance.Van hurriedly pulled out the parchment, thrusting it in front of the receptionist's face."A... a noble?" she murmured, her eyes scanning the document carefully. Her expression shifted as she examined the contents more closely."Van Hellix Jr..." she muttered aloud, her voice tinged with hesitation as her gaze lingered on the name.'WHAT?!' A certain elf in the group jolted upright, her eyes snapping to the armored figure.'That... that name... That armor... IT... It can't be him...!!' Her thoughts raced as she stared at Van in disbelief."Yeah," Van replied flatly, his tone curt. He pulled out his F-RANK adventurer badge and flashed it before the receptionist's face. "Just here to take a quest and leave." he said as he brushed past her without waiting for permission."H-Hey...!" she stammered, almost pushed aside as Van headed toward the quest board."It's alright. Let him take it," another receptionist interjected, placing a calming hand on her colleague's shoulder. "Nothing good ever comes from provoking nobles," she added, her voice low and her eyes fixed on Van's retreating back with a grimace."... Besides, he's just an F Rank. Sounds young, too. Let him choose something that'll get him seriously hurt. Bet he'd come crawling back here in tears. Probably never even stepped out of mommy and daddy's house." She sneered, her lips curling with disdain.The room fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the sound of Van's footsteps—the creak of metal against the wooden-planked floor echoing in the hall. Ten pairs of eyes tracked him, their gazes sharp with suspicion, irritation, or unease."Tsche, shitty nobles," a red-haired, bearded dwarf spat under his breath to the group, his tone laced with disdain. "All of them are the fucking same, I'm tellin' ya. Don't have the slightest sensibility to anything. I should teach that guy a—""Forget it... Arnolt," the human paladin interrupted weakly. He sat hunched at the table, exhaustion etched into his face, dark circles heavy under his eyes. He placed a weary hand on the dwarf's shoulder, stopping him mid-motion as he prepared to storm toward Van."Let's not fight... just for today," the paladin said, his voice weary but firm."...Fine, Unicus. I didn't want to dirty my hands tearing that noble apart anyway. Getting a nasty feeling from him," the dwarf muttered with a sigh, retreating to the group, though his grumbling didn't fully subside.'What do I do...!?' the elven girl thought, her silver hair cascading down her back, her sharp ears twitching as her gaze locked onto the armored figure. 'Van Hellix... that's the name of the man who hit on my mother all those years ago... and she had him executed!'Her mind raced as she pieced together the implications. 'And... Junior? Did Van Hellix have a child before he died at my mother's hands!?' Confusion swirled within her as her sharp eyes tracked Van, who steadily approached the quest board.'Poor thing...!' She thought, her brows furrowing slightly at Van, 'Being the child of that scumbag, I bet he is also raised the same way. And he probably grew even more disdainful after his father left him to chase women without restraint...!'"Lady Sylva," a soft but cautious voice interrupted her frantic thoughts, pulling her attention to the towering figure beside her."Is everything alright?" the voice asked."A-AH... Yes, Vaelthir. I was just startled," she replied hastily, her words quick and clipped."I see," Vaelthir said, his tone calm yet laced with disdain as he followed her line of sight to Van. "Indeed, I cannot get over how rude some humans can be."Vaelthir straightened his already impeccable posture, his long, vibrant silver hair catching the light as he stood with practiced poise. His palms rested behind his back, the longbow slung over his shoulder gleaming with a seamless, polished finish. A quiver hung neatly at his side, along with a holstered knife adorned with intricate carvings.'A son should never carry the sins of his father...' Sylva thought, her mind churning as she glanced nervously between Vaelthir and Van. 'It's a good thing Vaelthir only became my guardian recently... If he knew what Van Hellix did, who knows what he might do to his child!'Her gaze fixated on Van as he neared the board, her thoughts filled with a storm of apprehension and uncertainty.'But to think he's a noble...? How is that possible? Could his mother be one? Either way, he must have questions about his father's death. Who wouldn't? But... this aura he carries... Maybe it's better not to approach him...'Sylva pondered, her fingers fidgeting nervously as she mulled over her next move; as Van finally stood before the quest board, looking over it."Ah, I just realized... I never took that quest down!" one of the receptionists murmured under her breath, a shiver running down her spine."The one Unicus went on... where all his expedition died...!!"