2 Unpredictable First City

Velvet Mine City, where mining was their main source of income, hence the name, he was currently walking around seeing and eating different places. Since being here he has met new acquaintances along the way out of necessity. 

In the mines close by is where the city gets most of its money from while the other reason is blacksmiths. And that's where adventurers come in as he could see plenty here going to either buy, sell or even exchange for weapons, armors and materials.

Seeing the bustling of the city that was pretty big, Benrey had come to a stop as he looked at the sign that displayed the words adventurers' guild but as he was about to head inside to fulfill his curiosity. He felt something sinister like the time he went training in that labyrinth he almost died in three years ago.

Turning his direction towards the west where the mines are located and where there are currently workers working. He thought to himself

'This feeling, something sinister has been born and not just a few it seems like how it happened before … Should I..' 

Thinking if he should go or not but in the next moment adventurers started coming out the three story guild with serious looks. One by one passed him as they headed towards the same direction of that sinister feeling he had got.

'Seems I'm not the only one who felt it, then I don't need to go I want to see how it looks inside even though I can't register until my second year at the academy' thought Benrey

After about thirty plus people passed him, Benrey finally went inside. Once inside he saw how big and spacious it was. Chairs, tables, three floors with the first having the receptionist desks  for people to go register as an adventurer, turn in completed quests and materials. 

The first and second floors had tables, chairs, food bars and game areas. The second floor has a bar while the first doesn't and the third floor is only allowed to the guild staff unless there's special quests or meetings with important people.

Looking around as there were few people since the rest left, Benrey started exploring the two floors. Seeing how it closely resembles his past life world he thought that this world would be quite fun. 

No one really paid much attention to him as they were doing their own thing. He figured that they stayed just in case something unexpected happened if all of them went even though they have the city guards to protect the city. It was for safety reasons.

While looking around, not far away, a beautiful female receptionist who appears to be an elf, saw Benrey the moment he came in as she felt something different about him. As an elf, one of the few beings that is extremely sensitive to mana and peoples nature. 

Feeling someone's eyes on him, Benrey turned to look at where it was coming from and once he saw the person he was stunned but with his innate skill poker face made it hard to tell. Inwardly he was stoic to see one as he's world had novels and other types of works about them and to see one now was like a dream come true. 

Seeing as the young, but extremely handsome boy staring back at her without the slightest hint of lust or desire. It was rather different and nice to be able to see something like that after about two centuries. As she's lived for more than four hundred years as elves have long lifespans and she was a fire elf. 

Elves had a variety of different types as they have great affinity to magic and elements. So they're ice elves, fire elves, nature elves, wind elves, earth elves, water elves, etc. And since she's a fire elf she had fiery red long hair with slightly reddish white skin along with red eyes. She also had the signature long ears and was quite tall at 5'11". 

After what seems to be hours staring at one another, Benrey who wasn't the type to talk to anyone first or at thought that he will have to now. Walking up to the elf at the desk he smiled then began to speak even though inwardly he was nervous.

"Um excuse me"

"Yes how can I help you" she asked

Looking at him she thought he was even more handsome up close even though she has seen plenty of handsome men especially considering her race but something about him was appealing to her.

Seeing as he hasn't asked anything, she thought he was nervous or something but looking at his face she couldn't see any trace of that being the case. So she asked again as it looked like he wasn't going to reply.

"How can I help you" 

Hearing her soothing voice that sounded like melody to the ears he finally calm his nerves and said what he wanted to ask.

"Y-yeah um can I ask about the rankings" 

"Yes that's no problem" she said

"Ah sorry I almost forgot, my name's Benrey" said Benrey as he smiled at her waiting for her to give him her name

".... Elise" said Elise as she was confused he didn't look to her name tag first

'Is he the type who rather hear it from them instead' Elise thought

"Well, um Miss Elise my question" said Benrey

"Ah yes" said Elise 

She began to tell him how the ranks go. 

"Adventures are ranked from the lowest to highest: F-Demi-God but Demi-God hasn't been achieved for centuries now" 

"Why not, is it difficult for one to reach it" asked Benrey

"Yes it is that's why we don't include it when we talk about ranks" said Elise

"But you told me" 

"It's because I chose to and you seem to really enjoy the information you have received so far based on how focus you look"

"I-is that so then thank you" said Benrey

"... Monsters, dungeons and skills go by the same ranking system as adventurers do but monsters are stronger than us within each rank so be careful when you encounter one" 

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks" replied Benrey

"Of course… Next we have labyrinths that go by levels 1-3, 3 being the highest. A level 1 consists of F-C Rank monsters with only 10 floors. Level 2 has F-A Rank monsters with 50 floors and the last, level 3 consists of F-SSS Rank monsters with 100 floors" said Elise

'But I don't think that labyrinth was a level 3 labyrinth though. It had more than 100 floors so that means they don't know anything about that labyrinth. And if they're more of them but if there is how many?' thought Benrey

He came out of thought as she began again

"But there different as level ones don't have boss monsters and the level 2 labyrinths have mini bosses on every 5th floor and the last floor, the 50th, is the true boss floor… Then there's the level 3 labyrinths" 

She looked to him before talking again to make sure he got it then seeing as he nodded his head to proceed she did.

"Every 5th floor has mini bosses and every 10th floor has true bosses but after the 50th floor you will only get true bosses on every 5th floor. On the 100th floor is where the last and real boss of the labyrinth is"

"Did the guild send people in different laybriths in order to determine how different or similar each were?" asked Benrey

"Yes, it was a group of demi-gods who did 300 years ago" said Elise

"Wait 300 years ago I thought you meant longer than that" said Benrey a little puzzled

"What I said earlier is correct but the ones from that time were native to this world" said Elise

"You mean the ones you're talking about now weren't originally from this world" asked Benrey as he was thinking about the recent news of the heroes that were summoned 

"Yes they were summoned heroes like the ones that were summoned months ago but they weren't as much as there is now back then" said Elise

"So there were more.. What happened to them" asked Benrey out of curiosity 

"Some went back home, some decided to stayed after defeating the demon king" 

"So does that mean there's some that's still alive now" asked Benrey

"Possible but we're not certain" she said

"Why?" 

"If they were they would have done something about what's been happening as of lately with the three races but none have done anything"

"Why do you think they haven't?" he asked

"They could have already died, or it's not serious enough for them to intervene or even they just don't want to who knows" said Elise 

"Yeah any of those could be true" 

"Like I was saying, they ventured into all the labyrinths to collect data for us so now we're well prepared going inside" she said as she looked at Benrey nodding

"Do the labyrinths ceased to exist after defeating the labyrinths boss" asked Benrey

"No the labyrinths produce replacements after a couple hours of clearance of each floor" said Elise

"I see, do we get drops of items and can we bring back the monsters inside" he asked

"Yes you get drop items and even different rank chests but monsters inside can't be brought out as they will automatically disappear once dead" replied Elise

"So what about monsters that are used as materials how would we do that if they just disappear" said Benrey

"That's what Dungeons and monsters outside are for" said Elise

"Oh" 

"In them monsters can be used as raw materials and they won't disappear like labyrinth monsters" replied Elise

"I see then that's good" said Benrey

Talking some more he realized that he was told more than he thought would be told to him before he could register. He guessed that it didn't matter as he would learn most orif not all of it at the academy soon. 

After another round of questions and answers he was just about finished when suddenly he felt something again and this time he felt it was moving towards the city. Soon he felt multiple mana sources getting closer and they were monster sources. But there was one that felt different from the others.

Feeling this he felt it was the same as the one he felt earlier but this one felt a little stronger. And it was accompanied by hundreds of monsters and they ranged from C to S Rank.

'What's going on, why are they heading here and for what reason is it commanding them… I was hoping I didn't need to help but they way it's looking I will have to' he thought 

He looked towards Elise and was about to excuse himself but then Elise spoke first.

"You should stay here for a while it seems a monster tide is about to happen" 

"Elise I can…" he started but was interrupted by a voice coming from the stairs 

'So he has come, I felt him the moment I entered the city I was wondering when he was going to take action now it looks like I won't have to. But what is his rank he seems strong but not somethings different about him' thought Benrey as he look at the person walking down the stairs 

"Guildmaster you felt it also" asked Elise

"Yeah, get everyone ready it's a monster tide" as he said that the adventures who were still here started to move

They knew about this mysterious guildmaster who doesn't show himself much but they heard rumors that he was one of the strongest people on the continent of Vorno. They heard that a monster tide was heading towards the city and got ready to intercept it before anything major happened.

As they left the guildmaster told them to make sure to send someone to tell the city lord so he can send his soldiers to help also. Someone agreed as they hurried towards the lord's estate while the rest went to the East gate to where the monster tide will be coming.

"Elise it seems that I have to go out this time" said the guildmaster as he came in front of both of them

"Yeah it seems you will have to, that mana source isn't something this city could go against" said Elise 

"Yeah I know but I was hoping I could live a lazy life after that... haaa" replied the guildmaster

"Well too bad, but don't worry I'll help if need be little Roddrick" said Elise with a smirk

"Ugh stop with the little please Elise" said Roddrick with a begging expression

"Hehehe fine I'll stop for now" she said 

"That's good enough" as he sighed saying that

He finally notice Benrey looking at the two's exchange with no expression on his face but what intrigued Roddrick was he couldn't feel any mana from him so it made him question why this young man was here.

'He doesn't seem to be an adventurer just who is he… well I'll leave it for later for now that source is getting closer'

Looking to Benrey he reached his hand out for a handshake which Benrey at first looked but then reached out to shake his hand.

"As you heard I'm the guildmaster here, Roddrick Greyard and you seem quite interesting but for now I have to handle some matters. I hope to talk to you once I'm back"

"Benrey" said Benrey after finishing their handshake 

"Ah yes Benrey.. since you're not an adventurer it's best you stay here with Elise okay" said Roddrick

He left without Benrey being able to say anything.

"Sorry that's just how he is, you'll get use to it" said Elise

"That's fine but it seems you two have known each other for some time now" said Benrey

"Yeah for centuries now" replied Elise nonchalantly 

"Ce-centuries but isn't he a human how long has he lived" asked Benrey confused 

"Remember what I said about the reasons that could be for the summoned heroes to not take action if they were still alive" said Elise looking at Benrey

"Yes why… does that mean" said Benrey after a short moment of realization 

"Yes he is one of the summoned heroes who decided to stay and his reason for not doing anything is as you heard… he wants to live a lazy life but he will only take action if need be like now" she said to a stunned Benrey but no one could tell because of his poker face and calm innate skills

"I see" he said as he went into thought

'So he's one, I wonder when and where he was summoned from and if that world is my old one' 

Thinking that he thought he didn't have to take action now but something unexpected happened as the guildmaster and the rest of the adventurers were on their way to stop the tide. He felt hundreds of monsters coming from the South gate and that same source again that the guildmaster is going to face.

'What the heck is going on, why this place and at a time when I'm here… now I might not have a choice but to take action this one is even stronger then the other ones' thought Benrey 

"Something's coming and it's not friendly but why is there another tide of monster coming in the same direction of that source" said Elise more to herself then Benrey

"It seems I have to go out as well" said Elise as she looked towards Benrey who also looked back at her

"Benrey stay here where it's safe and don't leave okay" she said to Benrey with an serious expression

"But I.." 

"No buts just stay here I'll be back soon" said Elise as she left in a hurry but as she left her attire changed into something more fitting for battle as she dashed towards the South gate in a hurry leaving Benrey alone in the guild

"Haa I was trying to say I can help well this is fine to I can help without drawing attention to myself" said Benrey to himself

'They gave me the chance to try out some new things now maybe I should be happy for this' he thought 

"Let's go watch what happens first. Maybe something else unexpected will happen again" said Benrey as he disappeared from the guild