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Rooted out!

"E-eh... Yo-you're ou—"

I shut his mouth at once with my gaze, I could predict what he going to say. I put a smile on my faces.

"Hello, there brother. I am sure it is the first time we meet each other, isn't it? My name is Nies. Nice to meet you, Vincent."

"A-ah... Ye-yes."

He gulps down his saliva nervously, as he shifts his gaze from me.

"Eh? Why are you suddenly got nervous, Vincent?"

"T-that..."

I pulled Vincent to the side before he could continue his words.

"I heard that beastman nose is sharp, but I never thought a deer beastman was the same. You won't tell him about me right?"

"T-this, bro— no, sister fox... He wo-would found out eventually. His nose sharper than me after all."

"Eh, I could just dodge him at the academy, couldn't I?"

"... That is impossible. He was signing for the circle form last night. He is part of our circle."

I blank out when I heard that. So, he was Vincent friend that Reiya told me this morning. Now, this is troublesome. He would found out I am his circle leader, and also if I by any chance meet him as Zein he will found out about it too. Luckily, Vincent never met me as Zein, so right now he only thinks I am his circle leader. Hmm... I might be able to deceive their sense of scent with magic tho, but that a blunder of my parts not to change my scent as Nies. Dapper was suspicious of me because of my scent too, blood scent tho. Now... I used Johnny name before as the brother fox, but this is troublesome. Although, it convenient some way since this two would think me as a girl.

"Sigh... Then, it couldn't be helped."

I decided to make them think Johnny is Nies and their circle leader. I pulled him back to the lines where Veer ears keep swaying... Right, he is from the wolf tribe, he definitely hears our conversations. He looks at me marvelously.

"*cough* I guess you heard our conversation. Once again, my name is Nies, I am a sophomore in our academy and also the leader of Syn. Thanks for your help, and please take care of me in the future."

I act gracefully, as I expected those cross-dressing and switching places from the past with Lein was really engraved to the bone. It is scary honestly since my mannerism switch along with my clothes easily. I unconsciously change it!

"Ye-yes, pl-please take care of me too, leader!"

He is flustered as he said those while bowing his head.

"Then, we should partway now."

I said those as I see that we finally reach the counter.

"Se-senior ho-how about we make a party?"

I look blankly at him as he offering me to do a quest with them. Even Vincent got dumbfounded, he looks at me willfully tho.

"That—"A brilliant idea!""

"..."

The one that answering his offers was me, but the receptionist behind the counter which coincidentally is miss Fina.

"You guys are still young, so it's a good idea to be in a party. What more your ranks weren't that far apart."

"B-but sister..."

"Just listen to big sis, Nies. This will be a good experience for you!"

... I keep my facades, as I cursing her in my mind. While Veer was looking at miss Fina with sparkling eyes as his tail swinging like a fan.

'I wonder why did I got dragged around all the time these few days.'

"I apologize, but I must refuse. I want to try my best going solo for a while. Maybe on a later date, we could try doing some party quest."

"Ah... I see. Then we will see you later senior."

Veer looks disappointed as his tail goes down.

"Senior?"

"Ah... That—"

"Yes, miss Nies is our senior from the academy. I never thought that she is also my circle lead before."

"Oh, is that so Veer?"

Before I could cover myself with a lie, this stupid dog with a face that saying praise already blabber all of it. Now then, my adventurer card would be suspended for sure.

"I see, well Nies could you come inside with me for a moment."

"Ah, yes."

"Then see you later senior."

They wave their hand at me as miss Fina dragged me inside.

'Yep, it's here.'

I know this will happen sooner or later. Honestly, on the guild card, there is a couple of rules written. It is considered as a common sense of an adventurer. It was written on the other side of the identity of the card owner.

1. You may not do any criminal activities. You may only kill a wanted personage.

2. You may not disturb another adventurer quest.

3. You may not steal another adventurer prey.

4. Any conflict between adventurer, guild staff or client must be discussed calmly. In extreme cases, like stealing, raping, killing or any criminal activity, you may attack the offender. If you accidentally killed the offender you must provide evidence of the offender deed. Without any evidence, the guild will ban the victim from every adventurer guild indefinitely, until evidence provided.

5. In case someone got caught using a fake identity to join the guild. The guild may ban the offender indefinitely.

6. You may use a pseudonym to join the guild after you provide the guild with your real identity. The guild will keep your real identity and provide the guild card with the pseudonym identity.

7. Anyone who finds this card must return it to any guilds in any towns. The guild will gift 10 big silver for anyone that returning a lost card. The owner of the card of the lost card will be fined for it.

8. No fighting allowed inside the guild buildings for any reason.

I just know about it after I got my card. Damn me and my common sense, why are you so stupid past me?

Thus I could only follow her inside the room, it is only us inside. It is a room with sofas and tea table on the center of the room. There is a couple of portrait on the wall, with their name written on the bottom of it.

"Please have a seat."

She offers me a seat. Then as I sit down, she pushes a paper note on the table. This is the note from my registration day. I smile bitterly as I saw it, I already know what it means to be. It seems like she already found out about me from the start.

"Then miss Nies, care to explain your reasoning to fake your identity. The guild allowed you to use an alias indeed. But you must fill the registration with your real identity. Do you know what is this note?"

"Something with magic imbued, I guess it used for a secret conversation between you and mister Agun. Then mister Agun will write about any weird behavior that I did as I took the test."

At first, I thought it normal to be tested to join the guild. But after the conversation with Veer, I already found out the truth that it was weird. So, I calmly told my analysis about it and the test day.

"Correct, but that wasn't the only use of this item. It used to analyze someone mana and match it with every mana recorded in the adventurer guild. Usually, it used to prove if someone relative to a decrease adventurer in case they passed away in a quest and leave a fortune within the guild bank or to retrieve the deceased adventurer bodies from the guild if we could found them. Do you understand what it means to be?"

I could only smile bitterly at her, as it means that she found my root. Since it's our kingdom custom to reach rank-A as an adventurer for the heir of the Marquis family before they could become the head of the family. So, my father and grandfather were also rank-A adventurers before, what more my mother also a talented lady which was known with her prowess in magic. She followed father in his adventuring days, their party is known through the entire kingdom. I could only nod my head to her, her entire aura suddenly change as she changes her sitting posture. She leaned back to the sofa and cross her legs before she sighs loudly.

"Sigh, I couldn't understand why did the Dageraad family get these tendency to fake their identity just to be caught by the next day... What more every heir did this mess... Now, Lein Dageraad, please provide me with your identity orb. So, I could proceed with further procedure."

I froze at her words. What the heck?! The Dageraad family? Does that mean my close relative does this too? She also said every heir...

The hell... What is wrong with my predecessor?! No, my grandpa and father did this too? What more she thought that I am Lein. Also... Since it wasn't the first time, they seem prepared a further procedure in case of our family do something like this again.

I scratch my head in embarrassment, as I dispel my magic. Well, it won't be funny, if there is a rumor spreading that I like to cross-dressing.

She looks at me calmly as she already expecting my magic. Well, my face and Lein wasn't so different, to begin with. It could be said that I am more feminine than her since my muscles mass was lower than her. So she must be thinking that she is correct, but...

"Sister, about this..."

"W-what?! Yo-you aren't Lein Dageraad? Then... You must be the older twin, Zein Dageraad."

Yeah, I am a guy. I am not Lein Dageraad that she thought me to be. She really shocked about it, as I could see her eyes and mouth open wide. I could only laugh mechanically.

"Whoa, I know that you were trash, but I never thought you are this bad. You even have that kind of hobby.

"Sister, this is a complete misunderstanding. I don't have any hobby to do this... Lein indeed forces me to cross-dress and switch places with her in the past, but I assure you that it wasn't because I like it."

"You know, with your splendid innocent, kind and girly acts from before, that wasn't convincing at all. Seriously, what is wrong with your family! You guys are so weird, I thought you're Lein Dageraad but who would expect... No, I am the stupid one, I mean that junior of mine was cross-dresser too."

She suddenly gave me a dead fish gaze, as all her distress from before seems like a dream.

"Pardon me?"

Bewildered at her sudden change, I muttered that.

"Ah, right... It inside your bloodline I guess. That the only explanation! I won't be surprised anymore, even if your sister suddenly come like a prince on a white horse!"

"No, what is inside my blood?"

"The urge to cross-dress! Your father was a junior of mine in my adventuring days. At that time, I thought I got two cute little sisters as a junior to be guided. I was working as a newbie trainer at that time, and somehow this newbie party was on my hand. I thought they just seem fishy, or maybe their taste was like that. But since the higher up didn't say anything about them, I train them the ropes and brought them to many quests. Since I thought they are both girls I always book a single room for us. Then that happened! I see them having *** in the room when I return early from gathering information."

I facepalm and cover my face in embarrassment as I heard her. She still got those dead fish eyes on her face as she continues her stories.

"Seriously, I am amazed at them for being able to become a high society perfect couple, nowadays. I thoughts those nobles are blinds. But looking at you I realized how scary your family bloodlines are! Your flawless acting and mannerism were perfect. I understand now, why those loose and lax junior of mine could become the high society perfect couple."

I completely dumbfounded at her story, what the hell are they thinking?! Seriously... Did they get some screw loose in their head? I could tell from miss Fina tired expression that she is telling the truth. But... Something amiss... however I see her, she looks like in her 20s, no?

"Did she is older than my parents?!"

I unconsciously mutter those words loudly, as miss Fina flinch... I close my mouth with my hands right away, as I could feel a huge amount of mana pressuring me... She is smiling but she wasn't at the same time. I gulped down my saliva in nervousness, her mana is higher than mine. Why does someone like her become a receptionist? There is something wrong with this world setting! I want a refund!

"What did you just say Zein Dageraad?"

"You're amazing, sister. To be able to keep your beauty even tho you're o—O... OK."

"Ohohoho, did you think you won't get any punishment little Zein?"

Yep, this world is completely ruined. Somehow, things get out of my hand this day.

"Sister, the guild rules stating that no fighting inside the guild room and every conflict or disagreement between staff and adventurer should be discussed calmly."

"Ohohoho... Seems like you learn your studies well. But there is a clause in extreme cases, violence is allowed."

"This wasn't an extreme case! For Goddess sake."

"In my dictionaries it is. Well, I could use training as a reason to beat you up. After all, I got a license to train any newbie out there."

"Ca-can we discussed this over?"

"No. Starting from tomorrow, you must come to the guild at 7 a.m for 'basic' training."

"I will report—"

"Sure do that! I wanted to know, who dare to take my prey."

She flashed a platinum card in front of me. It is a rank-S adventurer card. The adventurer guild card starts with black color, for rank-G, then grey, green, blue, red, silver, gold and ended with platinum. A rank-S adventurer could be equal to a duke of any kingdom. They basically the top of the pyramids as long as there is no hero in their generation. Even if they're inactive, the guild will listen to their whim as long as it wasn't something excessive. That being said, my fate was sealed. Who knows that a retired rank-S adventurer would become your receptionist?! But, I wonder why did she suspicious of me?

"I understand sister. But can I ask you a question?"

I could only sigh in defeat.

"What is it? As long as it wasn't about me... you know and something on a national scale, I'll try to answer it."

"Why did you get suspicious at me? I thought my act was flawless."

"Oh that. As you can see, I am a rank-S adventurer. My spot in the party was a scout. Do you think you can hide that mana flow in your face from my eyes?"

"I understand... For short I walk to my own demise from the start?"

"Yes."

"But why didn't you revealed me right away?"

"Hmm, the things are I don't know what kind of magic did you use to change your appearance. Also, since you act like a girl, maybe you used it to cover some sort of flaw in your face. Since you didn't change your appearance complete, I thought just maybe you just dislike your lips, eyebrows, and hair color. Since it wasn't that different from makeup. But I wasn't really suspicious at you right away."

Her answer was logical. There are many people that do plastic surgery on earth just because they dislike their appearance. So, if you can change it with magic why not? I guess that is her reasoning and it not like I change it completely.

"... But giving that magic note, which I am sure is pretty expensive, doesn't that mean you're really suspicious of me?"

"Ah, I already doubting you at that time. It because of your birthplace. You said that you live there with your mother and she teaches you many things. It a good background story and the place that you choose, as your birthplace, is hard to get any information from there."

She stops before she gazes at me profoundly.

"But that was the flaw, as I said I am a scout, I am pretty sensitive with mana. I could tell you got a huge amount of mana when you stepping inside the guild. So, there is no way your mother was unknown. As a rank-S scout, I pretty much knew many important personages and from there I eliminated those still active. But I never heard anyone of rank-A living at that place you say, to win against you in magic, the person in question must be a rank-A at very least. That's why I give you that note since your story about your mother doesn't make any sense."

She is sharp and got a huge network. She is a rank-S for a reason.

"Now, I am convinced that I won't be able to fool you that day in any way. Thank you for your guidance, sister. I learn something new."

"Now give me your orb and activate it so I could see your identification. I need to link it with your card."

I give her my identity orb as I bow down and give her my gratitude. Of course, I activated it with mana. Anyway, strangers could only see the name, race, age, level, and criminal records if there is one. That is why the guild was asking for the registered adventurer for their specialties.

Name: Zein Dageraad

Race: Human

Age: 16

Level: 12

Then she took a quill and write a letter before she worked with my guild card. She chanting something that I couldn't understand at all, it is just sound like a nonsense rumblings in my ears. Then it's starting to glow gently as it ascending from the table and spinning around in the air, then the light was slowly getting absorbed by my orb until it stops rotating and slowly descent on miss Fina hand.

"The process is done, here is your card and identity orb."

She returns my card and orb back, casually.

"Is that all?"

"Yeah, that's it. Anyway, I heard you were untalented trash, but your mana is huge for someone with such a low level."

"It's because of my aptitude."

"Hee... Your normal aptitude is well known by me though. I never heard you got aptitude for magic. Your mom was complaining to me about it from time to time. She keeps bullshitting about it before how her son's train till he got a nosebleed in secret every time she met me. Although it stopping sometimes and change to how her son's becoming a drunkard."

I keep my smile as I heard her. I didn't confirm nor denied it. I am wondering about what kind of thing did mother told her about me. She observes me carefully to find out any change in my face. But she gives up after a moment.

"Seriously, your poker faces is perfect if there is no evidence. How did someone like you got called 'trash'?"

"You know, even if you didn't tell me I could make an assumption based on this mischief of yours."

"There is no need for assumption tho. Since those were the facts."

"Facts? Then your bad conducts were real. Then you're turning a new leaf?"

"Maybe, or maybe not."

She smiles wryly as she hears my response.

"Your win. The talentless son turns out to be the best one for politics. You are a scary brat. Just thinking that your rumors were just facades like this pseudonym of yours... What are you planning brat? could you tell me that at least?"

"Sure, I just want a peaceful life."

"..."

"Is there something wrong with it?"

"No, that's just anti-climatic. I thought you were planning something grand."

"It's grandiose enough to be able to live my life in peace."

She put her hand on her chin as she thinking about my words.

"Then, why didn't you cast away your title and live in a secluded place?"

"Now, that's a good proposal. Unfortunately, I can not do that. I got many debts to pay, also I love my family."

She chuckled at me.

"You shouldn't have done those things in the past then. You put yourself in a hard place."

I only smile, it not like I want to do that. It just immaturity of my past self. Although I felt that I already accept those as a part of me lately. After yesterday, I completely realized that the past Zein and me from earth already assimilated completely. That's why I am falling in love with Fransisca and feeling attach to my family. At first, it was only to fix this world Zein mistakes tho. As I am thinking miss Fina sitting posture and aura change back to her business facades.

"Anyway, our procedure is done. How may I help you, miss Nies?"

'Seriously, this person... She wasn't that much different from me!'

I sighed internally, as I change my appearance once again.

"I want to take quests and raise my adventurer guild rank."

"Then. Please bring the quest poster to the counter beforehand. The quests boards are located beside the bar."

Hearing that I feel like she poured me with cold water. Damn it! Couldn't you tell me about it when I registering? I could see her smirk from the edge of my sight.

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