Daren

Inside this study room where a strong smell of antique texts permeated. With thick rolled-up parchment that stacked up neatly like a common grain one after another inside the exquisite crafted wooden shelf that spread around the area. In the middle, a figure of melancholy silhouette shone upon the touch of the twilight. With its cardinal glow shimmered the man's figure, who was staring blankly at the alpine window.

Suddenly a knock resounded inside the room.

*𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘 * 𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘*

"Come in." Shifting his gaze to the door, the man said solemnly.

"Yes, my lord." Opening the luxurious wooden door, a middle-aged man who wore a formal suite similar to the 18th-century butler attire came in.

"Excuse me... As per your order, my lord. Upon the arrival of the lady inside the municipality. I already instructed our man to observe her in the shadow." The middle-aged man bowed his head as a sign of greetings to the person in front of him who has silky azure hair that radiating upon the touch of the twilight.

The man who was bathed by the dusk wore a linen shirt with frills underneath of its full-skirted knee-length coat and knee-breeches glittering with a silver pattern with matching silk stockings and leather shoes.

Turning around, the man said. "There seems to be a rumor circulating about a demon, is that true?" darting his glance to the middle-aged man, the person inquired.

"I have previously investigated the matter, my lord. It seems to be the Invincible A-ranker already cleaned the demon's nest." Taking out a small parchment, the middle-aged man narrated what was written inside.

"The report said, after the Nimrod party came back to the town, they even brought back thirty plus people along with them. Most were humans, some were beast-kin; however, the beast race that arrived in the town seems to be a troublesome one." Clearing his throat, the middle-aged man continued.

"It seems to be a silver-wolf tribe, due to that reason. The underground world may take some action." Putting the piece of a letter inside his pocket, the middle-aged man bowed.

"Mm, excellent work. About the beast race, as long as they are inside this town. The Guild won't sit idle and do nothing, after all. If I guessed it correctly, the Invincible A-ranker did ask them to protect the survivors." Placing his hands behind his back, the man said.

"You may go now." He said, but before the middle-aged man leaves the place, the person added.

"Continue monitoring your Miss, and Is it true that Invincible A-ranker took a disciple?" Glancing at the elderly person who was about to leave, the man asked.

Pausing for a bit, the middle-aged man responded. "It seems to be true, my lord. One of our servants asked the newbie proctor, and the words came to his own mouth."

"... Hooh, okay then, you may go now." The person said, as his intellectual eyes flashed in curiosity.

"Then, I shall take my leave, my lord." Taking a bow, then the middle-aged man left the place.

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In the middle of the street, Kiro and Missa were on their way to the trainee lounge.

After their discussion, Kiro decided that he would talk to Aldin once and for all to resolve the current problem.

In the midst of their way to the Guild, Kiro noticed that the eyes of the crowd weren't natural. He does not like the feeling of it.

Suddenly, a warning sign pops up out of nowhere.

『 Warning! 』

- An unauthorized person wanted to glance at the user's status bar.

- Does the user want to let the person see his current status?

『 Yes / No 』

Staring at the familiar screen in front of him, Kiro said in bewilderment. "... What?" While he was in confusion. Fixie who remained in silence warned him.

"Master! Be careful. There seems to be an appraisal user around here..." Scanning the surrounding, Fixie added. "7 o'clock behind your back Master, there seems to be an unusual person at the right corner of that food stall."

Kiro awakened from Fixie's call. Tapping the no button, he replied. "An appraisal user?" Slowly turning his sight behind his back, Kiro saw a person who was hidden beneath a dark cloak, amidst both of its eyes gleaming with bright light.

Glancing at the culprit, Kiro asked. "... That person?"

"Yes Master, but don't do anything for now. Master incognito should be working, and that person cannot see through Master's true status." Fixie explained. Then she contemplated for a while. Eventually, she voiced out her thoughts.

"Master should use this opportunity, as the person wouldn't notice Master's innate skill even if that person has a defensive artifact."

When Kiro heard her thoughts, he pondered for a couple of breaths, as he murmured the keyword.

"[Appraisal]."

In the status section.

﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍

Name: Daren

Lv: 55

Age: 30

Race: Human

Gender: Male

State: Healthy

Title: C-rank Adventurer

﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍

Staring at the guy's information, Kiro couldn't help to be confused.

"So, why would this guy check me out?" Kiro murmured inaudible tone.

Hearing her Master's question, Fixie responded. "If Fixie guessed it right, that guy's real target isn't Master, rather the two children. Especially the male beast race."

When he heard her explanation, Kiro suddenly remembered Gill's Innate skill.

Trying to keep his calm, Kiro asked. "So what should I do?"

Fixie pondered for a moment before saying. "I think it would be better if Master let it go. First, it would draw some suspicion from how Master knows that person is peering at your status."

"Second, even if Master tried to catch that guy, with many people around here. He could switch all the blame to Master and leave Master into a tight situation. Unless Master brings out the fact that he is also an appraisal user." After she finished her explanation, Kiro frowned in trouble.

"... Okay then, I'm just going to ignore the guy for now." Kiro muttered.

Seeing his unusual behavior, the three looked at him in confusion. Eventually, Missa asked.

"Are you alright?" She said glancing at the confused Kiro.

Noticing the concerned look of the three, Kiro's eyes soften. "It's nothing, now let's go."

Urging the group to move on, Kiro and his group finally arrived at the Guild.

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Gleamed of twilight gradually dissipated beneath the cloud as the dusk came—starry night loomed above, refined and graceful. Shimmering brightly at the sky above, enough to ignite the heart of many who saw its glamorous luster.

Oddly enough, there was a man who was sitting beneath the tree, staring at the night light with a gloomy expression.

While the man was absentmindedly gazing at the clouds, a woman's voice suddenly awakened the man from his deep thought.

"... Aldin." Seeing him spacing out like that, Alyva's heart angst from the scene.

Hearing her voice, Aldin shifted his gaze toward Alyva. Upon noticing her worried look, Aldin's mood lightened.

"Alyva what is it?" He feigned ignorance of her feelings.

Seeing him like that, Alyva bit her lower lip slightly, as she said. "... It's nothing." Knowing nothing would change, even if she reproached him. Alyva could only swallow her frustration.

Silence engulfed the two.

While the chilly wind hummed that caressed her warm cheeks, Alyva was the first one who broke the awkwardness. "Let's go inside. It's getting late." Glancing at him, Alyva voiced out.

Getting up from under the tree, Aldin nodded. "Okay."

However, when the two were about to go inside the lounge, they suddenly saw multiple figures coming closer at them.

At first, Aldin thought it was only Missa and the two children. But when he noticed the familiar figure of the person. He couldn't help to call out his name in confusion.

"... Kiro?"