Chapter 15

After the traveler left the guild, there was chaos. The guild members along with Lila found severed heads of women inside the grey fabric. It was disgusting however, they needed to make sure that the traveler didn't just kill random people. They brought it to an experienced guild member and had it examined.

When they observed the heads, they found a mark on their napes. It was a goat skull, the mark that is said to be the representation of the devil that witches worship. It didn't simply end there... The guild members became aware of the newcomer, the traveler who hunted the witches down.

His mission was to eliminate the witches but he took it so seriously. Others who received the same mission would go on teams and rather than killing them, they tend to capture them instead. To the guild members, the traveler didn't have any mercy and he was not someone they could provoke.

According to the experienced guild members, he did it to make himself known. To make sure they knew his capabilities and what kind of things he is able to do. They found that explanation reasonable when they found out that he was a traveler.

Perhaps because he was a traveler, he knew he couldn't participate much in guild activities and do missions actively so instead, he showed everyone what he could do as to not get removed from the guild after a long time of being inactive.

However, they were not happy even after knowing what their fellow guild member could do. Instead, they thought of him as a threat, and if not a threat, they thought of him as someone terrifying. He was capable of decapitating witches after all and they knew little about him. If he could do so to the witches, he's also capable of doing it to his companions.

Some who were curious about the newcomer came to Lila, the only person with who he had a proper conversation. According to her, he was not as frightening as what the rumors say. Quite the contrary, actually, she said to them as she explained his kind demeanor.

Of course, they found it unbelievable. Although Lila was honest and trustworthy, they simply thought that she was trying to not make him look as bad.

There were plenty of other members in the guild who were like the traveler, mysterious and fearsome. But those were members who've been part of the guild for a long time already so they are not as suspicious and wary of them as they do to the traveler.

Later that day, a familiar person entered the guild...

† Mundivagant †

Back in the inn, the traveler found himself sitting on his bed as if he has never even left yet however time has passed since it was already dark outside. He was reading his journal because he had forgotten what he did this entire day.

He sat quietly with his focus on the journal. It said that he successfully finished the mission of eliminating the witches in the northern forest. Apart from that, it didn't say anything else about the fight.

'Day 227, Sunday

The elimination of witches in the northern forest is completed. It was a success. After that, I went back to the guild to receive my rewards. They gave me a green card that has my name, rank, missions completed, success rate, and the number of guild points I have. I placed it in the pocket of my sling bag.

As for the gold alvas, I placed it along with the other gold alvas I have. Now I possess seven of them. It has been a tiring day so I decided to go back to the inn and rest.'

The traveler noticed the different handwriting but he thought that maybe he was tired when he wrote it. Instead of going to bed, he walked towards the door and left. He headed to the entrance lobby of the inn to get some food.

After eating his meal, he went back to his room. Before going to sleep, he scribbled some random stuff in five of the pages of his journal. He planned to use his ability to create majestic paintings as he did before.

Putting away his journal, removing his cloak, and shoes, he rested on his bed. When his consciousness faded and reappeared back in that blurry world, he spent his time thinking of images he had seen as he was traveling. It wasn't just about nature this time.

When he awoke, it was morning already. The traveler didn't say anything, he also didn't open his journal as he used to every morning. He wore his clothes, went to the public bathroom to freshen up, and had breakfast in the entrance lobby of the inn. Instead of juice, he ordered coffee.

Yesterday, apart from the successful mission, he found another page in his journal. It said plenty of things about Caesar and his lies. As he was walking out of the inn, he remembered the details in the journal.

'He wanted to get help from me. He wanted me to go to a mine his father owned and rid of the beasts there but I suspect that he asked so in order to get rid of me, not the beasts. He failed to manipulate me using his power and perhaps realized that I knew and as to not hinder his unknown intentions, he wanted me to disappear.'

He didn't remember writing them but it was in his journal and there was no other person but him who has it so without any doubt, he believed that what was in it was true.

'He asked for which guild I joined as well, maybe because I refused to help him, he planned to make me do it by asking the guild.' He remembered the details in the journal... 'I must go to the guild tomorrow to make sure if he did.'

The traveler headed towards the guild and after a few minutes of walking, he arrived in front of the building. When he entered, the guild fell silent. He was confused but he didn't care.

Lila had an awkward smile as she said, "P-Perfect timing! Cassius, um, we have a mission for you!" The traveler approached the lady and when he was in front of the counter, she added, "According to our client, t-there are insect beasts in the mine near the northern forest and they specifically asked for you so..."

The traveler didn't have to be intelligent to know who the client was, "Caesar," The traveler smiled, "Was the client named Caesar?"

"I-It seems that you know him!" Lila smiled back, "The insects are preventing the laborers from working so our client was hoping for you to go there and kill..."

Before she finished her sentence, someone interrupted and said, "Lila, you mean to CAPTURE the beasts, right!?"

Lila laughed awkwardly, "Yes, yes... To capture, capture the beasts." She repeated, "Yes, to capture the beasts!"

"Reward?"

Lila who was awkward earlier suddenly became less nervous, "According to our client, there are more than ten beasts there, and although they are insects, beasts are beasts and they are highly dangerous. He offered a large sum so we are going to be generous with the rewards."

She explained, "It's going to be forty thousand guild points, and since he specifically asked for you, you will be given two gold alvas and fifty guild rank points."

She added, "I said it before, I'm going to say it again, beasts are beasts and they are highly dangerous. I don't recommend going alone so I suggest that you find a guild member to go with you for this mission."

The traveler shook his head, "It's alright, I don't want to bother anyone. Besides, I still don't know any guild members apart from you and that blonde boy."

Looking at his gentle and warm appearance, the lady didn't know what to think. Was this the same person who brought severed heads to the guild?

When the traveler was about to leave, Lila said, "I'm sorry but could you wait here for a few minutes? An older guild member wanted to meet you."

"Is that so? Then I'll wait."

After saying so, the traveler walked around the entrance lobby to find an available seat. He settled on the empty bench next to a huge white pillar. He took out his journal to look at the paintings he painted in his dreams...

The first painting was a table, it had a plate of cooked steak with rice and sauce, a cake, and a glass of red wine on top. In the second painting, It was a white rose in a vase. He saw this in the village chief's house. In the third painting, he drew a large mirror that had his reflection. In the fourth painting, he drew the whitestone inn.

Unfortunately, on the last page, there was nothing in there but scribbles. He was only able to alter four memories last night and he didn't know the reason why. As he was staring at the paintings, a voice from behind was heard.

"Those are nice paintings, young man. Were you the one who painted them?"

The traveler thought for a while. He didn't know how to paint but technically, he was still the one who painted them. "Yes, I did." He answered.

"You must be confused as to why I wanted to meet you." The person said as he soon revealed himself. He was not young but not old either. He seemed like he was in his forties, he was mature and elegant.

"There's nothing much I want to talk about. I just wanted to tell you the rules in this guild as it seems that Lila forgot to mention them. Don't worry, I'm just reminding you of it." He said, "First is that there should be no infightings. It is prohibited to hurt or fight another guild member."

"Second, we must refrain from completing missions the wrong way. What I mean is that if the client wants something, we must give them exactly that. If they want the mission done in a certain way then we must comply."

"Third, respect. This is the simplest of all the rules, just basic respect. You must respect guild members and clients. No matter how powerful you may be, you must always respect them."

The traveler suddenly had the urge to laugh. "The rules are simple, I understand but how are you sure that all guild members are following them?"

"Why do you ask?"

The traveler explained, "Respect, basic respect. The second time I came here, a person whined about guild members getting higher ranks because of their grandma's influence. When I asked why grandma specifically, he told me I didn't deserve to know as I was weak."

The traveler smiled, "You might not find it disrespectful but I do."

The man didn't know how to respond so he stayed quiet for a while. "Respecting others is a simple rule but not everyone can do so. We also can not supervise every guild member so I should say that we aren't sure if it is being followed. I guess I just wanted to remind you so because you are powerful and others are wary of you."

The traveler didn't deny it, he knew his ability was powerful as well, "Rest assured, I consider myself a gentleman and a gentleman knows how to respect others."

He has always been a gentleman, someone who is kind and respectful to others. It was hard to respect everyone but apart from being considerate and polite, he was also patient and thoughtful. At least that's what he thinks.

The man couldn't help but chuckle at his words, "A gentleman who brings decapitated heads as proof, I see. You're quite an interesting lad, haha."

The traveler felt disturbed, he tilted his head in confusion, "Decapitated heads? Did I bring such things? When did I do that?"

"???"