Chapter 002 : An Uncertainty Planted Within

~Point of View : Paul~

Wearing a brown cloak over my clothes and a hidden sword sheathed on my waist in case I run into some trouble in town, I look at the building I'm about to set foot in after years and years out of commission.

*Dink-a-ling~*

The door's bell sounds its ring as I enter the inside of an Adventure Guild inside the Citadel of Roa, a fortress city that holds for the most prominent city of Fittoa Region as it still historically stands as the last bastion of defense against the Demon race some centuries ago.

The looks of this place are a little rash, but that's what keeps the spirits of adventure, which is that they're harsh and isn't forgiving in the least, but when you get through with it, you might get to be proud of a thing or two after.

Decors of hunted big lizards and humanoid monsters alike are all hanged on the walls, showing its accomplishment as a branch of the Adventurer's Guild from Millishion.

*Chatters*

In front of me is the bunch of Adventurers, all whinging about their failures on dungeon raids while drinking beers and others bragging about their success regarding on wyvern subjugation with a boastful chest drumming all around.

I and Zenith are both former adventurers, taking a break from all the exhilaration, and ends up disbanding a party I used to lead. 'Pretty sure one of them is around here, can't remember who, but I'm sure they're working for some of my affiliates…'

I trudge along the path forward, ignoring some of the gaze that are given to me. Curiosity, Jealousy, Amazement, all kinds of emotions can be subtly felt by my Touki (Battle Aura) as I don't feel like doing a fistfight for whatever reason these folks might give.

There are lines all around, though I can care less since I have the card for me to clear all these people with the one I'm bringing on my neck.n

Me : "Excuse me, S-rank here, coming throu~gh"

As I hold the card on my neck and show it where the staffs can see it while getting past the lines, the receptionists are going back and forth calling one another before another one comes around, and that happens to be a young man who'll be the one meeting me head on.

Wearing a crimson blazer and red ties over the white sleeved shirts within, the guy's face who I can't really describe since he wears a flat cap on top of his head looks ecstatic that an experienced caliber is here in front of him alongside the others with some curiosity on whom I may be.

Receptionist : "Welcome! How may I be of service, Sir…?". He shows the professionalism in him with the usual polite smile and humble tone that is always needed in this line of job.

*Tap*

I step closer to him as I tap my card to his view.

Me : "Paul. Former Leader of Black Wolf's Fang, here in need to post a request"

*Gasps*

Most of the ones who're waiting seems like they're annoyed by my special treatment, but it's one I've earned alongside my former comrades.

Receptionist : "Ah! Yes, yes, What is it that you want to assign, Sir?"

Bringing with me is a piece of rolled paper, detailing the request for Advanced-level Magic tutor or higher, and all the adults in the house didn't get to write that it's for teaching our kids since they might be discouraged if it's for that case.

Me : "It's written in there with the reward's for when they passed our expectations, and spread it just around Fittoa and maybe some of the Guilds surrounding it"

He opens the paper as he inspects the contents, and glances at me a few times.

Receptionist: "Yes, Sir, that'll be 1 gold coin of Asura, and May I borrow your card for the assignment, Sir?"

*Tink*

I toss out the needed amount of currency from my breast pocket for posting the request and my card from my neck as I hand both out to him in both hands.

Taking it from my hand, he then pulls out a box that is the catalyst for confirming the assignment I'm requesting, and he puts the card on top of it.

*Who~om*

With a sparkle of glistening blues and whites, the information that it withholds is revealed to the both of us.

[Name : Paul Greyrat

Gender : Male

Race : Human

Age : 35

Job : Swordsman

Rank : S

Party : Fangs of the Black Wolf (Disbanded) ]

Seeing that there's no one in the party anymore wrenches my heart as I wonder how they're doing as of now.

A team of a Leader, a Healer, a Swordswoman, a Warrioress, a Middleman, and a Thief now all scattered across the world as we parted way back then aside from me and Zenith being a couple in Buena Village.

Receptionist : "I Apologize for the necessary procedure, Sir, and here's the card back". He politely apologized as he gives me back the card I've been keeping for this kind of special occasion. "Anything else you need, Sir?"

Remembering that it's barely the middle of the day, I decided to myself that I might as well take a few breathers while reminiscing on what happened yesterday.

Me : "… Yeah, can I get myself a beer and a water, some curry, and bread?"

. . .

. . . Minutes Later . . .

. . .

*Munch*

Atop of a plate of curry, a cup of water and a 'Little' shot of beer in a mug is crumbs of the bread that I'm having in my right hand.

Me : "Gaah~. Cheeky Brats! Even as a Father, I still want to hit them head on! Especially Eyn, what's with him troubling the whole house just because he's not allowed to go on with Bows and Arrows… *Burps*. And he dares to actually ask for more toys after I built those swings below the trees"

*Thud*

Someone sat on an empty seat on the table that I'm taking.

Lifting my head up, I see a brown-skinned man with red marks near his brown-eyes that has some scars like from a wolf's claw and feathers near his mohawk-head like they are all ear clips.

Mohawk : "Sorry for disturbing your peace, bud". He sticks out like a sore thumb despite many kinds of adventurers gathering in here, what with his unique looks, aura and all that.

I wipe my face from the food that is sticking, as I clear up my eyes and sees the equipment he's wearing. 'Must've looked like a dunce, don't I?'

Brown animal-skin vest with some necklace made of bones and a sheathed dagger on his upper body alongside what looks like a piece of thick string that he puts on his back, possibly carrying a quiver and a bow. 'Mmm… Looks like I invited an unwanted bird in search of breads crumbs'

I got myself awake and vigilant, in case he's provoked by my drunk talks.

Me : "You. State your business"

A waiter comes approaching us, which turns out is his orders of a plate of seafood, hard-cooked steak and water in a mug.

Mohawk : "My name is not 'You', it's Greg. Greg the Watchful Eyes of Asura, A-rank as of current"

I continue on eating my orders as I find it a little poetic of how he's trying to sound like he's wise, despite me being in a higher rank than he does.

Me : " *sighs*. Yeah? What do you want then, Greg? Hope you're not troubled over me discouraging on my kids to not go with your profession or anything"

*Clink*

He puts his steak on his fork as he slices it as the steam is coming out slowly.

Greg : " *chuckles*. Me? Discouraged? I'd rather say that you're the one that's troubled, friend"

I put a stop to my open mouth from eating the next portion of my bread.

Me : "How Come?"

He shows his two fingers, emphasizing both eyes of his and mine.

Greg : "I can see in your eyes that you would rather they go on a spectated and safe path that your kinds always takes rather than forging a new terrain to carve"

I frown as I remember of my friend back in Buena Village who's a father of one daughter that the adults of my family sympathized upon.

Me : "Huh, what's your take on it, then? I know of a guy like you who's good at shooting things too, and yeah he's doing well, but not exactly a profession I want my kids to go to when they can't exactly fend for themselves when the arrows are out of count"

He twirls his finger in one of the feathers around his head.

Greg : "Hmm, I know of my kindred who is just the same as you thought one left in search of Swordsmanship, even though I felt that it isn't the way I want him for, but what do I know?

We can only guide them through their hardships, and picking what they long to be is just one of the many things we should be feeling obliged to help with"

*Chatter*

Hearing that out, I felt like I just remembered something unpleasant that I'm not really fond to get the image off again.

I was born in the Notos Greyrat family, a rather gruesome noble household with many expectations weighing me down while I'm barely 7 years old when I get to be grounded and cast out of the house for pursuing knowledge in school, and unfortunately almost all the topics I was in wasn't really suitable for my taste and in result, I get to be humiliated and just when I thought I've done some good along the way like helping some kid from some bullies, all I get was more and more pain along the way.

The only one thing that sets my mind off the harsh reality at that time was practicing Swordsmanship, though most of the ones that taught me were rather hesitant since I was like a mud in the middle of a glistening road.

Even then, I kept on and on learning Swordsmanship from the many forms and trivia regarding them and other things, until I got out of there and thinks that if I want to start earning money, maybe I should go on an adventure and thought that maybe I could find myself some goblin ears to slice or some treasure chest with gold coins ensnared by many traps ahead, waiting for me to unlock it.

*Slam*

I put down the water as I finish my lunch and stand up, heading towards the door while looking behind my back.

Me : "Thanks, Greg, I… I guess I needed that"

He waves at me, a flamboyant farewell.

Greg : " *Slurps*. Don't Mention It"

*Dink-a-ling~*

Stepping outside the building, I look at the sun and see that it's almost horizontally perfect in the middle of the sky.

' *Sighs*. Yeah… Still won't stop me from hitting them this afternoon, though'

Going to where I usually buy some miscellaneous stuff on making homemade stuff like animal skin and whatnot, I spend some time thinking what kind of treatment I should give to my kids, and the thought of talking with Laws, the one Archer friend in Buena Village, is crossing my mind in the meantime.

. . .