Ch 9: Guild quest

As Gray and Vanisa stepped into the guild hall, the scent of old wood and burning candles greeted them. The air was filled with the murmurs of adventurers sharing stories of their quests, the clinking of armor, and the occasional clatter of mugs. The building itself had an aura of history, with banners from old guilds hanging on the stone walls, each telling its own tale of victory or defeat.

The reception desk stood at the far end of the room, where a young woman with a kind face was busy sorting through documents. As they approached, the receptionist glanced up and smiled warmly. "Welcome, adventurers," she greeted them in a friendly tone, but her eyes lingered for a moment longer on Gray and Vanisa. She tilted her head slightly and then muttered, "Hmm… looks like a couple, maybe."

Before Gray could respond, he heard soft chuckles from the nearby tables. A group of adventurers sitting at one of the larger tables, rugged and battle-worn, seemed to have overheard the receptionist's remark. They exchanged glances and let out low laughter, their eyes on Gray.

Gray's eyebrow twitched, but instead of letting the taunts get to him, he straightened his posture and raised his voice confidently, "Laugh all you want, but I'm here to slay orcs."

The room went silent.

The laughter stopped immediately as the other adventurers stared at him in disbelief. Their earlier amusement had vanished, replaced with a mixture of surprise and skepticism. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, stood up from his seat. His arms were crossed, and his gaze was sharp as he looked Gray up and down. "Are you kidding me?" he said, his voice full of doubt.

Vanisa, sensing the tension, tightened her grip on Gray's arm. Her green eyes glanced nervously between him and the others. She pressed herself closer to his side, her warmth a comforting reminder of her presence. Despite the hostile stares around them, Vanisa's trust in Gray remained unshaken. She smiled softly, giving him silent encouragement.

The receptionist, seeing the situation escalate, quickly intervened. She stepped forward, raising her hands in a calming gesture. "Now, now," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "Let's not start any unnecessary fights here. We are all adventurers, and we must not be hasty." Her gaze moved between Gray and the other adventurers, trying to diffuse the growing tension.

Gray clenched his fists but kept his expression calm. He wasn't looking for a fight with the people here; he had bigger plans, and getting into an argument wasn't going to help. His eyes softened slightly as he glanced at Vanisa, who was still hugging his arm, her body warm and reassuring against his.

The adventurers exchanged looks once more, their skepticism still evident, but they didn't press the matter further. The burly man grumbled something under his breath before sitting back down, though his eyes remained fixed on Gray for a moment longer.

The atmosphere in the guild hall slowly returned to its usual hum of conversation. Gray released a small sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing a bit. Vanisa loosened her grip but remained close, her smile returning as the tension dissipated.

The receptionist, now more composed, smiled warmly again. "If you're serious about taking on orcs," she said, pulling out a large book from under the desk and flipping through the pages, "we can find a quest suitable for you. But just be careful, those creatures are no joke."

Gray nodded, his determination unwavering. "I'm ready."

The receptionist handed him a sheet of parchment detailing the quest. As Gray took it, Vanisa leaned in closer to read over his shoulder, her curiosity piqued. The task was clear: they needed to venture into the forest beyond the village, where a group of orcs had been terrorizing nearby settlements.

As Gray gripped the quest parchment, ready to leave, the receptionist's voice cut through the guild's hum. "Not so fast," she said, her tone serious. "First, let's gauge your power."

Gray turned back, surprised. "Gauge my power?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The receptionist reached beneath her desk and pulled out a long, polished stick with intricate carvings. "This is a magical rod," she explained, placing it on the wide wooden table in front of her. "Hold it, and we'll measure your potential."

Gray stared at the stick, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his eyes. "Magical… what?" he muttered, stepping forward.

The guild had grown quieter now, with the other adventurers watching intently, some leaning back in their chairs with amused smirks. Vanisa stayed close by Gray's side, her hand lightly touching his arm, silently encouraging him.

Gray hesitated for a moment before wrapping his fingers around the magical rod. Almost immediately, it began to glow—first with an intense, vibrant red light that filled the entire room. Gasps echoed around the guild hall, and the adventurers sat up straight in their seats, eyes wide with shock.

"Red… that's Demon Lord grade!" someone whispered from the back, disbelief in their voice.

For a brief second, Gray felt a surge of power coursing through him as the red light radiated from the rod. But then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the color began to shift. The light dimmed from red to orange, then faded into yellow, then brown, and finally settled into a dull white glow.

The room erupted in laughter.

"Hahaha! A fluke after all!" one of the adventurers bellowed, slapping the table in amusement.

Gray, still holding the now-plain stick, frowned in confusion. "What does this mean?" he asked, turning to the receptionist.

She sighed, her earlier enthusiasm gone. "It means…" She pointed to the colored chart hanging behind her desk. "Purple is Calamity grade, Red is Demon Lord grade, Orange is Hero grade, Yellow is Wizard grade, Brown is Warrior grade… and White," she paused, giving him a sympathetic look, "means Powerless Adventurer."

The laughter from the other adventurers grew louder, filling the room with mockery. They pointed at Gray, some nearly doubling over in their seats from how hard they were laughing.

"Powerless adventurer, huh?" one of them jeered, standing up and approaching Gray with a mocking grin. "And you said you'd slay orcs?" He shook his head, his smirk widening. "What a joke. You're dreaming, kid."

Another adventurer chimed in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Yeah, maybe stick to picking herbs or chasing chickens, huh? Slaying orcs? You'll be lucky if you don't get eaten by one on your first day out."

Vanisa, her smile still warm, held onto Gray's arm tighter, her eyes soft but confident. Even with the laughter ringing around them, she never wavered, not for a second.

But the taunts didn't stop there.

One of the more grizzled adventurers, a tall man with scars lining his face, eyed Vanisa with a smirk. "Tell you what," he said, his voice low and malicious, "why don't you hand over the girl to us? No point in dragging her into your foolish quest. We'll take good care of her while you go chase your dreams of slaying orcs."

Gray's face darkened at the man's words, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The laughter around him faded into the background as anger bubbled up inside. "No," Gray said, his voice low and dangerous. "You can't take any woman you want. I'll protect her with my life." His eyes burned with determination as he stood firm, his gaze locking onto the man who had spoken.

The adventurer smirked, unfazed by Gray's words. "Good luck with that," he sneered, stepping back with a chuckle. "Don't come crying to us when the orcs take her for themselves. You won't stand a chance."

The mocking laughter resumed, but Gray remained unmoved. He stood tall, his face hardened with resolve. Vanisa glanced up at him, her eyes full of understanding. She smiled gently, resting her head against his arm. "It's okay, Gray," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with trust.

Gray, refusing to let the words of the other adventurers get to him, turned to leave, his heart pounding in his chest. The mocking words echoed in his mind, but Vanisa's touch, her quiet support, kept him grounded.

The receptionist, sensing the tension in the room, called out after them, her voice concerned. "Please be careful out there. Don't risk your life."

Gray paused, casting one final glance over his shoulder. A smirk tugged at his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I won't," he said quietly before walking out of the guild with Vanisa by his side, leaving the jeers and laughter behind.

As Gray and Vanisa walked through the village streets, the faint noise of the bustling town slowly fading behind them, the system's voice suddenly echoed in Gray's mind.

「Player Gray, be careful.」

Gray's heart skipped a beat as a translucent display appeared before his eyes, only visible to him.

(Player Status)

Name: Gray

Level: 2

Skills: None

Passive Skills: Survival Instinct, Women's Grace

Weapons: Spear

Grade: White

The system's voice continued, flat and unemotional. 「You're too weak. You don't have much to offer.」

Gray's brow furrowed as he looked at the status floating before him. The cold, clinical assessment of his abilities hit him hard. But instead of backing down, a surge of determination welled up inside him. He wasn't going to let that define him. He was no hero—no demon lord—but he had something to fight for.

His fingers twitched, and almost instinctively, he raised his hand. In an instant, a spear materialized, appearing from thin air as if summoned from his very soul. Its gleaming metal shone in the light, the weight of it familiar in his grasp.

"I don't care what the system says," he thought, gripping the spear tighter. "I'll win. I have to."

Beside him, Vanisa's eyes widened in surprise as she noticed the spear in his hand. "Gray… I thought you didn't have magic," she said, her voice filled with curiosity. "Where did you get that spear?"

Gray turned to her, his usual playful smile crossing his lips. "It's complicated," he said, trying to downplay the mystery. "You'll get it soon enough."

Vanisa smiled back, her face softening with trust. "I'm sure I will," she said gently, her belief in him unwavering.

The two walked on, the weight of the spear in Gray's hand a reminder of the battles to come. Though doubt lingered in the back of his mind, Vanisa's presence gave him strength. She believed in him, even when he had no magic, even when the system told him he was weak.

Outside, the streets of the village were bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun. The air felt fresh, but heavy with the weight of what lay ahead. Gray took a deep breath, steadying himself as he and Vanisa made their way.

Vanisa looked up at him, her smile reassuring as always. "I believe in you, Gray."

Gray smiled back, though his heart was heavy. "Thanks, Vanisa. Let's show them what we're capable of."

They passed through the village gates, the path ahead leading into the dense forest where monsters awaited. Gray tightened his grip on the spear, determination burning in his chest. No matter what, he was going to protect her.

With Vanisa by his side and the world against him, Gray knew one thing for certain: He would keep fighting.