Year 1026 XXI, 4th Month of the Leaxuire Calendar
City ofParry
"This should be the place…"
Amidst the overly crowded streets of the city, what dominated the sight was the tall building of the Quest Guild—Oracious.
It is not the only guild in existence; in fact, there are plenty more within the city. However, Oracious is the most popular given its diverse services, ranging from trading to giving tasks. It is highly regarded as the masse guild.
Quest Guild—Oracious.
The Quest Guild—Oracious was less of a sanctuary and more of a market of desperation. Ancient stone walls that groaned under the weight of time, bearing the scars of centuries that passed. Inside, the heavy scent of steel, sweat, and ale filled the atmosphere like a bug that clung to one's skin. The noise is relentless—bustling like the streets or the public markets, bargaining and trades are everywhere. Everything was a symphony of ambition.
The building itself is massive, capable of holding thousands of individuals at once. It loomed with ten towering floors, with the exception of the ground floor, each reserved for those more powerful people on top. With increasing authority over the domain, one can access the upper floors. Accessing the higher floor demands power. It wasn't just a matter of connection or coin—here, power is the currency for everything. It demanded power—real power.
It was their way to establish hierarchy among the blessed and awakened.
Every day, hundreds of thousands of people visit this place. The busiest floor among all is the third floor. All the average Joe resides on that floor. However, despite that, the requirements to access it are still high. First, one must be awakened. Second, one must have an active domain or be affiliated with one.
I can at most reach the first floor… but even that seems high for someone like me. Besides… there are just so many people here.
It's overwhelming.
Elves, dwarves, even some kind that I don't recognize… all of them have great equipment while I… haha. The only thing I carry is a knife, rusted and short, which was a knife discarded from use. Well, I'm lucky enough to find this near the alley, though it had blood… I had no choice... I need to make myself appear fairly decent, so I'm instead of using my money to buy a good weapon. I used it to buy low-cost clothes.
But even so, the term decent can't possibly align with Kreig.
White T-shirt, leather pants, with his dark eyebags as if he hadn't slept for days—he was nowhere near decent, but desperation clawed him. The moment he made up his mind, he knew there was no turning back.
Awareness slowly killed Kreig—he was weak, he knew.
But that's what troubled him.
He didn't know how to acknowledge it.
No. He doesn't want to acknowledge it.
It can be said that he was the embodiment of the absurd—he stayed comfortable, too numb to rebel, too weak to escape.
Now that I've thought about it, I recall that the quest board is located on this floor…
As his thoughts started to wander, he overheard a conversation that caught his interest. It was his first time, and it was hard for him to adjust to such a densely packed atmosphere, but listening felt necessary.
"Have you seen that quest? Its rewards are so damn good… seems a little too good to be true, ain't it?" A middle-aged buff man muttered.
"Indeed! But for us, who don't have any blessings or the money to afford life, it is worth every risk that there is. Besides, aren't we just there to clean up the aftermath of the war? Haha, what could possibly go wrong, brother?" A man with bulging muscles replied, his body is refined. A testament of his hard work, but despite that, he remained unblessed.
They should be going for the same quest as I do… I should just follow them.
With no knowledge of how things worked in the guild, Kreig simply followed the two people he heard conversing about the quest. The two men were equipped with armor, with swords sheathed at their waists.
Haa… I can't help but compare those weapons to mine.
The noise from trades slowly intensified and vanished in no time.
And finally, I reached the place…
"Shit… can I go back now…?" That was the first thing I thought of.
What greeted me were giants holding huge axes, weapons bigger than me, a magician whose robe shone like the stars, and a knight whose armor seemed tailored using platinum.
All of the participants are well-equipped. No. Saying they're "well equipped" might be an insult… they're damn heavily equipped…
All of them have this unique aura they're exuding… bloodlust, I thought. The total of participants in the quest is limited to 300. The number of soldiers the party leader has is not included in the number.
Though I don't have much situational awareness, the party leader must be desperate to spend this much fortune… not that I should care. As long as I live… if things go sour, I will definitely die…
With such a thought, I trembled.
The Quest is once again posted on the board. This time, a much more detailed version. Turns out there are two different categories on the quest: First is for those who are willing to fight, the second for those who will clean up. I chose the latter.
I don't have confidence in my strength, but I can definitely use my body to clean up the mess that will befall the battlefield.
In total, there were 275 combatants and 25 cleaners.
The rewards for combatants are twice the rewards for cleaners. As it turned out, the cleanup's rewards are fixed, while the combatants' rewards mainly depend on their performance and abilities shown in battle.
The two that I followed before ended up signing up to be combatants… such bold spirits, even though unblessed.
Ting. Ting.
The sound of glass echoed.
"A-Ahem. Follow me."
The party leader's representative said with utmost authority.
The curious noise in the crowd of combatants and some cleaners was quickly silenced.
He guided us towards the first floor, where there were plenty of rooms that could be rented out.
"I am the representative of Lord Abel. We are in the middle of a war against the faction near our territory. You must've already read the job's description. If you want to back out, now's the time.
As you all know, this battle may be your last, but it will be worth fighting for given the rewards that you can receive. Better be thankful that Lord Abel will spare essence for thy foul souls. Tsk."
Gulp.
Tension built up the moment he spoke. Authority. Power. His voice brimmed with those. A voice crying of ambition and discrimination.
"Kehehhehe," a laughter reverberated in the room. "Why don't you raise the rewards for us? I mean, we're risking our lives here, you know." The voice was full of mockery, it was as if making use of the situation to extort money from the representative named Daren.
The one who spoke was the giant who wielded a giant axe, scars were everywhere on his body. Perhaps for him, it was a sign of honor…
I swallowed.
I couldn't help but do so. The atmosphere has become so tense, even more so when the eyes of the two meet.
"Of course. That is, if you are worthy of it. Why not?"
Maybe it was because Daren didn't want to tarnish his identity as the representative, but his tone was very sarcastic. If the giant were to be enraged, though, it would be the end for him.
Perhaps it was his experience that he's only gnashed his own teeth, but his eyes tell otherwise—those are the eyes of someone that'd kill.
Other than absolute power, money comes second as the world's universal currency. If the representative were to order to kill him, many would willingly do so. In exchange for money, of course.
After the brief explanation of the representative and soothing the atmosphere, Daren had successfully taken control of the situation. The total of 310 individuals (including the representative and those who came with him) is now set to travel in Lord Abel's domain. It was not a normal travelling method—it was teleportation.
My hands are trembling from a foreign feeling, my body feels stiff. With the mere thought of what's waiting caused my body laments inside… but. Even if this first time will be my last, I can't help but look forward to what's ahead… A domain…
This is it…
My final gamble.