Back at the chameleon guild.
Adventurers were all celebrating for their arrival from their tower Adventurers. It seem most of them were only injured. Some were slightly showing scars.
"Haha... you should've seen how I cut that ant."
"Oh please... you were shaking on your boots. And you eventually ran away without putting up a fight."
"He's right. I saw how you screamed while running... ehehe... I wish I could have recorded."
Each one was explaining their previous match from yesterday attacks.
The guy was not happy about how they described him, knowing well it was all true, but he pretended to be brave. When he couldn't handle their truth.
He immediately started a fight.
"BASTARDS!"
Both parties started to cause another fight.
He smashed a glass cup on his head.
Tiss. (Shatter)
The guy immediately fought back.
"LET'S FIGHT!"
They both clash.
While downstairs were making a huge ruckus. At the 3rd level floor. Clara was lying next endless while enjoying being caressed by his soft hands.
The atmosphere was literally getting dark, and the atmosphere was slightly slim. The board is filled with a new quest. He was literally thinking about taking Hell Quest as a side quest, but he wasn't sure he could take Clara with him.
'MMM... I could take the hell quest, but I couldn't bring clare with me. This wasn't the best way.' Endless was more worried about putting her in danger.
'I'm looking forward. But yet... I should think about what is happening around me.' The thought about losing her. Was enough to break his heart.
Clare was too distracted by endless hands. She slowly looks up and asks.
'Is something on your mind?' She noticed his facial expression.
Endless slowly looked down and acted like it wasn't. He didn't want her to be worried.
"'Everything is alright. Go back to sleep." His voice was low and calm.
She slowly rested.
While she fell asleep. Allen and Paulina came straight at them. They were so excited about the news.
Endless notice their excitement. He raised his hand and cast a barrier.
Once they got close.
Ba!
Ba!
Both got hit by some invisible wall.
"What the?!"
"Ouch... what did I hit."
They didn't expect to get hit by something that they couldn't see. Allen noticed Endless calmness while he gazed at him with serious unwanted attention.
'May I know why, are you here?' His voice filled with slightly annoyed. While getting impatient.
Allen nervous expression while said, "Big news. The king invited everyone who participated in the scouting area. Our guild so happened to be on the list."
Endless wasn't interesting on going.
'Is that all?' His expression shows that he didn't even care.
Allen was concerned as to why he wasn't showing any excitement. This was something that everyone always dreamed of.
Meeting new nobles family; getting connections, meeting new ways to spread their names, even mentioning of marriage if you're lucky enough.
Paulina said, "Endless. I'm guessing you never been to a royal party," she was sure that he had not been into any royal banquet.
Endless looks at her if she is serious. He's been through a lot of party before, and it was filled with celebrities. Back on earth, he spent a lot of money on kids' meals. At McDonald's, Burger King, and even Danny's.
He even waited on the parking lot to get ready for the opening.
Compare them to this area. This was nothing to him, endless was not into anything in this world, and not even nobles themselves would dare to match his wealth.
His tower was filled with old antiques, ancient modern artifacts, and magical items.
His wealth was outmatched.
He alone could buy the entire land and this kingdom.
Endless replied, "I have... is that I'm not even the slightest care about this banquet."
Paulina chuckles, "Oh, really... and what banquet have you been to?" She thinks that endless was just exaggerating and making things up.
"I'm been to five-star restaurants. Have you ever heard Jack in the box?" Endless said with confidence.
Paulina didn't know if there was a name jack in the box. She has not known any royal held this, so call Jack in the box.
Paulina said, "I never heard of such name," she was curious about this jack in the box restaurant.
Endless was bragging.
"Of course you don't. Jack in the box was filled with expensive food that you were never able to get your hands on. The unique patties were enough to get you hungry for more."
Paulina was now intrigued.
"Really?" She said.
Endless nods.
"Yes. That is why I'm not interested in this royal banquet." He said.
Allen and Paulina envy him.
They also wanted to try this so-called jack in the box. Paulina can sense he wasn't all talk. The way he was confidently naming this unknown jack in the box.
She said, "I guess I'm made a fool of myself. I'm sorry for being over on the top." She made herself look like a fool.
Endless didn't care about her attitude.
'Now. If you don't mind. Can you leave us,' he wasn't even interested in what they had to say next.
Endless continues to touch Clara, keeping her mind at ease, by his smooth touch.
"Will leave you be," his awkward face, while nervously trying to grab Paulina out of the way.
Both left him be.
***
From a far land.
In the middle of the night.
The entire field was covered in blood. The lake was filled with dead bodies. A certain adventure was crawling away whimpering.
"Somebody.... mmm... help me.." His voice filled with fear.
Both of his legs were gone.
He dragged himself away by crawling while leaving a blood trail behind him.
His emblem on his left face cheek had raven tattoos mark. These adventurers were all members of Raven Guild. It seem they've been taken out by something or someone.
The man was literally screaming in pain.
"Please... help me....." His voice was filled with panic and fear.
His comrades were already lying on the ground covered in blood. The whole situation was a nightmare.
The scene where guts were scattered, eyes were pulled out, and mouth being cut off.
The man looks back slowly. The terror in his eyes when he saw the figure. The figure was literally mocking him by letting him crawl away, giving him a chance of freedom.
A humanoid red figure.
Was sitting on a pile of corpses, and blood was still dripping. He sits there enjoying his meal.
Eating a fresh hand that he ripped off from a random fresh body.
Munching...
The figure had tattoos marking behind his back and all around his body. It was like tribal tattoos. The figure had long dreads.
One horn on the left forehead.
Sharp yellow teeth and one tooth were silver on his right side. His teeth's were like fangs. His skin was red, and he wears baggy Hakama canvas pants, and he's shirtless, revealing his slim muscular body.
His hands were sharp like claws.
His right arm was covered with metal plates shape-like gauntlet, reaching to his shoulders.
The atmosphere is filled with ominous and creepiness.
The figure appearance was an Oni.
His pose is somewhat sluggish. He seems to be carefree while being laze and sitting on the stack of dead bodies. He was unamused, but he enjoyed a little bit of fun.
This Oni name was Tauruh, and his rank was Mithril known as B-rank quest.
Tauruh said, "This was, unfortunately... boring..." His voice filled with boredom.
Tauruh looks at the helpless man crawling away.
"What a disappointment. Here I am... thought they sent a high-level ranker. To my expectations... was not unaware of my opponents status. So I would like to apologize." He said with sincere while still watching him.
The Oni felt relaxed and said, "I'll let you go. Tell whoever is in charge. Tell them I'll be waiting..." His voice echoes.
Tauruh was filling more concerned.
"I hope they sent at least a skillful adventurer. Or I'll get furious if they sent a lower ranker and if they do... I'll literally go there myself." He mutter.
'But I need to check something...'
He had remembered that one of his slave should have arrived tomorrow. So, he'll expect new humans to play with soon. The thought of violating those new human women put his mind to ease.
'Ehehe....' He smirks while being twisted, showing his creepy smug.
***
Next day...
The sun was rising, and birds chirping.
Endless decided to pick a lower quest despite being an S-rank.
Clara said, "Why are you picking some low-level quest?"
Endless replies back, "Well... I'm still a rookie. I need experience first. I'm not stupid enough to take a risk. I would rather start low and make my way up."
He wasn't a fool to take a high threatening task. Endless knows very well he just started off, and now he's planning to start at the bottom. He still wants to enjoy the thrill of going with clare on a mission and getting to know each other.
Clara didn't argue.
She supported his decision, knowing it was true. They both got S-rank. But so far, they were inexperienced.
'Alright. What quest are we taken then?" She said.
Endless said, "Last time. Paulina handed us the wrong quest by mistake. Even though it said bronze but it was really brass level quest."
The task on the board shows different levels.
[Quest level]
1. Bronze
2. Copper
3. Brass
4. Iron
5. Silver
6. Aluminum
7. Gold
8. Platinum
9. Mithril
10. Adamantium
However, the quest. It's sometimes gives out false information about some random adventurers.
And there is the slightest chance you spot an enemy that is stronger than what you seem to be. There is no telling of what crisis and unknown they'll soon meet.
Endless said, "Mmm..." searching for quest.
Clara noticed one quest.
"Look at this," she pointed on the top right corner on board.
Endless grabbed and look at it.
[Quest level: Silver]
[Raven requested two members from any guild to join on their quest and split the rewards evening.]
[Mission: Unknown creatures are terrorizing a few villagers] reward: 1000 gold coins.
Endless smirk, this was something he had in mind.
Endless said, "Mmm... it seems like this is a trap setup by the raven," he already knows this was a trap.
Clara said, "Why do you think that's a trapped?"
Endless said, "Well... it's obvious."
Clara shows no clues of how it is a trapped. Endless scan her face notice her confusing expression. He continues to explain it to her.
'First is the reward. The amount was too much,' he said.
She also sees that.
'The second one is that the raven guild is filled with criminals. As you should know. They're mostly gonna stab you from behind once we finish the mission. And eventually take our shares.' Endless knows how criminals are.
Clara finally understood.
'The third one is so obvious. There was no chance in hell they'll share 1000 gold coins with one another. They probably kill each other to take the biggest share.' This was nothing new. In every case. Criminals are bound to realize that they couldn't trust each other's.
Clara noted and memorized what endless had said.
She needs to fully understand. There is something out there that will eventually come for her. At least unexpected.
They both head to Paulina.
Paulina looks closely and slightly gets concerned.
She noticed it was a request from the ravens. This was something she didn't want anyone to get along or join with.
She looks at clara and endless.
"Are you sure?" Her voice drops with worried. She knows that they were S-rank and could handle a few low levels, but it still feels unease about it.
Endless hears her voice filled with worries, but he assures that everything will be fine.
Endless said, "Yes."
Paulina stamped his papers
Ram!
"Ok. I hope you come back safely," her voice filled with sincere.
Both went on with their adventure.
While they went further.
Edward, near the reception, asks something to Paulina.
"Hey. Do you know what quest they took by chance?" He asks with curiosity.
Paulina turns around and is a bit surprised. She was unaware of Edward presence. She was too busy and let her guard down and forgot to use her sensory magic.
"Oh, Edward." Her voice was filled with uncertainty.
Edward didn't mean to startle her.
"I'm sorry if I made you worried?" He felt bad.
Paulina, mind it.
"It's alright. I was too busy and got careless of my surroundings. So, what can I help with?" She asked as to why he was here for.
Edward asks once again, "What quest are they taking?"
Paulina said, "You already know I couldn't tell you that. It's our guild policy." She was serious about following the guild rules.
She was curious. As to why Edward is interested in those two and their task.
________________________________________
Next chapter...