"Hello, we've come to declare our quest finished." They handed out their adventurer license.
"Okay, please wait for a moment."
The receptionist processed their licenses, then handed them back to them.
"Your quest has officially ended. Here are your licenses." The receptionist gave it back to them with a warm smile.
They both grabbed their licenses back and put it into their pockets.
"Umm, I have a question. What happened here?" Sein asked.
"Pardon?" The receptionist asked in confusion.
"Uhh, I mean, why is the atmosphere around the guild so… gloomy and solemn?"
"Ah! So that's what you mean. I apologize."
Sein waved his hand, "No worries. So, anyways, what's up with it?"
"It's because of the monster stampede tomorrow."
"The monster stampede? But, what about it?"
The receptionist was silent for a short while, then gestured for Sein to lean in closer.
Leiya also leaned in closer.
The receptionist looked back and forth, then whispered to the both of them.
"It's because of the rumors surrounding it. They say that demonic beings will appear on this year's monster stampede."
"Oh." Sein's eyes quickly narrowed.
"Demonic beings?!" Meanwhile, Leiya's voice erupted in shock.
Everyone looked in their direction.
"Shhhh, this is just a rumor! Please quiet down your voice a little." The receptionist, shocked by her reaction, quickly put a finger on her lips as she covered Leiya's mouth.
"S-sorry about that…" Leiya quickly shutted her mouth.
"…Are demonic beings really that much of a big deal?" Sein asked curiously.
"Huh?" Both Leiya and the receptionist turned to stare at Sein as if they heard him spout nonsense.
"...What are you saying? Of course, they are! It's common sense!!" Leiya said in disbelief.
"Yeah! That's right! Even a 3-year old would know of this!!"
Seeing that they were so adamant about it, Sein asked again.
"Could you guys please explain it in detail to me? I'm not from around here, so I don't know much…"
The receptionist slightly widened her eyes, "Oh, so you're not from around here? Makes sense." She nodded to herself.
"No, wait! Even if you're not from around here, it's still impossible for one to not even know such common knowledge as long as you're in this world! Or were you perhaps living under a rock all this time?!" On second thought, the receptionist thought it was absurd, and looked at him dumbfoundedly.
Sein could only clear his throat.
'It's because I'm not from this world, after all.'
However, he couldn't possibly say that, right?
So, Sein said, "Uhh… kinda?" He wryly smiled and scratched his cheek.
The receptionist frowned and placed her hands on her hips, "What do you mean kinda?? First of all, where did you even come from?"
"Uhh… As far as I know, I came from the forbidden forest, or as you guys call it."
The receptionist was now even more shocked, "The forbidden forest!? You mean you came from there?!"
This time, it was the receptionist's loud voice that attracted everyone's gaze.
"A-ahem… A-anyways, did you really come from the forbidden forest?" The receptionist lowered her voice as she stared doubtfully at Sein, from top to bottom.
Sein was speechless at this, "...I can only say that I indeed come from there."
"...But, that should be impossible, after all, no one lives in the forbidden forest…" The receptionist mumbled to herself.
"...?"
After a moment of silence, the receptionist sighed, "...Fine. I'll believe you just this once. But, even then, that still doesn't make sense…"
The receptionist suspiciously stared at him, "...In fact, it would make sense if you're from another world instead…" she muttered.
Sein pretended not to hear that as to avoid any further complications.
"Anyways, any more inf—" As Sein was about to inquire further, a loud bell ringing frantically sounded across the guild's lobby.
"Huh? What's happening?" Both Sein and Leiya were startled by the sudden noise.
"T-this ringing… It can't be…" The receptionist's expression, however, turned grim.
The Guild Leader of the Adventurer's guild got out from his office on the second floor and declared an announcement.
"ALL ADVENTURERS IN THIS GUILD, HEAR THIS!!! AS THE GUILD MASTER OF THE ADVENTURER'S GUILD IN THIS CITY OF BALKAAR, I HEREBY DECLARE AND ISSUE A LARGE-SCALE EMERGENCY QUEST THAT WILL BE SUPPORTED BOTH BY THE ADVENTURER'S GUILD AND THE CITY LORD MANSION!!! THIS IS ESPECIALLY MANDATORY FOR ALL ADVENTURERS THAT ARE OFFICIALLY AFFILIATED WITH THE CITY OF BALKAAR!!!!
FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE LARGE-SCALE EMERGENCY QUEST, YOU MAY SEE IT POSTED ON THE QUEST BOARD OR YOU MAY ASK THE RECEPTIONIST AFTER AN EMERGENCY MEETING!!!"
Shortly after that announcement, an uproar between the adventurers occurred.
"What the hell?! This is a first!!"
"Mandatory??! Why!!??"
"In the first place, why even mandatory?!! What could possibly happen to the point of doing this??!"
"Even the City Lord Mansion supports this…? Just what in the world…"
"Wait… If the guild leader personally announced it, what rank is this quest, then?!"
While the adventurers were still confused about it, the Vice Guild Leader of the Adventurer's guild quietly and personally tended to the posting of the large-scale emergency quest.
After that, they quickly swarm to the quest board, but then, shortly after, they froze.
They were frozen…
Not because of the contents, but rather…
It was because the rank of the quest was much more grimmer than expected.
It was [S-rank].
The highest ranking in all of the rankings in the Adventurer's guild.
In short, they were all doomed.
Suddenly, someone screamed in agony.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!!!"
"How could this be!!!? T-this isn't a dream, right? Right?!!"
No one entertained nor consoled the person who broke down, for they themselves were also breaking down and shivering in fear.
What's even more worse was that the contents of the quest revealed something that they had already speculated… Hoping for it not to be true…
Unfortunately, however, reality hit them hard.
The appearance of "Demonic Beings."
That was the last straw of their will.
Some collapsed to their knees, while some couldn't accept it. Others protested to the guild.
But, no matter what they do…
They could not do anything.
"…How ironic." Sein mumbled.
This was supposed to be a dream, and yet, the scene before him reminded him of reality.
Besides Sein, was Leiya, who was also trembling with fear.
"…No… T-this can't be…"
Sein could not do anything, except patting her in the back.
He looked at the large-scale emergency quest.
------------------------------------------------
[S-ranked Large-Scale Emergency Quest]
Mission: Defend the City of Balkaar from the monster stampede.
Requirements:
- Any adventurers officially affiliated with the City of Balkaar.
- None
Information: Monsters/beings that are estimated to appear within the monster stampede:
- Ogres;
- Wyverns;
- Goblins;
- Gnolls;
- Bluish Wolves, and;
- Unknown demonic beings.
Reward(s): Basic 10 gold coins per person. Guaranteed permanent residence in Balkaar City. (Depending on one's own contributions, rewards may vary).
NOTICE: [ALL ADVENTURERS AFFILIATED WITH THE CITY OF BALKAAR ARE MANDATORY TO COMPLY WITH THIS QUEST!!!]
------------------------------------------------
'While I don't know what "Demonic Beings" are, one thing for sure is that they are dangerous enough for them to be in despair…'
'...And, if it's true that demonic beings are to appear in this monster stampede… Then, this city is basically done for…" Sein frowned at the thought of it.
'...Is there something I can do…?'
Sein could only hopelessly look at the list of monsters on the large-scale emergency quest.
"For now, let's go home, Leiya." Sein softly said to Leiya as he comforted her by patting her on her back.
"...Okay." Leiya was shivering.
They returned back to the inn.
Ding~
"Welco— Huh? What happened!" Labu quickly got up from his position, and rushed to tend to Leiya.
"I'll explain later. First, let's get Leiya to bed." Sein said.
After laying down Leiya on a bed, Labu finally asked Sein.
"So? What happened?" Labu's expression was serious.
"Well… The thing is…"
Sein explained in detail what happened at the guild earlier on.
"...I see." Labu's face was grim.
It was the first time Sein had seen him like that, especially since he had a rough face, Sein felt intimidated quite a bit.
But, he didn't mind and continued.
"I think it's best if you guys leave the city. If demonic beings are as dangerous as I've heard, then this town is basically done for." Sein bluntly stated.
"...How I wish I could… But, I can't."
"Why?" Sein stared at Labu in the eye.
Labu looked away, sighed, and gritted his teeth, "...If what you say about the large-scale emergency quest being mandatory is true, then, I have no choice but to stay here, because…."
Labu quietly took out a card, or a license, in his pocket, and showed it to Sein.
In his hand, was an adventurer's license:
-------------------------------------
[A-rank]
Name: Labu
Race: Human
Date of Birth: Oct 12
Region: City of Balkaar
Registration No.: 002A1000112
Affiliation:
- Adventurer's Guild.
- City of Balkaar
Registrant Signature: LABU
-------------------------------------
Sein's eyes widened in shock.
"You were an adventurer all this time? An A-rank at that…?"
Labu affirmed, "Yes."
"...And…"
Sein looked at the additional logo on Labu's license.
It was the logo of the City of Balkaar.
It was proof that Labu was officially affiliated with the City of Balkaar.
…But, that also meant that he was tied to the city and was obligated to do quests that are mandatory by the city…
That includes the [S-ranked] Large-Scale Emergency Quest.
Sein gulped hard.
"...What about your daughter, then?" Sein worriedly asked after a slight hesitation.
Labu was quiet.
All of a sudden, a weak voice sounded, "Dad…"
Labu turned his head and worriedly called her name, "Leiya."
"Are you okay now?"
"I'm fine now…" Leiya slowly got up.
"Don't overexert yourself."
"No, it's okay. I only fainted from shock." Leiya dismissed Labu's concern.
"Most importantly… Dad, are you seriously going to go?" Leiya looked into her father's eyes with seriousness and concern.
"...Yes." Labu's eyes were filled with pain.
Leiya's eyes began to tear up.
"No, dad… Please, don't go." Leiya begged as she tugged on his sleeve.
"Leiya…"
After a short moment of silence, Labu turned to look at Sein and said, "Can you please give us a moment?"
"...Sure" Sein agreed and quietly left the room.
Sein left the two of them to settle their matters.
As Sein waited for the two of them to settle their matters, meanwhile, in the Adventurer's guild, the lobby was in chaos.
Plenty of adventurers were clamoring and demanding a more detailed explanation about the large-scale emergency quest to the receptionists in the guild.
However, the receptionists also didn't know anything about it either as they were only informed about it just now—the same as the adventurers.
So, they could only try to calm the adventurers down, and told them to wait for more information.
The head receptionist who is in-charge of all the receptionists in the guild, came up to the office, and demanded an explanation.
"Guild Master! What's the meaning of this?!" The head receptionist abruptly opened the door without even bothering to knock and wait for the guild leader's response.
Inside the Guild Master's Office, sat a huge man in a desk facing the head receptionist.
The guild master was a huge man with a beard, tall stature, and has an imposing presence.
If Sein were to compare the guild master's physique with someone, it would be Labu. Although, the guild master was more buff and resembled a bear more.
A brown bear with a scar on its right eye, to be exact.
"What's the matter? Didn't I explain it enough already?" The guild master stated.
"...Explain enough? Quit screwing with me, old man!!" The head receptionist snapped.
The guild master flinched by the head receptionist's sudden outburst.
"A-Ahem, uhhh… How about you calm down for a second and take a look at this report here?" The guild master cleared his throat and gave the head receptionist a document.
"Hmph!" The head receptionist fiercely snatched the document away from the guild master's hand, and took a look at it.
After reading the document for a quick moment, the head receptionist's eyes gasped in shock.
"T-this… I-It was really t-true…?"
"At first, I couldn't believe it either. But, after multiple cross-verification with the Mercenary guild and the City Lord Mansion, I had no choice but to believe it, and fully cooperate with the City Lord Mansion and the Mercenary guild as well."
"B-But!..."
"There's no buts! That's the truth!" The guild master's expression was fierce.
"..." The head receptionist fell into silence.
"...Anyways, since you have already seen the document, disperse it to the guild officials and receptionists, and thoroughly explain the situation to them. After that, quell the adventurers, no matter what!"
"...Yes, guild master."
The head receptionist left the guild master's office, still in disbelief.
Thud.
After seeing the door closed, the guild master heaved a heavy sigh.
"Haaa…" He covered his face with his hand.
"...This is going to be a disaster," he muttered.
***
As the situation in the guild was getting messier by the second, Labu and Leiya finally got out of the room.
Sein stood up and asked, "Umm… Are you guys done with your matters?"
"Yes." Labu bluntly answered.
"I see…"
Sein and Labu stood still for a while, staring at each other.
"So… umm…" Sein scratched his cheek.
"…What now?"
"…"
Labu placed his hand on Sein's shoulder.
"Sein."
"Yes?" Sein looked perplexed by the sudden scenario.
"…I leave my daughter in your care."
"…What?" Sein was dumbfounded.
"What! No, I mean, why?"