"Ahh~ what a pain…" Arthur let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair.
Even though Ellen was a mage officially affiliated with the Free Guild—which, by itself, already made the officials turn a partial blind eye—the situation was far from simple. Three lives had been taken, and to make matters worse, it had all happened within the royal capital. Even if the deceased were well-known criminals, protocol still had to be followed, turning the entire process into something bureaucratic, time-consuming, and extremely irritating.
Reports, testimonies, repeated questions… Arthur had to restrain himself from yawning.
It was already night by the time they finally managed to leave the city guard's garrison.
"Arthur, come with us to the guild!" Ellen called out, relieved to finally be free.
"Alright," he replied without resistance.
—xXx—
Free Guild Branch
The guild building stood out easily among the city's other structures. It was sturdy, made of stone and reinforced wood, with thick pillars and a large symbol of the Free Guild carved above the main entrance. A typical medieval building, yet one that exuded a sense of safety and authority.
The moment they stepped through the doors, Arthur was immediately engulfed by an explosion of sounds, smells, and movement.
There were all kinds of adventurers inside.
Some were noisily eating at long tables, others laughed loudly while drinking massive tankards of beer. Merchants at their stalls displayed curious items, weapons and magical artifacts changed hands, and bards played lively tunes in a corner.
Food, entertainment, and commerce coexisted in perfect harmony.
The atmosphere was alive.
Chaotic.
Warm.
"Ellen finally came back! And she's even prettier!"
"Hey, they came back with a kid!"
Arthur blinked a few times, taking in the scene.
I guess I'll stay in this form for a while longer… he thought calmly, assessing the situation.
His current appearance was perfect.
Being a child had countless advantages: it attracted less suspicion and, above all, made people talk far more than they should.
"Kaval, who's that boy?"
"Move aside, you brutes!" Ellen complained as she pushed through the crowd. "You're being incredibly rude! Don't scare him!"
Despite her warning, the adventurers' enthusiasm didn't die down at all.
Some even teased Ellen, making exaggerated and silly remarks, until she ended up blushing slightly and looking away.
Arthur, silently observing everything, couldn't hold it in and let out a small laugh.
This was exactly how he had imagined it.
This really is a proper Adventurers' Guild… he thought.
For a brief moment, an idea crossed his mind.
I wonder if one day I'll get the chance to visit Fairy Tail…
With Ellen's formal introduction, the process of joining the guild was surprisingly simple. Documents were filled out, basic questions were asked, and before long, everything was settled.
Arthur officially became a novice F-rank adventurer.
The clerk handed him a small metal card with his name engraved on it.
Arthur held the card, examining it for a moment.
This will make a great keepsake, he thought.
"Arthur, are you hungry?" Ellen asked. "Eat something first. We'll report the mission to Mr. Fuze and be right back!"
"Go ahead, don't worry about me," he replied, calmly walking toward an empty table.
"Alright!"
The three of them walked away, and Arthur, following the guild attendant's recommendation, ordered the dish of the day.
Not long after, a generous meal was placed in front of him.
And… honestly?
It was delicious.
Perhaps it was because the meat came from monsters, but the flavor was completely different from anything Arthur had tasted on Earth. It was much richer, more intense, and almost addictive.
Another positive point was the environment.
This place was perfect for gathering information.
Arthur didn't need to make any effort at all. He simply listened.
"I heard the monsters in the Jura Forest are going berserk…"
"Ever since the Storm Dragon disappeared, that forest's been a complete mess…"
"Another exploration team didn't come back yesterday…"
Little by little, the pieces began to fall into place.
Arthur learned that since Veldora's disappearance, monster activity in the Jura Forest had been increasing at an alarming rate.
I wonder if I'll get the chance to meet Rimuru… he thought with interest.
Something had happened deep within the forest—something big enough to force a mass migration.
And it wasn't just irrational, aggressive monsters.
Even intelligent magical beings were on the move.
In recent times, the number of adventurers who had died had risen drastically, creating a heavy atmosphere within the guild. Even the liveliest conversations always ended up circling back to that topic.
Some of the more pessimistic adventurers even speculated that the Kingdom of Blumund might soon face a large-scale monster invasion.
—xXx—
While Arthur calmly gathered information as he ate, Ellen arrived at the office of the Free Guild branch master.
After several minutes of conversation explaining everything that had happened that day, Fuze left the office accompanied by Ellen, Gido, and Kaval, returning to the guild tavern.
The moment he stepped into the main hall…
The hair on Fuze's body stood on end.
Not out of fear, but instinct.
A subtle, almost imperceptible aura was unconsciously emanating from Arthur. For most people, it would have gone unnoticed—but Fuze was not an ordinary man.
His body reacted before his mind could even process it.
"Master? Master Fuze?!" Ellen's voice called out, snapping him back to reality.
The instant Arthur's and Fuze's gazes met, the guild master confirmed—at least in part—his suspicions.
That boy… was not as simple as he appeared.
Even so, a natural smile appeared on his face, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
Fuze was a short, middle-aged man with short black hair streaked with white at the sides. His eyes were sharp, constantly observing everything around him. Light stubble covered his face, and a long scar ran across the left side, covering one of his eyes and giving him a perpetually vigilant appearance.
He perfectly fit the image of a Guild Master.
"You must be Arthur, the one Ellen told me about," he said warmly.
"I'm Fuze, the master of this Free Guild branch. I'm very glad you decided to join us," Fuze added.
Hearing Fuze's words, Ellen smiled in satisfaction at his side.
Arthur returned the smile.
(End of chapter)
Fuze -