## **Announcement**
"Hey Joseph, wake up. It's morning."
Joseph gets up, stretches his arms and legs, and says,
"So, what's the plan for today?"
Arthur stays quiet for a moment, then says,
"Let's go to the guild. The raid has been announced, but there's still time before it starts. On top of that, we should do some training. Who knows what we'll face inside the dungeon—better to be prepared for everything."
Joseph just says, "Yeah, I know," and heads to the bathroom.
After a while, they come out, grab their gear and weapons, and leave the hotel.
On the way, Arthur notices there aren't many people around. Some are preparing to open their shops, while a few guards are heading toward the main gate.
"Looks like the guards' shift is changing," Arthur thinks.
Watching all this, the two eventually reach the guild.
Arthur first notices a very large signboard with **Diliha Guild** written on it. Loud voices and noise can be heard from inside the guild. The gate is open, so they walk in.
Inside, Arthur sees many adventurers talking with their party members. Some are standing in front of the notice board, probably looking for commissions.
Arthur also notices a few adventurers looking at him and Joseph with **curious eyes**.
"Maybe they're staring because we don't look like we're from Drastoria," Arthur thinks.
While observing everything, Arthur's eyes fall on a table. After looking carefully, he walks toward it.
As he gets closer, he says,
"Morning, Karaku. How are you?"
Karaku lifts his head, looks at Arthur first, then says,
"Morning. How are you?"
At the same time, Joseph arrives, and Karaku greets him as well. After exchanging greetings, the three of them sit down on chairs.
Karaku asks them,
"Are you still roaming around Drastoria, or are you planning to take a commission?"
Joseph replies,
"We came to take a commission. We need to prepare ourselves before the raid. You never know what kind of enemy we'll face."
Karaku stays silent for a moment, then says,
"That's a good idea. So, have you taken any commission yet?"
Joseph quickly replies,
"No, not yet. We just arrived at the guild."
"Seems like you have a good commission with you," Arthur says.
After thinking for a bit, Karaku pulls out a commission poster.
Arthur asks,
"Were you planning to go on this mission alone?"
"Nope," Karaku replies.
"If I hadn't run into you two at the guild, I would've come to your hotel myself. I'm not that stupid."
"Hahaha!"
The three of them laugh for a while.
Then Arthur takes the commission poster and walks to the **guild counter**.
The **Guild Receptionist** carefully looks at the poster and says,
"Please show your guild card."
Arthur takes out his guild card and hands it over.
After checking the card, the receptionist asks,
"Who are your party members?"
Arthur steps slightly aside and gestures toward Karaku and Joseph. Seeing this, Karaku and Joseph wave their hands as well.
The receptionist accepts the commission under Arthur's name, stamps it, and hands the poster back.
Arthur returns to Karaku and Joseph, smiles, and says—
**"LET'S GO."**
The three stand outside the hotel.
Arth: "The raid announcement is tomorrow… we need to be ready."
Jos: "Don't worry, we're all set."
Kar: "Good night, Arth, Jos. See you tomorrow."
Kar disappears into the night streets, and Arth and Jos head back inside the hotel.
---
## **Raid Announcement**
"Jos, wake up. It's morning. Get ready quickly."
Without saying a word, Jos gets out of bed and gets ready fast.
As soon as they come downstairs, they see Kar sitting on a chair, waiting for them.
Seeing Arth and Jos, Kar waves his hand.
"Good morning."
"Morning," Arth and Jos reply together.
"Ready?" Kar asks.
Both nod at the same time. "Yes."
A few moments later, the three leave the hotel and head toward the guild.
On the way, Arth notices—the city looks almost the same.
No noise, no major change… as if this day was normal too.
But as soon as they reach the guild, Arth feels a heavy atmosphere coming from inside.
For a moment, his step falters.
Then he takes a deep breath and calms himself.
Arth looks once toward Jos and Kar—both of them are feeling the same heavy atmosphere.
Then all three take a long breath together and enter the guild.
Inside, Arth feels the atmosphere is even heavier.
But he calms himself and looks around.
Some adventurers are talking to each other.
Some are observing others.
Arth also notices that a few adventurers are observing Arth, Jos, and Kar.
Arthur spends a moment observing the adventurers around him.
Some of them look very strong.
After observing everything for a while, the three walk to the guild counter, and Arthur says to the receptionist,
"We also want to participate in the raid. Can we get the form?"
The receptionist looks at Arthur.
"Solo or with a party?"
"I have a party," Arth replies calmly.
Hearing this, the receptionist takes out a form from under the desk and hands it to Arthur.
"Fill this."
Arthur takes the form and moves to a corner of the guild with Jos and Kar.
There, Arth starts reading the form carefully.
**Raid Registration Form**
Party Name: __________
Party Leader Name: __________
Party Member Count: __________
Party Members' Signatures: __________
Looking at the form, Arth realizes for the first time—
this wasn't just an announcement.
This raid was really going to happen.
Arth fills out the form, and Jos and Kar add their signatures as well.
Once the form is complete, Arth takes it back to the guild counter and hands it to the receptionist.
The receptionist checks the form carefully for a moment, then looks at Arth.
"Good luck."
Arth gives a slight nod and walks back to Jos and Kar.
The three stand silently—
because they all knew, the main show hadn't started yet.
---
After waiting for a while, another man enters the guild hall—
along with the guild master.
The moment he takes his first step, the guild hall slowly begins to fall silent.
With each step, the voices fade,
as if the entire place is feeling his presence.
Arthur doesn't know who the man is.
But as the atmosphere in the guild hall grows heavier,
a scene flashes through his mind—
guards near the main gate, speaking in low voices.
"Durk Karmish…"
The man's blue hair glimmers faintly in the light.
Sharp, golden eyes scan the entire hall without needing to look directly.
Standing over six feet tall, wearing heavy golden armor,
the man fills the space with his presence alone.
Arthur feels a strange pressure in his chest.
**This is no ordinary man.**
Complete silence spreads across the guild hall.
Then the man begins to speak—
his voice isn't loud,
but every word reaches the far corners of the hall.
"I am Durk Karmish."
"I will be the leader of this raid."
A brief pause.
"If anyone has any objections to this decision…"
His golden eyes slowly move across the crowd.
"Speak now."
Arthur feels as if his feet are rooted to the ground.
He can't move even an inch.
He looks around—
and that's when he realizes.
The entire guild hall has turned into a statue.
No one… even moves.
Cutting through the silence, the guild master steps forward.
"I will now explain the rules of the raid."
At the sound of his voice,
it feels as if life returns to the guild hall.
People begin to breathe again,
and the frozen air slowly starts to move.
"Those who have filled the form to participate in the raid—
you all have one week to prepare."
"If anyone does not wish to participate in the raid,
you may cancel your form within this one week."
The guild master pauses.
His eyes slowly sharpen.
"This raid has failed five times already."
"Many people have lost their lives."
"We do not know what kind of danger awaits us this time."
He takes a deep breath.
"I cannot guarantee anyone's life."
"But even after this, if you still choose to go on this raid—
then remember…
the responsibility for your life will be yours alone."