The pungent scent of goblin blood still hung heavy in the hall of the Antrows Adventurers' Guild, creating a grim atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the usual bustle. In the middle of the cluttered hall, Robert, the Guild Master, stood frozen, staring at the mountain of elite monster corpses.
His reverie was broken when the sound of heavy footsteps wearing high-quality metal armor echoed across the stone floor.
"Yo, Old Man! How are you? Why are there so many goblin corpses in this guild? Did you just deploy every adventurer to attack their nest?"
With his silver armor glistening, he walked casually, followed by his four companions. Robert snorted in annoyance, the veins on his forehead bulging slightly at the sound of the disrespectful, familiar greeting.
"Ronan, I've told you repeatedly, don't call me 'Old Man'! I am your uncle! At least call me 'Uncle', or act professional as an adventurer and call me 'Guild Master'!" Robert barked, though his tone suggested familial closeness rather than pure anger.
Ronan chuckled while raising both hands in surrender. "Right, right, Uncle Robert! So, please explain to me, what is this phenomenon?"
Robert let out a long sigh, his eyes returning to the corpse of the Goblin King, whose head had already been severed. "This is the work of Party Noiver. They just returned from there. The members are Keyzier, Donovan, and a girl named Novalia. I believe you already know the three of them, don't you?"
Hearing those names, Ronan and his four companions were stunned for a moment before their laughter erupted simultaneously, filling the entire hall.
"Hahaha! So they were the ones who did it?" Ronan laughed while clutching his stomach.
"It seems they still harbor a deep-seated grudge against those goblins!" Oliver, the assassin of Gold Wings, chimed in while shaking his head.
"Like you said, Oliver. It seems they truly have a grudge against goblins since that incident in the past," Ronan added after his laughter subsided.
Robert's face turned serious. He signaled the guild staff to begin cleaning the hall, then pulled Ronan to a quieter corner. The other adventurers in the hall suddenly went silent; they were curious about the true identity of the three teenagers who had just shaken Antrows City.
"This is no time for laughing, Ronan!" Robert said in a firm, low voice. "Those three... they are no ordinary adventurers. Now, explain to me honestly about them and that village called Noive! Keyzier mentioned your name as a witness."
Ronan stopped his lingering laughter. He looked at his uncle with a deep and somewhat mysterious gaze. "Are you serious about wanting to know about that village, Uncle? Fine, I'll tell you what I know, though it might sound like a mere fairy tale to city folk."
Ronan then began to recount a mission they had received years ago. A mission that led them to investigate the Death Forest, a place considered the gateway to hell by the outside world.
"Our first meeting with Keyzier and Donovan happened when they were just children. We found them surrounded inside the Death Forest. But what stunned us wasn't the fact that they survived, but how the residents of their village lived there." Ronan paused for a moment, wetting his dry throat by swallowing hard.
"The abilities of every single person in Noive Village, even the weakest among them, are equivalent to Rank AA adventurers in this city. The five of us were speechless watching those villagers slaughter hundreds of monsters surrounding us. And you know what the craziest part is, Uncle? They considered those terrifying monsters as nothing more than a 'harvest' for dinner!"
Shocked murmurs were heard from the veteran adventurers eavesdropping nearby. Robert himself felt his knees go weak.
"Whether it's swordsmanship or magical prowess, their abilities are truly beyond the logic of ordinary humans. If someday you or anyone else accidentally finds that village, I have one piece of advice: do not provoke them! If that happens, I am certain you will be annihilated in an instant without even realizing you've been killed."
Robert appeared hesitant. "But... if they're that strong, why do they live in the middle of nowhere? If they came to the city with such terrifying abilities, they would surely land jobs that would make them wealthy or even nobles."
Ronan gave a wry smile. "The people of Noive Village tend to avoid urban areas. They are very reclusive and have no interest in power or the wealth of the outside world. They are content living in harmony with the dangers of the Death Forest."
"Then, what about the three teenagers who are currently adventurers?" Robert asked again.
"Keyzier and Donovan... since they were kids, they wanted to be like us. They have free spirits and want to see the vastness of this world. Though they look innocent and cheerful, do not be fooled by their appearance. They will become absolutely terrifying if pushed. Even if the entire city army and all the adventurers here were deployed to capture them, I doubt we could win without suffering massive losses. Especially that youth named Keyzier."
The guild hall fell into dead silence once more. Ronan's explanation gave everyone who heard it the chills. Robert was now troubled by the guild's regulations. "How am I supposed to evaluate Party Noiver's rank without violating regulations, while still giving a rank worthy of that 'monster' strength?"
"When it comes to rank, they'll surely accept it happily. Enough, Uncle, forget those three for a moment. We came here to report our own mission!" Ronan shifted the conversation.
Unknown to Party Noiver, Ronan's story had sent a shockwave through the guild. However, Ronan held onto one big secret he didn't tell Robert: the secret treaty that bound the Kingdom of Altoria to the elders of Noive Village.
Meanwhile, at the Rising Stardust inn, a starkly contrasting peace was unfolding. Keyzier and Donovan were in the men's bath, washing their bodies which felt stiff and smelled of brine. Warm steam filled the room, providing much-needed relaxation after the life-and-death struggle.
"Hey Novan!" Keyzier's voice echoed between the wooden walls and the steam. "I'm truly exhausted today. I never expected the Goblin King to be that strong. To be honest, if you two weren't there, I might have lost."
Donovan, who was pouring water over his shoulder, chuckled. "Novalia and I didn't expect the King to have the Blink skill either. But Key, remember what we talked about before? The three of us are Noiver. We aren't just a team; we're a family that must complement and protect each other. You aren't fighting alone."
Keyzier smiled broadly, tilting his head back to stare at the bathroom ceiling. "I'm really grateful to have you and Nova. I'm truly happy you guys have been with me until now. Thank you, Novan."
Donovan turned, seeing his best friend's sincere expression, and began to tease him. "How rare for you to speak so poetically. Did you just fall in love because Nova saved you?"
"What?! Don't talk nonsense!" Keyzier retorted, his face suddenly turning red.
Behind the thin wall separating the men's and women's baths, Novalia was soaking alone. She heard every word spoken by Keyzier and Donovan. A small smile formed on her beautiful face. Gratitude and happiness swelled in her chest because she was fully accepted into their circle of trust.
However, behind that smile, there was a faint ache. Novalia had liked Keyzier since their first meeting. Unfortunately, Keyzier—who was a genius in magic and combat—was incredibly dense and oblivious when it came to feelings.
Novalia could only bury those feelings, waiting for the right moment to reveal them. And at least for now, she felt content being by Keyzier's side as a trusted comrade.
Two days had passed. Party Noiver's external wounds had healed thanks to Keyzier's healing magic, though a bit of mental exhaustion remained. This morning, they stepped back into the guild building in neater, new clothes, ready to claim the rank promotion Robert had promised.
As they entered, the atmosphere of the guild felt different. The gazes of other adventurers were now full of respect and a hint of fear.
Robert was already waiting at the reception desk. Upon seeing them, he immediately signaled for them to follow him to his private office upstairs.
Once the door was locked tight, Robert sat in his large chair and stared at the three teenagers one by one. The atmosphere suddenly became very serious.
"Since you are all here, I will give you the results of your rank evaluation. But, before that..." Robert paused, his gaze locked onto Keyzier. "I want to ask you three one thing about the 'Party The Sky' incident. Answer me honestly! The person who annihilated that entire band of bandits was you, wasn't it, Keyzier?"
The question flew like a sharp arrow. Silence instantly blanketed the room. Keyzier, Donovan, and Novalia flinched. They hadn't expected the Guild Master to ask about the bandits directly.
Keyzier stared into Robert's eyes. He was weighing his options.
If I admit it, my true identity and strength will be further exposed. However, if I lie, an experienced Guild Master like him will surely notice.
Keyzier took a deep breath, while Donovan and Novalia felt the tension mounting as they waited for their party leader's answer.
Keyzier was silent for a moment, staring at the ceiling before finally looking back at Robert with a gaze that was difficult to read.