Relic Raiders

After the sprawl between Kaito and Lessia calmed down, the group went to the guild to start their progress in making a private guild. Kaito, Rina, Khrom, Evona, Iori, Estelle, and Fiona were all locked in to count towards seven of the ten they needed.

Kaito, Estelle, and Rina were on their way to recruit Rachael at the library, but before that…

“HAHAHA!!!”

Within the streets of Giora, everyone turned to witness something bizarre.

It was Xavian, but he wasn’t alone. He dragged a giant monster corpse through the streets, causing a grand scene. The monster’s blood created a trail that stained the once-polished cobblestone streets of Giora.

Khrom and Evona witnessed the scene. They stared in awe before they finally made their approach.

“Xavian, what are you doing!?” Khrom asked in disarray. “Why isn’t this thing in your Inventory?”

“Khrom! And the little cat girl, Evona!” Xavian acknowledged the two. “If I did that, how’d I get to show everyone I killed this demon straggler, HAHAHA!”

Evona, in disbelief at Xavian’s reasoning, announced, “Evona’s going to take a nap.”

She swiftly climbed into the bed shield on Khrom’s back, leaving Khrom alone to converse with Xavian.

“Look, Xavian. I think everyone has acknowledged your accomplishment.” Khrom announced, gesturing Xavian to look around.

Xavian looked around to witness everyone staring at him and the corpse.

“Heh, I guess they have,” Xavian deduced.

Xavian finally stored the large corpse in his Inventory, allowing Khrom to comfortably state what he really wanted from him.

“So, Xavian, do you want to join our private guild?” Khrom asked.

Xavian stood there thinking with his hand on his chin and responded, “A tempting offer, but you’ll have to convince the Great Natural Disaster Sorcerer.”

“You’ll get more fame from joining a private guild, and you’ll get to participate in a climactic battle we’re going to have to save Taelesta,” Khrom immediately stated stoically, knowing this would convince him.

“DEAL!!!” Xavian agreed without another thought, shaking Khrom’s hand.

____________________________________________________________________________

Back at the library, Kaito, Estelle, and Rina approached Rachael.

“Hey, Rachael—” Rina greeted her, but was immediately silenced.

“We’re going outside to talk,” Rachael stated, directing her attention to Kaito. “I don’t trust this loudmouth.”

After the group went outside, they addressed the situation.

“So, Rachael, would you be willing to join the guild we’re making?” Rina asked.

“A guild… with him?” Rachael once again was referring to Kaito. “I think I’ve had enough of Kaito for now.”

“Please, Rachael,” Rina pleaded. “I know you know of our mission, and we’re short on numbers. We could really use your help! You don’t even need to fight!”

Rachael thought momentarily and responded, “Fine, I’ll do it for you. But I’ll need Kaito for a bit, you too, Estelle.”

Kaito and Estelle looked confused, but agreed to accompany Rachael. The two walked through the streets following Rachael until she found what she was looking for.

“Ah, found them,” Racahel announced before addressing Kaito. “You still have the hair for the disguise you used in Elvasia, right?”

Kaito took out the hair from his Inventory, “Yeah, why?”

Rachael pointed toward Gurkin’s group, who were in Giora for some reason.

“Wait… You want me to transform and ask Gurkin to join the guild?” Kaito deduced.

“Rina said you were short, right?” Rachael stated. “Getting those three would be a great help, but you’ll have to swoon him into joining.”

Rachael grinned mischievously. Kaito knew she was up to no good and wanted to ‘advance’ their relationship.

“How about you just ask them?” Kaito suggested backing away from Rachael, but he was stopped.

Estelle grabbed Kaito’s shoulders, sending a jolt through his spine. She had learnt how Gurkin felt about his female form on their trip back to Giora.

“That’s no fun, Kaito,” said Estelle. “Hurry up and transform!”

“Estelle, you traitor…” Kaito thought as he looked upon Estelle, who wouldn’t let him escape.

Kaito transformed…

“Hey, Gurkin~” Kaito ran up and called to Gurkin and his group as attractively as possible. “I didn’t know you were all in Giora!”

“Kaito!” Gurkin yelled. “I finally found you!”

“We followed you back here from Elvasia,” Menn blatantly announced.

“Only because we wanted to ask you something!” Gurkin tried his best to make an excuse.

“Actually, I wanted to ask you something,” Kaito mentioned bashfully.

“Oh, please! Go ahead and ask!” Gurkin responded, enamored by Katio’s bashfulness.

“So, um, I was wondering if you wanted to join a guild the girls and I were making…” Kaito asked, continuing his facade.

“Girls?” Jett responded.

Kaito gestured to the side where Estelle and Rachael were standing. They were dying of laughter, but still managed to get out a wave.

“Of course we’ll join!” Gurkin answered.

“Great!” Kaito shouted with glee.

Upon hearing the favorable answer, Estelle and Rachael joined the conversation.

“Now we’ll all get to spend more time together!” Rachael announced.

Rachael was having a ball teasing Kaito, but Kaito, on the other hand, hit his breaking point.

Letting out a huge sigh, he announced, “I can’t do this.”

He untransformed in front of Gurkin and his party, revealing his true identity.

“You’re a man!?” Menn shouted out.

“Ahh… I had a feeling,” Jett stated. He knew of the Disguise skill.

“Yeah, sorry, guys,” Kaito apologized.

Gurkin stood there, unmoving and emotionless. Estelle poked him, but he didn’t react.

“I think you broke him,” Estelle deduced.

“YOU CAN’T TRICK ME!!!” Gurkin suddenly yelled, breaking his silence and scaring everyone. “I see right through you, Kaito! You and the female Kaito aren’t the same person, are you!? If you’re disguising yourself as her, you must be acquainted!”

Gurkin was in denial. Everyone stared in disbelief.

“We’ll still join your guild to find the female Kaito, HAHAHA!” Gurkin announced.

“How did it end up like this?” Kaito asked.

“Well, at least they’re still joining the guild,” Estelle spoke the silver lining.

With 12 members for the private guild accumulated, the original eight met up at the Giora Guild to make it official. They handed Elise the papers, and she began to analyze their validity.

“Everything looks cor- or wait, there’s something wrong,” Elise announced.

“There is?” Kaito said nervously.

Surely Elise hadn’t figured out the truth about Fiona. That was the only thing that could be wrong.

“Right here,” Elise responded, showing the group the document’s errors, “You guys put down Xavian’s class as Sorcerer, but it’s actually Wizard.”

The group looked at each other, confused.

“Natural Disaster Sorcerer?” Iori questioned Xavian’s title.

“Natural Disaster Wizard,” Elise stated. “He just likes the term sorcerer more.”

“This guy is unbelievable,” said Kaito.

After correcting Xavian’s class, Elise accepted the documents and explained how things would work with their new private guild.

The group would receive a building to use as the headquarters for their guild. It would be free initially, but they’d have to pay it back eventually. Alongside the guild, a priest from the Holy Church would be registered for them. The priest’s job is to communicate with the personal guild that issued the private guild and to do appraisals for the guild’s members.

“All that’s left is to choose a name for your guild,” Elise concluded, looking at the group for an answer.

The group thought for a second, as they never thought of one.

“Got any ideas, Kaito?” Rina asked.

Kaito thought for a second and smiled upon coming up with a name.

“We are the Relic Raiders.”