Finally, the Capital. [ 第四章 ]

Jin and the group are continuing their journey to the capital. During break times, Jin teaches Edward how to use his magic better and how to combine it with his swordsmanship.

‘’Alright, Edward. What is your magic power?’’

‘’Well, I'll show you.’’ He proudly said.

Edward turns around to the open field where a boulder stone is at. He draws his sword and points it at the boulder.

‘’Explosion Magic: Bomb.’’

A small bright orange light takes off from the point of the sword towards the stone in speed. Edward turns back facing Jin with a proud pose. The small light touched the boulder and it explodes, sending small rock fragments everywhere.

‘’What do you think, Jin?’’ as he maintains the proud pose.

‘’Well, the power is good, but the speed is low. Enemies can dodge it easily.’’ Edward was devastated when he heard what Jin told him.

‘’No worries, if you can control your magic power you can bring its true potential,’’ Jin said to cheer him up.

‘’Well, how can I do that?’’

‘’First, you must feel your magic flow.’'

‘’Magic flow?’’

‘’You should try to sense your magic power inside you. After that, you become able to fully control the power and speed of your technique.’’

‘’That means...’’

‘’Your magic spell earlier can become much faster and much more powerful,’’ Jin replied with a smile.

‘’Alright! I am so ready!’’ Edward yelled with excitement.

‘’Then, what should I do?’’

‘’You must first become one with your body.’’

‘’Huh?’’

‘’I’ll explain. To be able to truly control your magic power, you must know your body well. With that being said, you will start with balancing yourself with one leg and concentrate on your magic.’’

The excitement Edward felt earlier has started to fade away as he knows this will be hard training.

Seth and Emily, who were in the forest picking up berries and hunting squirrels for lunch, came back to see Edward on one leg closing his eyes and meditating.

‘’W-What are you doing Edward?’’ Emily said confused.

‘’SHH! I’m trying to sense my magic.’’ He replied.

Seth got curious and asked Jin who was standing next to Edward about it. Jin explained the training for him and Emily.

‘’So, that technique you used to beat down Halton, you learned it by doing this?’’ Seth asked.

‘’That technique is a combination between my swordsmanship and my magic. I enhanced my physical abilities and used my magic to enforce my sword’s strength. This training was the base for it.’’

‘’That is awesome Jin!’’ Emily said happily which made Jin blush.

‘’I want to learn it,’’ Seth said with determination.

‘’ I realized how weak I am when I fought that guy. If I could get stronger, then I will do this training.’’

‘’Sure. Join!’’ Jin said with a smile.

‘’Um, could you guys talk somewhere else... I’m trying to focus here.’’ Edward said.

Jin went with Emily to start the bonfire. While Seth and Edward were doing the training. As the two kept training, Jin was helping Emily with cooking the food when they hear an eagle screeching in the sky. Jin stood up and started looking at it.

‘’What’s wrong Jin?’’

Jin didn’t reply and kept looking at the eagle.

Jin then whistles at the eagle, it replied with a screech. Suddenly, the eagle started coming down towards Jin. Emily got scared.

‘’Jin! Watch out!’’ This caught Seth and Edward's attention and they opened their eyes.

The bald eagle lands on Jin’s shoulder and screech. Jin smiles and pats her on the head.

‘’Hey! I miss you!’’ Jin said to the eagle. The eagle whistled back.

‘’Oh, you miss me too, don’t you?’’

Emily is confused as to what is happening.

‘’Um, Jin?’’

‘’Oh, this is Sora. She is my friend.’’ Jin smiles at Emily while patting the eagle.

‘’She?’’

‘’Yes. When I was a kid, I found her injured in the forest. So, me and my mentor took care of her till she could fly again. She comes to visit me now and then.’’

‘’I am surprised you could find me Sora!’’ Jin spoke to the eagle. She replied with a kind of sad whistle.

‘’Yes... My mentor has passed away. I am now with these people. They are my friends!’’

Seth and Edward came to where Jin and Emily are at.

‘’Woah! That is a bird on your shoulder Jin!’’ Edward expressed with excitement.

‘’Yes! Her name is Sora!’’

‘’That is so cool! Nice to meet you Sora. My name is Edward.’’ Edward came close and pats her on the head.

‘’Is it safe if I touch her?’’ Emily asked Jin.

‘’Yes, since I am here, she won’t harm you.’’

Emily approached her carefully. As she was about to pat her, Sora went to the other shoulder. Edward tried to hold his laugh as he knew that Sora doesn’t like Emily.

‘’I think girls get jealous of each other,’’ Edward whispered to Seth.

‘’Ah! She is shy a bit when it comes to other females, don’t mind her Emily!’’ Jin tries to comfort her. Poor Emily was heartbroken.

The group circled the bonfire and ate as Jin continued talking to Sora and bed her farewell till they meet again.

The next morning, the group continued walking till they stopped for a break. Jin sees that Seth and Edward got comfortable with one leg and concentrating. He then made the training harder.

‘’I can see you guys are getting better with your concentration. Have you sensed your magic power?’’

‘’I can. Just a tiny bit.’’ Edward said.

‘’Yes,’’ Seth said.

Edward didn’t like that Seth has said yes.

‘’I was just joking; I can fully sense my magic,’’ Edward said back raising his chin a bit higher.

‘’Then I will make it a bit harder for you guys.’’

‘’What do you mean?’’

Jin picks up a stick and goes behind them.

‘’Um, Jin where did you go? You're not talking anymore.’’ Edward said as he maintains his stance.

‘’Be quiet! I'm trying to focus here.’’ Seth told him.

‘’What did you say punk?’’

Jin hit both of them on their heads with that stick which made them fall both on the ground.

‘’OW! Jin!’’ Edward said as he scratches his head.

‘’What the hell? What was that for?’’ Seth angrily said.

‘'Well, from now on I will be hitting you guys while you concentrate.’’

‘’What is it for?’’

‘’In battle, anything can happen. That means your flow of magic might get interrupted. Until you guys are completely fine with me hitting you on your heads while maintaining your magic flow, I won’t stop.’’ Jin said with a smile.

‘’You look like a devil with that smile,’’ Edward said quietly.

‘’I beg your pardon?’’

‘’Nothing...’’

Seth and Edward continue their training. Jin starts hitting them on the head. One by one, they fall. For the whole day, they didn’t make any progress. As it got dark, they go to their tents to sleep. Seth and Edward are talking.

‘’Tch! Jin made the whole training pointless. All we do is get hit in the head.’’ Edward said as he is laying down with his hands on the back of his head. No response from Seth.

‘’Hey! I'm talking to you.’’

‘’What do you want me to say? That’s what training is. If you feel it's hard on you, quit.’’

‘’Like hell, I will quit.’’

Edward slept. After a while, Seth got out and continued the training.

The next morning, Jin wakes up to see Seth already in the pose concentrating.

‘’Good morning Seth,’’ Jin said. No reply from Seth.

Jin approaches him to see him sleeping while standing on one leg. Jin smiles as he saw how determined Seth is.

The group continued their training and headed toward the capital. Finally, after 7 days they have arrived.

Emily and the others admire the kingdom’s capital from afar. As they see the tall cobblestone walls with their towers on each side. They get a glimpse of the castle as it was built on top of a huge rock. It was a marvelous sight. The group then heads out to the passageway to enter the capital. They wait in the line where a lot of carriages and people waiting for their turn. As they get closer, they see the red dragon shape on the flags from each side of the huge metal gate.

‘’Next!’’ one of the two guards on the gate said loudly.

‘’That’s us! Let's go.’’ Emily said to the others.

The group head inside the gate where they see knights everywhere. Facing Emily and the others, two of them sitting at a table with papers in front of them.

‘’Come here. Put your bags to the left table for search.’’ one of them said, as he seems from his armor and cape a higher rank knight. The group got closer.

‘’Your names and what reason brought you to the capital?’’ He spoke.

‘’U-Um my name is Emily... I came here to... become an adventurer...’’ Anxiously, she said.

‘’My name is Jin. I am also here to become an adventurer.’’ Jin said with a smile.

‘’I am Edward! The next strongest adventurer!’’ As he points to himself with his thumb smiling showing his teeth.

The knights continued writing on their papers. Edward felt ignored.

‘’My name is Seth and I am here to become a knight.’’

The higher rank knight looked at him to see a determined young man. He smiled.

‘’Good. You can register your name in that table over there.’’ He points to his right.

‘’Anyways, you can enter the capital! Here is a map to help you navigate through the city.’’ The other knight hands over to the group paper map. The group then took their bags and went in.

‘’I have to register my name. See you guys later.’’ Seth said as he grabs his bag.

‘’Okay! If you want to find us, search for us at the guild building.’’ Emily replied.

‘’See you later Seth! Keep training.’’ Jin said.

‘’I will! Next time, you won’t beat me.’’

‘’Looking forward to it!’’ Jin replied with a smile.

‘’Oi, don’t forget about me you punk! Next time I’ll beat you up.’’ Edward shouted at Seth.

‘’Yeah, yeah.’’

Emily, Jin, and Edward all head forward to go to the guild building.

‘’First, Let’s look at the map they gave us,’’ Emily said as she takes out the map.

The capital is divided into three zones, separated by the city walls. The first zone which is the first layer is the military zone. It’s where the knights are located as they are the closest to leaving the capital walls. The second zone is the residential area where the people live and where the shops are. The third and last zone which is the innermost wall is where the castle and royal family live at.

‘’Alright, we just passed the military zone, the adventurer’s guild is in the residential area. Specifically, The western district.’’ Emily said as she points it at the map.

‘’Let’s go!’’ Edward happily jumps.

The three went from the south district they were into the western. They were amazed at how the ground is smooth cobblestone and the modern houses built with wood and stone. They admired the way people dressed and the variety of food and goods.

‘’The capital is so awesome!’’ Emily said as she looks at the buildings.

‘’Yeah!’’ Edward replied. Jin couldn’t reply to how amazing everything is to him. It is a peaceful and amazing place.

Emily, Jin, and Edward kept walking through the city to finally reach the guild. As it is located on the busiest street, filled with bars and inns, and shops of all kinds. They enter the hall where it’s an open area on the first floor that has wooden tables around with people sitting on them having drinks from the small bar on their right. Facing the entrance, a lady is sitting at a desk and behind her, lockers with keys on them. Emily and the other two went there.

‘’Welcome! My name is Anna. I am the guild’s representative. Are you guys here to become adventurers?’’ she said with a smile.

‘’How did you know?’’ Emily asked.

‘’Your eyes when you guys entered told me everything.’’ the three smiled at her comment.

‘’Well, I must tell you the rules to become full-fledged adventurers. First, we need an entry fee which is five silver coins. Second, you must show me and the other representatives your skills to determine if you are qualified. If you are, you will fill up a paper for us and that will be it.’’

In Albion, mostly all kingdoms, 10 coppers coins are one silver coin. 10 silver coins are one gold coin.

Emily took all the money she has as well as Edward to count in total 38 copper coins.

‘’Um, we miss twelve copper coins to complete...’’

Anna looked at them and thought for a second before she talked.

‘’Then, one of you should do a job for us for a week and it will complete the entry fee.’’

‘’What is it?’’

‘’Help us at cleaning the tables and the floor,’’ she said with a smile.

‘’Oh, then I-’’ Emily was speaking but got interrupted by Jin.

‘’I will do it.’’ he raises his hand.

‘’Jin, you don’t have to. I can take your place.’’

‘’Thanks, but I am the one who has no money. I should be thanking you!’’ Jin said as he bows down.

‘’Well, since this is settled, how about we start the skill test?’’

The three nodded yes.

Anna took them to the back where there is a small open field covered from the top and a black wall in the middle.

‘’Could you wait here till I get the other representatives?’’

‘’Okay!’’

After a bit, Anna came back with a man and a woman.

‘’Alright! Let's start. Your test is to break that black wall. You must know, that wall is made of a material ten times tougher than metal.’’ Anna said.

‘’ugh, what is this test even supposed to be? No one was able to destroy that black wall except Alexander ‘’The Flame’’.’’ The guy with Anna thought to himself as he yawns.

‘’Let’s start with the girl.’’

‘’M-Me?’’ Emily pointed at herself anxiously.

Emily goes in front of the black wall, took a deep breath, and took her grimoire out.

‘’You can do it, Emily!’’ Edward is cheering from behind.

Emily looks at him and smiles. She then glares at the wall and her grimoire starts floating. From nothing, fire, water, thunder, wind, and earth balls start shaping themselves behind her back and start spinning in a circular movement.

‘’Magic: five-element attack.’’

She said as she points both her palm hands at the wall. The balls go flying at an incredible speed at the wall. As it hit, dust fills the terrain.

‘’D-Did I, do it?’’ Emily said quietly.

When the dust cleared, the wall was still there unscathed. Emily was shocked.

‘’Next one, the kid with the orange hair.’’

As they are crossing paths, Edward told Emily. ‘’It’s okay.’’

Edward faces the wall, draws out his sword, and gets to his stance.

‘’Start!’’

Edward speeds dash at the wall.

‘’Sword style: Explosion.’’

He swings his sword at the wall. The moment his sword touched; an explosion happened. Edward then comes out. As the smoke cleared, everyone could see the wall still standing with no marks of his attack.

‘’Dammit!’’ He said frustrated.

‘’Next one is you.’’

‘’The girl is a good sorcerer. Her grimoire must be at least 100 years old of spells. The guy has some power with his magic. But he is an average swordsman. They aren’t bad but nothing special.’’ The guy with Anna thought to himself.

Jin steps up in front of the wall. The guy looks at his sword and realized he has never seen anything like it.

‘’Start!’’.

The three judges feel the wind getting colder and heavy as Jin is ready to draw his blade.

‘’Wind Style: Wind Slash.’’

With lightning speed, Jin draws his blade and swings. An air slash hits the wall but no damage to it. The representative thought he will see something special but got disappointed.

‘’Alright! The test is over.’’ Anna said. ‘’Please, come over here.’’

The three stood up in front of them as Emily and Edward seemed down.

‘’Congratulations! You three are now adventurers!’’ Anna said as she claps.

‘’But... we didn’t break the wall.’’

‘’The wall was never meant to be broken. The test was to show how skillful you are in your class. And also, your personality.’’ The woman with Anna talked.

‘’Personality?’’

‘’None of you got mad or said that the test is impossible, which some before you said. You accepted it even though it was impractical. You gave your best and we saw it. And that is what matters. We don't accept people we will have trouble working with.’’ The guy representative replied. Emily and the two smile with happiness.

‘’Now, the next step is your rank and how you work at the guild,’’ Anna said.

‘’The ranks are determined by this test and how successfully you do the requests in the future. We have 5 ranks. S-A-B-C-D. D rank is the lowest and it’s what most beginners start at. And S rank is the highest which only three members succeeded to become one.’’

‘’Oh! Are they...’’ Emily wonders.

‘’Yes, the trio who helped at ending the war between Athena and Edril kingdoms. Cecilia ‘’The Sorcerer’’, Ragnar ‘’The Beast’’ and Alexander ‘’The Flame’’.’’ Anna replied.

‘’Oh, so it’s the old hag, the fat dwarf, and the womanizer,’’ Edward said.

Anna and the other representatives were shocked and an awkward silence happened.

‘’Uhm, could you tell us how we work, please?’’ Emily said to break the silence.

‘’Y-Yes, well we get requests from the people, and we three review and investigate them and place them under a certain difficulty. If the job difficulty is suited to your rank, you can do it. If not, then you don’t get permission to do it. Also, we don’t reward for any other job that didn’t go through our investigation.’’ Anna said. ‘’With that being said, I would like you to fill up this paper with your names and your personal information.’’

Anna handed them each a paper to use. Emily whispers to Jin not to write 18 years old at the age. The three finished up and handed over their papers. Anna read their names and their information and smiled at them.

‘’Judging by your skills, we placed you guys in D ranks.’’ The guy said.

‘’Emily, Edward, Jin. Welcome to our guild!’’

‘’Thank you, Anna!’’

As they go back to the hall, Anna asked them if they want to get a job right away.

‘’We would like to have today off; we just came from a long journey and we still want to meet up with someone,’’ Emily replied.

‘’Okay, have a nice day! I'll see you guys tomorrow. Especially you Jin, you have to come to clean.’’ Anna smiled at them.

‘’I will,’’ Jin replied.

Before they left, Emily asks Anna.

‘’Um, do you know where Cecilia’s workshop is?’’

‘’Oh, her workshop is at the end of the street to the right.’’

‘’Thank you.’’

The group left heading to the workshop.

‘’I thought we are going to see Seth,’’ Edward said as they are walking through the busy street.

‘’I must see master Cecilia first. I became an adventurer because of her.’’ Emily replied.

She then looks back at Jin and smiles as she says ‘’You will love Cecilia, Jin!’’

‘’I can’t wait to meet your mentor,’’ Jin replied with a smile.

They arrived at the shop with its big wizard hat as the roof.

‘’Excuse me,’’ Emily said as she opens the door.

‘’Welcome to Cecilia’s magic shop. How can I help you?’’ a young petite girl with short black hair and two hair clips on the right side replied with a gloomy face. She wore a white button-up shirt and black pants.

‘’Hi! I am looking for Ms. Cecilia?’’

‘’What for?’’

‘’A-Ah, well... we kind of know each other.’’

‘’Well, she is not here.’’

‘’Do you know when she will come back?’’

‘’No.’’

Emily didn’t like how the girl was talking to her.

‘’Well, if she came back, could you tell her that Emily was here?’’ The girl’s face completely changed when she heard the name.

‘’You’re Emily?’’

‘’Yes...’’

‘’Then the guy next to you with the orange hair is Edward.’’

‘’Yes, that’s me.’’

‘’And that’s...Seth?’' She points to Jin.

‘’My name is Jin. I am not Seth. Nice to meet you!’’ He replied with a smile.

‘’Um, how do you know our names?’’

‘’Cecilia told me about you guys. Come with me.’’

The girl closed the door of the shop and took them to the other room.

‘’Sit down. Do you want anything?’’

‘’Water please,’’ 

‘’Same,’’ 

‘’I am fine. Thank you.’’ 

She pours Emily and Edward some water and sat down to talk.

‘’Could you tell me how you know us?’’ Emily asked her.

‘’My name is Elise. I am an apprentice of Cecilia. She told me that you guys will come and that you will be looking for her.’’

‘’Oh, I see. Where is she?’’

Elise got gloomy again.

‘’The truth is, I didn’t see her since the war ended.’’

‘’What?’’

‘’After she came back from your village, she told me about you guys and that you will come in the future. She also gave me the shop and told me to take care of it till she returns.’’

‘’Where did she go?’’ Emily asked.

‘’I don’t know... She went with Alex and Ragnar.’’

A moment of silence before Edward cheered up the mood.

‘’Well, the old hag is with those two, there is no way something bad will happen to them.’’

‘’Could you show me the grimoire Master Cecilia gave you?’’

‘’Sure.’’ Emily takes her grimoire out of her bag and gives it to her.

Elise opens it, looks at it for a bit, and gives it back.

‘’Is something wrong?’’ Emily asked.

‘’No, I just checked that it was the one Cecilia gave you.’’

‘’How would you know?’’

‘’Because that grimoire was mine before you.’’

‘’I-I see...’’ Emily said as she remembers how many times she almost lost it for good.

‘’Do you guys have a place to stay?’’

Emily, Edward, and Jin look at each other and all said at the same time ‘’N-No...’’

‘’Then, you can stay on the second floor. There are empty rooms.’’

The three thanked her for her kindness and accepted the offer.

Later in the evening, they met up with Seth who just finished all the preparations and tests to become a knight. Elise invited them to a bar to drink and eat.

‘’Cheers! To the beginning of reaching your goals.’’ Drunk Elise said.

‘’This girl is weird...’’ Edward whispers to Jin.

‘’Drink with me, Eddie.’’ Drunk Elise said wobbling as she gets closer to Edward.

‘’Eddie?’’ Edward replied.

The group continued their little party and went to sleep. Seth got back to the military zone as tomorrow he has his first-morning training. Emily and the others left to the shop to sleep.

The sun just rose, Jin went to the guild to help with cleaning as he promised. Meanwhile, Seth woke up to the bell in the camp at the military zone. He wore his new armor given by the military and head out to the training ground where everyone should line up.

‘’Alright! You rookies are under my supervision. You’re still not knights. So, don’t act all mighty. Give me 100 pushups. NOW!’’ the supervisor said with a loud and firm voice.

Everyone started doing pushups and the supervisor can clearly see the difference between them as he sees Seth’s steady pushups.

‘’Now, give me 100 laps around the center!’’

The group of rookies started running around the training camp. After a while, everyone got tired but Seth was still not fatigued at all. He finished up a hundred laps first and faster than the others.

‘’Next up. Swing your sword 100 times!’’

Most of the people were tired from the previous running but not Seth. He continued to swing his sword effectively and with precision. This caught the supervisor’s attention.

‘’Lastly, an individual test. Let’s see your skills rookies! You and you, come forward. Pick up those two wooden swords and spar.’’ He points at Seth and another guy.

Seth took the wooden sword and faced up the other rookie.

‘’Wield your swords!’’ The supervisor said.

The rookie held his sword but Seth didn’t.

‘’What’s the matter? Hold your sword high!’’ The supervisor said to Seth.

‘’I will hold my sword when it is necessary,’’ Seth replied without looking back at him. The other rookie got mad and asked the supervisor to start.

‘’Don’t get cocky.’’ The challenger said.

‘’I’m not. I am fully aware of my limits and what you’re capable of.’’

‘’Start!’’

The rookie speeds dash toward Seth holding his wooden sword. Seth remembers what Jin told him about his footwork.

The rookie swings his sword at Seth, but he dodges it easily to the side. At that moment, Seth lifted his right foot and the rookie tripped over and fell on his face. Seth took out his wooden sword and placed it at the back of his neck. With a straight face, Seth looks at him and speaks.

‘’My win.’’

Everyone in the rookies started muttering as it was a scene to remember. Not just the rookies, but even the knights were impressed including the supervisor.

The individual matches continued and Seth kept dominating them. This turned out to be a show as other knights came to watch and guards at the wall started peeking from the top at the training field. One of the knights didn’t like how Seth is getting attention and he faced him.

‘’You! Rookie! Don't get too cocky. Just because you have beaten up some trash, doesn’t mean you’re good.’’ The tall muscular knight spoke as he gets closer to where the individual matches are held.

‘’That’s Dan! Last year new rookie. I heard he is already a one-star knight.’’ some knights were talking to each other.

‘’I challenge you to a fight! If you win, I'll give you my star.’’

‘’Star?’’ Seth wondered.

‘’Stars are basically ranked on the knight system. The more stars you have, the higher your rank is.’’ The supervisor explained to him.

‘’Then, would you accept the challenge rookie?’’

‘’If the two are both willing to fight, I won’t stop you.’’ the supervisor said.

‘’I accept!’’ With a firm voice, Seth replied. And the excitement among the knights got higher.

‘’We will use real swords, rookie!’’ Dan said as he wields his sword and gets to the platform.

‘’I don’t mind.’’

The supervisor gives Seth a longsword and sets up the match. The news of this fight spread so fast that it reached Gil, the first division captain.

‘’I have to see this fight!’’ Gil said to his buddies who were around.

The two challengers got on the platform as knights turned it like a match in the coliseum. They even started betting on them. Gil arrived at the training field and sat in the tower room next to it to watch it from above.

‘’Alright, you two! I will be the referee of this match. No use of spells. You win by either taking down your opponent’s sword or he accepts defeat. Are we clear?’’ The supervisor said.

The two contenders nodded yes.

‘’Fight!’’ And the small crowd goes off.

Dan speed dashes at Seth, he swings his sword from above. Seth sees the attack coming and dodges it while getting out of his sword reach. Dan follows him and swings again but fails to connect as Seth dashes under his arm to the other side. This whole time Seth was thinking of what Jin told him about footwork as he was training for the last 7 days on it. Dan stopped as he seems frustrated.

‘’What are you doing? Fight me!’’ Dan shouts.

‘’Dude, you’re loud. Geez!’’ Seth said as he rubs his ear. Dan lose it.

‘’Sword Magic: Enhancement’’

A purple light covers Dan’s sword as he was holding it vertically.

‘’Stop! I said no spells.’’

‘’It’s okay, I can handle it.’’ The supervisor sees how Seth is focused and not even flinching off the sight.

‘’Get ready, I will finish you with this!’’

‘’Hurry up already!’’ Seth replied as he gets to his pose holding his sword with both his hands.

Dan screams while he speeds dash toward Seth with killing intent. Seth runs at him as well. The two were aiming for one swing to end it as they clash. With both of them on the opposite side, they were before they dashed, the crowd was wondering who won as the two stayed standing up.

‘’He won.’’ Gil smiles as his closed hand was resting on his cheek.

It was a moment before Seth’s right armor shoulder broke. Seth kneels and grabs his shoulder as he tries to hide the pain he is feeling.

‘’You...How...’’ Dan said as he was giving his back to Seth.

‘’I knew where you were aiming so I enforced my magic power to that point,’’ Seth replied as he looks back at him.

‘’I see... I underestimated you...rookie.’’ Dan said as his armor broke down and he falls to the ground. The crowd couldn’t believe it.

‘’H-How did you know Sir Gil?’’ one of the knights with him asked.

‘’The new guy knew he will get heavy damage no matter what. So, he puts all his magic power into his shoulder and not on his sword to minimize the damage. He was so sure that his swing will put him down. That’s what I call self-confidence at its finest!’’

‘’Now then, I have seen enough. Let’s continue our work.’’ Gil said as he stretches.

‘’The winner of this fight is Seth!’’ The supervisor said with a loud firm tone. The crowd starts shouting Seth’s name as they were all impressed.

‘’Yo Seth, right? That was an awesome fight! Congratulations!’’ A middle-aged man with short light brown hair said as he approaches him.

‘’Thanks,’’ Seth replied.

‘’My name is Connor. Mind if you join us tonight? We want to welcome the new rookie!’’ He said with an open smile.

‘’Tonight...Sure.’’

Meanwhile, at the guild, Jin has started his cleaning job.

‘’Alright, Jin! Your job is easy, you just clean the tables after the adventurers and clean the floor at the end of your shift.’’

‘’Sure!’’

The guild was filled with all rank adventurers, as they were drinking and enjoying their time. Especially a group of five who were loud. Jin starts cleaning the tables till he came across Edward and Emily sitting.

‘’What are you two doing?’’ Jin said.

‘’We just want to have breakfast here before we go for our first job,’’ Emily replied with a smile.

‘’We want you to join us so we will wait for you.’’

‘’Okay!’’ Jin replied with a smile.

Jin got to the table of the group who were loud laughing. Jin starts to clean the table. Their leader was hysterically laughing at a joke his buddy said and he spilled some of his beer on the ground.

‘’Um, Sir you spilled some on the ground. Could you be careful next time?’’ Jin asks nicely.

‘’Who the hell are you?’’ The leader said.

‘’I am the new cleaner for the next week,’’ Jin replies with a smile.

‘’Get out of my sight!’’ The man said as he pushed Jin. Edward saw what happened and stood up.

‘’Oi, don’t touch my friend.’’ Edward from the other side said loudly. The place got quiet as they started looking at those two.

‘’And if I don’t want to?’’ The man replied.

‘’I’ll come there and make you.’’

The man smirks and tries to push Jin again but Jin grabs him from his wrist.

‘’Sir, don’t touch me.’’ Jin glares at him. The man gets mad and stands up facing Jin. He's much taller and wider than him.

‘’What did you say? Repeat that to me again.’’ He said as his face comes closer to Jin’s.

Edward approaches the two and his group stands up as they are ready to battle.

‘’Stop! If you guys fight, you will be fired from being adventurers.’’ Anna said as she approaches them.

‘’Tch!’’

‘’Come to the forest outside of the capital, or you and your buddies will be done for.’’ The man whispers to Jin.

‘’Let’s go, boys! We have a job anyways.’’ He said as they leave the guild building.

Everything continued as regular. Jin finished his shift as Emily and Edward were waiting for him.

‘’Alright! Let's go to our first request. What is it, Emily?’’

‘’It’s a village in the west, they have troubles with wild boars in their nearby forest,’’ Emily replied.

‘’Before we go, can we head somewhere first?’’ Jin asked.

The group of adventurers earlier were waiting in the nearby forest. Jin arrives with Edward and Emily.

‘’Those guys... From earlier.’’ Edward said.

‘’Well, you came. I thought you’re going to run.’’

‘’I wasn’t. Now, what do you want?’’

‘’As your senior, I must teach you how to respect us.’’ The man said while smirking as he held his steel ax. His group held their weapons as well.

‘’So, we’re fighting them huh?’’ Edward said as he draws his sword.

‘’No, just me,’’ Jin said as he steps forward.

Edward was about to move forward when Emily grabs him by the shoulder.

‘’Don’t worry, Jin will be okay!’’

‘’How do you know? There are five of them.’’

‘’Do you think Jin gave her best at the test of the black wall? Seth told me she beat down tens of bandits herself.’’

‘’You’re coming alone? Do you think you can beat us all?’’

‘’Let me tell you that our boss, Bartra, is the apprentice of Ragnar ‘’The beast’’ himself.’’ one of his guys said arrogantly.

‘’I don’t care who is your mentor. Try to hurt my friends and I'll hurt you.’’ Jin glares at them. The wind starts to get windy as the group gets nervous.

‘’Attack!’’ Bartra shouted. The four of his group jump at Jin.

‘’Wind Style: Wind Fury.’’

Jin spins as he draws his katana and a whirlwind was created, sending the four away into the forest. Bartra was shocked and tried to attack. Jin didn’t move at all and kept glaring at him. Bartra then stopped mid-attacking him terrified of his dark eyes of Jin. Bartra stood there holding his ax while his legs were fidgeting.

After a silent moment, Jin turns away and says to Bartra ‘’I hope you learned your lesson and I hope you become a better person.’’

Jin came back to Emily and Edward who were proud of him.

‘’Should we go now?’’ Jin said as he smiles at them.

‘’Let’s go!’’

Jin, Emily, and Edward went for their first job as adventurers. Seth has become a knight. They have reached the capital, but the journey is not over. What future is waiting for them?