Chapter 4: chapter 4
As James listened to Aggath's response, a flicker of disappointment crossed his face, but he quickly masked it with a gentle smile. yet james knew that rein has a house now but did not know where to look. it was not long until james took a deep breath and sighed "in that case, i was on my way here not just to meet up with rein. I'm also here to become an adventurer so if you four be so kind to escort me to the adventurers guild if you please?" James asked the group. The request hung in the air, like a delicate thread woven between the hearts of the heroes' party and James. The sun's golden rays, filtered through the remnants of the city's devastation, cast long shadows that danced upon their faces. Aggath, his watchful gaze never wavering, seemed to weigh James' words with a careful deliberation.
Aggath's piercing gaze bore into James' soul, his eyes a reflection of his vigilant nature. The silence that hung in the air was pregnant with anticipation, each second ticking away like a slow, steady heartbeat. Aggath, a man of few words but great wisdom, contemplated the request presented before him. arios on the other hand was reluctant to escort James to the adventurer's guild but accepted it. soon they were on their way to the adventurers guild, but upon arriving they were almost surprised that the guild is still being repaired.
James stood there, his eyes wide with awe as he surveyed the scene before him. The heroic party, who he had just asked for their assistance, seemed equally stunned by the sight that lay before them. "Well, at least the guild is still standing," James murmured, trying to find a silver lining in the chaos that surrounded them. Arios, the leader of the hero's party, shook his head slightly and turned his gaze away from the destruction. "It appears our original mission has been overshadowed by the events that have unfolded," he mumbled, his voice tinged with disappointment. But James, his determination unwavering, refused to let arios out of his sights. Turning to face Arios, he pointed towards a table situated in the far corner of the guild. "Not so fast, Arios," he declared, his voice firm and commanding. "You will sit over there. Once I have registered myself at the guild, I will gather all the information I can about Rein's whereabouts, and together, we will find him. And when we do, there will be a serious conversation that needs to take place." His words hung in the air, a weighty anticipation settling upon the room. Leanne and Aggath, members of the party, exchanged bewildered glances, clearly taken off guard by James's sudden display of authority. Even Mina, whose usually calm demeanor remained unshaken in the face of danger, couldn't hide her astonishment at his bold declaration. Nevertheless, there was an unspoken understanding among them that this was a pivotal moment. The events that had led to the guild's current state demanded action. And James, in his unwavering belief in the power of unity, had taken it upon himself to take charge and make sure arios doesn't try anything since he knows what arios tried to do. With the pledge made, time seemed to stretch before them, filled with anticipation and a renewed sense of purpose. The hero's party, once shaken by the unforeseen turn of events, now stood united by a strangers whose goal remains a mystery to them.
but then the silence broke when a women walked into the guild, james turned his face and saw standing before them who he recognizes as Natalie brough "excuse me but is there a problem here?" she asked while trying to maintain her smile. James shook his head "we were just looking for the receptionist of this guild, you see i would like to be an adventurer." James explained to her. "oh i see well you are looking right at her, my name is Natalie brough and I'm the guild receptionist here. may i ask for your name please so we can get started?" natalie brough asked. James took a moment to think, but he can't use his past life name but could use it as a code-name for now he could use his current life name, but can hardly remember it until finally it came to him "my names kale phoebes, but i would prefer it if you call me james." james said as he introduced himself. natalie smiled at him "very well then since we now acquainted, lets get you signed up..." but before she could finish she notices the hero's party in the guild and she was in utter shock "the hero?" natalie said to herself feeling shocked "pay no mind to them, they're with me... for now." but before james could finish, natalie interrupted "i'm sorry but i'm afraid that they'll have to wait outside." natalie said waving her hand towards the door.
"it's out of the question ma'am... i vouch for them that they will not cause anymore trouble. but there is another reason why i came here... i heard rumors that there was adventurer here, a beast tamer named rein shroud. do you know where he is?" James asked. then out of nowhere a female knight walked in the guild "excuse me but i heard there was some commotion going on... is there a problem?" the knight asked, but as james turned his head and stared at the knight who was standing before the group. its was then james immediately recognized her from his past life, she was another character from 'Yuusha Party o Tsuihou Sareta Beast Tamer' it was Stella Enplace the new captain of the order of knights, james was surprised to see her in person but at first glance he felt like he was struck by lightning, it was like love at first sight.
as james kept staring at stella his heart began to race faster than ever before, feeling nervousness and excitement. james was in awe at how gorgeous she looked, but seeing her in person felt even more surreal. she was wearing a blue crest hairpiece that goes from her left side of her head to the right, she wears a white blouse with a Black sleeveless leather shirt with a Blue Collar, she wears a blue cape with a silver shoulder armor on her right side, covering her shoulder and the cloak extends to her elbow and has a silver strap holding it in place, She wears two silver arm plates on both of her lower arms and a piece of Silver waist armor, She wears Black skin tight pants held up by a brown belt with a gold clasp, she wears two silver armored boots to finish off her outfit, she is right handed so he keeps her sword sheathed on her left hip. james just shook his head "um hello... ma'am uh there isn't any problem here at the moment... im just here to sign up as an adventurer and came here for information regarding rein shroud. he and i were old friends since childhood." james explained.
"Oh, I see," Natalie replied, seeming to reconsider her original stance. "Very well, I suppose the four of you can stay. Let's start the registration process, shall we?" Natalie guided James to a nearby desk, and as she seated him, the tension between the hero's party and the newcomer grew palpable. as james was seated natalie spoke "now then lets start from the beginning shall we? today adventurers like monsters are..." before natalie could explain james interrupted her "assigned to ranks which are rank: F, E, D, C, B, A, and S rank is the top tier of the ranks." james said as natalie stood there in shock. nobody had ever interrupted her or know what she was about to say "sorry for interrupting so please go on." james said as natalie continued to explain everything to james. Arios's gaze lingered on James, a storm brewing behind his icy blue eyes. Meanwhile, Leanne discreetly cast a spell, subtly surveying the area around them. Her curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar presence within James as if there was another soul was dwelling within him. but she dismisses it as some kind of magical aura surrounding him, until finally natalie spoke "that's everything. now lets move on to your adventurer's trial, first i need to know your class?" natalie asked. "i'm a beast tamer and hobbyist. i was practicing swordsman ship. but i know about why a trial is needed in order to be registered as an adventurer, cause having a bunch of unqualified adventurers would undermine public trusts in the guild." james replied, again natalie was impressed "that's right, you must be the second person to answer correctly. but if we loose that trust? the government gets involved." natalie explained "well to be honest i don't trust politics or governments, cause they could fall to corruption in my opinion." james said openly. natalie stood there silently while stella enplace watched as she observed this new adventurer, she never thought that this person did not like politics. natalie then continued "to complete the trial, you need to slay 10 goblins and collect 20 medicinal herbs. as an adventurer you'll be expected to take on a variety of hunting and collecting jobs. this trial is the bare minimum required to prove yourself and your abilities to the guild." natalie finished explaining. james then nodded his head and understanding what he can "sure thing, but in the meantime... i need to know where i can find rein..." james asked
"I understand," Natalie replied, hesitating before offering a solution. "There's an abandoned cave a couple of miles east of the city. It's rumored to be infested with goblins and various herbs. We've received reports about it, but our resources are stretched thin. If you manage to clear the cave, we might be able to assign you a higher ranked quest later on." natalie said The idea excited James, knowing that he could help establish a safer environment for the citizens of Horizon. while simultaneously tracking down his friend. natalie continued "as for rein shroud, he recently bought a mansion somewhere in horizon, i was told by him that he recently defeated the ghost that haunted that house and made it into his ally." natalie explained as the group gasped in shock, even james was surprised yet the memories of his current life came to him as he remembered there were phantom tamers in the beast tamer village where he and rein lived in. "a ghost? oh yeah i remember that there was phantom tamers in the village where i came from." james explained as natalie stood there in shock "so that's how he managed to make the ghost into his ally, your village must have different kinds of tamers." natalie said intrigued by what james said to her.
but now was not the time to chat now, james had a trial to do and he needs to act quickly if he were to find rein. He gave the proposal about the cave a moment's thought before agreeing enthusiastically. "okay i'm off to do my trial and also make sure arios and the hero's party don't leave this guild i still need to keep an eye on them." james said as he walked towards the entrance, but walks by stella and stares at her "um and ma'am may i ask for your name please? it is quite a rare sight to see a knight like you." james asked as he held his hand out to her "my name is captain stella enplace and it is my privilege to meet a friend of the kindest and honorable adventurer i've met." stella said as she shook james hand, however he was lost in thought but then immediately stopped shaking stella's hand and returned to his task. so james went and did what he was supposed to do for his trial, it took him about 3 hours but he managed to kill 35 goblins and gathered 50 of the herbs he needed to pass the trial. after finishing it he was given his official adventurers license. "congrats james i guess it wouldn't hurt to move you up to E rank adventurer." natalie said gratefully and the hero's party was surprised and was still sitting at the table waiting for james to finish his trial .
but he didn't notice the hero's party looking at him and the party was still curious about james. meanwhile james was excited and wanted to test his skills further. he thought about heading back to the cave to continue battling against the goblins. but now was not the time, he needed to find rein "now do you have a map that we can use to find where rein lives" james asked as natalie nodded her head "of course here is a map for your troubles. i hope you get to see him again." natalie said as james turned his face towards the hero's party "okay now lets get going, i have an old friend to reunite with so you are coming with me." james said as he glared at arios. He believed that every fight would improve his skills and help him grow stronger. arios shuttered as james stared at him "very well then... the hero's party will join you to see your friend." arios said reluctantly while trying to maintain his anger.
As james exited the guild, he paused for a moment to catch his breath. the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the soil of the streets.