The towering walls of Xpler City came into view, their sheer presence casting long shadows across the road. From a distance, the stone ramparts looked unyielding, scarred by battles long past, yet still defiant against time. As we drew closer, the bustle of life around the gates grew louder—merchants shouting their wares, guards checking carriages, and travelers passing beneath the massive archway. Master's calm voice broke the rhythm of footsteps and wagon wheels. He gave no room for debate, only direction. "Straight to the guild." Krent and Kylon exchanged brief nods, their expressions set, and we followed him without question into the veins of the city.
The Adventurers' Guild was as lively as ever, a hive of voices and clattering mugs, the air thick with smoke, laughter, and the faint metallic scent of sharpened blades. The moment we stepped inside, the hum of activity seemed to press in from every side—mercenaries boasting of their kills, rookies squabbling over missions, veterans sitting back with mugs of ale as if they owned the hall. Amid the noise, Kylon stopped, his eyes scanning the room before settling on a small table near the wall. He spoke with his usual bluntness. "I'll wait here." Without waiting for approval, he moved away, folding his arms as he sat, content to watch. The rest of us—Master, Krent, Aur, and I—made our way to the reception counter.
Behind the desk sat Charil, the young receptionist, her head bowed over a stack of parchment. The shadows under her eyes betrayed long nights spent buried in reports, though her hand moved with steady practice. Master leaned slightly forward, his voice calm yet carrying the authority that could command attention even in this chaos. "The quest is complete." Charil jumped, startled, nearly spilling the documents across the desk. "Oh! It's you. Honestly, you scared me out of nowhere!" She pressed a hand against her chest, then exhaled in frustration. Master's eyes, however, had already shifted toward the parchment she had been working on. "That report looks serious. What's it about?"
Charil sighed, setting the papers aside as though even speaking of them added weight to her shoulders. "Ever since the demons began appearing, strange events keep piling up. Missions cut short, adventurers vanishing, reports of beasts behaving abnormally. It's chaos everywhere, and we're the ones stuck trying to sort it all." I stepped forward, laying down our completed report with a firm hand. "The quest is finished." She took the document, scanning every line with meticulous care. Then her gaze lifted, steady and expectant. "Where are the beasts?"
I gave a faint smirk. "In my storage mark. Where should I put them?" Her eyes flicked toward Master, narrowing with a mix of curiosity and annoyance. "So, it's true—you've got more of those storage marks. But when I asked, you refused to give me one." Master only shrugged, his tone deliberately nonchalant. "I can't hand those out. That's my own creation." My brows lifted in surprise, though I kept my expression carefully neutral. His creation? Just how many lies has he scattered around this guild already?
Charil's attention returned to me. "Anyway, little Ray, come with me." For a moment, I considered Aur, perched quietly on my shoulder. 'There will be blood everywhere in there', I thought, and 'she's still small.' 'Go with Master,' I told her through our bond. She hopped down gracefully, landing on Master's shoulder, her tail curling against his neck as she settled. 'Be quick', she murmured. 'It's just a short trip, not days away', I replied with a quiet chuckle, before following Charil down a narrow corridor.
At the end of the passage loomed a heavy iron door. Charil pushed it open, and the sight that greeted me made me pause. The chamber was vast, easily double the size of the hall above, the ceiling rising high into shadows supported by thick pillars. Golden lanterns spilled light across the stone floor, but the gleam reflected not off polished marble, but on the dark sheen of blood. The chamber was built for one purpose—the handling of corpses. Hooks hung from the pillars, suspending heavy carcasses that dripped steadily into drains below, their faint patter echoing in the stillness. Along the walls, heaps of beast parts were neatly arranged—claws, fangs, hides, bones—all categorized with unnerving precision.
Despite the gruesome sight, the air was sterile, absent of the rancid stench that should have clung to such a place. My gaze shifted toward Charil. "Why isn't there any smell here?" She gestured casually toward the walls. "This entire chamber was constructed with artifact material. It absorbs blood and rot. Otherwise no one could stand working here." 'Efficient', I thought, scanning the workers who moved with quiet precision, their knives flashing as they stripped hide from flesh and separated what was valuable from what was waste. Death had been turned into business, every motion sharpened by habit.
Charil stopped before a broad-shouldered man at a sorting station, his arms thick as tree trunks, his apron soaked with stains that spoke of long hours. His gaze landed on me, blunt curiosity flickering behind his eyes. "Give everything to him," Charil instructed. With a nod, I pressed my hand over my storage mark. Mana surged, and one after another, beast corpses spilled into a growing pile at our feet. The man's eyes widened at the sight, his voice low with surprise. "Who… are you?" "Ray Leon," I answered simply. Charil's voice followed swiftly, almost as though rehearsed. "Agious's apprentice." Understanding dawned, and the man grunted, already shifting his attention back to his work.
Charil's gaze returned to the corpses. "Where are the S-rank beasts?" "How did you know about them?" I asked, my eyes narrowing. She gave a faint smirk. "Rumors move faster than people." "Then you've also heard about the demons," I pressed. She nodded, her tone losing its edge. "And?" I exhaled slowly. "After we killed them, their bodies vanished. Along with the beasts tied to them." She pressed a hand to her temple. "Not again…" My frown deepened. "What do you mean?" But she shook her head. "We'll talk back at the reception."
When we returned upstairs, Master was waiting at the counter, Aur perched calmly on his shoulder. Charil's eyes flicked around. "Where's your other companion?" At the Master's call, Kylon rose from his table and joined us. Her expression, however, had grown taut. Master caught it instantly. "What happened? You look tense." Charil smirked faintly. "So, you do care about me." "As a friend," Master said evenly. "Of course." Kylon folded his arms, studying her. "What is it?"
Her playful air vanished. "Reports of adventurers disappearing have multiplied. And there's more—when demons die, nearby beasts vanish with them. Corpses, rewards, everything. Guilds across the kingdom are losing proof, losing resources. That's why your mission has been reclassified as S-rank. You'll need an official party." Master nodded without hesitation. "Kylon joins us and Krent too." Charil's eyes narrowed. "Then what's the name of your party?"
Master's gaze slid to me, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Tell her, brat." I blinked. "Me?" "Just say whatever comes to mind." Aur's voice brushed against my thoughts. 'What about Blasters? Or Beast Blasters?' Those sound ridiculous, so I shot back. 'Then Supreme Slayers', she said proudly. I groaned, but before I could argue further, the Master barked, "We don't have all day!" Exhaling, I finally said aloud, "Supreme Slayers." Charil raised a brow. "Already thinking about Supreme Beings, are you? After just one quest?" Master chuckled. "I like it."
Charil pulled parchment from beneath the counter. "Fine. But Krent—your rank rises to A-rank, with fifty thousand five hundred points. And Ray—thanks to glowing feedback from villagers—your rank is raised to B-rank, with eleven thousand points." Master leaned on the counter. "And the party's rank?" "A-rank," she confirmed. "But honestly, still not enough for this quest—" Her words halted as a voice heavier than iron cut through the hall. "I'll allow it. But only this once."
The Guildmaster strode forward, his presence commanding silence as conversations died around us. His boots struck the stone floor like a judge's gavel. "We lack high-ranking parties," he said, his gaze sharp as steel. "And right now, no one is more reliable than your group. I'll take responsibility." Master inclined his head in respect. "Thank you, sir." The Guildmaster's tone softened only slightly as he added, "Then we'll meet again after the quest, Agious." When he departed, whispers rippled across the guild, eyes lingering on us—our newly forged party marked by both curiosity and expectation.
Charil exhaled slowly, her voice quieter now. "Please… be careful out there." Master's lips curved faintly. "Worried about me?" She looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Only because… you're my friend." Aur's laughter echoed in my thoughts. 'She really does like him.' 'If she knew his real age, maybe not', I muttered dryly, and Master gave no sign of having noticed. We followed him toward a long wooden table at the far end of the hall, where the noise dulled just enough to speak. As we sat, his eyes sharpened, his tone turning serious once more. "Now," he said, folding his arms, "let's discuss the quest."