Eridale was alive with noise. Shouts from vendors echoed through the streets, carriages clattered across cobblestone, and somewhere in the distance, an explosion boomed followed by laughter.
"Normal city sounds," I muttered.
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "That didn't sound very normal."
Bran grunted. "Get used to it. Eridale thrives on chaos."
---
We made our way to the Adventurer's Guild, a towering building etched with glowing runes. Its heavy doors swung open to reveal a bustling hall filled with mercenaries, mages, beastkin, and the occasional eccentric noble.
A signboard glowed with quests: monster subjugations, missing persons, and even a "Slime Infestation Cleanup."
I pointed. "Hey, look. Entry-level jobs."
Elira gave me a flat look. "Please don't sign up for the slime one."
"Why not?"
"Because knowing you, you'll either tame them or blow up the city."
[Observation: Probability of either outcome: 87%.]
"Shut up, system," I muttered.
---
At the front desk, a cheerful guild receptionist beamed. "Welcome, Protector of River Fen! We've been expecting you!"
I blinked. "…You've what now?"
Before I could recover, a voice cut through the guild hall.
"So this is the famous Protector? Hmph. Doesn't look like much."
A tall young man stepped forward, draped in elegant robes with a shimmering aura. His hair gleamed silver, and his sharp eyes practically oozed superiority.
The room hushed.
"That's Kael," someone whispered. "The prodigy mage. Top-ranked adventurer under twenty."
Kael smirked. "I've heard of your… exploits, Yuto. River Fen, wasn't it? But here in Eridale, strength isn't measured by rumors. Care to prove yourself?"
The guild hall erupted in murmurs.
I groaned. "Really? Already?"
Elira smirked. "Better get used to it, Protector. Fame comes with challengers."
Lyra leaned closer, whispering, "Careful. He's not ordinary."
---
Kael raised his staff, a thin veil of fire sparking around it. "One duel. Right here, right now."
I glanced around the crowded hall. "…Maybe outside?"
"No need," Kael said smugly, gesturing to a magically reinforced dueling arena at the hall's center. "This guild was built for contests like this."
The crowd roared. Bets were placed instantly.
The merchant clung to my arm. "Protector! Think of the profits if you win! I can already smell the coin!"
I sighed. "Of course you can."
---
I stepped into the arena, cracking my knuckles. Kael twirled his staff with practiced arrogance.
"Don't take it personally," he said. "I just need to prove that genius trumps luck."
I smirked. "Good. I needed a warm-up anyway."
[Observation: Confidence still excessive.]
The arena's shield shimmered to life. Kael raised his staff, flames whirling like a storm while I crouched low, my muscles humming with mana.
This wasn't just about a fight. This was about showing Eridale that the Protector of River Fen wasn't a rumor. he was real.
And maybe wiping the smirk off this guy's face.
---