Volume 1 Chapter 22 Finally Obtained A Little Change
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After crossing the cliff path from the destroyed windmill──.
Kian and Robert headed straight for the East End after returning to the town.
Luckily, they managed to get back to the west side of town without running into any wild dogs or anything.
It took them about 5 hours.
Along the way, they made a makeshift sled using sturdy vines and the ragged armor Kian was wearing, loading it up with the griffin’s head, a bag of old coins, and Robert’s axe.
Even though they got creative with their transport, by the time they got back near the town, Kian and Robert were drenched in sweat.
”Ouch… Looks like my wound’s opened up again.”
Robert said, leaning against a low pine tree, panting.
Kian carefully observed the big guy.
Thanks to Aliona’s hemostatic ointment, it seemed like the blood wasn’t soaking through as much as he thought.
”When we get to the village, I’ll take you to the guild’s healing clinic. Just hang in there a little longer.”
”Yeah… damn it. I can’t believe we didn’t run into a single lumberjack or adventurer on the way here.”
”There was a griffin around. The guild and the guards probably blocked off the roads nearby. ──Look.”
Kian lent Robert a shoulder as he looked up at the purple sky.
”Let’s go.”
”Yeah, sorry… They call you ‘Garbage Scavenger,’ but with your heart for helping others and your skills in fighting monsters, you’re a pretty good adventurer. Way better than those idiots around here. Seriously, how’s a guy like you only a Rank 9 adventurer?”
”Probably ’cause I was useless until 3 days ago.”
”Hah, that’s ridiculous. I’m starting to lose faith in the guild’s evaluations.”
The town road straightened out, and they could see the lights of the west gate of the East End.
There seemed to be more guards than usual around the two bonfires.
They were probably there to deal with any griffins that showed up right away.
Kian called out to the guards in a loud voice.
Robert was yelling in a deep voice, and the guards hanging around the bonfire came running over.
”What’s up!? It’s Mr. Robert!”
”I heard you got attacked by a griffin! You’re alive!?”
The guards surrounded Robert, looking surprised as they pressed in on him.
Robert nodded.
”Yeah, that damn griffin kidnapped me. I thought I was done for, but I got saved before I became its meal.”
”By who? …And why’s a ‘garbage scavenger’ here?”
”I got help from him.”
Robert said this seriously while looking at Kian.
The guards were momentarily stunned, then opened their mouths to laugh, but they couldn’t close them when they noticed the griffin’s head resting on the sled Kian was pulling.
”It’s a griffin!”
”Whoa, no way! That’s a griffin’s head!”
”Griffin… you mean you killed it, Mr. Robert?”
”No, it wasn’t me. Look at my wounds. It grabbed my back and left me with deep cuts that made it hard to walk. I was in no shape to fight. Kian here took down the griffin.”
”Huh? No way. But he’s a ‘garbage scavenger’…”
”Have you ever seen Kian fight for real?”
”No, he’s always doing trash cleanup or gathering quests, that’s why he’s called a ‘garbage scavenger’.”
”I’ve seen it!”
Robert straightened up from Kian’s shoulder and spread his arms wide.
”This amazing adventurer fought the griffin one-on-one and won. He was brave, quick, and smart. He dodged the griffin’s aerial attacks with minimal movement, lured it to the windmill, collapsed the roof, and smashed that bastard’s wings! It was brilliant. He swung my axe at it twice, jumped on its back… and bam! Took its head clean off!”
He animatedly reenacted the story with gestures.
Robert’s serious demeanor and the detailed explanation of the situation he had witnessed (or rather, the fact that he had seen it all up close) left the guards frozen in silence, their expressions blank.
Everyone was glancing at Kian, wondering if a ‘garbage scavenger’ really took down a griffin all by himself.
Kian patted Robert on the shoulder.
”Mr. Robert. I appreciate you going on about this, but we gotta get you to the guild’s healing clinic fast, or things could get serious. You’re in bad shape.”
”Oh, right. Sorry.”
”Y-yeah!”
”Got it!”
Kian shifted his gaze to a nearby guard.
”And you. Go to ‘The Boar’s Trot Inn’ and let Mr. Robert’s daughter and the staff know he’s back. Tell them he’s at the healing clinic and to bring some clothes and toiletries.”
”Y-yeah, got it.”
”Thanks.”
”Yeah.”
”Hey, here comes the stretcher! They brought it!”
Two guards came out from a nearby post carrying a stretcher.
Kian stepped back from under Robert as the injured giant was placed onto it, looking at Kian.
”Hey, Kian, what are you gonna do?”
”It’s a bit tight on time, but I plan to swing by the guild. I gotta report that we took down the griffin.”
”I see. You really saved my skin today. I’ll definitely give you the highest rating for the quest, an S. You’re a lifesaver. When things settle down, come by ‘The Boar’s Trot Inn’ for a meal. I’ll thank you properly then. Thanks!”
Kian nodded and picked up a bag of coins and the griffin’s head from the sled.
The ragged armor that had protected him for so long was now a sorry sight, crushed under the sled.
It was no longer needed for its function, but a sadness lingered as if he had lost a comrade.
”Guard. This is Mr. Robert’s axe. Please deliver it with him.”
”Got it. …Hey, did you really take down that griffin all by yourself?”
”Yeah, it was a piece of cake for me.”
”But you’re a Rank 9 adventurer, right?”
The guard raises an eyebrow while accepting the axe.
”My true power can’t be measured by the guild’s assessment.”
”Uh, huh…”
”Taking it down solo is impressive. If it’s true, that’s seriously amazing.”
”Sounds fishy to me.”
”Oh, if you’re thinking of heading to the guild’s office, you might wanna skip it. It’s already closed. But I heard some important folks and the griffin hunting party are gathering at the healing clinic, so you should head there.”
Kian furrows his brow at the guard’s advice.
”Why are the important folks and the griffin hunting party at the healing clinic?”
”They’re talking to the ‘Falcon Brigade’ about their recovery and planning their next move.”
”Oh, I see.”
Kian nods while tying a pouch of coins to his waist.
The guard chuckles, his mustache twitching.
”Looks like you won’t need to worry about that anymore, huh?”
”Thanks for the info. I’ll head straight to the healing clinic then.”
”Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
Kian thanks the guard once more and heads towards the central area of East End with Robert’s stretcher.
* * *
Entering the healing clinic behind the guild, Kian finds several high-ranking adventurer parties and guild staff gathered in the large hall.
In the back, he spots the 4 members of the ‘Falcon Brigade’ and Sophia, the receptionist in charge of Kian.
Funnelwing, wrapped in bandages and seated in a chair, frowns as he watches the guards carrying the stretcher, confused about what happened, alongside Rosen Pitt, Franciska, and Serena.
Sophia looks shocked at the sight of the stretcher but quickly notices Kian and tightens her lips, turning her gaze away as if to shy away from guilt.
”Mr. Robert!?”
The loud voice belongs to Irina, the head receptionist, who seems to be in her forties.
She appears to dislike Kian, as they’ve hardly spoken properly in the last ten years.
In fact, he’s only ever seen her scowling.
She was now running over to Robert’s stretcher with tears of joy on her face.
”Robert! Oh, Robert, you’re okay!”
”Heh, hey, Irina. Looks like I still got some bad luck left.”
”I was worried sick! …Seriously, you’ve always been reckless.”
”What’s going on here? Guard?”
A bald man with boots clacking walked into the candlelight.
He was an older guy with a white mustache.
His strong build suggested he used to be a warrior, but his face looked gaunt and ghostly, probably from stress.
He was Friedrich, the head of the adventurer’s guild in this East End.
The guard, confused, stared at Kian.
Friedrich followed the guard’s gaze, squinting at Kian.
”What’s wrong with him?”
The feelings directed at Kian weren’t exactly warm.
That’s because Friedrich was one of the few people in this town who knew Kian’s past.
Fourteen years ago, Kian Vahid, the eldest son of Umar Vahid from Azrael’s Twelve Divine Generals, was famously exiled from this town.
Of course, the news had reached the western country of Franz Kingdom, and when Kian registered as an adventurer in East End, he was made to wait with a “please hold on a moment” at the reception.
That receptionist was Irina.
The adventurer personnel manager who actually dealt with Kian was Friedrich himself.
Accepting the son of an exiled high-ranking official into the guild was like inviting trouble.
For instance, what if Kian’s brother, Jibril Vahid, who was against him, tried to contact Kian to bring down the Vahid family?
Or what if Kian, holding a grudge against his homeland, started gathering allies in the guild to launch guerrilla attacks on Azrael?
The guild couldn’t just say they had nothing to do with it.
To the adventurer’s guild, Kian was like a ticking time bomb just by being there.
It would be way better to get rid of him at the guild’s entrance.
However, back then, the guild leader and the previous Margrave Izerland had Kian go through several interviews and tests of his sword skills, and based on those results, they allowed Kian to register as an adventurer.
They pushed aside Friedrich and the others who opposed him until the end.
It’s unclear what the guild leader and the Margrave Izerland were thinking when they gave Kian a place.
Maybe they genuinely believed that the guild’s doors should be open to everyone, or perhaps they felt deep sympathy for poor Kian.
Or maybe they thought he was just a useless guy who wouldn’t be a threat and figured they could use him if needed.
Anyway, the previous guild leader had allowed Kian to stay in the guild, but with the new generation, Friedrich, who took over, felt differently.
He probably still thinks of Kian as a nuisance.
Of course, he wouldn’t say that out loud due to his position.
”Well, it seems that he──Rank 9 adventurer Kian──defeated a griffin all by himself and rescued Mr. Robert.”
The moment the guard said that, the atmosphere in the healing room changed dramatically.
Silence. Total silence. You know, that kind where you can hear a pin drop.
Everyone looked at each other in disbelief, as if they couldn’t believe their ears.
”…What did you say?”
After a moment, Friedrich asked that, as if representing everyone present.
He shifted his gaze to Kian, looking him over from head to toe.
Then his eyes widened when he saw the griffin’s head hanging from Kian’s side.
”…….Guard, first take Pigfoot to the healer.”
”Yes.”
”Heh, sorry about that, Friedrich. I kinda messed up. But thanks to Kian, I’m saved. He’s my lifesaver… Don’t go easy on him, alright?”
”Pigfoot, don’t talk too much. It’ll affect your wounds.”
After the brief exchange between Robert and Friedrich, the guards took Robert’s stretcher and disappeared into the back.
In the hall remained Kian, the guild staff, the ‘Falcon Brigade’, and senior adventurers who were curiously watching Kian.
”Did you really defeat a griffin all by yourself?”
Friedrich walked up to Kian, his sunken eyes shining brightly.
Kian nodded.
”Yeah, this head is the best proof. You don’t believe me?”
”──”
Friedrich shook his head.
He knew the situation──he was aware that Kian had learned the powerful killing sword technique, Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship, in the past.
The bald guild leader had a blank expression, but there was a strange light in his sunken eyes.
Just as he was about to slowly open his mouth again, a sharp voice rang out from the back.
”Impossible! A ‘garbage scavenger’ took down a griffin solo? Ha, save the nonsense for when you’re asleep!”
It was Funnelwing.
He was blushing bright red, supported by Franciska, and facing Kian.
”We couldn’t even do it! I… I got hit hard by the griffin too! And yet you… you, the pathetic weakling! Took down a griffin almost unscathed!?”
”That’s unfair! You didn’t kill the griffin!”
Rosen Pitt shouted, spitting as he spoke.
Kian placed his hands on his hips.
”If it wasn’t me, then who the hell took down the griffin?”
”Well… someone did!”
”Are you saying that someone gave me the glory of taking down the griffin?”
”────.”
”What about Mr. Robert’s testimony? Are you saying he’s lying?”
At Kian’s words, the guild leader shot a sharp look at the ‘Falcon Brigade.’ Friedrich seemed somehow angry.
Funnelwing swallowed his words, but Rosen continued, stomping his feet.
”Yeah, that bear guy lied! After the hunt, he handed the head to you, the adventurer! It has to be that way! Damn it! What did he get in return for handing it over? How much did you pay that bear guy for the griffin’s head!?”
”Hey, hey. Calm down.”
”Damn it, damn it! You… you, the overwhelming weakling──.”
”Shut up already.”
”Huh?”
At Friedrich’s words, Rosen froze.
It seemed like he finally realized that the guild leader was glaring at him head-on.
”Robert Pigfoot is a respected adventurer who has made significant contributions to the East End. I won’t allow anyone to speak ill of him.”
”…!”
”You’re a priest from the ‘Falcon Brigade,’ right? What’s your name?”
”…Huh?”
”Your name.”
Friedrich repeated it with irritation.
Rosen was making a face like he was trying to flatter, but his expression froze up.
”It’s Rosen Pitt.”
”I see. Rosen Pitt. Irina, remember his name, okay?”
”Yes.”
”Rosen and the ‘Falcon Brigade.’ I look forward to your evaluations from now on.”
”Ah… Huh?”
Rosen Pitt looked at Funnelwing with a confused expression.
”Tch, this stupid priest.”
”Senior Rosen…”
”You, Rosen Pitt. Get out of here. Don’t ever show that pathetic face of yours to me again.”
”…”
The delinquent priest shuddered and slipped past Kian, rushing out of the healing clinic.
’What a fool.’
(He’s been keeping his pride by looking down on me for a long time. Telling himself he’s better than me, who can only heal little by little in the rearguard. He probably couldn’t control his emotions and snapped.)
’Well, he’s just a kid with a lot to learn. Can’t blame him too much.’
”Pigfoot is an honest man. He doesn’t lie about others’ achievements, nor does he lack pride by selling his battle merits to others.”
After saying that, Friedrich turned his body back toward Kian.
His eyes traced up Kian’s ‘Nightshade Gear’ from his feet to his glasses.
His sunken eyes flickered strangely.
”But I’m really surprised. You’ve overcome your natural handicap, haven’t you?”
”Handicaps can become strengths. If you work hard for over ten years, you’ll be able to do something better than average.”
”…I see.”
Friedrich murmured that as if he was unsure.
Kian suddenly glanced at Sophia.
She still wasn’t trying to meet his gaze.
”Looks like you had a major misunderstanding with Baron Schwarzer’s daughter, Sophia. I gotta talk about that now.”
Friedrich said quietly next to Kian.
”Oh, you mean the adventurer’s handbook, right? Now that you mention it, ‘Falcon Brigade’ was competing with me on 5 quests.”
When Kian said that, Sophia shot him a sharp look and raised her head.
She had the eyes of a fighter.
It seemed like she had something to say.
But before she could speak, Friedrich continued.
”Sophia, you went and discarded Kian’s adventurer’s handbook without permission, and on top of that, you made false entries. This is an illegal act that goes beyond what a receptionist is allowed to do, and it seriously undermines Kian’s rights as an adventurer. This is absolutely unacceptable.”
”Wait…?”
Sophia, who had been holding Kian’s adventurer’s handbook carefully, dropped it when she heard Friedrich’s words.
”Wha-what did you just say, Guild Master?”
”Sophia, you don’t need to come to work starting tomorrow. That’s what I said.”
”Wait…? But, but, you said you’d help. …You were gonna mediate so that Mr. Kian and I could at least settle this with both sides sharing the pain.”
”It’s hard to deal with something I don’t remember. Right, Irina?”
”Uh, y-yeah, Guild Master. That’s right.”
”No way! Why!?”
Sophia’s face turned tearful as she kept repeating, “Why, why?” Friedrich just looked at her coldly.
”I need to send a letter to Baron Schwarzer later. I have to report exactly what his third daughter did, without hiding anything, and wait for his response regarding our judgment. Your father will probably call you back to your country.”
”This is not what we agreed on, Friedrich! If I go back, my dad will force me into a marriage! I’ve worked so hard to gain my freedom!”
”I don’t care. We don’t need rotten people who tamper with documents at the East End branch.”
”Then! What about Ms. Irina?”
”What about me?”
Sophia was hit with an icy glare from her boss, Irina, and froze up with a “Ugh”.
”Me? Do you have any proof of wrongdoing?”
”Uh… um…”
Friedrich let out a sigh.
”Sophia, if you weren’t the daughter of the Baron Schwarzer, this wouldn’t just end here. You should be grateful for the luck of being born into nobility.”
”Did you receive something from my father…?”
Sophia’s tone sounded more like she was desperately seeking the truth rather than being angry.
Friedrich turned his back to her without answering.
”Your father wants you to marry into a good family and carry on the bloodline of the Baron Schwarzer. A woman should bear children and protect the home.”
”That’s such an outdated idea that I’d get laughed at if I said it at the academy in the capital! I… I don’t want to go back to my father…!”
Sophia collapsed to the ground and started crying.
The senior adventurers around them, who had been quietly observing, began to stir.
”Kian. You did a great job taking down the griffin. If possible, I’d like to know how a nameless Rank 9 adventurer managed to defeat a Rank 4 monster in a party.”
”Sorry, I’m a bit tired.”
”Yeah, I guess we should wrap this up for now. How’s your body? If you’re injured, the guild’s healer can take care of it.”
”No, I’m fine.”
”As for the competing request, it will be processed as you took it first. Please come to the guild’s front desk tomorrow morning to ask the new person in charge for details.”
”Understood. I appreciate the guild master’s fair judgment.”
”I’ve only judged based on the materials I received from the investigation department.”
’Though it seems like personal circumstances were hidden in that judgment.’
The glasses muttered that quietly.
Kian didn’t change his expression at all.
(No matter what judgment the guild makes, I’ll just keep piling up achievements and aim to be the strongest and the best.)
’Now that you’ve hunted the griffin, you might be able to get a position at that Margrave’s fortress.’
(If I’m gonna betray the guild, I should really show off how capable I am first. Get needed, have people regret losing me, and then quit like it’s a hassle. Sounds like the ultimate thrill.)
’You’ve got the worst personality, huh?’
He chuckled softly in response to the glasses who sounded exasperated.
Suddenly, he noticed the light blue eyes staring at him intently next to Sophia.
It was Serena.
”…?”
”────!? …”
When he locked eyes with her, she flinched, her shoulders jumping, and then she quickly looked away like she couldn’t handle the brightness.
She was gripping her own arm tightly.
Biting her delicate, thin lips, she frowned as if embarrassed about something.
Her ears drooped weakly, and her tail swayed listlessly between her legs.
She seemed to be in quite a shock.
(Well, that’s not my problem)
”Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
”Ah. …Thanks for helping Pigfoot.”
Kian smiled at Friedrich and gracefully turned on his heel, his leather coat swirling around him.
The high-level adventurers surrounding them parted like waves.
(Alright, the griffin hunt is just the beginning. My legend starts here)
As he dashed past the high-rank adventurers, he thought about his next move.
In the end, he concluded that whatever he did, he first needed to refuel and recharge his magic power.
Kian pictured the elegant beauty of the blonde high elf in his mind.
He licked his lips.
(I need to go pay Ms. Aliona for the medicine I bought yesterday.)
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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