Chapter 8: The Adventurer’s GuildPart 1: First ImpressionsArata walked through the vilge, taking in his surroundings. The streets were lively, with merchants calling out to sell fresh produce, bcksmiths hammering away at weapons, and townsfolk chatting as they went about their day.

  He followed the guard’s directions and soon found himself in front of a rge wooden building with a sign above the entrance:

  [Newbrook Adventurer’s Guild]

  The pce was bustling. Through the open doorway, Arata could hear the chatter of adventurers, the clinking of mugs, and the sound of parchment being shuffled.

  Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.

  The guild hall was spacious, with a long counter at the front where receptionists handled requests. A giant quest board stood against the wall, covered in sheets of parchment. To the side, a group of armored men ughed over drinks, while a hooded figure sat alone in a corner.

  Arata took it all in, feeling both excited and nervous.

  “First time here?”

  A voice made him turn.

  A young woman stood behind the counter, smiling warmly. She had short auburn hair, bright green eyes, and wore a simple white blouse with a brown vest.

  “Uh… yeah,” Arata admitted, walking up to her. “I was told this is the pce to go if I’m looking for work.”

  She nodded. “That’s right! My name’s Elise, one of the guild receptionists. If you’re looking to register as an adventurer, I can help you with that.”

  Arata hesitated. “What exactly does being an adventurer involve?”

  Elise chuckled. “Basically, you take on quests, hunt monsters, gather resources, and handle all sorts of tasks for the vilge. In return, you get paid. Of course, the tougher the quest, the better the reward.”

  Arata’s eyes drifted to the quest board. Most of the requests were simple—gather herbs, escort merchants, clear out weak monsters—but some had skull symbols, marking them as dangerous.

  This could be his best chance to grow stronger.

  “I’d like to register,” he said.

  Elise smiled. “Great! I’ll need your name and a brief test to assess your abilities.”

  Arata tensed. “A test?”

  She nodded. “Don’t worry, it’s just a basic combat assessment to make sure you can handle yourself. We can do it out back in the training yard.”

  Arata took a deep breath and nodded. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

  Part 2: The Combat AssessmentElise led him to the back of the guild, where a wide training yard was set up with dummies, sparring circles, and wooden weapons. A few adventurers were practicing, but one man stood out.

  He was tall, muscur, and wore steel armor over a leather tunic. His graying beard and scar across his cheek gave him a veteran’s look. He was currently watching a young adventurer swing a sword.

  Elise waved. “Captain Vance! We’ve got a new recruit for testing!”

  The man turned, his sharp eyes nding on Arata. “Hmph. Another rookie?”

  Arata tensed as Vance walked over, sizing him up.

  “What’s your experience with combat?” the veteran asked.

  Arata hesitated. “…Not much. I just fought some monsters on my way here.”

  Vance raised an eyebrow. “And you survived? That’s something.”

  He crossed his arms. “Alright. Grab a training sword. Show me what you’ve got.”

  Arata picked up a wooden practice sword from a rack. It felt lighter than the goblin’s bde but still sturdy.

  Vance stepped into the sparring circle. “Come at me.”

  Arata took a deep breath and tightened his grip. This was it—his first real test.

  He charged forward.

  Part 3: Strength is EarnedArata swung the wooden sword at Vance’s side, but the veteran easily sidestepped.

  “Too slow,” Vance muttered.

  Before Arata could react, Vance tapped him on the shoulder with his own sword—lightly, but firm enough to show that he would’ve lost in a real fight.

  Arata gritted his teeth and attacked again.

  This time, he faked a downward strike before quickly changing direction, aiming for Vance’s ribs.

  THWACK!

  Vance parried with ease and struck Arata’s wrist, making him wince.

  “You’re thinking, which is good,” Vance said, “but your form is rough. Your swings waste too much movement.”

  Arata adjusted his stance, remembering the fights he had in the forest. He wasn’t going to win this spar, but he could at least show some improvement.

  He focused, waited for Vance to make a move—then dodged and swung toward his legs.

  THUMP!

  His sword connected, barely grazing Vance’s shin.

  The veteran chuckled. “Not bad. You learn fast.”

  He suddenly stepped forward, closing the distance before Arata could react.

  BAM!

  Vance lightly knocked the sword out of Arata’s hands. “But you’re still too slow.”

  Arata exhaled, frustrated but not discouraged.

  Vance nodded in approval. “You’ve got potential. With proper training, you might survive out there.”

  He turned to Elise. “He passes. Give him his registration.”

  Arata blinked. “…Wait, really?”

  Vance smirked. “Kid, you’ve already killed monsters to get here. You’ve got the guts to fight. All you need now is skill.”

  Arata couldn’t help but grin. He was officially an adventurer now.

  Elise handed him a small wooden card with his name engraved on it. “Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild, Arata. Let’s see what you’re capable of.”

  Arata clenched the card in his fist, excitement surging through him.

  This was just the beginning.