"Hey Conan, do you want to come with us? We're going to explore the Gwi-rim Forest!"
When I heard them calling me from behind, I found Hwa-rak. Once again, she was looking for me to go hunting with her group.
Hwa-rak was a woman of the minotaur race. Her great height, her horns pointing straight forward, and her four arms were a clear sign of her heritage. All this combined with her temper, which was easily provoked, leading to several senseless fights.
"I have to think about it. I haven't finished the tasks Miss Hyeol gave me yet. Besides, I don't want to get another scolding for running away again."
I replied, the burning pain still etched in my muscles. Hyeol's punishment was hell in every sense of the word, so I didn't want to experience it again.
"It's been a long time since then. Besides, isn't it good for you to gain experience from a young age?"
In response to his question, a slow but firm punch was planted in Hwa-rak's stomach, causing him to fall to his knees with a groan of pain.
"You guys, you bunch of jerks, you always end up causing trouble every time you take Conan with you."
"T-that won't happen again..."
Hwa-rak replied, clutching his stomach, kneeling on the floor.
What Hyeol said was true. I only went with his group a few times, and every time I did, we ended up with some kind of trouble.
"Hey, Conan, come to my office."
What does she want? I finished the tasks she gave me, so I don't think she'll give me any more, right? Hesitantly, I did as Hyeol ordered and waited for her in her office.
I guess you could say her office is what you'd expect from a guild leader. Several spears and parts of magical creatures were nailed to some of the walls. For example, that golden Wyrm head...
As I was lost in my thoughts, Miss Hyeol entered and sat down in front of me.
"Conan, it's been nine years since you've been here. Although you don't know what day you were born, according to what you said, you'll be turning 16 this year. It's the long-awaited coming of age!"
Ah, that's right... I guess it's time for that.
"For that reason, your friends from the sect will be coming in a few days. It's been a long time since you last saw them."
"Yes, although we send each other letters. We also have to plan where we're going."
Upon reaching adulthood, we are given the option to continue in the guild or sect, or to go explore the world, and then return or leave our organizations. I already planned to go exploring with Goon-woo, Adhel, and Cedric. I had asked Ghislaine, Anna, and the others, but after thinking about it a lot, they refused and decided to stay and devote themselves entirely to the sect.
"All right, that's all. Although you're not leaving yet, I hope nothing goes wrong."
"I feel the same way."
With a nod and a smile, I said goodbye to Hyeol and left his office. Hwa-rak and his group were already waiting for me.
<<<<>>>>
After five days, I could see a carriage with the Fallen Sun Sect's crest approaching the guild in the distance.
"It must be them. Let's go greet them,"
Hyeol said, and I followed her outside.
Just as she said, when it stopped in front of the guild, seven people came out. They were Anna, Ghislaine, Jumyeong, Oswin, Adhel, Cedric, and... Goon-woo?
The latter looked nothing like I remembered. The chubby boy with puffy cheeks was gone, replaced by someone taller than me and extremely muscular. Apart from him, everyone else looked just as I imagined them.
On the other hand, I noticed that the women, Anna and Adhel, were wearing a different type of uniform. The most striking thing was their black and purple color, as well as their straw hats. On the other hand, the others had the same uniform as before with the only addition of a yellow ribbon on their left arm and an orange one on their right.
"It's been a long time—"
Before I could finish speaking, Anna jumped towards me, giving me a big hug.
"Conan!"
I just accepted her hug and made sure she didn't fall.
"How have you been, Anna?"
I asked, setting her down on the ground. Now that I looked at her more closely, I could see that she had some marks on her eye and lip, apart from her height. I always thought Anna would stay small, but she had grown more than I expected. But she was still much smaller than me.
"Wow... You look calmer than when you were in the Sect. Did you have training dedicated to your attitude?"
"It was more like hell than training. I learned to be calmer."
"It's nice to see you like that."
Ghislaine spoke from ahead of us as she approached with the others.
"Hey, that long, wild hair suits you."
Adhel said, looking at my hair.
"Now that I see it better, why do you have red roots?"
Goon-woo asked, coming closer to look.
"Well, that's because—"
"Stop talking and come in already!"
Hearing Hyeol's order, we all stopped talking and entered.
For the rest of the day, we just caught up on what had happened over the years. I was mainly curious to know why Anna and Ghislaine had come to the guild, as they weren't supposed to come, so it was a big surprise.
But it turns out that they decided to spend a few years in the guild to gain experience in monster hunting, since it is difficult in the sect due to the dominance of other guilds in the territories and dungeons. Since Hyeol is a friend of Ophelia's, they both agreed to an exchange. One would gain experience as an adventurer and the other would gain experience in fighting humans.
<<>>
The next day, all of us were at the back of the guild, an area set up for quick meetings between members. Everyone wanted to see how much I had grown, so as soon as they arrived, we agreed to have these meetings.
"Let's see how much you've improved, Conan!"
"Same here, Anna."
The first to face me would be Anna. We had agreed to use our weapons, so I was very surprised to see that Anna was using a long, thin sword with a more prominent hilt. I think it was called a rapier; it's not common to see someone using that weapon around here.
"Come on, Conan, take out your weapon!"
With a chuckle, I did as Anna asked. My weapons were very different from hers. Mine were two short double-edged axes joined by chains, which gave me a wide range of attack.
"Wow, that's unexpected."
"Yes, although we already saw that Conan had a thing for axes, I didn't think he would use ones like that."
As I listened to the others talk, Anna lunged at me, thrusting directly at my chest. I easily deflected it with my weapon.
"You don't waste any time, huh?"
"The best thing is... the element of surprise!"
Unexpectedly, a ball of ice shot out from the tip of her sword. It wasn't difficult to dodge; I just moved to the side to let it pass in front of me. But Anna wasted no time and appeared in front of me, hitting me hard in the chest with her elbow, followed by a few lunges at my arms.
"Damn it!"
I had to take a long leap backward to get out of Anna's range, which also gave me a break from her pressure.
Now that I looked at her closely, part of Anna's hair had lost its characteristic red hue, replaced by an intense blue.
"Since when do you use magic?"
"It's not magic,"
she replied, waving her finger in denial, accompanied by a mocking tone.
I sighed at her mockery before spinning one of my axes and throwing it straight at her face. The weapon was easily dodged, but her movement left her open. In an instant, I appeared in front of her, holding the axe upside down, which allowed me to make a vertical upward cut. But I stopped as soon as my weapon was inches away.
"You lose."
Anna, who hadn't moved an inch from where she was, sighed and let her shoulders drop.
"That must be impossible, you didn't even make a sound!"
"Stop complaining, Anna, it's my turn!"
Without letting Anna leave the area, Goon-woo approached, ready to be next.