~A few days later, Inside the Crimson Raid guild hall~
The guild hall buzzed with a faint hum of chatter, the air thick with the scent of polished wood and ale. Torches flickered on the stone walls, casting shadows across the long table where Julius sat, his arms folded on his ornate guild master’s chair, its wood creaking under his weight. He leaned forward, amber eyes narrowing as he addressed his main party members—Byron, the hulking tank; Victoria, the sharp-tongued cleric; and Miriam, the mage with a knack for strategy. The mood was tense, their usual bravado faltering at Byron’s news.
“Byron, I don’t think I heard you well. Might you repeat that one more time?” Julius said, his voice low, a faint edge of disbelief cutting through.
Byron shifted, his armor clanking softly.
“I’m telling you, it’s true. The Quest to subjugate the basilisk that was getting too close to the city was canceled. Someone killed it already.”
“Hou? That’s quite troublesome,” Miriam said, her fingers tapping the table, her brow furrowed. “We originally planned for our guild to take care of it to boost our fame further. Victoria, the Church supervises these quests, does it not? What other party could have snatched our prey?”
“How the hell should I know?” Victoria snapped, tossing her hair. “I don’t get along that well with the old geezers running the show. So I’m in the dark. Although there are some rumors that it wasn’t a party that took it out. It was a single person.”
“Oi! Are you for real?” Byron’s voice boomed, his eyes wide. “For a basilisk to be defeated by just one person, he must be over level 200 and have some crazy gear. There’s nobody in this city that fits that bill.”
“Could it be a freelancer or someone just traveling from place to place?” Miriam mused, her gaze distant.
“If such a person truly exists, shouldn’t we try to recruit them?” Victoria asked, leaning forward, her eyes glinting with opportunity.
Julius raised a hand, silencing the group. The room grew still, the crackle of torches loud in the pause. “No. This is not the time to chase rumors. It’s true that it’s a shame we lost a moment to shine, but I have some other news to relay. It appears that lord Percival Alabaster will be coming in this city.”
A hush fell over the table, every member frozen, their attention locked on Julius. His lips curled slightly, savoring the moment.
“Although we don’t know exactly the reason, we can guess based on previous visits like this one. He most likely is looking for strong individuals. It’s no secret that lord Percival has received a ‘divine message’ to conquer the Tomb of the Nightmare Giant. A dungeon so dangerous that even a 20-man party failed to clear it, its halls rumored to be choked with undead horrors and traps that shred even the mightiest. He might be planning a new raid in the future. And for that…”
“He’s scouting for talents?” Miriam cut in, her voice sharp with excitement.
“Bingo. All we need is to advertise ourselves. Imagine the respect, fame and money we would receive if word were to spread that we are lord Percival’s chosen ones.”
Greedy smiles spread across the group, their eyes gleaming with visions of glory. Victoria’s smirk was sharp, Byron’s broad grin showed his teeth, and Miriam’s calculating gaze darted between them.
“But, before we get carried away, how are we supposed to even advertise ourselves?” Victoria asked, her tone skeptical.
Julius leaned back, the chair creaking again.
“I’ve taken some measures for that. Have you all heard of the beastkin that has the nickname the Sword Saintess?”
There was no way the members present didn’t hear that name. A lone female who abandoned her kin in search of strength. Ever since she has dedicated her life to the sword and being around strong people. A woman that is supposed to be level 300 and one of the strongest Aura users known. Leona Ironwill.
“Julius… are you implying…” Byron started, his voice trailing off.
“Although currently miss Leona is technically the former Sword Saintess, her name still holds great value. I used my family name and connections to bring her to the city. Of course I needed a large sum of money as well, but the investment is well worth it. Because I convinced her to join our guild, as Crimson Raid is the strongest around. Although she will probably leave once she achieves her goals in the city…”
“Our standing will be undeniable. And when lord Percival finds out that she’s a member of our guild, he will recognize our guild. You’re incredibly shrewd, Julius-san,” Miriam said, her smile widening.
Everyone nodded, their confidence swelling. The plan was set, and what could possibly go wrong?
~Rusalka’s point of view~
I sat in the dim room, my fingers fidgeting with the leather strap of my new gear, the faint scent of soap still clinging to me. My thoughts drifted back to when I was born in this world. I had no parents. When I first opened my eyes all I could see was pure white. A large field covered with snow. I was just a little girl, wearing rags, yet I wasn’t cold at all. Why didn’t I have parents? Most likely because I was a goblin. I learned the hard way that humans don’t like goblins.
The very first years of my life were harsh. In this cold environment, surviving was hard. But I wanted to live. I ended up in a small village. I tried to seek shelter. At that time, the humans often chased me away. But… by staying near humans… I somehow managed to learn their language.
I clutched my hands together, my long ears twitching as I remembered those days. Once I got the most I could from them, covered by bruises, I left the village and ventured into the wilderness. I wanted to live. I wanted to get stronger. But that wasn’t an easy feat. But I seriously couldn’t do anything about that. It felt like… I was the one being hunted. I spent a good portion of my years killing various small animals and eating them raw. The other part was hiding from adventurers. But that wasn’t life. I didn’t want to be the goblin monster described by humans. Can’t humans see I am not that type of goblin? I’m a weiss goblin!
After a few years, I made a drastic decision and allowed myself to be enslaved. I couldn’t survive on my own any longer. I regretted that decision as soon as I saw the type of people that bought goblins. Until the day… it was my turn to be sold. A gentle approach. Unlike the other customers that have glanced at me, I did not feel repulsed. A lizardfolk man.
I touched the slave collar around my neck, its rune warm under my fingers, thinking of Master. His touch wasn’t rough. It was so gentle and warm, I felt like melting. My body started to heat up. Why? People are drawn to the strong. So if this person did not want me as a sex slave, what did he buy a weakling like me. And why was I also drawn to him?
My heart is beating fast around him. I want to be near him. Compared to the scary Church woman… he’s an angel. He… calls me cute. He feeds me. He… cares for me. I want to be owned. Master is the best master in the world. Never in my life was I treated with such kindness. He doesn’t care about my race. He sees me as a normal girl.
I stood, my hands tightening on my gear, resolve burning in my chest. I must do everything in my power to make my master happy. If we want me to become strong, then I will become strong. I may not have any combat abilities, but I won’t give up no matter what. Even if the training will be hard, I won’t give up. I won’t get discouraged, because I want to stay with master for the rest of my life. And I want to feel needed. I will please my master so that we both can be happy together.
I always said I wanted to live, but this is the first time I actually feel alive.