The blazing sun hung high in the sky, roasting the people below. Greyvale City was alive with noise; the streets teemed with activity, creating a cacophony of sounds.
At the East Gate of the city, a steady stream of people flowed in and out. Heavily armored guards stood at attention, exuding an air of authority as they maintained order.
Greyvale City boasted four main gates, each positioned at one of the cardinal directions, North, East, West, and South. Wide roads stretched into the distance, intersected by smaller paths leading to nearby towns, villages, and other cities in the region.
"I hope this is all true," Gregor muttered to himself as he mounted his horse and rode out through the East Gate. Clad in armor, he had added an extra sword strapped to his back and several small pouches tied around his waist.
He glanced up at the glaring sun before looking down at the map parchment in his hand, the Mission Docket. Folding it neatly, he tucked it into his bosom.
With a gentle nudge to his horse, it surged forward along the main road, kicking up dust behind them. Excitement sparkled in Gregor's eyes; after all, he was on the verge of earning more than two hundred gold coins.
To him, this opportunity felt almost too good to be true,defeating magical beasts for such a reward seemed like a gift from heaven that he couldn't afford to let slip away.
Though doubts lingered in his heart about the mission's legitimacy, he wasn't ready to dismiss it outright. After all, opportunities like this were rare. The saying "Opportunity comes but once" resonated strongly within him; despite his suspicions, he refused to let this chance pass by.
"Just like what the Guildmaster said: treat this as an investment," Gregor thought.
"Twenty silver coins isn't cheap or expensive; if I can earn a hundred times my investment from this venture, it will be my most powerful investment yet." His eyes gleamed with ambition as various thoughts raced through his mind.
"And if it's a scam? I'll teach that Guildmaster a lesson," he mused with a grin. When he first entered the Guild Hall, he'd sensed that the Guildmaster lacked any trace of Mana,he was just an ordinary person. If everything turned out to be a ruse concocted by him, Gregor would have no trouble tracking him down for payback.
Worrying about whether or not the Guildmaster would flee didn't cross Gregor's mind; after all, he was a 3-Star Expert Knight surrounded by many warrior friends who could help him find even an ordinary man hiding under a rock. There was no way he'd let anyone escape with his money unscathed.
With all these thoughts racing through his mind, Gregor urged the Blood Moon Horse to pick up speed. He had to reach Wrenford Village before sunset. Given the horse's swift pace, he knew he could cover the ten-kilometer distance in no time.
As he galloped along the main road, the scenery blurred past him. He passed numerous carriages and travelers; some were headed toward Greyvale City while others ventured in various directions.
The wind whipped through his long green hair. Ten minutes later, he spotted a small road branching off from the main path and decided to take it. This trail led him into a forest where towering trees loomed overhead, accompanied by tall hills and distant mountains.
After another thirty minutes, he emerged from the forest into a breathtaking view,a vast plain nestled between two hills stretched out before him. In fact, hills seemed to extend as far as his eyes could see.
Taking a moment to admire the landscape, he urged his horse toward one of the flatter hilltops. Dismounting, he gazed down at what lay ahead.
"So this is Wrenford Village," he murmured as his eyes locked onto the settlement in the distance. It wasn't particularly large; judging by its size, he estimated there were about five thousand to ten thousand villagers living there.
A newly built wooden fence surrounded the village. From his vantage point, he noticed a few villagers going about their daily routines while several other figures armed with cutlasses and forks patrolling around the fence — clearly on guard.
"Hmmm," Gregor pondered aloud, "they're vigilant enough, but is it really enough? How can ordinary villagers fend off magical beasts? It's like inviting disaster." He shook his head at this thought.
His gaze drifted toward a distant mountain range with towering peaks that seemed to pierce the sky. Even from afar, he could hear distant roars of beasts echoing through the air; occasionally, flocks of birds would take flight in panic.
"No wonder there's so much danger for this village," Gregor muttered under his breath with a frown. "Building a settlement near Evergreen Mountain Range,infested with magical beasts is baffling."
"Let's not dwell on that now," he decided firmly. "I just need to wait until night falls; if those Phantom Wind Wolves show up, I'll handle them."
With that resolve settling in, Gregor sat down on a boulder and opened one of his pouches to retrieve a loaf of bread while also untying his waterskin for a drink.
He hadn't eaten all day,he was on his way for food when he'd stumbled upon the Adventurer Guild and ended up spending hours inside.
By now, the sun was dipping below the western horizon, casting an orange glow across the sky.
A gentle breeze brushed against him as his long green hair danced lightly in the wind. Smoke began rising from various chimneys in Wrenford Village.
After finishing his meal, he took a deep gulp of water and let out a satisfied burp, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Time slipped away like sand through fingers, and before he knew it, the sun had set. The sky transformed into a dark blanket, with three moons arranged in a semi-circle, surrounded by twinkling stars that sparkled mesmerizingly.
A gentle night breeze rustled through the leaves and grass. In Wrenford Village, fire torches flickered to life around the fence and at the main entrance. Shadows moved about as villagers patrolled the perimeter.
From afar, the distant roars of beasts echoed from the Evergreen Mountain Range; the kings of the night were emerging to hunt. The sounds of crickets and other nocturnal creatures filled the quiet darkness.
Suddenly, a loud howl pierced through the stillness. The wind picked up, becoming more agitated as an oppressive chill settled in.
"They are here," Gregor said softly as he sat atop a hill with his eyes closed. He snapped them open and focused intently on a spot just beyond Wrenford Village.
"Time to get to work," he added with a small grin. Rising from his perch on the boulder, he patted his Blood Moon Horse affectionately. "Stay here, buddy; I'll be back before you know it."
The Blood Moon Horse neighed softly in response, almost as if in agreement.
With that reassurance, Gregor descended the hill silently into the gathering darkness.