Chapter – 17 Adventure Guild
Lucien, Aren, Lira, and Seris went to the Adventure Guild.
The guild was far bigger than Lucien had imagined, and many weapon shops surrounded the building. They opened the door and saw a noisy crowd inside. When they entered, several adventurers glanced at them, but soon ignored them.
They walked to the Guild Registrar counter for registration.
A young woman was sitting behind the desk. When she saw four children approach, she smiled.
"How can I help you?" she asked politely.
Lucien replied, "We want to register in the Adventurers Guild."
"Oh!" She picked up a sheet of paper and handed it to him.
"Please fill in your names and indicate whether you wish to register as solo adventurers or as a party. Write 'mage' or 'swordsman' in front of your name."
Lucien took the paper. Over the past three years, he had learned how to read and write.
They filled in their names and chose to register as a party.
Lucien wrote swordsman instead of mage. If he revealed his magic, it would only create unnecessary problems. Aren also wrote swordsman, while Lira and Seris wrote mage.
The woman read their names silently.
"Lucien… Aren Valebright… Lira Valebright…"
"Oh! You two are brother and sister," she said, looking at Aren and Lira. "That's cute."
Then she read:
Seris Fadehart.
Fadehart?
She paused for a moment but said nothing.
"Your names are checked. Now please go to the guild training room. After a test, you will be officially registered."
After explaining the testing process, she called Lucien and the others a few minutes later.
"The preparations are complete," she said.
Training Room
As they entered, Lucien thought inwardly:
"So this is where the main story begins."
But he was certain—his and Seris's existence would change it.
Inside, there were two training grounds. On one of them stood a brown-haired man with sharp, fox-like eyes.
"Oh! You've arrived," he smiled. "I'm Vice Guild Master Cedric."
"Nice to meet you, new adventurers."
After greetings, he continued:
"Lucien and Aren, stay here. Seris and Lira, go to the next training ground for your mage test."
Before Entering the Guild
"We're hiding our strength. Why, Lucien?" Aren had asked earlier.
"Wouldn't it be better to show our full strength?" Lira added.
Lucien replied, "If we show everything, we'll only attract unnecessary attention. That's why."
"I agree with Lucien," Seris said.
After thinking for a moment, Aren and Lira nodded.
"So we're hiding our strength?" Aren confirmed.
"Yes," Lucien replied.
Present
Lira and Seris moved to the other training ground.
"First, I will test you," Cedric said with a smile, handing wooden swords to Lucien and Aren. He picked one up as well.
"I'll use only one hand… and fight both of you at the same time."
"The rules are simple. Use whatever you want. If someone drops their sword, they're out."
Aren raised his sword. "Don't regret it, sir."
Confident kid… Cedric thought inwardly. But I'll break you.
Lucien remained silent.
"Aren, don't let your guard down."
"Okay," Aren replied with a grin.
Cedric was the Vice Guild Master. In the original novel, he wasn't extremely strong, but he was exceptional at judging people—good or evil. He was intelligent and clever, and he possessed a special skill: Foresight Trace.
He could predict a person's next movement and instantly judge their combat strength.
"You're about to take your first step," Cedric said.
They moved at the same time.
Aren charged head-on, sword raised high.
Lucien followed half a step behind—silent, eyes locked on Cedric.
Two angles. One target.
Aren struck first—three rapid slashes.
Left. Right. Down.
CLACK—CLACK—CLACK!
Cedric blocked each strike with one hand, wrist rotating smoothly. The force pushed him back half a step.
"Got you—!"
Aren suddenly changed rhythm and stabbed low instead of swinging.
Cedric stepped inside his range.
Too close.
He knocked Aren's blade aside and drove his shoulder forward.
THUD!
Aren staggered but forced himself upright. He swung again—
Cedric struck the flat of his blade against Aren's wrist.
CRACK!
The sword flew from Aren's hand.
Cedric tapped the tip of his sword against Aren's chest.
"Out."
That kid is really amazing… If I fight him again in two years, I might lose, Cedric thought.
"You're the only one left," Cedric said, turning to Lucien.
Now let's see if this one is amazing too.
Cedric shifted his stance.
Lucien attacked first—fast and precise. A diagonal slash, followed by a sharp thrust.
CLACK!
Cedric blocked—but his arm jolted.
Lucien flowed into the next strike, changing angles mid-swing. Cedric stepped back.
"So you noticed," Cedric muttered.
They exchanged strikes—short, efficient, testing each other.
One hand—yet the pressure was heavy.
Lucien ducked under a horizontal cut and struck upward.
CRASH!
Their blades locked.
For a moment, they stared at each other.
"Good instincts," Cedric said.
Lucien retreated, then dashed forward again, feinting high and cutting low. The blade grazed past Cedric's leg.
That did it.
Cedric's presence exploded. His strikes grew sharper and faster.
Lucien blocked once. Twice.
The third strike sent him skidding back.
But he did not fall.
"This kid really is amazing," Cedric thought.
Then he noticed Lucien's eyes.
The smile vanished from his face.
Lucien's eyes had turned dark blue—empty, lifeless.
His presence had changed.
This kid—… No. First, finish the test.
Cedric stepped in. The pressure doubled.
His wooden sword came down mercilessly.
CRACK!
The impact rattled Lucien's arms.
Cedric twisted his wrist, knocked Lucien's guard aside, and moved past him in one smooth step.
The tip of the sword rested against Lucien's throat.
"Enough."
Lucien's sword slipped from his fingers.
"…I lost."
"That was a good match," Cedric said.
After creating some distance, Cedric slowly drew his real, small blade.
He had another technique—one that allowed him to see a person's true nature
The air changed.
He looked at Aren first.
Aren's presence flickered—his blade shone brightly, like raw steel still being forged.
Cedric's eyes widened.
"…So that's it."
Great talent.
Unpolished, reckless—but real.
Then Cedric turned to Lucien.
And—
There was nothing.
No shine.
No shape.
No presence he could grasp.
Only endless, bottomless darkness swallowing everything.
Cedric's breath hitched.
For the first time—
He felt fear.
He quickly sheathed his blade.
"…What are you?" he whispered.
As I expected… that kid is dangerous, Cedric thought.
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END OF CHAPTER – 17
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