The Adventurers' Guild of the capital was nothing like the peaceful image most imagined.
It was loud.
Chaotic.
Alive.
Voices overlapped constantly—laughter, arguments, negotiations. The scent of alcohol mixed with metal and sweat. Wooden tables were filled with adventurers of all ranks, each carrying their own stories, their own scars.
And standing at the entrance—
Four very out-of-place individuals.
"…So this is the Guild?" Dylan Carter crossed his arms, scanning the room with clear skepticism. "Looks more like a bar fight waiting to happen."
Arthur Caldwell adjusted his glasses calmly.
"It is a centralized system for managing missions, rewards, and rankings. A necessary structure for a world like this."
Vanessa Vale smirked.
"Oh come on, Arthur. Lighten up a little." Her eyes scanned the room—noticing how several adventurers were already staring at her. "It's not that bad."
Behind them—
Elena Whitmore struggled.
Again.
Her uniform.
Too tight.
Too restrictive.
"…Why are these clothes like this…" she muttered, tugging at the fabric in frustration.
Several nearby adventurers coughed awkwardly.
Others looked away.
Some… didn't.
And then—
The room shifted.
The doors opened behind them.
A presence entered.
Seraphine Drakmor.
The Scarlet Knight walked in with calm authority.
Her white armor gleamed under the ambient light. Her crimson hair flowed behind her, each step precise, controlled.
The entire guild subtly quieted.
She stopped beside the four heroes.
"…You took your time."
Dylan smirked.
"Had to make an entrance."
Seraphine's gaze didn't change.
"…You are not impressive enough to justify one."
Vanessa chuckled softly.
"Oh, I like her already."
Seraphine turned.
Walking toward the counter.
"Follow me."
They did.
Without question.
Minutes later—
"Your party has been registered," the guild clerk announced. "Under the supervision of Captain Seraphine Drakmor."
Dylan raised a brow.
"Captain, huh?"
Seraphine didn't even look at him.
"You will follow my orders. You will not act independently. You will not embarrass the Kingdom."
A pause.
"…And you will survive."
Nyx—no, not Nyx. Wrong group.
Vanessa smiled wider.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
The Mission!
The request was simple.
At least… on paper.
"Slime infestation," Arthur read from the mission document. "Located near the eastern farmlands."
Dylan scoffed.
"Slimes? Seriously? That's the best they've got?"
Seraphine's eyes flicked toward him.
"…Underestimating your enemy is the fastest path to death."
He rolled his shoulders.
"Relax. I've got this."
Vanessa leaned closer to Elena.
"…He definitely does not have this."
Elena sighed.
"…I just hope this ends quickly…"
The Battlefield!
The farmland was quiet.
Too quiet.
Patches of land looked… wrong.
Disturbed.
Sticky.
Arthur frowned.
"…This is not normal."
Seraphine raised her hand.
"Formation."
They obeyed.
Then—
Plop.
Something landed nearby.
A small, translucent blob.
A slime.
Dylan stepped forward.
Cracked his neck.
"Alright. My turn."
He punched it.
The slime exploded.
Silence.
"…That's it?" he said, disappointed.
Seraphine didn't relax.
"…No."
The ground moved.
Plop.Plop.Plop.
More.
Then more.
Then—
Too many.
Slimes began emerging everywhere.
Different sizes.
Different colors.
Some small.
Some… not.
Elena stepped back.
"…There are too many!"
Arthur adjusted his glasses quickly.
"This is not a standard infestation—!"
"MOVE!" Seraphine ordered.
But it was too late.
Chaos Begins!
Dylan charged forward.
Punching.
Crushing.
Destroying slimes with raw force.
But—
Every time one burst—
It split.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Vanessa stepped in.
Her voice smooth.
Her movements elegant.
She tried magic—
Only for a slime to leap onto her arm.
"…Wait—!"
It stuck.
Then another.
And another.
"…WHY ARE THEY STICKY?!"
Nearby—
Elena panicked.
A slime bounced toward her.
She tried to dodge—
But slipped.
"…Ah—!"
She fell.
Right into a patch of them.
"…NO—!"
The slimes clung.
Not attacking.
But sticking.
Pulling.
Stretching.
"…GET THEM OFF—!"
Her voice echoed in pure embarrassment.
Arthur turned—
Then immediately turned back.
"…This is not an appropriate time to observe—!"
Vanessa was struggling too now.
"…WHY ARE THEY TARGETING US LIKE THIS?!"
Dylan stopped fighting.
Looked.
Paused.
"…I don't think they're targeting me."
Seraphine moved.
Fast.
Precise.
Her sword cut through multiple slimes in a single motion.
But even she—
Paused.
"…They are reacting differently."
Her eyes narrowed.
"…Retreat."
Dylan blinked.
"Already?!"
"NOW."
Total Retreat!
There was no formation anymore.
No strategy.
No pride.
Just running.
Slimes bounced behind them.
Some still clinging.
Some chasing.
Vanessa tripped.
Recovered.
Ran faster.
Elena nearly cried.
Arthur tried to maintain dignity.
Failed.
Dylan carried two slimes on his arm like unwanted accessories.
"…I hate this mission."
Seraphine ran at the front.
Still composed.
But slightly faster than usual.
Back at the Guild!
They returned.
Covered in slime residue.
Exhausted.
Humiliated.
Silence filled the guild.
Then—
Laughter.
"…They got taken down by slimes…"
"…That's a new one…"
"…Heroes, huh…"
Vanessa dropped into a chair.
"…I'm never doing that again."
Elena covered her face.
"…I want to disappear…"
Arthur adjusted his glasses.
"…We underestimated the enemy."
Dylan leaned back.
"…They cheated."
Seraphine stood.
Silent.
Then finally—
She spoke.
"…Tomorrow."
A pause.
"…We train."
All four groaned.
And somewhere in the capital—
Kael slept peacefully.
Unaware…
That the "heroes" meant to surpass him—
Had just been defeated by slimes.