The guildmaster and I then enter one of those xxx rooms on the second floor. Inside is a pretty looking girl with a big fluffy looking white fox tail that has a blue tip. She also has animal-like ears, claw like nails, small fangs and blue fox-like eyes that turn golden each time the sun shines into them. Her hair is quite long and also white with blue tips. She seems to be wearing leather armor with normal clothing beneath it. Despite her looking a lot more experienced than me she looks four years younger rather than two years older to me.

  She seems to be nervously fiddling with her bone necklace as we enter the room but then quickly composes herself and salutes when she notices us, “He-hello guildmaster, I didn’t know you would be coming personally today.”

  “You are Miss Rayla of the blue fox clan, correct?”

  “Y-yes ma’am!”

  “Since you applied for the position of party leader I brought you a new F-Rank adventurer that just joined our guild. His name is Thoma Ahad, he has no experience adventuring and lacks common sense due to him being an amnesiac, he currently also can’t read or write.”

  Rayla looks at me and with a disgusted look on her face asks, “Did you fall into a pile of rotting fish or something?”

  “Huh? Oh, no. I live at the docks. I always smell like that.”

  “Uhuh…Guildmaster, are you sure there aren’t any other candidates I can group with?”

  Giving her a smug smile, she answers, “There are but not at the speed you wish to go at," pulling out a clipboard and sitting down on the edge of the table she adds, "It says here you specifically requested a path that will allow you to rank up as quickly as possible. He is your path.”

  Getting a grin on her face with one of her fangs poking out while she thinks, she answers, “I see…So basically this is about whether I can prove that I can whip even the most incompetent people into shape…I’ll accept!”

  She then holds out her hand to me, “My name is Rayla of the blue fox clan. I’m a Bluefox-Beastman and I’m a frontliner specializing in dealing damage in a short period of time. I struggle in long drawn out combat against armored opponents.”

  I take her hand and answer, “My name is Thoma Ahad from the docks. I’m probably a human and I’m going to be a frontliner. I don’t specialize in anything yet but I do have a fish cleaver and I’m a hard worker. My weakness is that I don’t know much, lack common sense and I’m bad with words so please don’t use many big words or I won’t understand you.”

  She seems quite confused at my introduction but Uli quickly stops her from saying anything by clapping her hands together, “Splendid. It seems that introductions are all in order. Miss Rayla will need someone that can get in between enemy attacks so she can easily deal damage. Since I’m sponsoring you Thoma Ahad, I’ll be giving you some leather armor and a shield as well as good outdoor boots.”

  “Thanks, Uli!”

  Rayla raises an eyebrow, “Sponsoring? Uli?”

  “Since we are done here now, I’ll be going back to do my work. Thoma Ahad, your guild card and equipment will be down at the counter.”

  She then leaves the room and leaves us alone.

  Getting a smug look on her face, Rayla starts chuckling almost theatrically, “Kekeke…You can stop pretending now, Thoma Ahad.”

  “Huh? What do you mean?”

  “Please, it’s just too obvious. You are calling her by a nickname and she’s sponsoring you. You even have an Elven name. You must be an extremely talented adventurer hired by the guildmaster to test my limits. The bad hygiene and fish smell were a good touch but overall it just makes it too obvious. Also the whole amnesiac bid? Great cover story but I won’t fall for it.”

  “I think you’re having a big misunderstanding here, I really am…”

  Giving me a wink as she holds out her hand to shut me up, “Don’t worry, I ‘totally believe you’. Your secret’s safe with me.”

  She then gives me another wink, takes my hand and runs downstairs with me where I get my equipment and adventuring card while Rayla sifts through different quests.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Satisfied, she rips off one of the papers and slams it on the counter.

  “We request this quest.”

  The secretary, a woman in her early forties with long brown hair looks at it and gets a stamp ready, “Are you sure you wish to take this quest? It is an E-Rank quest, so you are allowed to go on it but the danger level is a lot closer to D-Rank. The newcomer doesn’t have any experience either. I’m going to explicitly warn you, there is a chance he will die on the job. If that happens you, as team leader, will take responsibility and be demoted to G-Rank for a minimum of two years as well as pay any funeral rites his guardian requests. Do you understand?”

  “Yeah, but there is no need to worry. I have a feeling that he is more competent than he looks.”

  The secretary, a bit hesitant, stamps the request and Rayla tells me to follow her as she sprints outside and promptly crashes into an adventurer entering the guild making her fall back. I barely catch her before she hits the ground. The adventurer is a Human in his early thirties and quite handsome. He is wearing full plate armor, is blonde, quite tall and has a sword the length of his body dangling on his back.

  “Calm down little puppy, this place is not a playground.”

  Behind him, a Losta pushes him aside. He is very tall, has the head of a swordfish and his entire body is covered in slightly dried out seaweed and moss. They’re an amphibious race so I do sometimes see them at the docks, since they tend to work as sailors, but looking at one up close still gives me a feeling of dread. The ones I’ve talked to so far were all very friendly but until they talk they give off a very intimidating presence.

  In a raspy annoyed voice, he quips, “Don’t call her a puppy, that’s like me calling you a monkey.”

  He then looks at Rayla “Be more careful though, if you are clumsy outside of quests you will be clumsy during them as well.”

  A woman's voice groans from behind them, “By Mara’s light, can you guys move out of the way already you’re blocking the door.”

  Coming into view, she seems like she’s in her mid to late twenties. She has bright red hair and is wearing plate armor that looks a bit lighter than the blonde man’s. She carries a big shield on her back together with a lance. Most of her armor seems to be decorated in religious symbols, unfortunately I don’t know their meanings. She then walks past us but suddenly turns around. She has an angry and disgusted look on her face.

  “You there, boy. Never show your face in front of me again. In fact, I’d prefer it if you didn’t show your face in this guild at all. Your kind has no place in this guild.”

  Afterwards she storms off upstairs together with the Losta and blonde guy.

  After that weird interaction, some of the people in the guild as well as Rayla look at me confused and Rayla asks me,

  “What’s your guyses beef?”

  Scratching my head, I answer, “I have no idea. I don’t think I’ve ever met her before. Maybe I sold her bad fish before?”

  Rayla looks around at the people staring and quickly drags me outside towards the town center. She then finds a secluded alleyway and moves me inside of it.

  In an authoratative voice, she demands, “There is no one around now. So, tell me. Who are you really? And what’s your deal with the Red Valkyrie?”

  “Who?”

  “Don’t ‘who’ me. The woman from the guild. She’s a B-Ranked Paladin. Everyone in the north knows of her and the Five Winged Angel.”

  “Who’s the Five Winged Angel?”

  “That’s their party name- Ugh why am I even explaining this just spit it out already!”

  “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t do anything, I swear!”

  “Tsk. Fine, keep your secrets. We need to go get some food and water for the trip. We’re hunting a ruby gnome.”

  —-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Meanwhile in the adventurers guild the door to the guildmaster’s office flies open as the Red Valkyrie enters the room.

  “Guildmaster, we need to talk.”

  Slowly putting her pen aside, the guildmaster looks at her and answers gently, “Good morning to you as well, Prudence. It must be very urgent if you dare to barge into my office without an appointment.”

  Realizing her impudence the Red Valkyrie goes down on one knee and lowers her head.

  “Please excuse my rudeness, guildmaster, but there is something I need to discuss with you. That boy that joined the guild recently, I was told his name is Thoma Ahad, please kick him out of the guild.”

  Raising an eyebrow, the guildmaster's gaze sharpens, “Oh? Under what reason?”

  “He stinks of Dark Magic.”

  “So? Dark Magic is not illegal, nor is it disallowed at this guild.”

  “I’m aware guildmaster but-”

  Getting slightly angry now the guildmaster starts to exude a sweet scent that is making it hard to breathe, “You better have a good reason to follow up with. If you don't, all you’re doing is throwing your weight around to bully a new adventurer out of the profession.”

  Trying to keep her breathing under the control, the Red Valkyrie answers with determination, “It isn’t just dark magic. This smell of rot, it’s something I have only witnessed in places where forbidden dark rituals were held. You were an S-Rank adventurer, even if you don’t have an affinity for holy magic you must still have noticed.”

  “Yes, I have.”

  “Then you must surel-”

  “So, what?”

  “What?”

  “You brought forth circumstantial evidence. Do you have any proof whatsoever to link Thoma Ahad to any wrongdoings?”

  “I don’t but-”

  The sweet scent disappears as the guildmaster goes back to working on her notes, “Then leave my office until you do. Also, if I find you spreading rumors about the kid or make others bully him I’ll personally make sure you will be banished from this branch. Did I make myself clear?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “Good. Is there anything else?”

  Taking a deep breath and wiping away the sweat that accumulated over this conversation, she asks, “I…Why do you protect this kid, guildmaster?”

  “I’m not protecting him, your past experiences just make you see danger based on instinct without proof. One of the pillars of a just civilization is the presumption of innocence. I suggest you reflect on that. You’re dismissed.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  —----------------------------------------------------