After finishing their meal, the group headed together to the guild. The atmosphere was light, almost joyful, until
Kyle announced in a neutral tone,
"Well... I'm officially joining your group. But it's temporary."
Tristan, smiling, put an arm around his shoulder.
"Don't worry, it suits us just fine. 'Dawn's Flash' is happy to have you on board, even if it's a rental."
Kyle pushed him away without even looking at him.
"Touch me again and I'll disintegrate you."
The guild hall was bustling, as always. Adventurers of all ranks were chatting, laughing, or consulting the mission boards. The 'Dawn's Flash' group had just joined, and the announcement of Kyle's temporary inclusion triggered mixed reactions.
Anne and Lys called Iris and Elaria to tell them the news.
"I'm all for it! He's got potential. And... he's cute, isn't he?" Iris said with a mischievous smile, winking at Kyle.
Elaria, for her part, crossed her arms, looking suspicious.
"We don't know anything about him. You want us to just bring him into the group? It's risky. What if he's not cut out for teamwork?"
Tristan placed a soothing hand on Elaria's shoulder.
"I understand. But he did well yesterday. And besides, we all started somewhere, right?"
Elaria sighed deeply, then glanced pointedly at Kyle.
"...Very well. But I'll keep an eye on him."
At that moment, the large door of the guild suddenly opened. An icy blast swept through the room, freezing the atmosphere. Conversations ceased.
A woman of almost unreal beauty crossed the threshold, surrounded by visibly fascinated young adventurers. Her noble bearing commanded respect. Without a word, she climbed the stairs, indifferent to the stares she attracted.
Lys whispered
"Who... was that?"
Eris replied in a low voice, almost reverently.
"Freya. The Ice Empress. An elemental mage, she's one of the Guild's S-Rank adventurers."
"An elemental mage? What's the difference from a normal mage?" Lys asked, intrigued.
Iris spoke in a slightly professorial tone:
"A normal mage can wield several types of magic, but is limited. An elemental mage specializes in a single element. They become immune to it, create their own spells, and..."
Kyle added calmly:
"...and they can use ultimate spells." Unlike the lower, intermediate, or higher-level spells used by classic mages, elemental mages have access to a higher level: spells of devastating power, unique to each user."
Surprised, Iris turned her head toward him.
"It's rare for a warrior to know so much about magic. Usually, they limit themselves to mastering void magic, which is more suited to close combat."
"I'm interested in anything, as long as it's interesting," Kyle replied.
Tristan laughed softly.
"Looks like you've fallen into the right group."
A little later, Tristan became serious again.
"We need to choose a mission. Since our group is D-Rank, we can accept a quest of C-Rank at most."
The group dispersed around the mission board.
Upstairs, in the guild master's office...
A muscular man with a neat beard banged his fist on his desk.
"Freya! Your damn harem is starting to become a problem. They're not coming for the missions anymore, but to see you!"
Leaning casually against the wall, Freya shrugged.
"I'm not forcing them to stay, you know? It's not my fault if men are attracted to beautiful, young, and powerful women."
"Ugh... 'young,' huh? We're the same age, remember."
Freya's gaze instantly froze. The temperature in the room dropped suddenly.
The master coughed, quickly changing the subject.
"Anyway... Any news of the other one?"
"Last time, he was talking about retiring."
The master gave a wistful smile.
"Retirement? But he's the youngest of us. What a joke."
"Maybe he was just fed up."
"And your mission with the Kraken?" asks the guild master.
"It ended weeks ago. The rest of the time, I enjoyed the beach... with my darlings," Freya replied.
The master sighed. And said, "I knew it. You volunteered just for this."
Freya, mischievously
"You know me so well."
The Master, sighing
"Well, since you've had a great time... I have another mission for you."
Freya, raising a hand
"I refuse."
"You didn't even listen!"
"Whatever. And you have the other two for this kind of thing."
"They're already on missions."
"Then go yourself."
"If only. But as guild master, I can't leave this place for too long."
Freya grabbed the mission slip without even reading it.
"Just this once. But you'll owe me a favor."
"Deal."
Down below, everyone was showing their missions.
Kyle held his out, his eyes shining.
"Fight a Wyvern, a Rank C quest. Sounds like a good challenge."
Tristan smiled.
"Nice choice, but let's start slowly. Let's get to know each other first."
He held up his own slip.
"A merchant escort. Simple, but effective."
Iris agreed.
"Perfect for testing group dynamics."
Elaria nodded.
"I agree."
Kyle sighed sarcastically.
"This is why I hate guys surrounded by girls. They always have the last word."
At that moment, Freya descended the stairs, graceful and indifferent, S-Rank mission in hand. Her admirers followed her like a procession.
Later, at Rose's inn.
As soon as they entered, a warm voice greeted them.
"Lys! Who are these charming young men?" Rose asked.
"My party members. We're going on a mission together," Lys replied.
Tristan bowed politely.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm the party leader, Tristan."
Rose stared at him, a smile playing on her lips. "Very charming, that one."
"Not you too..." Kyle thought, looking away.
"Sit down, I'll prepare a nice meal for you."
As everyone took their seats, Lys whispered to Rose,
"Kyle will be joining us for a while."
"Temporarily," Kyle corrected immediately.
Rose nodded softly.
"As long as he's with you, I'm reassured. As a group, he can go on missions as much as he wants."
It had been a pleasant night at Rose's inn, lulled by laughter and anecdotes. Rose, the innkeeper with a benevolent aura and a mysterious past, recounted fragments of her past adventures. Everyone listened attentively, fascinated by the tales of a former healer turned mistress of the house.
But in the midst of this warm atmosphere, Kyle had quietly risen from his chair. Without a word, he slipped away, leaving the light and laughter behind him to return to the silence of his room. He wasn't used to this kind of atmosphere... and he didn't want to disturb anyone.
The next morning, as the sun was barely rising, he cautiously descended the stairs. He thought he'd slip out quietly, but a familiar figure was waiting for him by the door.
"You're planning on leaving without even saying hello? And yesterday, why did you leave without saying anything?" Rose asked with a mischievous smile, arms crossed.
Kyle stopped, slightly surprised.
"Ah... sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. I'm not really used to this kind of atmosphere."
"Hm. You could have at least given some warning. The others noticed you were gone, you know."
He looked away.
"I know..." he said with a sigh. "I'm going to the blacksmith. I need to get my gear before we leave."
Rose nodded gently, then added as she approached,
"The escort mission doesn't start until the afternoon. You still have time. And more importantly... you haven't eaten yet."
Kyle opened his mouth to protest, but she had already led him to a table where a steaming bowl of soup and still-warm bread awaited him.
"Sit down and eat, understand?"
"Thanks..." he breathed as he sat down.
He swallowed the food quickly and stood up immediately.
"At least take the time to chew...!" exclaimed Rose, half amused, half annoyed.
"That'll be fine, thanks again!" Kyle said as he walked through the door.
The sun was now high in the sky when he arrived in front of Gareth's blacksmith's workshop. The sign creaked softly in the morning breeze, and the smell of hot metal hung in the air.
Kyle entered, greeted by the rhythmic sound of the hammer striking the anvil. The interior was filled with heat, scrap metal, and passion.
"Gareth! Is it ready?"
The blacksmith, a colossus with a black beard and a sooty apron, looked up from his work.
"The armor is ready. As for the sword, there's one more detail."
"The blade's already repaired, right?"
"Yes. What's missing is the enchantment."
Kyle blinked, intrigued.
"An enchantment?"
"Hm. I'm no enchanter, so I have my limits. But I can apply one or two simple effects. The one I'm going to engrave on your blade is called Channeling. It will help mana flow better through the weapon. Useful for a fighter who wants to incorporate a little magic into their attacks."
Kyle gazed at the half-finished blade in admiration. Then he thought of himself. Reiji... His classmate, childhood friend, and class president. Serious, reliable, he had obtained the enchanting class. Where was he now? What was he doing in this unknown world?
"I wonder what he's doing these days..." Kyle murmured.
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Just... memories."
Gareth cracked a smile. He was about to say something when the door burst open.
"Kyle! Couldn't you wait for me?" Lys asked, a little out of breath.
"I didn't mean to disturb you..." he replied, a little embarrassed.
He then turned to Gareth.
"Was there something you wanted to tell me?"
The blacksmith hesitated. His gaze flicked from Kyle to Lys, then he shrugged.
"Oh no, nothing. Not important."
"Hm..."
"The group is waiting for you at the guild." "We'll discuss the details of the contract with the client," Lys added.
"I'll meet you there. Go early if you like."
"No way. I'll stay. We'll leave together."
Kyle sighed, resigned.
Gareth looked at them both, smiling, a teasing smile this time.
"You two make a cute couple."
Lys blushed immediately.
"I-it's not...!"
"Hm." Kyle shrugged. "If you say so."
The blacksmith burst out laughing.
"Such a stoic guy."
The blade glowed faintly, the magical pattern etched on it pulsing with a faint blue glow. Kyle retrieved it, secured it to his hip, and left the workshop alongside Lys, ready for his first mission with the group.
The heavy guild doors opened gently in the morning light. The interior was already bustling: adventurers were coming and going, some with tired smiles, others reading the quests posted on the large central board. At the back of the room, a table had been requisitioned by a small group of familiar faces.
"Ah, so you're finally here!" Anne said, waving her hand.
Tristan was already talking to the receptionist. He turned as they approached, nodding wordlessly.
"Hi!" Lys said, smiling warmly at the girls. "Elaria, Anne, Iris. Did you sleep well?"
"Like a log. Rose's inn is really comfortable," Anne replied, stretching.
Lys sat down relaxed. Kyle, true to form, took a seat without a word, his eyes discreet but attentive.
"Hey, Kyle." " Elaria asked, her emerald gaze fixed on him. "Why did you leave last night without saying anything? We were all having fun."
The man in question turned his head towards her, but his voice remained calm.
"I was just tired."
Elaria narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced, ready to retort, but she was interrupted by Tristan's return.
"The client won't be long, but in the meantime... we might as well take the opportunity to better understand each other's capabilities so we can cooperate effectively."
He sat down in turn, placing his scabbard confidently on the table.
"I'll start. I'm a Swordsman." He lightly drew his weapon, the blade giving off a peculiar glow. "And this is a draconic sword. A superior weapon. If I infuse it with mana..."
A small reddish arc crackled on the blade before dissipating.
"I can cast fire spells."
"Impressive..." Lys murmured.
"Your turn, Iris," Tristan said, gesturing to her.
The young mage nodded timidly.
"I'm a mage specializing in the elements of light, fire, wind, and water." She raised her hands. "For now, I can only use lesser spells."
"No worries, everyone starts somewhere," Tristan smiled.
"I'm a priestess," Lys continued. "I master blessings. I can purify, heal, and grant divine protection."
"No wonder you attracted people's attention before you joined the group," Anne laughed.
"And you?" Lys asked her two other comrades.
"Elaria. Archer. I grew up in the Verdean Forest. My specialty: long-range, accurate shots. I also have some basic magic. I'm also a very good scout."
"Anne. Spear warrior. If there's something to impale, I'm the right person." »
Everyone then turned to Kyle.
Kyle hesitated. He certainly wasn't going to say he was an elemental mage—that would be too obvious. So he opted for a veiled truth.
"I'm... in class, Apprentice Spellblade," he said finally, his voice neutral. "I use both the sword and a little magic. Lightning spells, mainly."
He thought this would avoid stares... but it had the opposite effect.
"A Spellblade?" Iris asked in surprise. "So you can use magic and the sword?"
"That's incredible!" Lys continued admiringly. "You wield both arts at once!"
Elaria said nothing, but her eyes had widened slightly. Even Anne seemed visibly interested.
Tristan, however, smiled, satisfied.
"You'll be invaluable to the team." Even if you don't seem like the type to brag."
Kyle shrugged, a bit uncomfortable. That's a failure for discretion...
"Hybrid classes aren't that rare..." he said, almost to himself.
"Maybe, but you still fight like a classic swordsman. We didn't expect you to hide that," Anne noted.
Elaria was about to add something, but the guild door suddenly opened.
An elegantly dressed man, wearing a velvet cape and glittering rings on his fingers, entered, glancing quickly around him. He stepped forward with a confident stride.
"It's him," Tristan murmured. "Our client."
The atmosphere changed immediately. The time for introductions was over... The escort was about to begin.
Tristan jumped to his feet.
"I'll take care of it."
He ran to the entrance and bowed slightly to the newcomer, exchanging a few quick words, then returned to the group with a smile.
"I present our client: Master Darian Valmont."
The man nodded politely, his eyes scrutinizing each member of the group with a certain scrutiny, as if assessing their competence simply by observing them.
"Pleased to meet you. I am the owner of the shop 'The Treasures of Valmont,' located in Valoris, the royal capital of the kingdom of Thoralis."
"Valoris..." Kyle thought. "Even the name sounds cliché."
"I came here to take care of some business. Nothing of interest, I assure you," Darian added casually.
No questions were asked. Tristan, pragmatic, stood up.
"Then let's go." »
As they left the city, the large stone gates slowly closed behind them. Kyle felt his heart beat a little faster.
It was the first time he'd left the walls of this original city since arriving in this country.
The landscape stretched out before him: green fields, a dirt road winding between hills, and a cool breeze carrying the songs of unknown birds.
The merchant, Darian, was preparing his carriage, pulled by two shiny black horses. He climbed aboard without delay.
The adventurers, meanwhile, were heading towards the mounts tied up a little further away. Each approached their horse without hesitation.
Kyle, however, paused for a moment.
Riding a horse? I've never done that…
He stayed back, discreetly observing the others' movements—the way Tristan harnessed his mount, how Lys placed a foot in the stirrup before climbing on—then mimicked their movements to the letter. After two awkward attempts, he managed to mount with ease, hiding all traces of inexperience.
"The journey will take about three days," Tristan declared, placing himself at the head of the procession. "We'll take regular breaks, but stay alert."
And so, the journey began.
The carriage wheels creaked gently on the dusty path. The sky was clear, bathed in golden light.
At first, the journey passed in peaceful silence. Birds flew away as they passed, and the landscapes rolled by calmly. No danger. No ambushes. Just nature.
Anne whistled from time to time. Elaria kept a watchful eye on the surroundings. Lys chatted with Iris, a smile on her lips. Tristan, in the lead, seemed perfectly relaxed.
But Kyle stared straight ahead. His mind was bored. Nothing moved. Nothing emerged. Just the eternal sound of hooves on the ground.
So this is what escort quests are all about?... he thought, his chin resting on the pommel of his saddle. Not very exciting.
And so the first day passed. No incident. Just the monotonous rhythm of a smooth journey.
When night fell, tinting the sky purple and gold, Tristan raised his hand.
"We'll camp here."
The group moved off the path and settled in a small clearing sheltered from the wind. While the merchant had his private tent prepared, the adventurers began setting up their own camp.
A fire was lit. Rations were brought out. Everyone found a measure of comfort in this routine of seasoned travelers.
For Kyle, this wasn't a first. But in this world, he had always camped alone.
My first camp with people... he thought, watching the dancing flames.
He didn't know it yet, but this peaceful night was only the calm before the storm.
The night stretched gently under the starry sky. The campfire crackled faintly, casting only thin shadows over the hastily pitched tents. One by one, the adventurers succumbed to sleep, keeping their weapons close at hand, their minds still alert.
But sleep finally caught up with them... all except one.
Kyle, lying in his sleeping bag, stared at the black sky, wide awake.
'I'm used to sleepless nights...' he thought. 'In this world, I spent my nights training, casting spells until I collapsed.'
But this time, it wasn't possible. He wasn't alone.
He sighed silently and activated his detection spell for the umpteenth time. So far, he hadn't detected anything—not a single monster, not a single anomaly. But this time...
Presence detected.
Something was lurking, nearby... around Darian's tent.
But instead of being alarmed, a broad smile spread across his face.
Finally... something interesting.
He stood up quietly, quickly donned his leather armor, grabbed his sword, and then slipped out of the camp, not to escape the enemy, but to avoid waking the others. He wanted to have fun. Alone.
Near the merchant's tent, he spotted it. A misshapen figure with long, sinewy limbs, gray skin, and a dripping red cap.
A Red Cap.
A lone E-rank monster... a D-rank in a pack. A nocturnal creature known to murder its victims in their sleep, preferring weak targets. Its cap drew its color from absorbed blood, making the monster stronger.
Kyle stepped forward, sword in hand. He could have struck in the back... but that would be too easy. Too boring.
He smiled.
"Let's go."
He cast Nightslash, a magical attack fusing his blade with the essence of darkness. The sword vibrated, trailing a dark aura.
The monster retaliated violently, its two dirty daggers slicing through the air with fury.
But Kyle activated Void Veil, dodging effortlessly.
"Too slow."
Wounded, the Redcap retreated, disappearing into the trees.
Kyle, amused, pursued without hesitation.
He tracked it to a clearing... where it stopped dead in its tracks.
"Huh?"
Five more Redcaps emerged from the thickets, circling their prey with hungry eyes.
Kyle raised an eyebrow. A predatory smile tugged at his lips.
"Looks like you brought some friends back."
The monsters approached, confident. Kyle glanced toward the camp. He was far away... far enough away to let loose.
He removed his leather armor and gently placed it on the ground.
"I can finally go without holding back."
He channeled his magic. His body was covered in white lightning, accelerating his speed to superhuman levels. His movements became almost invisible.
Then, he surrounded his sword with a black flash, imbued with destructive energy.
The fight was a whirlwind of light and shadow.
The monsters attacked in rapid succession, swift and cruel. But Kyle danced between them, his blades tracing arcs of light in the darkness. Each blow struck true, precise, lethal.
The clearing shook with magical explosions. Trees split. The ground was plowed. The air vibrated with tension.
But Kyle was laughing.
He laughed like a child who had finally discovered a game he could play.
And when day broke, it was all over.
Elaria was the first to wake up among the girls. She stretched, yawned, then rubbed her eyes. Seeing the quiet of the camp, she gently woke the other girls.
"Come on... it's time..."
Anne groaned, hiding her head under her blanket.
"Five more minutes..."
But she jumped when she heard Tristan come running out.
"Have you seen Kyle?!"
The group froze.
"He's not here. I woke up early to check the perimeter... and his bed is empty."
Lys paled.
"Is he missing?"
"We need to organize a search party. We can't just stand here and do nothing."
"Calm down," Iris said, smiling. "Knowing Kyle, he might be fighting a pack of wolves, all alone."
"That's exactly what worries me!" Tristan retorted.
Darian came out of his tent, alerted by the voices.
"A problem, fellow adventurers?"
"One of our members is missing."
The merchant paused in shock, then sighed.
"That's an occupational hazard... But I hope he's okay."
"He'll be back," Lys murmured, her gaze fixed on the edge of the forest.
And she was right.
A figure appeared between the trees.
Kyle.
His body stained with dried blood. His face was a huge smile, as if he'd just come back from a party.
"Yo."
Everyone froze. A mixture of relief, worry... and admiration.
Tristan ran towards him.
"What happened?!"
But before he could answer, Lys hugged him tightly and cast a healing blessing spell and a purification spell, making all his wounds and blood stains disappear in seconds.
Kyle exhaled a long breath.
"We had a visitor last night. A Red Cap. He attacked the merchant. I chased him... and then I fought him."
"A Red Cap?!" Anne said, her eyes wide. "Impressive... he's a rank E monster."
Kyle shrugged.
"He wasn't very talkative."
Silence fell. Then Iris burst out laughing.
"There's never a dull moment with you."
And the journey continued smoothly.
But a certain fear hovered around Kyle.
Who was he really? Where did he get this power from?
Lys was the first to break the silence.
"You're incredible... Honestly, even though you're officially an F-rank, you're clearly D-rank."
Kyle replied simply and confidently:
"You're right."
Tristan approached next, looking stern.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
Kyle shrugged.
"I didn't mean to disturb you."
Tristan sighed.
"That's sweet. But you're part of a team now. Don't forget that."
Kyle nodded.
Elaria, a little ashamed, apologized in turn.
"It's my job to spot the dangers, I failed in my role."
Kyle smiled.
"Don't worry, it was fun."
But suddenly, they all sensed a hostile presence.
A group of bandits was blocking the road.
Kyle wanted to intervene, but they all stopped him.
"Rest, let us handle this," Tristan said.
Reluctantly, he agreed.
Darian invited him into the carriage with him.
"After a night like this, you deserve it."