Destroyer

EPISODE 27- THE EXAMINER

After that incident with the pub, I immediately went back to the INN, the INN had no more lights turned on except for the ground floor. I entered the INN and saw the source of the light, which was a single candle flickering in the dark sitting at the top of the table, where Maya has fallen asleep. I walked towards her but she suddenly wakened up by my footsteps.

She rubbed her eyes and turned to look at me, she then spoke after yawning, “Welcome back Mr. Destroyer.”

“How long have you been waiting there?” I asked as I moved closer to her. Maya replied, “I think after you left to go after those guys, mom also waited for your return. But I told her to take a rest after what happened to her today.”

“I see, then I will be going back to my room Maya, you should also get some sleep.” After speaking those words I climb the stairs leading to my room. “Mr. Destroyer please wait!” yelled Maya, causing me top stop on my steps.

I then turned around and asked her, “What is it, Maya?” Maya then spoke as she saw me that I was willing to listen, “Thank you, mister,” those were the words that came from Maya's words as she bowed her head. I simply replied to Maya “No problem kid,” then I continued to walk back to my room.

It was already morning and I was already walking towards the guild. Upon arriving and opening the doors of the guild I saw the normal drunkard adventurers now enjoying a drink. Seeing this I thought to myself, “This is the scene I'm more accustomed to, it's nice to see things back to normal.”

I immediately walked to the quest area to see what are the missions that I will be doing today. When I got to the quest area I saw five familiar figures, it's the Camilla adventurer group, they were also picking up a quest, but it seems they have found one.

They then went to the counter to tell Lora that they will take the mission. As they were going towards the Lora they immediately noticed me, seeing me they immediately stopped and chatted with me.

“Hey, Mister Destroyer are you also going to pick a quest?” asked Bella to me with a smile.

“Yeah, I see that you have chosen yours, may I know what is the mission you have picked.”

Bella immediately handed over the piece of parchment where the mission was written. I then read it quietly, the mission was about investigating a mysterious disappearance of maidens in a small village. The mission also said that the quest is a party request restricted to five people only. So clearly I wouldn't be able to join, and the mission would probably take about two to three weeks to complete, which adds a reason for me to not go. As I still had an examination next week to upgrade my rank.

I looked at Bella who still had her smile, I then spoke as I gave the parchment back. “Good luck with this mission, too bad I can't join you in this one.”

Marcia who was standing next to Karl spoke after hearing me, “D-don't worry mister when we return we sure to do a quest with you. ”

“Haha, I'm looking forward to that Marcia, so you better get back here as soon as possible.”

David suddenly patted my back like we're close friends, he then spoke confidently, “Don't you worry about that, we've gotten stronger after the mission with the Megasaurus. We will surely back faster than what the mission days required.”

“I'll look forward to your return then,” I replied to the five. After that, they immediately went straight to Lora's counter, while I picked out a quest that I will do, too bad I can't join the people I was already acquainted with. Who knows maybe solo missions aren't too bad themselves m-maybe.

I looked at the solo missions that fit my rank, killing goblins, Nah I've killed too many goblins already. Searching for a lost dog, what the hell, do F rank adventurers really do this kind of mission? What else are there? Uh, here's one become a subject for my experiments and you will be rewarded a hefty price, No thanks that sound already fishy and dangerous.

I let out a sigh after reading all of the available quests for my rank, this was frustrating actually. It's a good thing that I earned bug time in killing the Megasaurus and adding to my advantage is that I don't need to consume food.

“What did you say!? There are no more missions available for F-rank adventurers! ” Yelled a young adventurer to one of the clerks.

The clerk replied with an apology and explanation, “I'm very sorry for this inconvenience but weaker monsters that F-class adventurers are capable of defeating has dwindled down. So the threat of those monsters has also been dwindling down causing the decrease for F-rank adventurers.”

“What the hell! So how are we going to feed ourselves if we got no job to work with!?” Yelled the young adventurer to the clerk again.

But the clerk immediately replied, “You can always go to the dungeon to get some materials that we can trade for money. I think that's the only way you can earn during this crisis.”

The young adventurer clicked his tongue and walked away from the counter along with his party. After that the clerk let out a sigh and spoke to herself, “Its not my fault if there are no quests for F-rankers.”

A decrease in F-rank requests the lower number of weaker monsters, why does this feel connected to something. Wait a second, don't tell me the ecosystem being destroyed was this the effect? No wait, maybe it's just a coincidence, probably the monsters are just reproducing, the goblins are still there so doubt about it that's still not the case. Maybe I should observe a few more days before concluding to the death of the Megasaurus.

I went towards the clerk with the mission I have chosen to take, it was about killing some nasty rats infesting the sewers of the town. I went to the clerk who the young from before was yelling at. I gave her the parchment of the quest, she then spoke, “Thank you for choosing this quest sir, the reward for this will fifty silvers.”

This clerk was also a beauty, she wore the same clothes as Lora, but her proportion wasn't as jaw-dropping as Lora, but she is still in the category that men call sexy. She had black hair and wore glasses which actually adds to her beauty's uniqueness.

“Your Destroyer right?” asked the clerk as she stamps the parchment.

I replied to her, “Yes I am Destroyer and why do you ask miss?”

The clerk then answered, “Well every clerk here was tasked to send you to the guild master's office when we see you. Seems like the guild master has taken a liking to you, good sir.”

“I would say not liking, but a tool to ease their jobs, honestly it's kinda annoying, but at least you get perks.”

“I guess you are right about that mister, here you go.” She handed me the stamped parchment which says accepted quest.

But before going to this quest, I should pay a visit to the guild master who has called me to his office back again. I hope it's another good news for me, but is it really the right time to go to his office. Wellbeing an early bird would have its advantages, so I went straight to the office.

I knocked on the guild master's door, a familiar voice then gave me permission to enter. I then opened the door and saw the familiar figure of the guild master, but I also saw a new face that I haven't seen before seating in the room.

The new guy is probably somewhere 20-25 years old base on his looks. His hair had a chestnut color and his eyes had a deep green color. His clothing, on the other hand, was dark blue chest piece armor, trousers, boots, leather gloves and boots, his equipment is a sword in his waist.

“Please have a seat Destroyer,” spoke the guild master as he points his hand toward the empty chair.

As I sat down the chair, the guild master spoke again, “Destroyer I would like you to meet one of the examiners overseeing you on your exam next week.”

The examiner who has remained quite gave me his hand and spoke, “I'm Crux nice to meet you Destroyer.”

I immediately grabbed his hand and shook it, Crux then continued to speak, “I have heard the story of your victory against a threat that kingdom can't even kill. I guess you truly deserved to be upgraded but I kinda don't agree with the rank the higher-ups gave you. ”

“I am actually fine with the rank, as I understand the uproar it will cost if word got out about a few day old F-rank becoming a B class suddenly.”

“My friend that's the wrong way of dreaming! If you want to dream! Dream big and shoot for the stars. ” spoke crux with burning eyes of passion.

“Please don't give the idea of becoming a defiant adventurer, Crux,” spoke guild master Mordor as he drinks his tea.

Crux turned around to the guild master and replied, ‘“Nah, I'm not telling him to be like that master, I'm just telling him to dream big. I even see his potential of being able to achieve his dreams, which is being backed up by his current record of beating an A-class threat.”

Seeing the conversation between the guild master and the examiner, I immediately concluded that they must be close. I then spoke out of nowhere, Umm…guild master may I know the reason why you have called me here?”

The guild master then faced me and replied, “I'm not the one who wants to call you here.” The guild master then pointed his hand towards Crux and spoke, “He's the one who wants to actually speak to you Destroyer.”

I then looked at Crux and asked, “So why did you call me here?”

“Well about that, I just wanted to brief you about the examination. So I asked guild master to call you for me, I hope that I didn't interrupt something important. ”

“Its actually okay, the mission I have taken was also of least important right now. Basically, you're not interrupting me as yours is far more important. ”

“Well that's nice to hear, then shall I start with the briefing.” Crux then got the satchel that he put on the floor. He then grabbed something from it and handed it to me, what I received from Crux was a scroll.

I then asked Crux on what the scroll was, “Crux what is this?”

Crux answered as he grabbed a parchment from the satchel. “That's teleportation scroll that you will use on the day of the exam, it will teleport you on the venue of the examination area.”

“I see, but why would we need such a thing if we can just travel to such a place.”

Crux smiled and replied, “Look the location of the examination area is kept a secret, so the examinees wouldn't be able to cheat or do other interruptions such as a quest.”

After that Crux then started to brief me about the examination, “Let's start on how the exam works.”

“The exam will be done inside an unknown dungeon that matches the strength and skills needed for a D+ adventurer. The examinees will be coming from different towns, the adventurers must exhibit a form of teamwork to conquer the dungeon, thus forming a temporary party. The dungeon must be conquered in 72 hours for the examinees to pass. If they fail to reach the time limit, they are considered as failed. ”

“Those who also refuse to work together with the others will automatically be disqualified. When one of the examinees dies in the dungeon all of the other examinees will also fail. After the dungeon is successfully conquered the examinees will be given a letter of recommendation from the examiners. The examinees will have to present the letter to their respective guild masters in order to be upgraded.”

“That's all I have to tell you Destroyer,” spoke Crux, “I hope you got all of that?” he added.

“Why do we have to fail if one of us dies, Crux?” I asked with a serious tone.

“Why would you want to know that Destroyer?”

“Isn't it there fault on why they die, and not ours. ”

“You are right about that Destroyer, but you have to remember that you have to work together in order to pass. Meaning someone dying is caused by not working together as a team.”

“I see, then I have no further questions, so may I go now.”

“Yes, but before I forgot open that scroll six days from now on, and as I said before it will bring you straight to the examination venue.”

After that, I walked out of the room, but I was kinda disappointed with the rules about someone dying and we all fail. That's like blaming your weakness to others, which I don't take lightly as a former competitive gamer in MOBA's In my past life, weak players always blame their teammates in defeat, even they clearly did not do their role or feeder the enemy with kills.