Early morning. As always, the guild was packed with adventurers. Amidst the crowd, a man in a robe made his way inside with a practiced air—it was Rei.
Incidentally, he had come to the guild alone today because Set was still asleep when he was ready to head out.
Since it had only been a few days since he registered, many adventurers did not recognize him. Seeing his short stature and what appeared to be a slender build, several tried to accost him, thinking an easy mark had arrived. However, as soon as the veterans whispered the fate of the Falcon's Claws to the newcomers, the bullies' faces twitched, and they quickly looked away.
Ignoring them, Rei was about to head toward the board where F-Rank requests were posted when a loud voice suddenly boomed through the guild.
"Listen up! We’re calling for an emergency request! The objective is the extermination of an Orc settlement being built about a day's journey from Gilm. The reward is five gold coins as an advance, followed by two platinum coins upon completion. Additional rewards may be issued depending on your individual contribution. Also, while the standard buying price for an Orc’s right ear—the proof of subjugation part—is three silver coins, we are raising it to five silver coins for this mission. As you know, an Orc is a Rank D monster, but they are treated as Rank C when in a pack. Only those who judge themselves capable are permitted to participate. It goes without saying that you must be strong enough to take down a single Orc on your own. Those interested must register at the counter within the hour and then assemble in the second-floor meeting room!"
The speaker was likely a former adventurer. His voice, belonging to a man missing the top half of his right ear, reached every corner of the guild.
"How many Orcs are there!?" a man standing before the C-Rank board shouted back.
"Unknown. But we are certain there are at least fifty."
Fifty. As soon as that number was announced, a wave of murmurs rippled through the hall.
"Hey, if there are at least fifty Orcs..."
"Yeah. There’s no doubt a rare species or a high-ranking species is leading them. That means there's a high chance that Orc Mages and other magic-users are mixed in."
"...What do we do?"
"It’s a huge score if we pull it off. You get five gold coins and two platinum coins just for showing up and finishing the job. But a reward that high means the danger is just as extreme..."
"I’m out. My party was nearly wiped out by three Orcs once."
"I’m in. The reward is massive, and besides, we can't let an Orc settlement be built just a day away from here. The damage to Gilm would be devastating."
As he listened to the chatter, Rei searched Zephyle's knowledge for information on Orcs.
『Orc』
A general term for demi-human monsters with pig-like faces. They are roughly the height of an adult human male. They generally prefer close-quarters weapons like swords, spears, and clubs, but there are high-ranking species as well: Orc Archers who use bows, Orc Mages who use magic, and Orc Generals whose abilities far exceed those of common Orcs. However, the absolute number of high-ranking species is low compared to the common variant.
While their combat techniques are rudimentary, they possess immense strength and often overpower skilled opponents with raw force.
The race consists entirely of males; they reproduce using females of other races, most frequently human women.
They possess an instinctive understanding of the utility of groups, typically living in packs of several to over a dozen. However, when a rare or high-ranking species appears, they have been known to organize into hordes numbering in the hundreds.
(So I did have knowledge on Orcs. Well, they are the most classic of fantasy monsters.)
Rei allowed a satisfied smile to cross his face, pleased with the wealth of information Zephyle had left him.
(Now then, what to do... I might as well join. It’s an emergency request, so I can expect a significant boost to my standing with the guild. The pay is also exceptional compared to standard requests. And it’s lucky that the rank requirements are flexible this time. It wouldn't hurt to make a name for myself now for when high-rank subjugations come up later. The only downside is letting more people see my combat style... but after fighting the Goblin Drool, it’s a bit late to worry about that. I should probably expect more annoying recruitment offers once this is over, though.)
Unaware that the guild master had already ordered Lenora—the ponytail receptionist who had handled his registration—to report any trouble he encountered, Rei weighed the pros and cons and decided the benefits far outweighed the risks.
Nodding to himself, he approached Lenora’s counter.
"Ah, good morning, Rei-san. Are you looking for a request?"
Lenora greeted him with a bright smile. Beside her, a cat-beastman receptionist was processing forms for other adventurers while casting occasional glances toward Rei, though he didn't notice.
"So, where is your request form?"
"I want to sign up for the Orc subjugation."
The Orc subjugation. Upon hearing those words, Lenora froze.
"Um, Rei-san... I should probably remind you that Orcs are Rank D. In a pack, they are treated as Rank C. I really can't recommend this for a Rank G adventurer."
"Didn't the announcement say the only requirement was having the combat power to kill an Orc?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"Then there’s no problem. At the very least, I’m strong enough to have killed a Rank C Water Bear in the Forest of Magic."
"A Water Bear!?"
Lenora nearly shouted, but she quickly slapped her hands over her mouth to muffle the sound.
"And the Forest of Magic... why were you in such a dangerous place? Wait, was that where you were yesterday when you didn't show up at the guild?"
"Well, uh... it’s a long story. I'll tell you some other time. So, what about the Orcs?"
"...I suppose if you can kill a Water Bear, it shouldn't be a problem... but Rei-san, a Rank G participating in a mission like this will definitely make you stand out in the worst way. There will be people who try to pick fights with you, just like Falcon's Claws."
Lenora looked genuinely worried, but Rei only smirked.
"In that case, maybe I can just have another wagered match."
"...Please, don't..."
With a sigh of resignation, Lenora began writing Rei’s name into the documents.
"Your registration for the Orc subjugation is complete. Please wait in the second-floor meeting room. There will be a detailed briefing shortly."
Rei nodded and headed for the stairs.
The guild’s meeting room was nothing like the high-tech conference rooms of Japan. It was simply a large, open space with chairs scattered haphazardly about. The large table that usually occupied the center had been pushed into a corner.
About twenty adventurers had already gathered, likely those who had registered immediately. They were huddled in parties of three to five, discussing strategies for the upcoming hunt. Rei walked calmly into the room.
Because everyone else was in a group, a small boy entering alone in a robe was incredibly conspicuous. Every eye in the room turned toward him.
Clatter! Suddenly, the sound of chairs scraping against the floor echoed through the room as several people reflexively jumped back.
"Hey, what’s wrong?"
"...Nothing. It’s nothing."
"Did that kid do something to you? I can go have a word with him if you want."
"Don't! Just stay away from him!"
A party near the window was having that exact exchange, and similar whispers broke out among several others. The people reacting this way shared one trait: they were all mages.
Rei himself specialized in fire magic and lacked the sensitivity to notice, but some mages were gifted with the ability to perceive the magic power of others. Those mages were currently being staggered by the overwhelmingly immense magic power radiating from Rei's body.
(...What? Did someone recognize the value of the Dragon Robe?)
Lacking the same sensory perception, Rei misunderstood their shock, assuming someone had spotted the high-value item he was wearing. He wondered if they would be even more distracted if he were carrying the Death Scythe, but he had stored the massive weapon inside the Misty Ring, knowing it would be a nuisance in a crowded room.
(Well, whatever. I'll just wait for this meeting to start.)
Thinking this to himself, he took a seat in an empty chair in the corner and began observing the competition.
"Hey, isn't that him?"
"Yeah. The one they say took down the Falcon's Claws. I heard about it this morning."
"But if that’s true, he’s still only Rank G, right? Isn't an Orc hunt a bit premature?"
"I wouldn't worry. If he can beat Vargas head-on, he’s fine. Vargas was basically Rank C in terms of pure combat power... even if he was a total muscle-brain."
"I just hope he's actually useful. I don't want some kid dragging us down."
"By the way, what happened to Falcon's Claws? Aren't they joining the hunt?"
"Word is that when they lost to that kid, he stripped them of their weapons and all their gold. They’re stuck doing grunt work to pay off their guild debt now."
"If they're in debt, they should have joined this hunt. It's guaranteed coin."
"I told you, their weapons were taken. They’re using cheap spares now. Would you want to fight a horde of Orcs led by a high-ranking species with a budget sword?"
"...Fair point."
Rei heard every word of the conversation coming from a group of four men nearby.
(Debt, huh... with a personality like that, I figured he'd just try to run. I guess the guild has ways of ensuring payment.)
He briefly pictured Vargas's face before casting the thought aside to continue his observations.
Given the nature of the request, the adventurers gathered here all projected a certain level of competence. The ratio of men to women was roughly 7:3—more women than Rei had expected. Many of them kept casting curious glances his way.
They were interested, yet Rei projected an aura that made him difficult to approach. Into this awkward, silent atmosphere, several more adventurers arrived.
The moment these new figures appeared, the room buzzed with an excitement far greater than anything Rei’s arrival had caused.
Intrigued, Rei looked toward the door.
The man in the lead appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties. He had green hair and wore a mischievous, boyish grin that didn't quite match his age. He walked with a heavy, grounded presence; his body was a mass of muscles like crags. On his back, he carried a massive battle axe. If Vargas was a mere goblin, this man’s presence was that of a cyclops. Even Rei could sense that the axe was a high-level magic item.
Behind him was a female adventurer in her thirties. She carried a staff, marking her as a mage. Her blue hair was cut sharply at her shoulders. The moment she entered, her eyes landed on Rei, and she reflexively recoiled at the sight of his magic power.
The final member of the trio was a young man, perhaps a year or two older than Rei. He carried a sword at his waist and wore leather armor made from monster hide, clearly favoring agility.
Based on his light blue hair and facial features, it was obvious he was related to the two in front of him. Seeing the woman recoil, the young man handed her off to the older man and stomped toward Rei. He stopped right in front of him and reached out.
"Hey! You! What did you do to my mom!?"
He grabbed the chest of Rei’s robe and yanked him forward.
This was Rei's first encounter with the Axe of the Thunder God, one of Gilm’s most famous A-Rank parties.