Chapter Nineteen: Appearances Can Be Deceiving

“What did you see?”

Without noticing when, a middle-aged man with a refined appearance, dressed in a deep blue robe, appeared beside Mordan. Tilting his head with interest, he asked him this question.

“I saw an epic,” Mordan glanced at the statue of Gary, the founder of the Adventurers’ Guild, then turned back, staring intently at the faceless statue of the nameless adventurer without any profession or racial traits. “And a mirror.”

The man smiled gently at him. “Well said. Every time I come here, I feel the same way…”

“It’s not a feeling,” Mordan returned a faint smile, then shook his head. “An epic and a mirror are what I see, but if you’re asking about a feeling…”

He looked up ahead at the Pathfinder’s Gate, large enough to allow a fully grown dragon to pass through freely, and sighed, “Freedom and unrestrained spirit, nothing more.”

The man was slightly taken aback, then pondered for a moment before saying nothing. He patted Mordan’s shoulder and turned to leave.

Curious, Mordan glanced back, only to find that the middle-aged man who had just been in his sight had vanished in the blink of an eye, as if he had never been there.

Suddenly, a pang of regret struck him. If he had answered more thoughtfully instead of blurting out his thoughts instinctively, perhaps he could have received a secret quest from that handsome gentleman—maybe something like running amok tonight at the Mountain God’s Temple on Ten-Mile Slope outside Anka Market...

And the reward? A manual on swordsmanship, a set of talismans for exorcists, and an immortal sister with the bloodline of Nuwa herself as a bonus~

“Crazy,” Mordan rolled his eyes and cursed himself before striding toward the Pathfinder’s Gate of the Adventurers’ Guild, deciding to register his identity promptly. After all, he could be disconnected at any moment and couldn’t afford to waste time idly daydreaming.

As one of the largest branches of the Adventurers’ Guild on the Northwest Continent, the Anka Branch was perpetually bustling with adventurers of all races, genders, ages, worldviews, and orientations. Mordan, just entering the main hall, felt as if he had mistakenly stepped into a subway station during rush hour...

Though not quite swept off his feet by the flowing crowd, the sheer number of adventurers here was greater than all the living creatures Mordan had seen in the game these past two days combined...

A slender rogue, clad entirely in black leather armor with several daggers hanging from his waist, leaned against the wall as if asleep. Yet, even his stillness radiated a sharp, chilling aura.

A graceful white elf huntress with pointed ears and a bow on her back spoke softly with her companions. Mordan keenly noticed a barely perceptible silver halo that occasionally shimmered around her—a sign that beneath her agile exterior, she was likely a devoted priestess.

An elderly human mage walked calmly through the crowd, and all the seemingly powerful adventurers instinctively made way. The unassuming ancient staff in his hand sparked faintly with magical energy, its power reservoir unfathomable.

Nearby, a half-orc girl with gray beast ears and sharp tiger-like teeth stood silently before a display window. Though quiet, it was evident she had just completed a dangerous and difficult task, only to reveal details when higher-ranking reception staff arrived...

And many more—all glanced at once, and it was clear they were formidable figures!

“Truly worthy of the Adventurers’ Guild...” Mordan thought with respect after gathering much information within moments of stepping into the hall. But before he could reflect further, a loud howl pierced the air.

“Ow!!! Who stepped on my foot!” The previously ‘chilling’ rogue leapt up three feet, looking left and right warily, then puzzled, “Huh? Why did it suddenly get dark?”

A kind bystander patted his arm. “Your mask fell off…”

“Oh, thanks!” The rogue quickly pulled up his mask, mumbling, “It’s supposed to be down, but I forgot to cut ventilation holes earlier. No wonder I felt so suffocated when I accidentally nodded off…”

Mordan: “......”

Nearby, the elegant elf huntress, seemingly the ‘devout priestess,’ muttered aggrievedly to her companion, “But it looked pretty…”

“Pretty my foot!” The lizardman summoner beside her, his scaly red face turning green with anger, stomped and shouted at her, “Why waste money on glittering halos when you’re just a ranger apprentice? If you could climb trees, maybe it’d be okay. But you’re an elf who can’t even climb trees and you glow intermittently? Are you trying to hasten your death?!”

The ranger apprentice shrank her neck, blushing as she whispered, “Girls like shiny things, and I got this from the goblin secondhand market. It’s almost expired, so it shouldn’t be too bright…”

“Goblin market?! What do those bastards sell that doesn’t have gunpowder in it?!” The lizardman, furious like a chameleon, pointed at Mordan and yelled at the embarrassed elf, “How is it not obvious? Didn’t you see that clueless passerby staring at you for ages?!”

Mordan: “......”

Then a commotion stirred in the crowd. Someone shouted “Run!” and “Damn!” Mordan stiffly turned around just in time to see the ‘unfathomable’ elderly mage waving his arms and approaching him, shouting, “Why are you all avoiding me? This staff is an heirloom. Even if it’s old, it shouldn’t just explode randomly!”

“Get lost!” A terrified gnome priest squeezed through the crowd, waving his hands and yelling, “You’re a lousy beginner mage who’s about to kick the bucket! Stay away from me!”

Soon, many others around joined in the chorus loudly...

“Yes! Stay away from us!”

“Last month, this old guy’s antique staff exploded four times!”

“Four times? I thought it was three…”

“The last time it exploded, you weren’t even healed yet~”

“Wait, how did I get hurt again?”

“He exploded it!”

“Damn!”

Except for Mordan, who was still in shock, everyone nearby hurriedly distanced themselves. Then...

The gifted old man, still a beginner mage at over eighty years old, suddenly brightened and jogged toward Mordan, chuckling, “Young man, want to team up? My fireball is sharp as hell!”

“Wait!” Mordan looked at the ancient staff in the old mage’s hand, which was now sparking ominous fire sparks midair. A chill rose from his heart. He quickly waved his hand, “Stay back…”

Boom!!!

A minute later, Mordan, looking utterly disheveled, struggled to stand, pulling up the old mage he had instinctively knocked down moments before. Looking at his remaining five percent health, he sighed deeply.

Everything happened too suddenly. When black smoke suddenly puffed from the old mage’s staff, Mordan immediately snatched it away without hesitation and, with the speed of a special forces soldier spotting a grenade at his feet, threw it into the air. While crawling on the ground, he pinned the old mage down, then...

He lost ninety percent of his health from the explosion, plus another five percent due to burning effects.

So, the saying “Good people don’t live long” isn’t without reason...

“That really hurts…” Mordan stood dazed, staggering to slump against the wall. Ignoring the still dazed old mage and the many admiring or incredulous gazes and applause around him, he felt utterly hopeless.

Then, a “Woof~” sounded nearby.

Woof?!

Mordan turned his head, feeling his face pale. The previously cold half-orc girl finally spoke—but only a single syllable, “Woof”...

“Um…” The human girl behind the display window raised her hand to her forehead, then shrugged at the canine-like half-orc, “How bad is your Common language?”

“Woof o(╥﹏╥)o…”

“Sigh, okay. For quest inquiries, you bark once. For complaints, bark one thousand four hundred seventy-three times.”

“Woof?!”

“Oh, for quests, do you want to accept or turn in? One bark to accept, two to turn in.”

“Woof (*^▽^*).”

“Give me your manual, let me check... You can only take the lowest rank E-grade quests.” The clerk handed back the handbook with a big bone on its cover. “Go to the quest board, write down the number of your choice, and register it here.”

“Woof…” The half-orc girl reached out.

“Okay, okay, here’s a pen. Remember to return it later.”

“Woof~~(✪ω✪)”

The half-orc girl took the pen and scampered off.

Suppressing the urge to cough up blood, and having regained a bit of strength, Mordan struggled to his feet and approached the distinctive clerk, raising his hand to greet through the glass, “Excuse me~”

“Hm?” She played with her fingernail absentmindedly. “What’s up?”

Mordan smiled politely, “I want to register as an adventurer. What do I need to…”

Slap!

A piece of paper was slapped down in front of Mordan. The clerk glanced at him. “Fill this out. When finished, hand it back and I’ll give you the manual.”

“That’s it?” Mordan was surprised. Although he was now unshaken by any mishaps, Mage had mentioned that registering as an adventurer wasn’t difficult but required a simple test.

Had that information become outdated?

“Normally, there should be a test, since we have some rules here.” The girl smiled at Mordan and pointed to the few scorch marks on his body. “But I saw you survive that old man Jadka’s self-exploding staff without dying or losing limbs. Your strength qualifies you. Judging by that magical fluctuation, if you were weak, you’d have been incinerated on the spot…”

So, cremation is a trend in the Innocent Continent too?

Mordan forced a dry laugh, borrowed a pen from her, and quickly filled in the simple form—name, gender, age—then wrote “Beginner Warrior” in the strength field. Done.

“Mo?” The girl muttered while checking levels on a crystal board nearby. “That’s quite a unique name. Is it a pseudonym? Were you originally called something like ‘Dumb Ox’... Well, whatever, the guild will only recognize this name from now on. Here.”

She handed Mordan a thin black leather manual.

“Thanks~” Mordan said politely, taking it. Then, a system prompt sounded in his ear.

[You have unlocked the Identity System]

[You have obtained the identity: Beginner Adventurer]

[Beginner Adventurer]

Identity (non-unique)

Use: Receive or register completion of E-grade quests at the Adventurers’ Guild

[Note: Novice]

...

[You have obtained a bound item: Adventurer’s Manual]

[Adventurer’s Manual]

Bound, unique

Use: Prove your identity

[Note: Replacement is expensive... very expensive... very expensive...]

“You’re welcome.” The girl smiled at him. “You’re now a beginner adventurer and can only take the lowest-level quests. Although they’re troublesome and often a rip-off, at least they’re safe. After completing enough quests, you can upgrade and take higher-level ones. But it’s best to do so after improving your strength. The death rate at our Anka Branch is already high enough. For our bonuses, please prioritize your safety…”

Mordan had been somewhat moved, but after hearing that last part, all he felt was frustration. After thanking her again, he briskly headed toward the quest board near the center of the hall, eager to see just how pitiful E-grade quests were.

...

“That’s against regulations, President.” The girl softly muttered to the empty air after watching Mordan leave.

Amid a faint ripple, the refined man Mordan had met at the branch entrance appeared behind her, shrugging. “When have you ever taken responsibility when things go wrong? Don’t worry, that young man is quite interesting…”

Martin Sloan, President of the Anka Market Adventurers’ Branch, known as the Starlight Sage, smiled quietly. “I see redemption in his eyes…”

Chapter 19: The End