Odyssey of the Renegade Sovereign

The way she entered the arena was the same way she exited—calm, silent, and composed. Every pair of eyes in the hall remained locked on the hooded figure, their expressions frozen in disbelief. She walked past the corpse of the beast as if a Tier-2 monster were no more than an ant beneath her feet.

The red-gold-dressed youth, who had smugly predicted her defeat moments ago, now stood with his mouth wide open—wide enough to fit an egg. His previous arrogance had evaporated, replaced by stunned silence.

"I…" he croaked, but the words didn't come out.

Astrael, too, was surprised.

It had taken him around five to ten minutes to bring down his beast. And while he hadn't used his full strength, the girl had ended her fight in one stroke—without even showing her full power.

His silver eyes trailed after her retreating figure.

"Mountain beyond mountains, heaven beyond heaven…" Astrael muttered under his breath.

It was a phrase he remembered reading in one of his books—used to describe the endless layers of strength in the world. No matter how powerful one thought they were, there was always someone higher, someone stronger.

But instead of discouragement, it filled Astrael with something else—motivation.

He smiled faintly. His desire to grow stronger only deepened.

Gauntaur, watching the girl rejoin the group, turned to face the few remaining candidates.

"You all have passed the guild's test," he said, his voice loud and authoritative. "You've shown the required will… and enough strength not to die the moment you step outside the town."

He paused, letting the silence sink in.

"But don't let it get to your heads. Compared to the world out there, this?" He gestured to the arena. "This is nothing."

"Now, go to the reception and collect your adventurer cards. That card proves you're a registered adventurer of the Guild."

He turned away.

"Dismissed."

With that, Gauntaur walked out of the arena, his axe resting on his shoulder.

But as he stepped through the stone doorway, he glanced over one last time at the hooded girl, his eyes narrowed slightly.

'Why is a descendant of that family here?' he muttered to himself.

He shook his head, brushing the thought away.

'Tch. Not my business. As long as she doesn't cause trouble.'

For now, it wasn't his concern.

And with that, he disappeared through the door, leaving behind silence, awe… and a group of new adventurers standing in the weight of their first real steps into the world.

Later, he would realise they were not a normal genius, but it was far in the future.

Astrael, the hooded girl, and the red-gold-dressed youth walked together toward the reception hall. As they moved through the corridor, Astrael's eyes drifted toward the large portraits lining the stone walls—paintings that exuded both reverence and pride.

Each canvas depicted a different figure, clad in armor, cloaks, or robes, frozen in mid-battle or standing tall with serene expressions. Beneath each painting, a small bronze plaque detailed their names and deeds.

"You know, those are some of the famous adventurers who gave their lives for the kingdom," the red-gold-dressed youth suddenly spoke, catching Astrael's attention.

Astrael turned his head, slightly surprised, his silver eyes narrowing with interest. He didn't say anything—just gave a small, curious nod, signalling the youth to go on.

"They were among the great martyrs who joined the Alliance Army in the last war. They fought against the Evil Army and defended the lands we now live on. Each one of them stood firm when it mattered the most."

He pointed toward one particular portrait—a woman in silver armor, holding a banner stained in blood but not torn.

"They displayed courage... real courage. They didn't run. They stood, knowing they would probably die. But they still chose to fight. Because people needed time to escape. Cities needed to be defended. Families needed hope."

He paused for a moment.

"The guild hung their portraits here in honour. Not just as heroes, but as reminders. They were once adventurers like us. Registered right here. Took jobs. Fought monsters. Then... gave everything."

Astrael looked at the portraits again, this time with a deeper gaze.

His voice was quiet, but firm. "Even if people forget names... these walls remember."

The hooded girl didn't speak, but for the first time, her head tilted toward the paintings. Her steps slowed just a little as they passed the final portrait.

Then, without a word, she kept walking.

The group continued toward the reception, the air slightly heavier now—but filled with a strange sense of respect.

"Oh! Where are my manners—my name is Tavric Elmoor, from the Elmoor family," the youth said to Astrael with a small smile, brushing back a strand of his styled hair.

"Elmoor?" Astrael asked in surprise.

He wasn't surprised by the youth's polished name, but rather by the family he came from. The Elmoor family—one of the largest merchant clans in the entire kingdom. They held a prestigious position as part of the upper echelon of the Merchant Guild's kingdom branch.

Their trade in spices was renowned, reaching every noble household, every grand feast, and even the royal kitchens. It was impossible not to know the name.

"Oh? Do you know of my family?" Tavric asked, a little too brightly.

Astrael resisted the sudden, very sharp urge to punch him.

Of course he knew.

Who didn't know the Elmoor name?

Looking at the youth's over-embellished robe, polished boots, and gold-accented belt buckle, Astrael now fully understood. So that's why he dresses like this—practically spilling excess wealth with every step. All that opulence only attracts trouble.

"Astrael Ravenastra," Astrael replied after a pause, offering his own name plainly.

"Oh! Ravenastra. A Baron family! It's my pleasure to meet you, Master Astrael," Tavric said with a polite bow and wide grin.

Astrael stumbled slightly hearing the title.

"Just call me Astrael. That's enough," he said with a slightly irritated expression.

"Oh! As you say... Lord Astrael."

Astrael gave up.

There was no winning here.

He knew that by noble hierarchy, his family ranked higher than a merchant house—even one as wealthy and influential as the Elmoor clan—but in practical terms, the difference was thin. His father was a Baron, yes, but the Elmours practically ran entire sections of the kingdom's economy. Compared to them, being a Baron's son meant little in wealth or reach.

So, he just let it slide.

For now.

As they stepped up to the reception counter, the soft clinking of medals and murmuring adventurers buzzed quietly in the background. The guild's stone walls were lined with message boards and glowing lanterns, while scrolls and posters fluttered faintly from the passing breeze through the open windows.

Behind the polished wooden counter stood a woman in her late twenties, dressed in the guild's black and silver uniform. Her hair was tied up neatly, and a metallic badge gleamed on her chest. Her sharp brown eyes scanned them quickly, then softened.

"Welcome," she said with a polite tone. "Congratulations on passing the trial. You'll now be registered as F-rank adventurers."

She opened a drawer and pulled out three blank cards. They were sleek, metallic, and shimmered slightly under the lantern light. Each had a small crest of the Adventurer's Guild engraved in the center.

"These are your Adventurer Cards," she explained, placing one in front of each of them. "They serve as your identification as a certified member of the Adventurer's Guild and also act as an official identity card within the kingdom."

Astrael picked up the card. It was warm to the touch, humming softly with mana. His name was already engraved at the top, along with his current rank: F-Rank.

The woman continued, "Your card will display your name, current rank, and a small log of your completed quests. It also stores Merit Points."

"Merit Points?" Tavric asked, raising a brow.

The receptionist nodded. "Yes. For every task you complete, depending on its rank, difficulty, and result, you earn merit points. They're essential if you want to rank up, get access to restricted dungeons, or receive special guild rewards."

She reached below the counter and placed a small booklet in front of each of them.

"This is the Adventurer's Handbook. Inside, you'll find detailed information about how quests work, monster classifications, the guild's rules, ranking system, and regional maps."

She paused, then added, "Merit points are also reviewed by nobles and military forces. For some of you, with aspirations for higher titles, it's more than just adventuring. It's reputation."

Tavric smirked and tucked the card into the inside of his coat.

Astrael simply nodded, sliding the card into a pouch tied to his waist.

"And her?" the receptionist asked softly, eyes flicking to the hooded girl.

"She's with us," Astrael replied calmly. "She passed too."

The girl didn't say a word. Her card sat untouched on the table, though she glanced at it briefly. She took it quietly and walked away toward the mission board without a word.

The receptionist blinked at her retreating figure, then sighed. "That one's... quiet."

Astrael gave a small shrug. "She's strong."

"That's usually enough," the woman replied.

With that, the three of them stood, cards in hand, officially certified adventurers.