NOVEL WEB Chapter 6: The Alley Confrontation & Journey to the Adventurer's Guild
Max smiled at the twins and gave them a small wave. "Hey there. I'm Max," he said, his tone casual despite the tension in the air. "Sorry to barge in on this mess, but you two seemed like you could use a hand."
The twins exchanged glances before the one with long black hair spoke up. "I'm Seria. And this is my sister, Lira," she said, gesturing to her short-haired twin.
Lira nodded. "Thanks for stepping in, Max, but you really don't have to get involved. These guys aren't worth the trouble."
Max chuckled. "Trouble's kind of my thing. Besides, I can't just stand by while this goes on."
As they talked, one of the men let out an angry yell. "Hey, punk! What do you think you're doing ignoring us?!" His face was red, and his fists were clenched.
Another man stepped forward, his grin wide and menacing. "You've got guts, freak. Too bad we're gonna beat them out of you!"
Max turned to them, unfazed, and smirked. "Alright, let's make this interesting." He stretched out his hand. "Tails, Tusk, let's have some fun!"
In a flash of light, Tails and Tusk appeared. Tails landed gracefully on Max's shoulder, chattering eagerly, while Tusk snorted and pawed at the ground, his tusks gleaming in the dim light of the alley.
The group of men froze, their expressions shifting from anger to confusion.
"What the…?" one of them muttered.
"Is he a Beast Tamer?" another asked, his voice laced with unease.
"Of course I am," Max said with a grin. "Did you really think you'd have an easy time with me?"
Seria and Lira watched in surprise, their eyes widening.
"A Beast Tamer?" Seria said. "That's rare. No wonder he's so confident."
Lira crossed her arms, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "This might actually be interesting. Let's see what he can do."
Max pointed a finger at the group of men, his golden eyes gleaming. "Before we start, let's see what we're dealing with. Skill: Appraisal."
A glowing screen appeared in front of Max, displaying the stats and skills of a few of the men. He read them aloud, smirking as he went.
Name: Garred
Type: Human
Level: 5
Skills:
Brawler's Strike: A strong punch that deals extra damage.
Intimidation: Reduces the courage of weaker opponents.
Name: Varn
Type: Human
Level: 6
Skills:
Knife Throw: Throws a knife with precision.
Quick Step: Increases agility for a short time.
Name: Brok
Type: Human
Level: 4
Skills:
Tough Skin: Reduces physical damage.
Charge: A reckless rush toward an enemy.
Max grinned. "Not bad, but you're out of your league. Hope you're ready for this."
The men exchanged uneasy glances, but the leader, Garred, sneered. "Doesn't matter if you've got some beasts. We'll still crush you!"
Max shifted into a ready stance, Tails chattering excitedly on his shoulder and Tusk snorting as he stomped a hoof.
"Bring it on," Max said, his grin widening.
Chapter: Journey to the Adventurer's Guild
Max looked at the twins, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement. "So, where's the Adventurer's Guild? I've been thinking about it, and I really want to become an adventurer. Travel the world, meet other beasts, and see what's out there."
Seria crossed her arms, a thoughtful expression on her face. "The guild, huh? That's a good place to start if you're serious about adventuring. They'll register you, give you quests, and it's a great way to meet other adventurers."
Lira nodded. "Yeah, and it's a lot better than wandering aimlessly. You'll get resources and connections. Plus, they'll evaluate your skills. A Beast Tamer like you would definitely stand out."
Max grinned. "Sounds perfect. Where is it?"
The twins exchanged a glance before Seria said, "Why don't we take you there? It's not far, and we can show you around. It'll be faster than trying to find it on your own."
Max's smile widened. "Really? Thanks, that'd be awesome."
With that, the three of them left the alleyway, walking through the bustling streets of the city. As they walked, they began to talk, the atmosphere much lighter now that the tension had passed.
"So, how long have you two been adventurers?" Max asked, glancing at the twins.
Seria spoke first. "We've been at it for about three years now. Started with simple escort missions and gathering jobs, but we've taken on bigger quests recently."
Lira added, "It's not always glamorous. Sometimes it's tough, but it's rewarding. You get to see the world and meet all kinds of people."
"And monsters," Seria said, smirking. "Lots of monsters."
Max chuckled. "Sounds like my kind of life. I've always wanted to travel and learn about new creatures. Taming beasts isn't just about fighting for me. It's about understanding them."
The twins exchanged another look, clearly intrigued.
"So, tell us about your beasts," Lira said. "The ones you called earlier, Tails and Tusk. They were impressive."
"Thanks," Max said, his grin returning. "Tails is a Forest Tail Monkey. He's quick, clever, and great for crowd control. Tusk is an Ironhide Boar. He's my tank, tough and reliable. They're my first companions in this world, and they've already saved my life more than once."
"You're lucky," Seria said. "Most adventurers don't have companions like that. Beasts like them can make a huge difference in battle."
Lira nodded. "And you've got a natural bond with them. It's rare to see someone work so well with beasts. You're going to make waves in the guild, that's for sure."
Max rubbed the back of his neck, laughing. "I'm just getting started, but thanks. That means a lot."
The conversation continued as they walked, the three of them sharing stories and getting to know each other better. The twins told Max about some of their past quests—defending caravans, hunting rare monsters, and exploring ancient ruins. Max listened intently, fascinated by their experiences.
After a while, the twins fell quiet, exchanging another glance. Seria was the first to speak.
"Max, have you thought about joining a party?" she asked, her tone casual but curious.
Max raised an eyebrow. "A party?"
Lira nodded. "Yeah. Adventuring alone is doable, but it's a lot easier with people you can trust. And honestly, we think you'd be a good fit with us. What do you think?"
Max blinked, surprised. "Join your party? Really?"
Seria shrugged, smirking. "Why not? You're strong, smart, and you've got those amazing beasts. We could use someone like you."
Lira added, "And you seem like someone who'd have our backs. That's important."
Max thought about it for a moment. He'd been planning to go it alone, but the idea of having allies—people who could share the journey with him—was appealing.
"Alright," Max said, smiling. "I'm in. Let's see what we can do together."
The twins grinned, clearly pleased with his answer.
"Welcome to the team, Max," Seria said.
"Yeah, welcome," Lira added. "This is going to be fun."
As they continued toward the guild, Max couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. This was the start of something new—a team, a purpose, and the adventure he'd been searching for.
To be continued…