The crack of dawn bloomed over the horizon while an amber stream of light illuminated in the metropolis of Elmore.

Exactly at the moment when the sunrises. At the entrance of the Adventurer's Guild, there was a group of four people with a fretted appearance, whereas the man who was leading the group appeared to be tormented by guilt, while both of his eyes lost its brilliance.

"We're finally here. We must hurry and report what happened inside the forest." The man said with a solemn expression.

"Yes, we better hurry." One of the people from the group said in agreement.

Yes, the group of people was no other than Aldin's group who successfully returned safely in the town of Elmore.

However, before they could step forward to the guild, one of their companions fell on the dusty ground.

"Missa!" Mirabell shouted in fright after seeing her sister fell on the ground.

Aldin was taken aback when he saw Missa's pale face. "What happened to her?" He asked in concern.

"I don't know! My sister suddenly pa.s.sed out." Mirabell replied as she brought her sister's frail body to her bosom.

Gritting his teeth, Aldin pondered for a while before saying. "Alyva, I leave the two sisters on your hand, I'll have to report what happened to the Guild first."

At this precise moment, Aldin's mind was in chaos. He still couldn't find an excuse to forgive himself after abandoning Kiro and Alina.

With both of his eyes flashed with resolution. Aldin darted his attention to the Guild. Nevertheless, before he could leave them behind. Alyva voiced out. "Aldin wait!" She said while examining Missa's condition.

"I think it would be better if we bring Missa to the Guild, if we're lucky we may find a priest inside," Alyva suggested.

Hearing Alyva's words, Mirabell added. "Yup! Alyva is right, we may encounter a priest inside!" Mirabell has finally calmed down, once they discern that her sister only pa.s.sed out through tiredness.

Staring at the two, Aldin could only nod in agreement. "Okay, but I have to report first, you guys can just directly go to the infirmary."

Then, the group of four went inside the Guild.

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Inside the Adventurer's Guild, even though the sun was still young. The interior of the guild was already packed with peoples. On the left side of the guild, a few groups of adventurers could be found. At the center, there was already a queue for a commission request.

Alyva's group barge-in while they carried Missa to the infirmary room.

With their sudden visit, the atmosphere inside the guild became quiet, then a bunch of different whispers and reactions resounded throughout the waiting lounge.

"Is Instructor Ralph present!" Suddenly Aldin shouted inside the hallway.

"Please young man, don't make a commotion inside the Guild first in the morning." One of the staff reprimanded him. The staff was about to add more.

However, when he saw Aldin's sorry figure and the bloodstain all over his tattered attire the personnel of the Guild halted his voice. With his rich experience for being a veteran receptionist in just one glance was enough for him to understood that Aldin must have very urgent matters to tell.

"Please, come down and follow me inside the private lounge." He said while signaling his colleague to inform the newbie instructor to come.

Aldin could only nod in agreement whereas he followed the receptionist inside the private room.

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Inside the private room.

Aldin was sitting on the luxurious crafted wooden chair. In front of him was the receptionist guy who reprimanded him a while ago.

"Nice to meet you, I am called Lucien." The receptionist said with his formal greetings.

"... I'm Aldin, a trainee adventurer. Can you please tell me where I can find Instructor Ralph?" Aldin cut the chase as he directly said what he wanted to know.

"Mn, I already called someone to inform Mr. Ralph. He will be here soon enough." Lucien answered while taking the pot of tea on the table. "Please help yourself. The fragrance of tea would calm your mind."

Aldin glanced at the teacup in front of him. Then he drank the cup in one gulp.

Seeing his reaction, Lucien could only give a weary smile from his rude behavior. "Ahem, now can you tell me what happened?" He said while observing Aldin's perplexed behavior.

Upon hearing the receptionist's words, Aldin gulped his dry saliva, while he gathered all of his courage to narrate what happened inside the plainlan forest. "—What happened is..."

He said as he started to describe what happened inside the forest.

Upon hearing his story, the receptionist cleared his vocal folds. "Ahem, so... That's happened, It's certainly disturbing news. Especially about the Goblin King, good work Mr. Aldin, the Guild will compensate for your hard work accordingly." While he said those words, Lucien tapped the bell on the other side of the table.

*????~*

Melodious sounds of the bell echoed throughout the room. Then one of the standby personnel outside the room came in.

"You called Senior Lucien." The person said.

Lucien took a piece of parchment in his pocket while taking a quill pen instilled in the Guild crest mark on his left shoulder. Then he swiftly wrote a subjugation request on the plainlan forest. But this time, the difficulty increased by a triple C plus rating.

"Put this parchment to the priority list, we need to exterminate those Goblins as soon as possible, if their nest grows further the difficulty of the request may change depending on the result of the expedition." Lucien proclaimed while handing the piece of parchment to the other person.

"Yes, sir." Upon noticing the urgent voice from his superior, the person left the room in haste.

"... Sorry to say this Mr. Aldin, it seems that the current situation has changed, even if you asked for Mr. Ralph's a.s.sistant, it wouldn't be enough." Lucien said he was about to add more, but Aldin abruptly interjected.

"... What about Kiro and Alina? Would you send a party to save them?" Aldin nervously said while he observed Lucien's appearance. However, when he saw his complicated expression, Aldin's face went ashen.

"... No way, don't tell me you guys won't search for them, right?" He stated while clutching his fist.

"I'm sorry to say this, but Mr. Aldin's companions were most likely..." Lucien didn't manage to finish his words as Aldin interjected in a deranged manner.

"No! Absolutely not! How come you guys would—would..." Aldin bawled loudly. Still, when he was about to say abandon them like that. He couldn't find the strength to voice out those words.

Eventually, silence overwhelmed the two. Seeing Aldin was not in the right state for a conversation. Lucien decisively said. "I'm sorry Mr. Aldin for being direct. But worry not, there's a slim plausibility that your companions were alive. So please forgive my rudeness." Lucien apologized while giving Aldin a slight bow as he leaves the place.

When the receptionist left the room, Aldin started to sob. "I—I... I'm sorry!"

He wailed like a child as his body suddenly felt heavy. Notwithstanding the guilt from his heart, Alidin abruptly genuflected on the hard ground.

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Inside the Infirmary room.

Missa who blank out due to the fact they've run all the way back to the town of Elmore without a rest. Was now awakened after drinking a vitality potion.

"Mm, the young miss would be fine now. Seeing the color of her face returned. Please let her rest for a couple of hours before moving." The physician said while nodding to Alyva's group and left the place to give them s.p.a.ce.

"Thank you, Mr. Noll," Alyva exclaimed her genuine appreciation while giving the old physician a courteous bow.

"Mm, no need to be a polite child, I only did what I must." Noll waved his hand, urging Alyva to stand up. However, Mirabell followed suit after her.

"Thank you!" She said while both of her eyes moisten.

Staring at the two, Noll could only helplessly sigh to their reaction. "Okay, I already finished treating your sister, I'll be taking my leave."

After the Physician left the place, only then the two raised their heads.

When she noticed that they're the only one left inside the room Alyva couldn't help to mutter.

" I wonder how's Aldin doing on the other side." She said in wonder.

"With this Kiro and Alina would be safe right?" Mirabell said. But deep inside she was notably anxious.

"Don't worry, with the Guild's help, Kiro and Alina would be safe," Alyva rea.s.sured. However, after she said those words her uneasiness increased.

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