The guild was livelier than ever to say the least. A figure clad in a black cloak suddenly tripped over the foot of a nearby adventurer, and regained his balance.
"Hey watch where you're- oh it's you Griff. Back from another quest?"
"Yeah... those skeletons are only E level when they're numerous anyways. Piece of cake."
"Aye man, you're doing great. Mind to have a drink?"
"Sorry Howard. Got more jobs to do."
"Man, you and your new rank obsession..."
It was true that after the recent events Griff had become obsessed with getting stronger, and that included rising through the ranks of the adventurer leaderboard. He was ranked in the top 100 for Alfrum for now, but if Reiner and Rin are number 7 as a tag team he needs to step up his game.
"Oi brat. Start taking it easy now. I can't look after ya anymore."
"Oi James. Long time no see."
"Tch... you haven't come by in a week to the bar."
James had retired this time as he decided that the intense world of adventuring was becoming too much of a burden on him. He was, however, operating a bar near the guild. Most of his customers were adventurers after all. He still hanged out around the guild though.
"You do know I won't let you in the house again if you disappear again."
"You're as stingy as ever old man."
Griff smirked as he looked at James's distraught face.
"I dare you... call me old one more time..."
Yeah... James could be said to be Griff's older brother of sorts.
'Yeah... it's definitely different for me now. I kinda know what's going on around me as well... and trust. I guess I've built it up again.'
Reiner and Rin were sitting at a nearby table, waving at Griff.
"Guess that's my que."
"Tch... well I'm happy for you kid. You only used to talk to me."
"Heh... but... thanks James."
"Didja call me by my first name now?"
"Sorry gotta go! I'm going to get a new mission soon."
"Hmph."
James folded his arms as he smirked at Griff who dashed towards Reiner and Rin.
"He's a damn tsundere alright..."
Griff quickly walked passed Reiner who was about to raise his hand to ask him to sit with them, which left Reiner with his jaw open and his hand raised awkwardly.
'Damn it Griff... this is awkward.'
Griff went towards the reception and slammed a poster he ripped off the mission wall. The receptionist elf girl sweat dropped. This was too many times she'd seen Griff today... ever since the Undead incident he had become a much more active adventurer
"This is a D rank quest. Wolf hunting? Alright, we'll allow it. You're Rank D right now right Griff?"
"Yep!"
Griff took out his guild card and put it on the counter as well.
"You better think of taking some time off... this was your fifth quest in three days."
"I got nothing to do! Also... the best training is practical."
"You got a point... but get some rest one day."
"Yeah yeah."
Griff took the quest permit and waved his hand dismissively, running out the guild.
It had been a couple days since Alfrum had started rebuilding, but with the use of Earth mages like Alatar the city was fixed in no time. In addition, a group of mages that were composed of healers had visited the town to help with the infected.
As Griff walked to the gates of Alfrum, he was in deep taught.
'Let's review what I learnt... Alfrum isn't as large as I taught it was. The city has about 200.000 inhabitants. It's a semi-autonomous trading city under the rule of the royals of Kulva. This was why I never came across the military, or a royal here. The place is governed by a council of merchants, and they act to preserve their domestic economy. The defense of Alfrum is also handled by them and the Adventurer's Guild here which is under certain jurisdictions to be allowed to participate in war. Aand... Alfrum and the surrounding land isn't bound to a noble. It's an outlier in a monarchy. I'm definitely in an interesting place...'
"Hey watch it kid!"
Griff had accidentally bumped into a man and a group of people in hoods.
"My apologies..."
'They seem like the followers of a religion. Better stay away from them.'
"Alright... nevermind kid. Let's go everyone. The church waits for us."
As they walked, Griff thought to himself.
'Church? Never seen one here... nevermind. I'm running late now!'
Griff walked fastly towards the gates of Alfrum where several merchants were loaning out horses. He didn't have time to ride a carriage. The quest had requested he be at the location in an hour...
"One silver for a day kid."
Griff tossed a coin to the merchant holding the leash of the brown war horse.
The merchant bit on the coin and nodded.
"Bring her back by tomorrow, same time. If she's harmed you'll be paying more than one silver boy."
"Gotcha boss."
Without another word, Griff mounted on the horse and started dashing across the plains. His destination? North! To the villages where the wolf packs were ambushing.