"Grant what do you really want? That question kept on spinning inside of me. Each finish of it, it would repeat once more but coming from a different voice. Daniel, Father, her those other idiots back on earth. And now my master...
How many times have I been asked that? I started thinking back to when I was young and as I grew older. Different faces, different voices yet the question was still the same.
What do I really want?
Almost everyone who I had talked to asked me that. Yet each time, I couldn't answer. I simply do not know what I want. All that existed in me is this blank empty feeling.
I don't feel like I am truly alive...
I do not really possess a goal to work to.
Finding father was just an excuse to keep myself going through the years.
"I'm perfectly fine..." I exhaled a puff of warm air before reassuring Stella. She wanted to say something and she opened her mouth a little but there was no way I would let her say anything more.
"Are yo-"
"Yes I am sure I am fine. Where's the nearest library?" I cut her off and shifted the topic of our conversation elsewhere. Effectively dodging that cursed question.
"The library is somewhere around the market. A large sized three story tall building with a sign post of a book and glasses over it. Grant... Are you really fine?" By the end of her words, Stella had already stood up and walked to me. Wanting to grasp my cheeks by the way her arms drew forward for my face.
I stepped back and she retracted her arms. She tried to lock her eyes with me but even that was avoided.
I need to be alone... I want to.
"Don't look for me Stella... I have a few things to do." I flashed her a fake smile. She frowned, likely seeing through my facade. Not that I could care about that at this very moment.
I already excused myself. About time I left and did something on my own.
"Good morning Grant!" Beatry's voice boomed from upstairs and that was my cue to leave. Walking out the door, the fresh breeze greeted me and one thing filled my mind.
Distraction... I need a distraction to keep myself from minding that question and then eventually forgetting it.
The library was the place to go but I'll hold off on that from now as much as I want to read books.
If I were to enter the library in Zirakib, I would probably only leave after being forced out by the owner.
Due to the sole reason that I'll keep reading until I finish every book in that place.
My clothes consisted of a medival commoner's daily outfit. It wasn't that bad but it wasn't good either.
A change of clothes would be nice. Something much better suited for adventures while actually offering a fair amount of defense.
Growl~ And I needed money for food and to be able to buy what I want. Beatry would keep feeding me free of charge but I do not wish to live off a woman.
And I do not know how to cook as well. What a shame.
An old timbered building with people entering and exiting frequently came to view. The insignia of a solitary sword standing between a dragon's claws flashed brightly under the sun.
Stella had said that we needed to be atleast silver ranked adventurers to be able to travel freely.
Since I have nothing better to do anyway then why not be proactive and do quests? That should raise my rank and even give me enough money to be able to fend for my own needs.
Three sets of papers were fished out from my pocket. They were requests or quests issued out and pasted to the guild by those who sought out mercenary aid.
Kill ten goblins. Easy as pie. I'd probably just coldly watch my three gobs decimate other gobs.
Find a staff stolen by goblins? No problem.
Capture a rare monster? Interesting. But nonetheless it still sounds easy.
I've already faced a dragon and I am confident that these E- rank quests would be as simple as a walk in the park.
But it bugged me. There were only three of them and these quests were extremely easy. Even if I were to complete them, me being satisfied would be a big joke.
It would be a waste of time as well to go do the quests then come back and take new ones.
So I would take in new ones. Multiple of them then do everything in one go before returning. Repeat the process and maybe take a few breaks before continuing without stopping.
The open guild doors welcomed me but entering was the opposite. Wary glances and even some hatred and envy filled gazes bore down on me.
I could sense a weak form of hostility and resentment directed towards me. The whole guild interior looked to be doused in a heavy dark aura of negativity.
Eyeing the request board, I snatched a few dozen of E rank quests even while someone was holding or looking at them.
I walked forth in the silence and stopped at the very back of the line.
Those before me froze before stepoing sidewards and allowing me to cut the line easily.
Why is everyone so afraid? All I did was shatter someone's balls on purpose.
Whatever. I walked to the reception desk and he was there again. With the same bored and lazy look on his face.
"Sir Athal I would like to take these quests." The stack of papers were placed before him. Athal looked down slowly. He scowled.
"You have yet to complete the three ones you took. But now you are wanting to take an additional twenty or so quests? Are quests a joke to you?" Athal coldly spat and our cold gazes conflicted with one another.
You are right. Low rank quests are nothing but a real joke to me.
"Telling from that look in your eyes, I am right about what you think. Hm.. You seem different..." Athal muttered. His eyes checked me up and down before narrowing.
"Quite troublesome indeed. You already nearly died did you?" He had figured out that much just from scanning me once.This man is not normal.
"But I am here before you. Stronger than before." I replied and that shut him up.
He grabbed the papers and stamped them all. He looked at me after adjusting his glasses.
"Here's the deal. I can tell that these menial tasks are but an annoyance to you and I agree so. If you complete all the quests you wanted to take in just four days and bring me the skulls of a Rock Ursa, A Bloodsoaked Badger, A Shadow Leopard, A Hobgoblin and a Lesser Treant's Wooden Heart. Then I'll promote you to the next rank." Athal offered with a strange smile on his lips. His eyes twinkled innocently.
Ah... The ever so familiar face of someone seeking profit from other's hardships. So despite having that bored look on your face you are a bit greedy huh. Sir Athal.
"Deal..." That was my response and I made my way to the exit.
"This dumbass would die."
"No doubt. A rock ursa? Even decently strong Iron ranked adventurers fear that."
"The bloodsoaked badger would bathe in his blood."
Muffled voices of discussions erupted and the entire Guild Hall was drowned in the hubhub of people betting and discussing.
I ignored such small things but there was something that made me want to kill a few particular people on the spit to prevent any future trouble.
"Once he dies we'd finally be able to drug that Lady Stella and taste her! That nicely tanned skin, red eyes and brunnette hair. Can't wait to taste her man!" The ugly bastard had licked his lips after finishing his words. His two friends rubbed their hands together and nodded feverishly.
"And after that we'll d- HEY!" He was about to continue with their heated fantasies only to wake up to my hand gripping him by the neck.
"Come with me... I'll use you well." A cold glare made him freeze.
"What do yo-"
Bang! A simpe light punch made him sneeze and cough up blood before fainting.
"Where do you two think you'll be heading off to?" His two other friends shivered in fear. Before they could even beg for mercy or try to run, I swiftly knocked them out as well.
"Athal can I have a large burlap sack?" I asked and Athal eyed me with amusement. He reached down before tossing me a huge sack enough to fit five people in if stretched.
"On the house. Use it well." Athal watched with intent. Yet he didn't try to stop me and even helped me. You are a strange one Athal.
I stuffed the three unconscious fellows into the sack and immediately, uproars of justice rose from the adventurers inside the guild. Saying I was too extreme or was evil incarnate.
"You're taking things too far!" A youthful boy screamed at me and bravely blocked my way. I lifted the burlap sack and hung it over my shoulder before walking forth.
The brown haired boy was unfazed. I saw a bronze card slightly jutting out of his pocket. A self righteous rookie...
Utterly disgusting...
"Do I look like I care?" I nonchalantly replied and looked at him with pity. My emotionless frame gazed intently at him. That action alone was like an insult to him and he drew his blade before trying to cleave me with it.
"Owww that hurt~ You're so strong..." I rolled my eyes. The sword had cut me but only the skin. Little kid can't even cut through my skin.
Shock grew on him amd he looked at me with terified eyes. I snorted before leaving the guild.
I had a few quests to do and they involved entering that Dragon's forest again.
These three sacks of worthless flesh should act a good enough decoy to let me do what I need to.
Scum like them deserve it. I could already tell by their words and faint disgusting smell that they were disgusting people who needed to die.
The type of people I use and break with no remorse or guilt for my actions. The perfect tools.