Blaine Sheldon was a leader of one of the strongest adventurer parties in the whole Cloudgate Town, Scarlet Moon. Their exploits were well-known, and Blaine had earned a reputation as a competent and persistent figure.
For example, his party was one of the few, which was capable of hunting Mountain Crcs, which showed more and more activity in the vicinity of Barestone Mountains and countless people from Cloudgate Town admired his party for their strength.
However, on this particular day, he found himself in the presence of the enchanting receptionist, Ellen, as he attempted once more to woo her into accepting a dinner date. Unfortunately, time and time again, his proposals were politely but firmly rejected.
"Hey, Ellen, I really can't understand why you dislike me so much," Blaine complained, but his persistence seemingly fell on deaf ears as Ellen's attention was elsewhere, unfazed by his plea.
"So, it would be 12 silver and 30 copper coins," she announced, extending a leather bag filled with coins as the reward for the quest his party had just completed.
Blaine, however, couldn't resist another attempt. "Can't you please join me for dinner, just once?" he implored, a note of desperation creeping into his tone.
Ellen sighed, Blaine was annoying her for some time and her patience was running out from his persistent advances. She forced a weary smile as she glanced at a quest notice posted above the board with quests. "How about this," she proposed, her voice carrying a tinge of irritation. "I'll go to dinner with you if you defeat that cyclop." She said, her eyes at the quest near the top of the board, with a four-star difficulty rating.
Blaine wore a bitter smile at the thought of facing the cyclop, lurking in the outer regions of the Barestone Mountains. "Come on... do you really want me dead so badly?" He laughed with a dry throat.
The quest had become a running joke in Cloudgate Town, as no one had been able to successfully face this colossal monster, so she basically told him to go kill himself.
He turned to leave, not willing to undergo the impossible venture, when the door of the adventurer hall suddenly violently flung open, and a figure flew into the building, landing in the center of the hall.
Everyone immediately reacted, thinking it was an attack. They were all battle toughened adventurers and weren't scared of a fight, however, when they closely inspected the lifeless figure.
Before them lay the lifeless body of a giant, a cyclop with its single, unblinking eye. It was a creature that should have been impossible to defeat and yet here it was. Blaine, just like everyone else in the hall, was dumbfounded by the scene unfolding before them.
Who could possibly have enough strength to kill a cyclop? Such a formidable figure should have been well-known in Cloudgate Town, yet Blaine had never heard a whisper of such an existence.
At that moment a trio entered the hall and everyone locked their gazes on the group, who had brought the cyclop's lifeless body into the hall
In the lead, was a strikingly handsome young man, adorned in heavy golden armor and bearing a massive saber on his back, led the way. He was followed by a black-clad magician whose face remained concealed beneath a hood, and a charming woman garbed in seductive, light leather armor.
The power radiating from this trio left everyone in the hall, including Blaine, speechless. Just who are they?! They wondered, because they never heard about a team like this.
"Good morning, Sir. How... how c-can we help you?" Ellen, the receptionist who had just issued the seemingly impossible challenge, has never imagined witnessing the cyclop she used as a joke, killed by a striking hot newcomer.
The youth introduced himself with determination, his fist placed firmly over his heart. "My name is Kadenn Langley. I am here to become an adventurer." The words hung in the air, sparking a collective sense of awe and shock throughout the hall.
Kadenn's declaration took the adventurers in the hall by surprise and some couldn't help but become suspicious. It was unusual for someone of his strength and capability to choose the path of an adventurer. Typically, those with his level of prowess sought more comfortable, secure, and lord-serving positions
Who would be anyone willing to risk their life for money, if there was a safer and more comfortable way? Not to mention, it was strange they never heard about a formidable individual like Kadden before.
Perceiving the tension in the room, Kadenn asked, "Is there something wrong with becoming an adventurer?" His curiosity and concern shone through his words.
"N-No, there's nothing wrong with it," Ellen, the receptionist, replied, her composure returning as she attempted to clarify the situation. "It's just quite rare for someone as strong as you, Sir Langley, to choose the path of an adventurer."
Kadenn sighed and closed his eyes, resting his hand on his forehead. "I understand... Please, don't be shocked by my choice. There's a story behind it."
As he spoke, he shared the tale of his previous life as a high-ranking captain, serving a noble lord in the Westcoast Empire. He described the initial lord as an honorable and righteous person. However, the story took a turn with the lord's death and the ascent of a corrupt successor.
Kadenn's voice was filled with emotion as he recounted his decision to leave the lord's service, unable to bear the new lord's wicked ways any longer. He spoke of his determination to begin anew in a different country, pursuing the path of an adventurer to aid common people on his own terms.
Kadenn's heartfelt narrative resonated with those in the hall, touching their hearts. A sense of admiration and respect welled up among the adventurers, with an older member of the group stepping forward to express his admiration. Only Karin was shocked, where Kadden came up with so much nonsense.
"What a man!" an elderly adventurer praised Kadenn. "To forsake power and wealth for the welfare of common people. This old man respects you from the bottom of his heart!"
"You know... I was originally a high ranking captain, who served a lord in the Westcoast Empire. He was a rightful and honorable person, but unfortunately the lord died of old age early after I began my service and he was replaced by a new lord.
However the new lord was a horrible and evil person and after spending some time serving him, I just couldn't tolerate his corrupted ways of doing things any longer. So I have decided to leave and begin completely anew, in a different country as an adventurer who can help the common people the way he chooses himself."
Kadenn told the story with so many emotions that he touched the hearts of everyone present with his story. Only Wain couldn't help to wonder where he was taking all of the nonsense from.
"What a man! To give up the power and wealth for the welfare of common people, this old man respects you from the bottom of his heart!" An old adventurer praised Kadenn and many others also began to compliment Kadenn's actions.
"I didn't think such righteous people still existed."
"He even killed that cyclop! How strong could he be?!
...
The adventurers' hall erupted in a wave of positive uproar, with the assembled crowd expressing their newfound admiration for Kadenn. His story and his righteous demeanor had instantly made him liked by those present.
Their earlier suspicions had vanished entirely, replaced with respect and warm feelings. Kadenn's words had resonated deeply within them, and they could tell Kadden spoke them from the depths of his heart. Nobody questioned their truthfulness, a single glance at Kadden was sufficient to dispel any doubts.
If she hadn't already known Kadenn's true character, she might have been swayed by his words as well. She couldn't fathom what dark magic Wain had to use to change the coward Kadden into the man worshiped by many.
Ellen, meanwhile, was moved by Kadenn's story. She felt a pang of guilt for her earlier suspicions and abruptly turned apologetic. "I apologize for doubting you, especially when you're such a good person," she admitted, biting her lip and lowering her head in embarrassment.
"It is normal to be suspicious, and you had no way of knowing my past. Please don't blame yourself," Kadenn's response was both understanding and gracious, captivating all who heard him. "What's done is done. We should look to the future, strive to avoid repeating our mistakes, and collectively become better people."
The adventurers who surrounded Kadenn were rendered speechless by the wisdom of his words and the sincerity in his eyes. He had become an idol to many of them in that very moment. Their gazes were filled with admiration and the aspiration to become better people just like Kadden.
Kadenn has also always dreamed of this moment, and he relentlessly repeated every dialog at night, to not miss a single detail. Now, using the magical skill [Perfect Actor], he was finally able to turn his dream into reality, without anyone doubting him.
"You said that you want to become an adventurer right?" Ellen's memory returned to Kadenn's original intention.
"That's right, and may I have the honor of knowing the name of this beauty?" he asked, his flirtatious tone causing Ellen to blush and hang her head shyly.
"El... Ellen," she replied in a soft voice, her face colored with a rosy hue.
"What?!" Blaine watched the entire exchange in disbelief. He couldn't fathom how Kadenn had achieved what he'd failed to do countless times. No matter what he tried, Ellen always remained cold towards him, but Kadden needed only a single sentence to conquer her.
However, he wasn't angry. He also admired Kadden greatly and he was determined to learn from his newfound role model, to achieve perfection in every aspect. He wanted to go and ask Kadden to travel together, when Kadden suddenly approached the quest board and tore off the sole quest notice at the top with a six-star difficulty rating.
"I should depart immediately. I've heard that Oakvale Village may be in danger." He said, his expression turning serious.
Ellen was terrified when she realized the quest Kadenn had chosen "Sir Langley, I hope you could reconsider." She tried to stop him as she didn't want to see a talented adventurer leave for a mission with such an imposing difficulty level. "That's a quest meant for at least a fifty-member party. You should form a team with other adventurers before-"
Before Ellen could finish her sentence, Kadenn burst into soft laughter. "Please, I don't want to endanger other adventurers with a quest I can complete alone," he explained, his tone resolute. "The people of Oakvale Village need me, don't worry about me, I am way stronger than you can even imagine." As he spoke, he unlocked a seal Luarin had carved into his armor and unleashed an aura of someone at 4th-grade.
"This strength-!" Blaine couldn't help but step back, overwhelmed by Kadenn's powerful aura. This was the first time he was pushed back by an aura of a person alone. He couldn't fathom how strong Kadden had to be.
The other adventurers present shared a similar reaction, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief. While Kadenn had mentioned serving a lord in the Westcoast Empire, hinting at his strength, they hadn't expected this level of strength. He might well be the mightiest individual in all of Cloudgate Town!
Kadenn, realizing that his display of strength had achieved its desired effect, suppressed his aura. He approached the reception desk and politely placed the quest notice down. "I would like to register with my companions before departing," he requested with a warm smile.
Ellen hurriedly prepared all the necessary paperwork and asked his party a few questions before completing the process. After registering, Kadenn immediately left the adventurers' hall. The onlookers were still in a daze, and it was only after his departure that they slowly realized how extraordinary an encounter they had just experienced.
"Kadenn Langley," Blaine mumbled to himself, he definitely had to tell the rest of his party members! He decided, leaving the adventurers' hall with haste.
In the days that followed, rumors about Kadenn Langley spread throughout Cloudgate Town. Many residents found it hard to believe the tales shared by the adventurers, dismissing them as mere exaggerations or fantasies. However, the legend of Kadenn Langley had been born, and his name was on the lips of everyone in town, sparking curiosity and intrigue.