I've gone to the southmost and northmost of this world, a frozen hell where only a lucky few survive. I've visited ancient caves and met with the natural disasters of any fantasy world, dragons. I've gone to the abyss and peaked into the land above the sky. I've seen the rise and fall of many civilizations, heroes and villains.
But not once had I encountered this sort of trouble.
This man who is surprisingly as tall as me. Bright red hair and a deep crimson gaze. From time to time, he exhibited childish behavior as he gawked at me explaining. Nevertheless, I knew he couldn't be underestimated with.
Talent is a very vague concept, and countless individuals struggle to understand how to measure talent accurately. Each and every species have their unique system of labeling talent, but for me, I could instantly assess a being's talent.
But this time, facing one of the many players to come. I couldn't tell.
If all the players were like this... no, I have to assume that all players are like this. This is going to put a wrench into my plans.
"Uhm Grimm?"
"Huh? Ah, you were still here."
I was too absorbed in my thoughts that I forgot that I was talking with him. My bad.
"Still here?"
"Ah no, it was a slip of tongue. Talking about talent, it reminded me of a few individuals."
Let's worm ourselves away from this situation.
"Oh?"
Looking at his interested eyes, he caught the bait.
"But, I have some other things to attend to. If you really want to know, you could head over the public library. Just go north until you reach a fountain, go east and you'll see a building that has the sign Evening Light Library."
"Ah"
Alright, with that out of the way, I need to go and meet up with my back up plan.
"It was nice meeting you Ennard."
"It was nice meeting you too Grimm."
I exited the training hall, and breathed the fresh town air. People were running about their day. With the coming of the players, I wonder how much of this peace will be retained?
I can't leave something like this up to chance, I have no time to waste. It's time to meet up with the back up plans that I have fostered for a century now.
If someday in the future they'll be surpassed by players like Ennard, then all my work would have truly gone for naught. I need to make sure that never happens.
No matter what.
-----
Grimm left. I noticed the somber aura surrounding him. Something was troubling him.
I don't know the extent of his power, but I'm sure of one thing. No matter what I do, I'll never be able to reach his level.
Sigh, what concerns a giant like him inevitably is a concern for ant like people. Nonetheless, I now have a good grasp of the basics. Still, I feel like it's lacking.
A trip to the library might help, with that I'm thankful of Grimm telling me the directions. But that's for later, for now, I'm going to stay here in this archaic training hall and wait for the actual guide.
I'm not suspicious of Grimm's words, just that the instructor might have some important items for me. Common game sense dictates that NPC guides give the players items that'll make their gameplay smooth.
Although... the existence of an NPC like Grimm is already beyond common game sense.
Thinking of the possibilities that this world can offer, I couldn't help but smile. Well then, it seems like I'll actually have some fun for a while.
----
The outskirts of the town is forest galore. However, monsters near the vicinity have already been cleared out and you have to actually go an extra mile in order to actually encounter one. But with the entrance of this ragtag bunch, it's safe to say all the monsters here have migrated far away.
I feel pity for the adventurers.
I waited by the wooden fence, and a group of cloaked individuals. If anyone else saw them now, they would have assumed them as members of the Devil Cult that are planning to sacrifice this poor and innocent village, all for their pursuit of the resurrection of the Devil King.
Upon noticing me, they came to a halt. An eerie silence came between us. One of them stepped out, and all of a sudden all of them took off their cloaks.
"Grimmmmm!"
I smiled. It's been a long thirty years since I last seen them.
"Hey Damiel, it's been ages since I last saw you."
Blonde-haired, soft features and a very androgynous voice. You might assume that this person is a girl, or a boy disguised as a girl, but both guesses are wrong. Damiel is a special variant amongst the dragons, and dragons inherently have no gender.
I know, it's a bit confusing having to refer to Damiel's name every time. But thirty years is enough time to get used to it.
"Mhmm, and looking at you, not a bit of you change."
"Master is someone who is above dragons. Of course he is immune to the effects of time."
Black hair, and a cheerful yet geeky disposition. Lass is someone who is stubborn and meticulous, due to that, she has this weird obsession of calling me master.
"Lass, I only taught you a few things in the sideline. That doesn't merit me as your teacher."
"That's not true. Having raided all the great libraries, I know for sure that master's teachings are of a dimension higher than this world. Thus, it is only rightly so I refer to you as a master."
This girl being so solemn... it really doesn't fit her.
"I'm now that you are all excited to meet Grimm, but first we should hear what Grimm has to say. Having summoned us together for the first time in thirty years."
This fellow is the figurehead of this group. I dare say the glue that holds a significant portion of my backup plan together. He is Lass's only brother, and although he lacks the prodigious talent for arcane arts, he makes up for it for his unfailing strategies and solid leadership.
"Mhm, thank you Bernard."
Bernard nodded, and Lass was left pouting. However, sensing the gravity of the next words I'm going to say, they all felt tense.
"I called you all here, for one reason only. To have you guys repay the favors you owe me."
I could hear them gulp.
"The players are finally here."