"Haxks. Good morning," Thalia greeted with a radiant smile. "How did you sleep?"
"Like a log," Daisuke returned wearily. "Where's the meeting being held?"
"One sec, I'll take you there myself."
He observed as she hurried down the long counter separating them. Behind it, several female clerks were assisting adventurers with their various tasks.
Some were handling new applicants, others were weighing and purchasing Mana Crystals, while most were registering members for job requests. There were even a few deflecting love confessions and cringing when their suitors slumped to the floor in utter devastation.
Daisuke couldn't help but wince at the scene.
A few moments later, Thalia returned after finding a suitable replacement to fill her position. "Ready to go?"
"I'm not sure," murmured Daisuke, "it depends on what this meeting is all about."
"Oh, there's nothing to worry about," she reassured with childlike innocence as they approached a door at the back of the large hall. "This whole ordeal will be for your benefit, I promise. The Guildmaster will give you the details."
Well, I've been through way too much to simply take your word for it, he muttered mentally before chanting the skill: Eye of Verity.
DING!
[The Eye of Verity peeks beyond the veil. Guild clerk Thalia speaks the truth.]
Nice. This will definitely come in handy going forward.
Beyond the door, a corridor stretched out, flanked by walls painted with the tales of epic battles and mythological creatures. This path led to an expansive courtyard, designed not just for training but as an oasis within the guild's heart.
Lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and carefully placed ornamental rocks framed the courtyard's perimeter, creating a serene contrast to the bustling guild lobby.
Thalia guided Daisuke through this impressive space. It wasn't long before she stopped at a door nestled at the end of a narrow porch with polished wooden floors.
"Good luck," she said with a supportive smile, her hand resting on the doorknob.
Daisuke scrutinized her expression for a moment before cautiously stepping inside. A lively scene unfolded before him as he entered the spacious chamber, filled with people predominantly within his own age group. A quick survey of their attire suggested they hailed from diverse social backgrounds, mostly modest it would seem.
Scattered among the youthful crowd were a handful of older individuals and young adults, adding a touch of maturity to the gathering.
Thalia closed the door to a slight ajar, peeking like a mischievous child for a moment before she left. Daisuke sighed with a hint of exasperation before moving forward.
The room resembled a university lecture hall. At the front, a lectern stood in position with rows of desks sloping upward toward the back of the room.
As he nonchalantly made his way up the stairs, Daisuke ignored the hum of conversation and prying eyes that followed him. He gravitated toward the back of the class where there were fewer people and an additional exit, just in case he needed to make a hasty retreat.
Zephyr hid underneath the desk when he took a seat. "Sorry for keeping you cooped up like this," Daisuke whispered apologetically. "But you prefer this over returning to my inventory, right?"
"Kyu~"
Daisuke felt like he was in school all over again—not the fact that he was smuggling an animal… monster… Divine Beast, into the classroom, but just the sheer anxiety of being around so many strangers. It was unnerving, but he tried his best to keep his cool.
"What exactly is a Divine Beast anyway?" he asked.
Zephyr adorably tilted his head.
Now that the newly arrived had become the center of attention, Daisuke sighed and took a moment to look around. It didn't take long for him to notice that the adventurers were segregated into two groups and a subcategory: Players, NPCs, and Beastfolk.
In the world of Sehreneti, every race possessed some form of unique innate abilities. Beastkin, for instance, boasted incredible physical strength and animalistic traits, making them formidable warriors and adept survivalists.
Elves, on the other hand, were beautiful and kindred spirits that shared a close affinity with nature. They were celebrated as a peaceful and intelligent race, excelling in archery and wind magic.
In stark contrast, humans were a weak, greedy, and conniving species with an ego that shone brighter than the sun. With unyielding determination and ingenuity, they continually strived for dominance over the world.
According to Sehreneti Online's lore, thousands of years ago, they actually managed to achieve that goal. It is written that a group of humans, known as players, were able to seize complete dominion over the world, elevating themselves to the status of demigods.
However, human greed proved insatiable, fueling corruption and unrelenting civil unrest. Their empire collapsed under the force of its own weight, annihilating entire populations.
As retribution for their transgressions, the higher-ranking gods punished the players. They were banished from their exalted positions and cast back to the earth, forever branded as The Fallen. Cursed with immortality, they were condemned to roam the land for all eternity, battling monsters and fulfilling the pleas of the very people they had subjected to lives of hardship and suffering.
Daisuke frowned, a finger cupping his chin. In a pursuit for realism, the developers made it pretty difficult for players to distinguish themselves from NPCs. On the other hand, NPCs could easily make the distinction and tend to gravitate toward their own. That's exactly what's happening right now.
The game's lore made it pretty clear that The Fallen are more immoral and self-destructive than The Locals, so all the other races are incredibly wary. And it doesn't help that, despite the millennia that have passed since their fall from grace, players are still trying to take over the world again.
All of a sudden, gasps of awe started erupting in the classroom. All eyes were now focused on a youth as he ascended the flight of stairs. It was painfully obvious that he was relishing the attention, and he swept his fingers through his hair with a flourish, flashing a cool smile.
"Kyaaa~"
A few girls cried out excitedly.
A player's name was hidden by default, but users could opt to make it visible if they so choose. They seldomly did, however, since anonymity in a game filled with competition was an obvious advantage.
This guy was different; he couldn't care less about tact or tactics. He had his name boldly displayed along with that of his guild and its insignia. If that wasn't ostentatious enough, he was also decked out in a complete suit of flashy armor.
A few rows down from Daisuke, the snob suddenly came to a halt as he spied a group of people, his once-exuberant expression twisting into a scowl.
It was unclear whether his frustration stemmed from the group's apparent indifference to his presence, or the fact that they were Beastfolk, but his anger suddenly flared.
"When I received the invitation from the guild clerk, I never expected something like this," he muttered, casting a critical glance around the room.
One, eight, fifteen… how many of them were there? If Beastfolk was his only gripe, it would have been bad but not so bad. But he had a problem with NPCs as a whole.
His gaze returned to the group he had singled out, drawn to the nervous demeanor of the girl among them. Her lips were bitten as she struggled to evade his piercing stare.
Yet, rather than stirring pity, her anxiety seemed to kindle his anger even more. It was clear he expected her to tremble with fear, to plead for forgiveness while prostrating herself before him. Anything less wouldn't suffice.
"If it isn't bad enough that dungeons are swamped with players, most of the mid to high-level ones are monopolized by big guilds. And to make matters worse, NPCs who are merely a means to an end for players, are becoming adventurers and making matters worse. You should know your damn place!" His voice thundered, causing the entire class to shrink back in fear.
Daisuke observed quietly, his chin resting in his palm. It's pretty interesting that he would make such a bold claim, especially considering that the norm among NPCs is to become adventurers. Joining the Adventurers' Guild isn't as lucrative for players. While adventurers exist to serve the people and mainly operate within dungeons, players are more self-serving. They enjoy the freedom of accepting quests from NPCs, challenging Field and dungeon Bosses, exploring ancient ruins, and mapping uncharted territories—all driven by their pursuit of personal power and wealth.
The girl, clearly startled by the verbal attack, clasped her hands together to steady her trembling fingers, her body taut with tension. Her teary eyes searched for words, but they eluded her.
"That's your problem," the Wolfkin beside her sneered in response instead, his words tinged with contempt.
The snob frowned. "You… what did you just say to me?"
"You heard me," he affirmed. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size."
"You mongrel! Do you even have any idea who you're messing with?"
"Obviously a lowlife if you can stand there and pick on a helpless girl like that."
The player's face reddened in his fury. With a mental command, he summoned his weapons—a longsword at his side and a knife at the base of his back. Without hesitation, and to the horror of the onlookers, he unsheathed the sword menacingly, intent on lopping off the heads of both impertinent Beastkin.
"You obviously have a death wish," the player spat venomously. "So I'll gladly send you off to hell."