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Chapter 2 - Chapter [2] - The Clad Demon

What is this? You have returned and are prepared to dive into another exciting chapter of my story. I am thrilled that you are here.

Have you taken a liken to it? That's great news! I hope you enjoyed the brief anticipation as the story of 'The Demon Dressed In Clad' unfolds further.

Ahem...Without any further delay, following where we left off.

The woman who assigned quests, referred to as Lady Garcia by the guild members, warned the alleged Clad Demon in a familiar tone, "You shouldn't continue accepting these dangerous missions y'know." Despite her advice he stared back with a lifeless expression, devoid of any 'spark' in his eyes. Lady Garcia sighed and retrieved a piece of paper.

It was not a regular paper, but within it were three missions with dark star symbols below each of them. Lady Garcia set the document on the table and motioned for the Clad Demon to examine it. "As always, these are the highest ranked missions available at the guild today, though there are few others in the guild who are ready to undertake these jobs besides you," she commented.

In all guilds worldwide there exists a ranking system that signifies the difficulty level of missions. The scale starts at one star, which is categorized as the simplest and recommended for beginner adventurers seeking to overcome feeble foes such as goblins or wolves, and goes up to seven stars, designated for expert adventurers. Missions of this caliber are as tough as braving hell itself.

Our main character seemed to focus solely on the five-star mission, which was among the most challenging despite not being as risky as the seven-star missions.

He indicated the mission outlined on the paper and asked, "How about this one?" Lady Garcia examined the mission, which involved a straightforward task of locating and destroying a magical core causing trouble in the southern forest near a village. She noted, "The southern region is overrun with magical creatures."

She gazed at the Clad Demon with a concerned expression, insisting that the mission required a team of at least four adventurers.

"Can't I go about it solo?" However, he simply asked if he could tackle it alone. Lady Garcia explained that the Southern Area housed a magical core, which typically attracted and created magical creatures, making the mission highly challenging even for the renowned 'Clad Demon,' whose name remained undisclosed. "I apologize, but it is a guild rule," she added with a shrug.

"But don't worry. I have three other capable adventurers who are prepared to accept the request. They are expected to arrive by morning.

The Clad Demon casually nodded. Showing clear disappointment but also acceptance, recognizing that he had no alternative. He appeared rational and laid-back, contrary to his reputation. Without a word he turned away and departed from the Guild with deliberate unsettling steps.

Lady Garcia was always curious about the mysterious Clad Demon who suddenly appeared three months ago when she started working at the Guild. Initially his cold demeanor and the rumors surrounding him scared her, but she soon realized he was actually a pretty normal guy. Despite his frequent presence and his tendency to take on the most challenging missions from the guild, she still can't quite understand him. The question that lingers in her mind is, "What is the deal with that guy?"

The quietness that settled in upon his arrival quickly disappeared as the chatting and drinking resumed, with everyone seeming to intentionally avoid mentioning him out of fear. But the two dwarves didn't care. "Phew, he's gone at last," Bram muttered with a relieved sigh. Brim, who had stopped trembling once the intimidating demon had departed, stood up and flexed his hand, saying, "And I was just show that punk whose boss!"

"Weren't you just scared?! Sit down you idiot!"

Bram angrily grabbed Brim's shirt, releasing his frustration by expressing his annoyance. Brim bared his sharp, widely spaced teeth and warned, "Let go of me you chump! Or else I'll show YOU whose boss!" Brim shouted, as Bram spun and twisted his body, while his speech seemed slurred and unclear.

The loud arguing and bickering of the two dwarves reverberated through the Guild as they appeared to have completely overlooked the recent events.

Time flew by rapidly, and before long, all the members of the Guild had vanished to return to their homes or perhaps to their inn rooms. And just as quickly, morning arrived with a sense of haste, as if it was eagerly anticipating something. Despite the calming of the snowstorm from the previous day, the sun was casting its orange light and the birds were singing their morning melodies. The gentle winds, vibrant flowers in bloom, and seemingly peaceful surroundings, there was a noticeable tension in the atmosphere, an impending sense of danger for the day.

Today the Guild saw a shift in its adventurers with fewer drunkards and more warriors donning armor and carrying weapons. Some even wielded magical staffs or wore cloaks, while others arrived empty-handed. Among the crowd, three adventurers stood out prominently.

Everyone observed and stared at them from a distance as if they were famous celebrities. "Aren't those three the most highest ranked adventurers of the guild?" "Wow, I never expected them to be here today." "They seem like strong adversaries!" Conversations buzzed throughout the room, but no one approached the renowned adventurers to talk to them.

The first adventurer stood between the other two, carrying a lengthy silver sword and shield on his back and also wearing dazzling heavy metal armor that covered his entire body. He had short spiked hair and a constant, welcoming smile on his face. This young man's name is Arthur Fridgewin.

Next to him stood a significantly larger and more muscular older man who dwarfed Arthur, with a shaved head and a full beard. He had a large physique, standing at 6 feet tall and wore iron armor that protected his vital areas. The most striking feature about him was his massive golden gauntlets that resembled a roaring lion. This man is known as Rick Keen.

To the left of them stood a petite and attractive young girl with large eyes, blonde hair, and a long purple robe adorned with matching jewels and accessories around her neck, wrists, and garment, giving her a luxurious and extravagant appearance. She had a charming and welcoming face, but the magical wooden staff she held in her right hand indicated that she was no different than the other adventurers. This young lady goes by the name of Jenna Ortagon.

The trio of adventurers appeared to be conversing with one another, possibly anticipating the arrival of someone.

Rick inquired, "Are we really going to be working with a Demon?" in his deep rugged voice. Jenna calmly responded, "That's what people are saying." Arthur chimed in enthusiastically with a wide grin on his face, "Let's not be quick to judge, we all have the same goals, right?" He had a sly smile on his face, to which they both nodded in agreement with Arthur.

Then in the midst of the conversation, in the large gathering of the guild, people started to part ways as if a powerful presence was making its way through. It caught the attention of everyone, drawing more focus than even the well-known trio, as onlookers gossiped and murmured about the imposing figure passing by. Phrases like "Isn't that him?" and "I think so..." spread through the crowd like wildfire as the tall and intimidating figure moved closer to the three adventurers.

He emerged from the crowd with a dark and mysterious presence, causing others to steer clear of him. His demeanor was aloof and his movements were unsettling like a ghost gliding towards them.

"I think that's him," Rick commented as he observed a young man who weared strange armor, appearing to have a well-defined physique that surprised him. Meanwhile, Arthur quietly remarked to himself, "They call him a demon? He seems quite human to me..."

It was none other than the Clad Demon himself who approached the trio. They were the other adventurers Lady Garcia had mentioned. Arthur politely extended his hand for a handshake and asked, "How did you recognize us?" The Clad Demon glanced at Arthur's hand before shaking it and replied, "I could sense that you were the most strongest ones here." And as they locked eyes, it seemed like they were scoping out each other's strengths.

While The Demon brought darkness with its presence, Arthur, on the other hand, emitted a strong light, his face still sporting a peculiar smile and a friendly expression. The two appeared to be clashing with there own aura.

Arthur expressed satisfaction as he closed his eyes and released the Demon's hand, saying, "Well you seem to be capable enough..." He then introduced his companions to the Demon, suggesting that they should get to know each other better. "Let's have some introductions, shall we? The man with the beard is Rick, and this young lady here is Jenna," he said, gesturing towards them.

"And lastly, my name is Arthur Fridgewin and I'm looking forward to working together with you."

The Clad Demon gave a unenthusiastic reply, simply saying, "The feeling's mutual." Arthur was let down by the reply, hoping for a more engaging interaction and realizing that the Clad Demon might be somewhat antisocial. Feeling awkward Arthur decided to address the situation by suggesting, "Before we move forward as a team, it would be beneficial for us to get to know each other better. So can I ask you your name?"

From the first time since the arrival of the Clad Demon, he remained entirely a mystery. No one knew anything about his background or objectives. Perhaps this could help uncover some aspects of his mystery

Upon observation, the Demon strangely noticed that Arthur displayed leadership qualities, as he took the initiative and reaching out first. Forming a team with him may not be as unfavorable as initially assumed. But he felt a suspicious sensation when he looked at the smile on Arthur's face, something unusual. Despite this feeling he decided to dismiss it.

The Clad Demon responded in a composed manner, stating, "Horus... my name is Horus."

For the very first time, someone had the courage to ask about the Demon's name.