The journey back to Raventhorn was quiet, the party too exhausted to speak. Kaito trudged behind Rogan, Mira, and Dane, his mind swirling with a mixture of frustration and determination.
The goblins had nearly bested him. Every strike, every dodge, every step in the dungeon had been a struggle. He replayed the fights in his mind, analyzing his failures. My movements were too slow. My strikes lacked power. I was a burden.
As the group reached the guild, Rogan clapped him on the shoulder. "Not bad for your first run, rookie," he said with a grin. "You've got potential."
Mira smiled nervously. "Y-yeah, you did okay. I mean, you didn't die or anything."
Dane, as usual, said nothing, but he gave Kaito a slight nod before disappearing into the crowd.
Kaito forced a smile, but their words didn't ease the knot of frustration in his chest. Okay isn't enough. I don't want to just survive—I want to be the best.
He turned in the mission slip at the counter, receiving a meager payment of five silver coins. The clerk smirked as she handed over the reward. "First time out, huh? Don't worry, kid. It gets easier."
Kaito didn't respond. Instead, he pocketed the coins and headed for the guild's dining hall, where he ordered a simple meal of bread and stew.
As he ate, he listened to the chatter of the more experienced hunters around him. Their stories of triumphs, treasure, and glory filled the room, and Kaito's resolve hardened with every word. One day, I'll be the one telling those stories.
---
The next morning, Kaito returned to the guild, his wooden badge hanging from his belt. He approached the mission board, scanning the available jobs. Most were far beyond his rank—missions to clear dangerous monsters, escort caravans through bandit territory, or explore uncharted ruins.
His gaze landed on another E-rank mission: clearing rats from a grain storage. He clenched his fists in frustration.
"This is it?" he muttered. "Rats?"
A gruff voice behind him made him jump. "That's the life of an E-ranker, kid."
Kaito turned to see a middle-aged hunter with a weathered face and a longsword slung across his back. His armor was dented and patched, a sign of years spent in battle.
"You want the big jobs, you've got to prove yourself," the man said, leaning against the wall. "No one's going to trust some greenhorn with a dangerous mission. Start small, build your reputation, and maybe, just maybe, you'll make it past E-rank."
Kaito frowned. "How long does that take?"
The man laughed, a harsh sound. "For some people? Their whole damn lives."
Kaito's stomach churned, but he didn't back down. "What about you? How long did it take you?"
The man's smile faded. "Twelve years to reach C-rank. And it nearly cost me my life more times than I can count."
He pushed off the wall and walked away, leaving Kaito with a sinking feeling in his chest. Twelve years? I don't have that kind of time.
That night, Kaito returned to the orphanage. Though he no longer lived there, Matron Seria allowed him to use the small shed in the backyard as a training space.
By candlelight, Kaito practiced. He swung his sword until his arms ached, drilled dodging maneuvers, and pushed his body to its limits. Every failure in the dungeon replayed in his mind, driving him to work harder.
"I'm not going to be stuck as an E-ranker," he muttered between swings. "I'll rise to the top. No matter how long it takes."
The other orphans watched from the windows, whispering among themselves. Though most of them didn't understand why Kaito pushed himself so hard, they admired his determination
Days turned into weeks, and Kaito slowly improved. His movements became faster, his strikes more precise. He tackled every E-rank mission he could find, from clearing rats to escorting farmers. Though the jobs were menial, they taught him the fundamentals of being a hunter.
One evening, as Kaito turned in his latest mission slip, the guild clerk handed him a folded piece of parchment.
"What's this?" Kaito asked, frowning.
"An invitation," the clerk said, smirking. "You've been noticed by someone. Lucky you."
Kaito opened the parchment and read the contents:
"To Kaito,
Your determination and spirit have caught my attention. If you wish to grow stronger, meet me at the training grounds tomorrow at dawn.
—A Friend"
Kaito's heart raced. Who could this "friend" be?
The next morning, Kaito arrived at the guild's training grounds as the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon. The area was empty save for a lone figure standing in the center.
It was the middle-aged hunter from before—the man with the longsword and the weathered face.
"You're the one who sent the letter?" Kaito asked, his voice filled with both surprise and curiosity.
The man nodded. "Name's Garrick. And yes, I sent it. I've been watching you, kid. You've got potential, but you're rough around the edges."
Kaito frowned. "Why are you helping me?"
Garrick shrugged. "Call it a whim. Or maybe I see a bit of myself in you. Either way, if you want to survive in this line of work, you'll need more than guts and determination. You'll need skill."
Kaito's fists clenched. "Then teach me."
Garrick grinned. "Good. Let's see if you've got what it takes."
Garrick's training was brutal. He pushed Kaito to his physical and mental limits, forcing him to fight with precision and strategy rather than brute force.
"You're too reckless," Garrick said during one sparring session. "Every swing of your sword has to count. Otherwise, you're just wasting energy."
Kaito gritted his teeth as he blocked another strike. "I'll get it. Just give me time."
"Time is something you don't have in a fight," Garrick countered, knocking Kaito off balance. "One mistake, and you're dead."
Though the lessons were harsh, Kaito improved quickly. Under Garrick's guidance, he learned to control his breathing, predict enemy movements, and strike with precision.
---
After weeks of training, Garrick handed Kaito a simple iron sword. "You've earned this," he said.
Kaito stared at the blade, his heart swelling with pride. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Garrick smirked. "Don't thank me yet. You've still got a long way to go."
As Kaito left the training grounds that evening, he looked up at the stars and made a sile
nt vow.
"I'll become the greatest hunter in this world. No matter what it takes."
---
End of Chapter Two.