The Royal Guild of the Aldranza Dynasty, the highest form of a guild for adventurers, knights, mages, and the like.
To most people, it was known as one of the main subsidiaries of the kingdom's Royal Family. Its main purpose was to assign various missions with the opportunity of great rewards.
However, it wasn't just any other normal guild. This highest order of guilds always gave chances to buy powerful weapons, gain direct training from higher-ups who were willing to teach and more, and only if they cleared the strongest missions. It was a huge risk, but if he could align himself with a powerful party of teammates, it was possible to gain great resources through this.
But with the closest Royal Guild situated at the north of the country, it would take a bit of a while to get there by carriage, the fastest way to travel in Aldranza for those with smaller incomes.
If only I was rich…an aerial ride on the Collosal Eagles would have been amazing, but land transport by carriage-drawn Timberwolves will have to be the way to get there.
Sekoto Town and Sekoto Forest were already a bit in the north already, but Shizaki needed to either cross through or go around the forest and the Haze River behind it, then trek through the neighboring super-city Pandora. Only after passing through Pandora would he find the Royal Guild.
It's a long way away…maybe a week's journey by carriage, but…I must get there.
Having almost no knowledge of the world outside of his village, Daizen Shizaki felt a tinge of anxiety welling up inside. After all, he had stayed at home in isolation for years, only rarely going outside for hangouts with his two friends and to help his old man for farming.
He fell back onto the bed, facing the ceiling.
"Is that so-called vision truly real? I'm still having a hard time trying to process this…"
A person like him, looked down by others, was expected to save a large-scale genocide.
He slowly closed his eyes and took a deep inhale, and then exhaled.
The Royal Guild Selection, a test for all new participants trying to enter the guild, would start in about a week and the journey would take roughly that same time to get there by carriage.
There's no time to lose. At this time next year, everyone I cherish would be destroyed if I don't act, so every day counts…..so let's do it.
"Alright, then, that's decided."
Shizaki's purple eyes shined as he watched the moon slowly come out. The next day was about to be the start of something new.
***
"I'm coming along."
"...Eh?"
Alexandria Aya, Shizaki's close friend, had visited his house early in the morning the next day, and had apparently overheard his conversation with his Gramps a few minutes ago as she walked in.
Now that they were alone in his bedroom, she stared absently at him, and then unexpectedly relayed her choice of coming along.
Shizaki, who stood and looked down confusingly at the petite girl sitting on his bed, then tried to avert his eyes.
"....Are you serious..?"
"Your pops accepted the proposal pretty quickly, huh?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah...I'm guessing he really wants me to finally venture out on my own- I'm not gonna just gloss over your first statement! Are you serious!?"
"I'm always serious, Shizaki. I'm just horrible at showing it."
"Well…um, okay, but…"
"But?"
Her tone had remained low and the same as always, but what she said had really thrown him off guard.
"I'm…about to leave, like, in an hour."
"I'll quickly go to my house and get everything I need."
"H-Hey, wait! Why do you want to come along!?"
"Why shouldn't I? It's a good opportunity. Besides…
She tilted her head slightly.
"Wouldn't it be good to try the Royal Selection with a friend? It would be good if we both became adventurers."
"....I guess..?"
He was not against it, but…
This is way too sudden-
"By the way, Shizaki."
"-hk, y-yeah?"
Hearing a rougher tone, he twitched, sensing something wrong.
"Were you not going to tell your friends that you were leaving?"
"Of course, of course, haha!!"
The worst liar of all time.
Wanting to leave the village quickly without bumping into trouble, he had asked his Gramps to relay his departure to both Alexandriya and Gariah.
"Ah, Gariah. Hey, Alexandriya, do you…?"
Unable to meet his other friend, Gariah Firuseko, since yesterday, Shizaki wanted to ask if the expressionless girl had met him.
"No, I haven't seen him today either. I passed by his house on the way here and he wasn't home. Should we search for him around the village before we leave?"
"No…it's fine. Although it would be nice if he came along, we have to get going quickly, so Gramps will just tell him whenever he gets a chance to. Besides, I'm pretty sure he dislikes the whole adventure and 'putting your life on the line' stuff anyway. I'm sure that he would understand, right?"
"Shizaki, you're a really bad friend, you know that?"
"Urk, whatever."
He held his head down and started playing with his dark blue hair.
"...I never knew that you wanted to join the Royal Guild, Aya-san."
"It wasn't in one of my to-do lists, but since you're going, it's only natural that I come along. I am curious as to living the life of an adventurer."
"Alright. Well, I'm ready. I'll wait for you at my house, and then we'll head to the Main Passageway where the hordes of carriages are usually moving at.
"...Very well. If we do get selected as new adventurers, we won't be seeing the people we know around Sekoto Village for a while-"
"-Doesn't bother me in the slightest."
"...Right. Well, I'll be going to my house to prepare. Father and Mother would have wanted me to go. I'll see you soon.
"No problem, I guess."
Aya then exited the room. Shizaki turned his gaze to his window, peering at the blue sky laid with the usual white, cloudy bumps that floated by.
"All set, then?"
The familiar, raspy voice had alerted Shizaki.
"...Gramps. Yeah, I'm all set, I guess. I've got my small duffle bag with the basic necessities, my favourite hoodie for the cold, and my favorite book. It's a shame that I can't bring them all, though. Ah, and I'll try to buy food along the way and new clothes if I still have enough money when I reach there. The money should also be enough for lodging for only a couple nights as well but I believe that the Royal Guild grants free lodging to those who pass the Selection. That's…if I pass it, anyway."
"Remember, Shizaki. It's the confidence that will help you. Not 'if', 'when'. Alright?"
"...R-Right. Understood."
"There we go."
Patting his shoulder, the middle-aged man took a step back to admire the young man in front of him. A proud smile formed as he stroked his beard, looking at the new adventurer outfit that he had on right now.
"Not bad, not bad. With that fit, you might even snag a few hotties, let alone friends."
"Like hell I would. Alexandriya made no comment on it when she was with me just now. Then again, she isn't the type to praise others for their appearance so casually."
Stretching out his arm, Shizaki took a look at how it appeared with his new look, and then inspected the rest of his own clothing as he spun around slowly.
"Damn it, old man…I can't believe you were hiding an outfit like this all this time just to give it to me whenever I decided to follow my dream of becoming an adventurer."
At his legs were copper plates that covered them both up to his knees, then his long black pants were also on display, tightened by a black belt. His black shirt that covered his body up to his wrists was covered by his jacket which consisted of a main light blue and white color with gold lining. His collar that stuck out from it and the cape that extended out from the jacket itself were completely white, while his hands were masked by black gloves.
Seeing the sharp-eyed Daizen Shizaki in this dazzling way, Gramps nodded in approval, and a small chuckle escaped the former while having a sense of embarrassment.
"Thank you…for everything, Gramps."
"...What do you mean?
"Even though I wasted my years living in isolation, hiding from the scornful glances from everyone…even though I was useless and couldn't stand for myself…you still…"
His lips trembled and he held his breath, with water slowly creeping out of his eyelids as he held his head down.
Seeing this, the man simply smiled and gently held onto his shoulder.
"....What is your name?"
"...I'm Shizaki. Daizen Shizaki."
"Are you proud of that name, Daizen Shizaki?
"I hated it. But not anymore."
"...Why?"
"Because…it used to be the name of a person who couldn't match others. But....anyone can have the potential to make a difference, no matter how insignificant they seem. You taught me that. And now, I have to try to reach my own potential."
".....That's exactly why I never gave up on you. And I never will."
He slowly embraced the young man, closing his eyes and whispering the words he knew he had longed to hear since that day.
That day where a younger Gramps had embraced the trembling 12 year-old known as Daizen Shizaki and whispered those same words to him.
"You will be loved, child…"
"..."
"...Forever and always."
It hurt. The tears welled up and his arms received the embrace with a strong grasp. What turned from a series of sniffles led to Shizaki trying to restrain himself helplessly from breaking down. The old man too could feel tears welling up.
"I'm so proud of you for taking this step, child. Despite all that has happened, go and fulfill your dream."
"I…w-will..."
***
With Alexandriya Aya now in the street waving in the distance, Daizen Shizaki prepared to leave as he stood by the entrance of his house.
"Will you be okay by yourself, Gramps…? Like, are you sure?"
The older man who sat on the porch next to him chuckled.
"You're acting as if I'm an elderly person…"
"You kinda are."
"Hey, I'm fifty-four! I'm practically still a teenager!"
...Has a sentence like that ever been uttered before in the history of the Three-Headed Continent?
"Goodness gracious…"
"I'll be fine, boy. You've been helping me out with so much stuff at homecfor years now, so it's finally time for you to spread your wings. And if you are still worried, you can visit me anytime."
"....Roger."
With his confirmation, Shizaki then jogged towards the green-haired girl as the sun now reached the middle of the sky. On reaching her, they both began to depart.
But by the time he was just about to disappear into the bustling crowd…
He turned. And waved, with the brightest grin, before shouting with all his might.
"THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!" PLEASE AWAIT MY RETURN!!!"
In response, the man flashed a thumbs up and grinned from ear to ear.
In his mind, his confidence returned to its full capacity.
Let's do this. I'm going to save everyone, I swear!!"
And with that, Daizen Shizaki and Alexandriya Aya left.
***
--KILL DAIZEN SHIZAKI, THE ANOMALY OF THE WORLD.
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Chapter 5: (Forever and Always.)