The next day, I prepared to leave. My father handed me a heavy bag filled with gold coins, his expression torn between concern and pride. "Use this wisely, alright? And if things ever get too difficult, don't hesitate to come back home," he said gently.
I nodded, clutching the bag tightly. As I stepped through the front gates and waved goodbye, I could feel my heart ache. If I lingered any longer, I knew I wouldn't have the strength to leave. Turning my back to the mansion, I took my first steps into the world beyond.
A few hours later, I arrived at the bustling town. The energy here was unlike anything I'd experienced before. The streets were alive with chatter, merchants peddling their goods, and adventurers clad in Armor sharing stories of their exploits. My destination was clear—the Adventurers' Guild.
Pushing open the guild's doors, I walked confidently toward the receptionist's desk. "Hi, could I please register as an adventurer?" I asked politely.
The receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman with her hair tied back, looked up from her paperwork and blinked in surprise. "Pardon, missy? This isn't a playground," she said, clearly skeptical.
I fixed her with a serious stare. "I'd like the registration form, please. I won't ask again."
She sighed, clearly unsure whether to be amused or annoyed, but eventually slid the form across the counter to me. I quickly filled in the details, deciding to use the name Joker—an alias that would conceal my identity and embody the unpredictability of my journey. After completing the other necessary fields, I handed the form back to her.
The receptionist, who introduced herself as Jill, gave me a patient but thorough explanation of how the guild worked. "You'll find quests posted on the billboard," she said, pointing to the large board in the center of the room. "You can take on quests solo or join a party. Everyone starts at F-rank, and your rank increases based on the monsters you defeat and the quests you complete. For now, you're only allowed to accept F-rank quests. Understood?"
I nodded as she handed me my F-rank badge. Her professionalism didn't mask the curiosity lingering in her eyes. The other adventurers in the guild were less subtle. Whispers buzzed around me as they exchanged astonished glances. After all, it wasn't every day they saw a ten-year-old girl trying to become an adventurer.
Unfazed, I adjusted the badge on my outfit and looked toward the quest board. This was only the beginning, and I was ready to prove that no one—not even the skeptics—could stand in my way.
I accepted my first quest: defeating ten goblins. As I stared at the quest board, I couldn't help but think, only ten? That's way too little. Confident in my skills, I grabbed the quest paper and set off into the jungle.
The goblins were no match for me. They emerged from the bushes, snarling and waving crude weapons, but I simply smirked and pulled out my card deck. With a flick of my wrist, I summoned fireballs from the Three of Diamonds. The scorching heat lit up the dense foliage as the goblins shrieked and scattered, but I didn't let up. One by one, they fell to the flames as I danced through the battlefield, evading their clumsy strikes with ease.
Within minutes, ten goblins were reduced to ash. This is almost too easy, I thought, my confidence growing. But the jungle was dense, and I noticed movement in the shadows. More goblins began to emerge—twenty, thirty, maybe even forty. Their guttural cries filled the air as they charged at me in a frenzied horde.
I welcomed the challenge. Summoning a gust of wind with the Two of Spades, I sent the nearest goblins flying backward, disarming them as they hit the ground. A group of archers appeared, firing crude arrows from behind the trees, but I retaliated with my Four of Clubs, conjuring a shield of energy to deflect their attacks. The clinking sound of arrows bouncing harmlessly off my barrier was almost musical.
Switching tactics, I pulled out the Ace of Hearts, a card that temporarily enhanced my speed and reflexes. With newfound agility, I darted through the trees, targeting the goblins one by one. My blade—enchanted by the Seven of Spades—glowed faintly as it sliced through their defenses. Within minutes, I had defeated forty goblins—entirely by accident. Well, this is overkill, I thought, a smug grin crossing my face.
Thankfully, I had my trusty Five of Clubs, a storage card capable of holding anything, regardless of size. I stored the goblins' remains effortlessly, the card glowing faintly as it absorbed them all. With my task complete, I began my journey back to town.
But the jungle wasn't finished with me yet.
As I moved through the shadows, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. A low growl rumbled through the trees, and before I could react, a massive B-rank dire wolf leapt into my path. Its fur was as dark as midnight, its eyes glowing with an eerie green light. Saliva dripped from its fangs as it circled me, muscles rippling beneath its coat.
I knew I wasn't supposed to fight monsters of this rank so early on, but the wolf wasn't about to give me a choice. It lunged without warning, jaws snapping inches from my face. I barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as its claws tore through the underbrush where I'd been standing.
"Alright then," I muttered, pulling out the Six of Hearts, a card that summoned any type of gun with unlimited magic bullets. In a flash, I conjured a sleek, gleaming rifle in my hands. A surge of power coursed through me as I levelled the weapon, aiming at the wolf's flank.
The first shot rang out, piercing the stillness of the jungle. The magic bullet struck its mark, leaving a glowing wound on the wolf's side. It howled in rage, turning its glowing eyes on me. But I wasn't done. I leapt onto a nearby rock for higher ground, firing a rapid barrage of bullets at the beast. Each shot landed with precision, forcing the wolf to retreat momentarily into the shadows.
But it wasn't over yet. The dire wolf emerged again, its movements faster and more erratic. It feinted left before charging right, closing the distance between us in seconds. My rifle vanished as I swapped the Six of Hearts for the Nine of Diamonds, summoning a blazing whip of fire. The wolf lunged, but I cracked the whip with a fiery snap, forcing it back once more.
The battle was fierce, the jungle alive with the sounds of snarls, gunshots, and flames. Finally, I saw my opportunity. The wolf hesitated for just a moment, its movements slowed by exhaustion and injuries. Seizing my chance, I swapped back to the Seven of Spades and summoned my enchanted blade. With a powerful leap, I brought the sword down in
Back at the Adventurers' Guild, I confidently approached Jill, the receptionist, and presented my haul: 40 goblins. The room fell silent as the adventurers turned to stare, their jaws practically hitting the floor. Jill was the most astonished of all. "It hasn't even been a day, and you've already defeated 40 goblins? The quest only asked for 10!"
I shrugged, feigning innocence. "I might have gone a little overboard… Oh, and I may or may not have defeated a dire wolf as well."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "A dire wolf?! Stay here!" she exclaimed, rushing off to fetch the guildmaster.
Moments later, I was ushered into the office of Guildmaster Frank, a tall, broad man with a commanding presence. "I'm Frank," he introduced himself, his gaze sharp as he studied me. "I have to say, I'm quite surprised. It's not every day a 10-year-old manages to defeat a dire wolf."
I met his gaze confidently, waiting to see where this was going.
"How about this," he said, leaning back in his chair. "As a reward, I'll give you 600 gold coins and promote you to C-rank. That's quite an achievement for someone your age."
I smirked, extending my hand for a handshake. "Agreed."
As we shook hands, he smiled. "Let's hope we can work together again, Miss… um, may I know your name?"
Still smirking, I answered, "Call me Joker."
The name suited me perfectly, and as I left the guildmaster's office, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. This was only the beginning.