Chapter 17: Why The Bell Tolls in the Guild hall

The princess's question made the group pause for a moment as they thought of the adventurer they had just met.

"He seemed pretty quiet, and he'd have to be really strong based of the silver adventurers I met at the dukedom before." Calid answered first.

"Yeah, I couldn't exactly tell from his voice, but I have a feeling he's young for his rank. I was interested in how he dressed though; it must be uncomfortable to wear when travelling under sun." Levik adds, supposing the adventurer's age and mentioning their dark attire.

"... I'm not sure, but I think he was lying." Venia suddenly adds after some thought.

"Oh? About what exactly?" Belle asks her to expound.

"Well, the way he was eating and carrying himself felt off for someone who just finished etiquette training. He felt so relaxed and comfortable conversing. He could just be socially adept, but it felt like etiquette is something he's practiced for years, not just months." Venia clarified her earlier conclusion.

"Yes, I agree with you. I was similarly wondering how someone who went through a few months of a adventurer etiquette training course could do so well. Plus, when he bowed towards us earlier, he clenched his fist and crossed it across his chest while kneeling slightly." The princess states

"Ah, the knight's bow, I should have realized that earlier." Levik replies in realization.

What the adventurer had done earlier was a bow used specifically by knights when greeting high royalty.

"Huh, he must have some steel in his guts to lie in front of the princess then." Robur remarks.

"Yes, quite true. I wonder his reasons." The princess says in reply, with a curious look on her face.

*Half an hour later

Despite the eventful day, it was surprisingly average for the capital's adventurer guild. Though there were some more quests to send messages, act as couriers, or hunt low-level monsters, most of the important missions regarding the arrival of the delegation were handled by the knight orders.

Keru who had just arrived was lined-up at one of the receptionist desks. He was planning to ask the receptionist to inform guildmaster Kamila that he had arrived to meet her as she had asked earlier.

While waiting in line, he had noticed that he was being observed by many of the adventurers in the guild. His choice of clothing and first-time appearance at the hall became a source of curiosity.

'Sigh, I should have just put everyone to sleep. I feel like this might become annoying'

When he had arrived at the counter, the receptionist greeted him politely and asked about his business at the guildhall.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am, I think I have a meeting with the guild master this afternoon. She told me to inform the front desk when I arrived here."

"Oh of course Sir, may I know your name and have some form of identification."

"Ah, no problem. My name is Miru, I'm a silver ranked adventurer." Keru hands over his silver adventurer tag as proof.

When doing so, the adventurers who were observing him become surprised when they see his tag. It was rare for silver ranks and above to go to the capital since there were not really any jobs for them.

"Thank you Sir, I have confirmed your identity. Let me just inform the guild master of your arrival. Please find a place to sit and I shall call you."

The receptionist hands back Keru's necklace.

"Thank you as well" Keru says as he walks to a nearby wall and leans his back on it.

The surrounding adventurers were unsure what to make of the silver adventurer.

Eventually some of them approached him and made polite conversation. Miru for his part, did his best to politely respond but end the conversations quickly. After some time, the adventurers would get the implied message and move on.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the entrance as two people had arrived. They were a young man and teenage girl with similar facial features as well as green hair. The man wore frivolous but high quality light armor with a rapier at his side. The woman wore less showy armor fit for a ranger with a bow and quiver strapped to her back.

They were both beautiful with sharp features but what caught the most attention was their elven ears and the silver tag adventurer necklaces around their neck.

The crowd of adventurers were surprised by their appearance as elves were rare in the human realm as they tended to stick to their forest enclaves or kingdoms.

The young man, in his late teens or early 20s with a proud look on his face approached the receptionist desk. The teenage girl followed behind him with a shy look on her face.

Once the elf arrived, the receptionist greeted him with a smile. However, the tall young elf did not acknowledge this and opted to look down at the receptionist with his eyes.

"Hello human, we are here to meet with your guild master." He spoke quickly with disdain as if every word he had to speak with the receptionist was a waste of time. He then handed a rolled letter of introduction to the receptionist.

The receptionist took and read the letter and told the two elves to wait while she informed the guild master.

The young man nodded with an irritated expression and proceeded to head towards the lounge area where Keru was standing nearby.

Once both elves spotted Keru wearing a silver tag, the male elf turned towards the younger girl.

"Go sit down sister, I wish to speak with this human. Since they appear to be of some skill."

The female elf timidly nodded and proceeded to sit down while her older brother approached Keru.

"Greetings human, I believe you are worthy of aiding me. Tell me, have you heard news of the undead delegation that arrived at this town today." The elf said proudly.

"... No." A bored voice answered.

"Tsk, useless like the rest of you." The elf clicked his tongue in disgust.

"Sure, now go away." Came an unaffected answer.

The veins in the elf's forehead bulged.

"Do not get cocky round-eared runt. Your short-lived kind should be thanking me for letting you have the chance of..."

BAM!... BAMBAMBAM!

Keru had knocked down the elf with a sucker punch and then proceeded to mount and rain down more punches on top of the fallen elf.

Everyone who was listening to the short conversation was enraged by the elf's elvish supremacy and then surprised by Keru's violent response.

Due to surprise, there were a few seconds where everyone was only watching the elf get beaten down by Keru.

They were only jolted out of their shock when Keru proceeded to jam his thumbs into the elf's eyes.

"Arghhh, stop shadlife (short-life)!" Yelled the elf.

"What's the magic words?" Came another disinterested reply from Keru.

"Wait!!" Suddenly, the elf's younger sister yelled in a panic as she ran in front of Keru with an arrow and bow drawn pointed at him.