Normal until shaken

I walk through the city. Dusk is still some moments away. I think I can get this job done by then. Even so, I am not in a hurry. I don't need to be that careful about time anyway.

I checked the location. It's on the eastern side of the city. I have never gone there. It'll be a first. I leisurely walk through the streets while ignoring the looks.

People are staring a hole through me and Amaryllis. We both don't mind the stares so it really didn't do any harm.

"Master, do you know what type of monster is that renoster?" (Amaryllis)

"The picture did help. From what it looks like, it's a quadruped. I do have some information but it's from my world. I don't know if that will help. But this renoster has an uncanny semblance to it."

"Your world, you mean Gaia?" (Amaryllis)

"Yes. It doesn't feel like much time has passed but it has been more than a year now. Let's not get all pessimistic. Look, here comes the gate. Oh, you don't have an identification card. Go back inside."

Amaryllis went back to my singularity. I pass through the gate after showing my adventurer card. When I reached a point where they can't see me, Amaryllis comes out again.

"The general public seldom leave the city. It's a hassle to go out. You have to show identification or pay money. It's a hassle."

"I understand. Should I also become an adventurer?" (Amaryllis)

"If you want to. But be sure to hold back. I don't want the guild master nearly passing out again."

I chuckle. Although he tried his best to contain his surprise, he couldn't. When I broke through the sealed chair like it wasn't even there, his face was something else.

I focus on the task at hand. The renoster is supposedly seen in the eastern side of the forest by a small pond. It was last seen grazing around the pond. I search for a pond.

Before, Aera did that for me. But I send my mana out to get a clear image of the surrounding area. It's the same as a magnetic resonance imaging. However in my case, I get a clear image.

Obviously this is my first try. I can't understand many things. Still, let's just keep trying. Upon my third try, I felt something move.

It was an animal. It's northeast of me. About 400 meters away.

"Target located. Let's move stealthily."

"Yes, master." (Amaryllis)

We both head to the spot. I found it. It's almost like a rhinoceros but the color is whacky. The head is kinda brownish while the body is totally black. It has two horns. I think that's our target.

Let's use appraisal. A skill which I have but seldom use. Because System gives me the necessary information ahead of time. I am spoiled before I could even start.

The results of the appraisal:

Subject: Renoster (Common)

Level: 56

HP: 23000

MP: 4000

Strength: 140

Agility: 190

Stamina: 500

Endurance: 420

Intelligence: 60

Skills: Dark magic, Binding curse, Enhanced physique, Berserk mode.

I am kinda shocked. Is this animal higher level than me? I don't know my own level though.

I project the results and ask Amaryllis.

"What do you think of this?"

"To be honest, it's a bit too strong. I mean, monsters don't reach this level. And it's a common monster at that. Something is going on with the monsters." (Amaryllis)

As I thought, something is going on. But first, let me kill it.

I use mana to strengthen my body. My legs are especially neglected so let's flex them a bit. I leapt. Yes, I was hiding from the renoster. It was about 10 meters away. I closed that distance in one jump and startled the monster.

It tried to look back at me but I positioned my fist and when the time was right, I launched an uppercut.

This time though, I didn't use mana. It was my physical strength that threw the punch. The head flew off. I mean, I punched it's head off, literally.

Blood was spewing from the cross-section. I hastily moved away to not stain my clothes. The body fell down and started shaking. But after a moment, it became still.

The head was stuck on a tree branch. I hit the tree to get the head. I stored both the head and the body in my singularity.

I did feel a bit of resistance while punching but it wasn't anything major. So, I can punch anyone's head off. Nice to know.

"Then, let's head back."

"That was magnificent, master. I didn't expect you to behead it with a punch!" (Amaryllis)

"I was just testing my strength. But I am happy that I haven't become rusty."

We returned to the guild. It hadn't even been an hour since we left. Ms. Maria is back to normal again.

"So Mr. Belmont, I can presume the task is complete?" (Maria)

"Yes. Where should I put the body?"

"Can you show me a proof? It's for the record." (Maria)

I take out its head from my singularity. Everyone present became stunned. Ms. Monica however held up pretty well.

"I see. What a marvelous job! You seem to have beheaded it. But I only see tear marks. Did you not cut it?" (Maria)

"I punched it. So about the body.."

"Oh..then follow me. I will take you to the dismantling room." (Maria)

I follow Maria while Amaryllis was talking to another receptionist.

The dismantling room had a lot of monster corpses. Some buff men were carefully dismantling them. I brought out the body. Then a man estimated a price and talked to Ms. Maria for a bit.

She led me back to the reception after her talk was over.

"Mr. Belmont, your reward for the completion of this quest is 3 gold. But you brought back the corpse intact and it has already been bled out. So the guild will buy the corpse for 30 gold. Here, you 33 gold coins. We have given you 100 silvers as a change." (Maria)

"I see. But do appraise that monster."

"Appraise? Is there anything wrong? Wait, you have the appraisal skill?" (Maria)

"Yes. I checked it before I killed it but do check it again. I don't know if it was normal."

"Thank you for your information. I will have the guild appraiser check it." (Maria)

I left the guild with Amaryllis.

"Master, it seems that I can become an adventurer as well." (Amaryllis)

"That's good. Did you register?"

"No. She said that I should register under Ms. Maria as well." (Amaryllis)

Hmm…keeping us together would save a lot of troubles. I wished the day had ended right then.

(Clive, you have a message from your parents.)

System suddenly talked to me. I was about to admonish her but I asked what it was.

(Congratulations. You are becoming a big brother.)

I heard a fanfare and something unbelievable. I stopped walking.

(See you at home.)

System chuckled and cut off the conversation. I am becoming….a big WHAT??!!?