The Masked Swordswoman

[Klee POV]

I was surprised to hear that the guild master wanted to test my abilities through trails, as if the words of the three adventurers besides me weren't enough to prove what I can do.

"Mister Fuze, why do you want to test me?" I curiously asked the guild master.

"Because I want to see your abilities for myself, of course"

Fair enough, it seems to be a reasonable answer for someone to doubt my abilities because of my childish appearance.

"If I do the test, what is it for me?"

"You want to be an adventurer, right?"

"Yes, I do"

"Then this is your chance to become one"

I see, this must be my chance to prove myself worthy of recognition in order to join the adventurer guild and learn more about this world afterwards. Alright, I should comply to his request so we can start.

"I understood, mister Fuze. I'll do it"

"Very well, come with me then"

Fuze prompted me to follow him, so I get down from Eren's lap and walk towards the guild master's direction. After that, he opens the door and then looks at three adventurers before speaking.

"As for you three, I want you to investigate the surrounding area of the seal cave. You may rest for three days before departing. That is all"

As the guild master gave his instruction to the three adventurers, I noticed that they were quite speechless and upset about what he said.

After that, I was prompted by the guild master to move along, so I followed him down the hallway and we head towards the main lobby of the building.

---------------------------------------------

Once we arrived at our destination, the guild master takes me to a certain section of the building where a bunch of counters were lined up in a row. Each of those counters were women who were talking to a queue of people.

"Mister Fuze, where are we going?" I asked curiously the guild master.

"We're going to the reception area, so I can register you as an adventurer"

Ah, that would make sense. I wouldn't be an adventurer if I don't register as one. Alright then, I'll follow him along this one.

So, I accompany the guild master towards one of the counters and we confronted the woman in charge of that spot.

"Oh, good day, mister Fuze. How can I help you" the woman greeted the guild master and ask for his intention.

"I'd like to register this little girl please"

"Huh?"

As the guild master respond to the question, not only the woman is surprised but also the people within the building were puzzled as well.

They were perhaps not expecting a child like me to register as adventurer, which must be an unusual sight for them to see.

"Is there something wrong on what I said, miss?" Fuze questions the woman due to the reaction she made after he told his instruction.

"No sir, it is just... that girl might be a bit too young for this"

The woman tries to reason with the guild master, explaining to him that my youth is too much for this kind of job, which is quite rude I must say.

Hearing this causes the guild master to glare at the woman, making her flinch a bit and she reluctantly comply to his command.

"H-here you go, young lady. Please fill out this paper here" says the woman as she gives the paper to me.

As I receive the paper from her, I begin to read the text. However, I realized that I found myself in a predicament I wasn't prepared for.

"Is something wrong, Klee. You weren't doing anything"

The guild master asked me with concern as he noticed that I wasn't filling out the paper. I then look at him in the eye and respond to his question.

"Mister Fuze, I can't read...."

"Oh...."

When I told the guild master that I couldn't read, he seems to be troubled and begins pondering on what to do. Eventually, he looks back at me as if he already had decided on something and spoke to me.

"If that's the case, I will go find those three idiots to help you out, so wait here, okay?" the guild master instructed, telling me to stay put.

"Okay"

After complying to his instruction, the guild master walks away from me and went to find Kaval's party to resolve my predicament.

.

.

.

"Maybe I should try figuring this out myself"

------------------------------------------------

[Third POV]

While Klee was waiting for the guild master to return, the three adventurers on the other hand, were at the entrance of the guild seemingly upset about something.

"That is all, my ass! Who do he think he is!"

"Yeah, he thinks three days of rest is fine, but no! It is not!"

"This is so unfair! I wanted a bath so bad!"

Kaval, Gido and Eren all complained about the task that guild master gave to them. They weren't happy on how he treated the three adventurers that they couldn't help to complain wildly.

"Well, there's nothing we do about it. Let's just rest up while we can before we depart to Jura Forest" Kaval tiredly informs his party members who were still complaining about the matter.

But then a mysterious person was watching the three adventurers for some time now and they decided to come out and approach the party.

"Excuse me, do you three have a moment?" says the mysterious person as they tried to get the three adventurers' attention.

Once the party heard the voice of the mysterious person, they all look at them and found out it was a female figure.

The woman has fairly long black hair and she wields a sword on her hip. However, the most conspicuous feature of her appearance was the strange mask on her face.

"Umm, can we help you, miss?" Kaval cautiously asked the masked woman.

"I have heard that you three were going to the Jura Forest, correct?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Then please let me accompany you three on the way there"

The masked woman stated her intention towards the three adventurers and they look at each other for a few seconds before returning their gaze to the woman.

"Well, I'm not sure if we-"

"Of course, you can. The more the merrier, am I right?"

Before Kaval could decide on what to say, Eren suddenly butts in and approve the masked woman's request.

"Hey Eren, you can't just approve some stranger's request without my permission"

"Oh, don't be like that, Kaval. The woman is just asking to join, right Gido?"

"I mean there's nothing wrong with that, so I guess it's fine"

The three adventurers argue for a short while before returning their attention to the masked woman who was patiently waiting for them to calm down.

"What's your name, miss. mine is Eren and these were my friends, Kaval and Gido"

Eren asked for the masked woman's identity while she introduces herself and party members to her. The woman nodded understandingly and responded to the question.

"I am Shizu...."

"Nice to meet you Shizu. Let's get along, okay?"

"Hm...."

-------------------------------------------------------

After the introduction was over, Kaval then informs Shizu about the date of their departure and she agrees with the information.

Subsequently, the guild master exits the guild and spotted the three adventurers on the distance, so he approaches them and calls out their name.

"There you are, you three idiots"

"""EeK!!"""

The three adventurers were quite startled by the guild master calling out for them. They look at the man with anger and responded.

"Don't sneak up on us like that, old man!"

"Yeah, I almost got a heart attack"

"This is psychological abuse! We can sue you!"

As the three started to complain at the guild master, he got agitated. So, he raises his hand and then....

*Bonk* *Bonk* *Bonk*

"Quit your winning, you idiots. Anyway, I got another job for you three"

He gave them three individual bonks on the head and reprimanded them. He also told that he will give another task for the three, which annoys them.

"Oh, come on! Another task?!"

"Yeah, gives us a break, will you!"

"I'm so tired of your shenanigans, old man!"

The three adventurers kept on complaining at Fuze, which irritates the guild master even more. So, he glared at them and they all went silent in an instant.

"Quiet, you three. Klee has trouble reading text, so I want you three to help her" Fuze informs the three about the task, which confuses them.

"Eh? Why us!?"

"Yeah, we aren't teachers, you know!"

"Also, why can't you do it, old man?"

The three adventurers complains at the task that was given on them, which made the guild master more annoyed and bothered.

"I will do it...."

But then Shizu volunteered to do the task, which the guild master notices and look at the masked woman.

He stare at her as if he has a recollection of seeing that person before. However, snaps back to reality and nodded at her understandingly.

"I see, then come with me, miss"

The guild master prompted the masked woman to follow him back inside the Adventurer guild and she complied to follow him.

Meanwhile, the three adventurers were curious of what's going on. So, they also followed them from behind.

-----------------------------------------

Once they arrived at the reception area, Fuze and Shizu confronted Klee who seems to be stunned when she saw the masked woman.

'It's her. The masked swordswoman from the survey question'

Klee thought to herself as she stared at Shizu in owe. She didn't expect to meet the woman in a place like this and she feels excited to talk with her.

"I'm sorry, Klee. I couldn't get the three idiots to do the job. But I found someone who could" Fuze explains to the elf child about the situation, which she nodded understandingly.

"It's okay, mister Fuze. This lady is fine"

"I see, carry on then, Klee"

The guild master nodded to the elf girl's response and then prompted the masked woman to help her on the registration.

The woman complied and approaches Klee before crouching down to her level and spoke to the child.

"Please let me see the paper..."

"Okay~"

Klee gave the registration paper to Shizu and she reads the text for a bit. Then she looks at the woman behind counter and spoke.

"Is it alright to bring this over there?" Shizu asked while pointing at the rows of table.

"Of course, just return it after she's done filling it out"

Once the woman approves, Shizu prompted Klee to come with her and she complied, following her towards a table.

They both took a seat and Shizu begin teaching Klee on how to read the text on the paper. She skillfully taught her every word's meaning and the elf girl seems to understand her quite fine.

"Over here is where you write your name, kid"

"Okay"

"What's your name again, kid?"

"My name is Klee"

"Very well, then write it like this"

Shizu taught Klee on how to write her name on the paper and seems to like the woman's teaching methods.

"How about you, miss. What's your name?"

"Shizu..."

"That's a very nice name, miss Shizu~"

"Hmm..."

After that interaction, the two females continue filling out the blanks on the registration paper until it is finish.