Chapter 8:The Great Expediaton

Kael was sitting quietly on the street. The weather was sunny, and the streets were filled with the cheerful voices of children. It was a scene he hadn't witnessed in a long time. His conversations with Ywain had left him confused; he was in a strange mood, feeling somewhat troubled.

Hunger gnawed at him. He stood up from where he was sitting and walked toward a nearby inn. When he entered, he felt slightly out of place; the atmosphere was lively. He ordered roasted chicken and some beer. After finishing his meal and drink, he left the inn and began wandering the streets. He observed his surroundings—grocers, bakeries, and more… The city truly looked like a capital.

He started searching for the hunters' guild nearby. After a short while, he found it and stepped inside. The place was packed; many teams, many adventurers... The guild was crowded, almost overflowing.

Kael moved forward inside. He approached the woman in charge, greeted her, and calmly asked:

"Are there any available quests for me?"

The woman responded in a polite tone:

"Oh, yes, of course, adventurer."

Kael continued:

"What is the difficulty level and the required number of participants?"

The woman replied calmly:

"At least 20 people, and the quest is A-rank, sir. The reward is far higher than a fallen B-rank mission."

Kael nodded in satisfaction and added:

"Fallen B-rank missions are quite rare, aren't they? And isn't 20 people too many?"

The woman confirmed with a nod and added:

"Yes, indeed. This is a special mission, so the conditions are a bit strict. After all, our client is someone very important."

Kael nodded again, satisfied, and began wandering around the guild. In the end, he decided to leave, but just as he was about to step out, a voice called out:

"Hey!"

Kael turned around and locked eyes with a young man with black hair. The young man was tall and also quite handsome.

The young man immediately spoke:

"Why don't you join us, my friend?"

Kael responded without hesitation:

"Alright, I'll do it."

The young man stared blankly for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Alright, alright! So be it! An A-rank mission, right? Let's do this! Let's meet back here tomorrow at 2 o'clock, okay?"

Kael replied, "Yes."

The young man grinned. "Alright, 2 o'clock, don't forget," he said.

Kael opened the guild doors and walked away. While heading back to the inn where they were staying, he ran into Subi. After a brief conversation, he arrived at their lodging. Unlocking the door with his key, he glanced around—Ywain was nowhere to be seen. He sighed and threw himself onto the bed.

---

The guild was bustling with people. A 20-person team had gathered, including the black-haired swordsman and Kael. Kael had already gotten to know the group. The team exited the guild, climbed onto horse-drawn carriages, and set off.

The city slowly disappeared behind them, its final image vanishing into the forest.

On the narrow forest paths, the team continued forward. After crossing a wooden bridge, Vael shouted:

"Slow down! We'll set up camp here. This plain is suitable for us! Everyone, get ready. The battle will begin soon!"

The team took out their equipment and prepared themselves. The surroundings were eerily quiet, and the silence persisted—until Vael suddenly shouted:

"It's coming!"

A magnificent, giant golden griffon soared through the air, its eyes burning with rage. Griffons were known as beasts that relentlessly hunted down those who entered their territory.

Vael shouted:

"Prepare yourselves! The battle begins!"

As the griffon landed, the nightmare was now inevitable.