Chapter 3: The Path of an Adventurer

The moment my siblings left for the Adventurer's Guild, I followed.

Not even stealthily.

"Why are you trailing us like a lost puppy?" Jazz asked, raising an eyebrow as we walked through the bustling streets.

"I want to be an adventurer," I said simply.

Ford let out a short laugh. "Oh yeah? Just like that?"

I nodded. "I want more rare meat."

There was a beat of silence.

Jazz groaned. Prius sighed. Ford just smirked. "Well, at least you're honest."

We arrived at the massive wooden doors of the Adventurer's Guild. Inside, the hall was filled with warriors, mages, and rogues exchanging stories, checking the quest board, and boasting about their latest conquests. The scent of roasted meat and ale filled the air, making my stomach rumble again.

I watched as Ford walked up to the counter, reporting our goblin encounter to a guild official. Meanwhile, I turned to him.

"So, how do I sign up?"

Ford raised an eyebrow. "You? An adventurer? You're just a kid."

I crossed my arms. "And you're just a guy who got beat up on Floor 20."

Jazz snorted while Ford scowled. "Anyway," he continued, "if you really want to be an adventurer, you need to train first."

He gestured toward a massive board on the wall. It listed the Tower's floors, recommended levels, and known monster spawns.

"The first floor of the Tower is a great place to train your combat skills," Ford explained. "No risk of instant death… usually."

"Usually?" I echoed.

"Yeah. You still have to be careful. But before you even think about reaching Floor 5, you need to decide what job you want."

"Job?"

Jazz leaned against the counter. "Yeah. Warrior, mage, rogue, priest—stuff like that. Your combat style determines everything."

Ford nodded. "Only adventurers who pass Floor 5 are allowed to take the guild's official exam. It happens once a year, and you've still got a month before the next one. If you can get that far." He smirked. "If you're as strong as me, it'll be easy. Hahaha!"

I ignored his laughter and glanced at the massive Tower looming in the distance.

"So… where's the Tower?" I asked.

Ford blinked, then facepalmed. "You don't know?!"

"Would I be asking if I did?"

He sighed. "Every city has a Tower Gate, but you need permission to enter. The guild gives out beginner quests to qualify."

"Like what?"

"First, you need to defeat five goblins. Once you complete that quest, they'll grant you access to the Tower." Ford smirked. "Lucky for you, you're already here."

I turned toward the massive quest board, where dozens of papers were pinned up, fluttering slightly from the movement of adventurers walking by.

A hunt, huh?

I scanned the board until I found it—Beginner Quest: Gate 1 Access - Goblin Hunt.

Without hesitation, I tore the paper from the board and brought it to the receptionist. She glanced at me, then at my siblings.

"First time, huh?" she asked, stamping the paper.

I nodded.

"Goblins usually lurk deep in the forest," she continued. "They breed fast—too fast—so there's a monthly extermination to keep their numbers under control."

I raised an eyebrow. "Monthly extermination?"

She nodded. "A full-scale goblin purge. It's scheduled for next week. If you want, you can join us then. It'll be safer than going alone."

I smirked. "I think I'll pass."

I wanted to hunt now.

Prius, who had been silent until now, crossed his arms. "You should know, we don't wipe them all out."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"There are different types of goblins," he explained. "Not all of them are dangerous. Some live in their own tribes and don't attack humans. Others… well, they're a problem."

Jazz nodded. "That's why we call it a 'goblin extermination,' not a 'goblin genocide.' If we killed all of them, the ecosystem would collapse. They're scavengers, prey for bigger monsters, and they even have their own weird culture."

Ford shrugged. "But the aggressive ones? The ones raiding villages, attacking travelers? Those gotta go. That's where we come in."

I thought about that for a moment. "So, what you're saying is… goblins are like cattle. Some are harmless, some are dangerous, and some are delicious."

Jazz burst out laughing. "I like the way you think, kid."

Ford shook his head with a grin. "Well, if you're that eager, let's see if you can actually take one down first."

I turned toward the guild doors, my grip tightening on my quest paper.

Time to hunt.