Chapter 13: Adventurer's Guild

"It makes sense. Eagle Vision and Basic Archery both fall under the category of ranged skills, and their Effects complement each other, which must be why my proficiency increased so quickly," Raine thought. He stared at the swirling steam in front of him, his fingertips unconsciously trailing across the water's surface, stirring up a faint ripple.

"If I learn a Sword Combat Technique, wouldn't my Basic Swordsmanship also see a massive boost?"

The idea invigorated him. He couldn't help but recall the figure who had first guided him onto the Ranger's path—a scruffy man who always carried the scent of dust and cheap ale, yet stood as tall and unyielding as a lone peak.

The voice from his memories was rough yet clear, echoing as if the man were right beside him:

"Remember, kid, a bow lets you control life and death from fifty feet away, but a sword determines your survival within five feet.

"Tell me, when your Quiver runs empty, can that infallible bow of yours be used as a club?

"A man who only knows how to draw a bow is, at best, an excellent Hunter. Only when you master both bow and sword can you truly be the master of this Wilderness!

"We Rangers walk the fine line between civilization and savagery, and the Wilderness will never give anyone a second chance."

You only had one life, and the Wilderness never offered second chances. Raine took a slow, deep breath.

The man was right. Swords and bows were equally important, especially in a place like the Demon Shadow Forest. And his greatest hope for obtaining Sword Techniques lay undoubtedly in the Hunting Chapter.

He focused his mind, and the ancient, rustic tome slowly flipped open in his head. The grid representing the Goblin Predator lit up all by itself, surrounded by numerous dimmed grids with similar silhouettes, indicating the diversity of the Goblin species. Even if he didn't encounter Goblins next time, the vast Demon Shadow Forest was never short of other Demons.

"From the looks of it, gathering information on five types of Demons to unlock the next stage's reward might be faster than I imagined.

"However, before starting my next adventure, I should first train Stealth Step, Eagle Vision, and Basic Archery to Level 2, since those three Skills are close to leveling up."

His mind made up, Raine stood and left the warm bathwater. Before leaving the bathhouse, he spent two Silver Lions to buy the cheapest set of new coarse linen shirt and trousers from Fitz. Since most Adventurers came in covered in blood and mud, the bathhouse doubled as a clothing shop. Returning to his spartan room on the second floor of the Return Inn, he fell into a deep sleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

The next morning.

Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the window shutters, casting specks of light into the dusty air that fell squarely on Raine's face. His eyelids fluttered before slowly opening, and he instinctively reached out for his phone to check the time.

His arm quickly stiffened in midair. "I've already transmigrated. Where would I even find a phone?"

He sat up against the creaky, broken bed. After a brief moment of disorientation, his awareness rapidly returned. Within sight was a small, medieval-style room of less than ten square meters. Mildew dotted the wooden walls, and his sword and Short Bow lay right beside his pillow.

He quickly got dressed and went downstairs for a simple breakfast of black bread and pea soup. It still cost a single Copper Deer, and the portion was still hearty enough to fill his stomach. Before purchasing new equipment, he had no intention of spending any extra money on satisfying his appetite.

Afterward, he pushed open the inn's front doors and headed straight for the Adventurer's Guild in the northern part of town. The morning streets were bustling with people coming and going.

From a distance, he could see the three-story stone building constructed from limestone. Unlike the other low and cramped houses in the town, its overall style was rugged and sturdy. It was crowned with a massive crest engraved at the very top of the structure. It was an archaic escutcheon featuring a crossed Longsword and Magic Staff, decorated with an outer ring of entwining vines—the unmistakable emblem of the Adventurer's Guild.

The guild's oak doors currently stood wide open, with Adventurers bearing diverse equipment constantly flowing in and out. As he approached, an introduction to the guild automatically surfaced in his mind.

[Mottled Town • North District • Adventurer's Guild]

[Introduction: The Adventurer's Guild. A name, a promise, and a colossal behemoth spanning the known world.

The Mottled Town branch (ID: 902096) was erected here 150 years ago, becoming the 96th Adventurer Branch within the borders of the Human Race's nations.

However, its scale extends far beyond that. From the Elf City-States hidden in the Jade Forest and the Dwarf Cities buried in underground tunnels, to the Cloud Floating Cities under Dragon Descendant Command, you can find this ancient Adventurer's crest.

The masterminds behind it are veiled in the fog of history, their true identities unknown to all. Yet, it exists as a matter of course in every corner of the myriad races' civilizations.]

"What an extraordinary place," Raine thought. Suppressing the slight stir of emotions in his heart, he subconsciously touched the bloodstained cloth sack at his waist. He had come here for only one thing: to claim the bounty for the Goblins.

The moment he stepped into the spacious guild hall, a wave of noise instantly drowned him out. The air was thick with the mingled scents of leather, sweat, and blood. All sorts of Adventurers were gathered here, handing in quests, trading information, or simply bragging about their "glorious combat achievements."

In a corner crowded with quite a few newcomers, a young Adventurer with a battered Longbow slung over his back was gesturing wildly. "...Just like that, SWISH! Seriously, just one arrow! That Green Skin bastard dropped dead on the spot! I took it down all by myself!"

"Give it a rest, Blind Shot. If you actually had that kind of aim, you wouldn't have that nickname." Another burly man in Leather Armor crossed his arms and sneered. "Could it be that a blind cat actually caught a dead mouse? What a literal blind shot."

A chorus of mocking laughter immediately erupted from the crowd. Someone else quickly chimed in, showing off, "The three of us took out four Goblins last week! Real, solid kills!"

"Only four kills between three people? I took out two all by myself! Who's killed more than me?"

"Oh, please. If it weren't for my axe strike, you think you could've smoothly finished off two Green Skins?"

The group clamored noisily. The vast majority of them had personally slain a Goblin, and the rest had at least contributed an assist, even if they lacked a solo kill.

Seeing that he was losing the bragging contest, Blind Shot let his gaze sweep haphazardly across the hall. He suddenly caught sight of Raine, who had just walked in, and latched onto him like a drowning man clutching at straws. "So what? At least I successfully killed a Goblin!"

Following his line of sight, the others also noticed Raine, a smug sense of superiority flashing in their eyes. Compared to this kid who had clearly just fled back to town, they still had the upper hand. The brat didn't even have a single piece of armor!

Raine, naturally accustomed to this sort of treatment, didn't so much as bat an eye. He walked straight through the crowd and arrived at an empty reception counter. Without a word, he reached into his sack and pulled out six shriveled Goblin right ears, lining them up one after another.