บท 11: Guild Invitation

The sounds of gunshots can be heard on the deeper parts of the Green Forest.

It's been three days since she takes a break. Now she is dealing with the monsters on this forest along with Elio.

Thanks to the both of them having experience on fight in their respective worlds, they managed to become comfortable at each other's presence that they can leave their back to each other.

Within the days she have been coming here, Kiryo has been more surprised at Elio's flexibility. She can easily adjust to the way she fights and is using her powers over water to cover every flaws within her own movements.

There is also one other factor. William has become used enough to use the surveillance drone. Using the specialized detectors and radars from this drone, he can tell whether some monsters or people will get closer to them.

Compared to other operators, he is still an amateur. But in this world, his skills are enough so they can navigate a lot better.

Currently, they have been going much deeper on the forest, dealing with more monsters than ever. As they got deeper on the forest, they are encountering less goblins and more large spiders within.

Right now, they are fighting against a pack of direwolves. This is their first time encountering these type of monsters. They usually encounter goblins or spider monsters.

Elio seems to have a lot of experience fighting against monster like wolves so she managed to help Kiryo acclimatize herself from the new species.

"Three wolves are flanking to the side. Please shoot them down. I will take care of the others!"

"Roger!"

With Elio's lead, they managed to kill the pack of direwolves who have ambushed them. It ended with their own victory.

~~o~~

The evening has come closer when they managed to return to the city. They quickly go to the usual shop where they sell their loots.

"Welcome. Please come inside!" The owner led them inside with a happy expression.

They go to the table just on the distance of the product shelves. Kiryo takes the monster materials that they got from their latest hunt and put it on the table.

"Let's see... oh!?"

"Are these direwolves fangs, and these ones are the claws!?"

With her nod, the shop owner gasps before looking at them with a bright expression.

"Congratulations on this feat. It seems like you two are promising guild members!"

"Is it that amazing?" Elio asked with a tilt of her head.

"Of course! Defeating a direwolf indicates that you have the capability of an F Rank Member!" The balding shop owner exclaimed. "Based on the amount of claws and fangs here, it seems like you have defeated a pack of direwolves. That's already enough to be promoted to an E Rank Member!"

The two looks at each other before shrugging, not understanding what he is talking about.

"So... what about those materials?"

The shop owner shakes his head. "Ah, it seems like you young girls doesn't understand how important it is. Nevermind, give me a moment!" He looks at the products carefully.

The two of them watches the guy being busy on their products, though they sense someone getting closer to them. They look behind them to see a tall guy looking at them with a smile.

"Hello ladies. I heard about your conversation awhile ago. Would you be interested to join the Red Wolf Guild?"

The two of them raised their eyebrows at his sudden invitation.

"Sorry. We're already in a guild." Kiryo replies before turning her back.

"Wait, please hear me out!" They turned their attention back to him again with their eyes narrowed. "Our guild is a D Rank Guild. We have an area that we personally own where we farm for more resources. If you come to our guild, you'll acquire many benefits like money and resources to become more stronger. Just think about it!"

"Sorry. We're not interested." Kiryo once again rejected him before they move to the side.

The guy is dumbfounded, being rejected twice by the two girls. He gritted his teeth before glaring at them.

"Hey! I am not done talking to the both of you!"

The two of them glared at him.

"What is wrong with you? Didn't she already say that we're not interested?" Elio snarled at him.

"What kind of guild have you joined then?" The guy asked.

"It's none of your business!"

The guy seems to be persistent as he tries to go to their personal space, which makes one of them snapped.

Without any warning, a pointed spear tip made of water suddenly appears near his neck, causing him to stop on his tracks.

"You have been getting rowdy. Leave us alone!"

The guy just stood there, staring at the solid form of the liquid spear before he takes a slow step back. His eyes then turns to Elio and inspects her for a bit.

"You...."

"What? Get out of here!"

The guy retreated after she glares at him once more. With that, the peace came back to the shop as the guy left the place.

Their tenseness are just losing after that rude guy left when they were surprised at the panicked expression of the shop owner.

"What have you done!?"

The two looks at him in confusion. Seeing their expression, he quickly explained to them what they just did.

"That person is a member of the Red Wolf Guild. They are one of the local overlords of this district!"

"Trying to offend them is the same as asking for death!"

Elio raised her eyebrow. "So what does that have to do with us?"

"You should just accept their offer! I don't know what kind of guild you two have joined, but the Red Wolf Guild is a much better place than whatever guild you have joined. It would have been better if you just complied to him!"

"It's not possible!" Elio replied with her eyes narrowed.

"I don't care if you don't like it or not!" The shop owner said with a gritted teeth.

He goes on the table and wraps all the monster parts that they have put in there awhile ago. Then he throws it all at them, much to their surprise.

"Leave! I don't want to get involved with your trouble!"

"Wha-!? How rude!"

"Get out!"

The two quickly left the premises of the shop with the scattered remnants of their loots. It is only thanks to their quick reflexes that they managed to hold at least some of it. Though most of it are left inside the shop.

"Wait!"

Elio tries to talk to the guy but the shop owner just slammed the door shut. A short while later, he also slammed the windows shut.

["... Fuck, what the hell happened?"] They heard William's voice on the speakers of the drone.

"I don't know. But it seems like that guy have a special identity." Kiryo calmly stated.

"Wait, what about the items we left on the shop?" Elio asked.

"Just leave it. We'll just get in trouble if we try to force it." As she says that, she looks around her surroundings.

She can see many people staring at them for a bit before hurrying out of the area. As for those who have heard the commotion inside the shop, they have also slammed their doors or their windows close.

"... What is wrong with the people here!?" Elio ask, shocked at the sudden shift of treatment.

["Right. I think the two of you should go back for now."]

"Do you know anything about the Red Wolf Guild?" Kiryo asked.

["I'm not aware of that. I'm as surprised as your are..."]

"I see..."

The two of them decided to go back to their guild for now. Their gait looks defeated as they walk through the streets.

~~o~~

One of the large mansions in this district, near the commercial district, is the main base of the Red Wolf Guild. It is one of the strongest guild in this area and reigns supreme against many people living here.

William didn't know this, but Guilds are more of a serious business than he thought of.

It is fine for everyone to create their own guilds. Though it is hard to raise a guild amongst the many competitors here.

It has been a common culture for them to rule over those weaker than them and take every promising members to themselves. It is a type of competition that always race towards every resources and personnel that they can get.

There are the three strongest guild on Beth. All of them are SS Rank Guilds. Then there are the S Rank Guilds that the three rules over. There are the lower rank guilds that these S Rank Guild maintains with their rule, etc.

Red Wolf Guild is also one of this many guilds that are under the sponsor of a stronger guild. They were given the third western residential district as the place that they will rule over. Along with it is a low tier area on the west that they can use to farm a lot of monster loots and other valuables.

As the local rulers of this district, they have the monopoly of every strong and promising people within. Every guilds operating within this residential district must answer to them, regardless of their willingness.

In the middle of the night, the guy that the two have rejected on the shop awhile ago is reporting what he discovered to one of his superiors. This one is a fit guy wearing their iconic red uniform with some elaborate designs and two badges, one indicating the symbol of their guild, and the other indicating his rank to this guild.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes! I am not mistaken! That girl have the Water Spirit's Physique!"

This guy, Simeon Brooklyn, goes deep in his contemplation.

'A girl with a Water Spirit's Physique? If we got her, our guild leader can use her to further his strength! It will also be a direct slap to our rival guild!'

He recalls about the guild that is directly opposed to them. A guild located on the second western residential district called the Blue Fairy Guild. They are an all girls guild and are specialized with the water and ice element.

He can already imagine it. The expression of those fair ladies as they learn about one of their own being defiled by their guild leader. Just the thought gives him satisfaction.

"Find out where she lives and what guild she have joined. If that guild is just some no name one, destroy it and take the girl to this mansion!"

"Yes, Second Captain!"

The guy moves out to proceed on his orders. As for him, he just let out a nasty grin as he glares at the sky.

"This is it. I have to tell this to our guild leader!" He said before going on the interiors of the mansion.