At the outskirts of the town, Ace expected to see a familiar sight—the twin brothers standing guard at the gate, with their identical features and solemn stillness. They looked more like statues than living men. But, unexpectedly, the twins were not in their usual spot. Instead, from a distance, he saw unfamiliar figures standing in silence, as unmoving as mountains. Their armor reflected the light sharply, making them appear almost radiant.
As he drew closer, their forms began to take shape—three knights stood imposingly before the gate. Two of them were men whose faces were completely obscured by metal helmets with sharp edges that gleamed like polished silver. Their physiques were somewhat larger than the average man, their shoulders broad, and their arms wrapped in layers of engraved silver armor. Even sheathed, the swords hanging from their belts seemed to pulse with a restrained energy, as if they awaited the moment to be unleashed.
Between them, at the center of the gate, stood a knightess, utterly distinct. Smaller in stature than her companions, yet no less commanding. She wore a gleaming golden armor adorned with intricate engravings. A thick yellow fur encircled her waist, fluttering gently in the breeze. Her sword, hanging diagonally at her side, rested with a weight that spoke of its power rather than decoration. She stood tall, arms crossed, as if expecting someone specific, her gaze fixed firmly on the horizon.
As Ace neared, he passed between them quietly. None of them moved, none turned to look at him, nor did they utter a word. They didn't block his way or inspect his tattered bags. That eerie stillness, that apparent indifference, was more unsettling than any direct interrogation. He continued walking, eyeing the knights cautiously from the corner of his eye.
Suddenly, one of the knights broke the silence with a low, gravelly voice, saying:
"Commander…"
"Yes, those bags contain some demonic rabbits… the scent is unmistakable," she replied, her certainty absolute. Then the other knight added in a calm yet firm tone:
"Then our suspicions were right."
The knightess slowly turned her head, her gaze following Ace, even from behind her helmet. He felt a chill run down his spine, as if her stare pierced through him, searching for something hidden within. He didn't need to see her eyes to know she was watching. He could feel the weight of her gaze as one feels the heaviness of clouds before a storm. Yet he didn't stop, nor did he show any sign of discomfort. He pressed on toward the Adventurers' Guild, and upon entering, he was met with a scene he never anticipated—a sight that turned his assumptions upside down.
Before him were those same powerful bodies accustomed to wielding swords and spears in the heat of battle, now moving with a different rhythm. The faces once etched with the severity of combat and relentless focus were now busily engaged. Hands carried buckets brimming with water, sloshing with every step. Bodies bent low as they scrubbed dust-covered surfaces, cleaning tables and polishing weapons, transforming the space into something new. The soft sounds of repetitive scrubbing mingled with their steady breathing, as if the entire hall was preparing to welcome a new chapter.
Their movements and gestures filled every corner. Some knelt on the wooden floor, cleaning it with exceptional care, turning it into a reflective surface like a mirror showing the faces above. Others climbed tall wooden ladders, cloths in hand, gently wiping the weapons hung on the walls, turning dull steel into shining blades and armor that gleamed with a sense of strength. On the other side, others rearranged tables and chairs—the same hands that had broken them in yesterday's chaos were now rebuilding them anew, as if atoning for the previous disorder.
The contrast was startling. Those who once stirred trouble and shattered furniture in bouts of fervor and noise were now restoring order with a focus no less intense than on the battlefield. Amid this transformation, Ace made his way toward the reception desk after standing still for a few moments.
His steps were measured, each movement deliberate. His eyes scanned the floor cautiously, where water had mixed with dirt, forming slick patches that could betray the inattentive.
As he neared the receptionist, she looked up from her ledger, her expression softening with visible relief. Her eyes sparkled with a faint shimmer of surprise and joy, as if she hadn't expected him to return so soon. A warm smile formed on her face, tinged with curiosity as she glanced at the bag he carried, assuming it contained the required demonic rabbit ears. But her gaze slowly shifted toward the other bag—larger and heavier.
It was tightly bound, stained with irregular dark patches resembling dried blood. After exchanging greetings and hearing about the elderly couple, and realizing the young man had saved them from the rabbits, her joy deepened, and so did her respect for him. Seeing her subdued enthusiasm, which she tried hard to conceal behind a mask of professionalism, Ace asked about the unusual activity in the hall.
She tilted her head slightly and explained that it was due to a rare event—news had arrived the previous day that a group of golden-ranked adventurers was coming from the capital. A rising team with a stellar reputation, whose fame preceded them wherever they went. As for the reason behind their unexpected visit, no one knew.
Ace immediately discerned a hidden implication in her words. This wasn't just about preparing to welcome esteemed guests—it was something more profound. It felt like a bid to present the guild in a favorable light, an effort to elevate their standing in the eyes of the up-and-coming adventurers.
After that, Ace lifted the bag of rabbit corpses onto the counter and declared in a quiet tone, tinged with anticipation:
"I've completed the mission. This bag contains some of the demonic rabbit corpses, and the other holds their severed ears."
"W–why did you bring the corpses?" she asked softly, curious. He remained silent for a moment before replying in a calm, even tone:
"I'm not exactly sure."
Upon hearing that, a slanted smile spread across her face, something between a chuckle and admiration. It wasn't mocking. It was a sincere smile—a gesture of understanding for an eager novice adventurer, perhaps too eager. Ace could tell she wasn't laughing at him but at what he had brought, much like one might laugh at a child's innocent attempt to act grown-up.
She gently explained, with a hint of humor, that they didn't need the full corpses—only the ears, as she had told him before. The ears were necessary for analysis and verification purposes.
At that moment, another staff member approached from the right corner, having been called by the receptionist to inspect the ears. She was short, with white hair and wearing round, multi-layered glasses that reflected light in strange, prismatic hues. Her gaze was analytical, emotionless, as though her eyes belonged to a machine. She began putting on white cloth gloves that clung tightly to her skin, making a soft snapping sound as she adjusted them. Then she started taking the ears out of the smaller bag one by one, placing them carefully on a cold metal tray that let out a soft chime each time something touched it.
Everything seemed normal—just another routine procedure repeated dozens of times daily. But when she pulled out the final pair of ears, everything changed. These ears were larger than usual, covered in thick, dark fur with faint violet hues visible only at certain angles. Her hand froze mid-air, as if paralyzed. She stared at them for long moments before whispering without lifting her eyes:
"Where did these come from?"
The receptionist slowly walked over, her eyes fixed on the black ears. As soon as she saw them, she stiffened. In her gut, she knew what they were, but she needed to hear it from her expert colleague. She asked in a low, anxious voice:
"Are these…?"
Then Ace's voice cut through the tension:
"I took those from a black rabbit. Smaller than the others, with glowing blue eyes. I think it was the leader."
A heavy silence followed. Even the air seemed to pause. The staff exchanged looks, their faces a mixture of astonishment and fear. The few adventurers nearby who overheard what was said dropped what they were holding and stared at Ace as if seeing him for the first time.
None dared to say what they were thinking, but the thought was clear in their minds—these were the ears of a black demonic rabbit, a creature from the forbidden category, one that only a handful of adventurers would dare face.
The receptionist, hesitant but composed, stepped forward. She stood opposite Ace from behind the desk, her eyes scanning every detail of his face, watching for any sign of deception. She took a deep breath and asked in a quiet, tense voice:
"Mr. Ace…" she began, then continued very slowly, as if dreading the answer as much as she needed it, "Did you really… fight a black demonic rabbit? One leading a group? Did you… kill it?"
A profound silence followed. He said nothing. He didn't nod. He didn't even blink. All he did was lift the bag of corpses and, looking at them with a blank expression, said in a calm yet resolute voice:
"The corpse of that rabbit is in this bag."
As soon as he spoke, disbelief spread through their minds. The inspecting staff member stepped closer. She had removed her glasses, as though she wanted to see the truth with her own eyes—unfiltered, unshielded. Her trembling hands reached for the bag. She opened it carefully, then pulled out the contents.
The moment she saw the sharp claws, which looked like they had torn through more than one victim before falling, her whole body shivered. There was no doubt. No illusion. It was indeed the corpse of a black demonic rabbit—a creature seen only in vague reports and survivor tales.
She stared at it, her face losing color, her lips trembling. She opened her mouth to scream—to release the frozen terror in her chest. But a firm hand suddenly covered her mouth—her colleague, the receptionist, who had been watching the scene. She quickly placed her palm over her lips, preventing her from screaming and spreading panic. She whispered in a firm but shaking voice:
"Evaluate the quality… quickly… there's no time for screams."
At that moment, Ace raised his hand, signaling that he was heading to the request board to take on another mission. The receptionist continued to stare at him, her eyes filled with countless silent questions. Upon reaching the board, Ace stood studying the postings. His gaze wandered from line to line before he frowned slightly, eyes still moving between the sheets. He stopped at one in particular—a bronze-ranked request poster. It read:
"Slay the beast. Moderate threat. Reward: 500 silver coins."
The reward was tempting, making it an ideal choice for a higher-tier mission where he could test his ability to rise in rank. Once he made his decision, he tore the poster from the board and returned to the receptionist. She had by then regained her composure and began examining the request sheet. Then she said:
"The creature mentioned in this request is called a Dragon fire . It's a reptilian beast, no taller than an average man, but far more dangerous than it appears. Its body is covered in orange scales that give it a distinct look, reflecting light like shards of diamond, making it resemble a burning ember. Its eyes are small but reflect a sharp intelligence."
She lifted her eyes to Ace, her voice turning more serious as she continued:
"It has four small claws on each arm—don't be fooled by their size, they're sharper than sword blades. As for its tail, that's where the real danger lies. It's long, ending in a pointed tip capable of piercing steel and armor. And its deadliest weapon… is fire. Fire is its primary ability. It can shoot it either as fireballs with pinpoint accuracy or in streams of flame that cover a wide attack range."