John Miller
Stories
5
Chapters
3,439
Words
4.3 M
Comments
0
Reading
15 d, 0 h
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“Quite the sight, but... are we really here?” “Yes, sir. I'm not allowed to go any further. You'll have to walk to the gate by yourself. You seem to be new; be sure to present the eye with the letter.” “An eye, huh?” Roland nodded at the man who had brought him here. He stood on a brick road that led uphill toward a large gate. The gate was entirely wooden and surrounded by a hedge wall, seemingly around five meters tall at a glance. However, Roland's mana sense revealed that there was…-
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“Welcome to the Gretel Adventurer Guild. I see it's your first time here. How can I be of service?” “I'd like to turn in a quest. Here are the papers and my adventurer card.” “Ah, please give me a moment.” “Of course.” A woman adorned with large oval glasses and dressed in the standard adventurer guild receptionist uniform greeted Roland with a smile. His somewhat monotonous journey had concluded, and he was now at liberty to continue on his own. The train ride had been…
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‘What should I do about my friends here? I can’t confront them out in the open…’ Roland looked at the map overlay that was expanding. This was the first time he was in this city but thanks to this feature, he could see the layout of the area. Spotting an alley nearby, he decided to take a detour through it, hoping to lose his pursuers temporarily. The alley was narrow and winding, with tall buildings on either side casting shadows that provided some cover. As Roland moved through the alley,…
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“Hey, watch it!” “Sorry!” A girl, donned in an oversized backpack, descended through a gangplank that could barely accommodate two people at once. The substantial size of her backpack inadvertently caused a minor collision with a fellow disembarking passenger. Swiftly, she turned around, bowing her head in apology before darting away. Behind her, a large airship was docked, and numerous other passengers were also disembarking. Upon disembarking, she hurried through the somewhat…
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‘This place is a bit crowded. I guess this is as far as second-hand connections can get me.’ Roland pondered as he leaned back against the uncomfortable bench in the large room reserved for hired adventurers and guards on the middle deck of the airship. Despite being allowed to keep their weapons, the bodyguards couldn't leave the area. After arriving at the ship, the main guards instructed him to wait there, considering him nothing more than backup and not presentable on the upper decks. The…
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The caravan was a diverse assembly of merchants, guards, and adventurers hired for protection. Roland quickly introduced himself to the merchant, whose name was Cedric. Cedric eyed Roland up and down, sizing him up as a bodyguard. The Knight Commander had taken great care to disguise his identity, wearing a hood over his runic helmet to conceal even more of his face. He was quite the imposing sight to behold with a large tower shield in one hand and a thick war hammer in the other. “You’re one of my…
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The sun began to set as Roland made his way to Arthur's estate. The sprawling grounds were immaculately maintained, a testament to the wealth and power of the Valerian family. The main residence, a grand mansion of stone and wood, stood as a symbol of the family's prominence in its now-finished state. The guards recognized him as he approached the entrance and quickly opened the gates for their Knight Commander. The interior of the mansion was adorned with luxurious furnishings and intricate…
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“You want to do what-t?” The next morning, Roland approached Arthur to discuss his plans. The two sat in Arthur's office, a room filled with various books, strategy boards, and reports. Arthur listened attentively as Roland explained the opportunity presented by Professor Arion at the Xandar's Institute of Wizardry. However, the moment he revealed that he wished to leave this territory, the noble responded in surprise and was now coughing out tea. “L-lord Arthur, you shouldn’t talk while…
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“Ah, Mr. Wayland, always diving into new challenges, I see. What seems to be the issue troubling your brilliant mind today?” The cat's voice echoed through the room, its tone a mixture of amusement and curiosity. Roland hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. The cat professor and he had a business relationship, so there needed to be an equal exchange of information or other tasks. Usually, he took some old research to help him study the inner workings of the runes, but his current…
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“We accept your terms.” “You do?” “Yes? Were you expecting us to barter? You mistake the Golden Order for common merchants!” “I see…” With the acceptance of his terms, Roland felt a mixture of relief and cautious optimism. The contract would be drafted and signed, and he would reveal just enough information to satisfy the church's curiosity without endangering himself or Agni. Roland couldn't shake off the feeling that this alliance was a double-edged sword. He was trading…
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