The Adventurer’s Guild’s Test

A month’s time slipped by amidst Xia Ya’s sighs and Beilixiya’s diligent training (hewing stone).

Today, the atmosphere in the young master of the Wolfgang estate’s bedroom was unusually high-spirited.

The dawn of the end of his confinement was in sight, and the call of an adventurer’s life filled Xia Ya with so much vitality that even the lingering ache from his last few bruises felt like a medal for the journey ahead.

“This one… this one… and… this one!”

Xia Ya paced around the spacious bedroom, his finger rapidly pointing at various items laid out on the carpet.

A practical travel cloak, durable leather armor, a few magic notebooks with unassuming covers but absolutely dangerous contents that he had secretly rescued (Geralt had only confiscated the conspicuous ones on his bookshelf), a heavy pouch of gold coins, and his customary rapier.

Beilixiya, meanwhile, carried out his instructions quietly and efficiently.

She had changed back into her modified combat maid uniform, her silver-grey hair tied into a high ponytail, revealing a clear forehead and a resolute jawline.

A month of strength control training had added a steady, explosive power to her already athletic figure.

She carefully sorted, packed, and securely tied each item according to Xia Ya’s commands.

Her massive greatsword, “Wrath of the Stars,” was carefully wrapped in a special cloth sheath and leaned against the door.

“That should be about it!”

Xia Ya placed his hands on his hips, looking with satisfaction at the several neatly organized travel packs on the floor.

“Beilixiya, bring these downstairs in a bit. The carriage should be ready soon.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Beilixiya replied, tying the last strap on a bundle.

Xia Ya walked to the window, gazing at the vast world outside the estate, an indescribable excitement surging within him.

He turned, his gaze falling upon Beilixiya.

The girl was bent over, checking the sturdiness of the packs.

The sunlight outlined her focused silhouette, a few strands of silver-grey hair falling beside her cheek.

Looking at this companion whom he had brought back from the slums, who had accompanied him on his “rebellious” path, who had shared life-and-death experiences with him and grown alongside him, a powerful emotion—a mixture of trust and heroic sentiment—welled up in his heart.

“Beilixiya,” Xia Ya’s voice carried an unprecedented solemnity.

He walked up to her, looking directly into her clear, amber dragon eyes.

“From now on, we will truly be fighting side by side. No more of the petty squabbles in the royal capital, but real adventures—delving into unknown ruins, facing powerful monsters, and enduring true tests of life and death.”

Beilixiya looked up, meeting her young master’s gaze.

‘What a joke,’ she thought, ‘we already face death on a monthly basis.’

But this time, his eyes were so bright, so firm, filled with anticipation for the future and… a certain fervor she couldn’t quite name.

It still made Beilixiya’s heart skip a beat.

Xia Ya took a deep breath, his tone laced with a tenderness he himself didn’t notice.

“I know this path won’t be easy, but as long as we’re together, there’s no obstacle we can’t overcome… Beilixiya, promise me, whether we face mountains of daggers and seas of fire, or bottomless abysses, we will brave them together! We will live and die together, and never be parted!”

“Live and die together… never be parted…”

Beilixiya murmured these words, her heart feeling as if it had been seized by something.

Xia Ya’s words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating monstrous waves in her heart!

In the ancient and pure beliefs of the dragon-kin, vows like “live and die together” and “never be parted” carried immense weight.

It was almost equivalent to the most solemn life contract between draconic mates!

‘Young Master… is he… making such a promise… to me?’

In an instant, countless images flashed through her mind…

‘Could it be… that all this time, the Young Master’s kindness towards her, his indulgence, his careful nurturing… was all because…’

Boom!

An unprecedented wave of shyness instantly swept over Beilixiya.

She felt all the blood in her body rush to her cheeks and ears.

Her fair skin turned visibly crimson, and even the tips of her small horns were tinged with a shade of pink!

Her eyes darted about frantically, avoiding Xia Ya’s gaze.

Her tail, completely out of her control, curled and uncurled nervously behind her, tapping against the carpet with a faint “pat, pat” sound.

“Y-Young… Master…”

She didn’t dare look Xia Ya in the eye anymore.

She hurriedly lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress as if to crumple the sturdy fabric to bits.

Xia Ya looked at Beilixiya’s suddenly flushed face, her evasive eyes, and her restless tail, and was slightly taken aback.

He had just been caught up in the heat of the moment, expressing his feelings of camaraderie and partnership.

Why was Beilixiya’s reaction so extreme?

Her face was as red as a boiled shrimp.

He was completely unaware of how his grand declaration of “living and dying together” had been interpreted in the dragon-kin girl’s heart.

“Beilixiya? What’s wrong? Why is your face so red? Were you tired from moving things just now?”

Xia Ya was a bit bewildered.

He leaned in closer with concern, even reaching out a hand to feel her forehead.

“N-No!”

Beilixiya recoiled as if she’d been burned, taking a sharp step back and lowering her head even further.

“Beilixiya… Beilixiya will work hard! I will… I will certainly not disappoint the Young Master’s… expectations!”

She almost mumbled the word “expectations” incoherently, not daring to address the “never be parted” part of his speech.

Xia Ya looked at her state of extreme shyness (or so he thought), and though he was a bit confused, he just assumed she was overly excited by the prospect of their upcoming adventure.

He scratched his head and said cheerfully, “You must be eager to get going too! Come on, let’s set off!”

Beilixiya nodded vigorously, still not daring to look up.

She silently and effortlessly hoisted the packs from the floor, picked up “Wrath of the Stars” by the door, and followed behind Xia Ya with slightly unsteady steps, her mind still a chaotic mess.

Noah Royal Capital Adventurers’ Association.

The headquarters of the Adventurers’ Association was located in one of the most prosperous areas of the royal capital’s west district.

The massive stone building had a rugged and practical style, with a constant stream of people coming and going from its entrance.

Adventurers dressed in various leather, chainmail, and robes moved in and out.

The air was a unique mixture of sweat, dust, alcohol, and various monster materials, filled with a wild vitality.

The arrival of Xia Ya and Beilixiya immediately drew a lot of attention.

The boy’s noble aura was hard to conceal, and he was accompanied by a dragon-kin girl carrying a huge bundle and a massive weapon.

The combination itself was eye-catching enough.

Beilixiya, in particular, with her striking looks, iconic dragon horns and tail, and the faint aura of power she emanated, drew assessing and wary glances from many veteran adventurers.

The two passed through the noisy main hall and went straight to a room in the back with a “Registration” sign.

The room was much quieter, its decorations far simpler.

Behind a wide oak desk sat a man.

He was exceptionally tall and burly; even sitting down, he exuded a powerful sense of pressure.

He wore a faded, old-style Imperial Army standard-issue leather armor, covered in all sorts of indelible scars and patches, like a silent history book of war.

A gruesome scar ran from his left temple down to his chin, adding to his fierce demeanor.

When he saw Xia Ya and Beilixiya enter, especially when his gaze swept over Xia Ya’s face, which bore a striking resemblance to a young Geralt, a flash of understanding crossed the man’s eyes, and he stood up.

“Xia Ya von Wolfgang, Beilixiya von Wolfgang?”

“Yes, Guild Master.”

Xia Ya reined in some of his flightiness and gave a slight nod, displaying the proper noble etiquette.

He recognized this man—Barton Anvil, former vice-commander of the Empire’s “Lionheart” Heavy Infantry Legion, an old subordinate from his grandfather Geralt’s era, known for his bravery and stubbornness.

He had lost a leg in a brutal defensive battle against demons (he now had a prosthesis made of tempered steel) and, after retiring, took over the Adventurers’ Association in the royal capital.

He brought a militaristic style of management to the association, was known for his tough and decisive manner, and held great prestige among the adventurers.

Barton’s gaze was almost tangible as it swept over the two.

It lingered on Xia Ya for a moment, as if assessing the substance beneath his seemingly flippant exterior, then focused on Beilixiya, his eyes pausing for a second on the massive, cloth-wrapped weapon on her back.

“I received the letter from that old… ahem, from the General.”

Barton’s voice remained flat, as if stating the most ordinary of facts.

“He said you want to become adventurers.”

“Yes,” Xia Ya said, straightening his back.

“Very well.”

Barton nodded, placing his hands on the desk and leaning forward slightly.

The aura of one who had waded through mountains of corpses and seas of blood became even more palpable.

“But here, names and family status mean nothing. If you want to earn that bronze badge that represents a true adventurer…”

He paused, his gaze pinning them both.

“…you will have to pass my test.”