By the time they reached the outskirts of the city, Fang had already shifted into his silver hound form.

  They walked calmly through the gates.

  Cale carried a large cloth bundle in one hand.

  Dark red stains had soaked through the fabric.

  The Adventurer’s Guild was loud when they entered.

  Voices overlapped, chairs scraped, mugs clanked.

  “…someone took a Commander-rank quest…”

  “…rookie, they said…”

  “…he’s probably dead…”

  Cale didn’t realize they were talking about him.

  He walked to the reception desk with an easy smile.

  Suddenly—

  “Cale! Thank goodness you’re back!”

  The receptionist nearly leaned over the counter in relief.

  Cale blinked.

  “Of course I’m back. I need to report the completed quest,” he said cheerfully.

  The entire guild went silent.

  He placed the blood-soaked cloth on the counter.

  When he unfolded it—

  Goblin ears spilled out onto the wood.

  “…There were thirty goblins,” Cale said calmly. “And one Goblin General. The village was already gone… but they won’t be a problem anymore.”

  No one spoke.

  Several adventurers slowly stood from their seats.

  The receptionist swallowed hard.

  “Please… come with me. Someone wants to see you.”

  Whispers followed them as Cale and Fang were led upstairs.

  “…Rookie…”

  “…Commander quest…”

  “…Who is he…?”

  They waited outside a large wooden door.

  After a moment, they were invited inside.

  The room was wide and orderly.

  Maps covered one wall. Weapons mounted another. A large desk sat near a window overlooking the city.

  Behind it stood a man built like a veteran warrior.

  Broad shoulders. Thick arms. A long scar ran across his cheek.

  His presence alone made the room feel heavy.

  “I am Rudolph Veng,” he said. “Guild Master of this branch.”

  Cale bowed politely.

  “I’m Cale. I just registered as an adventurer for some field training.”

  Rudolph studied him carefully.

  Boy… no. Young man. Rookie rank. Not from here. Trained brutally. And that wolf… something is strange about it.

  “Did I do something wrong, Guild Master?” Cale asked. “If I did, I apologize. I actually have to return home soon. I promised my father I’d be back before evening.”

  Rudolph spoke calmly.

  “Guild rules forbid taking quests above your rank. Because it usually ends in death.”

  Cale’s expression turned serious.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I only chose what seemed suitable for my combat training.”

  Rudolph nodded.

  He did not ask where Cale trained. Protocol forbade personal inquiries.

  Instead, he placed a small pouch of coins on the desk.

  “There are twenty gold coins here. The rest will be paid next week, after professionals confirm the evidence you brought.”

  Cale’s eyes widened slightly.

  “That’s… a lot.”

  Rudolph continued.

  “When you return, I will also explain more about the Guild. Its role across kingdoms. Opportunities available to you.”

  Cale bowed.

  “Thank you, Guild Master.”

  He was genuinely relieved.

  No trouble.

  No consequences.

  They left the Guild.

  Near the gate, Cale slowed.

  A man with a cruel expression dragged three demi-human children behind him with iron chains.

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  Two boys. One girl.

  Rags for clothes.

  Eyes empty.

  Fang’s ears twitched.

  Slave trader, he said quietly.

  Cale’s jaw tightened.

  The girl suddenly collapsed from exhaustion.

  The whip cracked through the air.

  “Useless demi-human! Move!”

  The two boys threw themselves over her, shielding her from the blows.

  That was enough.

  Cale moved.

  He grabbed the trader’s wrist mid-swing.

  His grip was like iron.

  “If you touch them again,” Cale said coldly, “it will be the last thing you ever do.”

  Silence fell over the street.

  The trader struggled.

  “B-but they’re slaves! Murderers! Thieves! They don’t deserve to live!”

  Cale didn’t even blink.

  “Whether someone deserves to live is not for you to decide.”

  He threw the man backward. The trader landed several meters away in the dust.

  The children stared at Cale with wide, disbelieving eyes.

  And for the first time—

  There was light in them.

  The trader trembled.

  Who is this boy…?

  “Stop! What is this commotion!?”

  The voice cut through the tension like a blade.

  Everyone turned.

  Captain Charlotte approached with two knights at her side.

  Her long red hair flowed behind her armor, brown eyes sharp and assessing. Even without a crown, she carried herself like royalty forged on the battlefield.

  The slave trader’s expression twisted into false relief.

  “Captain Charlotte! I was simply escorting my slaves to the market when this boy suddenly attacked me!”

  Charlotte stepped forward just as Cale shoved the man’s arm away. The trader lost his balance and fell hard onto the ground.

  Cale didn’t even look at him.

  He knelt beside the three trembling demi-human children and gently placed a hand on the heads of the two boys.

  “Don’t worry,” he said softly. “No one will hurt you anymore.”

  The children stared at him in disbelief.

  For the first time since this began—

  hope flickered in their eyes.

  Cale noticed the bruises. The cuts. The fresh whip marks.

  His hand slowly curled into a fist.

  The trader, still on the ground, began to tremble and crawled behind the two knights.

  “See?! I told you! He’s dangerous!”

  Charlotte scanned the scene quickly, assessing.

  “Explain what—”

  “How much?”

  Cale’s voice cut through hers.

  Silence fell instantly.

  No one interrupted Captain Charlotte like that.

  She stiffened.

  “Excuse me—”

  “I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to him.”

  Cale’s eyes never left the slave trader.

  “How much do you want for them?”

  Charlotte blinked.

  The two knights stared in shock.

  The trader licked his lips.

  “Well… if you ask like that… six gold coins and they’re yours. They’re useless anyway.”

  A heavy pouch flew through the air and landed at the knights’ feet with a loud clink.

  “There are twenty gold coins in there,” Cale said coldly. “Take it. And never come near them again.”

  The trader didn’t hesitate.

  He scrambled up, grabbed the pouch, and ran.

  Cale turned.

  His sword flashed once.

  The chains fell from the children’s wrists.

  Charlotte noticed.

  “According to protocol, we must—”

  “You’re free now,” Cale said gently to the children. “Can you walk? Does anything hurt?”

  They couldn’t speak. They only nodded, tears running down their faces.

  This was the third time Cale had ignored Charlotte.

  Her patience thinned.

  She reached for his shoulder.

  “Listen, you—”

  Her hand was suddenly caught in an iron grip.

  Cale’s body had reacted on pure instinct.

  The two knights instantly drew their swords.

  “Stand down! You’re coming with us!”

  Fang watched quietly from the side.

  He did not move.

  He trusted Cale’s judgment.

  Cale immediately released her hand.

  “I apologize. I don’t want trouble. We’ll leave.”

  Charlotte laughed softly in disbelief.

  “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Protocol requires us to record this incident. You must come with us and give a statement.”

  Cale looked up at the sky.

  Dawn was already beginning to show.

  He had promised his father he would be home before dark.

  “Would it be acceptable if I come next week? I must meet the Guild Master anyway. I can give my statement then.”

  Charlotte’s eyes hardened.

  “You don’t seem to understand the seriousness of this. When I say you come with us, you come.”

  Cale smiled politely.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t want to make my father angry. So I have to go home today.”

  He glanced at Fang and spoke telepathically.

  Fang, take the children outside the city. I’ll join you shortly. Don’t worry. I have this under control.

  Fang nodded.

  Cale looked at the children.

  “Please follow my friend Fang. He’ll take you somewhere safe.”

  The demi-human children, still shaken but trusting, followed the silver wolf.

  Within moments, they were already running toward the city gates.

  Cale exhaled quietly.

  Now—

  he could deal with this.

  Charlotte’s blade left its sheath with a sharp metallic sound.

  The two knights behind her mirrored the motion.

  Steel reflected the late afternoon light.

  Cale did not draw his sword.

  He only sighed quietly.

  “I really don’t want to fight you,” he said calmly.

  Charlotte’s eyes narrowed.

  “Then don’t make me.”

  Cale looked past her for a brief second.

  Fang and the children had already disappeared beyond the gate.

  Good.

  He rolled his shoulders once.

  No killing, Fang’s voice echoed faintly in his mind from the distance.

  I know, Cale replied.

  Charlotte stepped forward.

  “Last chance. Come peacefully.”

  Cale smiled apologetically.

  “I promised my father.”

  And then he vanished.

  Not backward.

  Forward.

  Charlotte’s eyes widened as Cale stepped inside her guard in a blink. She swung instinctively—

  Too slow.

  Cale’s hand struck her wrist.

  Not hard.

  Precise.

  Her fingers opened involuntarily and the sword fell from her grasp.

  Before it hit the ground, Cale was already past her.

  The two knights attacked from both sides.

  Cale pivoted.

  One hand grabbed the flat of a blade and redirected it. His foot swept the knight’s legs from under him. The second knight tried to tackle him—

  Cale turned, used the knight’s own momentum, and flipped him over his shoulder into the dirt.

  Three seconds.

  All three disarmed.

  All three on the ground.

  Charlotte stared at her empty hand in disbelief.

  What… was that?

  Cale stood a few steps away, breathing calmly.

  “I’m really sorry,” he said politely.

  Charlotte slowly rose to her feet.

  Her eyes had changed.

  This was no longer annoyance.

  This was recognition.

  “…You weren’t attacking,” she realized.

  Cale shook his head.

  “I don’t want enemies here.”

  She looked at the children disappearing with the silver wolf.

  Then back at Cale.

  “You care about demi-humans.”

  Cale answered without hesitation.

  “I care about people.”

  Silence fell between them.

  The two knights slowly stood up behind her, shaken but unharmed.

  Charlotte picked up her sword from the ground, but she did not raise it again.

  Instead she studied him.

  “You’re not from here.”

  “No.”

  “Adventurer?”

  “Rookie,” Cale smiled.

  That made her blink.

  Rookie?

  Her gaze sharpened.

  “…You’re the one from the guild.”

  Cale scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

  “Ah. That.”

  Charlotte exhaled slowly.

  She sheathed her sword.

  “You’re either the most honest fool I’ve ever met… or the most dangerous person in this city.”

  Cale laughed softly.

  “Trust me I just came here for a adventure job.”

  Charlotte turned to her knights.

  “We’re not pursuing.”

  They looked confused.

  “Captain?”

  “That was not an attack. That was restraint.”

  She looked back at Cale.

  “But still, I need your statement. And I will find you again.”

  Cale nodded happily.

  “Next week! I promise. I have to come back to the guild anyway.”

  She almost smiled.

  Almost.

  “Go. Before I change my mind.”

  Cale bowed politely.

  “Thank you, Captain Charlotte. And by the way you are beautiful.”

  And then he ran toward the gate.

  Charlotte stood for a moment trying hide her blush in her face and watched him leave, wind catching his short brown hair as he disappeared into the forest path.

  One of the knights muttered,

  “…Captain… who was that?”

  Charlotte answered without looking away.

  “I don’t know.”

  A pause.

  “But I’m going to find out.”

  And far beyond the city walls—

  Fenrir waited in the shadows with three demi-human children.

  As Cale approached, Fang’s silver eyes narrowed slightly.

  You handled that well.

  Cale smiled.

  “Yeah… but I think we just became very noticeable.”

  Fang nodded.

  Yes.

  “So kids, are you ready to go to your new home?” He asked smile in his face.

  Demi humans looked at each other and replied happiness in their face

  “YES!”

  A distant bell rang from the city.

  And for the first time since entering Estralia—

  The world had started to pay attention to the name:

  Cale-The rookie adventurer.

  A conversation.

  A name spoken aloud.

  Its consequences will move outward in ways Cale does not yet realize.