Chapter 523: Valeria’s Reply

Valeria finished reading Sage’s letter without the slightest change in her expression.

The training courtyard behind Evergreen’s Adventurer Guild was quiet that morning, apart from the occasional sound of wooden weapons striking practice targets.

A few younger Adventurers were practicing nearby, but none approached the silver-haired woman seated beneath the covered walkway.

As a 6-Star Grandmaster Knight, Valeria possessed strength that placed her at the top of Warriors in Evergreen. Her presence alone was enough to make inexperienced Adventurers straighten their backs whenever she passed.

She lowered the letter and examined its contents once more.

Sage wanted her to begin completing more Guild missions. The instruction was reasonable. It was also something she should have considered earlier.

Valeria folded the parchment neatly before placing it inside her coat. For several weeks, she had concentrated upon refining her swordsmanship, maintaining her physical condition, and studying reports concerning the Guild’s expansion into the Royal Capital.

Her training had been productive, but her record of completed missions had grown slowly.

That distinction mattered. A Warrior’s combat strength determined what dangers they could confront. Their Adventurer Rank, however, reflected the accomplishments they had demonstrated through the Guild’s established system.

One did not automatically grant the other.

Valeria rose from her seat and collected her sword.

There was no reason to delay.

---

The Evergreen Guild Hall was already crowded when Valeria entered. Adventurers gathered before the mission boards, examining requests from merchants, local authorities, and settlements scattered throughout the surrounding territory.

Most assignments were ordinary. Merchant escorts, monster exterminations, gathering expeditions, and investigations of troublesome creatures accounted for much of the available work.

Valeria studied the notices in silence. Several younger Adventurers noticed her presence and moved aside instinctively.

She paid them little attention. After examining the board, she approached the mission counter, where Leona was reviewing a stack of completed reports.

"Valeria," Leona greeted her, looking up with a small smile. "I heard a courier delivered a letter from the Guildmaster yesterday."

Valeria nodded. "He wants me to complete more missions."

Leona’s expression brightened with understanding. "That sounds like him. Have you decided which assignments to accept?"

Valeria placed three notices upon the counter.

"These."

Leona examined them carefully.

The first concerned a dangerous beast repeatedly attacking travelers along a northern trade road. The second involved investigating a group of monsters that had established themselves near an abandoned watchtower. The third requested assistance clearing a hazardous passage used by merchants traveling between Evergreen and several neighboring settlements.

All three assignments had remained available because their risks discouraged less experienced parties.

Leona glanced up. "You’re planning to complete them consecutively?"

"Yes," Valeria answered.

Leona considered the requests before nodding.

"Very well. I’ll have the necessary information prepared. But remember that mission completion must be properly verified, even for someone of your strength."

Valeria accepted the documents. "I know."

---

By the following morning, Valeria had departed Evergreen.

Her first destination was the northern trade road, where merchants had reported repeated attacks by a powerful beast.

The creature had already injured several caravan guards and destroyed two wagons. Local patrols had attempted to drive it away, but their efforts had accomplished little.

Valeria reached the affected area shortly before midday.

An elderly merchant waiting beside a damaged wagon recognized the Guild insignia upon her clothing.

"Are you the Adventurer they sent?" he asked, examining her with cautious hope.

Valeria nodded. "Where was it last seen?"

The merchant pointed toward a wooded slope overlooking the road. "Beyond those trees, my lady. It comes down whenever wagons pass, and we’ve been unable to continue our journey."

Valeria studied the surrounding terrain.

The broken branches, deep claw marks, and disturbed earth revealed the creature’s preferred approach.

She drew her sword and advanced toward the trees.

The beast emerged several minutes later. It was an enormous armored boar, its shoulders covered in thick plates of hardened hide and its tusks long enough to tear through a horse’s chest.

Upon noticing Valeria, it lowered its head and charged.

The Grandmaster Knight stepped aside with effortless precision. Her sword flashed once. A clean wound opened across the beast’s neck, and its massive body collapsed before it could turn for another attack.

Valeria inspected the corpse briefly before returning to the road.

The merchant stared at her in disbelief.

"Already?" he asked.

"The road is clear," Valeria replied, sheathing her sword. "Send someone to recover the carcass."

---

The remaining assignments required more time, although neither presented a serious challenge to her strength.

At the abandoned watchtower, Valeria discovered that the monsters had occupied several underground chambers beneath the ruined structure.

Rather than rushing inside, she examined the available entrances and determined how the creatures moved between them.

She eliminated the monsters systematically, ensuring that none escaped into the surrounding countryside.

The final assignment involved clearing a narrow passage through rocky hills where dangerous beasts had begun attacking merchant caravans.

Valeria completed the work over two days, inspecting the surrounding trails and confirming that the immediate threat had been removed.

She returned to Evergreen carrying the necessary evidence of her completed assignments.

Leona was waiting at the mission counter when she arrived.

"Three missions in four days," Leona remarked after examining the reports. "That’s an impressive beginning."

Valeria placed the remaining documents before her.

"Are there more?"

Leona paused. "More missions?"

Valeria nodded.

Leona examined the mission board visible beyond the counter. "There are several, but most are considerably less demanding than the ones you’ve completed."

"Show me."

Leona regarded her for a moment before retrieving another collection of notices.

It was becoming apparent that Sage’s letter had produced the intended result.

---

Over the following days, Valeria established a consistent routine.

She trained during the early morning, accepted suitable missions whenever they became available, and returned to Evergreen to submit her reports before preparing for the next assignment.

Her presence soon became a familiar sight at the mission counter.

Several Adventurers began discussing her sudden interest in completing Guild assignments, although few possessed the courage to question her directly.

Gregor eventually approached her after witnessing her return from another successful expedition.

"You’re keeping busy lately," he remarked, folding his arms. "I heard you’ve been clearing half the dangerous assignments around Evergreen."

Valeria glanced toward him. "Not half."

Gregor laughed. "Close enough. What brought this on? Planning to become the Guild’s most decorated Adventurer?"

"Advancing my rank," Valeria answered.

Gregor’s expression became thoughtful. "Ah. That makes sense. With the Guild expanding into the Capital, I suppose higher-ranked Adventurers will have access to better opportunities."

Valeria gave a slight nod. "Evergreen has limits."

Gregor understood immediately.

The surrounding territory contained dangerous creatures and challenging assignments, but it could not offer an endless supply of missions suitable for someone who had already reached the Grandmaster Knight realm.

Nor did its available dungeons provide the same opportunities as Greyfen.

"You’ll eventually need to travel," Gregor observed.

"Yes," Valeria replied.

She offered no further explanation before continuing toward the training grounds.

Gregor watched her depart, shaking his head with amusement.

Valeria had never been particularly interested in lengthy conversations.

Apparently, that hadn’t changed.

---

That evening, Valeria examined her updated Adventurer records inside her quarters.

The additional completed missions had improved her standing, but the progress remained modest compared with what she ultimately required.

Her goal was Platinum. It was an ambitious objective, particularly because Adventurer Rank was not awarded simply for possessing exceptional combat strength.

A 6-Star Grandmaster Knight could defeat enemies that would overwhelm ordinary Warriors, yet still possess a lower Adventurer Rank if they lacked sufficient verified accomplishments.

Valeria understood the reasoning behind the Guild’s system.

An Adventurer needed to demonstrate more than the ability to win battles. Reliability, successful mission completion, judgment, and contributions to the Guild all mattered.

Nevertheless, her current surroundings presented a practical difficulty. Evergreen lacked a sufficient number of high-level missions and challenging dungeons for her to reach Platinum easily.

She could continue completing lesser assignments, but eventually their value toward further advancement would become limited.

The Royal Capital offered a different prospect.

Greyfen alone represented an extraordinary opportunity for accomplished Warriors, provided they possessed the necessary preparation and resources to enter safely.

Valeria set the records aside. She had no intention of waiting until she arrived there before beginning the work required.

---

Several days later, Leona received Valeria’s request for a meeting.

The two women sat inside a small administrative chamber overlooking the Guild Hall.

"I’ve completed most of the suitable assignments currently available," Valeria explained, placing her updated records on the table. "Are there requests from neighboring territories?"

Leona examined the documents.

"There are," she replied. "Several settlements have submitted requests that haven’t yet been posted locally. We can review them and determine which fall within the Guild’s established procedures."

Valeria nodded. "I’ll take the appropriate ones."

Leona considered her carefully. "You realize you don’t have to accept every assignment personally. Some of these missions could provide valuable experience for younger Adventurers."

"I know," Valeria answered. "Leave those to them."

Leona smiled.

That response pleased her.

Despite Valeria’s considerable strength, she wasn’t attempting to monopolize every available opportunity.

Instead, she wanted assignments that genuinely required her abilities.

"I’ll prepare a selection," Leona promised. "There may also be opportunities to assist with difficult expeditions beyond Evergreen, although we’ll need to examine the risks and available information."

"That’s sufficient," Valeria replied.

---

Before leaving, Valeria placed a sealed letter upon Leona’s desk.

"For Sage."

Leona accepted it. "Would you like me to include it with the next courier?"

Valeria nodded. "Yes."

After she departed, Leona examined the envelope with mild curiosity.

She had expected Sage’s instruction to provoke some resistance, particularly given Valeria’s independent nature.

Instead, the Grandmaster Knight had responded through action.

The letter itself was brief.

Valeria informed Sage that she had begun completing suitable missions, that her records were improving, and that Evergreen’s limited supply of higher-level assignments would eventually require her to seek opportunities elsewhere.

She also confirmed her intention to continue until she was ready to pursue more demanding work in the Capital.

There were no complaints or unnecessary explanations.

Only a clear acknowledgment of what needed to be done.

---

Several days later, Sage received the reply at his Royal Capital office.

He read the letter while Boren examined another collection of administrative documents nearby.

"Valeria has started taking missions seriously," Sage remarked, setting the parchment down.

Boren glanced toward him.

"Did she complain about the additional work?"

"Not a word," Sage answered with a faint smile. "She’s already completed several assignments and requested more."

"Efficient," Boren observed.

"Very," Sage agreed. "Although Evergreen won’t be able to provide everything she needs."

Boren nodded thoughtfully. "Especially if she’s aiming for Platinum."

Sage looked toward the window, considering the opportunities awaiting accomplished Adventurers in the Capital.

Valeria possessed exceptional strength, but her future within the Guild would depend upon what she accomplished with it.

For now, she was doing precisely what he had hoped.

Preparing herself before the greater opportunities arrived.