Chapter 222: Inviting Seria to Join.

"Where are we supposed to find a mage to join our team?" Budno asked, troubled.

"Exactly. It's not like we can just recruit anyone," Dixio sighed.

"Even if we want someone to join, that doesn't mean they'll agree!" Hector looked around the hall, studying the adventurers gathered there. Most of the teams consisted of Senior Swordsmen and Senior Mages.

An adventuring team made up entirely of Mage Apprentices like theirs was practically unheard of. Taking them along on an adventure wouldn't be an advantage. They'd be a burden.

"Um... what kind of assignments can Mage Apprentices take?" Siti asked, pointing to a wall covered with dozens of rows of assignment plaques.

Each plaque contained a detailed description of the assignment. Some required adventurers to collect scales from particular magical beasts in a forest inhabited by magical beasts. Others involved searching for missing adventurers in the Ergoja Desert or escorting important figures to other countries. None of them looked particularly easy.

There were also requirements for accepting assignments.

For certain dangerous assignments, an adventuring team had to include a Senior Swordsman or Senior Mage.

Most importantly, these assignments took a long time to complete. A round trip could last anywhere from half a month to several months.

The Light Squad had only just arrived in the Central Court to attend school. There was no way they could accept assignments that took so long.

"There's even an assignment to gather medicinal herbs in the Faerie Forest?" Angel exclaimed in surprise.

The Faerie Forest was shrouded in terrifying mist. Outsiders who ventured inside were likely to be killed or injured, and adventuring teams bold enough to accept such assignments almost never returned.

"The reward is enormous," Amanda said, pointing to the number on the plaque.

Siti and Hector leaned closer. When they saw the figure, they cried out in unison, "Fifty thousand gold coins!"

"That's so much!" Nasha gasped.

"Fifty thousand gold coins for the lives of an entire adventuring team isn't much," Kumandi said calmly.

Ace nodded. "It really isn't. I've heard that adventurers who enter the Faerie Forest often end up with their entire teams wiped out."

"Then why would anyone keep posting assignments like that?" Hector asked, puzzled.

"Some medicinal herbs only grow in the Faerie Forest," Shu Li explained. "There are no substitutes."

Take Efit, for example. He was an exceptionally talented potion maker, and his skills had improved even further after he began working with Shu Li. Shu Li sometimes bought potions from him to study and learn from.

Dixio and Budno exchanged glances.

"Why don't we..."

Shu Li promptly grabbed the little magical beast in his hands and used it like a rag to cover Dixio's mouth, cutting him off.

The Little Fairy had heaps of the medicinal herbs listed on the assignment plaque in his storage ring. They could easily accept the assignment, pretend to go on an adventure, then hand over the herbs and collect the reward.

Unfortunately, they couldn't expose their true identities.

After all, no one would believe that a group of Mage Apprentices had successfully gathered medicinal herbs from the Faerie Forest.

If they submitted herbs they already had with them, forget getting paid. They'd probably be subjected to an endless interrogation about where the herbs had come from.

The easiest assignment imaginable for them was precisely the one they absolutely couldn't accept.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Dixio pulled Falm away from his mouth.

Looking thoroughly innocent, Falm escaped his clutches and flew back to perch on Shu Li's shoulder.

Budno covered his mouth to hide a snicker.

Dixio bared his teeth at him.

Siti watched their exchange in bewilderment. "What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing. Don't mind them," Shu Li replied.

"Really?" Siti looked skeptical.

Ace raised a hand and pointed to a particular plaque on the wall. "Maybe we could take this assignment."

"Which one?"

Everyone immediately followed his finger.

Assignment: Gather Starba Grass

Quantity: 500 plants

Location: North of Woba Grand Canyon

Reward: 5,000 gold coins

Time limit: Ten days

"Where's Woba Grand Canyon?" Amanda asked.

"Here." Kumandi took out a map and pointed to a dark brown marking south of the Central Court. "Woba Grand Canyon borders the Central Court. It only takes half a day to get there by carriage from Igya City."

"Wow, that's really close!" Budno said delightedly.

Shu Li nodded. "It is. If everything goes smoothly, we could make the round trip in two days."

Angel stared at the reward, practically drooling. "Five thousand gold coins! That's a fortune!"

Split evenly among ten people, that would be five hundred gold coins each.

And gathering medicinal herbs was something Little Fairies were especially good at!

Dixio planted his hands on his hips and burst out laughing. "See? Adventuring assignments really do pay better than everyday assignments!"

"Not necessarily," Kumandi said, analyzing the situation calmly. "You have to prepare thoroughly before accepting an adventuring assignment. You could encounter danger at any moment, and if your luck is bad enough, you might pay with your life."

"Then... should we not take it?" Nasha asked hesitantly.

Ace took a book from his storage pouch and turned to a particular page.

"Starba Grass grows in the northern region of Woba Grand Canyon. More precisely, it's found between the Central Court and the canyon itself. There are no high-ranking magical beasts nearby, so it's suitable for beginners to gather."

Shu Li tilted his head and caught sight of the book's cover.

The Untold Story of Potion Makers and Medicinal Herbs.

Wasn't that... the book he'd borrowed from the library yesterday?

To think it would come in handy so quickly. Well, that was... unexpectedly convenient.

Falm glanced at the assignment plaque on the wall, then at the book in the "Elven King's" hands. His little eyes darted back and forth.

"Suitable for beginners? That's perfect!" Dixio clapped enthusiastically. "Let's take this one!"

Kumandi surveyed the hall thoughtfully. "If it's such an easy assignment, why hasn't anyone accepted it?"

The assignment wall was crowded with adventurers. Yet they would rather choose assignments with lower rewards than take the more lucrative Starba Grass assignment.

The others exchanged looks. He had a point.

"Why don't we ask someone?" Shu Li suggested.

"I'll do it!" Angel, ever the social butterfly, volunteered at once.

He soon approached a striking, mature-looking woman dressed in revealing clothes, wearing his most adorable smile.

The woman was friendly and straightforward, and it took only a few sentences for her to explain the situation.

"Woba Grand Canyon hasn't been peaceful these past few years. Four high-ranking adventuring teams have disappeared there, one after another, and nobody knows why. The Mages' Guild sent people to investigate, but even they couldn't find the cause. Anyway, take my advice, sweetheart. Stay away from Woba Grand Canyon unless you absolutely have to. You're far too cute to die young. What a waste that would be."

With that, she gave Angel a teasing wink.

Although Angel was already eighteen, he was still an underage Little Fairy. Innocent and clear-eyed, he was completely oblivious to the charms of a mature woman.

"Thank you, miss."

He gave her a gentlemanly bow, then skipped back to his team and shared what he'd learned.

The woman glanced at the group of young Mage Apprentices, a faint smile curving her lips, before turning away.

Once Shu Li and the others heard Angel's explanation, everything became clear.

"No wonder the reward is so high and nobody wants the assignment!" Dixio sighed.

"So are we giving up?" Amanda asked.

"It feels like such a waste," Budno muttered, biting his finger in frustration.

Nasha frowned. "Aren't we forgetting something?"

"What?" Hector looked at her blankly.

Nasha pointed toward the registration counter. "We haven't registered our team yet."

Her reminder brought everyone back to reality.

They were still missing a mage. Without one, they couldn't register as an official adventuring team.

They'd gotten so caught up discussing assignments that they'd completely forgotten something so important.

"Without a mage, none of this matters," Dixio groaned, tugging dejectedly at his hair.

Shu Li thought for a moment. "Let's go back to the academy and ask around. Maybe there's a mage who'd be willing to join our team."

A glint appeared in Kumandi's eyes. "We could also ask a magic instructor for help."

Someone like Ilio.

Amanda clapped his hands, his eyes sparkling. "Oh, right! We could ask Zephyr!"

They only needed someone to lend their name to the registration, after all. It didn't really matter who.

With their minds made up, the Light Squad left the Adventurers' Guild in high spirits and prepared to return to St. Velia Magic Academy.

They had just stepped outside and were heading toward the rail carriage stop when Shu Li's sharp eyes spotted a magic swordsman standing near the stop sign.

"Seriu!"

His delighted shout caught the man's attention, and Shu Li raised a hand to wave enthusiastically.

Seriu had just parted ways with Halis and was preparing to head to the arena when he heard a familiar voice.

He turned in puzzlement and saw a black-haired Mage Apprentice waving cheerfully at him, with nine other Mage Apprentices following behind.

Them?

Seriu watched quietly as they approached.

"Seriu is a Senior Mage!" Angel pointed out as they walked.

"But he's also one of the academy's disciplinary officers," Budno whispered.

Remembering how Seriu had kicked Luvis around so mercilessly after yesterday's competition, he still felt a lingering chill.

Siti, Nasha, Hector, Amanda, and Dixio all looked horrified.

"He's a Senior Mage," Angel repeated.

All right, Seriu was a little scary, but as long as they didn't break any school rules, they'd be fine.

"He's very strong," Kumandi said seriously.

His swordsmanship was even more advanced than his magic.

Shu Li turned to the others. "Let's do our best to convince him!"

A perfectly good mage was standing right there. Why let that opportunity go to waste?

The group soon reached Seriu and greeted him warmly.

Seriu returned their greetings one by one, regarding them with his usual composure.

"Seriu, would you like to join our team?" Shu Li got straight to the point. "We want to register as an adventuring team, but we're missing a mage."

Surprise crossed Seriu's handsome face.

A group of Mage Apprentices who had only just enrolled at the academy and hadn't even started classes wanted to form an adventuring team?

Were young people these days all this reckless?

"Please?" Shu Li pressed his palms together, his delicate face full of hope.

The other members of the Light Squad gazed at Seriu with equally eager eyes.

Faced with ten bright, energetic youngsters, Seriu fell silent for a moment before lowering his brows.

"I can't leave the Central Court."

"Huh?" Shu Li froze.

What did that mean?

The others were equally confused.

Seriu looked at the black-haired boy and explained gently, "For certain reasons, I'm unable to leave the Central Court. So I'm sorry... but I can't join your adventuring team."

As a wanted prince of the Kingdom of Cecilia, he was safe only as long as he remained within the Central Court. The moment he lost its protection, the Black Knights would resume their pursuit.

Adventure...

What an enticing word.

Yet eighteen years had passed since he'd arrived in the Central Court at fourteen, and he hadn't experienced a single thrilling adventure in all that time.

Other classmates had invited him to join their adventuring teams before, but his circumstances had forced him to refuse every invitation.

As a result, he'd acquired a reputation for being antisocial.

Shu Li wasn't discouraged in the slightest. He flashed a radiant smile.

"That's okay, Seriu! You only have to put your name down and help us register. That's all!"

"Exactly! You don't have to come adventuring with us," Angel added. "If you help us, we'll give you twenty percent of the reward whenever we complete an assignment."

Seriu frowned slightly. "Are you that short of money?"

Were everyday assignments no longer enough for them?

"Yes. We're really poor."

Shu Li and his companions nodded vigorously.

Siti, Nasha, and Hector, who weren't actually poor, hesitated before joining in.

"First-year students don't have to pay tuition," Seriu pointed out.

"I know." Shu Li raised his fingers and began counting off expenses. "Tuition might be free, but everyday necessities aren't. And as our magic ranks improve, we'll have all sorts of extra expenses. High-ranking magic staffs, medicinal herbs, magic stones... There are just so many things we'll need money for!"

"Besides, I have a contracted magical beast to support."

He cupped Falm in his hands and presented him to Seriu.

Falm cooperated beautifully, putting on the most pitiful expression he could manage.

After showing off his contracted magical beast, Shu Li declared with determination, "We're growing up. We have to learn to support ourselves."

Seriu's feelings grew complicated as he looked at the black-haired boy before him. He couldn't help remembering his own past.

At fourteen, he'd fled alongside Halis, enduring hardship after hardship. By the time they reached the Central Court, they had nothing left. Although his tuition had been waived, he'd still needed to earn money to pay for Halis's treatment.

The boy before him was a penniless mountain dweller. How similar his present circumstances were to Seriu's back then.

With a faint, inward sigh, Seriu agreed.

Shu Li's eyes widened in delight. "Really?"

Seriu nodded. "Yes. I can register as a nominal member and help you establish an official adventuring team."

"Wow! Thank you so much!"

Shu Li cheered and tossed Falm into the air in his excitement.

Dizzy from the sudden launch, Falm spread his wings and hovered in midair.

The others were equally thrilled and thanked Seriu one after another.

"Then let's register right away!"

Afraid Seriu might change his mind, Shu Li grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the Adventurers' Guild.

Ace followed behind, his gaze settling on their clasped hands.

Seriu was secretly astonished.

As a swordsman, his reflexes were far superior to those of an ordinary person. Yet when the boy reached for him, he'd somehow failed to dodge in time and had been caught firmly by the wrist.

Shu Li noticed nothing unusual. He dragged Seriu into the Adventurers' Guild before finally letting go.

Half an hour later, the Light Squad was officially registered as an adventuring team.

Shu Li turned the badge representing their team over and over in his hands, grinning so broadly he couldn't close his mouth.

They were currently a Level Zero adventuring team. A pure white crystal was embedded in their badge. As they completed assignments and earned points, their team would level up, and the crystal would change color accordingly.

Adventuring teams had ten levels in total, with each successive level requiring more points to reach.

Across the entire Austin Continent, fewer than a hundred adventuring teams had reached Level Ten.

"Come on! Let's go accept an assignment!"

Shu Li swept his arm out grandly and led his companions toward the staff responsible for issuing assignments, drawing curious glances from adventurers throughout the hall.

Kumandi and Ace remained composed and didn't join in their excitement.

Seriu held his adventuring team badge between his fingers, rubbing its surface again and again. Small ripples stirred across the still waters of his heart.

How strange.

He'd actually been given the chance to become a member of an adventuring team.

Even if he was only a nominal member, the badge in his hand was real.

"What assignment are you planning to take?" he asked Ace.

Of everyone in the Light Squad, Ace seemed the most levelheaded.

Ace pointed toward the assignment board. "We're going to Woba Grand Canyon to gather Starba Grass."

Seriu paused. After reading the information on the plaque, he frowned.

"Choose another one."

"Why?" Ace asked.

"Woba Grand Canyon is dangerous," Seriu said gravely. "Four Level Six adventuring teams have disappeared there over the past three years."

Ace smiled. "We've already looked into that. All four teams disappeared in parts of the canyon more than five thousand meters deep. Starba Grass grows in the northern region, close to the Central Court. As long as we're careful, we should be fine."

Seriu studied him with a penetrating gaze.

There was no denying that this boy was extraordinary, both in appearance and bearing. His hair shone like brilliant gold, and his eyes were the color of emeralds.

In all his thirty-two years, Seriu had never seen anyone else with a similar combination of hair and eye color.

The boy also possessed an unusual air of nobility and purity, something almost sacred, which reminded Seriu of a black-haired Elf he'd encountered in his youth.

Yet Seriu was certain that the boy before him was a genuine human.

"I still advise you not to take this assignment," Seriu said in one final attempt to dissuade him. "It's too dangerous."

"If an adventuring team never goes on adventures, can it really call itself an adventuring team?" Ace replied.

The tongue-twisting statement left Seriu momentarily speechless.

Kumandi, who had been listening nearby, spoke up. "Ace is right."

The Little Fairies had left the Faerie Forest to gain experience on the continent. That was an adventure in itself.

Besides, six members of the Light Squad weren't really Mage Apprentices. Even if something unexpected happened, there was no need to worry.

Four Magic Instructors and two Grand Mages were hardly helpless. Add a contracted magical beast capable of swallowing a third-rank magical beast whole, and their strength was comparable to that of a Level Five adventuring team.

Seriu fell silent as Shu Li returned with the assignment plaque, his companions following him in high spirits.

"Look! We got it!"

Shu Li held up the metal plaque, grinning from ear to ear.

Ace regarded him gently, his eyes brimming with warmth.

Dixio rubbed his hands together. "Let's decide exactly when we're going to Woba Grand Canyon!"

"The academy starts classes tomorrow," Angel said. "There's definitely no time to go today."

"We have two days off over the weekend," Ace suggested.

Shu Li snatched the assignment plaque back from Falm, tucked it into his storage pouch, and made the decision.

"Then this weekend it is!"

"Yay!"

Everyone enthusiastically agreed.

Seriu watched the jubilant youngsters, and the heart that had lain dormant for more than a decade slowly began to awaken.

Once, he'd been just like them—full of youthful ambition, eager to embrace life, and fearless in the face of adversity.

But his blood feud had shackled his heart. For so many years, he'd hidden away in the Central Court, not daring to venture a single step beyond its boundaries.

Even when he'd learned that his elder sister was still alive, his joy had been overshadowed by his fear of leaving the Central Court to see her.

His sister, on the other hand, was in precisely the same predicament. Yet she'd disregarded the warrant for her arrest and relied on her own abilities to travel across the continent, preparing for revenge.

Seriu lowered his head and stared at his hands. A trace of confusion appeared in his usually impassive eyes.

What had he actually accomplished all these years?

Aside from improving his strength, he'd achieved practically nothing.

He hadn't even had the courage to go on an adventure.

If he never found the Sword of Carlos, was he supposed to remain in the Central Court forever?

Seriu abruptly clenched his fists.

Determination hardened his gaze, and he raised his head to address Shu Li.

"I'll go with you this weekend."

"Eh?"

Shu Li went rigid.

"Whaaaat?"

The others stared at him in astonishment.

"Um... didn't you say you couldn't leave the Central Court?" Hector asked cautiously.

"The area where Starba Grass grows is close to the Central Court," Seriu replied. "As long as I return within two days, it should be fine. And since I've joined your adventuring team, that makes me one of its members."

He simply couldn't bring himself to let these innocent, naive youngsters venture into Woba Grand Canyon alone. If something happened to them, he'd bear some responsibility.

Besides, if he left the Central Court for only a day or two, the Black Knights were unlikely to notice so quickly.

Shu Li was overjoyed. He seized Seriu's hand and said with heartfelt sincerity, "Seriu, welcome to the Light Squad!"

Only by becoming a true member of the Light Squad could someone really be considered one of their companions.

Seriu froze for a moment.

His heart began to race. Suppressing the sudden urge to burst into song, he gave a solemn nod.

With their adventuring team officially registered and their first assignment secured, Shu Li and his companions left the Adventurers' Guild in high spirits.

As they walked along the street, Shu Li asked Seriu, "Are you coming back to the academy with us?"

Seriu shook his head. "I need to go to the arena."

"The arena?"

The Little Fairies' eyes lit up with curiosity.

Twenty minutes later, the Light Squad stood before a magnificent, imposing building, gazing around in wonder.

When they saw the words Arena written in the Continental Common Language across the top of the building, excitement surged through them.

So this was where Seriu competed?

On the way there, Seriu had explained the arena's rules in detail.

The arena was divided into two sections: the Swordsmen's Hall and the Mages' Hall.

Swordsmen competed in the Swordsmen's Hall, while mages competed in the Mages' Hall.

There were no rank restrictions in the Swordsmen's Hall. Even Swordsman Apprentices could enter competitions.

The Mages' Hall, however, had stricter requirements. Competitors had to be fully qualified Mages.

That was because Mage Apprentices and Initiate Mages took far too long to chant their spells. Watching two people stand in place casting spells at each other simply wasn't entertaining enough to attract spectators.

And the arena wasn't in the business of losing money.

Seriu was a magic swordsman, proficient in both magic and swordsmanship.

Back when he'd needed to earn money for Halis's medical treatment, he'd begun competing in the arena as soon as he became a Swordsman Apprentice.

At first, he lost more often than he won. But as his swordsmanship improved, his victories became increasingly frequent.

Now a consistent champion of the arena, Seriu received challenges every week.

Today, two Great Swordsmen had issued challenges, which was why he'd come to the arena.

The two challengers had wagered a combined total of ten thousand gold coins.

Seriu never passed up an opportunity to earn extra money.

"So you can make money like that, too!"

The Little Fairies and the young dragon were immediately tempted.

They all knew swordsmanship, and their strength was comparable to that of Grand Swordmasters. Winning arena matches would be a piece of cake!

"Money isn't that easy to earn in the arena," Seriu warned.

Every competitor had to put down a wager before a match. The winner took the loser's stake, while the loser forfeited theirs.

The competitors themselves decided how much gold to wager.

For example, the two swordsmen challenging Seriu today had each put up five thousand gold coins. Only an offer of that size was enough to persuade Seriu to fight them.

That alone showed just how prestigious his reputation in the arena had become.

Shu Li and the others followed Seriu through the entrance to the Swordsmen's Hall.

The moment they stepped inside, they felt a fierce surge of sword energy sweeping toward them.

Most of the people in the hall were swordsmen. Each wore magnificent armor and carried a longsword at their waist, their imposing presences filling the building.

When Seriu entered in his mage's robes, accompanied by a group of Mage Apprentices, the swordsmen all turned sharp, piercing gazes upon them.

Hector, Siti, and Nasha felt their skin crawl under those stares. Instinctively, they tightened their grips on their magic staffs.

The Little Fairies and the young dragon immediately went on guard, glaring back without the slightest intention of backing down.

Ace remained perfectly calm, walking unhurriedly at the rear.

Sensing his teammates' tension, Seriu suddenly unleashed an overwhelming burst of sword energy, issuing a stern warning to the surrounding swordsmen.

The pressure on the Light Squad immediately eased.

Seriu had two matches to fight. After escorting Shu Li and the others to their seats in the spectator stands, he headed to the changing room to get ready.

The tickets Shu Li and his companions had purchased were for the front row, offering an excellent, unobstructed view of the arena.

Surrounded by swordsmen, the ten Mage Apprentices stood out like sore thumbs.

Shu Li didn't care.

They were here to watch and learn, preparing themselves for the day they would enter arena competitions of their own.

After all, when it came to making money, the more opportunities, the better!