Just a few kilometers east of the empire's capitals was a particular sect branch in the Emei Mountain Peaks where young girls aged 6 and above are trained to become disciples of great masters.
One young woman has just completed her training and was going to see the outside world. For ten years, she's been in this mountain training day in and day out. The only interaction with the outside world was through deliveries and travelers who occasionally take the roads around the forest.
She was the daughter of the Murim Martial Alliance's leader, and the descendant of the first Sword Saint, Isshin:
Name: Tenma Dragneud
Level: Level 95
Class: Martial Artist
Potential: Transcendent
Today she planned to become an adventurer to make friends and save up money to buy herself a house in the empire. All she had right now were the clothes on her back, a coin pouch with twenty gold coins, and her backpack filled with camping gear.
Her destination was the Eulia Empire. According to reports that came in, many strong men come from there.
As such, she wants to go there in search of a husband.
Tenma was the height of the average young woman, possessing a small but strong frame. She wore the Emei sect's uniform and had her black and white hair tied up into two pigtails wrapped into knots.
Despite her small frame, she was gifted with a body that many young women would envy, but her large bust has never interfered with her training so she can say she's proud of the body she's sculpted these past 19 years.
"?" while sitting crosslegged on the surface of the water, utilizing her aura to harden the water, she sensed a faint but familiar presence.
It's a presence she hasn't felt in years.
She stood up and walked across the surface of the water, and stepped into the hallway.
"—I thought training was officially over for you, dear niece. But it seems you need to meditate to clear your mind so I didn't disturb you." An old man spoke, his voice deep but filled with affection.
Siegfried Dragneud, the former leader of Serz, was waiting in the hallway. He was a muscular old man who towered 7ft tall, wearing a traditional martial arts uniform. The scars across his arms, face and neck told tales of his many great battles and hardships.
Upon spotting him, she immediately bowed, "Great Uncle, thank you for seeing me off to start my journey."
"Humph." Like a grandpa upset that his granddaughter wasn't jumping into his arms screaming that she missed him, he harrumphed.
He evaluated her from top to bottom, even to the ends of her jet-black hair.
Her bow remained steady, awaiting permission to raise her head.
"You have grown into a fine young woman… It is a pity you will not live long. There are so many places I want to show you, so many martial arts to teach you…"
"…Thank you for your kind words." Tenma raised her head, "I intend to use this little time I have to look for a husband and possibly methods to reach the peak of my cultivation."
"Hahaha! You delinquent rascal! The thought that I won't take you back to your father to get you a husband never crossed your mind, hm!?" Siegfried's laughter made the temple rumble. Wiping a stray tear, his laugh died down, "But you are still young so that's no surprise."
"It would be beneath you to come to someone as lowly as me just for that purpose, Great Uncle." She smiled wryly.
"Indeed. I came for a different reason, not just to see you off and bring you gifts to celebrate the completion of your training, though."
With raised eyebrows, she inquired, "Then may I ask why?"
He silently approached her then tapped her chest with his finger, "The energy within you has begun to go violent. The seals trapping that spirit inside you will go wild within just 20 years. If the Hero is not ready to fight the Demon king by then, what chance will we have to stop that world-eating beast? Only sealing it away in an infant whose meridians are still forming can stop its rampage. I do not wish to give this burden to yet another generation."
Visions of the evil spirit covering the entire world in ice flashed past her mind, making her tremble.
"…."
"I loathe my weakness, dear niece. Until now, we could only delay the inevitable. For years, you have known you would not live long yet you have never shown hesitation in your training, reaching level 90 in a span of just ten years. You are truly a talent born once every thousand years—a Transcendent, a mortal with the limitless potential to become a God."
She lowered her head.
It's true that Tenma has never hesitated in her training, showing the fire of any ordinary warrior and making the most of her potential as a Transcendent. But deep down she knew she would die and it would all be meaningless.
And in the end… a powerful martial spirit would come loose and curse this world with an eternal winter. Martial spirits are sacred entities that only manifest in those who have attained a higher understanding of martial arts and reached the pinnacle—
Equilibrium.
But this martial spirit in the particular is a special kind of spirit. There's no official title for them but they are often referred to as "Rogue Spirits". The kind that doesn't aid their masters but choose to abuse their powers. This spirit once belonged to a martial artist who practiced the taboo arts that are now lost to time so there's no telling if it's possible to restrain this spirit permanently.
They can only seal it until someone strong enough can listen to their request to fight it. Tenma has sent various requests to her father to take her life but none have been answered, clearly showing that he cares deeply for his daughter and intends to find a different method.
"Hold on… Great Uncle, you said 'until now'. What did you mean by that?"
Stroking his beard, Siegfried contemplated with furrowed brows then glanced around the hallway, noticing several disciples and some guards nearby, "Walk with me."
…
After coming to the garden where rare and unique plants grew, not found anywhere else in the empire, they stopped in front of a pond where gold fish were swimming among the frogs.
"The scouts I sent all over the continent to look for methods to suppress the energy inside you reported that a talented divine doctor appeared in the Wood Elf Country." Looking into the pond, Siegfried recounted.
"…I've heard this exact story before…"
"Hah. Yes, I have gotten my hopes up many times as well. However, this woman is far different than the others." His wild eyes which held a gentle light in them, went back to her, "She is… able to enter the Spirit Realm and bring the herbs that grow there over to this world…"
"W-What!? How is that possible!?"
"The High Elves may have done their best to not let this get out but I would recognize the herbs she's using to create medicines anywhere as I've studied their shapes, uses and biology since I was a boy. It fills me with shame to admit this but I watched her for several weeks using the shadow arts of the extinct Prowling Dusk assassin sect, the same sect me and your father took down thirty years ago. She handled herbs that we've recorded from masters from the past, which were said to come from the Spirit Realm, like an expert. I think that it's because of this talent that the High Elves are keeping her in the royal palace. As of right now, only I, and a few close subordinates, know about her."
If she's able to enter the Spirit Realm and handle the herbs that come from there, it's possible she can also perform miracles on a person's meridians. Tenma's meridians aren't as healthy as official reports say as the damage hides in plain sight. The spirit's energy has corrupted her meridians so much that they've been rotting since birth.
In ten years, she may lose the ability to use aura and martial arts.
In fifteen, she'll become a cripple.
And in twenty…
"G-Great Uncle, then does that mean this woman…?"
Siegfried nodded, "The divine doctor may be able to help you."
"A divine doctor… in this era…" her voice became shaky and her usual composed expression broke, as tears flowed and a smile formed, "H-How will we request her services?"
"Leave that to me, child. You focus on your own life, separate from the sect and your father. I mean it." it sounded like an order from her senior but he was clearly saying this for her own good.
She's already dedicated so many years to her training so she shouldn't waste her life any further and enjoy the last days of her youth.
"At least tell me…"
"Haaa, this stubborn child. I won't give you specifics but the Divine Doctor seems to be acquainted with a powerful martial artist. According to diary entries I've read through, he's her benefactor and savior so she had dedicated her entire life to serving him. She's also in the process of studying methods to restoring internal energy, most likely for him. None of us have been able to do it but the ancient masters have recorded various methods and theories. Perhaps if I offer those to the woman and she makes a breakthrough, we may be able to make a deal."
"Have any of them been confirmed?"
"Unfortunately, no. But many require an ingredient from the Spirit Realm so we can't say for sure just yet. We need both a talented divine arts practitioner and those ingredients to tell."
"I-I see… Then there's no guarantee…"
"My dear niece, don't look so down." He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes with determination, "I promise to use every means in my disposal to get her to help us."
"…Thank you, Great Uncle."
"Mm. Enjoy your time as a young woman. This is precious time your mother never had as she always had to look after your stubborn father otherwise his rivals may have killed him before he became the alliance's leader." He had a light chuckle, "Oh, earlier you said you want to look for a husband. I hope you have one in mind. Know that your father will challenge that boy and if he can't survive at least 1000 punches, he's unsuitable to give your father a grandchild."
"What a crazy requirement… I have several candidates in mind." She puffed out her chest, as if proud of her deductive capabilities. In reality, she just pulled the merchants' ears to tell her what they've heard of strong men across the continent.
"And who will you choose?"
"Hmm, I don't know~ I might just fight all of them and see who's the strongest." Digging in her ear, she replied.
"Just as shallow as your father, hahaha!" Siegfried laughed heartily, "Your mother made him taste dirt many times! That bastard has always liked strong women. Gyahahaha!"
"S-Shut up! H-How am I supposed to know anything about romance when I've never even seen a boy in the ten years I've been training here!?"
"We don't live in ancient times anymore, dear niece. Invite them for coffee at the very least, kukuku." Though he tried not to, the laughter just leaked out.
Tenma bit her lip with tears in her eyes.
◊◊
Later that day, in the capital city of Toril.
-The Misteltein Guild Building
Secta was able to travel without much issue and even waited in line to enter the guild house. Misteltein was even more popular than the SS-rank parties who never interviews anyone lower than S-rank.
From the conversations she had with the folk loitering outside, the guild is seeking to expand its influence through numbers instead of just relying on one party to make all their profit. This allows them to help a wider range of people at the same time while the main party—Alpha—does difficult quests.
The main Alpha party of Misteltein is comprised of the strongest members of the guild: Nova, Lucri, Lucia and Galadriel, from what she heard. But they've shown interest in recruiting more members, preferably those above B-rank. Naturally this drew the attention of rival guilds who were in danger of losing their members.
Misteltein might be a fairly new guild but their growth and influence outpaced those of other parties. If they had political power, they would be the strongest guild in the empire. Fortunately for the other parties, the majority of the guild executives and nobles hasn't shown support to Misteltein.
For now, it's just a minority sending them donations and such.
But with Nova as Guild Master, it's only a matter of time before they become the greatest guild.
**
After waiting in the queue to be interviewed for the program, Secta was led inside the building by an employee.
"It seems Ms. Galadriel is still busy with the previous interviewee so please wait on the chair," the employee beckoned Secta over to the chairs next to the door.
After sitting down, she spoke to Secta again, "You don't seem very nervous so you must have nerves of steel, fufu. Most who come here are so nervous, they would puke right after the interview."
"Oh, uhm, that's normal here?"
"Well, most of them are fledglings who just started adventuring so the majority are just looking to join a guild which will support them."
"I don't get it."
"Misteltein is one of the few guilds willing to support lower-ranking adventurers. The others won't even let you in unless you already meet a high standard. But here, the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master look deeper. If you pass the basic program test, that means they see something in you worth nurturing. Vice Guild Master Lucri used to be like that too, you know. He was once a weak mage who could barely cast anything beyond Fireball so he didn't get a lot of opportunities. But Nova saw his potential, brought him in, and now he's one of the few magicians in history capable of Fifth-Rank magic. Rumors say he's practicing spells even beyond the fifth rank."
"…Were you like that too? Unable to join the other guilds but taken in by them?"
"No, but my progress dulled in my fourth year of adventuring. My comrades even abandoned me and left the empire for greater opportunities while I stayed a C-ranker. While I fit the requirements of some guilds, no one wants someone who can't grow stronger no matter how much they try." She smiled bitterly, "I tried out Misteltein's tests for C-rank and was surprisingly accepted despite the HQ's evaluation of me, where they made sure to add I can't grow any stronger due to my poor potential."
"And yet Misteltein took you in…"
"Yes. I'm still waiting for team Gamma to be established before I can join as tanker. But so far, I've been accepted as an official member of the guild and will undergo a special evaluation test to determine how I can continue to grow stronger. They said that even if I fail to pass, I will be provided top-tier equipment that will boost my stats… It's something I never thought I'd hear from a guild. Normally they leave such equipment for their A-rankers but Misteltein promised to give it to someone like me…"
She wiped a stray tear with a finger, "They've changed my life and I don't have to retire this early on so I vowed to myself to help this guild even if no promises are upheld."
"I see…"
So, this is everyone's evaluation of Misteltein. Not a charity but a guild that's willing to work with everyone who can do the bare minimum that's required of an adventurer. Sure, it's not like they're taking random people off the streets to give them jobs but they're still helping change the lives of those who thought their lives were at a dead end. They gave opportunities to those who had already taken the first difficult step and proven they were willing to risk their lives.
To many people, that alone was enough to change everything.
Secta probably didn't need to hear anyone else's opinion of Misteltein as it's evident by their smiles and praises that they have absolute loyalty to the guild. With how highly the employee spoke of Misteltein's leaders, it made her wonder what kind of people they really were, Nova and Lucri especially.
A Guild Master who saw potential in those others ignored.
A Vice Guild Master who rose from being an ordinary mage to one of the few practitioners of Fifth-Rank magic in history.
People like that felt distant, almost unreal.
The office door opened.
A young adventurer stepped out, looking as though a massive weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
The employee stood up.
"Looks like they're done."
She knocked lightly on the door before opening it.
"Ms. Galadriel, your next applicant has arrived."
A familiar, calm voice answered from within.
"Please send them in."
The employee turned toward Secta with a smile.
"Good luck."
Taking a slow breath, Secta rose from her chair and stepped toward the office.
**
"My name is Galadriel. Sorry that you can't meet with the vice guild master. He's very busy at the moment with team Beta." The two sat down on a table nearby, "Your request form said you wanted to join the Alpha party? Do you know what this entails?"
"Yes… You need a competent priest of at least A-rank."
"That's right. Buffing and healing may be something even low-ranking priests can do but experience is even more important for us. You should also be able to protect yourself with barriers, which is something only high-ranked priests can do. If you fail to do any of this, you won't be considered for the main party, which will do quests ranging from A to SS-rank."
"May I ask how you will test that…?"
"We'll get to that, don't worry. First, I need to know more about you."
"Ah, I didn't bring any official documentation from a temple…"
'Shoot! I should've thought about that!' she grimaced inwardly, kicking herself that she should've done research on priest adventurers first!
"That doesn't matter. Tell me what tier of magic you major in."
"Uhm…"
'Don't humans have this ridiculous notion that Third-Rank is the average person's limit? I almost blurted out that I can cast up to Twelfth-Rank.'
Humanity really is weak. No wonder the Gods had to intervene and bless humans with power just to have a fighting chance against the demons.
"…I can use up to Fourth-Rank." A rank below what the VGM is known for.
Galadriel's poker face shifted slightly hearing that, "Fourth-Rank but you're an adventurer!?"
"I-Is that an issue?"
"No, not at all but don't you have other ambitions!? Tempels would fight over you! We might even have a temple faction knocking on our door tomorrow morning!"
"Is that so… I've been studying most of my life in the mountains and never had a chance to explore the world. I think by becoming an adventurer, I not only make comrades, I'll see the world beyond the empire's walls."
'Maybe I should have said third-rank…'
But this will make them more likely to accept her into the main party.
Question is, how does she bring Arthur into the team…? With everyone's eyes on Misteltein to watch their progress, it's the perfect party for Arthur to save his image.
"…We'll need to keep that a secret—you being Fourth-Rank. We aren't strong enough as a party to face other factions and the church in a political war. It will most likely end up bloody, which is what they'd want to tank our reputation."
"Is it that big of a deal…?"
She's been around humans for less than a month so she's not sure what's commonplace and what isn't. It wasn't a lie when she said she's inexperienced with the world.
"With the search for demon cultists, they'll swallow every gifted priest, child or unwilling. So, yes. The Guild Master is a very busy man outside the guild so we can't give him unnecessary trouble."
'I wish to help them bring those cultists to justice but I can't stray from my goal to help Sir Arthur…' Unfortunately, she has to take her Master's side over the humans.
"Understood… I will keep my abilities a secret."
"We'll need a demonstration of your abilities later but let's wait for the vice guild master to screen your practical tests."
"Didn't you say he's too busy?"
"If he hears you're Fourth-Rank, he'll drop everything and interview you himself. We have an important quest coming up so we need competent party members to accompany us. So far, we're lacking a tank and a healer. More magicians will also be great as we only have two at the moment."
'Normally this would be overkill for a quest but since it's apparently SS-class or even beyond, it makes sense.'
Galadriel soon left the office but instructed an employee to bring snacks for Secta while she waited.
About fifteen minutes after leaving, she came back with the vice guild master.
The moment the door closed, Lucri spoke as he walked around Secta: "You're willing to join our startup guild despite having talent many will want. Why us specifically? Ah, it's not an interrogation, I'm just a bit surprised we would get so lucky. Sir Nova will be glad to have you on the team."
Despite sounding a bit serious at the start, his façade broke and he smiled.
'He doesn't possess any yang energy. Is he really a man?' sensing the peculiarity, Secta thought, 'It's not common for boys to have yin energy but it's not like it doesn't happen so I will keep my thoughts to myself.'
Deciding the appropriate answer, Secta spoke, "I'm not experienced in the world so I didn't come here for a specific reason…"
"Ah, Galadriel mentioned you said you spent your entire life studying in the mountains. So, I suppose your common sense wouldn't really fit in with the rest of society, haha…" the tension vanished so he spoke casually, "I'll oversee your practical exam so let's move on to the training facility."
"O-Okay…"
"Galadriel, good work so far. I'll treat you to drinks after we close so don't go hunting monsters again on your own!"
"Haha, I got it. Looking forward to it."
After leaving the office, the two came downstairs.
"Are there any difficult quests that came to Misteltein lately? The kind of quests that needs strong individuals…"
"Wow, not even official yet and you're already pumped to get to doing quests?" he chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"Ahaha…" she laughed awkwardly, realizing she was a bit too blunt.
"We have had many B to S class quests. We can't do anything above B-rank until we have a full party yet. You were the last person we needed. We already got a tanker that came from Dead End, who will be with us temporarily while their party leader helps us. Also, a martial artist visited us this morning looking to join. With how impressive she was, we couldn't say no to her so we're basically a full party, if we include our guild master."
"Is there enough space for more adventurers?"
"At the moment? We have a full party so we can't accept anyone else. But I guess since we have a joint party quest coming up soon so it wouldn't hurt to scout more people willing to join. What we need now is quality over quantity so unless they're an A-ranker, we can't accept them." He deduced, "Do you have someone in mind?"
"Y-Yes! He's an old friend and would love to join! He has a kind heart and will jump head first into danger even if it's to put others' lives above his own!"
"Ohhh, he sounds like a great person. Let me speak to the guild master first. We don't want the main party to become too bloated so it's likely that your friend's skills may benefit the other parties."
'It's not a rejection, at least. Is it a good idea to not say who he is?'
Secta was afraid they'd turn him away the minute they find out he's the "Useless Hero" who cowered while people died.
It's best to give him an alias and change his appearance when he gets accepted.
The moment they got down to the ground level, they were met with total silence, unlike the buzz from before. When they got to the last step, they realized what the silence was about:
A silver-haired youth draped in black was standing in the middle of the hall speaking to the guild's secretary, Josephine.
"Oh, there you are." Noticing the two, Josephine smiled, "Look who finally came to the guild. And it's almost closing time too~"
"I sense some venom in there, Ms. Josephine." Nova said with a wry smile.
So, this is… Nova.
How can Secta describe him?
He was just… an otherworldly being.
It was like he was a demigod who came down from the heavens…