Chapter 412 – Alone Again.

“Welcome to the Gretel Adventurer Guild. I see it’s your first time here. How can I be of service?”

“I’d like to turn in a quest. Here are the papers and my adventurer card.”

“Ah, please give me a moment.”

“Of course.”

A woman adorned with large oval glasses and dressed in the standard adventurer guild receptionist uniform greeted Roland with a smile. His somewhat monotonous journey had concluded, and he was now at liberty to continue on his own. The train ride had been uneventful, devoid of monster attacks or any attempts to capture the merchant. In a sense, he felt he had been overpaid for doing very little, as the two main guards had shouldered most of the responsibilities while he merely accompanied them.

The merchant he had accompanied had his base of operations in this location. He was part of the new movement attempting to earn money within Albrook and had visited it to inspect it firsthand. The man exhibited a peculiar trait, as he didn’t trust anyone to make the right call, often visiting such places on his own before making a decision. Roland benefitted from this behavior, securing a ride back to the central region of the Kingdom, a location much closer to his old home than before.

Though it was irksome to be looked down upon by his personal guards, Roland managed to maintain his composure. Upon arriving at the location, he received the stamp of approval that marked the completion of his mission. The lady with glasses, upon inspecting the papers, displayed a heightened level of concern, evident in her demeanor. It was hard to overlook the presence of the high-profile merchant, one of the wealthiest individuals in the city with connections to numerous noble houses. Nevertheless, she swiftly composed herself, maintaining her professional demeanor.

“Thank you for completing this mission, Mr. Wayland. It seems you’ve handled it quite efficiently. Is there anything else you’d like to do at the guild today?”

“Yes, could I purchase a map of the region?”

“A map? Of course.”

“Just deduct the price from the commission.”

The receptionist nodded, processing the paperwork swiftly before retrieving a detailed map of the region from a nearby shelf. Roland’s eyes scanned the parchment, taking note of the various landmarks, cities, and dungeons marked on it. He was particularly interested in the area that he would be visiting as he needed to make another stop before reaching the institute.

As Roland studied the map, the receptionist couldn’t help but ask.

“Planning on exploring some dungeons, Mr. Wayland?”

Roland looked up, his face covered by a hood and also a runic helmet. Which blocked the receptionist from seeing his wry smile. He wasn’t sure if this woman was just being friendly or if she was gathering information on the new wandering adventurer.

“Perhaps… Do you have a stable here?”

“We do, it’s just around the corner, do you wish for me to propose a stead?”

“No thank you. I’ll just ask the Stable Hand.”

He swiftly concluded the encounter and received his sack of coins for the trip. The compensation seemed modest, considering this was a task for a Platinum adventurer, but the airship ride itself served as a part of the reward. Shortly after, he stepped outside, attracting the attention of the locals. His status as a Platinum adventurer made him stand out in the crowd, but with a single side glance, everyone promptly returned to their own activities.

‘I guess being a high-ranking adventurer has its perks… Now where is that stable…’

Typically, Roland relied on merchant caravans for long-distance travel to various locations. However, given the proximity of his next destination, he opted for a different approach. For such a short journey, it made more sense to rent out a horse or another type of mount and travel independently. If he were to forego this option, he’d have to wait an additional day for the merchants to gather, and they would likely camp out, something he wished to avoid to save on precious time.

‘That crest belongs to the Castellane house…’

As Roland walked towards the stable, he noticed a distinctive noble crest that caught his attention. The crest was divided into four quadrants, each symbolizing a different aspect. A towering castle in the top-left quadrant signified ancestral strength, while golden wheat in the bottom-left represented prosperity. A regal lion in the top-right quadrant stood for courage and nobility, and a flowing river in the bottom-right symbolized the passage of time. Regular people wouldn’t be able to distinguish the meaning behind the crest but he was different, it was a house that he was very familiar with.

The Castellane house belonged to the royalist faction and served as the direct superiors to the Arden house, to which Roland belonged. As a marquess house, they operated directly under the royal family. Despite Roland being mostly ignored by his family, it was made explicit that he should hold the Castellane house in high regard. His family emphasized that if he ever found himself in the presence of someone from the Castellane nobles, he must bow his head in respect. According to what he knew, his father had served as a Knight Commander for them in his youth, and it was through their assistance that he was granted the title of Baron.

It was something that he expected to encounter sooner or later but seeing it this close still made him uncomfortable. His old self would have nothing to do with this area and the thought of being berated by his family members again, was quite unappealing. Luckily, the crest was just a mark on one of the buildings and their main estate was not in this city. It was a similar situation as in Albrook, at most he would find another noble associated with them instead.

‘Robert shouldn’t be here but those other two… where did they end up?’

Roland had three elder brothers. Robert had chosen to enlist in the army at the borders, aspiring to become an officer. Resigned to the belief that he wouldn’t be able to assume the role of Baron, Robert had abandoned any aspirations for succession. On the other hand, his other two brothers, Reyner and Edwin, were actively vying for control of the entire Arden estate. Roland wasn’t entirely certain about their current endeavors, he recognized that the information provided by Robert was likely outdated.

‘I think the two took up internships at higher noble houses and were working there as personal Knights… I wonder where they ended up.’

It was not uncommon for children of nobility to seek employment with higher-ranking noble houses. One of Roland’s older sisters had served as a personal maid for a member of a higher house. While on the surface, it might seem like a role unfit for nobility, the connections and opportunities it provided were highly valued in noble circles. The chance to be closer to real power emanating from higher nobility and royalty was something nobles were willing to pursue, even if it meant taking on seemingly menial positions. Roland did the same thing by tying himself to Arthur who with his name, was able to protect his shop from the Union.

The stable Roland sought was not far, and as he approached, he noticed a variety of mounts available for rent. Horses of different sizes and colors were tethered to the wooden posts, waiting for riders. Roland approached the Stable Hand, a sturdy-looking man with a weathered face, who was currently grooming a horse. The Stable hand turned to him and inquired.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Greetings, sir. How can I assist you today?”