Chapter 16 Evaluations

A week later, Amos sat under a tree in the estate gardens, a book resting on his lap, though he wasn’t reading it. Instead, he watched as, nearby, Ambrosia and Lisa sat together beneath a pavilion. By now, he’d concluded that if left alone, the two would inevitably drift toward each other in less than ten minutes. It was actually harmonious.

Ambrosia was currently explaining something from a novel.

Lisa listened quietly.

Occasionally asking question, smiling and laughing together.

Amos watched in silence, the scene feeling oddly surreal. Just a few months ago, Ambrosia hardly spoke to anyone besides him and Elena. Lisa’s eyes once held no hope, her trust in others nearly gone. Now, they acted as if they’d been friends for years. Across from him, Elena stood with her usual perfect posture, straight as if carved from a particularly judgmental statue.

"You are stalking them again."

"I am just observing."

"That is never true from someone like you."

Amos ignored her, his gaze drifting toward Ambrosia. She laughed more often these days. Having someone her age in a similar situation, both new to the place, had made a difference. Lisa herself seemed happier, and all in all, I think I did a good job of taking responsibility.

The estate had grown used to their presence. Even Roland had warmed up to her, though that old man was like that with everyone. Amos shut his book. A decision had been picked by Amos.

"Elena."

"Yes."

"I have delayed long enough."

That sentence immediately triggered Elena's instinct.

"I would like to refuse."

"I am resuming operations."

"..."

Elena closed her eyes slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose. She stared at him, then let out a long, weary sigh—the kind that comes from knowing you’ve already lost the argument before it even began. She knew him too well. The moment Amos started planning something, the only real question was whether she’d go along or spend all her time chasing after him later. And the latter was definitely the worse option.

Nearby, Ambrosia noticed the conversation.

She closed her book.

Lisa followed suit.

The two girls approached.

"Brother?"

Amos turned.

"Yes?"

"What were you talking about with Elena?"

"Nothing."

Ambrosia crossed her arms, a habit she’d unknowingly picked up from Amos. Unfortunately for him, it made her look very adorable.

"You are thinking of sneaking out again."

It wasn't a question.

Amos blinked.

"Maybe."

"You are."

"Possibly."

"You are."

"Nope."

Ambrosia sighed.

"Understandable."

Then Ambrosia surprised Amos very much.

"Can you bring back gifts?"

Amos paused.

"Gifts?"

She nodded.

"I want them as payment for not tell father about it."

For a moment Amos simply stared.

Then a grin slowly appeared.

Is she blackmailing me? Am I dreaming? My adorable little sister is blackmailing me, her kind and cool older brother??

"Very well."

He placed a hand on his chest.

"I, Amos E. Kyros, shall accept this blackmail."

Amos nodded with satisfaction of Ambrosia learning to be a great corrupt noble. An apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?

***

The Adventurer’s Guild was just as noisy as he remembered. Tankards clattered against tables, adventurers bickered over rewards, and someone was already being tossed out by the collar. Somehow, it was all oddly comforting. Then the guild doors swung open, and the chatter dimmed—not entirely, but enough. The silver-armored adventurer and the striking black-haired girl were hard to forget after the goblin champion incident. The pair known as Entropy had disappeared for over a week after barely surviving their very first quest.

They were back. The two of them stepped up to the counter, and when Lina glanced up, she froze on the spot.

"Oh."

"Good afternoon."

"You're back."

"I took some time to really recover and rest."

"Good for you. What can I help you with?""

"I am here to claim the reward for the goblin quest and reward for the goblin champion"

She slid a pouch across the counter.

"100 gold."

"100 gold?"

"Yes."

"That's quite lot."

"You killed a mutated goblin champion."

Eo accepted the pouch.

His first rewards as an adventurer felt satisfying—deeply satisfying. Then, another thought crossed his mind, and he glanced upward.

"Lina."

The receptionist immediately became suspicious.

"Why do I feel like I'm about to regret this?"

"How quickly can we reach E-rank?"

Nearby adventurers immediately started listening.

Lina blinked.

"E-rank?"

"Yes."

"Not interested in enjoying being alive first?"

"Nope."

"Normal people would."

"I have places to be plus I am not just some normal people."

"You have problems."

"A lot. Yes."

Lina sighed.

"Officially?"

"Yes."

"You need enough completed quests, a positive evaluation, and guild approval."

Eo nodded.

That sounds reasonable.

She leaned forward slightly.

"If you're asking how people advance quickly..."

The nearby adventurers became suspiciously quiet.

"Then stop doing ordinary quests."

Eo's helmet tilted.

"Explain."

"Special requests."

"Emergency requests."

"Monster outbreaks."

"Escort missions with high success rates."

"Exceptional achievements."

She pointed at the goblin champion ear.

"For example."

"Most adventurers would gain more recognition from killing that than from twenty normal quests."

"So stronger quests."

"Understood."

Lina narrowed her eyes.

"You absolutely did not understand."

"I understood perfectly."

"You immediately started planning something dangerous."

"Nope."

Lina looked toward the request board.

Then back at the duo.

"There is another option."

Eo immediately focused.

"What is the option?"

"Evaluation requests."

"If someone demonstrates abilities significantly above their rank, the guild can conduct a combat evaluation."

Eo stared.

Selena stared.

Lina immediately regretted speaking.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I have become motivated."

The guild master, who had been quietly listening from a second-floor balcony the entire time, finally laughed, his eyes settled directly on the silver-armored rookie called Eoghan Rise.

"Hm."

The old man leaned against the railing.

"Perhaps."

The entire guild went silent.

"An evaluation for your team wouldn't be a bad idea."

Eo's helmet slowly turned upward looking toward him.

The Guild Master’s voice carried across the entire hall.

“Perhaps.”

Even Lina slowly lowered her paperwork.

Because the Guild Master almost never personally involved himself with F-rankers.

“You are the Guild Master?”

The old man laughed once.

“You sound disappointed.”

“I expected someone larger.”

Several adventurers gagged, Lina buried her face in her hands, and the Guild Master’s grin only grew broader.

“Hah! I like this brat already.”

He descended the stairs slowly, heavy boots echoing against the wooden floor. Unlike the loud presence of many strong adventurers, the old man felt strangely restrained. Calm like before an incoming storm.

Selena quietly observed him.

Strong is the conclusion she had reach.

The Guild Master stopped in front of them.

“So.”

His eyes settled on Eoghan.

“You want to rank up quickly.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Higher rank quests pay more.”

“That’s a very honest answer.”

“I am extremely honest.”

The Guild Master crossed his arms.

“An evaluation isn’t impossible.”

Nearby adventurers began whispering immediately.

“Seriously?”

“For rookies?”

“They’ve only done one real combat quest.”

“Yeah, but they killed a mutated goblin champion.”

“That thing nearly wiped a D-rank team.”

The Guild Master ignored the chatter.

“Normally, rank evaluations require experience, completed requests, and recommendations.”

Eoghan nodded.

“Reasonable.”

“However…”

The old man’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“There are always exceptions for abnormal cases.”

The Guild Master laughed again.

Then his gaze sharpened.

“Eoghan Rise.”

“Yes.”

“You said you wished to spread your name.”

“Yes.”

“Then show me something.”

The guild hall quieted.

Eoghan tilted his helmet slightly.

“Here?”

“Here.”

Several adventurers immediately moved their chairs away because adventurers possessed excellent survival instincts.

Lina looked horrified.

“Please don’t destroy the guild again.”

“Again?” Eoghan asked.

“That’s not important.”

The Guild Master pointed toward the center of the hall.

“No killing.”

“Understood.”

“No excessive property damage.”

Eoghan stepped forward, the guild hall parting as adventurers eagerly backed away. Some looked amused, others skeptical, and a few seasoned veterans seemed intrigued. Selena stood quietly near the counter, perfectly calm—a composure that worried Lina more than Eoghan did. The Guild Master plucked a spear from the nearby rack and tossed it without warning, and Eoghan caught it without hesitation.

“Can't I use my own weapon? The balance is terrible on this.”

The nearby adventurers exploded.

“THE NERVE OF THIS GUY—”

“That spear costs more than your life!”

The Guild Master barked out laughter.

“Good eye.”

Then, the old man vanished, and the floor cracked where he had stood. Lina’s eyes went wide, several adventurers nearly screamed, and Eoghan barely reacted in time. The whole guild hall trembled as a shockwave burst outward when spear met fist. Tables rattled, tankards shattered, and one adventurer toppled out of his chair.

“What the hell?! I WASN'T READY OLDMAN!”

Eoghan slid backward several meters before stopping himself.

The Guild Master’s fist was still raised.

“Hm.” Interest flickered in the old man’s eyes.

“You still manage to react.”

“My instincts are excellent.”

“You’re either talented or very lucky.”

“Both.”

“Fair answer.”

The Guild Master stepped forward again, this time slower and more deliberate. The pressure in the room spiked instantly, making veteran adventurers straighten without thinking. Now, the old man truly felt dangerous. Eoghan tightened his grip on the spear, mana flowing quietly beneath his armor in subtle reinforcement. The wooden floor creaked under his boots, a sound the Guild Master caught right away.“Oh?”

Eoghan moved first, the spear darting sharply toward the Guild Master’s shoulder. The old man brushed it aside with ease.

BOOM.

The impact blasted apart part of the floor beneath them.

“WHAT THE HELL?!” Lina shouted.

Several adventurers stumbled backward.

Selena calmly sipped tea someone had abandoned earlier.

The Guild Master deflected one strike after another, each blow landing with increasing force. They grew cleaner, sharper, more precise—not the clumsy swings of a novice, yet not quite the calculated moves of a veteran. It was something different, something uncanny, like watching someone learn and adapt in the moment. The old man’s grin only widened.

“Hah.” Now this was interesting the Guild Master thought.

Meanwhile, Eoghan’s thoughts were clear. The Guild Master was tougher than anyone he had faced before. Their weapons clashed again, and the hall trembled once more.