Chapter 37: The Fast-Track Trial

The woman behind the desk looked up as Keane entered.

"Close the door."

The Guild officer did so, then remained beside it while Keane walked farther into the room.

The woman was reading a report it seemed, and she didn’t look particularly interested in the fact that someone had just entered, at least not until she put the papers down and raised her eyes toward him.

The moment she looked at him, Keane stopped, something about her immediately put him on guard.

It wasn’t just her gaze, though that was sharp enough, he couldn’t explain it, it was like she could have his head at the blink of an eye, and almost as if she was about to, just barely being restrained.

Her equipment was similarly unusual.

She had on light armor fitted close to her body, with very little unnecessary protection. A hefty sword rested on the wall just beside her, positioned for a quick draw even though she was supposed to be in a safe space.

She looked like someone who had built her entire fighting style around moving faster than her opponent could react, at the very least. Keane would have thought otherwise because of the sword, but he knew these things as a modern man better; not to mention, judging by the pressure he felt standing in front of her, she probably could.

"And you must be Keane," she said.

"Yes."

"Ersla Knight. Acting Guildmaster." She introduced curtly.

Keane nodded.

She gestured toward the chair across from her desk.

"Sit."

He did as he was told.

Ersla picked up the report again.

"Your registration was fairly ordinary until the assessment." She said, "no known combat history either." She glanced at him. "Then you broke two measuring devices and dented a reinforced steel dummy with your bare fist."

"That’s about right." He answered.

"Your explanation was that you didn’t do anything."

"I didn’t intend to break them." He wasn’t trying to appear naive or ignorant anymore.

Ersla put the report down.

"Are you always this difficult to measure?"

"I wouldn’t know, this would only be the second time I’ve ever been measured." He said.

She studied him briefly for some seconds, and Keane met her gaze without trying to appear more harmless than he was. He had already learned that pretending to be ignorant around the wrong person could make things worse. While the staff downstairs had been confused by him, Elara had been interested in him, and even the mages had wanted to understand him... This woman was different, that was why Keane decided to drop the act completely.

"What’s the problem?" he asked.

Ersla leaned back slightly.

"The problem is that I don’t know what you are. You’re either exceptionally powerful or dangerously abnormal. Possibly both."

That was a rather direct way of putting it.

’The measuring device couldn’t identify your mana signature, but you demonstrated physical strength beyond what was expected, but that doesn’t tell me how you would perform in an actual contract.’ She thought to herself. ’Are these the probems of a Guildmaster?’

Ersla looked at him, her expression didn’t change. "Are you certain you are not an enemy?" She asked, dead seriously.

Keane looked at her for a moment.

"No." He said, a bit confused at first.

"That was a quick answer."

"Well, it’s a simple question."

"Is it?"

"Do I look like someone who came here to destroy your Guild?"

"You look like someone who could cause considerable damage if he wanted to."

Keane couldn’t argue with that. Somehow, trying to be chatty was placing him in unfavourable conditions.

Ersla watched him for another moment before finally looking away.

"Good. At least you’re honest about that much." She said.

Keane leaned back in his chair, more confused than anything. He’d been expecting another interrogation, instead, she had already reached her own conclusions and was trying to determine what to do with them.

"I want a rank," Keane said.

Ersla looked back at him. "Explain."

"I came here to become an adventurer. I need money, a way to support myself, and the ability to take contracts that will actually help me grow stronger. Iron-rank work isn’t going to accomplish that."

She listened patiently without interrupting.

"I understand why your staff couldn’t assign me a higher rank. They couldn’t get a clear reading, and I don’t have a record, but I can fight, I’m strong. I’ve already fought monsters, and I know I’m stronger than the average person."

"How much stronger?" She asked, tone flat. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"I don’t know."

"That’s an inconvenient answer, isn’t it?"

"It’s the truth." Keane said. "I don’t expect you to take my word for everything, but I also don’t want to spend months proving I can handle jobs that are beneath my abilities."

He looked directly at her.

"Give me a chance to demonstrate what I can actually do."

Ersla rested her arms on the desk after listening, still clear that she was thinking of something.

"Rules are rules, Keane. Even for me."

Keane nodded.

"I understand."

"On paper, I have no reason to give you anything above Iron, but I will make an exception."

Keane raised an eyebrow, and before he would think of speaking again, Ersla continued, picking up a blank sheet of paper.

"I can arrange a fast-track trial."

Keane looked at the paper.

"What does that involve?"

"A dungeon run. You’ll join a temporary party of vetted adventurers. The Guild will assign the gate and observe your performance. We’ll evaluate your combat ability, judgment, discipline, and how you respond to unfamiliar situations."

"So, a practical test."

"Yes."

"And if I pass?"

"If your performance justifies it, I’ll authorize a rank assessment based on the trial."

Keane nodded. That sounded reasonable.

He understood it well, but he was still greatful. ’She must be curious herself.’ He thought to himself, as even though it didn’t show well on her face, he could tell from her eyes and the way she looked at him.

He respected it.

Despite not stating it directly, there was no pretending she was doing this out of kindness or some obligation to help a new adventurer either. She wanted to know what he could do, and she was willing to give him something in exchange for finding out, quite straightforward.

Ersla glanced toward the officer who was standing by the door.

"Bring me the current gate assignments."