CHAPTER 66: INITIATION CEREMONY

The lady who had brought the orb stepped forward, standing confidently in front of the crowd of gathered guild members.

Embedded in her cheek was a small, magically-enhanced stone that acted like a microphone, amplifying her voice across the hall.

"Everyone! How are you today?" she called out cheerfully.

She wore an eye-catching, skin-tight outfit in bright pink and had a pair of cat-like ears perched on a headband atop her head.

"GOOD!" the crowd roared in unison, their voices shook the guild hall, Bob included. He had already rushed forward, getting closer to the front like an excited fan.

I stood there, blinking.

Why does this feel like déjà vu?

It felt like we were at a live idol concert, not an adventurer guild ceremony.

"Are you guys ready for the ceremony?!" she shouted again, her voice so loud it made my ears ring.

"YEAHHH!!!" came the thunderous reply.

"Alrighty then!" she twirled playfully. "For those who don’t know me, I’m the one and only, Melon!"

She struck a peace-sign pose as some of the younger adventurers cheered her name.

"In just a few minutes, we’ll introduce today’s candidates and begin the ceremony!" She stepped back to chat with the other staff members near the orb.

Still stunned, I turned to the annoying guy next to me, the one dressed like a food stall worker.

"...Is this normal for a ceremony?" I asked.

He nodded proudly. "Yup. This is how it usually goes. Though it’s a bit grander today since the carnival’s in town, and most guild members are staying nearby for quests. More crowd, more fun."

Then he extended his hand.

"Name’s Kim, by the way. What about you?"

I was a little surprised by Kim’s sudden kindness.

"I’m Alan. Nice to meet you," I said, offering my hand.

He shook it firmly, then turned his attention to the glowing orb.

"This is it," he said, his eyes reflecting the orb’s soft light. "The moment that either makes or breaks your dreams."

"Hmph... What a joke."

A cold voice cut through the atmosphere like a blade.

Kim and I turned to see the speaker, a man who had suddenly stood up nearby. He towered slightly over us, with short black hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and a hard stare. He gave off the aura of a battle-hardened veteran... like an old lion who had seen too many wars.

"The guild barely scrapes by month to month," the man scoffed, glaring toward the front of the hall. "And yet they throw away what little they have on this ridiculous ceremony."

Then he turned his gaze down at us.

"You two," he said sharply, "if you’re here to make friends, go to a tavern. Or a playground. This place is all about survival."

With that, he walked off toward the front of the crowd, his steps heavy with purpose.

"...Very arrogant man," Kim muttered, shaking his head. "How dare he look down on us like that? So rude."

I glanced sideways at Kim.

Did you forget how you talked to me and Bob just a few minutes ago? I thought silently.

Still, my eyes returned to that man’s broad back as he walked away. His frame was powerful, his posture disciplined.

He definitely had the look of someone with serious combat experience. But that raised a question.

Why is someone like him even here for the initiation ceremony?

---

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Cups of water were raised high in the air, clinking together in celebration. People continued pouring into the hall, quickly filling up the entire ground floor.

Latecomers made their way up to the second level, turning the guild hall into something that now resembled a full-blown concert.

"Do you think they’ll make it?" Evelyn asked, craning her neck to scan the crowd for Alan and Bob.

"I think so," William replied calmly, sipping from a cup of juice.

The two of them sat at one of the front tables in the hall, one Evelyn had cleverly reserved through Yui’s help.

Yui was seated with them, eager and jittery, visibly excited to support Bob.

"I really wish Maya was here," Evelyn groaned, letting her head slump onto the table.

"There’s nothing we can do," William said with a shrug. "She wanted to compete in this year’s carnival. She’s giving it everything she’s got. We should be supporting her too."

"...Hmm, fine." Evelyn pouted but slowly sat upright again.

Then she turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Will, is it true you’ll resign as an adventurer if those two don’t make S-rank?"

William paused mid-sip.

"I’ll think about it later," he muttered. "For now, let’s just pray for a miracle."

He had been thinking about it all day, wondering if such a sacrifice would even be worth it. But the wheel was already turning. Even if Alan and Bob did not reach S-rank, as long as they hit A-rank... maybe then, just maybe, he could step away with a lighter heart.

"It’s starting!" Yui suddenly announced, her voice bubbling with excitement.

All eyes turned to the front.

A man with a trimmed beard stepped confidently toward the orb. The hall began to quiet as anticipation filled the air.

"...Why do I feel like I’ve seen him before?" William muttered to himself, watching the man’s posture, the way he carried himself.

"The first candidate, Blackburn!" Melon’s voice rang out.

The crowd roared in applause.

---

I stood up, wanting a closer look at the process.

The man named Blackburn stepped forward and placed his hand gently on the orb.

The entire hall fell silent.

The orb began to swirl, like some kind of fluid was spinning inside it. Seconds passed, each one stretching longer than the last...

Then suddenly, the orb burst into a vivid red glow.

Melon leaned forward, peering into it with a curious hum.

"Congratulations!" she announced brightly. "You’ve been identified as a Physical Class user. It looks like you have high affinity with Warrior, Berserker, and Defender classes!"

The crowd instantly broke into buzzing chatter.

I could hear several murmurs float around me:

"Another physical? Ugh, how boring."

"This guild already has too many warriors..."

"We seriously need more spiritual-type classes."

Is physical a bad thing? I wondered.

William’s a physical class, and he’s amazing...