My adventures in another world with my brother Chapter 11 The unexpected hiccup part 2

In the meeting room, Garrick studied us intently, his gaze piercing and scrutinizing. The silence hung heavily in the air before he finally spoke.

“I must say, your accomplishment is quite extraordinary for adventurers of your rank. Over 200 goblins and a goblin king?” Garrick’s voice carried a mix of disbelief and suspicion.

“We’re just that good,” I replied with a confident grin.

“Indeed. But I need to be sure. Please sign this form; it details your reward.” Garrick slid a piece of parchment across the table, accompanied by a pen.

I reached out to pick up the pen, but as soon as I lifted it, I realized it was far heavier than it looked. Despite its surprising weight, I lifted it effortlessly and began to sign the form. Overon noticed the subtle test and smirked, knowing we’d passed it with flying colors.

Garrick’s eyes widened momentarily before he masked his surprise. “I see. That pen weighs several hundred kilograms. I wanted to see for myself just how strong you are.”

Overon chuckled. “You could have just asked.”

Garrick leaned back, folding his arms. “Well, it’s clear you two are exceptionally powerful. But I’m still curious. What brings adventurers of your caliber to our guild?”

“We’re pretty strong,” I admitted, keeping my tone casual. “But beyond that, there’s nothing more to say.”

Garrick nodded, seemingly satisfied for the moment. “Very well. Here’s your payment. You’ll receive it over the course of a month.” He handed us a pouch filled with gold coins.

As we made our way back to the inn, the streets were quieter, the hustle and bustle of the day having died down. Overon turned to me, a curious look on his face.

“Deserter, why are we heading to the human kingdom’s library? You mentioned it, but I didn’t catch the reason.”

I glanced at him, thinking back to our findings. “Our races are an upgraded version of normal races. After talking to adventurers, we discovered that our races are found in legends. In the game, the only way to change to a better race was to surpass level 100. The fact that our races exist here implies that there were others who reached that level—possibly other players.”

Overon’s eyes widened slightly. “So, you’re saying there might have been other players who reached level 100 and beyond?”

“Exactly,” I nodded. “Historically, the highest level recorded for a humanoid was level 92. Monsters go past that, but they don’t change race until much higher levels because they’re strong from the beginning and live longer. If there were other players who managed to reach higher levels, they might have left behind valuable information in the human kingdom’s library.”

Overon’s face lit up with understanding. “I see. That makes sense. We might find clues about other high-level players and learn more about this world’s history.”

“Exactly,” I said, feeling a sense of purpose. “We need to know more about this world and what happened to the other players. The library is our best bet.”

The next morning, we woke up early, ready to tackle the next requirement to level up in the adventurers guild. We made our way through the bustling streets back to the guild. The lively atmosphere of the previous day had not waned; adventurers of all kinds were milling about, preparing for their missions.

We approached the counter where Miss Abecca was stationed. Her feline features perked up as she saw us.

"Ah, Deserter and Overon! Back for another quest, nya?" she greeted us with a friendly smile.

"Good morning, Miss Abecca," I said. "We’re here for the bandit extermination quest."

"Excellent choice," she replied, shuffling through some documents. "There's an escort mission that would fit perfectly. A group of villagers needs safe passage to a herb collecting ground. The area is notorious for bandit activity, specifically a group known as Redwing."

Overon and I exchanged a glance and nodded. "We'll take it."

Miss Abecca handed us the details. "The villagers are waiting at the north gate. Safe travels, and be careful, nya."

We headed to the north gate, where a small group of villagers anxiously awaited. Their leader, an elderly man with a kind face, greeted us.

"Thank you for agreeing to escort us. The herb grounds are not far, but the Redwing bandits have been increasingly aggressive," he explained.

"No need to worry," Overon reassured him. "We'll ensure your safety."

The journey began uneventfully. The forest was serene, with the morning sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The villagers chatted quietly, collecting herbs as we stood guard. But soon, the tranquility was shattered.

A rustling in the bushes was the only warning we had before arrows began to fly. Overon and I instinctively shielded the villagers, but the arrows merely bounced off us, harmlessly clattering to the ground. The bandits, numbering around thirty, emerged from the underbrush, weapons drawn and faces twisted in malicious glee.

"You picked the wrong day to be out here, travelers," one of the bandits sneered.

Overon stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "I don’t think so."

The battle was swift and brutal. Overon lunged at the nearest bandit, his punch landing with such force that the man exploded into a spray of blood and gore. I unleashed a torrent of fire magic, flames roaring to life and consuming several bandits in an instant.

"Fireball!" I shouted, grinning at the absurdity of using such a powerful spell in close quarters. The explosion was spectacular, engulfing a group of bandits and leaving nothing but scorched earth in its wake.

Despite our overwhelming strength, we tried to hold back enough to capture some of the bandits alive. By the time the dust settled, twenty bandits lay bound and groaning in pain, while the rest were nothing more than charred remains or pulverized bodies.

The villagers, though initially terrified, looked at us with awe and gratitude. "Thank you, brave adventurers. We would have been lost without you."

We escorted the villagers back to the city, their baskets full of precious herbs. At the gate, we handed the captured bandits over to the guards, who stared in disbelief at the sheer number of prisoners.

"These are members of the Redwing bandits," I explained. "We encountered them near the herb grounds."

The guards nodded, quickly taking the bandits into custody. "Thank you for your service. The city is safer thanks to you."

Back at the adventurers guild, we reported our success to Miss Abecca. Her eyes widened as we recounted the battle and showed her the loot we’d collected.

"You... you captured twenty bandits and killed the rest?" she stammered, her face a mixture of shock and admiration. "I didn’t think you’d manage such a feat, nya."

"Just doing our job," Overon said with a grin.

"Well, you've certainly exceeded expectations," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I'll update your ranks immediately."

With our new ranks and a sense of accomplishment, we headed back to the inn. 

The next morning, Overon and I woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. Today, we were signing up for the escort mission to the northern human kingdom. We made our way to the adventurers guild, the bustling energy of the city greeting us warmly. Upon entering, we were once again met by Miss Abecca, who smiled and waved us over.

"Good morning, Deserter and Overon. Ready for your next big adventure, nya?" she greeted us with her usual cheerfulness.

"Good morning, Miss Abecca. We’re here to sign up for the escort mission to the northern human kingdom," I replied.

"Ah, yes! I've got your names down for it. You'll need to meet the other adventurers who will be joining the mission. Head over to the training grounds behind the guild. They’re all gathering there to prepare," she instructed.

We thanked her and made our way to the training grounds. As we approached, we saw a diverse group of adventurers sparring, discussing tactics, and preparing their equipment. The first to catch our eye was a pair of dark elves, their midnight-black skin and silver hair contrasting starkly against the greenery of the training grounds.

The taller of the two, a male with piercing violet eyes, approached us. He was clad in sleek leather armor that allowed for maximum mobility. "Greetings. I am Vyrin, an E-rank rogue. This is my sister, Elara," he said, gesturing to the woman beside him, who nodded in acknowledgment. She wore similar armor but carried a bow slung across her back, indicating her role as a ranger.

Next, we met a group of cat-like adventurers, their feline features reminiscent of Miss Abecca's. One of them, a muscular male with black fur and yellow eyes, stepped forward. "Name's Jax. I'm a D-rank warrior," he introduced himself with a nod. Beside him was a smaller, more agile-looking cat person with white fur and bright green eyes. "I'm Lyna, C-rank thief," she said with a playful smirk.

We were then introduced to a couple of dog-like adventurers. The leader, a tall, broad-shouldered male with shaggy brown fur and a stern expression, introduced himself. "I'm Hargan, E-rank berserker. This is Kira," he said, pointing to a female with sleek gray fur and kind eyes. "She’s a healer, D-rank."

A pair of Dragonborns caught our attention next. Their scales glistened in the sunlight, one a deep blue and the other a shimmering gold. The blue-scaled one stepped forward. "I am Thalrok, C-rank sorcerer," he said, his voice a deep rumble. The golden one, a female with a regal bearing, introduced herself as Zayla, B-rank knight.

Lastly, we met two elves who radiated an aura of calm and precision. The male, with his long blond hair and serene blue eyes, introduced himself as Aeron, D-rank cleric. His companion, a female with auburn hair and emerald eyes, was named Liora, C-rank archer.

Over the next few weeks, we trained with this eclectic group, learning their strengths and weaknesses. Time seemed to fly by as we honed our skills, shared strategies, and built camaraderie. The training grounds echoed with the sounds of sparring, laughter, and the occasional explosion of magic.

A week before the escort mission, we were introduced to the merchants we would be protecting. The caravan was led by Ivan, a branch manager of the Parlatence company, renowned throughout the continent for its extensive trade network. Ivan was a Demi-human with the appearance of a human but with faintly glowing eyes and a presence that commanded respect.

"Good day, adventurers," Ivan greeted us with a courteous bow. "I am Ivan, and I will be leading the merchant caravan. I trust you have been well prepared for the journey ahead?"

"We’ve been training hard," Overon replied. "It’s an honor to meet you."

Ivan smiled, a warm and genuine expression. "The honor is mine. Parlatence has a long history of employing the best adventurers, and I am confident in your abilities. Our journey will be perilous, but with your skills, I am certain we will reach our destination safely."

We spent the rest of the day discussing the details of the journey. Ivan explained the route, the potential dangers, and the importance of the cargo we would be escorting. The merchants themselves were a diverse group, each with their own unique stories and skills.

As the meeting drew to a close, Ivan addressed us all. "Prepare well, adventurers. In a week’s time, we embark on a journey that will test our resolve and strength. I look forward to traveling with you all."

With that, we parted ways, each of us returning to our preparations with a renewed sense of purpose and anticipation. The days flew by, and before we knew it, the time for our departure was drawing near.