Chapter 49: Chapter 49 - The White Sword Hunter ( Part 3)
The next afternoon...
It had been many years since Jennie Queens stepped outside the capital city without being introduced as any member of high nobility.
Without being Princess Lilia’s maid.
Without being Arthur Queen’s child.
Just...
As a regular girl.
Warm spring wind brought to the capital the aroma of fresh-baked bread while vendors shouted out their prices to passer-by.
Life of the capital of Seraiya was boiling.
Kids were running after each other in the crowded streets laughing.
Performers amazed travellers with their juggling and harmless tricks of illusion magic.
Blacksmiths hit red-hot pieces of metal.
Potion shops had colourful flacons on the polished windows.
The city seemed full of life.
Free.
Jennie smiled.
"...It’s nice."
Voice of Excalibur was echoing inside her mind.
"You seem to be quite happy, Master."
"Yes."
"I have not visited such a city as this... Well..."
She giggled.
"For many lifetimes already."
Rather than to choose the direct road...
Jennie was wandering through the market area.
She stopped at the fruits stall.
Bought roasted chestnuts from the old woman who sold them.
Watched kids pretending to be famous hunters.
The little boy pointed with his wooden sword to another kid.
"I am the Dragon Slayer!"
"No! I’m stronger!"
"You can not beat me!"
"I have killed five goblins yesterday!"
Jennie giggled.
Kids indeed didn’t change during the centuries past.
The old lady who was selling flowers noticed her happy smile.
"You seem to be in a very good mood today, young lady."
Jennie took a little white flower which the old lady gave to her.
"Thank you."
"You are going somewhere special?"
Jennie looked to the western district.
"...Maybe."
"I think today I am starting a new journey."
The old lady smiled wisely.
"Then may the Goddess guide you."
Jennie touched the flower quietly.
"...I hope she will behave nicely."
High above the heavens...
Goddess Miasa suddenly sneezed.
"...Why do I feel that someone doubts about my dignity?"
An hour later...
Jennie arrived at the western district of the capital city.
Contrary to the noble part of the city...
This part seemed practical.
Full of activity.
Designed for the needs of travellers rather than nobles.
Carriages went here and left there all the time.
Merchants loaded supplies into the wagons.
Warriors loudly joked outside the taverns.
Everyone wore swords, staves, bows or spears.
The majority of people was wearing practical leather armors which witnessed countless battles.
Other people had colourful badges on their cloaks.
Jennie immediately noticed the badges.
"They are hunters emblems."
Excalibur told.
"Different colours represent different ranks."
She watched attentively.
Bronze.
Iron.
Silver.
Gold.
A few of dark crimson badges.
Interesting.
Then...
She saw it.
In the middle of the district there was a huge building of dark grey stone.
It had the architecture similar to the fortress rather than to the office building.
The entrance was held by the massive pillars.
There were two gigantic statues of famous hunters beside the gates.
Above the double doors there was a wonderfully carved silver heraldic shield.
A sword crossed with the wings.
Below it there were elegant words carved into polished marble.
Hunter Association
"Protect Humanity Beyond Borders."
Jennie’s crimson eyes sparkled.
"So this is it..."
The entrance hall was much bigger than she expected.
Dozens of registration counters stood along the walls.
There were huge notice boards with quests.
Hunters were moving here and there with monsters’ materials.
Some were celebrating the successful hunt.
Others were arguing about the reward.
The air was noisy.
But strange ordered.
Jennie found herself smiling again.
"I like this place."
She slowly came to one of those huge notice boards.
It was full of requests written on parchments.
Her eyes studied them carefully.
F-Rank
Collect medicinal herbs.
Bring merchant cargoes.
Escort the local travellers.
E-Rank
Wipe out wolf packs.
Investigate missing livestock.
Patrol the trade roads.
D-Rank
Destroy goblin dens.
Exterminate rogue beasts.
Explore abandoned ruins.
Requests became increasingly more dangerous.
C-Rank
Ogre extermination.
Wyvern investigation.
Mana anomaly surveying.
B-Rank
Monster suppression.
Mountain rescue.
Escort missions.
And the top section...
Almost was empty.
Three crimson requests remained there.
A-Rank
And...
The black parchment.
Its title alone was already impressive.
S-Rank Emergency Commission
Jennie read the warning below the request silently.
Participation allowed only for the certified S-Rank Hunters. Violation is punished by the Association law.
...
She blinked.
"...Seems to be serious."
She read the other notice.
It explained what is the Hunter Association.
The Hunter Association was independent from every kingdom.
Although every kingdom supported it financially...
Nobody could be a king of it.
Hunters answered only to the Association.
Their mission was simple.
To protect the civilization from the monsters, magical disasters and other ancient dangers which were beyond the power of regular soldiers.
Kings guarded the borders.
Hunters guarded humanity.
Jennie nodded thoughtfully.
"...That’s surprisingly reasonable."
And another document attracted her attention.
Hunter ranking system
F-Rank.
Newbies.
Easy gathering missions.
E-Rank.
Monsters extermination.
D-Rank.
Professional hunters.
C-Rank.
Elite hunters.
B-Rank.
Kingdom-level experts.
A-Rank.
Heroes known in every kingdom.
S-Rank.
People able to turn the course of the wars.
Jennie folded her arms.
"...Not bad ladder of promotion."
Excalibur giggled.
"And what do you think your rank is?"
Jennie thought for a while.
"Well, if I use ordinary swordsmanship skills..."
"B-Rank."
"If I use mana powers..."
"A-Rank."
"With me?"
Jennie looked at the dragon-shaped hairpin in her silver hair.
"...Rather not to mention it."
Excalibur laughed.
"Smart choice."
At the far end of the hall there was the registration counter.
Beside it the young receptionist with the chestnut hair tied into a braid was working.
Bright smile of hers was welcoming everyone.
"Good afternoon."
"Welcome to the Hunter Association."
"My name is Emily."
"What can I help you with today?"
Jennie returned her smile.
"I would like to be registered as a hunter."
Emily took the parchment from one of the drawers.
"Certainly."
"It’s a first-time applicant?"
"Yes."
"Wonderful."
She gave a nicely printed card to Jennie.
"Please fill in your data."
Jennie read the first lines of the form.
Name.
She immediately stopped.
It would surely draw a lot of attention if she will sign her own name.
Arthur Queen.
Princess Lilia.
Royal Family.
No.
This needed to stay hidden.
She silently took the pen.
After a couple of seconds...
She wrote one word.
Raven.
Emily glanced at the form.
"Raven?"
Jennie nodded smoothly.
"Yes."
"My hunter nickname."
The receptionist smiled.
"Many hunters use nicknames."
"That will not be a problem."
Jennie silently sighed.
Another obstacle solved.
Emily checked the rest of the form.
Age?
She stopped once again.
Surely she couldn’t write the age which is connected with the royal family.
And besides, she wanted to avoid being underestimated.
She wrote down:
Fifteen.
Emily nodded.
Everything seems to be perfectly normal.
She put the stamp on the application.
Then smiled warmly.
"Congratulations, Miss Raven."
"Your registration has been accepted."
"You should go to the Examination Hall Number Three."
"The Hunter Qualification Exam will start soon."
Jennie put the paper into pocket and smiled.
"...So it starts."
While she was going deeper into the Association headquarters, nobody knew that this silent girl called Raven will soon be a name mentioned in every kingdom.
A name that monsters would learn to fear.
