The Thorn Shield Guild
Pelua’s voice carried a scholarly weight as she spoke.
“When discussing the concept of high-ranking adventurers, there’s one historical example that always comes up first.”
“What is it?”
“The one we were just talking about… that horrific Mage War.”
Ian nodded slowly, as if a puzzle piece had finally clicked into place.
“So the high-ranking adventurers played a decisive role back then.”
“Exactly. Led by Zafar Caligios, who could endlessly spew out bone monsters, a legion of over a thousand dark mages split into four armies and brutally trampled the entire continent. Records from a year after the war began say people genuinely believed the world was ending.”
Pelua’s low, serious tone settled heavily over the living room.
“In that moment of utter despair, the adventurers—who had always been scattered—united for the first and last time in history. At the center were the only two supreme adventurers of that era, along with roughly three hundred high-ranking adventurers.”
“Wait… you’re saying just three hundred people turned the tide of such a massive war?”
“Yes. They swept across the continent clockwise, aiding the allied forces in crushing the bone monsters. They silenced the dark mages one by one as they wielded their grotesque skills.”
By now, a proud little smile had formed on Pelua’s lips.
“The Battle of the Ashen Wetlands, the decisive clash on the Kaian Plains, the slaughter at Islet Basin… All those legendary victories that live on in history were born during that time.”
Ian blinked, feeling slightly dazed.
Back then, there wouldn’t have been safety measures like the Seal Stones of Light. Zafar Caligios’s dark crystal magic would have been unleashed at full strength, covering the land with bone monsters far more numerous and powerful than anything seen today. On top of that, they would have faced an army of death bolstered by hundreds of wicked dark mages.
Yet that hopeless situation had been overturned in an instant with the deployment of merely three hundred high-ranking adventurers.
They must be… unimaginably strong. It’s clear now that the Thorn Shield Guild is far more formidable than I ever guessed.
Ian took a sip of his cooling black tea to soothe his suddenly dry throat. The moment he set the cup down, he voiced the question that had risen in his chest.
“But only three hundred people participated in the war? Are there really so few high-ranking adventurers? And there were only two supreme adventurers?”
“Of course. Reaching the high ranks is an incredibly harsh path. From what I know, even across the entire continent today, the total number of high-ranking adventurers doesn’t even reach two hundred.”
“Whoa, that few?”
“Yes. To be recognized as a high-ranking adventurer, your stamina stat must exceed at least fifteen thousand.”
“What?! Fifteen thousand?! Mine is only two hundred and fifty?!”
At Ian’s horrified shriek, Pelua let out a bright, ringing laugh.
“That’s why they’re called ‘high-ranking.’ And according to the weekly newsletter, the Thorn Shield is the only high-ranking guild active here in Gelian.”
Ian stood there with his mouth hanging open for a long moment before he finally managed to speak again.
“So… the Thorn Shield Guild is the same group that invited me to join them in the Ephel Mountains.”
“Yes. I had already guessed as much.”
Faced with Pelua’s relaxed, beaming smile, Ian could only scratch the back of his head with a completely dumbfounded expression.
After finishing his consultation, Ian walked more slowly than usual through the alleys toward the inn Dream’s Rest. When he reached the entrance, he pulled out the silver pocket watch he had bought for a full ten gold at the clock shop after his last request.
With a cheerful click, the watch opened to reveal it was only one in the afternoon. The sunlight felt too precious to waste by holing up in his room, and the thoughts swirling in his head still needed sorting. Ian turned back toward the main street and wandered slowly through the crowd, sinking deep into thought.
If the Thorn Shield Guild is as strong as Pelua says, they should be able to handle the bone monsters pouring out of the Ephel Mountains without much trouble. But the real problem is the dark crystal that’s creating them. If it’s hidden deep underground or in some treacherous cliff crevice…
Ian’s steps grew heavier. The lively chatter of people stepping aside, the brush of passersby against his shoulder—none of it felt real to him right now. He stopped beneath the eaves of a shop, leaning quietly against the wall in the shade.
No matter how easily they sweep away the monsters like fallen leaves, if they can’t destroy the crystal, the enemies will keep respawning. In the end, the knight order and soldiers acting as bait, along with the Thorn Shield Guild members, will be forced into an endless war of attrition until they find the dark crystal. They’ll have to endure days and nights of exhaustion.
Ian unconsciously clenched his fist tightly.
The knight order can’t possibly be stronger than high-ranking adventurers, so the longer it drags on, the more injured they’ll become. Eventually, someone might even lose their life.
But if he were there, the situation would change completely. No matter how rugged the mountain terrain, nothing could hide from his Detection skill, which covered a five-hundred-meter radius. Just as he had crossed the heart of the Arsilene Forest in only three days, the dark crystal in the mountains wouldn’t last long either.
“Ugh… Seriously. Do I really have to go all the way to the Ephel Mountains?”
A deep, frustrated sigh scattered into the air. But when he drew in a long breath after that sigh, Ian’s eyes had settled into something far more resolute and calm than before.
Yeah, there’s no helping it. I’m not some hero destined to save the world. But I have the strongest thorn shield willing to protect me, and there’s a clear way I can help. Sigh… I guess I have to go. What else can I do?
If he cowardly avoided the situation and people died because of it, he knew he wouldn’t be able to live with the guilt. The desire to keep his conscience clear outweighed even the fear of losing five hundred gold.
Once the decision was made, a small, light smile finally spread across Ian’s lips. The sense of liberation he felt after escaping the swamp of endless worry was far more refreshing than he had expected.
The promised two days passed in the blink of an eye. On the cold dawn of that morning, Ian stepped out through the northern gate, clutching his trembling heart.
Near the gate, beneath a massive oak tree firmly rooted in the misty field, the members of the Thorn Shield Guild were already waiting for him. The moment he spotted their silhouettes in the distance, Ian quickened his pace. At the sound of his approaching footsteps, they all turned to look at him as if on cue.
The instant their eyes met, Zenon flashed his usual handsome smile, as if to say I knew you’d come. Lucas was wildly swinging an ornate metal wand Ian had never seen before, making a huge fuss.
“Wow! Ian, you actually came? I’m completely moved! You’re way braver than you look!”
At his companions’ warm welcome, Ian gave a slightly bitter yet relieved smile and replied.
“My conscience wouldn’t leave me alone, so I didn’t have much choice. But how long have you all been out here? It’s only six-thirty in the morning…”
“We just got here too. Only about thirty minutes early.”
Lucas grabbed Ian’s hand and pulled him toward the two adventurers he hadn’t been introduced to yet.
The female warrior with short-cropped blue hair and sharp dual curved blades at her waist softened her cool, composed expression just a little and spoke in a calm voice.
“I’m Celine Ester. As you can see from the blades, I’m from the Duren Principality.”
Next, the giant, bald greatsword warrior carrying an enormous blade on his back let out a booming laugh and extended a massive hand.
“Hahaha! I’m Bartin Hammer! I’m only in my thirties, so just call me Bartin!”
“Yes, it’s truly a pleasure to meet you all. I’m Ian River, an apprentice errand boy.”
Once the introductions were finished, Zenon stepped forward and handed Ian a crisp sheet of parchment and a quill.
“This is…?”
“A temporary adventurer contract. Read it carefully and sign at the bottom.”
Ian quickly scanned the parchment. The contents were clear and straightforward. It promised a reward of five hundred gold upon locating the dark crystal in the Ephel Mountains. One of the two spaces at the bottom already bore Zenon’s elegant signature.
Ian dipped the quill and wrote his name in the empty space. After confirming the ink had dried, he neatly folded the parchment and tucked it deep into his leather bag. Strangely, a warmth spread through his chest, and he felt as though he had been firmly bound to them as a true member of the team.
The Thorn Shield Guild members seemed to feel the same mysterious sense of unity; everyone’s faces brightened as if bathed in the morning sunlight.
“Alright, everyone gather around. Let’s look over the terrain we’ll be heading into first.”
Zenon pulled an old map from his coat and unfolded it. The group, including Ian, gathered around it like magnets. The map meticulously marked the Ephel Mountains, the vast reed fields spreading out below them, and Melin Lake to the east. Zenon pointed at Melin Lake as he explained the plan.
“We’ll head northeast from the north gate here and pass by Melin Lake. From there, we’ll begin our ascent at the eastern edge of the Ephel Mountains. That’s the area where the dispatched soldiers previously reported sensing the thickest concentration of dark mana.”
When Ian nodded seriously, Zenon continued.
“It’ll take a full day on foot to reach the foot of the mountains, so we’ll camp once we arrive. While we move in secret, the knight order and main force will depart in grand fashion during the day, receiving farewells from the territory’s residents. Since they’re on horseback, they’ll reach the base of the mountains faster than us by taking the western road.”
“So the main force will act as the bait that draws attention first.”
“That’s right.”
Zenon folded the map and tucked it away again. The die had been cast. The party took their first vigorous steps across the reed fields, heading for the eastern tip of the Ephel Mountains beyond Melin Lake.