After a long day of traveling, Erwin and I finally arrived at the gates of Raydell.


    I came to a halt, my eyes widening as I took in the sight before me.


    A massive stone wall, towering at least ten meters high, encircled the city. The main gate, made of black steel, stood open, allowing a steady stream of people to pass in and out.


    I had never seen such a bustling place in my life.


    In Cedric’s memories, he had been born and raised in a small village populated solely by humans. He had never ventured beyond its borders, never seen the outside world.


    But now, standing before me, was a scene so breathtaking that I could hardly believe it was real.


    Amid the sea of people, I spotted creatures I had never encountered in reality.


    A tall, slender man with pointed ears stood in the crowd. His long silver hair shimmered under the sunlight, and his sharp green eyes swept over the masses with an air of quiet nobility.


    An elf…?


    I blinked in disbelief. A real elf was standing right in front of me.


    Nearby, a group of people with animal-like ears and fluffy tails chatted amongst themselves. A black-haired girl with cat ears shrugged, her mischievous eyes glinting as she waved to a familiar face.


    Beastmen…?


    Before I could fully process what I was seeing, a gruff voice rang out close by.


    "Move aside, you long-legged lot!"


    I turned to see a short, stocky man with a thick, bushy beard that nearly covered his entire face. A massive axe was slung over his back, and he stomped forward with heavy steps that made the ground tremble slightly.


    A dwarf…


    I felt my entire perception of the world shifting.


    Humans were not the only race here.


    This world was far larger than anything Cedric had ever known.


    Erwin noticed my astonishment and chuckled.


    "Amazing, isn’t it?" He clapped a hand on my shoulder. "This is a big city. Humans aren’t the only ones who live here."


    I swallowed hard. "I knew other races existed, but… this is my first time actually seeing them."


    Erwin nodded. "Makes sense. If you grew up in a small town, this would be quite a shock."


    I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the incredible sight before me.


    I had truly stepped into a world far grander than I had ever imagined.


    After standing in awe for a while, I finally gathered myself and followed Erwin toward the city gates.


    A long line of people waited for their turn to enter. At the entrance, guards clad in silver armor stood on either side, carefully inspecting each traveler’s documents.


    When our turn came, a tall guard with a deep voice asked, "State your reason for entering the city."


    Erwin pulled out a small wooden card engraved with a symbol. "We’re adventurers. I’ve been here plenty of times, but this is the first visit for the kid."


    The guard gave a brief nod before turning his gaze to me, eyeing me from head to toe. "Name?"


    I straightened my back and answered without hesitation. "Cedric."


    "First-time visitors must pay an entry fee of one silver coin," the guard stated.


    I stiffened.


    One silver coin…?


    The previous Cedric hadn’t possessed much money. Most of what he carried was in copper coins, and after the battle with the goblins, I had only managed to scavenge a little more.


    I fumbled through my pockets, trying to gather what little I had. But just as I was about to pull out my coins, Erwin spoke up.


    "I’ll cover his fee," he said, handing the guard a silver coin.


    I stared at Erwin in surprise. "You didn’t have to do that."


    "It’s fine," he grinned. "Consider it a reward for helping me in that battle."


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I wanted to protest, but seeing the sincerity in Erwin’s eyes, all I could do was nod.


    The guard took the coin and waved us forward.


    "Next!"


    And with a single step, I officially entered the city of Raydell.


    The moment I stepped inside, I was nearly overwhelmed by the sight before me.


    Wide, clean stone-paved streets stretched out ahead. Tall buildings made of stone and wood lined both sides, their colorful signs swaying gently in the breeze.


    The city was alive with movement. Merchants called out to passersby, adventurers in heavy armor strode through the streets, and robed mages hurried along, their cloaks billowing behind them.


    I could hear the rhythmic clang of metal striking metal from a nearby forge, the lively chatter of street vendors persuading customers, and the mouthwatering aroma of freshly cooked food wafting from a roadside tavern.


    "This is amazing…" I murmured, feeling a surge of excitement.


    Erwin grinned at my reaction. "Welcome to Raydell. A bustling city, home to adventurers and merchants alike."


    I took a deep breath.


    I had truly stepped into a vast and thriving world.


    But I wasn’t here just to admire the scenery.


    My goal was the Adventurers’ Guild.


    I turned to Erwin. "Where are we heading now?"


    He smirked and pointed toward a large building in the distance, its sign displaying the image of two crossed swords.


    "The Adventurers’ Guild. It’s time for you to officially become an adventurer."


    Even after entering the city, I couldn’t stop taking in my surroundings.


    Raydell wasn’t just large. It was alive with energy.


    Shops lined the streets, from weapon and armor stores to stalls selling herbs, magical ingredients, and all sorts of strange trinkets I had never seen before.


    A little further ahead, I spotted an elderly mage in a deep purple robe, holding a thick tome while explaining something to a group of young apprentices.


    Nearby, a group of adventurers in leather armor, swords strapped to their waists, laughed boisterously as they drank outside an inn.


    Beneath my feet, the polished stone roads gleamed under the sunlight, reinforcing the feeling that this was a prosperous and well-developed city.


    Erwin walked beside me, clearly familiar with the area.


    "I didn’t expect it to be this big," I muttered.


    "You haven’t even seen half of it yet," Erwin chuckled. "Raydell isn’t just an adventurers’ hub, it’s also one of the largest trade centers in the region. Goods from all over flow through here. If you have the money, you can find almost anything."


    I glanced toward a nearby stall where a dwarf was selling polished black steel swords and daggers. He was arguing with a customer over the price, his deep, gruff voice filled with irritation.


    "Thinking about buying something?" Erwin asked.


    I shook my head. "I don’t have much money. I need to save up first."


    Erwin shrugged. "Fair enough. But once you take on your first quest, you’ll start earning a decent amount."


    I nodded but still had some lingering questions.


    "So… how does the Adventurers’ Guild work? Do we just go there and sign up?"


    Erwin crossed his arms, thinking for a moment before replying.


    "Yes, but it’s not that simple. The Guild doesn’t accept just anyone. You’ll need to pass a test to prove you can handle combat."


    I paused. "A test?"


    Erwin nodded. "Of course. Someone who doesn’t know how to fight would die on their first mission. The Guild doesn’t want to be responsible for pointless deaths, so they have a test to see if you’re qualified."


    I felt a twinge of nervousness. I had only just started learning how to fight. What if the test was too difficult?


    "What kind of test are we talking about?" I asked.


    "It depends on the guild branch. In Raydell, they usually have you spar with a low-ranked adventurer or hunt a small monster to prove your abilities."


    I exhaled in relief. If it was just a fight, I could rely on my intelligence and magic to make up for my lack of experience.


    Erwin patted my shoulder. "Don’t worry. I’ve already seen you fight. I’m sure you’ll pass."


    As we continued walking along the main street, a loud commotion suddenly caught my attention from a nearby corner.


    A crowd had gathered in front of a small arena, where two men were engaged in a sword fight. One of them was an adventurer clad in iron armor, while the other was a young man with white hair, unarmed yet effortlessly dodging every swing of the blade.


    Curious, I stopped to watch.


    "Who is that?" I asked Erwin.


    Erwin followed my gaze before smirking. "That guy? That’s Ronan, a B-rank adventurer. He’s arrogant as hell, but ridiculously strong."


    I observed Ronan’s movements, feeling an invisible pressure from the way he fought. He didn’t just evade with ease. He counterattacked with precise punches and powerful kicks, landing each blow with flawless timing.


    In mere seconds, he had completely overwhelmed his opponent, sending the armored adventurer crashing to the ground.


    The crowd erupted in cheers, but Ronan merely scoffed before turning away.


    "He’s strong," I noted.


    "Yeah, but he refuses to work with others," Erwin said. "He always fights alone. Some respect him for his skill, while others hate him for his arrogance."


    I acknowledged his words, making a mental note of Ronan’s name.


    Before we could walk any farther, a lighthearted laugh rang through the air.


    Turning my head, I spotted a young woman standing in front of a stall selling magic books.


    She had chestnut-colored hair and wore a deep blue mage’s robe. Her delicate features and bright violet eyes shone with curiosity as she skimmed through the selection of tomes.


    Something about her felt different, but before I could ask Erwin who she was, he tugged me forward.


    "You’ll have plenty of time to meet people later," he said. "For now, we need to get to the Adventurers’ Guild."


    I hummed in agreement, setting aside my curiosity for now.


    After a short walk, we finally arrived in front of a grand building, its sign displaying two crossed swords.


    I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness.


    This was the first step toward becoming a true adventurer.


    Erwin gave me a firm pat on the back. "Ready?"


    I clenched my fists and stared up at the guild’s massive doors.


    "Yeah."