Chapter 14 A Free Path, A New Duty
I walked through the streets of Altheria with a quiet smile tugging at my lips. The morning sun warmed my back as I moved through the familiar bustle of the town. It wasn’t just the weather that felt lighter today—it was me.
For the first time since I arrived in this world, I wasn’t being pulled forward by someone else’s expectations. No whispered orders from a goddess, no fate carved into stone. The divine weight pressing down on my shoulders had finally eased.
The goddess had given me permission to walk my own path.
Freedom.
I had longed for it ever since I first opened my eyes in this world—reborn, renamed, repurposed. But now… now I could breathe.
Still, as the crowd of merchants and townsfolk passed me by, I couldn’t shake a lingering thought.
Is she letting me do this because she trusts me? Or is it only because she believes I’ll eventually fall into step with her plans—saving lives, defeating evil, doing “hero” things?
My fingers curled slightly at my sides. Or maybe… she’s just testing me.
I smirked.
“Doesn’t matter,” I muttered under my breath. “As long as I can explore this world, I won’t let anyone stand in my way.”
With that, I picked up my pace, making my way toward the Adventurers Guild.
The worn wooden doors of the guild creaked open as I stepped inside. The air hit me like a wave—sweat, ale, smoke, and steel. The scent of ambition. Of people seeking glory or gold, or both.
It was just as busy as always. Adventurers clustered around tables, exchanging tales and plans. A few sparred lightly near the training dummies in the corner. Yet something felt different today.
No stares.
No hushed murmurs.
No curious or wary eyes tracking my every movement.
They weren’t looking at me anymore.
Instead, nearly every pair of eyes in the room was locked onto a large bounty poster tacked to the guild’s central board.
A new face? Or maybe an old one, with a bigger price on their head?
Before I could get a closer look, a familiar voice cut through the crowd.
“Sir Raito!”
I turned to see Elira weaving her way toward me, her long coat fluttering behind her like a cape. Her sharp eyes glinted with amusement.
“Good morning, Miss Elira,” I greeted her with a slight bow.
She smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Good morning to you too. The Guild Master was asking for you—he’s upstairs in his office.”
“Thanks.” I nodded, then made my way up the stairs.
The second floor of the guild was quieter, less chaotic. Reserved for business, strategy, and important decisions. I stopped at the Guild Master’s door and gave it a firm knock.
“Who is it?” came the gravelly voice from within.
“Raito, sir.”
“Come in.”
I stepped into the room. It was lined with old maps, books, and a wall of weapons—some ornamental, others likely used. The Guild Master sat behind his desk, a mountain of a man with a thick beard and eyes that missed nothing. On his desk sat several bulging bags of coins.
I raised a brow. “Are those… the rewards for Brugo?”
He chuckled, the sound deep and gravelly. “Yup. After things calmed down, we started digging into his history. Turns out Brugo had more blood on his hands than we realized. His bounty went up to two hundred gold—too bad for everyone else, you got to him first.”
He pointed at me with a grin. “Beat every other adventurer to the prize.”
I gave a small shrug. “Guess I did.”
“Sit down, kid. We’ve got more to talk about.”
I took the seat beside his desk, the leather cushion worn but surprisingly comfortable.
Then his tone shifted.
“It’s true,” he began, folding his hands. “We uncovered a lot about Brugo. His movements, contacts, past hideouts. But what stands out most is this—he wasn’t acting alone.”
I frowned slightly. “You think someone was giving him orders?”
“Not just someone,” the Guild Master said grimly. “An organization. They call themselves… the Maleficarum.”
The name was unfamiliar, but something about the way he said it made the hairs on my neck rise.
“Maleficarum?” I repeated.
He nodded slowly. “That’s the group the summoned heroes are currently fighting in the neighboring kingdom. A shadowy network of mages, assassins, and fanatics all working toward the revival of the Demon Lord.”
His brow furrowed. “And now we know they’ve reached here. Altheria.”
I leaned back slightly, absorbing the weight of that statement.
A group that dangerous, operating in secret beneath this peaceful town… and I had unknowingly crossed paths with one of their agents.
“We’ve passed all the intel we gathered to the mayor,” the Guild Master continued. “He’s got contacts. Church officials, royal envoys. The information will get to the heroes… eventually.”
He let out a long breath, then looked me dead in the eye.
“Raito, I know you’re not one for the spotlight. You didn’t come here to play hero, and I’m not asking you to.”
His fingers tapped slowly on the desk.
“But if you ever come across more of the Maleficarum… don’t engage. Don’t fight them. Don’t play the lone wolf.”
I opened my mouth, ready to argue—but he raised a hand, silencing me.
“Listen. I know you took Brugo down. Easily, from the reports. You’ve got skill, no doubt.
But Brugo was a pawn. The real members? They use forbidden rituals.
Summon cursed creatures. Some are rumored to be immortal.
Others can twist your mind without you realizing it.
It’s not about how strong you are—it’s about how prepared you are. ”
He paused.
“And you’re not prepared. Not yet.”
I lowered my gaze slightly. He wasn’t wrong.
“If you see them again,” he continued, “inform someone. Anyone with ties to the royal court or the heroes. Just don’t try to take them on alone.”
“…Understood,” I said quietly.
“Good.” His shoulders relaxed.
Then, with a chuckle, he shifted gears.
“Now, for something a bit lighter. Hand me your Guild Card.”
I blinked. “My card?”
He nodded. I passed it over.
He reached into a drawer and pulled out a new one—its edges lined in silver.
“Congratulations. You’re now officially D-rank.”
I stared. “Wait… what?”
“Sir Kael gave us a detailed report. He even requested a C-rank promotion for you. But we can’t jump an adventurer from F to C, no matter how impressive their feat. So we settled on D. That was the best compromise.”
I stared at the card, then grinned. “I was planning to rank up through quests, but this saves me time. Thanks.”
I slid the card into my pocket and put the gold from the desk to my item box. The weight of the coins reminded me that this wasn’t just a reward—it was a beginning.
“Well, I’ll be heading out,” I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
The Guild Master nodded. “Take care. And remember what I said.”
I met his gaze. “I will.”
As I stepped outside the guild, the light breeze carried the scent of baked bread and distant chimneys.
The people of Altheria were already bustling with their usual routines—traders haggling over goods, children laughing as they darted between stalls, guards making their morning rounds. It was all so normal. Peaceful.
And yet… I had just walked away from a conversation about an organization that wanted to bring back the Demon Lord.
The Maleficarum.
The name lingered in my mind like smoke. Even now, I could still feel the weight of the Guild Master’s voice—low, firm, laced with concern. He had made it clear: stay out of it.
But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. People like Brugo weren’t isolated. If the Maleficarum had made it this far, it was only a matter of time before they struck again. And if I happened to be there when they did…
Would I really be able to walk away?
I scoffed quietly to myself. “Tch. Heroes, huh? Guess I’ll just leave it to them… wonder what they're doing right now.”
As I descended the stairs. Elira was waiting at the bottom, arms folded, leaning against the wall.
She raised a brow. “So, what’s next for you, Sir Raito?”
I gave her a grin. “What adventurers always do—adventure.”
She laughed softly. “So you’re leaving.”
“Yeah. Time to see more of this world. Thanks for everything, Elira.”
She smiled. “Anytime. Be safe out there.”
As I turned to leave, she waved. “See you again someday!”
I waved back. “You will.”
And with that, I walked out of the guild, toward the town’s gate.
And if the Maleficarum crossed my path again… well.
Even if I left I'm still hero.
So I wouldn’t turn away from what was right.
With the gates of Altheria behind me and the open road ahead, I took my first step into the next chapter of my life.
As a new weapon of fate.
Not as a hero bound by prophecy.
But as a hero who makes his own choices—
—a sword in the shadow, walking his own path.