Chapter 249: Proud

Time moved forward quietly, but inside the Riverdale Adventurer Guild Branch, it felt as if the hours were being consumed whole.

Boren had anticipated a steady stream of warriors, perhaps a dozen in the first hour, followed by a gradual decline as curiosity waned. Instead, he faced an unexpected reality. The line at the counter didn’t shrink; it grew longer.

Each time he finished recording one name and handed over a badge, two more men stepped through the door. Boots thudded against the wooden floor, armor clinked, and the low murmur of conversation swelled and receded like waves in the hall.

What had once been an empty building now pulsed with life, warmth, and palpable anticipation.

Boren’s round face glowed with excitement as he worked diligently. His fingers danced quickly yet carefully across the ledgers, jotting down names, ranks, and essential details.

With each metal badge he slid across the counter or Adventurer ID card he placed into eager hands, he felt an undeniable sense of accomplishment that lit up his expression. His grin stretched wide from ear to ear, his cheeks jiggling slightly whenever he looked up to call the next person forward.

The stack of filled ledgers beside him thickened while the pile of unused badges and cards dwindled. To him, this wasn’t just paperwork; it was proof that the Guild’s reputation extended far beyond Greyvale.

He paused momentarily between two registrations and craned his neck to glance at Valeria seated at the far end of the counter with her arms folded.

Her eyes were half-closed, but Boren knew she was fully aware of everything happening around her.

“You know,” he began with a chuckle, keeping his tone light as he dipped his pen into ink again, “the boss once told me that when he first established the Adventurer Guild in Greyvale, he waited three whole days before anyone walked through that door to register! The first was Gregor followed by some old man who just wanted to commission a mission. But look at this!”

He gestured toward the growing crowd with his pen’s back end. “It hasn’t even been half an hour yet and over thirty warriors have already signed up! I must be much luckier than him.”

Valeria turned her head slightly to give him a quick glance but remained impassive.

“Luck,” she repeated flatly before looking away again without elaborating.

Boren blinked once and muttered under his breath, “Boring,” though his smile remained intact as he returned his focus to the warrior in front of him.

“Name?” he asked professionally as soon as an answer came forth. He quickly found a rhythm asking for name, age, primary, warrior class, warrior rank, etc accept the registration fees and that’s it.

Some warriors spoke eagerly and loudly while puffing out their chests like elite adventurers already; others were quieter but shared that same burning hunger for opportunity.

Those who had already registered lingered a bit longer, stepping aside to gather around the tables scattered throughout the hall. They formed small groups, initially lowering their voices but gradually speaking louder as their confidence grew.

One man, still fiddling with his new badge, turned to his friend and said, “I didn’t expect the Adventurer Guild to open a branch in Riverdale. I thought Greyvale was their main base.”

His companion nodded enthusiastically. “I heard they survived a massive attack not long ago, hundreds died, they say. The Guild Hall was destroyed. But even after that, they’re expanding. That shows they’re serious.”

Another warrior leaned closer over the table and lowered his voice slightly. “If they’re opening a branch here, it won’t be long before they establish others in different cities too, maybe Eastford or some of the southern trade hubs. If the Guild spreads across the Evergreen Region, missions will become more organized. No more random hunting or fighting over prey in the wild.”

“I heard that the Guild in Greyvale have three dungeons under their command.” Another one said with faint excitement in his voice.

“Yeah, it’s true. The Adventurers at Greyvale have been really enjoying themselves to the fullest so much that I’m really jealous.” Another said with a sheepish grin.

“That’s true, I have the same exact feelings but I believe it won’t belong before we also get our dungeons to raid..”

Someone else chimed in, “That means more dungeons cleared, more beasts hunted, and more chances to earn coin. It could change everything.”

The conversations became increasingly animated as words like “era,” “expansion,” and “future” began to fill the air.

The Guild Hall, which had felt vast and empty just hours earlier, now seemed almost too small for all the excitement brewing within it.

The sounds of boots on wooden floors, chairs scraping against surfaces, and low laughter merged into a lively hum that filled every corner of the room. Outside, those who hadn’t yet entered stood near the doorway peering in with curiosity before stepping inside to join the line.

Boren caught snippets of these discussions while he continued writing and couldn’t suppress a proud smile that crept onto his lips.

Under his breath, he muttered, “The Guild’s reputation has really spread far and wide. Even here in Riverdale, warriors are eager to join, that makes things easier for us. If other branches open up next, they won’t struggle like we did at first… as long as nothing major happens.”

He didn’t finish that last thought aloud but straightened his back instead and stamped another ID card with the official seal before sliding it across the counter.

“Next,” he called out.

As time passed and the sun climbed higher in the sky, beams of light danced across the wooden floor while beads of sweat began forming at Boren’s temples, though he ignored them resolutely.

His hand cramped from all the writing; still, he flexed his fingers and pressed on. Each new name felt like another brick laid into a solid structure that wouldn’t easily be shaken.

At one point, a broad-shouldered warrior with a scar running down his cheek leaned closer to Boren at the counter and asked quietly, “Will there be missions posted today?”

Boren smiled and replied calmly, “Soon. For now, registration comes first. Missions will follow. The Guild doesn’t rush without structure.”

The man nodded, seemingly satisfied, and stepped aside after receiving his badge.

Valeria observed quietly, not with excitement but with caution. She studied the warriors, their movements, their postures, the tones of their voices.

It was easy for her to discern which ones were disciplined and which were reckless. A few exuded a confidence born from real experience, while others bore the look of men who had only faced small beasts on the outskirts of the city. Still, there was an undeniable energy in the room.

After several hours, Boren leaned back slightly and rolled his shoulders. The line had thinned a bit but still lingered.

He glanced at the remaining stack of blank badges and frowned playfully.

“At this rate,” he muttered, “we might run out before sunset.”

One of the newly registered adventurers chuckled and said, “That’s a good problem to have.”

Boren nodded in agreement. “Yes, it is.”

Nearby, a group at one of the tables began discussing Greyvale again. “They say the Guildmaster is still unconscious,” one man whispered. “But even in that state, the Guild keeps expanding. That means someone capable is handling things.”

Another responded thoughtfully, “Whoever is behind this expansion must be bold, opening branches right after an attack takes courage.”

A third man added, “Or confidence.”

Valeria’s eyes flickered at those words but she remained silent.

As afternoon approached, the hall settled into a steady rhythm. Some warriors left to spread news to friends, promising to return with more recruits. Others stayed behind to discuss potential team formations and future hunts.

A few even ventured outside to spar lightly on the training ground, testing each other’s strength.

Boren looked around at the bustling scene and felt warmth rise in his chest. He had followed every instruction laid out in that leather-bound book without question, even when told to build just a simple one-floor hall with a stable and training ground instead of something grander.

Now that he saw life filling the hall, he began to understand: it didn’t need to be impressive; it just needed to exist. The Guild’s name did all the heavy lifting.

He lowered his voice as if speaking only to himself: “Boss, your plan worked, just like you said it would.”

Valeria heard him but chose not to respond.

The last warrior in line stepped forward to give his name and receive his badge. For a brief moment, there was no one waiting at the counter.

Boren exhaled deeply and leaned against the wooden surface while wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve. He took in the filled tables, the conversations buzzing around him and small bursts of laughter echoing through the hall. It was no longer empty; it was alive.

Outside, more footsteps could already be heard approaching.

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