SSS-RANK SUMMONING WEAPON SYSTEM-Chapter 34: Mayfair[5]

The wagon creaked to a halt before the towering stone building, its banners fluttering in the breeze. The emblem of the Adventurers’ Guild—a sword crossed with a shield—hung proudly above the entrance. Xavier stepped down from the wagon, his boots crunching against the cobblestones, Aria following close behind with her usual calm grace.

Ostig, the grizzled driver who had brought them safely across the roads, tipped his cap. His weathered face carried the lines of a man who had seen too much, but his eyes were kind. Xavier clasped his hand firmly.

"Thank you, Ostig. For everything. I won’t forget it."

The old man nodded, his voice low but sincere.

"Just be careful in there, lad. The Guild is full of wolves. Some wear armor, some wear smiles. But all of them bite. Take care of yourself. "

Xavier gave a faint smile, then turned toward the doors. Aria walked beside him, her silver hair catching the light, her expression unreadable. Together, they pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.

The guild’s dining hall was alive with noise—adventurers boasting of their hunts, arguing over contracts, and laughing over mugs of ale. Tables were crowded with armored men and women, weapons leaned against walls, maps and scrolls scattered across surfaces. The air smelled of sweat, steel, and roasted meat.

But the moment Xavier entered, the noise faltered.

Heads turned. Conversations stilled. Eyes widened.

He was black.

Whispers rippled through the hall like a sudden wind.

"Impossible..."

"Did you see? He’s black."

"They vanished twenty years ago. None have been seen since?"

"Is he... human?"

"Who knows?"

Shock and disbelief spread among the adventurers. Some stared openly, others leaned close to whisper, their voices hushed but urgent. The weight of their gazes pressed against Xavier like a storm. But he ignored them. His stride was steady, his eyes fixed forward, his presence unshaken.

Aria walked beside him, her gaze cold, daring anyone to step in their way.

At the far end of the hall sat the receptionist—a young woman with auburn hair tied neatly back, her desk stacked with parchment and quills. She looked up as Xavier approached, her eyes widening, her face flushing with shock. Her hands trembled slightly as she fumbled with the papers before her.

The whispers grew louder behind him, but Xavier didn’t falter. He stopped before the desk, his shadow falling across the counter, his voice calm and steady.

"I want to register."

The receptionist blinked, her mouth opening and closing as if words had abandoned her. She glanced nervously at the adventurers behind him, then back at Xavier, her cheeks burning.

"You... you want to register as an adventurer?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Xavier’s gaze was unwavering.

"Yes. That’s exactly what I said. I didn’t stutter, did I?"

The girl nervously recoiled. "No, you didn’t sir!"

Xavier stared at her, loving her reaction and smirkingin amusement. "Then what are you waiting for?"

The hall was still buzzing with whispers as Xavier stood before the desk, his presence commanding silence. The receptionist, her auburn hair trembling loose from its tie, scrambled nervously through the drawers beneath her counter. Papers scattered, quills clattered, until finally she pulled out a polished crystal ball, its surface glowing faintly with runes etched around its base.

Her voice shook as she set it down.

"P–please... place your hand on the crystal. It will read your essence and record your registration."

Xavier nodded calmly, ignoring the stares from the adventurers behind him. He placed his hand firmly on the crystal. Immediately, the sphere pulsed with light, shadows swirling within it before settling into a steady glow. The runes flared, inscribing his name into the parchment beside it. The receptionist’s eyes widened at the reading, but she quickly scribbled the results, her hands fumbling with the quill.

She swallowed hard, then turned to Aria.

"And... and you, miss. Please do the same."

Aria’s expression was cool, unbothered by the attention. She placed her slender hand on the crystal. This time, the glow was sharp and silver, the runes etching her name with precision. The receptionist nearly dropped her quill, flustered by the aura she sensed, but managed to finish the inscription.

With trembling hands, she reached into another drawer and pulled out two guild cards—thin plates of enchanted metal, engraved with their names and ranks. She slid them across the desk, her voice still shaky but formal.

"Here... these are your Adventurer Identification Cards. You are now officially registered."

The hall erupted in hushed murmurs. Adventurers leaned close to one another, whispering in disbelief.

"A black human... registered?"

"This is madness."

"Impossible... yet it happened."

Xavier ignored them all. He picked up his card, examining it briefly before slipping it into his pocket. Aria did the same, her expression unreadable.

The receptionist, still flustered, pointed toward the far wall where a massive quest board stood, covered in parchment notices pinned beneath iron clasps.

"You may now... choose your first quest. The board is there. Please... select one suited to your rank."

Xavier gave a curt nod.

"Understood."

Without another word, he turned from the desk, Aria following close behind. The whispers followed them like shadows, but Xavier’s stride was steady, his focus unshaken. He approached the quest board, the parchment notices fluttering faintly in the draft, each one a promise of danger, reward, and reputation.

He stood before the quest board, his shadow stretching across the parchment notices pinned beneath iron clasps. Aria watched silently at his side, her silver eyes scanning the postings. The guild hall was tense, every adventurer whispering, waiting to see what quest the black newcomer would dare to take.

Most newcomers chose simple errands—D‑rank monster hunts, herb gathering, or escort jobs. But Xavier’s gaze moved past them all. His hand rose, steady and deliberate, and plucked a parchment from the upper tier of the board.

An A‑rank quest.

The hall erupted in murmurs.

"Impossible... he’s just registered!"

"An A‑rank goblin extermination? He’ll die!"

"No one touches those quests without a full party!"

Xavier ignored them. He unfolded the parchment, his eyes scanning the words, his expression calm. Then he turned back to the receptionist, holding the quest notice firmly.

"This one. I’ll take it."

The receptionist’s face went pale, her hands trembling as she accepted the parchment. The adventurers stared in disbelief, their shock filling the hall like thunder.

---

Quest Description: A‑Rank Goblin Extermination

Quest Title: The Goblin Warlord’s Nest

Rank: A

Location: Blackthorn Caverns, two days east of Mayfair Town

Objective: Eliminate the Goblin Warlord and his army

Reward: 1,500 gold coins, a rare weapon fragment, and guild prestige

Description:

Reports confirm that goblins in the Blackthorn Caverns have united under a single leader—a Goblin Warlord of unusual intelligence and strength. Unlike common goblins, this warlord has forged weapons, trained his kin, and begun raiding nearby villages. Travelers vanish on the roads, livestock is stolen, and entire caravans have been slaughtered.

The warlord commands over two hundred goblins, including shamans capable of dark magic and berserkers wielding crude but deadly steel. Their nest is fortified with traps, tunnels, and ambush points.

This quest is classified A‑rank due to the warlord’s strength and the sheer number of enemies. Only seasoned adventurers are advised to attempt it. Failure will result in devastation for the surrounding region.

Special Note:

The Goblin Warlord is said to wear armor crafted from the bones of fallen adventurers. His roar can rally goblins into a frenzy, making them fight beyond their limits. Approach with caution.

The parchment trembled in the receptionist’s hands as she stamped it with the guild’s seal. She looked up at Xavier, her voice unsteady.

"Y‑you’ve chosen an A‑rank quest... immediately. Are you certain?"

Xavier’s eyes were unwavering.

"Yep."

The hall fell silent again. Adventurers stared, some in awe, others in disbelief, their whispers hushed. A black human, unseen for twenty years, had just registered—and chosen one of the most dangerous quests on the board without hesitation.