Wyvern landed, and a wild crowd cheered our arrival. 

 

Two days later, messengers from the Opposition visited us, I informed them about the mission's situation, and we did a small talk about possible trades in the future.

 

Then everything is back to normal, except this.

 

"I didn't want to ask this when we first arrived but do you know anything about raising a human child, let alone an elven one."

 

I decided to adopt the orphan elven baby I found in that fortress since I cannot leave a baby to die from cold or hunger.

 

But this little one brought a couple of problems with her arrival. 

 

The most important one is we don't have a single person who knows about elves since their fate was similar to other races.

 

Dark Elven got banished to underground cities, and gods cast a curse to keep them there until the end of time.

 

Citadel Elf or the ones that resemble Tolkien's design the most are don't live in this part of the world.

 

 They live inside their citadels in the central and southern Empire.

 

And while they are by no means free, they draw the long straw between non-human races.

 

Long as they stay loyal to the Empire and provide troops in times of war, they can freely live inside their Citadels and be above all of the races but humans in the hierarchy.

 

Arthur even told me that a Citadel Elf could become a noble and be equal to their human counterparts.

 

Then the last major elf faction, Wilder.

 

This group lives inside the forests with enormously large trees separating the realm of humans and a race called Above and protecting the borders for their masters (Above.)

 

Since that forests have trees that are longer than several hundred meters in length and tens if not hundreds of meters of diameters and Wilder never leaves those forests, Empire never bothered to conquer them.

 

This little lady I found is a Citadel Elf, and the closest Citadel to the North is at least three kingdoms away from here.

 

This reason alone sets some flags about her existence, but what bad can a baby cause to me.

 

I am already stupid enough to tell every person I see I am the Lich king.

 

Now, let's go back to the question that came from Arthur.

 

"No." Actually. "At one time, my squad found a puppy in the middle of a war, and we looked after it for years, but a dog and elf are not the same, even I can understand that."

 

Arthur sighed. "At least your brain functions enough to understand that, and I hope that you use it more outside the battle."

 

"I spent more than ten years in battlefields, always as a soldier armed with a weapon, I just call it a force of habit."

 

"I got my first sword when I was seven." Arthur looked at his new sword. "Then I used it since I lost it months ago, and sadly that sword was my father's."

 

"Similarly, I held my first weapon when I was eight years old."

 

I smiled as I remembered some memories.

 

"My first weapon was used by my father when he was a child and given to me by my grandfather when I first visited him."

 

I cleared my throat and began mimicking my grandfather's grumpy voice.

 

"From today and onward, this rifle is your life, and my boy, will hunt with it, eat with it, and maybe even die with it."

 

"I suppose that rifle thing is similar to a sword." Arthur smiled and sighed. "Especially considering how young people start mastering it."

 

"Maybe you are right."

 

I was five years old when I first visited my grandfather, and that geezer was a war veteran who lost a couple of head screws after retiring.

 

Yet, he was my father's father, and as our family tradition said, his words were equal to a field marshal's command for my father.

 

And his words were keeping a tradition and making me train half of the year with him inside a forest. 

 

Inside a goddamn forest which the nearest human settlement was thirty kilometers away.

 

 

As a child, I thought that was stupid, and I wouldn't even need them in my life, yet I am glad my grandfather was right.

 

 

He taught me how to use every part of my hunt, becoming one with the wild, crafting and foraging skills that will be most useful in a bronze age society, and many more.

 

Then six months later in each year, I went back to the city, to my family mansion.

 

I wasn't free there too, private tutors, fending, and riding lessons were waiting for me.

 

In conclusion, I spent half of my time acting like a medieval monarch and the other as a primitive savage in short.

 

A soft yawn coming from my lap pierced through my memories.

 

The little girl is awake.

 

"Look at who just decided to join our talk." I grabbed the baby and raised it to the air.

 

I turn soft when I see her little face. 

 

Who guessed becoming a father would be something I do in another world.

 

Arthur closed his face with his hand and began slowly shaking his head left to right.

 

"For these eyes to see legendary Great GrayWolf play with a baby like that." 

 

But as he says that, I can see him holding his chuckles. 

 

"Say whatever you want." I put her back into my lap. "But this little thing is growing in me."

 

"Yeah, I can see that much, but let's finish playing with it,

o you now we have things to do?"

 

Sadly he is right. I need to check the water distribution system, then pay a visit to our farm, and this is only that's only the start of the list. 

 

 ***** At the current Northern Capital.

 

"Occupation." The border guard asked with a bored voice.

 

"Traveler." A tanned woman with well-developed muscles answered. "I am here for some fun."

 

The border guard raised one eyebrow but then smiled sinfully. "Okay, but we cannot allow anyone to enter this city, I must see invitations or identifications, madam, or I will put you on inspection."

 

The woman answered the man's smile with her own, then reached the pouch hanging on her hips and pulled out a card. "Perhaps this will help you."

 

The border guard reached to the card. "Hunter, class B."

 

Man's face soured as he read the identification card, then he placed it on the table in front of him. "You are free to enter our humble city, Mad Feline."

 

The woman grabbed the identification card from the table.

 

Then she winked to the border guard and entered the city.

 

An ongoing civil war, increased food prices, the possibility of being drafted into the army, and dying in any second sure fucked up the residents.

 

And that caused almost every citizen to be in a desperate state with low morale.

 

Yet the city has its charm to a certain degree, with its multi-floored city and colorful buildings.

 

"Now, where to get information, oh yeah!." 

 

Hunters guild.

 

The guild in this city is the biggest in the kingdom, and instead of being consistent of two buildings like the other guild buildings around the kingdom, this one in the capital has five.

 

One building is for processing monster materials, two buildings are for accommodations of Hunters and their pets, we have one as a marketplace, and finally one main building for general purposes.

 

"The big one at the middle then." The woman began moving towards the building with four floors.

 

And when she got near it, she stopped it to appreciate its beauty. "Like the outer walls and some watchtowers, it has touches of Dwarven architecture."

 

Large smooth stone pillars with carvings on them and stone bricks perfectly stacked on top of each other.

 

But what makes it unique is how sturdy it is, and in an emergency, turning this building into a mini fortress is child's play.

 

"Such a petty they were the first to fall."

 

The woman shook his head left to right with pity then entered the building. 

 

Inside wasn't loud as other guild buildings, thanks to the tavern being on a separate building, but some people were still making buzz.

 

Hunter parties looking for quests suitable for them on quick post tables, people searching for party members, some talking to receptionists, and some idiots even trying to flirt with them.

 

"For Naina, they are the same everywhere." The woman approached a counter and pushed the guy attempting to flirt with the receptionist working on the counter.

 

The tempered man tried to attack the woman but stopped when he saw her Hunter ID.

 

Class B card with its silver plating is a hard achievement for most hunters.

 

And B is rare as an A in the north because of lack of magic and runic equipment.

 

"Hello, madam Zeire, how may our humble guild help you." The receptionist gave her warmest smile as thanks.

 

Zeire put her elbow on the counter. "I was hanging around, then I suddenly heard rumors of strong monsters, to be more specific an Imperial Hollow, is it true?"

 

The receptionist was shocked by the question but recovered from it quickly. "While there are rumors of it, we cannot do anything as it seems to be not a wild beast but a Tamed War beast."

 

"Hmm." Zeire moved closer to the receptionist. "So, where is the person or group who tamed this beast hides."

 

"I heard many different rumors. Some people say that person is the current Lich king, but some also say he is a gifted magician."

 

Suddenly a group of soldiers bashed through the door and filled the inside. 

 

A man with luxurious clothing stepped forward from the group and opened a parchment.

 

"I am here by the name of King Leonard." He sounds arrogant. "To prove your loyalty and serve to the one true king of the North, he orders every Hunter to join to arms and join our crusade."

 

Zeire looked to the receptionist. "Do they usually do that, or is this just today's special."

 

The receptionist palmed her face and began shaking her head. "They do that a lot in recent weeks. I suppose they don't want to admit that Hunter guild is a global organization that has no obligation to fight for any country."

 

"Yeah, but they are trying their luck, and if you look from their eyes, armed and somewhat experienced fighter from the guild is a good deal for any army."

 

Zeire looked around. All Hunters inside are bothered by the presence of soldiers. "Hey!" She shouted. "Fill a goddamn quest form and set a reward first, then we consider doing it."

 

The receptionist tried to leap forward to close Zeire's mouth, but her reflexes were good enough to avoid it.

 

"You dare to speak against King's authority." The man in luxurious clothing stepped towards Zeire. "Do you know who I am?" The man pointed his finger to Zeire's neck.

 

"No, I don't." Zeire calmly answered and gently pushed the man's finger away. "And be careful with your finger, or a cat might bite it off."

 

"These words to a Lord, I want the head of this peasant, now!" The man turned into his men, but they didn't react.

 

"You see, pal." Zeire put her shoulder into men. "No one is stupid enough to listen to that order."

 

Zeire dragged and placed the man on a chair, then pulled one for herself and sat right in front of him. "When I look at you, I see a young noble whose father is not trusting him so decided to use his power into assigning his stupid son to a basic job like this."

 

The young man jumped up from the chair. "Royal messenger is a highly prestigious and respected job!"

 

But Zeire pulled him down the second he finished his sentence. 

 

"No, it's not, and that title is for people like you."

 

"And what kind of person I am then!"

 

"Someone lucky enough to be born in a noble family but have no skill."

 

Zeire grabbed the parchment from the man's hand. "Everyone inside knows that your only job is drinking from dust till dawn and sometimes read this piece of paper they give to you."

 

"I am asking again, who do you think you are!"

 

"shh!" Zeire put her finger on the man's mouth. "Do you want to learn the truth?"

 

Zeire pulled her finger from the man's mouth. "If your father thought you were worth any shit, you would have been fighting against demons in the south and gaining renown, but here you are."

 

The young man once more stood up, but before he managed to talk, a seemingly high-ranking knight grabbed him from the neck and began dragging him out.

 

"We are sorry for the problem caused, but mam, I hope you are not planning on staying for a long time."

 

"Not by any chance, dear." Zeire winked. 

 

Now, let's find out more about this person.