Though her current emotional state was something that was far from the calm composure that needed to perform her duties, Guild Girl nevertheless felt a small bit of relief as she managed to find something that was rarely ever called for.
When it came for an Adventurer to no longer be considered an active member of the guild, there were only three ways for this to happen. Death. Suffering an injury so crippling that they couldn't even impart their skills onto the next generation. Or the more rarely taken option, the formal resignation of guild membership.
It wasn't glamorous, for many adventurers detested paper work of any kind. But it was necessary since it absolved the Guild of any legal responsibilities their former members run afoul of the law.
The blond haired woman remembered that once as a newly minted employee, she had raised the idea of perhaps creating a sort of fund to help those make the transition easier for those who recognized their incompatibility for the adventuring life. But sadly her opinions had been rejected due to one of the less noble rules regulating the Guild's one-time members.
Much like the military's invalid corps, those who had spent years honing the skills they had picked up as adventurers could be used as a sort of emergency militia, if they had managed to stay on the right side of the law
It was only on rare occasions, like say when the forces of the Demon Lord were on the march, but such a law ensured that even those who quit the adventuring life could be called in for an emergency.
That level of indigigity was something at most members of the Guild would never put up with.
This was why it was so rare for her to seek out the forms needed for voluntary resignation instead of those that dealt with the untimely death of said adventurer.
But all things considered, the young blond woman had to admit that her current task was lacking in the guilt she sometimes felt while performing her job.
For time and time again, she had been forced to live with the consequences of her failure to keep the more inexperienced adventurers from accepting quests that they were clearly not ready for.
But sadly, arrogance and glory seeking were traits that were shared, in various degrees, by almost every adventurer that walked through those the doors of the Guild Hall.
Only Goblin Slayer, and his new partner, lacked the same desire for acknowledgement that drove their fellow adventurers. Even a certain purple haired spell caster who, like herself, seemed incapable of confessing her true feelings for the most important man in her life.
But thanks to the efforts of a man whose attitude was even more abrasive than Goblin Slayer's, three novice adventurers had managed to find the necessary wisdom to abandon a life that they were clearly unsuited for.
However, this did not stop the feeling of unease that had come over her as soon as the armoured being had entered the Guild.
His ability to use magic without either an incantation or a prayer, and the fact that he no problem threatening those around him, did little to assuage her feelings. Even if she secretly believed that such a confrontation possessed the potential to change Spearman for the better.
But the humiliation of her most vocal suitor aside, Guild Girl was still left with the unfortunate dilemma of what to do with the clearly dangerous man since she had the sneaking suspicion that any attempt to remove would result in failure.
She supposed she could simply ask him what he wanted, for he would not be the first person she had met whose wishes were both simple and easy to meet.
But considering his attitude was far colder than Goblin Slayer's had ever been, she would have to be careful with her approach.
…
Though he had agreed to the young woman's request to do restrain his more violent impulses, Vader nevertheless knew there were more ways to irritate an individual than just physical violence.
And while he greatly detested the most recognizable feature of his suit, he had to admit that he was deriving some amusement out of its vital function as the brash spear wielder seemed incapable of containing his temper.
"FOR PITYS SAKE CAN YOU PLEASE STOP THAT?!"
Slightly turning his head in order take in the appearance of the clearly agitated adventurer, idly noting that this latest outburst had caused many of the more pitiful members of the Guild to flinch in fear, Vader slowly turned his attention back towards the staffed table as he gave a two worded answer.
"I cannot."
Feeling a small smirk spread across his hidden features as the boy fumed in impotent fury, the former Jedi found his mood darkening as the voluptuous women once again proved that the female half of the human population was more intelligent than the male half.
"Cannot…or will not?"
Slowly turning his head to regard the woman, whose attire would not have been out of place among the more…vulgar parties held by Sidious's lackeys, Vader managed to lightly surprised by his decision to indulge her curiosity.
Even if it was in his usual curt manner.
"Cannot."
Allowing his hand to drift near his lightsaber, for his answer had resulted in the room breaking out in the irritating type of gossip that had pervaded the Imperial ranks during the early months of the Empire, the armored Force user felt his already limited patience disappearing as the woman's companion decided to once flirt with danger.
"Then just take off the helmet so we don't have to put up with your annoying breathing. I mean, sure it helps to add to that dark brooding persona you currently have going for you. But it's not like taking it off will… kill you."
It was a testament to Vader's self-control that he didn't once again subject the idiot boy to another Force choke. However, the former Jedi was far less successful in preventing his emotions from strengthening his already prodigal connection to the Dark Side.
Which meant that the entire guild hall got the dubious honor of feeling as if they had walked into a winter blizzard as Vader proceeded to explain that he would not tolerate such disrespect.
"You are mistaken boy. Though if you find my presence here to be so irritating, then perhaps it is time for you to leave. I've already given my word that I would not attack anyone here unless provoked. But since you seem to lack the same survival instincts that most sentient creatures possess, I can tell it will only be a matter of time before I am forced to take action."
It was at this moment that Spearman realized that he was left with only two options.
On one hand, he could flee with his tail tucked between his legs and lose a great deal of the respect he had managed to acquire during his tenure as an adventurer.
But on the other hand he could choose to fight the man whose appearance was as menacing as the way in which he utilized his magic.
A smart person would recognize that there were times where it was better to retreat than to press forward.
But while Spearman was far from stupid, one didn't get to his rank by only relying on physical ability, he did have a penchant to let his pride overcome him in inopportune moments.
Like this one.
"Listen you, I don't care who you think you are, but you can't just…"
"Sorry for the delay. We don't normally use these forms, so it took a little longer to find them. I hope…may I ask what is going on here?"
Turning his head to stare at the mildly disproving, but nevertheless very attractive glare of the woman who continued to hold out against his charms, Spearman was prevented from answering Guild Girl's question thanks to the timely intervention of his ever loyal friend.
"Just a minor…disagreement between men. We'll be…leaving now…before they… can get into more trouble. Come along…dear."
Nodding his head in slight approval as he watched the the rather comical sight of a heavily armed man being bossed around by a woman whose attire left little to the imagination, Vader redirected his attention back to the pony tailed receptionist.
…..
Having spent the last five years serving as Goblin Slayer's unofficial minder, Guild Girl had developed the rather useful ability of reading a person's emotional state by looking at their body language.
And judging by the stiff posture of the armored man, not to mention the way his right hand seemed to be on the verge of clenching, the young receptionist rightly suspected that her timely arrival had prevented yet another violent altercation had it not been for her timely arrival.
In retrospect, she should have asked one of her co-workers to fetch the necessary forms since she doubted that Spearman would have acted the way he did if she had been present. But then again, since he had yet to pick up on the fact that she wasn't interested in loud displays of heroism, it was possible that her presence would have merely increased the already present tension.
For unlike Goblin Slayer, who cared little for the opinions of his peers, Spearman was proud of his reputation as one of the Guild's most experienced adventurers. Something which he never failed to tell her during his numerous failed attempts to get her to see him in a nonprofessional light.
However, thanks to the timely intervention of Witch, who like herself had difficulty in expressing her true feelings for her favorite adventurer, the blond haired receptionist was allowed to perform her required task without having to worry about the inconvenience of multiple dead bodies.
"As I was saying, I have the necessary resignation forms for all three of you. I will need to go over the document to ensure that you understand the conditions of your resignation. But at the end of it if you still wish to proceed, you need merely sign on the dotted lines. Any questions before we begin?"
Receiving slightly nervous, but nevertheless firm shakes of their head from the trio of young women, Guild Girl moved to begin the meeting.
Only to have the cold tone of their rescuer interrupt her professional explanation..
"Out of curiosity, what benefits does this….association provide for its members? Clearly it is not proper instruction in the combat arts, otherwise I would not have had to intervene."
Fighting the urge to cringe at the accurate, if bluntly delivered accusation that had been levelled at the Guild, for it was true that they did little to prepare their members for the dangers they faced, all the while receiving a percentage of their hard won earnings, Guild Girl managed to maintain her professional demeanor as she turned her attention back to the cape wearing monolith.
"There are several benefits for our members. Discount food, access to medical care that is on par with the Capital's best, easy access to goods and services that are hard to find elsewhere. And perhaps the most important aspect, only members of the Guild are allowed to access information concerning quests and missions. Of course, our policy is to only hand out quests that are deemed appropriate for the adventurer's rank, but since the Guild's central office has yet to properly update the appropriate skill level needed for specific quests…well, I'm sure I don't need to explain further."
Flashing an embarrassed smile at the unmoving armoured being, Guild Girl suddenly felt her expression morph into a frown as she received a menacing response to her explanation.
"I see. I assume with that logic, the Guild' recruitment process is less than….selective?"
…
Amused by the fearful reactions his question had managed to inspire, though he noted that some members of the guild reacted with anger rather than fear at his words, Vader was slightly surprised by not only how quickly the young woman recovered her senses, but also the manner in which she managed to provoke his own interest.
"Ye…Yes that's correct. Due to the continuing struggle between the force of good and the forces of evil, which as you may guess has resulted in unfortunately high mortality rates, the Guild is constantly on the lookout for new members to fill its often depleted ranks. And hopefully you don't mind me saying so, but I think you possess the potential to go far in our organization. IF you learn some manners."
Crossing his arms as he considered the girl's amusing proposal, for it had been some time since he had come across an individual, apart from his foolhardy son, who thought that his capabilities could be utilized for a more morally naïve purpose, Vader was about to convey his negative answer when he felt the all too familiar prodding from the Force.
The wordless suggestion to take up the girl's offer wasn't as strong as the one that finally motivated him to stand against his Sith master, but it did possess something that both the Jedi and Sith acknowledged as impossible.
Agreement between the lighter and darker aspects of the Force.
The former Jedi could understand why the Light would wish for him to accept the proposal to become an adventurer, for his first interactions with this world had revealed the very real need to defend those who were clearly incapable of doing so, but he could not understand the reason for why the Dark Side of the Force would wish for him to remove those beings that followed its most primal tenants.
Still, he could not deny that the offer was tempting, for it provided him not only an opportunity to vent his more…aggressive emotions without having to deal with the annoying oversight that had persisted during the course of his tenure with the Jedi Order, but also ensured that his actions would immediately benefit both himself and those he strived to help.
Thus, with that in mind, he made his decision.
...
4th chapter done as a rewrite..YAYYY
