TUTORIAL

At that night found Assassin, Master and Grand Master sitting around the big trestle table in their hideout. The peculiar artefact which Imp had set so much store by lay before them, and they all regarded it with curiosity and awe.

"It's fascinating," Master was saying. "I never see something like this… It appears to be something from the gods!"

"We must take to our main headquarter to study," Grand Master as he picked with his hand, "It's made of materials that really shouldn't, in all logic, exist, and yet this is clearly a very ancient device."

Master looked at the Assassin, "As for you, we need to talk. It's time for you assignment."

"What should I do, Master?" Assassin said bowing to his master.

"You will be placed in the frontier. It's a strategic point for us. Act as an adventurer and wait for your missions there." His master explained.

Master, then, removed the hood that he was wearing, confusing his pupil.

"Master, why are you taking your hood?" Assassin hardly saw his Master taking off his hood.

"I am retiring myself from the field. I will keep helping the assassin but not in the frontline anymore," Master said with a mix of sadness and relieve, "but this legacy must not die. Someone must continue. So I want you, my pupil, to take my colors and keep my legacy."

"Master… I…"

The Assassin was lost in words… He never thought that he could be like his Master; he thought he was far superior then anyone and could never match his skills. But if he could at least make him proud…

"I will not fail Master…"

Master smiled to him, "I know you will make great things for this world. Oh and I also have a surprise for you. When you get there, go to the workshop. There's a blacksmith that is part of our creed. He will give your new gear for your new life. With that said… Are you ready for this?"

"I am!" He said as what look like a red dot appeared in his helmet.

Some time later…

"Here, cows! Come on!"

A young woman was walking in her farm alongside her uncle's cows so that they could eat and fatten up. Her chest and her bottom stood out as especially round, almost embarrassingly so. She wondered why she was so much more developed than other girls her age (she was only thirteen). Maybe she had just hit her growth spurt. Her generous figure, however, didn't make her at all happy. She left her long hair to fall over her face.

The spring sunlight was pleasantly warm, a breeze running through the daisies that bloomed on the hilltop. Despite the lovely moment, her heart felt heavy and gray. She looked at the blue sky above her…

It was already five years ago. Or was it just five years ago? Five years since her village was destroyed, five years since she lost her parents and … him. Of all the things when she used to live there, she remembered the most was… him…

She could still remember clearly why they had fought.

She must have been about eight years old.

She had been invited to come help with the cows on her uncle's farm, as the animals were about to give birth. Looking back now, she knew that it was just an excuse to give his niece a chance to enjoy herself, but at the time, she had been totally unaware of that.

She would go to town, get a job, and get to ride in a carriage all by herself. She was overflowing with joy and excitement. She felt like she had suddenly become a real grown-up. Now she knew how foolish that was.

She remembered bragging to him: "Pretty cool, huh! You've never even been to town, have you?"

The boy lived next door to her and was two years older than her. Maybe that was why her condescending tone rankled him so much.

It was why she couldn't bring herself to simply say, "Want to come with me?" She wanted him to be the one to say he wanted to go so that she could puff out her chest proudly and say, "Sure!"

But he just stood there with his fists clenched, staring at the ground.

The proximate cause of what she said next was very small. He shouted something, then she shouted something back, and the two of them got worked up over it. The fight ended with both of them weeping copiously.

She never was able to make herself apologize to him. The argument went on until his older sister picked him up.

When she got into the carriage the next day, only her parents were there to see her off.

It meant the last thing she had ever seen of him was his back as his sister led him to their house, his hand in hers. She never saw him again.

'If only I invited him…' She thought to herself.

Ever since then, she being living with her uncle, but it only brought each other grief. It would be best if she could get him to just leave her alone, but she couldn't abide the thought of letting him raise her without doing anything in return. For that matter, she wouldn't be able to do anything on her own. She let out a deep sigh.

She realized the cows had wandered to the border of the farm while she was lost in these thoughts.

She ran to the side of the cows when she saw an adventurer. He was wearing a cheap helmet and leather armor. At first she thought he looked terrifying, but then something about him was intriguing. She found herself oddly discomfited; she blushed and tried to shrink into herself.

"Here, cows!" She called, trying to distract herself, but her shout came out almost in a whisper.

'Shut it out. Forget everything except for what you have to do right now. The cows. Call the cows and then get off this road, quickly.'

But she couldn't control herself anymore… there was something about that adventurer that fixed her. But… What could be?

He passed in front of her with only the border separating them, he never looked at her but she couldn't take her eyes of him. And when she saw his back, something familiar triggered in her. She rubbed her eyes with her sleeve.

'No. There's no way.'

There was no way, but…

"…"

She stood silent, transfixed, unable to move a muscle. 'Could it be him?'

In the Frontier

The Smith of the frontier hated the spring. It was this season that kids would come trying to become adventurers. He thought they were a bunch of idiots. Some bright-eyed young person came in, having been raised on stories of adventure and now convinced that they, too, were a hero in waiting. The sum total of these kids' knowledge consisted of some mangled ballad they had heard belted out by a drunken barfly in a tavern somewhere. And in the end, most of them ended up dead or worse.

He sighed and started packing some tobacco shavings into his pipe to enjoy a moment's relaxation before a new young adventurer entered. And in 5 minutes an adventurer entered.

The Assassin entered on the workshop that his mastered told him to go when he arrive at the frontier. It didn't have anything special at first glance; it looked like exactly like the workshop of the Capital city. He saw the master of the workshop sitting behind a counter. He looked short with a robust-looking old man with thinning white hair on his head, wearing a blacksmith apron and black gloves.

"Hmmm? What can I help you?" The old man asked with little interest in him.

He took from his pouch a letter and gave to the Smith. He opened the letter and a grin started to appear as he read the letter.

"Hmmm… And here I was thinking that nothing interesting was going to happen," he said looking to the youngling, "come! Follow me!"

The short man walked to a door behind the counter followed by the young assassin. They entered in what looked like a second workshop but it looked like darker and more disorganized.

"Sorry for the mess, it's not every day I let another assassin enter here…" Smith said as he walked to a wardrobe at the end of the room.

"You are from the creed too?" Assassin asked as he looked at wall. There were maps, weapons some dummies, notebooks scattered around the room.

"Well, I may not be agile like your master, but I also had my share of fight. I created many weapons for him and we developed many techniques together," he said as he picked a wood box from the wardrobe.

He picked the box and brought in front of the young man. Assassin opened the box and saw that it contained a white hood, a long sword, proper to use with two hands, two short swords, a belt that he could stock 10 knives for him to throw, a dart rope, and two bracers which one was a leather bracer and one metal bracer that he didn't recognized.

"Your master didn't want for you to go without some equipment," Smith said as he picked the bracers, "As you might already know those are your hidden blades. This one with metal it can be used to block attack. It might not be efficient as a shield but you will be able to protect yourself from strong attack and won't lose mobility like a shield."

The old man then picked the long sword, "This is a silver sword. Use it to kill stronger and bigger monsters."

And lastly, "And here is your hood. Your hood is made of elvish fabric; I don't have to say that means is really expensive for that. Furthermore there is a seal on the tip of the hood, which will deflect any kind of flying object that is coming to your head, so you don't have to worry if someone throws a stone or an arrow at your head. Also the fabric is very resistant; it will protect you better than a chainmail so wear it under your armor. Any question?"

"Actually I have request."

Smith raised an eyebrow and the Assassin took off his helmet.

"Do you have a mask that protects the nose and mouth?" He asked putting his helmet on the floor.

"Why do you need that?" the shorter man asked folding his arms.

"Before coming to frontier I had to slay goblins in a cave, I used smoke to attract the goblins and used the smoke to not be seen, but I had to hold my breath while walking in the smoke. Then I realized I'm too vulnerable for any kind of gas attack. So I need something that filters the air or at least doesn't make gas attack hit me so fast."

"Hmmm interesting. I don't have but I might be able to craft one but I will need some money for the job." Smith said as he was starting to like the way that kid think.

Assassin nodded and then proceeded in putting his new robes. He took off his leather armor and shirt staying with only his pants. After putting his new hood, a strange power surged through him. He lowered the hood and the smith smirked.

"Now you look like the old man…"

"Excuse meee! I'd like to register as an adventurer, please!"

"Wow look! There is a troll in the mountain!"

"Sorry—could you grab three bags of gold coins from the safe?"

"Have you heard about the tail of ogres and onions?"

"Can someone get me a stamina potion?"

"The map! Where's the map?"

"It's on top of the— Here, I'll get it!"

"I wanna slay dragon! Give me a big dragon!"

It was a busy day on Adventurers Guild. Not only was spring, the time where most newbies appear but it was also the day when the guild receive so many new quests. To make things worse, the guild has just employed a new girl to work as guild girl.

It was all too new for her. All her training in the Capital City hasn't prepared her for all this craziness. There was so much to learn, and she had overtime every day. She didn't even have much time to get ready in that morning; all she was able to do was slap on a little makeup and braid her hair. And now she was taking a report from an adventurer who just came back from a quest.

"You," said Guild Girl, an unnatural smile pasted on her face, "are considered an outstanding adventurer."

"Really?!"

"Yes, everyone says you have big prospects for the future…"

"Well, now! Awesome…! I sure appreciate bein' appreciated!" The adventurer holding a spear said poiting to himself. "And look I was even able to get this powerful ring! Pretty cool huh?"

Guild Girl sighed mentally. She wasn't having the best time with this adventurer. She hated those flippant young adventurers who were all talk. They focused on raising people's impressions of them, while avoiding responsibility and real work, always looking for the easiest ways to turn a profit.

Everyone had that side to them; she couldn't condemn them for it. They were free to think that was good and fine, but…

'I'm free not to like them very much for it, too.'

"Welcome to the Adventurers Guild! What can I do for you today?"

"If you don't mind, then, I'd like to register."

That voice coming from the person that her colleague was talking, she recognized. She looked to her right seeing a young man with a white hood and leather armor.

'This voice… This face… I recognize!'

Guild Girl bolted upright and pointed to him.

"IT'S YOU! From the Capital city!" She yelled startling everyone.

The assassin turned to her, surprised with her reaction.

"… Yes I am," he replied nodding with his head.

"I knew it! Why didn't tell me you were also coming to this city?" She asked finally giving a genuine smile. As for Spearman, he stood by with a choked expression, he never saw her giving this expression before. He hated that she was this happy for this other man.

Assassin glanced at Spearman. He realized Spearman had fixed him with a cold glare. He then took a look at Spearman.

"Oh! So that must be your fiancé!" Assassin said pointing to the Spearman, "I apologize if I interrupted something."

Both of them blushed being caught off guard. For a moment Spearman thought about his future with Guild Girl… Marrying her… having a kid… It was too good to be true.

"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!" Guild Girl yelled pointing to her ring, "I am not wearing this ring because I am in a relationship with someone!"

"Oh so you are single then?" Spearman asked as a new smile appeared in his face.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAH!" She yelled throwing her hands in the air and leaving the counter furious.

"Wait! I still haven't finished my report!" Spearman said as he followed her to the kitchen.

The receptionist who was talking to Assassin started to giggle, "Thank you. I think it will be good for the guild you being here."

"You think so?" Assassin asked raising an eyebrow.

The receptionist nodded as she delivered the Adventure Sheet for him. It didn't take too long for him to fill sheet and give the sheet back.

"Okay it looks like everything is in order… Hm… you have a beautiful letter!" The receptionist said surprised.

She took a porcelain tag from the drawer and put the information on the tag as carefully as she could, being sure she got everything. Name, gender, age, class, hair color, eye color, weight, skills…

Then she slid the tag across the desk to him: a level marker for Porcelain, the tenth and lowest rank.

"This will serve as your identification. We call it your 'Status.' Although," she explained, "it doesn't say anything we can't figure out by looking at you. It will be used to corroborate your identity if anything happens to you, so try not to lose it."

He nodded not fazed with her last sentence.

"Quests are posted over there." She indicated a corkboard that covered almost an entire wall. "Choose ones that are appropriate to your level, of course."

"Well, that's it for registration. Happy hunting!"

"Thanks." He said in a calm tone.

The assassin then started to look around, there were many adventurers here. Most of them were humans but there were some rheas, two or three elves, a padfoot, a half man half demon, three lizards… but none of them looked like an enemy. They looked so carefree, like there were no monster or dangerous in the world. He also noticed that the guild was connected to a tavern and to the workshop. He decided to activate his eagle vision and see if there were an enemy or something wrong happening here… and to no surprise he didn't find anything.

"It would be too easy if that worked…" He muttered to himself.

After looking at the guild and the adventurers, the young adult was a bit lost now. He was now sitting in a chair in the tavern thinking, what he should do now? Should he wait for orders? Should he investigate the city and look for if there was someone working for the Dark Gods? Or maybe…

"Oh there you are!" He heard a voice coming from his right cutting his line of thought.

He turned to the right and saw the blonde girl from the registration walking to him carrying two cups of teas.

"Is there anything wrong, Guild Girl?"

"No! I came here to apologize," she replied blushing a little, "I shouldn't have yelled back there."

'Why this adventurer is affecting me like that?' She thought shaking her head.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed that you were married with Spearman just because you two were wearing a ring," He said sincerely worried that he did something wrong.

"Thank you. I brought some tea. I don't know if you like but…" She put the cup in front of him, "I think it would be nice for us to sit and talk a little bit so we don't have any more misunderstanding. So-"

"Help us! You gotta help us! Gawblins! They are coming to my farmer!"

Guild Girl and Assassin turned to the guild's door, seeing a farmer crying running to the counter.

Guild Girl quickly ran to her place to help the farmer. The farmer looked in the middle of his thirties. He had brown hair, a pencil mustache and was wearing white shirt with grey pants.

"Hello! I'm Guild Girl, how can I help you?" She said trying to put a smile.

"You got to help me! My farmer! We saw goblins! Somebody needs to exterminate them." Farmer said as he tried holding the tears.

"Okay, everything will be alright! I just need you to fill this first," she said pulling a sheet.

The farmer clutched the paper so tightly it crumpled, and Guild Girl pulled out a fresh sheet. This was nothing unusual at the Adventurers Guild. The farmer's hand quaked as he wrote. Each time he made a mistake, Guild Girl was ready with a new quest sheet.

"Please! Somebody needs to help me quickly. If something happens to my… I… I…"

"Don't worry, sir. Some adventurers will be by within a few days to slay your goblins." No matter how she felt inside, her smile never faltered. The villager didn't relaxe with that statement.

"NO! We need someone now! I can feel it! They will attack soon! My farmer will be gone if someone doesn't help! I can't let this happen… not again…"

Guild Girl felt terrible about this. And to make things worse, she knew that that no adventurer hunter in a resplendent armor, gallantly was going to fight off the goblins. She knew better. She knew that even if someone accepted would be Porcelain-ranked. Total beginners. What could she do to help this poor man?

"I will help you."

Guild Girl raised her head and saw a dark figure standing behind the villager. It was the adventurer that not long ago was having a chat.

"You! You can't! You can't think you alone can handle a group of-"

"Thank you!" The farmer turned and hugged the assassin who was not expecting this kind of reaction. Awkwardly, Assassin tapped his shoulder for him to let it go.

Guild Girl rolled her eyes. She knew that now it was too late now. She looked on the sheet, trying to make sense of letters that crawled like worms across the page. They were hardly legible.

"It looks like the paperwork is in order. Do you have the reward with you?"

"Sure enough." The farmer said as he took out a sack. Guild Girl accepted it without a waver in her perfect smile. It was terribly heavy…

The sack was filled mostly with silver ones but there wasn't a single gold coin in the bag.

Guild Girl took a set of scales from underneath the counter. The value of the coins would be measured against an established weight.

"All right, I've confirmed the amount," she said after a moment. "You're all set here."

"OK. So let's get going to adventurer!" The villager said pulling the young man to the door.

"OK... OK… you don't have to do this…" Assassin protested being pulled.

"Be careful out there!" She shouted as watched him go,

After they left, she let out a sigh.

"I can't believe I let him go…" She whispered to herself while looking at the ceiling.

Did she just send a newbie to his death and let a farm be destroyed? Just thinking about it made her stomach knot. It hung over her like a cloud. She didn't even have time to explain how dangerous it was to go in a goblin hunt alone… Now that she thought about, didn't he already go in a quest in the Capital city?

'Why is he here? Why did he register himself again if he was already an adventurer there?'

"Wow! You really are thinking that much about that novice?" The inspector provocatively said chuckling to herself.

"What? No!" She once again yelled and turned pointedly away.

Inspector laughed with herself, 'I never seem someone get on her nerves so much or that way… I guess things will be very interesting.~'

A/N: I'm not the best in description as you guys can see. So I am going to describe here what Goblin Slayer would look like now with the robes:

It would like he wearing Altair attires under his normal armour (with exception of his helmet that his changed for the hood), using Altair belt and carrying the long sword over his right shoulder.

If there is any question I'm happy to answer.