/CLIP/ /CLOP/ /CLIP/ /CLOP/
A sound of horse nails touching the ground.
/WHUMP/
And a sound of snow being pressed from time to time.
In a place where everything was covered with white, where the trees, the leaves, and the flowers were white, a horse was walking, stepping on the snow.
However, that horse was nothing but normal.
With its black fur, its not big but dense muscles around its legs, and its eyes shining bright red, it was not a normal animal but an evolved species.
Above it were a young man with a black robe over his head and a mask over his face was sitting slowly moving the horse.
With his slightly slender build and his all-covered body parts, as well as the black sword hanging over his waist, that young man was giving the impression of someone serious.
Breaths filled with white smoke were being released over his mouth, showing how cold the environment was.
In front of his path was a settlement that was covered with white as well.
After riding his horse for a bit longer, that young man entered the city.
"ID?"
Hearing the guard, the young man extended a card.
"Okay, you may enter."
After that entered the city.
Since the weather was cold and it was snowing, the streets were not filled with people as much as normal…
At least, that was how it should have been.
But, the city was still as lively as ever, with people having coats over their bodies and walking in the streets.
And the young man was gathering quite a bit of gaze from his surroundings, be it his mysterious appearance or the mount under him.
But he didn't pay any attention to those and went his own way, reaching a building where a bunch of people was entering and exiting.
"Come here, my girl."
With his hands slowly caressing the Black mount under him, he jumped over, making the mount disappear.
And then entered the building.
"Hey, look at what I have here?"
"Wow…. Where did you find this gold coin?"
"I got it from the quest."
"Bastard, why did you not say anything about that quest?"
"HA! I should have said it because you would steal the prize? Hell no."
"Hey, wanna party?"
"Nah, man. I am good."
"Your choice."
People were talking; some were looking over the notices shown on the board, some others were trying to buy something, and some others were chatting with the receptionist.
Overall it was a pretty common atmosphere in such a place.
For a place that would always be filled with fighters.
/THUD/ /HOWL/
At that moment, the door of the building opened, revealing a white storm and the young man with a mask.
/SILENCE/
When he entered the surroundings, he suddenly got quiet.
"Hey, is it him?"
"That one rumored masked swordsman?"
"Yes. It was rumored that he would enter the guild buildings and sell the cores and would leave not long after."
"Nah…. There is no way it is him. He looks like a weak kid."
People were whispering amongst themselves about the boy, but he didn't pay any attention to that.
Slowly reaching the receptionist's desk with no one standing, he stood there.
"How can I help you?"
Asking a question, the blonde-haired receptionist woman said with a smile.
"I am here to sell my cores."
"How many do you want to sell?"
"I didn't count."
"Understood. Please bring them out."
/NOD/
"Wow, what a young voice."
"As I said, there is no way it's him."
"Don't assume things; wait."
Hearing this, he touched the ring in his hand.
/THUD/ /THUD/ /THUD/ /THUD/
Only to reveal a bunch of spheres with different colors that filled the entire desk.
Some were red. Some were black, and some were white.
"Huh?"
"What? How many cores are just there?"
"What the hell?"
Sounds of exclamations were coming from sides, and the receptionist was pretty shocked too.
"What are you waiting for?"
The young adventurer said with an impatient tone.
"Hiek! Sorry…. I will count them right away."
Flinching in response, the receptionist girl left the desk bringing the cores to the backside.
"Wow, he looks like the real deal."
"Nah, there is no way it's him."
"But, he kinda looks cool, no?"
There, two beautiful women were standing.
One of them had a staff on her hand and a robe that revealed her beautiful legs with a hat over her head.
The other one was more of a moderate type. With a sword hanging over her waist and metallic armor shining over her body, she looked like a female knight. A virtuous knight with blonde hair.
"I really want to see the face under that mask. I bet he is very handsome."
"Heh…. If he was really handsome, then he would never hide his face."
"It is just you. Maybe he has another reason?"
"Maybe?"
"Ah…. I really want to eat him right now."
"Do you think he will look at you?"
"Why not? I quite trust my figure."
Those two female adventurers were having a dialogue amongst themselves.
"Heh… Miss Claire. There is no need to waste your time over someone that can even show his face."
But suddenly, a man interrupted their conservation.
"I can do a lot better job than him if you want."
It was a man with blonde hair, green eyes, with a lustful smile on his face licking her lips.
From the way he was clothed, it looked like he was someone with a wealthy background.
Two bulky men standing behind him were proof of that.
The way he had a proud expression on his face and the way he looked at others with a gaze saying he was superior confirmed that as well.
"Fufu, do you really think that, Damien?"
Seeing him coming like that, both girls had disgusted expressions on their faces.
"I do."
"Heh…. Can you really say that with that pitiful thing of yours? I bet he is a lot bigger than you."
"""Pffft."""
"Grrr…. What did you say?"
Looking at those who had laughed at him with a glare, he asked, turning his head towards the woman with a staff in her hand.
"I said he must be a lot bigger. Don't tell me you got offended by the cruel truth."
"Hey, Claire. What are you saying?"
Seeing her friend saying something useless, the yellow-haired woman asked.
"Ssh… We might watch something interesting here."
"What?"
"Just keep quiet, Philippa."
Whispering in her friend's ear, the magician-looking woman said with a smile on her face.
"I will show you. Just wait."
Gritting his teeth at the humiliation he received, the blonde-haired man walked towards the young boy who was getting his pay from the receptionist.
/SLAP/ /THUD/
At that moment, the sound of something hitting the body of a person was heard.
"Hmm?"
"You masked guy over here. I challenge you to a duel."
It was the glove of someone….