I bet there are some exceptions, Vandal thought. Like telling the guild master. The adventurers’ guild was still an organization run by fallible humans. It probably wasn’t best to bank on their obligation to secrecy. For example, although Vandal didn’t know it, the guild master of the adventurers’ guild in Milg had promoted Green Gale Spear Raily without due cause, simply on the word of Count Thomas Palpapekk. Of course, there were guild masters who ran everything above board, as well as those who didn’t.
In that case, I should leave the space for special skills blank. As soon as he was done registering, Vandal planned to make a break for the town limits. Vandal filled in just the name, age, and race boxes and returned the paper.
“Let me see . . .” The girl took the paper and the narrowed her eyes a little, before looking back at Vandal with something like pity in her eyes. “According to this, you are a seven-year-old dhampir, correct?”
Those details would come to light when making the guild card, so he hadn’t seen the point in lying about them now. “Yes. That is correct.”
Dhampir were probably pretty rare. He lifted the cloth to reveal his concealed eyes. Seeing his two different colored eyes, one crimson and one violet, the girl flinched.
“In that case—we can’t register you.”
Vandal blinked a few times at this unexpected reply, confused.
The girl’s face didn’t change, and she didn’t take back her comment.
“Why not?” Vandal asked. “I thought those under the age of ten could still register. We just have to take a simple exam.” If they passed that exam, proving they had intellect and facilities comparable to those of a ten-year-old child, they could be registered as a Grade G adventurer. Achieving Grade F or higher involved the same process as other underage adventurers, requiring one to graduate from the academy.
“That has recently been changed, in the name of Prince Belton and the Heartner Guild Master. Now, those with mixed linage that includes lamia, centaurs, and other Vida races with monster roots are not allowed to take the exam before the age of ten. Of course, that includes dhampirs.”
Kasim hadn’t mentioned anything like this, but he probably hadn’t kept quiet on purpose. All three of his party were humans, and it wasn’t even beastmen, giantlings, dark elves, or their mixed-race children that would be affected. It was only those born between humans and those considered monsters, such as vampires and lamia, who would be affected—a tiny minority compared to the greater whole.
Furthermore, Vandal realized he hadn’t even told Kasim his age. He had lopped off that Goblin Barbarian’s head and cured Iwan with (what everyone believed was) powerful life magic, so they probably all considered him older than seven.
“I see . . .” Vandal said.
“My apologies. There has even been talk of changing the regulations again, within this year, to prevent such individuals from taking the entrance exam for the adventurers’ academy.” She did look sorry to also be breaking this further bad news. If that happened, he wouldn’t just be waiting three years.
“I . . . see . . .” That was a further shock to Vandal. It was like Prince Belton and this guild master were ganging up on him specifically. First the betrayal of the Talosheim giantlings and now this. He would not forget this.
However, it was also pointless to fight a desk minion over it. All he could do was give up and leave the town. Once their other business here was finished, he could go to one of the other domains and register there. What he certainly couldn’t do was wait for years and years. He needed to do it next year. The year after, at the latest. It wouldn’t be easy in this world for a normal child to move between these domains, even between two trading cities located close to each border. But with Vandal’s upgraded powers, he could make the trip literally like the crow flies. This was annoying, for sure, but it wasn’t a big setback.
“Can you hold on a moment there?” Someone spoke up behind Vandal.
The girl on the desk, the other guild staff, and the scattering of adventurers in the room were all murmuring and watching the speaker. Vandal turned around to take a look as well, and then his eyes opened wide.
He had heard this voice before.
The adventurer came briskly toward the counter where the stunned Vandal stood.
“This is the first I’ve heard of these changes. Can you explain them to me?”
“I’m sorry, sir. I’m dealing with this child at the moment—”
“And I’d like to discuss how you’re dealing with him. Could you call the Guild Master?”
“I don’t think I can. If you wish to discuss guild policy, you have to first voice your concerns with someone here on the desk. After waiting your turn, of course.”
“And I’m Heinz, a Grade A adventurer. Again, I wish to use my authority as a Grade A adventurer to speak with the Guild Master.”
Heinz. That Heinz, right here.
Vandal’s head turned with a rusty stutter, taking in the adventurer who was standing right here, right next to him. He looked like a handsome young man in his mid- to late twenties, with fine features, blonde hair, blue eyes, and an air of determination about him. From the way he handled himself and the gear he was carrying, it was clear he was no newbie. His voice was a little different, but Vandal still remembered it from Evbejia. His description also matched what Raily had told him.
Another of my mother’s killers! Blue Burning Blade Heinz! Vandal had heard that Heinz had moved his base to the Olbaum Electorate Kingdom, but he hadn’t dared hope he would be in this domain or that he would encounter him during this trip.
Reviving Dalshia was an absolute condition for Vandal’s “pursuit of happiness.” He had to remove anyone who got in the way of that. That was why he had to kill Heinz.
It didn’t matter to Vandal that selling his mother to those Alda fanatics had simply been a paying job for Heinz or that what he had done wasn’t illegal. It also didn’t matter how Heinz might have changed, or what he thought about his deeds now.