The adventurers' guild has specific regulations regarding membership, particularly regarding individuals with skills that allow them to tame monsters. The guild master conveyed this rule with a serious demeanor, stating that those skilled in taming monsters are not permitted to join. This decree indicated that the possibility of becoming an adventurer was effectively closed off.
Before this confrontation, there was an encounter that led to a significant revelation. After a night spent recovering in Sheena's modest hut, I accompanied her to a nearby stream. There, she asked for assistance in fishing, and I took the opportunity to clean my wound, which had begun to heal.
In our conversation, I inquired about a previous incident in which Sheena was attacked by goblins. My suspicion that a human was involved was misplaced. Sheena, despite her limited speech, communicated that other goblins feared her, and that hobgoblins sought her for mating purposes. This implied that, had I not intervened, she might have been forced into a vulnerable situation.
I advised Sheena to strengthen herself and remain within the safety of the forest, steering clear of humans and more powerful monsters until she could level up. However, my own goal was to register as an adventurer to secure a source of income.
When I approached the guild to sign up, the guild master examined my status and noted my high loyalty rating towards Sheena, who is classified as a Priestess Goblina. The status revealed personal affiliations that are frowned upon in the adventuring community.
My status was as follows:
- **Name**: Sai
- **Species**: Human
- **Age**: 17
- **Level**: 19
- **Mana**: [1250/1250]
**Loyalty**:
- Sheena: [21]
- Priestess Goblina: 12
**Skills**:
- **Weapon Mastery (two-star)**: A passive ability that allows mastery over any weapon used, increasing handling and durability.
Due to my loyalty status, the guild master informed me that while I couldn't officially join, I could sell any monster corpses I collected, with a ten percent fee deducted from the sales. He expressed a willingness to trust me despite the prejudices surrounding loyalty statuses, explaining that these affiliations are often perceived as criminal by the state.
He articulated the concern surrounding individuals with loyalty statuses, noting instances where such individuals have used their bond with monsters for criminal activities, leading to tragic consequences. The gravity of the situation became apparent, and it prompted me to consider how I would navigate the complexities of managing relationships with monsters.
When questioned about my intentions with the monsters I planned to befriend, I felt compelled to express my belief in the potential for coexistence. I argued that monsters, like humans, possess a range of characteristics—some benevolent and others malevolent. This belief stemmed from an experience where I defended a monster from bullying and was subsequently cared for by her.
Overall, the conversation highlighted the broader issues of understanding and communication that exist between humans and monsters. To foster progress, it is essential to bridge these gaps and challenge the prevailing misconceptions that lead to indiscriminate violence against creatures classified as monsters."I'm sorry, but those who have the skills to tame monsters aren't allowed to join the adventurers' guild. " The voice was serious yet stern. It was obvious that it was filled with dread, a stern tone of discontent. It was obvious that I couldn't become an adventurer if the guild master was telling me this.
I was dumbfounded and speechless. I didn't expect this to happen, and I even told Sheena to stay hidden.
...
[2 Hours Earlier]
I spent the night being treated by Sheena in her small hut even tho I was bothered by the scent I couldn't do other wise given how exhausted my body was.
By daybreak, I followed Sheena about upon her request and she showed him to a nearby stream to help her fish, I also used that opportunity to freshen up and rinse my wound which seemed to have already closed up.
"Hey, Sheena can I ask you a question?... about the other day, why were you being attacked by goblins?" I asked inquisitively.
I had suspected the figure that the hobgoblin and goblins were gathered around to be that of a human but I was dead wrong as you may have noticed.
She tilted her head slightly to her right then touched her index finger to her head as if to remember.
"Other Goblins are afraid of Sheena, hobgoblins need Sheena to mate." Her broken speech wasn't hard to understand with the help of my linguistic skills.
I see so if I wasn't there in time she might have been taken advantage of by the others and made to carry their offspring. It also seems that goblins fear those among them who have evolved or become subservient to them as seen during my last encounter.
I then told Sheena she had to get stronger so she shouldn't leave the forest. I also told her to avoid humans and other monsters at a higher level than her. I wanted to help her level up first but I had to go get signed up as an adventurer so i could make an earning while doing so.
....
And that's how I came to be in this situation. I left Sheena hidden in the forest and came to sign up as an adventurer but the guild master scanned my status and saw my loyalty status.
[Name: Sai]
Species: Human
Age: 17
Level: 19 [950/3700]
Mana: [1250/1250]
Loyalties:
Sheena: [21]
{Priestess Goblina: 12}
Skills:
Weapon mastery (**- two-star)
'Passive'
- Weapon mastery provides the necessary knowledge on how to wield any weapon held. Affinity and combat knowledge are provided subconsciously.
Weapon handling increases.
Reducing weapon deterioration and enhancing weapons' durability by 20%.
—
I totally forgot about that and left it on my status without concealing it and it's already too late to conceal it.
"While by law you can't sign up as an adventurer you can still sell any monster corpses you bring back as a favor I'll grant you that kid, but you will be charged ten percent of each corpse." The guild master gave a calm smile while looking at me.
"I might not know you or your situation but I have never been wrong when I put my trust in someone so I'll grant you my trust. Many will disagree with it but as guild master, they will not be able to go against my decision straightforwardly so do watch out for those who use underhanded methods."
"Why are others so against the loyalty status?" I wanted to know, in works of fiction monster tamers are usually badass so I was confused.
"Those with the loyalty status are people who sympathize with monsters and are recognized as criminals by the state. So letting one go off scotch free is seen as also committing an act of treason against the state." He crossed his leg assuming a somewhat feminine posture while exuding a terrifying aura.
"There have been cases where those with the loyalty status use monsters to commit crimes like mass murder or some of the monsters' loyalty wavers and they end up being killed by their monsters then the rampaging monsters go on to massacre many innocent civilians."
I was taken aback by what the guild master just laid out on the table, the atmosphere got heavy and his demeanor got even more intense, his aura was now suffocating it was getting harder to breathe, I've never felt fear to this extent.
"What is it that you plan to do with the monsters you manage to make loyal to you?"
He asked a question and my chest grew tight, there was no way I could give a half-naked answer or tell him I gained a monster's loyalty unintentionally. I could feel cold sweat forming on my back.
I then saw Sheena's face as she dressed my wound with extreme caution to not cause me pain.
"Not all monsters are bad, I-I think monsters are just like people, some good some bad, and because we classify them as monsters they are just grouped as one and slaughtered indiscriminately. There was a monster who was being bullied by others of her own species and after I risked my life to save her she took my unconscious body and nursed it back to health."
-What am I saying?
"They are often misunderstood because of a lack of communication and differences in behavior and culture. So what if we have differences between one another, we won't make progress without an attempt."
-Why am I defending them like I've been among them for ages?
"I-I think if we try we... we could bridge a connection, monsters with intellect can communicate and control those without, and if we could make an attempt wouldn't it be better for us to use that understanding to form comradeship against the forces invading this planet?"