Re-written date: 7 / 13 / 2025
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Chapter 45: The Audition
After arriving in the northern territory capital, Winterhold, via teleportation, Edward's group didn't waste any time. Led by Eliza, they rode straight toward the filming location she had in mind, reaching their destination just before sunset.
"This forest here is called the Nightshade Grove," Eliza explained, reining in her horse and gesturing toward the misty treeline. "It's a common training ground for rookie adventurers. We purge it regularly, but monsters always find a way to creep back in."
The moment they arrived, Edward and the others turned their attention to the eerie, looming forest ahead. Unlike the peaceful and orderly southern territory, the North lived up to its reputation as the most dangerous region in the Empire. On the road here, they had spotted several terrifying creatures lurking just off the path. While none dared approach—thanks to the overwhelming aura radiating from the Headless Knight—this level of danger was unheard of in the South, where monster sightings near roads were practically nonexistent.
Another key difference between North and South was in classification—both of adventurers and monsters. Where other regions tended to be vague, the North maintained strict systems. The reasons were twofold: first, the vast disparity in power between individuals here made generalizations meaningless; second, strict regulations were necessary to keep adventurers from recklessly picking fights with creatures far beyond their capabilities.
The Adventurers' Guild's manual outlined everything in detail: what rank was required to accept which missions, what class of monsters one was permitted to engage, and so on. These rules weren't for show—they were enforced to protect lives.
The ranking system itself was well known. Named after materials, it formed a clear hierarchy from top to bottom: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron, and Porcelain. Each adventurer's badge was forged from the corresponding material, making it both a sign of their rank and a symbol of their status.
Naturally, the structure resembled a pyramid. Platinum adventurers were virtually legendary, with only a handful appearing in the entire history of the Guild—most only reaching that rank after slaying dragons or completing equally mythical feats. Even if someone had the strength of a top-tier warrior or mage, without the proper achievement, Platinum status would never be granted.
The next tier, Gold, was also rare, but every generation produced at least a few. Eliza herself had been one of them before becoming Guild Master. The Gold tier emphasized sheer strength—anyone who reached the fifth tier of power would likely earn the title, though most were Sword Saints. Mages were less represented at this level, largely because many preferred research to frontline combat.
In short, the Northern Territory Adventurer's Guild was a place of strict rules, tough missions, and elite fighters. It wasn't a place for hobbyists or fame-seekers like in the South. And naturally, the danger was proportional to the strength—the North held the highest death rate of all four regions.
Still, things have improved in recent years. Thanks to the Guild's tight oversight and meticulous structure, fatalities among northern adventurers had stabilized, remaining relatively high compared to other areas—but far from the meat grinder it had once been.
However, things had taken a sharp downturn in recent months.
Thanks to an influx of brainless "power fantasy" novels portraying reckless, overpowered adventurers, a new generation of rookies had started flocking to the northern territory with completely unrealistic expectations. Ignoring the Guild's warnings and skipping proper training under veteran teams, they began charging into the wilds on their own—and, unsurprisingly, the death toll surged.
It was little wonder, then, that Eliza had gone all the way to the South to seek Edward's help in curbing the damage.
"The Nightshade Grove, huh...?" Edward murmured, gazing into the gloom. "Belldia, is there anything in there that even you might not be able to handle?"
The Headless Knight, who had silently followed the group until now, took a long look at the twisted treeline and the faint miasma that curled through it. After a pause, he finally replied in his deep, echoing voice, "Unclear. But judging by the ambient life force... the strongest creature here would probably be a troll or something similar. Dangerous, yes—but well within the ability of a trained adventurer party. If something were beyond even me, it would have to be on the level of a Demon God. And those don't appear this close to civilization—they only show up in the uncharted lands beyond the border."
Satisfied with that answer, Edward surveyed the area briefly, then stepped forward into the forest.
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They didn't go far.
"This is the edge of the forest," Eliza explained as the terrain began to rise into rocky foothills. "Beyond here lies the chaos land, outside even the northern territory. These caves were carved out as nests by more intelligent monsters—goblins and their ilk. I figure they're just what you're looking for, Director Durin."
"Perfect," he said, walking the perimeter and glancing up at the rough stone ridges. After a few minutes, he returned and nodded. "It's getting late. I'll go inside with one person and scout it out. The rest of you, start setting up camp. If we end up filming here, we'll need the place cleaned and prepped."
"Understood," Eliza replied. Then, pausing, she asked, "Want me to go with you?"
Having a Sword Saint as a bodyguard certainly sounded smart. But Edward's goals weren't purely about scouting a location.
With an unreadable expression, he turned around and silently pointed—not at Eliza or Belldia or any other seasoned fighter—but at the young girl who had barely spoken since arriving in the North.
"Daphne. You're coming with me. This will be your first audition."
"...Huh?"
The girl blinked, clearly startled. But she instinctively stepped forward, lips slightly parted in surprise.
Her loyal guard, however, didn't take it so calmly. "Wait, what?! If Lady Daphne is going, then I—"
"You're not coming," Edward interrupted coldly. "Only she goes."
"Bu—!"
The words never made it out. Daphne gently raised a hand to silence her.
"It's fine," she said quietly. "Let me go alone."
"But, Lady Daphne—!"
"I'll be okay," she said again, firmer this time. Though her guard still looked deeply uncomfortable, she obeyed her lady's will and stepped back, watching with worry as Daphne followed Edward toward the looming cave entrance.