The moment my siblings left for the Adventurer's Guild, I followed.

  Not evehily.

  "Why are you trailing us like a lost puppy?" Jazz asked, raising an eyebrow as we walked through the bustling streets.

  "I want to be an adventurer," I said simply.

  Ford let out a shh. "Oh yeah? Just like that?"

  I nodded. "I want more rare meat."

  There was a beat of silence.

  Jazz groaned. Prius sighed. Ford just smirked. "Well, at least you're ho."

  We arrived at the massive wooden doors of the Adventurer's Guild. Ihe hall was filled with warriors, mages, and rogues exging stories, cheg the quest board, and boasting about their test quests. The st of roasted meat and ale filled the air, making my stomach rumble again.

  I watched as Ford walked up to the ter, rep oblin enter to a guild official. Meanwhile, I turo him.

  "So, how do I sign up?"

  Ford raised an eyebrow. "You? An adventurer? You're just a kid."

  I crossed my arms. "And you're just a guy who got beat up on Floor 20."

  Jazz snorted while Ford scowled. "Anyway," he tinued, "if you really want to be an adventurer, you o train first."

  He gestured toward a massive board on the wall. It listed the Tower's floors, reended levels, and known monster spawns.

  "The first floor of the Tower is a great pce to train your bat skills," Ford expined. "No risk of instah… usually."

  "Usually?" I echoed.

  "Yeah. You still have to be careful. But before you even think about reag Floor 5, you o decide what job you want."

  "Job?"

  Jazz leaned against the ter. "Yeah. Warrior, mage, rogue, priest—stuff like that. Your bat style determines everything."

  Ford nodded. "Only adventurers who pass Floor 5 are allowed to take the guild's official exam. It happens once a year, and you've still got a month before the one. If you get that far." He smirked. "If you're as strong as me, it'll be easy. Hahaha!"

  I ignored his ughter and g the massive Tower looming in the distance.

  "So… where's the Tower?" I asked.

  Ford blihen facepalmed. "You don't know?!"

  "Would I be asking if I did?"

  He sighed. "Every city has a Tate, but you need permission to ehe guild gives out beginner quests to qualify."

  "Like what?"

  "First, you o defeat five goblins. Once you plete that quest, they'll grant you access to the Tower." Ford smirked. "Lucky for you, you're already here."

  I turoward the massive quest board, where dozens of papers were pinned up, fluttering slightly from the movement of adventurers walking by.

  A hunt, huh?

  I sed the board until I found it—Beginner Quest: Gate 1 Access - Goblin Hunt.

  Without hesitation, I tore the paper from the board and brought it to the receptionist. She g me, then at my siblings.

  "First time, huh?" she asked, stamping the paper.

  I nodded.

  "Goblins usually lurk deep in the forest," she tinued. "They breed fast—too fast—so there's a monthly extermination to keep their numbers under trol."

  I raised an eyebrow. "Monthly extermination?"

  She nodded. "A full-scale goblin purge. It's scheduled for week. If you want, you join us then. It'll be safer than going alone."

  I smirked. "I think I'll pass."

  I wao hunt now.

  Prius, who had been silent until now, crossed his arms. "You should know, we don't wipe them all out."

  I frowned. "What do you mean?"

  "There are different types of goblins," he expined. "Not all of them are dangerous. Some live in their own tribes and don't attack humans. Others… well, they're a problem."

  Jazz nodded. "That's why we call it a 'gobliermination,' not a 'goblin genocide.' If we killed all of them, the ecosystem would colpse. They're sgers, prey fger monsters, and they even have their own weird culture."

  Ford shrugged. "But the aggressive ohe ones raiding vilges, attag travelers? Those gotta go. That's where we e in."

  I thought about that for a moment. "So, what you're saying is… goblins are like cattle. Some are harmless, some are dangerous, and some are delicious."

  Jazz burst out ughing. "I like the way you think, kid."

  Ford shook his head with a grin. "Well, if you're that eager, let's see if you actually take one down first."

  I turoward the guild doors, my grip tightening on my quest paper.

  Time to hunt.