Gigas Core

Rai walked towards the gate, which was still tightly shut. A guard, Hugo, who had greeted him yesterday when he left, immediately approached the gate when he saw Rai coming, carrying Erin.

"What happened, Rai?" he asked, worried.

"Y-yesterday we got caught in a red light pillar, Mr. Hugo. Can you please open the gate?" Rai asked, feigning fear.

Hugo, the guard, observed Rai and Erin, whose entire bodies were covered in leaves. Without another word, he immediately closed the peephole in the gate and, "Click!" he unlocked the door. "Creeeeak!" Hugo pushed the door open just enough for one person to squeeze through. Rai, carrying Erin, immediately entered.

Rai saw that everyone inside seemed busy. Guards were running in every direction, knights stood guard with adventurers, and treasure hunters were bustling about.

But what made Rai feel a little pity was that almost everyone's face in front of him looked pale and full of terror, as if they had just witnessed something unimaginable and terrifying.

"Um... sorry?" he muttered to himself as he looked at the people in front of him.

"Good thing you're okay, Rai. Early this morning, two very huge monsters were fighting outside the city. It was truly terrifying," Hugo said, placing a hand on Rai's shoulder.

"Yes, sir, I saw them from inside the forest. They were huge," Rai replied.

"Alright, you're safe now. Hurry home and get Erin some rest," Hugo said, still looking anxious.

"Okay, sir, thank you," Rai replied.

Rai turned and walked east, but after only a few steps, "Rai!" a woman's voice shouted from behind him. Rai turned and saw Rafina running towards him. As soon as she arrived, Rafina immediately looked at Rai's face and checked on Erin, who Rai was carrying. After that, she looked back at Rai.

"Thank goodness you're safe, Rai. Were you outside the gate?" Rafina asked, worried.

"Yes, I'm safe. Thanks for asking, Rafina," Rai replied.

"Is she... okay?" Rafina asked, glancing at Erin.

"She's fine, she's just sleeping," Rai answered.

"Alright, if you need to find me, I'll be at the guild. I have to help out there," Rafina said.

"Okay, see you later," Rai replied.

Rai turned and continued on his way, but "Rai!" suddenly Rafina called him again, and he turned back.

"What is it?" Rai asked.

"Um... sorry, but did I know you before we met in this city?" Rafina asked.

"Hmm... I don't think so," Rai replied.

"Oh... I apologize for asking," Rafina said.

"It's okay. Alright, I'm going home now," Rai replied.

"Y-yes, if you need me, I'll be at the guild," Rafina said.

"Okay, excuse me, Rafina," Rai said, bidding farewell.

Rai walked away again, and this time Rafina remained silent, holding her staff. She stood stunned, watching Rai walk away, carrying Erin, getting further and further. After arriving home and putting Erin to bed and changing her clothes, Rai came out of Erin's room and sat at the dining table to rest.

"Haaaaah... I'm so tired. (He looked towards Erin's room) What should I tell her when she wakes up?" he mumbled to himself.

*****

Meanwhile, in the adventurer's guild office, Saber was writing something at his desk. Then he rolled up the paper and tied it with a string. After that, he stamped the string. Once finished, he handed three rolled letters to Trisha, who stood in front of his desk.

"Quickly dispatch people to deliver these letters to Emperor Gelasius Bassbearer Sandrion of the Sandrion Empire, Chieftain Iolrath Greroris of the Dark Moon Forest, and King Tiobaid Macaididh Celestria of the Celestria Kingdom. We must inform them about the Gigas that appeared today," Saber said.

"Yes, sir," Trisha replied, taking the three rolled letters from Saber's hand.

"Oh, one more thing: make sure the eastern church especially in the kingdom of Celestria doesn't find out about this. Tell our envoys to deliver it to those tribal leaders secretly, and inform the other receptionists that the tower is closed. Starting today, no one is allowed to enter the tower, got it?!" Saber said.

"Understood, sir," Trisha replied, nodding.

Trisha immediately turned and hurried away. After the door closed, Saber stood up and walked to the window. He looked at the shattered fortress wall from the window. "Knock... knock!" The guild master's office door was knocked on.

"Come in," Saber said without turning.

"Click!" The door opened, and Rafina walked in. After closing the door, she walked to Saber's desk.

"Guild Master," Rafina said.

"If it's just the two of us, just call me uncle," Saber said, still looking at the destroyed fortress wall.

"Alright, I want to quit being an adventurer, uncle," Rafina said.

Saber turned and walked back to his chair, sitting down. He motioned for Rafina to sit in front of him. After sitting, Rafina immediately handed her adventurer card to Saber.

"Are you sure?" Saber asked.

"Yes, I don't want to lie to myself anymore. We both know, don't we? My real job isn't a healer, and you could say I don't have a job at all. I became a healer because I used a royal relic, and I got the healer job because I'm a princess. Now my kingdom is gone, and there's no longer any shame if a princess like me doesn't have a job," Rafina replied.

"If that's your decision, I have no problem with it, but what do you plan to do after this?" Saber asked.

"I... I don't know yet," Rafina replied.

"I see. If I may offer some advice (he pushed Rafina's adventurer card across the table towards her) don't quit just yet, until you find what you want to do, " Saber said.

Rafina fell silent, her eyes fixed on her adventurer card on the table. Saber stood up again and walked to the window to watch the construction workers gathering near the destroyed fortress.

"Uncle, what do you think I should do?" Rafina asked, her voice heavy.

"Right now, no one knows what will happen to the world. As you saw, the nightmare of 10 years ago reappeared today, and we're lucky they fought each other. We don't know what the future holds. For now, I'm closing the tower. No one is allowed inside. So, for your question, I myself can't give you any advice," Saber replied.

Rafina was silent again, her thoughts truly raging in her head. Saber turned and walked out from behind his desk. He approached Rafina and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Whatever you desire, that's what you should pursue. Don't worry, I'll support you, understand?" Saber asked.

"Y-yes, uncle, I understand," Rafina replied.

"Now, you should go back to the inn and rest. What happened this morning must still be shaking you up, right?" Saber said.

"Okay, uncle. I don't even know what happened this morning. As soon as I saw those two giant monsters, I felt like I wasn't myself," Rafina said.

"Maybe you can tame them, who knows," Saber suggested.

"I-I don't want to. I'm scared," Rafina replied.

"Hahaha, I was just kidding. Don't think about it. If we don't joke around, we'll get too stressed, especially after witnessing something so unbelievable this morning," Saber responded.

"Huuuh... I get it, uncle. Please don't joke like that," Rafina replied, trembling.