Chapter 17 Speedrunning F-rank to E-rank

The Guild Master’s fist clashed with the spear once more. The whole guild hall rattled so hard that dust drifted down from the ceiling beams, prompting several adventurers to instinctively step back again.

“SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE DONE IT OUTSIDE?!” someone shouted.

“NO NORMAL F-RANKWAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS!”

“THAT DAMN OLD MAN GARETH IS ENJOYING HIMSELF!”

That part was definitely true. The Guild Master’s grin grew wider with each exchange.

CLANG.

Another strike but Eoghan twisted the spear in mid-motion, guiding the force away instead of meeting it head-on. The wooden shaft creaked under the strain.  

“Oh?” the Guild Master muttered.

The boy was adapting to him. Most inexperienced fighters would have repeated the same mistakes under pressure, but Eoghan corrected them instantly—like instinct, or talent, or maybe both. The old man stepped in closer, his fist shooting toward Eoghan’s chest.

Eoghan barely dodged in time as the air erupted behind him, blasting a hole in the guild wall. Silence fell. All eyes drifted toward the fresh opening. Outside, stunned pedestrians gawked into the hall in horror. Lina looked like her soul had just left her body.

“GUILD MASTER.”

“Hm?”

“THE WALL.”

“It was needing a repair anyway.”

“THAT IS NOT HOW REPAIRS WORK.”

Meanwhile, Eoghan pointed toward the hole.

“Are you trying to kill me old man?”

“You are still alive and talking, aren’t you?”

“That feels unrelated.”

The Guild Master let out a loud laugh before vanishing once more. This time, Eoghan was prepared. His spear swept in a wide arc, but the Guild Master ducked under it—only for Eoghan to suddenly let go with one hand and drive a punch downward.

BOOM.

Selena calmly continued drinking tea.

The Guild Master caught the punch with one arm, then hesitated for a moment. Heavy. The boy’s strength was ridiculous for someone his age. Mana reinforcement? No, there was more to it—something else woven in. The old man’s eyes narrowed before he suddenly burst forward, and the pressure in the room doubled in an instant.

The veteran adventurers tensed, while a few of the newer ones almost buckled on the spot. Eoghan sensed it instantly, his grip tightening on the spear as mana pulsed more fiercely beneath his armor. The silver plates gave a faint, trembling shiver.

CRACK.

The spear shattered in his hands.

The entire guild froze.

Silence filled the room.

Eoghan stared at the broken weapon.

Then slowly looked upward.

“It broke.”

“You overloaded it,” the Guild Master replied.

“Told you I should use my own weapon. I am not paying that.”

“Not your problem anyway.”

“Nice.”

The Guild Master barked another laugh.

Then stopped.

Because Eoghan had shifted his stance taking own the guild master style.

Selena lowered her teacup.

"A little help, Selena?"

“Handle it yourself.”

“But this is for our team rank though.”

“You are the one who wanted it badly”

“Fineeee.”

The Guild Master rolled his shoulders once.

“Hah.”

Now this was becoming fun.

“Come then, boy.”

Eoghan sprang into action, the wooden floor splintering beneath his feet. The adventurers caught only a flash of silver before impact. The Guild Master met the punch head, the impact blasting out a shockwave strong enough to snuff several lanterns. The old man’s grin only grew wider.

BOOM.

Another collision shook the guild hall. The remaining intact tables finally gave up on life. Several adventurers had already evacuated toward the walls while others watched with the expressions of people witnessing an approaching natural disaster.

“Enough.”The Guild Master’s voice wasn’t loud, but the weight behind it brought the room to an abrupt halt. Even Eoghan froze mid-motion.

“That’s enough before you destroy my entire guild today.”

Lina looked one emotional breakdown away from retirement.

“GUILDMASTERRRRR!”

The Guild Master laughed loudly.

“Hah! Relax, girl. The guild survived worse.”

“WHY IS THAT OKAY FOR YOU?!”

Meanwhile Eoghan tilted his helmet slightly.

“So.”

The Guild Master raised an eyebrow.

“So?”

“What are my results?”

The hall fell silent once more. A few adventurers leaned in with anticipation, and even Selena seemed somewhat intrigued. The Guild Master stood with his arms crossed.

“Hm. You’re not F-rank.”

The guild erupted instantly.

“NO SHIT!”

Eoghan ignored them.

“What rank then?”

The Guild Master rubbed his chin.

“Your combat ability is at least D-rank. Possibly even higher in pure combat power.”

Eoghan nodded calmly.

“I see.”

“You seem unsurprised.”

“I had estimates.”

The Guild Master’s grin widened again.However, combat strength alone doesn’t determine rank. You’re lacking field experience and tend to be reckless.

“Debatable.”

“It really is not,” Selena spoke for the first time.

“Selena.”

“You attempted to brute force your way to promotions.”

“He started it.”

“That defense will not hold in court.”

Finally, the old man straightened slightly.

“Still.” His eyes sharpened.

“You are wasted to be at F-rank.”

Eoghan immediately focused.

“So?”

The Guild Master pointed directly at him.

“I’ll authorize a direct advancement.”

The hall went silent.

“To E-rank.”

The Guild Master continued.

“You’ll skip the standard requirements.”

“However,” the old man added, “if you want to reach S-rank. Prove it by reaching A-rank in under 10 years first.”

“That long? I will do in in under 7 years.”

The Guild Master fixed him with a long stare, then suddenly broke into laughter once more.“Hah! You really are a troublesome brat.”

Selena quietly sipped the last of her tea.

***

The guild hall lay in ruins. Sunlight streamed through a gaping hole in the wall, casting light on a floor that looked half-destroyed, as if after a siege. An overturned table clung inexplicably to the ceiling. In the midst of the chaos, the Guild Master stood, entirely unfazed. Eoghan gave the scene another sweeping glance.

“I am not paying for anything alright.”

“Understandable.”

The Guild Master barked out another laugh. Then finally extended one rough hand toward Eoghan.

“Name’s Gareth.”

Eoghan blinked.

“Just Gareth?”

“What, were you expecting something grander?”

“A little bit.”

“Hah! You better ask that to my parents if you die early.”

The old man grinned.

“Gareth Marak. Current Guild Master of this branch.”

Eoghan shook his hand.

Eoghan tilted his helmet slightly.

“You were an adventurer yourself.”

Gareth’s grin widened.

“Sharp brat.”

Nearby adventurers immediately reacted.

“Of course he was!”

“You seriously didn’t know?!”

“That damned old monster used to be famous!”

Eoghan slowly turned toward them.

“Used to?”

Lina sighed.

“You really know nothing, huh?”

“I was busy.”

“With what?”

“growing up.”

“I walked into that one.”

Gareth crossed his arms.

“A long time ago, I was an adventurer.”

“Rank?”

The old man smirked slightly.

“A-rank.”

“OH. You retired?”

“Eventually.”

“Because of injury?”

“A few.”

“Age? You look really old.”

“Oi.”

Several adventurers laughed. Gareth shook his head.

“You’ve got no fear at all, do you?”

“Fear for what?”

The old man laughed again before glancing toward the ruined guild hall.

“Though to be fair.”

His eyes shifted back toward Eoghan.

“You remind me of certain idiots from my generation.” Gareth rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“You said your name was Eoghan Rise, right?”

“Yes.”

“Never heard of it.”

“Good”

That answer actually surprised the old man.

“Good?”

“If nobody knows the name yet, then it simply means I haven’t spread it far enough plus now you do”

Gareth stared at him for a few moments.

“Hah.” Yeah. He liked this kid. The exact type adventurers’ stories were written about or the exact type who died young.

The old man turned slightly.

“Lina.”

“Yes?”

“Process their promotion.”

“Really?”

“They’ve earned it.”

“Fine.”

“See that, Selena? I got us our new promotionnnnnnn.”