CHAPTER 17: RANKER ASSOCIATION

Jack did give him some money but they were bronze coins unlike these bright gold coins with a falcon etched on it.

’Total ten,’ Ash calculated.

The caravan moved slowly through the dirt road, battered but alive. The hunters were quiet now, their faces pale, their clothes torn, but no one dared to complain. They had all seen death too closely.

Ash continued with them, his hands inside his pockets. His eyes drifted to the forest on both sides. No beasts lurked anymore. The massive creature they had faced must have scared away everything weaker.

Whispers carried through the group.

"That beast... even Arlan almost couldn’t stop it."

"And the spear, did you see it? It ripped right through!"

"Still, that guy froze the monster before that. Which skill was it?"

Ash kept his face blank, pretending not to hear.

His mind drifted back to the black-and-gold armory he had unlocked. Rows of guns, attachments, tools. His fingers twitched at the thought of the silenced pistol. He had the coins, but he held back. The temptation gnawed at him, but he couldn’t waste them yet.

Finally, after another half-day of travel, the forest broke.

And there it was.

A city rose in the distance, surrounded by tall stone walls etched with glowing runes. Watchtowers loomed, armed guards stood at the gates, and beyond it, the faint shimmer of mana-lights lit up the skyline. It wasn’t like the small fortress he had seen before — this was power, order, control.

Ash’s lips curved slightly. This was the official start of this Kingdom, the Kingdom of Velora.

He entered with the cohort without any suspicion. The theme was completely different from the broken settlement which had bare minimum facilities.

He could see the hints of modernization in the architecture. Instead of wooden houses, they were buildings made of stone and bricks.

Town planning was spot on; it was grid formation. Roads cut each other at ninety degrees and had houses and stores on both sides of them.

It was the basic sign of a well-established modern civilization. Roads had always been the heart of the city and the grid pattern was perfect to use space most efficiently.

Then there were some people roaming around casually, unlike the settlement where everyone had weapons with them.

As they passed through the city, Arlan told him about the Rankers Association and about some important businesses.

"Okay then, I will take leave," Ash said, jumping off the horse.

"If you ever come to the capital city, we may meet there," Arlan and Durnok said goodbye.

The merchant last time gave a look to Ash, winking at him.

’What does he want, am I looking like a girl?’ Ash ignored and looked at the disappearing cohort in the distance.

Now standing in the middle of the road, he looked at the great architecture that reminded him of his past life.

His condition was not so great and the sun was high, scorching heat torturing. His clothes were dirtied and blood splattered across them.

Some of the passersby did give a cursory look but it didn’t look like a great deal to them.

’I guess it’s common in this world where a person is dedicated to killing beasts.’

But he didn’t feel very comfortable. In his previous world, he had to change his clothes as soon as work was done and even a stain of blood could cause an inquiry to be launched.

So just following his instinct, he wanted to buy new clothes and get a stay to clean.

His eyes scanned across the street noticing many businesses like restaurants, inns, clothing shops.

Ash’s eyes scanned across the street until he found a modest clothing shop tucked between a bakery and a smithy. The wooden sign had a stitched tunic painted on it.

He stepped inside.

A bell chimed. The smell of fresh fabric and leather filled his nose. Behind the counter, a middle-aged woman raised her head, her gaze immediately lingering on the blood splatters across his chest and sleeves.

For a moment, Ash thought she would scream. But instead, she sighed.

"Another one back from the hunt? Don’t drip on the floor, boy. What do you need?"

Ash blinked. So casual.

’So blood-stained clothes are this normal here.’

"Something plain. Durable. Easy to move in," he replied.

The woman gave him a quick once-over, then pulled out a black tunic and grey trousers, both stitched with reinforced seams. "Two bronze coins. Cheap, but they’ll last."

’So cheap,’ Ash was surprised. He had over 100 bronze coins. He didn’t expect Jack to be so generous.

Ash pulled Jack’s bronze coins from his pocket. The dull brown metal clinked on the counter, so different from the bright gold falcon coins he had just received.

"Can I get another set of clothes?" He pushed four bronze coins.

"Of course, here you go. We also have a cleaning service. If you need, we can wash these clothes for 1 bronze coin only."

Ash pondered, then looked at his own clothes. Well, they were definitely of better quality than what he bought, so he pushed another bronze coin.

He changed into the new set in a back room and tossed his old bloodied clothes in a box that lay there.

’Feels better. A clean start.’

The next step was lodging. He asked around and quickly found a modest inn near the city square. The innkeeper didn’t question his worn face or tired eyes — only took ten bronze coins for a night, including food and a bath.

Ash checked his bag, 16 gone, so around 90 bronze coins remained.

’I guess it’s not that cheap, I will be empty in the next ten days at this rate considering I won’t buy anything.’

Ash dropped his body into the bed after bathing. The water was lukewarm, the mattress rough, but to him, it was heaven. For the first time since arriving in this world, he closed his eyes without his hand hovering near a weapon.

By dawn, Ash was ready. He left the inn, new clothes fitting well, and headed toward the building Arlan had told him about.

The Ranker Association.

It loomed over the city square like a fortress of its own, three stories high, stone walls etched with glowing blue lines that pulsed faintly. A massive falcon emblem — the same as on the coins — spread its wings across the gate.

Hunters came and went constantly. Some loud, laughing in groups, showing off wounds like trophies. Others quiet, armored, eyes sharp as blades.

Inside, the hall bustled with noise. A massive digital board was covered in information — quests. To the left, clerks sat behind counters, their desks piled with crystal tablets. To the right, merchants displayed beast parts, potions, and weapons.