Orario, Guild Headquarters.
As the dusk approached, heralding the onset of night, the Guild headquarters, resembling a grand temple, was bustling with a crowd of people.
One after another, people gathered in front of the bulletin board, gazing at the parchment papers affixed to it, immersing themselves in the lively commotion that turned the scene into a bustling market.
Numerous parchment papers adorned the bulletin board, but at this very moment, the one capturing the attention of everyone present was the one prominently displayed in the center.
It seemed as though even the Guild itself was boasting about the achievements and extraordinary nature of this particular parchment.
The contents of the parchment were meticulously written.
...
Riezel Brynhart
Affiliation: Loki Familia
Age: 17
Profession: Adventurer
Current Floor: 17th Floor
Notable Achievement: Riezel Brynhart, an adventurer from Loki Familia, achieved a great feat on the 17th Floor by single-handedly defeating a Monster Rex, Goliath. This accomplishment, spanning one month, marked his official level up to Level 4, earning him the alias—Trickster Swordsman.
...
Posted on the bulletin board were sheets of parchment, precisely confirmed by the Guild and publicly announced adventurers' information. The aliases decided upon in Denatus were now glaringly displayed and laid out for everyone to see.
This time, however, people were particularly focused on the most dazzling and intriguing individual among them. As they looked at the parchment posted in the middle of the bulletin board, discussions broke out without hesitation.
"Yo, is this Riezel Brynhart, that rookie from Loki Familia everyone's been buzzing about?"
"The heck! He's already hit Level 4?"
"He took down a floor boss alone? Seriously, is this some kinda joke?"
"But the Guild vouched for this info. How could it be fake, dude?"
"So, those rumors from earlier might be true? This dude was just a Level 1 a month back?"
"Who's leveling up from Level 1 to Level 4 in just over a month? Is this for real?"
"The Sword Princess took a whole year for her first level up, but this rookie pulls off multiple levels in just over a month?"
"I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it, y'know?"
Adventurers, one after another, expressed excitement, skepticism, astonishment, confusion, envy, and disbelief, creating a chaotic atmosphere in the Guild Hall. The Guild staff's loud shouts couldn't even quell the growing commotion.
"He's here!"
Until a moment later, with a loud shout from an adventurer near the entrance, the crowd lost their clamor.
A young man walked in from outside, heading straight towards the bulletin board.
"Is that Riezel Brynhart?"
"The Loki Familia rookie..."
"Dude, why are you still calling him a rookie? He's Level 4 and got himself an official alias now, y'know."
As the crowd lowered their voices and involuntarily made way, creating a path, Riezel walked through the cleared path, making his way to the bulletin board where the parchment with his information was posted.
"Trickster Swordsman?"
Reading his alias, Riezel muttered it in a speechless tone, and his expression became subtly awkward.
'Loki called me over all mysteriously, looking all smug, to tell me to check my alias... If someone didn't know, they'd think I received some impressive alias, but this...?'
He couldn't quite figure out how good or bad his alias was. He couldn't even see how he was related to an alias like this.
Calling himself a swordsman was fine, as he indeed was one, even possessing the 'Swordsman' development ability; there was no dispute there.
But where did this 'Trickster' come in?
His swordsmanship, learned from Ais, was very orthodox. It really had nothing to do with the term 'Trickster'.
Could it be that the gods perceive him as a schemer employing tricks in his swordsmanship?
Riezel was somewhat bewildered with his assumption.
However, he knew that this alias was actually not that awful.
If his memory served him right, any alias born on this so-called Denatus was likely meant to challenge the shame of the alias receiver, at least 9 out of 10 times.
Because the gods had an advanced perspective and a proneness for entertainment, the aliases they bestowed were often considered cool by mortals in this world but would make modern people cringe with embarrassment.
Think about Loki; she even threw around a term like 'humblebrag' before. It showed god's perspective was ahead of their time.
Suppose she hadn't attended the Denatus, restraining various gods from recklessly giving him a cringe alias, he'd probably have been stuck with an alias like 'Breezeblade Prince' or 'Tempest Sword Emperor' by now.
In comparison, this 'Trickster Swordsman' was much better—or rather, tame.
'Now that I think about it, isn't Loki considered to be the God of Mischief or Trickery in mythology?' Riezel suddenly remembered the legend of Loki in his previous world.
Could the 'Trickster' in his alias come from there?
Perhaps because he was the child of Evil Goddess Loki, who was skilled in trickery, mischief, and deception, they gave him the alias 'Trickster Swordsman'?
'Okay... Whatever...' Riezel reluctantly accepted this interpretation.
Seeing everyone around watching and sizing him up, with some adventurers even eyeing him, ready to approach and say something, he quickly turned away.
From the reactions around him, it was clear that only a few truly admired him. Most adventurers regarded him with skepticism and envy, which was expected for a newcomer like him.
This was only natural.
While others spent several years, even decades, reaching certain levels, he effortlessly reached them in just over a month. It challenged the darker aspects of mortal, which was understandable.
Not wanting to attract unnecessary attention or give others a chance to vent, Riezel turned and left, exiting the Guild headquarters and turning into a secluded alley, planning to take a shortcut back to Twilight Manor.
However, something unexpected happened.
"—!"
Riezel suddenly stopped, furrowing his brow. A feeling of being watched crawled up his spine, sending a slight chill to the back of his neck.
"Who?" Riezel asked, silently stood in place, waiting.
"Hmph."
Soon, a cold snort echoed in the dark alley.
Riezel abruptly turned around, looking towards a shadow.
In that shadow, a figure clad in a black hooded cloak silently appeared.
"Are you the Trickster Swordsman?"
The figure's voice, unmistakably male and filled with displeasure and even hatred, emanated from the newcomer, deep and unforgiving.
"..."
Riezel didn't answer; he only placed his hand on the sword at his waist, staring at the black-cloaked figure.
This behavior only intensified the black-cloaked figure's displeasure and hatred.
"I asked you a question. Are people from Loki Familia like this? Don't they understand basic manners?"
Those words and that tone only earned a cold look from Riezel.
"Manners are for those who also practice them. Do you think you have any?" Riezel said expressionlessly.
"Oh?" The black-cloaked figure sneered. "Your mouth is sharp, but I wonder if your sword is the same?"
With that, the black-cloaked figure raised a hand.
*Swish—!*
*Swish—!*
*Swish—!*
In an instant, several black blurs leaped down from the walls in all directions, surrounding Riezel. They also wore black hooded cloaks with their faces obscured.
*Schwing!*
Seeing this, Riezel immediately unsheathed his sword.
Except for the first black-cloaked figure, who seemed to be their leader, the rest of the black-cloaked figures one after another drew weapons from under their cloaks and charged toward him, launching an assault without hesitation.
For a moment, various weapons such as daggers, spears, swords, and halberds were raised or swung down by them from different angles, leaving no opening for Riezel to evade and forcing him to defend.
The all-encompassing attack left him with no room, making it nearly impossible to find space to dodge, and could only choose to parry.
This also told him that these attackers were not just a random group.
Judging by their coordinated attacks, these people must have fought together for several years and developed good teamwork.
Their strength was also impressive, definitely not ordinary adventurers.
'Level 2 third-class adventurer? No! These people are at least Level 3 second-class adventurers or even more...'
As that thought flashed through his mind, Riezel took action.
*Whoosh!*
Accompanied by the whistling sound of the wind, his figure blurred, rushing with lightning speed towards one of the attackers who hadn't closed in yet. His sword turned into a silver flash, ruthlessly slashing out.
*Clang!*
The attacker was shocked, hastily raising their weapon to block the incoming strike, but was pushed back by the tremendous impact.
Unperturbed, Riezel accelerated again, leaving the previously repelled attacker behind and charging towards another.
*Clang!* *Cling!* *Clang!* *Cling—!*
Soon, metal collision sounds mixed together.
Riezel, moving like the wind, flickered back and forth. His slender sword slashed out repeatedly, allowing the blade of his sword to cut through several attackers in quick succession.
Complex as it may seem, the entire process took less than two seconds.
Within those two seconds, Riezel, with his astonishing speed and swordsmanship, not only disrupted their coordination but also forced them all to retreat.
"What!?"
"Very strong!"
"Are you fucking kidding me?!"
"Is he really Level 4?!"
The attackers were astonished one after another.
Even the leader of these attackers, who had been watching while leaning against a wall with crossed arms, had contracted pupils and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Damn this guy! Is he really a freshly Level 4?"
Riezel was clearly a Level 4 that could easily rival the top-tier ones. Among the attackers surrounding him, there were also several Level 4. Yet, after working together, they were still forcefully repelled by him in a single exchange.
"Continue! I want to see how much skill this guy really has!" The leader expressed his annoyance.
At their leader's words, the attackers suppressed their doubts and once again rushed toward Riezel.
Watching this, a cold glint appeared in Riezel's eyes.