"I really appreciate you," I said to Sin who was still sitting and resting beside me. The feeling of gratitude overflowed from my heart.
"For always taking care of me."
"For always worrying about me."
"Even though you almost died falling into that chasm," I couldn't help but tease him lightly at the end.
After I thanked him, Sin went quiet for a moment, then slowly stood up and walked past me without saying anything. But then he stopped, turned back, and gently touched my shoulder.
"Rift," he looked at me. His eyes that used to be playful now looked a bit more serious.
...
I stayed quiet for a while, waiting to hear what he'd say next.
"I'll go wait at Maris then," Sin said, then walked away from me, leaving me standing there watching his back get smaller until he disappeared from sight. I hope he gets to Maris without getting lost somewhere else.
I took a deep breath. Determination started building up again. I need to get stronger. I need to find a way to deal with this crazy "curse." Then I immediately ran straight to the Hunter Guild. Next goal: Soul Order!
I ran past the Soul Order people who were busy renovating abandoned Sliver town and rushed past Kylo who was directing his subordinates, until I finally reached the Hunter Guild.
If I remember correctly, the requirement to enter Soul Order is being a certified Hunter Guild member, which you have to get from the guild master. And the second requirement is passing the practical exam!
After thinking that through, I immediately walked straight to the guild counter.
"Rift, B-rank," I told the staff member behind the counter my name and level.
"Uh..."
"I'm here for certification."
The staff member looked up at me for a moment, then seemed like he was remembering something. I didn't dare make direct eye contact, so I pretended to look around the guild instead.
"Ahem!" A throat-clearing sound came from inside the guild master's office, before his stocky figure walked out.
"You're Rift, right?" the guild master asked for confirmation.
"Yes sir," I answered firmly.
"If you want certification..." he drew out his voice, acting thoughtful. "You have to eliminate 3 Soul Either first before you can apply."
"Huh?!" My eyes widened in surprise.
"There's a rule like that??"
"Of course there is," the guild master replied in a flat tone.
"You never asked before," he chuckled in his throat. "This rule's been around forever. Didn't you ever ask your friend?"
I stood still for a long time because I really didn't know this rule, and I'd never asked Kylo about it even once. 3 more Soul Either... what the hell is this?! I felt like I'd been tricked, a feeling rising up in my chest.
"Here, job sheet," the guild master handed me a piece of paper.
[Eliminate Soul Either in any area / Reward: None]
No reward?! Damn it! But at least I still had some money left in my pocket from turning in the previous job.
"Buy a new gun, then hurry back to get the short sword from Uncle Vex," I thought. The most important weapons right now were the short sword and gun.
As I was about to walk out of the guild, the guild master spoke up again.
"Oh, almost forgot to mention."
"When Soul Either die."
"You guys usually just collect the black crystals from their bodies as job proof, right?"
"Sir?" I wondered what he was getting at. It was true that when Soul Either died, black crystals would appear when their bodies dissolved. That's something every hunter knew.
"But those are just from the lowest-level Soul Either."
"We need white crystals for certification applications."
"Which means... you have to eliminate mid-level Soul Either or higher only."
My eyes widened in complete shock. Mid-level Soul Either?! Those black crystals were just from the lowest level?! If that's really true...
I'm dead for sure!