Rise of the Nightmare Crestmaster

"Actually I'm a student too but nothing as impressive as you, I study architecture in the technical college. You did say something like that about being and adventurer last night, I thought you were were one of the people that go hunting in the sunken valley and call themselves adventurers. They don't even belong to any guild and they go in numbers of twenty or more. These kinds of people are desperate to boast about themselves."

"Really? There are people like that? But I thought that even ordinary people can join adventure guilds."

"They can, but they are few and far in between. Most of them are incredibly skilled people that deserve respect. But the guys that go hunting in the sunken valley like that are just regular hunters."

Aldrich bade Irene farewell and boarded a carriage to Ayemon's mansion. During the meal Aldrich indulged in the high class meal and talked with Ayemon about his training with Gazeff and how it was going.

"By the way I don't see Caldera?" Aldrich asked since Caldera usually shared the table with them at meals.

"Hmm, she's out again looking for the elusive oracle. Stubborn woman, I told her long ago that will only bring her more troubles."

"Isn't the appearance of an oracle a big deal, why are you unconcerned?" Aldrich asked, exasperated at Ayemon's attitude.

"Why should I be? The whole thing is a waste of time. If it was really a big deal then the oracle should be taking care of it. As for me, naturally I have nothing to do with it so why would I butt my nose in someone else's business?"

"Aren't you too lazy?" To Aldrich that was reasonable and yet it also seemed like Ayemon was too lazy to concern himself. If oracles only appeared on in turbulent times then it was probably not a good idea to ignore it.

In any case he himself is just a little bug, if the sky fell obviously the giants will hold it. As for him he will just pay attention to his own insignificant matters.

"You say that," Ayemon sneered, "but I think you know exactly what I mean."

Aldrich drank the tea without answering, damn this old fox, he could see through his thoughts.

"Anyway let us put that aside for now, did I tell you about the importance of information regarding monsters of grade one and higher?"

"I think you might have said something along those lines before." Aldrich muttered uncertainly, he did, indeed remember but he wanted to mess with Ayemon and see his reaction.

"Hehehe I talk and talk but it looks like my words just enter into one ear and exit from the other." Ayemon laughed but his laughter wasn't joyful but dark.

"I was just—" Aldrich tried to say but he was interrupted.

"I don't mind telling you again, listen up." Ayemon's dark look disappeared and it was replaced by an expressionless one.

That's when Aldrich knew that he fell into a trap and and now he was forced to go through another lecture.

"The thing is information regarding monster of grade one and higher is that it's valuable. Knowing about the characteristics of a monster could save your life so obviously these kinds of information are valued by adventure guilds and most other forces out there.

Remember even if a monster is weaker than you it could still have an ability that could threaten your life. I told you before that the grading system is a mortal creation it's bound to be flawed. In a battle of life and death there are many factors that could spell your doom.

So what's the point of all this talk? It's to remind you that if you encounter a unique monster in the future you could make a good profit out of it. Here take this."

Ayemon handed him a thick book, Aldrich curiously flipped the pages and thought that it was a few hundred pages at least.

"What's this?" Aldrich inquired.

"Can't you be bothered to read a little? It's a codex of two hundred grade one monsters. It has everything, their habits, life spans, variants and even mating seasons. You have to memorize everything in this book within ten days."

Aldrich widened his eyes in shock, such a book was like a treasure. Even more so to Aldrich currently because he was just starting as an adventurer, to him this book was priceless.

"I-I can't pay for this..." Aldrich explained nervously.

"Obviously not. I'm giving it to you. This is only the first volume after ten days I'll give you the second. Don't slack off or else you'll ruin my reputation."

Aldrich was touched, he could feel Ayemon's efforts to help him even in things that Aldrich hadn't thought about.

"Ten days? I only need a week, you'd better have the next volume ready for me by then."

The only possible way for him to show his gratitude was not through empty words but by decisive action.

"Are you sure? That's two hundred monsters, don't talk big if you can't back it up."

"Aren't you looking down on me too much? I'll let you that I'm good at a number of things."

"Think about this, I'll test you on your knowledge by the end of the week don't whine that I didn't warn you."

"Test me all you like! I've gotten tested by Krynt quite a bit so I'm confident in myself."

"Great, you can't take that back!"

"Can you stop nagging me nonstop? I said I'll do it so get off of my back."

"Enough nonsense, focus on some of the commonly encountered monsters like the Bulette, gelatinous cube and mimics."

"Are they that common? I haven't heard about them much."

"That's because most of the time people tend to like more exciting stories with majestic-like monsters. These monsters are the weakest of the weak in grade one but they each have their own troublesome abilities."

"Believe it or not most novice adventurers tend to die to sneaky monsters like these than to the majestic ones. For example the Bulette can swim in the ground as if it was water and it has the patience of a hunter."