I Reincarnated as the Bastard Prince? Well, At least I'm OP!
Chapter 53: The adventurers club

Chapter 53: The adventurers club

Loki guided me deeper into the guild hall, weaving past rows of long wooden tables and kegs stacked in the corners until we reached a smaller, quieter corner of the room where six individuals were seated around a heavy circular table.

"This here," Loki said, throwing out his arms with pride, "is the Adventurers Club of Waurweth Academy."

I blinked. Only six members?

"Small group," I murmured.

"Small, but elite," Loki replied with a wink. "Let me introduce you."

He pointed to a stout dwarf with a thick, braided beard and arms like tree trunks.

He wore a leather apron over his robes, smudged with what looked like soot and rune ink. The dwarf looked like he could bench press a horse.

"This is Borin Ironfoot. Earth and rune mage. And don’t let the beard fool you—he’s also the best blacksmith on campus. Man can turn a lump of steel into a singing blade."

Borin grunted, raising a tankard in greeting. "Aye. Welcome, lad. Don’t expect me to carry you in a fight, but I’ll make sure your gear doesn’t fall apart mid-battle."

Beside him sat two elves—one with silver hair tied back in a sleek ponytail, the other with deep auburn locks cascading over their shoulders.

The silver-haired one inclined her head gracefully. "Sylria Moonshadow. Wind and Illusion Magic." Her voice was smooth, almost melodic.

The other elf, sharper-eyed and with a smirk playing on his lips, gave a lazy salute. "Call me Elion. I’m a healer mage. Try not to slow us down, human."

I recognized Sylria from my class. I never imagined I’d meet a familiar face here.

The last three were humans—one a broad-shouldered girl, stroking a black cat on her laps, the other a lanky boy with goggles perched on his forehead.

And lastly, a broad-shouldered guy with runes tattooed along his arms.

The girl smirked at me. "I’m Nia Thornbrook. Beast Tamer and Combat Mage."

The boy adjusted his goggles and nodded. "Tobin Vexley. Lightning and Alchemy. Explosions are my specialty."

I gave a small nod in return. "Archer. Mostly defensive and combat magic."

The broad-shouldered guy thumped his fist on the table, a wide grin on his face. "Everyone calls me Kael. I’m a Fire mage."

Loki clapped his hands together. "And that’s the whole crew! Now, here’s how it works. The club doesn’t just sit around and drink. Every now and then, an adventuring party puts out a call for extra hands. When that happens, we get picked for a mission. We go out, do the job, and return to the academy. Missions vary—escort runs, monster patrols, artifact retrieval. Nothing too dangerous, depending on the level."

"And if you’re good," Kael added, "a party might like your style enough to recruit you permanently after graduation. That’s how a lot of famous adventurers got their start."

I folded my arms, my curiosity piqued. "I’m honestly surprised the academy gives you that much freedom. Letting students run around the city and beyond on actual missions?"

Borin chuckled. "The best way to learn is through intense situations, lad. Books’ll teach you theory, but real fights? That’s where you forge your instincts. You’ll pick up a thing or two fast enough."

Loki nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! Plus, if you impress a party enough, they might recruit you permanently after graduation. Instant career path."

I leaned back in my chair, impressed. "That’s... actually a really good system. It might be something worth doing."

Tobin smirked. "Of course it is. The Academy knows real power isn’t just memorizing spells—it’s surviving when things go wrong."

Loki grinned. "And with that, welcome to the club, Archer. First mission briefing is tomorrow. Try not to die before then."

The silver-haired elf girl, Sylria, tilted her head slightly as she studied me. "You’re Archer, from my Spellcaster class, right?" Her voice was cool, but there was a flicker of interest in her eyes. "I heard you bested Richard von Eldric in a duel."

I rubbed the back of my neck, smiling sheepishly. "Will I ever live that down? Everyone keeps talking about it like it was some big deal."

The reaction around the table was immediate.

Nia nearly choked on her drink. "Wait, you’re the one who took down Richard?"

Tobin’s goggles slipped down his nose as he gaped. "No way. That guy was the top swordsman in our year!"

Kael let out a low whistle. "Damn. And here I thought you were just another rookie. You have my respect, Archer."

Loki leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Archer, you might not realize this, but the von Eldrics are old blood. Their family has produced some of the finest swordsmen in each kingdoms for generations. Richard wasn’t just some noble brat—he was expected to be the best."

Borin nodded, stroking his beard. "Aye. Swordsmanship is their pride. Their whole family legacy is built on pride, combat, and never losing a duel. For an outsider to defeat one of their own so decisively?" He let out a gruff chuckle. "That’s not just a loss. That’s a stain on their legacy."

Nia chuckled, still stroking her black cat. "You humiliated him. In front of the whole academy. No wonder he’s been in a foul mood all week. I’ve never seen anyone so pissed."

My stomach dropped, pieces of the puzzle finally clicking into place.

So that’s why he’s so Vengeful.

All this time, I’d thought Richard was just a sore loser, nursing a bruised ego. But it wasn’t just about pride—it was about honor. His family’s name.

"I... never knew," I admitted quietly. "I thought he was just arrogant... I didn’t realize it ran that deep."

Sylria’s lips quirked. "Ignorance is bliss, I suppose."

Loki suddenly clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Well, I say this calls for a celebration!" He raised his tankard high. "A toast—to Archer, the man who humbled a von Eldric!"

The others erupted into laughter, lifting their drinks.

"To Archer!"

"May Richard never catch you in a dark alley!"

"Here’s to the rookie who’s already making waves!"

I shook my head, but a grin tugged at my lips as I raised my own glass.

There was something oddly comforting about this place—being surrounded by people who didn’t care about status or bloodlines.

Just magic, adventure, and the thrill of battle.

For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could just... breathe.

Maybe this was exactly what I needed—a place to grow stronger, to become something more.

Surrounded by people who cared about nothing but the next great adventure.

* * * *

I stepped through the portal, emerging into the warmly lit dining hall of the Red Dragon’s domain.

The scent of roasted meat and spiced wine filled the air.

The long, oakwood table was set for four, with silver goblets and polished plates already in place.

At the head of the table, Gwyneria stood in her maid’s uniform, gracefully serving food onto a plate.

To her right, Raven sat with a book before her, tapping a spoon rhythmically against the table.

Across from her Skadra sat perched on a cushioned chair, her legs swinging slightly as she watched the meal being laid out with wide, eager eyes.

Before I could even take another step, Skadra’s head snapped toward me.

Her face lit up like the sun breaking through storm clouds.

"Lord Ghorath!" she cried, leaping from her seat and darting across the room with surprising speed.

I barely had time to brace myself before she collided with me, her small strong arms wrapping around my waist in a tight embrace. "Welcome home!"

I stiffened for a moment—still unused to being greeted like a father returning from a long journey.

But then I relaxed, ruffling her snow-white hair playfully. "I’m home," I said, smiling down at her. "How was your day?"

Skadra beamed up at me, her eyes sparkling. "Lady Gwyneria trained me today! I learned how to make ice shards sharper! And—and I even made a little frost wolf! It only lasted a few seconds, but it was real!"

Impressive. She could create life forms with her powers. I didn’t know Ice Giants were capable of that.

I chuckled. "That’s wonderful. You’ll be a master of your powers in no time."

She nodded vigorously, still clinging to me.

I’d noticed this before—her usual shy, quiet self melted away in my presence.

Around the others, she barely spoke above a whisper. But with me? She was radiant.

Gwyneria cleared her throat delicately, her crimson eyes flicking between us. "My liege, come and dine. We’ve been waiting for your arrival."

Skadra finally released me, but she kept a firm grip on my sleeve as she tugged me toward the table. "Come, Lord Ghorath! The food is still warm!"

Raven, who had been watching the entire exchange with an amused smirk, leaned back in her chair as I took my seat.

"So," she drawled, twirling a fork between her fingers. "Where have you been all evening?"

I smirked, reaching for a slice of roasted meat. "Guess what?"

Raven’s eyes narrowed. "Oh no. That’s your ’I did something reckless’ voice."

Skadra tilted her head. "Did you fight a monster?"

Gwyneria glanced at me, already pouring a goblet of wine for me. "My liege, please do not tell me you’ve already found trouble."

I took a dramatic bite, chewing slowly just to annoy Raven, before finally answering.

"I joined the Adventurers Club."

Silence.

Then—

Raven’s fork clattered onto her plate. "You did WHAT?!"