The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 88

Chapter 88: 03/06- Interested?
The female registrar’s voice was smooth yet firm as she addressed Aeliana. The woman had sharp emerald eyes, her auburn hair neatly tied back into a braid. She looked like someone who had seen her fair share of reckless adventurers come and go.

“Are you interested?” she repeated, glancing between Aeliana and Kael.

Aeliana straightened her posture, meeting the registrar’s gaze with quiet confidence. “Yes, I am. I want to take on the Whispering Caverns quest.”

The registrar sighed, clearly unimpressed. “I see. And you are…?”

“Aeliana,” she responded, hesitating before adding, “I… don’t have an official adventurer’s rank, but I am more than capable.”

The registrar arched an eyebrow at her. “You don’t have a rank?” She then glanced at Kael. “And what about you? Are you registered?”

Kael crossed his arms. “No, but we don’t need to be. We have the means to—”

“You do need to be,” the registrar interrupted, tone matter-of-fact. “Guild policy. Anyone taking on a ranked quest must be a registered adventurer or accompanied by at least one ranked member. Otherwise, you’re just reckless civilians running into danger.”

Aeliana frowned. “Isn’t there a way around that?”

The registrar tapped her fingers on the counter, thinking for a moment. “There’s an alternative… You can take a preliminary trial—a field test. If you pass, you’ll earn a provisional rank. Only then can you take on quests like this.”

Aeliana’s interest piqued. “What does the test involve?”

“It’s a standard assessment,” the registrar explained. “Combat proficiency, survival skills, and a small task to gauge your ability to work under pressure. If you fail, you don’t get the rank, and you won’t be allowed to take the quest. Simple as that.”

Kael let out an exasperated sigh. “Great. More obstacles.”

Aeliana ignored him and turned back to the registrar. “When can we take the test?”

The woman smirked. “Eager, aren’t you? The next trial is at dawn tomorrow. Meet at the training grounds behind the guild. Bring whatever weapons you intend to use, and don’t be late.”

Aeliana nodded. “We’ll be there.”

Kael muttered under his breath as they left the counter. “We? We will be there?”

Aeliana smiled, unfazed by his attitude. “Yes, Kael. We.”

He groaned but didn’t argue further.

The Training Grounds – The Next Morning

The crisp morning air was still as Aeliana and Kael arrived at the guild’s training grounds. The space was an open clearing behind the guild hall, lined with wooden dummies, sparring rings, and archery targets. A handful of hopeful adventurers had already gathered, murmuring among themselves.

The registrar from the previous day stood at the center, arms crossed, alongside a tall, imposing man clad in black armor. His piercing gaze swept over the group like a predator sizing up its prey.

“This is Master Gideon,” the registrar introduced. “He’ll be overseeing your test.”

Master Gideon wasted no time. “The rules are simple,” he announced. “Three phases. First, a combat assessment. Second, a survival trial. And third, a test of judgment. Pass all three, and you get your rank. Fail, and you walk away.”

Kael leaned closer to Aeliana. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

She smirked. “You always do.”

“Step forward if you’re ready,” Master Gideon called out.

Aeliana took a deep breath and moved ahead. This was it. Her first step toward becoming an adventurer.

The trial had begun.

Aeliana stepped up to the wooden counter, smoothing out the creases in her tunic as she faced the guild registrar. The building had an air of purpose, bustling with adventurers who had already earned their ranks and were reviewing quests or exchanging goods from their latest ventures. Some were covered in dirt and dried blood, others laughing over a meal, recounting tales of their exploits.

The registrar, the same auburn-haired woman from the day before, looked up from her paperwork. Her emerald eyes were sharp as ever, scrutinizing Aeliana before speaking. “Back again, I see.”

Aeliana nodded, offering a determined smile. “Yes. Hi, hello. I’d like to register as an adventurer. I want to take on this monster quest.” She placed a neatly folded notice onto the counter.

The registrar raised an eyebrow and unfolded the parchment. The listing detailed an issue with a beast terrorizing the outskirts of a nearby village. Though not an uncommon request, it was marked as Intermediate Rank, requiring a team of experienced adventurers or, at the very least, a solo fighter with extensive training.

“You do realize this isn’t an entry-level job, right?” the registrar asked, tilting her head slightly.

Aeliana straightened her shoulders. “I do, but I’m capable.”

Kael sighed behind her. “She thinks she’s capable.”

Ignoring him, Aeliana stood firm. “I can handle it. Just give me a chance.”

The registrar sighed, rubbing her temples. “Fine. Here’s your form.” She slid a parchment across the counter, a long sheet detailing requirements, waivers, and obligations. “Fill this out. Standard procedure for first-time applicants.”

Aeliana picked up the quill and scanned the form. It asked for her name, place of origin, combat experience, magical affinity, preferred weapon, and emergency contact. The last part made her hesitate. Who would she even list? Kael? The royal attendants? It felt ridiculous.

She filled it out anyway:

Name: Aeliana

Origin: Elven Kingdom

Combat Experience: Proficient in swordplay, magic-assisted combat, and tactical strategy.

Magical Affinity: Light-based enchantments and defensive spells.

Preferred Weapon: Dual short swords and elemental-infused daggers.

Emergency Contact: …Kael.

Kael groaned as he saw his name scrawled down. “Seriously?”

She smirked. “You’d be the first one to storm into danger if I got into trouble.”

The registrar took the form and gave it a once-over. “Alright, this is acceptable. Now for your identification.”

“Identification?” Aeliana blinked.

“Yes. Adventurers need to be documented. We either take an insignia or something official with your crest on it. You do have something, don’t you?”

Aeliana hesitated. She had royal crests, but flashing those around in an adventurer’s guild would be suspicious. Instead, she reached into her satchel and produced a silver signet ring—one that bore an intricate but less recognizable emblem from her elven house. It wasn’t overtly royal, but still distinguished enough to prove she was no commoner.

The registrar inspected it and nodded. “This will do. Once you pass the trial, you’ll be given an adventurer’s tag. It’ll serve as your identification moving forward.”

Aeliana’s heart quickened at that. She was one step closer.

“Now,” the registrar continued, “before you run off thinking you can slay monsters right away, there’s still the matter of your preliminary field test. You have to prove you’re fit for this job before I can officially approve your registration.”

Aeliana exhaled. “Right. I expected that.”

Kael crossed his arms. “So what’s the test? Something ridiculous, I’m sure.”

The registrar smirked. “It’s simple, really. We throw you into a controlled combat scenario and see how well you handle yourself. If you get past that, you’ll take a short survival challenge, and finally, a test of reasoning.”

Aeliana raised an eyebrow. “Reasoning?”

“Yes,” the registrar said. “Being an adventurer isn’t just about swinging a sword and slaying beasts. You need the ability to think under pressure. Some quests require diplomacy, puzzle-solving, or tactical decision-making. If you lack the judgment to make those choices, you won’t last long out there.”

Aeliana nodded. That made sense.

The registrar gestured to the waiting area. “Now, head over there. You’ll be called shortly.”

Aeliana took a deep breath and turned away from the counter, excitement bubbling beneath her nerves. This was her chance to prove herself outside of royal duties, outside of expectations.

Kael followed her, shaking his head. “You really are serious about this, huh?”

Aeliana smirked. “Kael, I’m always serious.”

He sighed, rolling his eyes but saying nothing more.

Now all she had to do was pass.

Aeliana stood in the training yard, catching her breath as the final test concluded. Her muscles ached, and sweat clung to her brow, but she had done it. She had passed. The combat trial had been grueling, pushing her to the limits of her agility and endurance, but she had held her own. The survival challenge had tested her adaptability, forcing her to navigate a simulated wilderness scenario, finding food and shelter within a strict time limit. The reasoning test had been the most unexpected—she had been given a scenario where a village was under attack, and she had to decide between defending the people or hunting down the source of the threat. Her strategic thinking had earned her high marks.

Kael, despite his grumbling about how ridiculous the whole process was, had also passed with ease. His brute strength, honed combat skills, and keen instincts had made him a natural. Even the guild examiners had been impressed, though Kael acted as if it was all just an inconvenience. “I didn’t even want to do this,” he muttered under his breath as they were handed their temporary adventurer tags. Aeliana smirked, nudging him playfully. “And yet, here you are, officially an adventurer.” He sighed dramatically but pocketed his tag without further complaint.

The registrar returned, stamping their forms with approval. “You’re both officially registered. Your temporary tags will last until you complete your first quest—after that, you’ll be given permanent rankings based on your performance. Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild.” Aeliana felt a surge of pride as she held the metal tag in her palm. This was it. A new path, an adventure that was hers to forge. No titles, no obligations—just her own strength and determination. Kael glanced at her, reading the excitement in her eyes, and sighed again. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret this,” he muttered. But Aeliana only grinned. “Come on, Kael. This is just the beginning.”