The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Chapter 251 Shadowbound Back to Action

Draven, now under the alias of Dravis, walked silently beside Sylvanna as they approached the large wooden doors of the adventurer's guild. His cloak billowed slightly in the breeze, concealing his face beneath the hood, the lower half of which was covered by a mask. His twin curved blades remained hidden beneath the folds of his attire, but they were never far from his reach.

Sylvanna, walking at his side, moved with a quiet grace, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. The guildhall loomed ahead, a familiar sight to them both, though it had been some time since they had last set foot here.

The moment they entered, a wave of hushed murmurs spread through the room. Adventurers clustered in groups, their conversations pausing as they glanced toward the door. The name "Dravis of Shadowbound" hung in the air like an unspoken legend.

Whispers of his exploits filled the hall, the rumors weaving tales of his deadly efficiency, cold demeanor, and the shadowy reputation that had earned him the moniker "The Assassin of Winter."

Sylvanna could hear the snippets of conversation as they passed.

"That's him, right? Dravis—the one who took down the goblin king uprising in the north…"

"…and Lady Icevern? They say he helped her fend off the goblins before Earl Drakhan arrived…"

"And the beastmaster... the one who tamed a magma bear, no less. What kind of ranger can handle a creature like that?"

"Have you heard? They reached A-rank faster than anyone I've ever seen."

Another voice chimed in, lowering to a near whisper. "An S-rank vouched for them, said they were some of the deadliest in the north. Though, truth be told, I've never heard of them until now."

Draven's sharp ears caught the last comment, and though his expression remained unchanged beneath his mask, he filed it away in his mind. The S-ranked adventurer who had vouched for him was not someone he recognized. Perhaps that explained their weakness. In this world, not every adventurer carried the weight of power that their rank implied.

His calculating mind quickly pieced together that this individual might not be a named character from the game's original world—a minor player in the larger scheme. It was something to consider later.

The guildhall, despite its bustling atmosphere, always felt like a stage to Draven. Every adventurer, every quest, every rumor was a piece of the broader puzzle he sought to control. He and Sylvanna exchanged a brief glance, both of them accustomed to the attention their presence garnered.

They had operated in the shadows for so long, gaining reputation rapidly, but always under the guise of anonymity. Dravis and Sylvanna—the Shadowbound duo—were nothing more than tools for him to ensure that the timeline of this world followed the trajectory he needed it to.

A familiar face appeared from one of the tables near the quest board, an old contact who had seen them through many of their early jobs.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to crawl out of the shadows," the man said with a grin, his voice rough but friendly. "Where've you two been hiding? It's been, what… months?"

Dravis's response was as cold as ever. "Busy."

The man chuckled, clearly used to Dravis's cryptic replies. "Busy, huh? Yeah, I'll bet. Stories about you two have been circulating all over the place. A lot of folks are curious why you suddenly vanished."

Sylvanna smirked but said nothing, letting Dravis handle the conversation. He didn't need to explain himself—he never did. The less people knew, the better.

The man's grin faltered slightly at Dravis's silence, but he shrugged it off. "Well, whatever you've been up to, it's good to see you back. You looking for work?"

Without responding, Dravis strode toward the quest board, his sharp eyes scanning the various postings. The quests were the usual mix of local problems—beast exterminations, bandit hunts, and escort missions. His gaze swept past them all, searching for something more significant. Something that could affect the world in a way the players once did.

Then he saw it.

A flyer, half-obscured by other papers, bore the title that made his blood freeze for a fraction of a second.

The Plague of Shadows.

The words alone sent a chill through him, not because he feared the quest itself, but because of what it represented. This was a key event from the game's original storyline. A player-driven quest that, if left unchecked, would escalate into a disaster far larger than anyone in this world could comprehend.

The plague had the potential to spiral out of control, and the timeline would shift irreparably if the necessary steps weren't taken.

He reached out and pulled the flyer from the board, holding it up for Sylvanna to see. Her eyes narrowed as she read the title, then flicked back up to him, a question forming on her lips.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice low but laced with curiosity.

Dravis didn't answer immediately, his mind already calculating the implications. After a moment, he spoke, his voice a cold whisper. "The Plague of Shadows. A quest that should be taken by a high-ranked adventurer party. But there are seem to be no one here, so it falls to us."

Sylvanna's brow furrowed as she considered the title. "What does it involve?"

"A town in the mountains," Dravis replied, his voice measured. "People there are losing their shadows. As the illness progresses, they fall into comas, their bodies untouched but their minds gone. No one has returned from investigating the source. If we don't handle it, the plague will spread, and the consequences will be dire."

Sylvanna nodded, trusting his judgment. She had learned long ago that Dravis's knowledge of the world far exceeded her own, even if he never explained how he knew what he did. Together, they turned to leave, but before they could take a step, the receptionist at the guild counter called out to them. Experience tales at empire

"Wait!" the young woman hurried over, her expression a mixture of concern and disbelief. "Are you really going to take that quest?"

Dravis didn't break his stride, but Sylvanna glanced at the receptionist, one eyebrow raised. "Why wouldn't we?"

The receptionist wrung her hands nervously, glancing between the two adventurers and the quest flyer in Dravis's hand. "That quest… no one's returned from it. It's said to be incredibly dangerous—something even the S-ranked adventurers have turned down."

Dravis paused, turning his cold gaze toward the receptionist. "Then it's fortunate we're not like the others."

The receptionist swallowed hard, clearly unsettled by the icy demeanor of the adventurer before her. "But… it's a death sentence. People are saying it should only be handled by an S-ranked team. And even then…"

Sylvanna crossed her arms, her voice calm but firm. "We're aware of the risks. That's why we're taking it."

Dravis didn't need to explain himself further. He could see the fear in the receptionist's eyes, the uncertainty that had plagued the guild ever since the quest appeared. The world was changing, just as it had in the game, and most adventurers didn't realize what was coming. But Draven did. He had to ensure that the events played out as they should—on his terms.

Dravis turned his back to the receptionist, already prepared to leave the guild when a familiar, low voice echoed through the hall.

"It's fine," the voice said, calm yet carrying the weight of authority. "Let the Shadowbound take the quest."

The adventurers milling about turned their heads as the guildmaster made his entrance from the upper balcony of the hall, descending the stairs with measured steps. The guildmaster was a broad-shouldered man with graying hair, his eyes sharp and filled with years of experience. He had seen countless adventurers rise and fall, and it wasn't often that he intervened in matters like this.

As he approached, the guildmaster's eyes met Dravis's. His gaze was one of respect, tempered with caution. "I've heard about your exploits in the north," the guildmaster began, his voice low but commanding. "Your reputation precedes you, Dravis."

Dravis remained silent, watching the man with his usual cold intensity, waiting for him to continue.

The guildmaster stopped a few feet away from them, his eyes shifting between Dravis and Sylvanna. "The Plague of Shadows is no ordinary quest," he said, his tone dropping to something more serious. "We've sent parties before—good men and women, some of the best in this guild—and none of them have returned. It's unlike anything we've encountered before.

Dangerous enough that even the S-ranked teams are turning it down."

He crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "Are you really going to take it?"

For a brief moment, the room fell into a tense silence, all eyes on Dravis and Sylvanna. Adventurers shifted uncomfortably, murmuring among themselves. The guildmaster had raised a valid concern, and everyone knew how serious the situation was. Yet, the weight of the question seemed to bounce off Dravis as if it had no impact.

Dravis met the guildmaster's gaze, his voice as cold and steady as ever. "We'll take it."

The guildmaster's eyes narrowed slightly, studying the man before him. There was something about Dravis—a quiet, unwavering confidence that made the guildmaster hesitate for just a moment. But then he nodded, seemingly satisfied with the response.

"Very well," the guildmaster said, his voice calm but heavy with the weight of responsibility. "You'll be the first in a long time to take on this quest. If anyone can handle it, perhaps it's the Shadowbound."