[The Next Morning – Guild Hall, Grenz Town]
The Truck Survivors sat around a large table, a fresh Silver-rank emblem pinned to their cloaks. The mood was good — mugs clinked, breakfast vanished in record time, and Takeshi was already outside polishing his beloved Fuso Shogun 510.
Daichi (grinning): "Alright! Time to see what Silver rank gets us!"
Ms. Sato: "Hopefully not another pack of wild boars."
Sho (muttering, still chewing): "Or exploding mushrooms."
Takeshi (entering, wiping his hands on a towel): "Truck's ready for action."
Receptionist Ruki appeared at their table with a bright, predatory smile — the kind of look that meant trouble.
Ruki: "Morning, Truck Survivors! I've got your official Silver-rank certification quest!"
The room hushed as other adventurers leaned in to listen. Silver certification quests were often tough — a way for the guild to weed out the unworthy.
Ruki dramatically slapped a parchment on the table.
Quest: Purge The Haunted Mistveil Mansion
Objective: Exorcise or eliminate the spirits in Mistveil Mansion, an abandoned noble's estate near the outskirts.
Danger: Mid-level.
Reward: 20,000 Gold + permanent Silver-rank status.
Nobu (paling): "Ghosts…?"
Aya: "Oh no."
Jun (deadpan): "I knew it. It's the haunted house arc."
Daichi (grabbing the quest paper): "Let's get it over with."
Takeshi (snapping his truck keys): "I'll warm up the Fuso."
At Mistveil Mansion
A towering, crumbling manor rose from mist-choked fields. Broken windows. Shutters clattering in the wind. The place radiated malevolence.
Mari (shivering): "It's like something out of a horror movie…"
Aiko (to Takeshi): "Please don't tell me you're gonna drive your truck inside."
Takeshi (smirking): "Wouldn't be the first time."
The group organized like always:
Team 1 would clear the east wing.
Team 2 handled the west wing.
Team 3 took point at the entrance and backup.
Backup Squad guarded the perimeter.
Inside The Mansion
Creaking floorboards, flickering lights, ghostly whispers.
Daichi's team ran into floating chairs and a spectral old lady knitting aggressively.
Rina (drawing daggers): "Hostile grandma at twelve o'clock!"
They fought their way through, weapons flashing, until Ms. Sato's team arrived, using holy charms and Usapyon's suspiciously effective steamed buns as ghost bait.
Usapyon: "Ye ghosts can't resist a good bun, mon!"
Meanwhile…
Outside, Takeshi got bored.
Takeshi (to himself): "Y'know what'd clear ghosts real fast?"
He started up the Fuso Shogun 510, revved it up… and smashed straight through the mansion's crumbling main wall.
CRASHHH!!
Ghosts scattered like frightened pigeons.
Spectral Butler (wailing): "What the—?!"
Aiko (screaming): "TAKESHI!"
Takeshi (cheerfully from the driver's seat): "Ghost problem's over!"
The mansion shuddered, half-collapsed, and the remaining spirits visibly panicked. A few burst into harmless glittery mist.
Haru (blinking): "Well… it worked."
Ms. Sato (facepalming): "We're so getting fined for this."
Aftermath
The guild reluctantly approved their Silver status after confirming the mansion was now ghost-free, if a bit… flattened.
Reward:
20,000 Gold
Official Silver-rank Certification
Bonus: The mansion's landowner was so relieved the hauntings were over, they didn't care about the building.
Ruki (handing over their new Silver tags): "I don't know whether to congratulate you or ban you, but here."
Takeshi (grinning, patting his truck): "Job well done."
Demon Lord's Castle, Again
Messenger Demon (to the Demon Lord): "Uh… Mistveil Mansion has been, uh, 'cleared.'"
Demon Lord (fuming): "Let me guess — the metal beast again?!"
Messenger (gulping): "Yes, sire."
Demon Lord: "CURSE THAT METAL MONSTER!"