Haruto stood still, watching as Annie's body slowly began to break apart. Her headless form wobbled for a moment before cracks spread across her skin like dry earth. The blood that had pooled on the ground thickened, losing its color. In mere seconds, her entire body crumbled, falling apart into chunks of soft clay. A gentle breeze carried the remains away until all that was left was a fine layer of dust, which quickly scattered into nothingness.
Haruto tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing. "A golem…" he muttered. "So that's what the dog meant."
He took a deep breath, shaking off the unease creeping into his chest. There was no point in standing around. He had done what needed to be done. Without looking back, he turned and walked toward the mansion's entrance.
The large wooden doors creaked as he pushed them open, stepping out into the cool evening air. He followed the stone path to the main gate, where Mai stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently.
The moment their eyes met, her face lit up. "Haruto!" she called out, running toward him. Before he could react, she threw her arms around him, pressing herself against his chest.
"I missed you, darling~," she whispered, her voice dripping with affection.
Haruto felt his face heat up. His heart skipped a beat as he hesitated, then gently pushed her back. "Y-Yeah, yeah—I missed you too."
Mai pouted, puffing her cheeks. "Geez, you're such a meanie."
Before he could say anything else, she suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled him in, pressing her lips against his in a deep, forceful kiss. His eyes widened in shock as he felt her warmth completely consume him.
After a few seconds, she pulled away with a playful grin. She licked her lips slowly, biting them as she stared into his eyes. "Mphm~ Thanks for the kiss, darling~."
Haruto, still flustered, turned his face away, trying to compose himself. "D-Don't just do that out of nowhere!"
Mai giggled, tilting her head. "Aww, but I just couldn't help myself~."
Before Haruto could argue further, the sound of hooves echoed in the distance. A white horse pulling a wooden wagon approached, stopping just a few feet away.
Mai grinned and tugged on Haruto's arm. "Come on, let's go to the town of Azbecks." Without waiting for his response, she pulled him into the wagon, and the driver flicked the reins, setting off on their journey.
The ride was quiet, the rhythmic clatter of the wheels against the dirt road filling the silence. Haruto gazed at the passing scenery, his mind replaying the events at the mansion. Mai, on the other hand, leaned comfortably against him, humming softly.
After a few hours, they finally arrived at their destination.
The towering stone walls of Azbecks loomed ahead, and the massive gate stood closed, guarded by two armored soldiers. As the wagon came to a stop, one of the guards stepped forward.
"State your business and provide identification," he said firmly.
Mai reached into her pocket and handed over a small card. The guard examined it, his face paling almost instantly. His hands trembled slightly as he glanced at Mai, who was staring at him with an impatient expression.
"Y-You may pass!" the guard stammered, quickly signaling to open the gate.
Haruto raised an eyebrow at Mai. "What was that about?"
Mai smirked. "Oh, nothing~ Just a little bit of influence."
As the wagon rolled through the gates, they entered the bustling city of Azbecks. Cobblestone streets stretched before them, lined with shops, inns, and market stalls filled with merchants selling all kinds of goods. The air buzzed with activity as people moved about, engaging in trade and conversation.
The wagon came to a stop near a cozy-looking inn. Mai wasted no time hopping out and dragging Haruto along. She stepped inside and spoke briefly to the innkeeper before returning with a key in hand.
"I booked us a couple's room~" she said with a wink, making Haruto sigh.
"Why do I even bother…" he muttered.
Instead of heading inside, Mai grabbed his hand and pulled him toward a large building down the street. Above the entrance, a sign read 'Adventurer's Guild.'
They stepped inside, the smell of wood and parchment filling the air. The room was lively, filled with adventurers of all ranks discussing missions, accepting quests, and exchanging battle stories.
Behind the reception desk stood a woman with long brown hair and a warm smile. The moment she saw Mai, her eyes lit up in recognition.
"Oh! Lady Mai! Long time no see. How have you been?" the receptionist greeted.
Mai grinned. "I've been great, Elle! What about you? How are the kids and your husband?"
Elle let out a sigh. "The kids are doing well, and my husband is still as useless as ever."
Mai laughed. "Sounds about right."
Elle shook her head with a smile. "Anyway, how can I help you today?"
Mai nudged Haruto forward. "I brought my husband here to get him registered as an adventurer because he likes to engage in useless combat with things ten times stronger than him." She said it with a sarcastic happy face.
Haruto rolled his eyes. "You didn't have to put it that way."
Elle chuckled. "I see… Since we have to follow protocol, I'll explain everything from the start."
Elle cleared her throat before continuing. "We have six ranks that adventurers progress through by completing commissions assigned by the Empire or the Adventurer's Guild:
Bronze
Silver
Diamond
Platinum
Adamantium
Lady Mai is an Adamantium-ranked adventurer. She has completed over 5,000 commissions, ranging from C-rank to S-rank."
Haruto turned to Mai, surprised. "You never told me that."
Mai shrugged. "You never asked~."
Elle continued, "Commissions are ranked in alphabetical order:
F
E
D
C
B
A
S
All commissions are assigned by the people of the Empire, verified by the Adventurer's Guild, and posted on the Commission Board. Adventurers can take a maximum of five commissions per day, with a small bonus on the first two."
Elle handed Haruto a registration form. "Fill this out, and we'll get you started."
Haruto sighed, taking the paper. "Guess I'm doing this now."
Mai smirked. "Welcome to the guild, darling~."
Elle placed her hand on the counter. "Not so fast, Lady Mai. He still has to pass the physical exam."
"True, when's the next F-rank exam being held?" Mai asked.
"In two days. Make sure to be on time because if you're even one second late, the guild master will kick you out himself," Elle replied.
After chatting for a bit, Mai and Haruto left the guild. As they approached the inn, they noticed an old man cooking something that smelled delicious. Mai's eyes lit up, and she rushed over. "Old man! Two Zuski, please!"
She handed one to Haruto, and they ate as they walked back to the inn.
As they entered, Mai stretched and yawned. "Alright, darling, go take a wash~."
Haruto sighed and headed toward the bathroom. As he turned on the water, he suddenly heard the door creak open. He turned around, only to freeze in shock as Mai stepped in, completely unclothed. A mischievous smile played on her lips.
"Mind if I join you~?" she purred.
Haruto's face burned as he instinctively turned away. "M-Mai! What are you doing?!"
Mai giggled, stepping closer, the warm steam wrapping around her like a veil. "What does it look like, darling? We're a couple, aren't we?~"
Haruto swallowed hard, keeping his gaze firmly on the tiled wall. "T-That doesn't mean you can just barge in like this!"
Mai playfully pouted. "Aww, you're so shy~ It's cute." She leaned in, tracing her finger along his arm. "You've been working hard. Let me take care of you~."
Before Haruto could protest, Mai grabbed a washcloth and started lathering his back, humming softly. Despite his initial resistance, the warmth of the water and her gentle touch made it difficult to stay tense.
After a while, they finished bathing and dried off, heading to bed.
As Haruto lay down, trying to clear his mind, Mai suddenly climbed on top of him, her long hair cascading around them like a curtain. Her golden eyes shimmered with a soft glow in the dim candlelight.
"Please be gentle, honey~ It's my first time," she whispered, her voice slow and loving.
Haruto's breath hitched. "M-Mai! P-Please don't do stuff like this…"
She chuckled, leaning closer. "I just love teasing you, darling~."
They played around for a bit—tickling, poking, and playfully wrestling under the sheets—before finally settling down. Mai nestled herself against Haruto's chest, sighing in contentment.
"Goodnight, darling~," she murmured.
Haruto exhaled, still flustered, but found himself smiling as he draped an arm over her. "Goodnight, Mai."
To be continued...