Chapter 147: Mistwalker
The next day...
"Why did you bring me here, Kael? You do know that I have a duty to fulfill, and I do not have permission to stay away from the guild this long, so say what you want from me already."
Standing in the narrow alley between the guild building and the nearby shops, Celeste demanded impatiently, her arms crossed as she glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention.
Kael crossed his arms as well before leaning his back against the cold stone wall, his gaze calm but focused, "I want information."
Celeste stared at him for a long moment before letting out a tired sigh, "Well, getting information from me is not exactly cheap, but since you helped me the other day, I suppose I can compromise this once. So, what is it that you want to know?"
Kael looked at her quietly and thought for a moment, carefully organizing his thoughts before speaking, "Do you happen to know a woman who wears navy blue armor and a half-helm? She has soft blue hair, or at least I think she does."
Celeste fell silent for a moment before her expression stiffened, then she suddenly covered her mouth as laughter slipped out despite her effort to hold it back, "Pfft… oh, poor Kael. Are you really living in this town? At this point, I honestly doubt it. Oh gods, I cannot hold it anymore. How can someone be this clueless?"
He shot her an irritated look, his brows furrowing slightly, "Do you think I came here to joke with you while you laugh like that?"
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she said, "Sorry, sorry, I really couldn't help it. It is just that the woman you are talking about is the S-Ranked adventurer of our guild, Mistwalker. Of course, I would laugh. How could an adventurer like you not know about her?"
'That's really unexpected.'
Kael froze for a moment before his expression went blank, then he covered his face with his hand in clear embarrassment, "She is the mysterious Mistwalker? Well, I have heard of her a few times, though not much. I have never met her personally either, and to be honest, I did not even know Mistwalker was a woman until now. Things like this happen sometimes, you know, so just forget it. Tell me more about her."
Celeste glanced around the alley cautiously before lowering her voice slightly, a soft chuckle escaping her lips, "Alright, alright, I will tell you. However, sharing personal information about a woman outside the guild staff is strictly forbidden, so you must make sure this stays between us. If word gets out, my job would be at risk, and I really do not want that, so this has to remain a secret, okay?"
Kael nodded without hesitation, his tone serious, "Of course. You can trust me, Celeste."
She paused briefly before raising a finger as if organizing her thoughts, then continued, "First of all, you should know that even the guild itself knows almost nothing about Mistwalker's background. She rarely visits the guild, and when she does, she goes straight to the second floor without wasting time, but most of us do not even notice her presence. She usually takes only one elite quest each month, and those quests are often related to matters outside the town and tend to be long-term ones."
'If that's true, then she must work alone most of the time.'
Kael frowned slightly as he listened carefully, then said, "Is there any way to meet her soon, or at least learn her true identity so I can go and meet her myself?"
Celeste remained silent for a moment before answering in a quieter tone, "I heard she returned from her last quest a few days ago, so she should stay in town for a while before taking another one. If luck favors you, you might meet her. As for her identity, even we do not know who she really is, what her face even looks like, or where she comes from or lives."
Kael stared ahead as a strange expression slowly formed on his face, his voice thoughtful, "But how is that possible? If my knowledge is correct, no one is allowed to register as an adventurer without providing personal information. How did she even become one then?"
Celeste lightly touched her chin as she considered his words, "You are not wrong. According to the guild's primary rules, she should never have been allowed to register. However, the rules were created by the Guildmaster himself, so exceptions can be made whenever he wishes. He never explained why he accepted her, but he did warn us about one thing. He said she is a walking calamity, and the guild must do everything it can to keep her neutral or pull her to our side, otherwise there would be nothing left but ruin."
Kael froze for a moment.
Of course, he understood why the Guildmaster felt that way. After all, he had witnessed only a small fraction of her power the other day, and anyone who had seen even that much would find it difficult not to feel fear. Still, this act of concealing her identity did not sit right with him. If she truly possessed such overwhelming strength, then why had she gone so far as to hide who she really was? Was there some reason behind it that he could not yet grasp? Besides, if she was genuinely an adventurer, then why did her armor resemble that of a knight order so closely? Or perhaps could it be that she had chosen to design it that way herself?
'Ah, the more I learn about her, the more mysterious she becomes. Well, at least I do not have to call her the blue-haired girl anymore.'
Taking a slow breath, he straightened his posture and spoke calmly, "I see. So, Celeste, can you do me one more favor?"
She remained silent for a moment as if weighing his words, then replied in a strangely measured voice, "Of course. That will also be your last free information. From now on, you will have to give me something in return if you want more, got it? So, what is this favor of yours?"
Kael stepped forward until he was directly facing her, then scratched the back of his neck with a hint of hesitation, "Alright. If you meet Mistwalker, then tell her that the weakest adventurer of Velhart wishes to meet her in person."
Celeste smiled faintly, the curve of her lips carrying a quiet amusement, "Okay, I will do just that."
She tilted her head slightly, and her smile dimmed for a brief moment before she asked in a curious tone, "Anyway, where did you get that strange bracelet of yours from? Was it perhaps given to you by someone important?"
Kael let out a soft sigh, "Yes, it was from my teacher."
After that, Celeste did not say another word.
---
A month later...
Seraphina sat in her usual seat inside the knight order's office, her fingers interlaced together as her forehead rested against them for some support. Her expression was anything but calm, and the same could be said about her mood, even though nothing unusual had occurred recently and her workload had not been particularly heavy either.
'This is getting rather frustrating. I cannot focus on anything, nor can I forget that moment no matter how hard I try,' she thought, her irritation becoming clearer with each passing second.
How could she not be irritated?
For the past several days, she had been haunted by a single scene, one that replayed itself endlessly without her consent, which was the moment when Queen had touched Kael's lips and nearly kissed his neck. At first, she genuinely believed that it would not matter to her at all, and for the first few weeks, it truly did not. In fact, she had almost forgotten about it entirely.
However, as time passed, the memory began to resurface again and again, eventually turning into something disturbingly close to a nightmare. She had tried everything she could think of to erase it from her thoughts, but every attempt ended in failure, leaving her sitting there in growing frustration. What troubled her most was the question of why such a trivial incident could affect her so deeply.
Knock! Knock!
Seraphina immediately straightened her posture, and her voice turned cold and composed, "Come in."
The door opened, and Arwyn stepped inside, her silver armor catching the light as it glistened faintly, while her long ponytail swayed gently behind her. Her teal-green eyes looked no different at first glance, but something about her felt off.
Lately, she had appeared more exhausted than usual, as though she had not been sleeping properly for quite some time.
Could it be possible that she had been secretly listening to both her and Kael's conversations through those bracelets? If that were the case, then she might already know about their marriage, although judging by her behavior, she did not seem like someone who had overheard such a secret, or perhaps she was simply hiding it well.
Then again, there might have been another reason behind her tired appearance.
Regardless, that ability of hers, the one that allowed her to hear through her tendrils and perceive their surroundings, was undeniably useful at times, but also deeply unsettling when thought about carefully. Even Arwyn herself was not immune to its dangers, since if a tendril were to be severed while she was using both senses, there was a very real chance she could lose her hearing completely, or at the very least suffer intense pain or severe mental shock. That was precisely why she only relied on that ability when it was absolutely necessary.
Still, Seraphina was quietly grateful that Arwyn could not see through those tendrils, since that would have caused far more trouble than she cared to imagine.
Nevertheless, Arwyn was an exceptionally talented individual among human mages across the world. There were hardly any humans who could rival her mastery over plant-related elements, especially since such elements were far more common among elves and rarely seen among humans.
Because of that, Seraphina had once suspected that her friend might be a half-elf, but judging by her ears alone, that did not seem to be the case.
Looking at her friend, she remained silent for a while, her fingers lightly tapping against the armrest, then she finally asked in a cold voice, "Have you gathered the lists of the people who were reported as missing within the past few years?"
Arwyn nodded quickly in response, her posture straightening almost instinctively as she answered, "Yes, Captain. I have gathered most of them. With due respect, do you truly believe this will be enough to identify the humans who were turned into monsters? As you know, people going missing regularly is considered fairly normal in our town, since most of them are adventurers who either enter the dungeon and fail their missions before meeting an immeasurable death, or foolish individuals who dare to step into the Forest of Death out of sheer greed even though it is strictly forbidden. Because of this, recovering their bodies often becomes nearly impossible, which causes these cases to remain unresolved most of the time. Due to that reason, separating those who became Queen's victims from those who simply vanished by natural causes will be extremely difficult."
Seraphina leaned back against her chair slowly as she briefly met Arwyn's eyes with a composed gaze, "Indeed, it is just as you said. It is difficult to separate between them. However, that is precisely the reason we never realized someone was taking advantage of such circumstances and secretly conducting human experiments. All this time, we must have been receiving reports from the victims' family members, yet we dismissed them under the belief that such disappearances were inevitable. In the end, our own assumptions blinded us. Now then, how many reports have you found?"
Taking a few steps forward, Arwyn handed several papers to Seraphina while keeping a parchment to herself, then spoke in a clear tone, "A total of two hundred and fifty people have been reported missing over the years. Among them, twenty-seven were either found or returned, and forty-one were confirmed dead or officially reported as deceased, which leaves one hundred and eighty-two people who remain unaccounted for. Interestingly, the number of new cases has been dropping drastically as the years passed. Here, you can check the details yourself."
Seraphina accepted the papers and began reading through them slowly, her cold gaze scanning each line with careful attention as she murmured under her breath, "No wonder we never found it suspicious before."
At that moment, strange and chaotic shouting erupted from outside, the noise so loud that even Seraphina momentarily lost her focus.
"THE KNIGHT ORDERS ARE USELESS!"
"THAT'S RIGHT! USELESS, ALL OF THEM!"
"DOES IT REALLY TAKE WEEKS UPON WEEKS TO CATCH A SINGLE MURDERER!"
"NO! NO!"
"WHAT'S THE POINT OF ARRIVING AT THE OFFICE IF THEY CAN'T DO THEIR DAMN JOBS!"
"MONEY! IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY!"
"I'M TELLING YOU ALL, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHO THE MURDERER IS AND THEY WERE PAID IN GOLD TO STAY SILENT!"
"YES! YES! THAT'S HOW IT IS!"
"BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ARE WE REALLY GOING TO ACCEPT SUCH A FATE FOR OUR FELLOW HUMANS! THEY DESERVE JUSTICE!"
"JUSTICE! JUSTICE!"
"THE SWORD PRINCESS IS NOTHING BUT EMPTY TALK! EVEN SHE SOLD HERSELF TO GOLD LIKE THE REST! IF SHE DIDN'T, THEN WHERE IS THE COMMONERS' JUSTICE SHE PROMISED!"
"WHERE! WHERE!"
"MY BROTHER IS ROTTING IN THE GROUND WHILE THE MURDERER WALKS THE STREETS WITHOUT FEAR! WHY DOES HE GET TO LIVE!"
"WHY! WHY!"
"DO NOT FORGET, EVEN AN S-RANK ADVENTURER, WHO PROTECTED US FROM DANGEROUS MONSTERS WHILE RISKING HIS LIFE EVERY DAY, NEVER RECEIVED JUSTICE! IS THIS HOW YOU REPAY HIM!"
"WE DEMAND JUSTICE! WE NEED JUSTICE!"
"RESIGN, SERAPHINA!"
"RESIGN! RESIGN!"
Arwyn moved toward the window at one side of the wall and glanced outside, only to notice a large crowd gathered in front of their office, with a broad-shouldered man standing at the forefront and leading them. Her lips parted slightly as her expression twisted in visible anger, "How dare they demand such a thing out of nowhere? Have they forgotten who made it possible for them to live such lives? Without you, Captain, these people would have either starved to death under excessive taxes imposed by former gang leaders or become victims of human trafficking. Just give me the order, Captain, and I will personally imprison that ugly bastard and teach him how to show proper respect face to face."
There was no response.
Arwyn hurried back toward her friend, concern creeping into her voice as she called out, "Captain? Pull yourself together..."
However, when her gaze finally fell upon Seraphina, Arwyn froze slightly in place, her breath hitching as she muttered under her breath, "W-what is with that expression, Captain? Gods, you almost frightened me."
Before her, Seraphina's face had darkened completely, an unnatural blue flame dancing within her eyes as her lips curved into a terrifying smile, one that held amusement rather than rage, and in a voice filled with cold excitement she said, "A rebellion? To think she would use such a foolish tactic against me is truly unexpected. It appears the battle I have been waiting for has finally begun. Let us see who emerges victorious in the end."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, giving Arwyn almost a chill, and said in a measured tone, "Were you saying something, Lieutenant?"
Arwyn remained silent for a brief moment before letting out a quiet sigh, then she answered carefully, "Uh, yes... should we arrest that man who was spouting nonsense about us?"
Seraphina touched her chin thoughtfully, her gaze turning distant as she answered coldly, "There is no need. Let him be... for now. If we were to lay a hand on him at this moment, then it would only serve to convince the citizens that his demands are actually true despite the fact that they are not, and as a result, he would gain more supporters by the day. Besides, our inability to apprehend the murderer is also a failure on our part, so enduring this much resentment is something we deserve."
Arwyn turned her gaze toward the window, watching the outside for a moment before letting out a quiet chuckle, her teal-green eyes glowing faintly as she spoke, "I understand your reasoning. However, if we allow this to continue without intervention, then he will start thinking far too highly of himself and will undoubtedly begin spreading false rumors about you. Still, I do have a way to prevent such an outcome. If you permit me, shall I pay him a visit tonight, merely to instruct him in proper manners?"
'If I allow her to go, then that man would never be able to show his face in public again, and dealing with the aftermath would only become more troublesome later,' Seraphina thought inwardly, her expression tightening almost imperceptibly.
She pressed her fingers against her temple and let out a tired sigh before speaking again, "Do not trouble yourself with that. Simply observe his movements closely, that will suffice. More importantly, what is that parchment you are holding, and who sent it?"
Arwyn glanced down at her hand and startled slightly, as though she had just remembered its presence, "Ah, right, I almost forgot. This is a personal request from the Guildmaster. After careful consideration, the guild has decided to enter the dungeon before a Dungeon Break occurs. The amount of mana surrounding it has been increasing beyond expectations after days of inspection, yet nothing has emerged from within, which suggests that monsters from the lower floors are gathering in large numbers, and as more time passes, the likelihood of powerful lower-floor monsters appearing increases significantly."
She paused briefly, collecting her thoughts, before handing over the parchment and continuing, "The guild suspects that the scale of the monsters will be so overwhelming that if a Dungeon Break happens now, the town could be completely wiped out given its current defensive capabilities. Because of this, they require more time to gather adventurers from the Capital while simultaneously reducing the monster population inside the dungeon to maintain balance. They are deploying four out of the five S-Ranked adventurers, and they have requested that we send a troop of knights to support them in this venture, if possible."
Hearing this, Seraphina's eyes sharpened instantly and her expression grew heavy as her thoughts raced, 'To think that the appearance of a single demon could lead to such a devastating disaster in the near future, and at a time like this no less. Even so, the Guildmaster is taking an enormous risk. Those adventurers are the core of our defenses against monsters, and if we lose them during this mission, then the town will truly have no hope. I must choose carefully.'
Noticing the long silence of her friend, Arwyn spoke in a somber and concerned voice, "Are you alright, Captain? If you are unable to make a clear decision right now, then please take your time. The mission is scheduled to begin next week."
Taking a deep breath, Seraphina lowered her gaze to the parchment before speaking in a cold, resolute voice, "No, I have already made my decision. I will not be sending any troops to support them. Given the town's current situation, we cannot afford to lose even a single knight, since they are needed to maintain order and control crime, and losing them would only plunge the town into chaos."
Arwyn fell silent for a moment before responding in a strangely subdued voice, "Understood. In that case, I will send a rejection letter on your behalf. The Guildmaster is a wise man, so he will respect your decision."
Seraphina gave her friend a long, penetrating look, her brows drawing together slightly as she frowned, "What are you talking about? Who said anything about rejecting their request? The town is at risk, so we must do everything within our power to assist them."
Arwyn tilted her head in confusion, her eyes widening as realization dawned on her, "Captain… you are not planning what I think you are, are you?"
Seraphina interlaced her fingers on the table and rested her chin upon them, blue flames dancing around one of her eyes as she spoke with quiet authority, "Yes, I will be the one joining the mission instead. Let us see who dares to threaten my town."
Arwyn remained silent for a long moment, her gaze lowering as if she were carefully weighing every possibility in her mind, then a strange and troubled expression slowly surfaced on her face as she finally spoke in a voice filled with concern, "But that is far too dangerous. There is a very real chance you might lose your life there, Captain. Fighting a single S-Ranked monster is already manageable for you, yet ten, no, fifty of them at the same time, especially inside their own domain, is beyond what even someone as strong as you should face. You are also not a seasonal warrior who can fight endlessly the way adventurers are accustomed to."
She paused for a moment, then added with a somber tone, "I understand how deeply you cherish this town and its people and how much you want to protect them, but this is still too reckless. Besides, what if that Archwitch makes another move while you are not here? We are no match for her either. Please forgive my rudeness, but I ask you to reconsider your decision once more and send me there instead. Because the town needs you more than it needs me right now. I will do everything in my power to ensure that I do not disappoint you."
Seraphina let out a quiet sigh, then turned her gaze toward the window as the corner of her lips curved upward ever so slightly, "Why are you getting so worked up? Who do you think you are, my mother? You should know that I am not going there alone. There will be four other S-Ranked mages accompanying me, all of them more experienced than I am, so you do not need to worry so much. I will be in good hands."
She paused for a moment, then added calmly, "If that still fails to convince you, then understand this much. I cannot defeat that witch with my current strength. I need to grow far stronger than I am now. Sitting here buried under documents will never grant me that opportunity. I need real experience if I want to attain greater power. Besides, these endless signings and reports have already made me far too complacent. Think of this as nothing more than an extended training session."
Arwyn already knew that once her friend made a decision, she would follow it through without hesitation, no matter what stood in her way. Seraphina had always been stubborn to the core, and perhaps it was that very stubbornness that had carried her to the position she held today.
Whether countless monsters or an Archwitch stood in her path, Seraphina would always find a way to overcome them and seize victory by any means necessary, taking one step at a time toward an impossible dream she had chosen for herself. To create equal law and justice for both commoners and nobles, she needed power, power to create laws, power to rewrite laws, power to enforce laws, and power so absolute that even the King himself could not oppose her.
In the Kingdom of Graveion, there was only one title that embodied all of that authority at once.
The Grand Marshal.
The supreme commander who wielded seven different knight orders, each led by their own Warden Generals, and one of the rare individuals fortunate enough to earn the Emperor's personal favor.
To achieve that dream, Seraphina had to become the Grand Marshal, a position even her father had failed to reach despite serving the knight orders for decades. The path before her was filled with countless obstacles, but she had chosen it herself and was determined to climb to the very top no matter the cost. Was that not the same determination that led Arwyn to follow in her footsteps? If her friend was to achieve that dream, then she would need someone strong enough to guard her back when the time came, and there was no one more suited to that role than herself.
As for the emotional support and certain private physical needs her friend required, she could now rely solely on Kael, and Arwyn could rest easy knowing that her friend would no longer have to die as a virgin.
A fleeting smile curved Arwyn's lips as she spoke lightly, "Alright, you have managed to convince me again. But in return, I demand a promise from you, Captain."
Seraphina tilted her head slightly and asked, "What is it?"
Arwyn paused for a moment, then extended her hand forward with visible excitement, "When all of this is over, you must take a break and go on a date with Kael. Not here though, you should take him to the Capital."
Seraphina blinked several times, then covered her face with one hand and said without a moment's hesitation, "I promise."
Arwyn touched her chin thoughtfully and tilted her head back and forth for a while, her gaze lingering long enough to make Seraphina uneasy, then she added, "Oh, that reminds me, why did you two sleep in the same bed last night?"
Seraphina's face warmed slightly as her thoughts stirred in quick succession, 'This witch truly has no sense of restraint. Does she even understand the meaning of privacy? She must have sensed us sleeping together when Kael forgot to take off his bracelet last night. How utterly mortifying.'
Taking a deliberate breath to steady herself, she answered in an even, emotionless tone, "Is there a problem with it?"
Arwyn shook her head at once, her expression openly indignant as if the idea itself offended her, "No, I don't have a problem with it. It is simply that I believed a cultural woman such as yourself would be strictly forbidden from sleeping beside any man before marriage, so I was merely curious."
Seraphina paused, her eyes shifting away as she considered her response, then answered flatly, "I am not sure what you are referring to."
Stepping closer, Arwyn leaned forward until her face was just inches away, a mischievous grin spreading across her lips as she lowered her voice to a whisper meant to provoke, "So then, how was he in your bed? Was he able to crack you?"
Seraphina responded with a cold smile that held no warmth whatsoever, her voice sharp despite its calmness, "He would not dare. He is fully aware that if he tried anything improper with me, he would lose his manhood permanently."
But inwardly, her thoughts shifted in an unexpected direction, 'Come to think of it, I've been wondering why I've been getting physically closer to him recently. I suppose I have my answer now. It must be because of this witch and her habit of whispering nonsense directly into my ears. It's entirely her fault, not mine. Still, it does not feel as unpleasant as I expected, so I shall let her off this time.'
Leaning back with exaggerated ease, Arwyn raised a single finger and wagged it playfully, her tone shifting into that of a self-proclaimed expert, "Tsk, tsk, if you threaten people like that, every man will run away from you. If you truly wish to win a man's heart, you should begin by treating him kindly, cook meals for him each day, comfort him when he is troubled, praise him when it is appropriate, and finally present him with a precious gift, and that's all it takes. If none of that works, then just seduce him until he surrenders himself to you. Men are quite simple, after all."
In an instant, Seraphina narrowed her eyes sharply and snapped, "Enough. Just now you mentioned something about giving a gift, did you not? Explain yourself further. I want to know how one gives something properly."
Arwyn froze for a brief moment before a knowing grin slowly appeared on her face, her eyes gleaming with interest, "Oh, are you truly that interested in this topic? Very well then, I shall teach you every possible way to give something to your boyfriend that he will never forget for the rest of his life. Meet me after duty hours are over."
She paused as if recalling something important, then added in a calm, businesslike tone, "Also, I almost forgot to mention this, but the guild has proposed constructing a temporary fortress around the dungeon area to enhance both defense and offensive capabilities on our side, though the final decision rests with you."
That was when the shouting from the broad-shouldered man returned once again.
"COME OUT AND FACE US IF YOU'RE REALLY THAT STRONG! GET OUT—"
Suddenly, he paused for no clear reason. Then, a soft sound came from outside, as if something had fallen to the ground. At the same time, Arwyn raised her hand and snapped her fingers together.
All of the shouting stopped at once.
She looked over her shoulder and grinned, her teal-green eyes gleaming faintly. "Oops, my bad," she said casually, "The poor guy must have slipped on his own. I wonder if he broke a few bones or not."
With that, Arwyn left the office, the door closing behind her with a soft, muted sound.
Seraphina covered her face with her hand, 'What am I supposed to do with her?'
After a while, she touched her chin thoughtfully as her expression grew distant, 'A fortress, the idea itself seems like a reasonable solution since it would prevent monsters from slipping away during the battle and attacking the town. However, constructing one would require expensive materials as well as a considerable amount of funds.'
Her gaze shifted toward the window as a faint frown formed, 'More troubling still is the fact that even if we manage to reduce the number of monsters inside the dungeon, the effort would be meaningless unless reinforcements arrive from the Capital in time. Expecting assistance from the kingdom is unrealistic since they abandoned this town long ago. The Guildmaster must have anticipated this outcome, which explains his decision to hire adventurers instead, although that path requires both money and trust, neither of which the guild possesses in sufficient measure.'
Her thoughts continued relentlessly, 'To gather that many adventurers, we would need an enormous amount of funds and influence, and there is only one person capable of making that happen. I will have to contact the duke directly, even though I'm quite sure he will find some excuse to refuse. If matters reach their worst conclusion, I will be forced to approach the old man through my mother, since he would never accept my request otherwise.'
Leaning back in her chair, Seraphina covered half of her face with one hand as a shadowed expression settled over her features, her voice lowering as she spoke aloud, "Isn't this exactly why you finally revealed yourself, Queen? Everything is going according to your plan, and I even joined the subjugating party just as you intended. You truly cornered me within a single day. How amusing!"
---
A few hours later...
The Adventurers Guild was alive with noise, filled with constant chatter ever since the announcement had been made.
"Hey, have you heard anything about the new announcement?" one adventurer asked while leaning against a table.
"I heard the Sword Princess is joining this quest," another replied in a low voice. "Is that really true?"
"It is," someone else cut in with a scoff. "So keep your filthy thoughts to yourself. She'll be fighting on the front lines with the S-Rankers. You won't even get close to her."
"Tch, figures."
"Wait… hold on. Who are those women?"
"I've never seen them around here before."
At that moment, amidst the crowded hall, two unfamiliar women stepped inside, drawing attention almost immediately through their striking appearances alone.
One had short chestnut hair and hazel eyes, her attire consisting of a top and bottom that barely covered her figure, while the other walked beside her with long dark-brown hair and silver eyes, dressed in a sleek bodysuit that ran the length of her form.
As they approached the front desk, Celeste, who stood behind it, lifted her gaze and offered a gentle smile as she spoke, "How may I help you?"
Asphy leaned forward slightly toward the desk, resting her weight casually as her gaze settled on Celeste, then asked with clear interest in her voice, "We heard that the guild is currently recruiting adventurers to take part in the new Dungeon Hunt quest, and we are quite interested in joining it. What steps do we need to follow to join?"
At that exact moment, the door behind them opened once again. Unlike before, this time it was the two women who froze in place.
Asphy narrowed her eyes just a little.
A tall man was walking toward them. His neat black hair fell naturally across his forehead, giving him a refined look. His eyes were gray in color, sharp and cold, carrying an intensity that made people instinctively move aside. He wore nothing more than a simple dark shirt and pants, but his appearance was striking enough to stand out among the crowd.
"Who's that guy?"
"Is he an adventurer?"
"I don't recognize him…"
She remained silent for a moment, her gaze lingering on his eyes. 'Those cold eyes… Why do they feel so familiar?'
The man stopped right in front of them and turned his gaze toward the desk. His voice was calm, but cold enough to cut through the surrounding noise.
"Am I allowed to join as well?"
---
(Chapter Ended)
To be continued...