The guild's reception hall still buzzed with the remnants of tension from the battle against the legendary serpent. Every member, whether seated or pressed against the walls, seemed to hold their breath, still mesmerized by what they had just witnessed. The weight of Daniel's name, now forever linked to the legendary serpent, hung in the air like a living shadow.
Daniel's eyes rested on the pouch of 100,000 ❖ Crystalis that Elise had just handed him. The pouch shimmered in the magical lamplight, its cords tightly secured—a trophy he wasn't quite sure he deserved.
Instead of boasting, he calmly pulled out his own small, much less impressive bag: a tattered cloth, roughly knotted. He set it down on the table with a soft thud.
—"Here are my medicinal herbs. Modest, I know, but they'll fetch about 10,000 Lysars. Not exactly legendary, but it fills the stomach."
The receptionist blinked, stunned. A heavy silence fell over the room, broken by murmurs among the adventurers.
—"Wait… he just took down an S-rank serpent, and he's thinking about selling herbs?!"
—"Is this a joke?"
—"No… I think he's serious."
Daniel shrugged, entirely unfazed.
—"Hey, great victories don't always pay the rent, you know. Lysars, on the other hand… they do."
The guild members froze, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry. Elise, standing calmly beside him, let out a quiet sigh, arms crossed. Her eyes betrayed both a hint of exasperation and a silent, grudging admiration.
Because, deep down, it was undeniable: this "E-rank hero," mocked and underestimated by everyone, had done what no one else could. A legendary S-rank serpent, defeated by a low-rank adventurer.
An elder seated at the counter whispered, barely audible:
—"If what she said is true… this man just changed the rules of the game."
All eyes turned to Daniel, seeking to uncover his secret. But he paid no attention, carefully savoring the collective discomfort. He stored his small bag of herbs and let a deliberate silence hang in the air, enjoying the subtle tension he created.
Then, turning to Elise with a mock-nonchalant air, he asked:
—"So… what now? We got the reward, shook up the guild, and I… mostly just need a bed. Is there a decent inn nearby?"
His question, posed as casually as if he'd just taken a stroll rather than fought a mythic beast, made Elise raise an eyebrow.
—"An inn? Seriously? You think I'll let you cram into some dingy room after that?"
Daniel raised his hands, startled by her tone.
—"Hey, just a question! I'm not asking for a royal palace, just a mattress that doesn't squeak too much."
But Elise shook her head firmly.
—"No. Not an inn. You're coming with me."
The guild, expecting everything except this, erupted into quiet murmurs.
—"Wait, she's taking him to her place?!"
—"I thought she trusted no one!"
—"But what did he do to her, this guy?"
Daniel nearly choked.
—"Excuse me?! My place? But… people will talk!"
Elise smiled faintly, mischievous and unwavering.
—"Let them talk. After all, you just crushed an S-rank serpent by yourself, right? Surviving a few rumors should be easy."
Daniel groaned but followed, under the stunned and incredulous gazes of the guild. Each step toward the exit felt like a silent victory—and a promise of mysteries yet to come.
---
Night had fallen over the city. The streets glowed in the orange light of lanterns. Elise walked with purposeful strides, Daniel trailing slightly behind, arms crossed behind his head.
—"So…" he finally said, "you still won't tell me why you revealed the truth in front of everyone? You could've kept the credit. They would've believed you."
Elise paused, looking him straight in the eyes.
—"Because it wasn't me. And I don't want to live carrying someone else's glory. You killed that serpent, Daniel. Only you."
He looked at her long and hard, caught between the sincerity of her words and the strange warmth in her voice. Then he turned away, scratching the back of his neck.
—"Tssk… you're making me blush. Careful, I have a reputation as a brute to maintain."
Elise let out a rare, quiet laugh. Then, regaining her usual seriousness:
—"But I need to understand. How did you do it? How did an E-rank hero defeat a creature that had massacred dozens of A-rank adventurers?"
Daniel stopped, shrugged, and let out a disarming smile.
—"Easy. I just did what any main protagonist would do."
Elise blinked, incredulous.
—"…Excuse me?"
—"Yeah. What did you expect? There's an author somewhere up there who wants me alive and badass. So obviously… I won."
Elise froze, then rolled her eyes and sighed deeply.
—"I already regret inviting you."
Daniel laughed heartily, taking in her dismay. Yet behind his humor, a darker glint flashed in his eyes. He knew this battle was only the first of many, and every victory would draw more eyes… and more dangers.