Iris finished her beer with a satisfied sigh.
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, then leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing as she looked at Arelion and Elayne.
"So," she said casually, "why do you want to kill the Demon King?"
The tavern noise faded just a little.
Arelion didn't answer immediately.
Iris continued, unimpressed. "And don't tell me it's for justice or destiny or something boring like that. More importantly—do you even have enough strength?"
Arelion smiled.
"No," he said honestly.
Iris blinked.
"…Huh?"
"We're not strong enough," he repeated. "Yet."
Elayne nodded beside him. "That is correct."
Arelion continued, "That's why we're traveling. We'll gather allies. One by one."
Iris stared at them.
Then laughed.
"Wow. That's reckless."
Inner thought:
She says that like she isn't drinking beer while standing on tables.
She tapped the empty mug. "Alright then. Names and powers. Start talking."
Elayne spoke first. "Sir Elayne. Knight of the kingdom."
Iris's eyes flicked to her sword. "…Figures."
Then she looked at Arelion.
"And you?"
"Arelion," he said. "As for my power…"
He paused.
Inner thought:
…Yeah. Good question.
"I'm… flexible," he said carefully.
Iris stared.
"That's not an answer."
"It's an honest one."
She snorted. "Weird rich guy."
Then her eyes dropped to his waist.
"…Show me your adventurer card."
Arelion handed it over.
She glanced at it—
—and burst out laughing.
"Rank F?!"
The sound echoed.
"Oh wow," she said between laughs. "You're serious about fighting the Demon King with this?"
Arelion scratched his cheek. "Everyone starts somewhere."
Elayne frowned slightly.
Iris waved her hand. "Nah, nah. It's fine. Rank doesn't mean everything."
Then she smirked.
"I don't even have a card."
Arelion raised an eyebrow. "No card?"
"No need," she said proudly. "I prove it directly."
"…How?"
She stood up.
"Like this."
The air temperature dropped.
Frost spread across the floor in a thin circle. The mugs on nearby tables began to crackle, ice crawling up their sides.
The tavern fell silent.
Iris raised one finger.
A spear of ice formed instantly—perfect, sharp, dense with mana.
She flicked her wrist.
The spear shattered midair into harmless snow.
"Ice magic," she said smugly. "And before you ask—yes, I can be taller."
Arelion blinked.
"You choose not to?"
"Costs energy," she replied. "This form is efficient."
Inner thought:
So she's min-maxing her body.
The tension eased.
Chairs were set upright again.
Patrons exhaled.
As they stepped outside the tavern, Arelion stretched.
"…That was lively."
He looked at Iris. "Do you have a place to stay?"
She shrugged. "Just arrived today. Haven't rented anything."
"That tracks," he muttered.
Inner thought:
Her life budget is probably 90% beer.
"There's an inn nearby," Elayne said.
They walked there together.
The building was simple but clean.
Arelion rented two rooms—one shared, one separate.
Iris whistled. "Not bad for Rank F."
Arelion smiled politely.
Inner thought:
If only you knew.
As they headed inside, Iris laughed again.
"Rank F, huh," she said. "This trip's gonna be fun."
Arelion agreed.
For very different reasons.