Everything was calm as usual, and EeDechi was gearing up to hit the Adventurer's Guild for some quests. But then Ureirika, one of the twin sisters, spiked a nasty fever and passed out cold. Their frail little bodies were already beat, and the side effects from riding the teleportation array hadn't even worn off yet.
Sweet-hearted Stella was freaking out, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, while Sean just stood there, useless and antsy. In the end, they called in a pro healer from the city, and the kid's condition finally leveled out.
That whole mess ate up a few days. Once Ureirika's fever broke, EeDechi decided it was time to get back to the adventurer grind. So Barrett took the lead, hauling her off to the local Adventurer's Guild hall.
Whether out in the open or behind closed doors, they were an adventurer crew through and through. Sure, they weren't hurting for cash now, but every adventurer needed to be registered with the local Guild to tap into all the sweet perks and services it offered.
…
Inside the Adventurer's Guild hall.
"Captain, I'm just saying, maybe cool it with the whole 'taking down the Sorcerer Kingdom's king' talk. You keep that shit on your lips, and it's gonna get dicey."
"What's so dicey about it?" EeDechi shot back, casually eyeballing the quest flyers plastered on the task board.
Barrett stood by the task board in the adventurer hall, keeping his voice low as he tried to talk some sense into his reckless captain, his tone heavy as hell:
"I've confirmed the rumors floating around. That Magic Caster king, Ainz Ooal Gown, really did unleash some insane, never-before-seen spell! Wiped out over a hundred thousand Re-Estize troops in one shot! It's so damn unreal it sounds like bullshit, but it's legit! An undead freak that terrifying? We can't fuck with that!"
"You can't fuck with him, but I sure as hell can!" EeDechi planted her hands on her hips, chest puffed out, bold as brass.
"You…" Barrett was at a loss for words.
It was late fall, the air turning crisp. Early morning at the adventurer hall, the place was dead quiet, barely a soul around. A few broke-ass adventurers, too strapped to afford a room, were still crashed out on the benches, wrapped in blankets. A receptionist in a black vest slumped behind the counter, looking beat to shit and yawning every other second.
Barrett stared at the sloppy black scribbles on a quest flyer, mulling over his words before laying it out: "Even if you've got the guts to take him on, play it smart. Quit running your mouth about taking him down. Think about it—he's a king. He's got spies and shit under him. If they catch wind of your plan first, they'll be ready to screw you over before you even make a move."
EeDechi propped her chin in her hand, thinking it over for a sec, then nodded. "You've got a point. We're in the shadows, they're out in the open. They don't know I exist, but I know them. That does make it easier to handle. Fine, I'll follow your advice and wait until I have more information before making a move."
The guild hall door swung open out of nowhere, letting in blasts of crisp autumn wind that had the thinly dressed receptionist shivering like a leaf. She was about to snap at the adventurer to shut the damn door when she clammed up—a sharp-looking old gentleman strolled in.
This guy's hair and beard were pure white, but combed neat as a pin, not a strand out of place. Hardly a wrinkle on his face, high nose, sharp brows, and piercing eyes—damn handsome for an old timer.
He stood tall, about Barrett's height, rocking a fitted black tuxedo that screamed old-school class. Time hadn't worn this guy down; it'd only brewed his rugged charm into something deeper.
He marched into the Adventurer's Guild hall with purpose, politely closing the door behind him. Those gray-white brows framed eyes sharp as a hawk's, scanning the handful of adventurers scattered around. His gaze lingered on EeDechi for a split second before he strode straight for the receptionist.
Even knowing this old gent could probably be her dad, the receptionist's heart was pounding like a jackrabbit. She tilted her slightly flushed face up and asked softly, "Sir, how can I assist you today?"
"Hello, miss. I'd like to post a job. Needs at least one orichalcum-level adventurer, and they can't be local…" The tall, straight-backed old man leaned down toward the receptionist.
"You can pick from these…" She fumbled nervously, pulling out a roster. "These are the adventurer crews around here lately."
The old gentleman flipped open the roster bound in parchment, scanning it carefully…
"This old guy's got it going on," EeDechi said, eyeing the tuxedo-clad figure at the counter. "Justice Value's a solid 300—pure good."
"Bet he's some big-shot noble," Barrett said, his eyes dripping with envy. "Classy as hell and loaded with charm."
A handsome old dude like that, even with some years on him, had that smooth, mature vibe oozing out of every move—enough to make a swarm of girls throw themselves at him like moths to a flame.
Barrett, now a slightly sleazy middle-aged adventurer, figured by the time he hit that guy's age, he'd be a crusty old fart sunning himself in a corner somewhere.
The old gent leaned down to mutter something to the receptionist, then strolled out of the Adventurer's Guild hall.
For some reason, EeDechi got the vibe he'd shot her a deliberate look. But she shrugged it off—folks with a high Justice Value never put her on edge.
Everyone's eyes trailed the old man as he left the guild hall, then they went back to their own business. The receptionist flipped through a booklet, and adventurers trickled in bit by bit.
EeDechi pointed at a faded yellowish parchment pinned at the top of the task board. "How about this gig? Pay's pretty sweet."
The weathered job flyer read: Clear out the umber hulks in the Summers town mines, about 3 of 'em; Reward: 80 gold coins; Requirement: mithril-level.
Barrett took one look and shook his head. "The iron mines in Summers town? That underground sprawl's about as big as Mistwood. Tracking down umber hulks in those tunnels would take two or three months, easy. Those bastards all look the same—humans can't tell 'em apart. It says three, but you bet your ass there's more. Check the timestamp—four months old. Nobody's dumb enough to take this gig."
"What about the one next to it?" EeDechi asked, pointing at another parchment.
The flyer read: In Emerald Forest, destroy a rogue iron golem; Quantity: one, large Construct. Reward: 50 gold coins; Requirement: mithril-level or higher.
"A runaway Construct… probably some mage fucking up again," Barrett said, arms crossed as he sized it up.
"Looks like a decent job on paper, but Emerald Forest is a hell of a trek from here. Travel, food, lodging, gear repairs—probably ten gold coins just to get there. The client's casting a wide net, posting this in every city's guild. Stingy asshole won't cover travel costs. This one's for adventurers already passing through."
"Got it…" EeDechi nodded, mulling it over. She clapped Barrett on the shoulder, grinning. "You know quite a lot. Promoting you to vice-captain was a damn smart move. I've got a killer eye for talent."
Is she actually praising me? Barrett wondered, thrown off.
Just then, the receptionist headed their way. She looked nervous as hell, glancing back and forth between a magic portrait in her roster and EeDechi's face, double-checking a few times before asking, "Excuse me, are you the captain of the Last Defender of the Way adventurer squad?"
"You got it. That's me," EeDechi said, shifting her gaze from the task board to the receptionist in her black vest and white shirt.
"There's a client who specifically requested your team for a job. They're offering a fat stack of cash and hoping you won't turn it down," the receptionist said.