Another morning. I feel pretty good today.
Renia was still curled up beside me, her arms loosely wrapped around mine. I carefully pried myself free, ignoring her sleepy mumbling, and got up to get ready.
By the time I made it downstairs, the others were already finishing up breakfast.
"You're finally up," Elias noted, adjusting his glasses. "We were about to leave without you."
"We weren't," Nova corrected, gazing out the window from her seat.
"Morning~" Ruby greeted lazily, sprawled across the couch.
"G-Good morning, R-Rin!" Mini stammered, her hands fidgeting in her lap.
She was avoiding eye contact. Still flustered about yesterday, probably.
"Morning," Etsu yawned, stretching his arms over his head.
June and Mila were busy as always, working in the kitchen. The scent of fresh food filled the air.
I slightly missed the time when privacy was all I had. But this wasn't bad. I didn't hate it. At least I got to eat good food every day. My old diet was pretty terrible, to say the least.
Renia appeared beside me, rubbing her eyes. "Rin, carry Renia."
"You can walk."
"Hmph." She clung to my arm instead.
"Ah, Ren, you're finally awake!" Mila beamed, stepping out of the kitchen with a plate in hand. "Breakfast's almost ready."
She glanced around. "Can someone wake Gyro?"
"I'll do it." Elias stood and headed upstairs.
---
After a delicious breakfast, we prepared for the day's quests.
My group for today was me, Elias, Nova, and June.
Renia was in a relatively good mood, so she let me go without much of a fight. Mila had been talking about "sibling time" or something, so that probably helped.
Mila clapped her hands. "Alright, let's get going before all the good quests are taken!"
"Yeah~" Ruby cheered half-heartedly.
"Wow. Your enthusiasm is depressing," Elias muttered.
"I feel like you're getting lazier these days," Mila pouted.
"She's just getting too comfortable," Renia said, still clinging to my arm. "We should cut off her horn as punishment."
Ruby twitched. "Excuse me?"
"Wow. You say some scary things with such a straight face," Etsu laughed, running a hand through his hair.
Would it work as a good decoration? I wondered.
Her horn was smooth and polished. Is that how you describe a horn?
---
The Adventurer's Guild was packed. Groups huddled around the quest boards, their voices overlapping in excitement and frustration.
"W-What's with the crowd?" Gyro muttered, rubbing his eyes.
"Probably another argument over high-paying quests," Elias guessed.
If it pays well, we need to get it. Money, baby.
Before we could reach the board, a voice cut through the noise.
"Attention, all adventurers!"
The room fell silent.
A man stood at the front, elevated on the guild's main platform. He had long, striking silver hair and sharp features, his arms crossed as he scanned the crowd. A handsome fellow.
Mikhail, I assume.
"As many of you may know," he began, his tone flat and authoritative, "competition among guilds is a tradition in Eldoria. It serves as a measure of strength and strategy. As always, we will be holding a competition for the fifth generation of heroes."
Murmurs spread through the room.
Didn't Selphira say this would be announced in a week? Lying bitch.
Me when I'm in a spread misinformation competition and my opponent is my lovable demon master.
"This tournament is open to all 5th-generation guild members. The winner will be granted access to a newly discovered dungeon."
That got everyone's attention.
A dungeon meant abilities, artifacts, and a great way to level up. For many adventurers, it was a shortcut to greatness.
Mikhail continued, "The tournament will begin the day after tomorrow. Details regarding rules and matchups will be posted later today. For now, I encourage you all to prepare accordingly."
With that, he stepped down. The room immediately erupted into chatter.
That's not a lot of time. Seriously.
Your information-gathering skills are seriously lacking demon. Get good.
"A dungeon access? That's insane!"
"No way, our guild's gotta get in on this!"
"Who even stands a chance against the top guilds?"
"Well, looks like we're signing up," Etsu said, cracking his knuckles. "I could use a good fight."
Ruby grinned. "Ooooh, we're definitely winning this!"
"You're saying that without even knowing the rules," Elias muttered.
Renia clung to me, tilting her head. "Is Rin joining too?"
"Obviously."
I didn't really have a choice.
She smiled. "Then Renia will support Rin from the sidelines."
"You mean you're not fighting?"
"Too much work," she yawned.
Etsu smirked. "Guess that means I have to carry."
Just one day to prepare. That's bad.
"We should take tomorrow off and rest," I suggested. "Exhausting yourself before the fight would be counterproductive."
"This is also a good opportunity to build connections," Elias adjusted his glasses. "If we rank high enough, we're bound to attract attention."
"It's about time we expand our guild, too," Etsu added.
"Yep, we'll talk with the Adventurer's Guild about recruiting new members," Mila agreed.
Time to flex on those peasants I guess.
---
The guild hall was still buzzing with excitement over the tournament announcement, but we had more immediate concerns like picking a decent quest for today.
Renia and the rest went their own ways.
Elias scanned the board, adjusting his glasses. "We need something efficient. Good pay, minimal hassle."
"Lazy." Nova muttered, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall.
"I call it strategic thinking."
June hummed in thought, her eyes moving across the listings. "This one looks good. Escort mission to Valmere. The pay is decent, and it's relatively safe."
"Pass." Nova said immediately.
Elias smirked. "Yeah, no thanks. Babysitting duty doesn't suit me."
June sighed. "You two are impossible."
She pointed at a different quest. "How about this? Goblins near a trade route. Standard cleanup request."
"Works for me," Nova shrugged.
Elias tapped his chin. "Fine. Quick, easy money."
"That's a little bit too easy no? I'd like to level up."
But they had already begun walking.
Well.
---
The path to the quest location was quiet, the road lined with tall trees casting dappled sunlight onto the dirt trail.
"So, Rin," Elias started, glancing at me with an amused look. "How's the love life?"
"What?"
Nova scoffed. "Ignore him."
"No, no, I'm genuinely curious," Elias grinned. "You've got a whole harem situation brewing."
June chuckled softly. "It does seem that way, doesn't it?"
What harem? There's just Renia.
"Don't encourage him," I muttered.
Elias nudged me with his elbow. "So? Got a favorite?"
"Is having only Renia considered as harem?" I asked.
"Don't lie dude. I know you got some chicks. That's the reason you have been asking for leave." He smirked.
Well, he isn't entirely wrong. Selphira is indeed a girl.
"There's Mini too," June smiled "and lately, Ruby has been getting very touchy too."
Mini? I can see some logic behind that but Ruby? Hell nah. I couldn't imagine myself dating her ever. No offence Ruby, you are a beautiful girl.
Nova clicked her tongue. "Annoying."
Elias smirked. "Oh, Nova, are you jealous?"
She shot him a glare so sharp I thought he might actually die.
He raised his hands in surrender. "Relax, relax. I'd rather not get stabbed today."
June sighed. "You two bicker like children."
"Because Elias is a child." Nova muttered.
"I'm a mature, responsible adult."
"No."
I let their conversation fade into the background as we continued walking. June slowed her pace until she was beside me.
"Rin, you should take it easy sometimes."
I glanced at her. "I'm fine."
She gave me a knowing look. "You're always pushing yourself. Even when you don't have to."
I didn't respond.
She smiled softly. "Just… don't forget to take care of yourself too, okay?"
"…Yeah."
Wow. I might actually fall in love.
"The weather's nice today isn't it. It makes for a peaceful walk." She hummed softly.
"Peaceful walks are usually a sign that something horrible is about to happen," Elias said, kicking a rock down the path.
"You're way too paranoid," June laughed.
"I'm an assassin. It's my job to be paranoid."
Nova scoffed. "No, your job is to complain until someone else does the work."
Elias gasped, clutching his chest. "How dare you. Rin, tell her how hard I work."
I kept walking.
"Rin?" Elias called again.
I kept walking.
Nova suddenly stepped between us. "We're here."
I looked ahead. The trade route opened into a clearing, and sure enough, ugly greenies.
Goblins.
Elias stretched. "Alright, let's make this quick."
Nova pulled her daggers, already moving ahead. "Try not to slow me down."
I exhaled, summoning my magic.
Another day, another fight.
The goblins hadn't noticed us yet. They were busy rummaging through a half-destroyed cart, chattering in their harsh, guttural language.
Nova was already moving, silent as a shadow. In one smooth motion, she slipped behind a goblin and slit its throat before it could even react.
It collapsed with a gurgle, and the rest turned in alarm.
I feel bad. Almost.
"Guess we're starting." Elias adjusted his glasses and dashed forward, twin daggers flashing in the sunlight.
I raised my hand, a flame orb materialising in my palm. It exploded on contact against the goblin, sending it flying.
"Careful." Nova muttered as she dodged an incoming goblin spear.
June, standing a bit further back. Fire swirled around her fingertips before launching forward, engulfing two goblins in an instant.
She sighed. "I almost feel bad."
Elias snorted. "They'd kill us without hesitation. No sympathy."
More goblins screeched in rage, rushing toward us.
Nova disappeared from view. A moment later, a goblin's body jerked unnaturally before collapsing, a dagger buried deep in its skull.
Elias handled two at once, dodging and weaving between their attacks. He drove a blade through their chest, pushing up his glasses as if this were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Showoff. Literally aura farming.
I casted another fireball, this time aiming at the largest goblin. A concentrated blast of force slammed into its chest, sending it rolling across the dirt.
Before it could recover, Nova was already on top of it, stabbing it straight through the heart.
Silence followed. Only the distant rustling of leaves remained.
"All clear." Elias straightened, adjusting his glasses. "Not bad."
"Too easy." Nova wiped her blade on a fallen goblin's tunic.
I exhaled, lowering my hand.
June walked up to me. "You okay?"
I glanced at her. "Yeah."
She studied me for a second, then nodded. "Good."
Elias clapped his hands. "Alright, looting time."
Nova rolled her eyes but didn't argue.
I stepped back, letting them do their thing. June, standing beside me, smiled lightly.
"You always keep your distance, don't you?"
"What?"
She shook her head, amusement in her eyes. "Never mind."
She overthinks a lot. I truly didn't get what she was talking about.
Elias returned, holding a small bag. "Found some coins. Meats on me tonight."
With that, we packed up and started heading back.
Another easy job.
A large, dark-furred wolf lunged from the bushes, its yellow eyes locked onto me.
I barely had time to react before a dagger shot past my head straight into the wolf's skull.
It collapsed instantly.
Nova stood behind me, lowering her arm. "You're slow," she muttered.
I looked at her. She looked away.
"...Thanks."
She nodded and walked ahead.
Elias grinned. "She cares about you."
"Shut up," Nova said without turning around.
June smiled, watching the exchange. "That was impressive, Nova."
Nova just shrugged.
Elias elbowed me. "You should've said something cooler than just 'thanks.'"
"Like what?"
"I don't know. 'Nice throw, gorgeous.'"
Nova punched him in the ribs.
"Ow—okay, okay! I was kidding!" Elias wheezed.
What was a wolf doing here anyways?