Inside the nearest guild—roughly a mile away—there's a fair number of adventurers scattered around, chatting and preparing for their next venture. The sounds of light conversation and clinking armor fill the air.
A tall young man, noticeably taller than most, walks through the door, his steps confident but relaxed. His presence catches the attention of a few nearby adventurers, but it doesn't faze him as he heads towards a familiar face.
"Oi, Haer! Wagwan, bruv??" (Yo, Haer! What's up, my guy?), A middle-aged man but still in a great shape greets him in a thick dialect with a friendly wave, his voice loud enough to be heard over the hum of the guild.
Haer grins, already knowing what's coming next. He raises his hand and waves back.
"Hey, Mr. Owl! What's up!" he responds, his tone warm and familiar. Luckily, Haer and the rest understand this type of dialect.
Clap!
The two of them dab each other in sync, a quick, playful gesture that feels natural. Haer chuckles, his smile easy.
"How's that Adventurer Academy sayin'? You ain't bunkin' again, yeah? Man's jokin'!" (How's your Adventurer Academy going? You not skipping again, are you? Haha!), Mr. Owl asks, raising an eyebrow with a teasing smile.
Haer scratches the back of his head, an awkward laugh escaping him.
"Ahaha… Haha…" His voice trails off, unsure how to respond but trying to laugh it off.
Mr. Owl raises a brow, giving him a knowing look.
"Yeah…?" (Right?) Mr. Owl presses, waiting for Haer's answer.
Haer shrugs and glances away, trying to shift the focus. "By the way, Mr. Owl—how's your party's progress?"
"Fam, don't be switchin' the topic, ya wasteman." (Bruh, don't change the subject, young man), Mr. Owl crosses his arms, his tone shifting to one of mock disappointment. "Wait up, don't tell me man bunked off again, yeah?" (Hold on, don't tell me you skipped again?)
Haer's eyes widen slightly, and he quickly shakes his head. "No, no! It's the weekend—it's a holiday," he says, trying to play it cool but clearly relieved that Mr. Owl isn't pressing too hard.
Mr. Owl looks at him, visibly relieved. "Ahh, I get you still. Anyway, blud—bare peng tings in that place, innit. You feelin' any of 'em or what?" (Ahh, I see. Anyway, boy—there's a lot of beautiful girls there. Got interested in any?) Mr. Owl asks with a wink, nudging Haer with his elbow.
"Eh—Huh—Not yet, I guess—" Haer responds a little sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck as his face flushes lightly. It's clear he's not prepared for this shift in conversation.
Mr. Owl grins, clearly enjoying himself. "Heh heh. Man tryna take a go at the gyaldem in my squad instead, yeah?" (Heh heh. Wanna hit on the women in my party instead?)
Haer blinks, his expression shifting to confusion. "Uh, I'm gonna pass on that," he says quickly, a little embarrassed by the suggestion.
Mr. Owl doesn't let up. He leans in closer, his smile widening. "Oi, hear me out—wanna take a shot at my daughter, yeah?" (How about my daughter?)
Haer takes a step back, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. He raises his hands, instinctively trying to create some space. "Hey, hey—" he starts, trying to back out of the conversation.
"She said she'd wanna have kids with bare nice curly hair like ya, you get me—" (She said she would like to have children with beautiful curly hair like you, you know—) Mr. Owl continues, leaning in a little closer.
"WOAH, STOP— WOAH~…" Haer takes another step back, his arms raised in surrender. His voice comes out a little panicked as he tries to put some distance between them.
"Oi, Owl! Hurry up, fam, we got a quest, innit!" (Oi, Owl! Hurry up, we've got a quest!)
Before the teasing could go any further, Mr. Owl's party calls out to him from a few meters away. Haer breathes a sigh of relief as the focus shifts away from him. Mr. Owl raises a hand in farewell, still chuckling to himself.
"Ah— Aight!" (Ah— Alright!
"Safe, fam. Catch you later, bruv." (See you later, boy.) Mr. Owl calls back with a grin.
"Ah— See ya!"
Haer watches him walk away, his body relaxing slightly now that the awkward moment has passed. He exhales quietly, rubbing the back of his neck.
He continued walking toward the Guild Quest counter, lowering his gaze in thought as he adjusted his slightly tousled curly-wavy hair.
A soft giggle came from behind the counter.
"Welcome, Mr. Owl's future son-in-law—one of the youngest heirs of the Legendary Hero," a soothing, mature woman's voice teased.
Haer blinked out of his thoughts at the sound of the familiar voice.
"Oh, hey, Falora…" He offered a small smile.
"Haha— I don't even know his daughter."
"…and don't call me that. You know we're not connected to the Hero thingy anymore," he added, tone slightly firmer.
Falora—an elegant, mature young woman—clearly knew Haer well. Her features were refined, her sharp gaze carried a calm warmth. A thin scar, shaped like roots or vines, traced across one side of her face, oddly accentuating her already captivating beauty.
She giggled again, light and unbothered. "So… your family won't be getting updates from the royalty or government anymore?"
Haer pulled out a stool and sat down, turning to face her properly. His deep-set eyes met hers. Almond-shaped and hooded, her eyes studied him with quiet amusement. His own gaze—subtle but focused—was framed by thick, curled lashes, softening his seriousness just enough.
He sighed, lowering his voice. "Falora… those royals suck."
Her eyebrows lifted, mildly amused, before her face broke into a smirk and a breathy laugh escaped her.
"Is that so?? Oh!"
Leaning in slightly, her voice dropped. Haer leaned closer as well, curious.
"I heard the Dark Royalty will be visiting the capital... and us," she whispered.
His eyes widened. A flicker of genuine surprise crossed his face.
"Seriously? How'd you know?"
Falora leaned back, her posture relaxed. "It's a rumor from the 'higher-ups.' Since we technically work under the government, you hear things..."
The spark in Haer's eyes faded. His expression darkened, and he turned away.
Falora noticed the shift, her relaxed demeanor dimming into something more attentive. "What is it, Haer?"
He tried to shrug it off, but his voice betrayed the heaviness behind his words.
"Eh... nothing. Just that... my family and I won't be allowed to meet them. And I can't see him."
Falora's voice softened. "Him...?"
Haer hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "One of their sons. It's been years since we last saw each other. We're brothers—well, not literally—but we were childhood best friends."
His brows drew together as he raised a hand to his forehead, pressing his fingers against his skin like he was trying to push the memories into focus.
"Falora... it's been so long. I don't even remember his face. His voice... even his expressions are fading. Damn."
The silence that followed was full of weight.
Then, gently, Falora reached across the counter and placed her hand on Haer's head, fingers brushing through the dense texture of his loosely curled hair.
His eyes widened, caught off guard by the sudden, tender gesture. Her touch was surprisingly calming—but only for a moment.
"Yo yo yo—hey hey—" he stammered, face flushing crimson in flustered panic.
Falora quickly pulled her hand back, a small laugh slipping past her lips as she shook her head in amusement.
"Calm down, big boy..." she teased lightly, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Haer exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing. A sheepish smile tugged at the corner of his lips, still slightly flushed from the sudden fluster.
"So, cutie..." Falora leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she tilted her head with a playful grin. "What kind of quest are we looking for today, hmm?"
"Heh... stop..." he muttered, scratching the side of his neck. "Just something light, please. Nothing too crazy."
Falora smirked knowingly and began flipping through a stack of papers at the counter. Her fingers moved swiftly, practiced, before she picked a few sheets and handed them over.
Haer raised an eyebrow, blinking as he took them. "Still using paper?"
Falora rolled her eyes dramatically. "Virtual magic devices are stupidly expensive, and the government won't fund anything useful."
Haer let out a laugh, snapping his fingers as he shot her a playful wink. "As expected."
"Right??" Falora giggled, leaning back with a satisfied nod.
"Thanks, Falora. I'll get going now," he said, turning away.
"Aight. Take care out there…" she called after him.
Haer picked up his dagger from the counter and slung a small satchel over his shoulder—nothing more than a few basic essentials, water, and some cloth wraps. His footsteps were light as he stepped outside.
[Haer]
Huh… Goblins, huh?
Aight, shouldn't be too hard.
He exited the guild and began walking down the path, the guild's wooden door swinging closed behind him—
Bang!
The same door burst open again, slamming into the wall with a jarring echo.
"Help!" a girl's voice rang out—sharp, urgent, out of breath, sweating and panicked.
Heads turned. Adventurers and counter staff paused mid-conversation, eyes snapping toward the entrance.
"Huh?? What happened?"
Murmurs rippled through the guild—confused, tense.
I rushed inside, Ainz slumped limply on my back, one arm hanging. My boots hit the ground hard with each step, my breathing sharp but steady. My eyes scanned the interior fast—focused, slicing through the mess of gazes and motion—until I spotted the counter.
Still wearing my disguise glasses, I charged toward it, the world blurring around me.
From the outside, my eyes looked plain—normal. No glow. No hint of threat or bloodline. Nothing that would raise alarm.
"Excuse me, Miss! This boy's hurt—goblins. Where can we find a healer?"
The woman behind the counter blinked, clearly startled. Her mouth parted, and then—
"This way—just there!" she pointed hastily to a room near the right wing. But before I could move, she added quickly, "The healers aren't in right now."
"What?" I froze, my eyes widening. "Then how—?"
"Don't worry. I used to be one. Hurry—lay him down!"
No hesitation. I nodded once, and the girl and I followed her immediately.
⎯⎯
Some time passed.
I stood outside the room, arms folded tightly over my chest. My back leaned against the cold wooden wall. Eyes shut. Breathing steady. I was seconds from dozing off—body slightly aching, adrenaline wearing off.
But the voices—
Low whispers. Messy and scattered. Excited.
They kept me awake.
"Yo, fam… that heroic ting's bare cute, innit?"
"Cute? Bruv—she's tall as anything. That's mad vibes instead."
"Them round glasses—proper peng."
Huh?? What are they saying—
"She's an adventurer too?"
"Maybe—look at her hands, lad. Veins, tone."
"Right? Didn't cop that at first. She should join us. I could do with a girl like that—someone who'd give me a hand in training."
Okay… That one still quite understandable—
"Her legs are sooo long."
"Yeah, and look at her clavicle—broad! Is she a fighter?? But how is she that built and still that slim?"
"Wait—did she run here… wearing a dress?! Holy—what?!"
Uhh… is my presence that strong?
I guess carrying a teenage boy on my back didn't help. Still… I'm not that tall.
Well—taller than almost everyone here, men and women alike… but still, not the tallest…
Suddenly, the door creaked open behind me.
"Hey!"
"HA—!" I jolted upright.
"Haha! Why are you zoning out so hard? Come on in—the healing's done."
The counter woman waved me in with a warm smile.
Inside the room, the boy lay unconscious—probably just from sheer exhaustion. His face was lit by the soft glow of evening sunlight streaming through the nearby window, casting everything in a quiet amber.
"Um—thank you!" the sister bowed deeply in front of me.
"Ha—ah, don't worry about it! Really—it's the least I could do." I scratched the back of my head, a sheepish smile creeping onto my face.
"No—without you… we might not even be here," she said, her eyes still laced with worry.
"Relax… really. Don't think too much, okay? What matters is—everyone's safe, right?"
"You're right. But—if there's anything I can do to repay you… just say the word!" she bowed again.
"Whoa—chill! Lift your head already." I waved both arms in front of me, flustered and panicked.
Then the counter woman stepped closer, her movements calm and measured.
"You're cool…"
I turned to look at her, blinking. A short pause—then I gave her a quick smile and nodded.
"Oh—thanks!"
She brought her arms together just below her chest and stepped forward a bit more.
"I'm Falora. What's your name?" she asked, extending her right hand for a handshake.
Falora?
Wait— Am I about to shake a woman's hand? Bare hand?! Skin-on-skin?!
But hold on—
Still riding the good vibes, I smiled and gave a nod. Slowly, I reached my hand toward hers.
But the closer I got… the harder it became. Like I was reaching into a black hole. A pressure vacuum. Like all the nerves in my hand suddenly woke up and started yelling.
My fingers trembled. My teeth clenched. My brow furrowed. Sweat gathered across my temple like a traitor.
Falora tilted her head, watching me with a mix of concern and curiosity. "You good, girl?"
"HA—" I snapped out of it.
Then—eyes squeezed shut—
Pap!
Our hands met.
We shook.
Huh?
Wait… why does this feel so… basic? Normal?
Why am I not feeling that flustered?!
Weren't handshakes with the opposite gender supposed to feel more dramatic than this?
"Hmm-hmm! Nice to meet you," Falora said warmly.
"Oh! Uh—I'm Avel," I replied with a polite nod.
"And I'm Lumi!" the sister suddenly chimed in, stepping closer with a smile.
Falora blinked and raised an eyebrow. Both of us turned to look at her.
"Nice to meet you, Lumi!" Falora and I said at the same time.
"Oh?" I blinked.
"Oh?" she echoed.
Lumi covered her mouth, trying to hold in a laugh—but failed. The three of us burst into light, easy laughter, clearing any leftover tension in the air.
A moment passed.
Falora tilted her head slightly, eyes now fixed on me. I could feel her gaze slowly trailing up and down.
I noticed.
Uh-oh.
Instinctively, I turned my head away, avoiding eye contact.
"What…?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Falora rested a finger on her chin, thoughtful.
"You know… up close, you really do look... tall."
My cheeks warmed.
Was that—happiness?
"Thank you!" I beamed.
But then Falora's expression shifted. Her brows furrowed slightly.
"But you look… almost unreal for a girl…"
Wait—
Did she figure it out?! My disguise?!
Oh no.
Her eyes narrowed, subtly.
Badump! Badump!
My heart raced. I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest—like a flustered girl might.
"Are you… a model?" Falora suddenly relaxed, her voice casual.
"Ha?—Oh! No—no, I'm not."
Phew.
Crisis averted.
"I'm just a regular… girl. Went for a walk with my tools and bag, and… unexpectedly came across those two."
Not a full lie. Just… 90% true.
Falora tilted her head again, curiosity now softening her features.
"Can you tell me the story?"
We sat down at a nearby bench. I nodded and began telling her what had happened—well, most of it.
Later…
"Wow…" Falora muttered, clearly impressed.
[Falora]
She's incredibly incredible… Strong, calm—and kind of a tomboy too.
The way she's sitting now—like a tired man after a long shift. Leaned forward, legs slightly apart, arms resting on her thighs…
But then—
"Wait, Avel… you mentioned a bag and tools. But… I don't see them?"
"Huh?" I blinked.
Her question hit like a slap.
My brows shot up.
My eyes widened.
And then—
I jolted upright.
"OH GOD— I LEFT THEM BEHIND!!"
Meanwhile…
Back at the same area where the goblins had been slain—
[Haer]
Huh… all the goblins are dead…?
He stepped closer, frowning. "That's weird."
Scattered fabric lay near the corpses—blood-stained but with no bodies in sight.
[Haer]
Pieces of clothes… but no victims. Judging by how the goblins are dead—no one was kidnapped. They escaped.
Then something caught his eye behind a tree.
"…Wait. Is that… a bag?"
Haer walked over, crouched, and picked it up. Curiosity tugged at him. He flipped the flap and looked inside.
His brows drew together. His expression tensed.
"…HOLD ON. This bag—wait a minute…"