Jhed's sleep vanished entirely. His eyes went wide. His lips trembled. His hands and feet went numb. He couldn't speak. Darkness crept across his vision. He couldn't hear anything.
He'd even forgotten the taste of the soup.
Because that card could have made his way back to his first world easier. Even breathing felt heavy now.
"No — it can't be stolen."
Jhed covered his mouth with both hands. His head began to ache. He couldn't think straight.
"Don't worry — we'll find it. This isn't your fault at all." Daichi tried to reassure him.
Jhed lowered his hands from his face.
"If I'd just read that paper, this wouldn't have happened." Jhed said.
"The paper — can you explain exactly what happened?" Daichi looked at him carefully.
"She pulled a paper from her bag. I signed it."
"You may have officially signed ownership of the card over to her. It's hers now on paper. Even if we take it back by force, it won't work for us until she signs it over — her signature is on that document." Daichi said. He was furious too — someone had come to their town after a long time, and he hadn't been able to protect their belongings.
"He's going to have a terrible impression of our town now." Daichi thought, looking at Jhed.
Daichi clenched his fist hard. He ground his teeth together.
"Jhed, don't worry. I'll put our higher-ranked adventurers on this immediately. We'll find her and get your card back."
Daichi left quickly, fury driving his steps.
"If she tells Ro-Ro about this, our town's reputation is finished." He muttered as he walked, moving through the dark toward the guild, pulling deep, deliberate breaths to calm himself. Night insects called from the darkness. Cool air brushed his cheeks, raising goosebumps across his skin.
A short while later, Daichi reached the guild. He went straight up to the room above and found an iron box there.
"All B and A-Class adventurers — report to the guild immediately." Daichi shouted into it.
His voice rang out from the towers positioned at all four corners of the town — like loudspeakers, carrying the announcement to every corner. Jhed heard it from Daichi's house.
"Daichi..."
Daichi repeated himself.
"All B and A-Class adventurers — report to the guild immediately."
Maruls, Metye, Uni, Asfer — all of them got ready quickly and stepped out of their homes, heading toward the guild.
"Maruls — why do you think the Guild Master's calling at this hour?" Metye asked as their paths merged.
"Something serious must have happened. That's the only reason he'd call this late. Come on, Metye — move." Maruls pushed ahead.
"Right—" Metye followed close behind.
Adventurers were streaming toward the guild from every direction — it looked like a midnight marathon.
If Jhed had just read that paper, none of this would have happened. Now Daichi would have to find the card no matter what. From the way he spoke, it was clear he knew Ro-Ro well — and that made the stakes even higher.