I strolled straight over like I belonged there, slid into the booth across from them, and dropped into the seat with casual Sung Jin-Woo swagger.
Both girls instantly turned and looked me up and down — slow, assessing, like the coolest kids in school deciding whether I was worthy of their table.
The silver-haired elf tilted her head, emerald eyes narrowing. The catgirl's fluffy black ears perked up, golden slit pupils scanning me head to toe while her tail flicked once… twice…
Then they both gave a tiny synchronized nod.
"He's cool."
"Cool, cool."
I smirked on the inside. Nailed it.
I leaned back, arms spread along the back of the booth like I owned the place. "Mind if I join you two for a bit?"
The elf smiled first — small, elegant, but interested. "Sure. I'm Lirael. This is Nyra."
"Kai Ashford. Nice to meet you."
We started chatting easy — village gossip, how shit the ale here tastes, the usual new-adventurer small talk.
Then Lirael leaned forward, those perfect perky tits pressing against the edge of the table, and asked the money question.
"By the way… what skill do you have? I saw you swipe a panel earlier. Fireball, right? You know those skill crystals go for like a thousand gold on the black market. Your family must be seriously well-off."
Family.
The word hit like a gut punch for half a second.
But my inner self was already three steps ahead, whispering like a pro con artist: I already thought of this. Don't worry. Execute.
I rubbed the back of my neck, letting my expression soften into something vulnerable but still cool.
"It's nothing much, really. I'm an orphan. Grew up in the village orphanage on the east side. The director… she was really kind. Found this skill crystal in some old storage chest and gave it to me as a going-away present when I turned twenty. Said I deserved a fighting chance."
Both girls' faces melted instantly.
"Oh…" Lirael's elegant brows drew together, voice soft. "We're so sorry…"
"Yeah, that's rough, Kai," Nyra added, ears drooping, tail curling sadly around her own thigh. "We didn't know… we're really, really sorry about your family."
My inner self threw both fists in the air and did a victory dance: Great! Emotional sympathy acquired! Man, you are something else, you know that?
I just gave them a small, brave smile and shrugged like it was no big deal.
After a while, we found a nice shaded bench near the fountain and sat down with cold fruit drinks, still laughing about guild nonsense.
Nyra reached into her cleavage with a smug little grin, pulled out a slightly crumpled quest sheet, and slapped it on the table proudly.
"Here it is~"
I leaned in and read it.
Urgent Assistance Request: Weeping Hollow
Place: Weeping Hollow — a fog-shrouded hamlet of twenty-three thatched cottages huddled around a crooked crossroads, two days' ride east of the ruined abbey of St. Elowen. The old cemetery lies on the hill above the village, a tumbled sprawl of moss-eaten stones and sunken graves dating back to the plague years.
The Cause: Father Aldric Thorne, the village priest (drunk, indebted, and desperate), sold three wagonloads of consecrated grave dirt to a hooded traveler calling himself "Master Varn." Varn paid in black sapphires and vanished north. Three nights later, the ground in the cemetery heaved like a dying man's chest. The dead remembered they were buried in unhallowed earth.
The Dead: Approximately 60–80 skeletons (the exact count shifts; some are smashed to dust only to reform the next moon). They wear remnants of plague shrouds and rusted mail from old border skirmishes. Their eye sockets glow faint green. They do not speak, but the wind through their ribs sounds like distant weeping.
Task: We urgently need strong assistants to rebuild the damaged straw huts, clear rubble, help care for our injured villagers, and provide protection while the situation is handled. Requested by: Good Wife Mira Wren Reward: Two hot meals daily (morning & night) + free housing for the duration of your stay.
Lirael clapped her hands together, silver hair bouncing. "So, finally, a perfect task!"
My inner self immediately started screaming: Sixty to eighty fucking skeletons?! These two just picked the world's most deceptive "starter" quest!
But outwardly I just leaned back, crossed my arms, and gave them my coolest smirk. "Looks… interesting."
We officially accepted the quest, stamped our guild cards, and left the guild together.
The moment we stepped out into the bustling main street, I flipped the switch — full Sanji Vinsmoke rizz mode engaged. I walked right between them, smooth confident stride, offering my arm every time the path got uneven, dropping perfectly timed compliments about Lirael's elegant silver hair catching the sunlight and Nyra's cute twitching ears and swaying tail. Both girls were blushing, giggling, and pressing just a little closer with every step.
Vendors shouted, kids laughed, the air smelled like fresh bread and sizzling meat. We strolled and chatted easily until we found that shaded bench and sat down with cold drinks.
Lirael tucked a strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear and said softly, "By the way… I actually have ten siblings. Elves have such long lifespans, you know? I barely even know most of them. They're all scattered across the forests. The only time I usually get to meet my family is during the Elven Festival next year. Kai… would you like to come with me? It's really beautiful — lanterns in the trees, ancient songs, dancing under the moonlight…"
Nyra's cat ears shot straight up. She immediately leaned forward, tail swishing competitively, soft chest brushing my arm. "Ten siblings? Pfft, that's nothing! I have no clue how many brothers and sisters I even have — beastkin litters are huge and chaotic! The only time we all gather is at the Great Beastkin Festival, and that's also in exactly one year. Kai~ You should totally come to mine instead! There's dancing, bonfires, feasts, and way more… excitement~"
Lirael narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me? Our festival has sacred spirit dances and glowing magic lanterns—"
"Pfft! Boring and stuffy! Ours has real passion, night hunts, and private bonding tents if you know what I mean!"
I watched the two of them playfully arguing, both getting adorably fired up over who got to take me. Damn… this really does sound like New Year festivals back on Earth. I wonder what those parties actually look like.
"Ladies, ladies," I said smoothly, raising both hands with my most charming grin. "Calm down. We're all friends here, right?"
Both girls paused, then nodded, cheeks still pink.
"In that case," I continued, flashing them my best smirk, "why don't we attend each other's festivals together? All three of us. Elven Festival, Beastkin Festival… we go as a team."
Lirael's emerald eyes sparkled with delight. Nyra's tail started wagging like crazy.
"That… actually sounds perfect," Lirael whispered.
"Yeah! I love that idea!" Nyra purred, ears perked happily.
The three of us kept talking and laughing for a long while, the conversation flowing easy and warm. For the first time since waking up in this world, I felt like I was actually building something real… and it felt fucking good.