The morning sun bathed the cobblestone streets in golden light as we left the inn, our boots crunching on the gravel road. Lyria walked beside me, her golden hair shimmering like a halo, while Mira darted ahead, weaving between pedestrians with the agility of a fox. Dalia strolled casually, her massive axe strapped to her back, turning heads wherever she went. Reina, as usual, walked slightly ahead of the group, her posture rigid, hand resting on the hilt of her sword as though daring anyone to start trouble.
As for me? I was doing my best to look confident and not let my "Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck" thoughts show on my face.
The streets bustled with life merchants shouting about their wares, children playing, and adventurers of all shapes and sizes heading to or returning from quests. But our destination was unmistakable: the Adventurers' Guild, a massive stone building with tall wooden doors and a sign that proudly displayed a sword and shield emblem.
The moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere hit me like a wave. The place was packed with adventurers, their chatter and laughter creating a constant hum of energy. The smell of sweat, ale, and something faintly metallic probably blood filled the air.
A long counter stretched across one side of the room, manned by several receptionists in crisp uniforms. Behind them, a massive board displayed dozens of quest notices, ranging from mundane errands to high-stakes monster hunts.
I barely had time to take it all in before Mira let out a low whistle. "Busy today, huh? Guess everyone's out for a payday."
Dalia chuckled. "Well, we'll be adding to that soon enough. Let's get this job processed."
As we approached the counter, a few adventurers turned to look at us. I caught snippets of their conversations.
"Hey, isn't that Lyria's group? The guy who tanked a wyvern's tail swipe?"
"Yeah, no way I'd survive something like that. Guy must be nuts."
"Man, he's lucky. Look at the women he's with."
I suppressed a groan. Apparently, this body's reputation preceded me. I gave the closest thing to a polite nod I could manage without looking like a complete idiot, and we reached the counter.
The receptionist a pretty brunette with a warm smile looked up as we approached. "Good morning, everyone! Here to process your mission?"
Reina nodded, sliding a piece of parchment across the counter. "Bandit subjugation. Northern pass."
The receptionist scanned the document, her smile faltering slightly. "Ah, yes. The Black Wolf Bandits. They've been causing a lot of trouble lately. Are you sure you're prepared? Their leader is rumored to be a former knight."
"We've faced worse," Reina said coolly.
"Heh, Speak for yourself," Mira muttered under her breath.
"Stop scaring her," Dalia said, grinning. "We've got this. Between Reina's sword, Lyria's magic, Mira's sneaking around, and me smashing things, those bandits don't stand a chance."
The receptionist glanced at me, her expression softening. "And, of course, Kaito. The brave hero who saved his party from a wyvern. You're quite the talk of the guild lately."
"Uh, yeah," I said, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "Just doing what I can."
Internally, I was screaming. How did this guy deal with this level of attention?
The receptionist beamed. "Well, good luck! And please be careful."
As we stepped away from the counter, I couldn't help but notice the lingering gazes from other adventurers. A tall, heavily armored guy muttered something to his companion, who laughed loudly. A group of archers near the quest board shot me envious looks.
"Ignore them," Reina said quietly, her sharp gaze fixed ahead. "They're not worth your time."
"Yeah," Mira chimed in, smirking. "They're just jealous. I mean, look at you you're practically a walking legend."
"Stop teasing him," Lyria said, her tone gentle. She turned to me, her blue eyes filled with concern. "You're not overdoing it, are you, Kaito? I know you like to push yourself, but it's okay to take a break sometimes."
Her sincerity caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. "I'm fine," I said finally, trying to sound reassuring. "Really."
"If you say so," she said, though her expression didn't quite lose its worry.
"Come on," Dalia said, clapping me on the back so hard I nearly stumbled. "Let's go knock some bandits' heads together!"
As we left the guild, my thoughts were racing. It was one thing to play along with the party's expectations in private, but out here? With strangers watching and rumors spreading? I was in way over my head.
All right, just stick to the act. Don't do anything out of character. Keep your head down, and maybe just maybe you won't screw this up.
But as I followed the group out of the bustling town and toward the wilderness beyond, one thought kept nagging at me:
What the hell did I just sign up for?