(Misha POV – Orario, Guild)
I let out a sigh as I finish with an adventurer, counting his Valis into his waiting hands before sending him on his way.
"Still thinking about that one adventurer?" Eina asks from the counter beside me, the two of us catching a rare lull between customers.
"Not really." I grumble, though the fact that I know exactly who she means probably says otherwise. "He had it coming. Always diving deeper than he should, ignoring every warning I gave him." I prop my chin on my hand. "Adventurers die all the time. You get used to it. He was just… more memorable than most."
That much is true, at least. It's been almost a week now since he last came by, and for someone who'd dropped off materials every single day without fail, his absence is proof enough.
'He probably died ignoring my warnings.' I sigh again, shaking my head, resolving to put it out of my mind. 'Lone member of his whole Familia, too. How selfish do you have to be, going and dying when you're the only—'
"Hello? Gekai to Misha?" A hand waves in front of my face and I nearly leap out of my skin.
"S-sorry!" I straighten up at once, bowing on reflex. "Welcome to the Guild, how can I be of help—" The words wither in my throat as I recognise the face.
My eyes go wide, and before a single ounce of sense can stop me, my mouth runs ahead of my brain. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?!"
The words ring out way louder than intended, and a few heads turn our way.
'…Oh, no.' My stomach drops as the reality catches up to me. A guild employee, openly questioning an adventurer on why he isn't dead. 'The best case is my pay getting docked when he files a complaint. Worst case…' I don't even want to finish the thought.
But Riven only tilts his head, expression caught somewhere between curiosity and mock-injury.
"Hmm. I don't feel very welcome." He rubs his chin, as though deeply considering the matter. "Am I really so frightening that the sight of me sends people into shock? And here I thought I was rather decent looking."
Any possibility of a lookalike disappears instantly. After all, who else could be this insufferable with just a few words?
"That's not what I meant!" I protest, lowering my voice and willing the onlookers to lose interest.
"Isn't it a guild employee's job to pray we return safely?" He continues, undeterred, pressing a hand to his chest now. His face falls into an expression of deep, wounded sorrow. "And yet here I find my advisor was hoping for my death this whole time. How tragic. How am I meant to survive the Dungeon when the very person meant to advise me wishes me into an early grave?"
"I-I wasn't hoping—" I sputter. "It's just been so long since you last came by, so I assumed—"
He scoffs, cutting me off.
"That I'd died?" An eyebrow arches. His arms fold across his chest, and his voice cools, its teasing edge gone.
"…Yes." I admit, very, very quietly.
"How foolish." He shakes his head, clicking his tongue in open disappointment. "You may assume any number of things about me. But you should know, I would never die." He says it with such grave, unshakable conviction that I almost believe him. "Be more sensible next time."
I open my mouth. Close it. And then, watching the corner of his mouth twitch, a faint crack in an otherwise perfectly solemn mask, I finally realise.
He's been toying with me this entire time, faking offense he had every right to actually feel, and enjoying every second of my squirming.
My eye twitches.
So I do the only sensible thing. I bury my irritation, smooth my expression into the most flawless, customer-service smile I can summon, and refuse to give him any more enjoyment.
"My sincerest apologies." I say, sweet as honey. "How may I assist you today?"
The trick with people like him is simple… take away the satisfaction, and they lose interest. And right on cue:
"…And there it goes." He sighs, the fun visibly draining out of him. "It was enjoyable while it lasted." He straightens, all business now. "A private booth. The usual."
He pays the fee before I can even quote it.
"Right this way." I say, leading him off, a routine I've long since grown used to when it comes to him.
The moment we're in the booth, he drops into the seat across from me.
"All jokes aside," he says, "I'm actually here for something important."
"Oh? And what might that be?" I keep the customer-service smile fixed firmly in place. "I'm here to assist with whatever you may need."
His eye twitches. "…Okay, stop. Drop the smile."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, valued customer." I say simply.
"That. That right there." He points at my face, looking genuinely unsettled. "It's like talking to a very polite mannequin. I liked the flustered one better."
I let the smile go, mostly because maintaining it is exhausting. "Fine." I massage my temple. "What did you need? You vanish for an entire week, so I assume you're here to offload a mountain of materials?"
"No. I'm keeping the magic stones and drops for myself from now on." He says it like it's nothing. "Not that you asked, but a famous blacksmith saw potential in me and took me on as an apprentice. So I'll be using the drops to make equipment for my Familia going forward."
I give him a flat look. "A famous blacksmith, took you on as an apprentice? Someone as unstable and suicidal as you?"
"When you put it that way, it does sound unlikely." He doesn't even bother denying it. "Would you say they're crazy for doing something like that?"
"If you're not lying, that blacksmith definitely has a screw or two loose." I reply honestly. And tired of his nonsense, I cut straight to the point. "So if you've got nothing to sell, what is it?"
"A couple of things. First, humor me. What's the difference in obligations between an exploration Familia and a business one?"
'…Is he thinking of converting his Familia?' I wonder, given his claims, but answer honestly anyway.
"I'll spare you the full exploration-type rundown, but a business-type Familia is held to far stricter standards. Their transactions are monitored more closely, and they're taxed at a higher rate, and if they produce equipment or potions, they're obligated to supply a set quota to the Guild. Of course, not for free though."
There's more, and I walk him through the essentials. He listens quietly, occasionally asking reasonable questions, which is more peaceful than I expected from him.
"So." I fold my hands on the table. "Will that be all? Because it hardly warranted a private booth."
"I was just curious about that part." He shrugs. "The actual reason is that I need to update my Familia's rank." He sighs faintly. "We've got a Level 2 now, so I'm here to report it."
He doesn't sound thrilled about it, but I don't pry.
"Oh!" My professional reserve slips for a moment, genuine warmth breaking through. "Congratulations to the Hestia Familia, truly." And internally, I'm thanking the gods. Whoever this Level 2 is, maybe they can finally keep this reckless idiot on a leash. "I'll just need them to come in and register in person, accompanied by either your Goddess or your Familia Captain."
"I am the captain, so that should be enough, right?"
"It would be, but the adventurer in question has to be present themselves, to authenticate the record."
"Right. Then go ahead and proceed." He nods.
I stare at him. 'Did he hear a single word I said?'
"…I need the Level 2 who joined your Familia to actually be here." I repeat, slower.
"But nobody joined the Familia." He says obliviously.
"Then—" I pinch the bridge of my nose. "You shouldn't joke about this. Falsely reporting a Level is a serious matter. If your Familia doesn't have a Level 2, don't claim that it does."
He just looks at me. Not in annoyance, but rather… faint pity. It's extremely annoying.
"Misha. Let me ask you something." He leans forward, elbows on the table. "How many members does my Familia have?"
"Just you and your Goddess, as far as I'm aware." I answer warily.
"Right. So if no one joined my Familia… and yet we have a Level 2…" He spreads his hands, letting me fill in the rest.
"…You mean you're—" I cut myself off and shake my head, almost laughing. "No. No, be serious. You've been a registered adventurer for barely over a week. The fastest Level-up, in recorded history, took a full year. And you expect me to believe you did it in a week?"
He says nothing, simply holding my gaze, and waits.
The silence stretches between us for far too long, and seeing none of his usual tomfoolery, my certainty starts to wobble.
"…You're not joking?" I ask cautiously.
"You said I shouldn't joke about Levelling up." He agrees, almost gently, as though breaking it to me kindly. "I'm the Level 2, Misha."
"H-huh?!"
**********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
So, I don't have much to say, but damn. So many chapters yet only a week in world😭. Don't worry, this pacing won't continue (we'd be dead by the time the Fox finishes if it did💀). I'm probably gonna time skip after this, since Riven is grounded anyway, until around the time Bell arrives.
And from there, the pacing will speed up as canon starts. I'm actually also considering what to do with Lili. My original plan was to have her join the shop, working there, until Bell arrives, but that seems unnecessary. I think her meeting Bell, and being swayed, before running into the big bad Wolf Riven is much more fun. What do you all think?
Also, another issue I've been considering... His alias. Jokes won't be possible, since Freya wouldn't allow it. But then what should it be? Any suggestions? My personal takes were either something based on fire, his regeneration, or ability to copy magic. But I'm open to suggestions. If there's lots of good ones, might even make it a poll, and let everyone decide.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
Anyway, that's all from me. Hopefully you enjoyed, and have a wonderful rest of your day/night😁