The massive oak doors of the Pantheon yielded with a dull, solid creak, as if exhaling, letting the two boys pass from the street noise into a world of majestic tranquility. Inside, the Guild building proved to be even more grandiose than it appeared from the outside. A vast, light-filled hall stretched before them, its vaulted ceiling, supported by rows of columns, disappearing somewhere into the heights. Sunlight, breaking through colossal stained-glass windows depicting scenes from heroic epics, painted colorful, slowly drifting patterns on the polished marble floor.
The space was filled with the din of many voices, but it wasn't oppressive; rather, it emphasized the scale of the proceedings, merging into a single backdrop of business activity. Countless dark wood counters lined the walls, with queues of adventurers of all kinds forming in front of them. Bearded dwarves dumped bags of magic stones onto the counters with a crash, elven archers discreetly discussed contract terms with their coordinators, and a heavily wounded beastman, supported by his comrades, reported on a failed expedition.
On one wall hung an enormous bulletin board, studded with parchment scrolls—quests of varying difficulty. A pair of warriors in battered armor stood before it, arguing animatedly. "I'm tellin' ya, going after harpies is a fool's errand!" one boomed, jabbing a finger at a scroll. "They pay pennies, and you risk falling off a cliff. We're better off taking the al-mi'raj request. Quick, simple, and the fur is valuable." "Simple?" the second one snorted. "Did you forget how that 'simple' rabbit nearly bit your finger off last time?"
Off to the side, in a designated rest area, other adventurers were spread out on soft sofas and at tables. Some were dozing, heads dropped onto the table, some were cleaning their weapons, and others were laughing, spinning yarns about their exploits in the Dungeon.
"Wow... it's huge!" Bell exhaled, his ruby eyes darting everywhere in amazement. He felt like a tiny grain of sand in this ocean of power and ambition. "Impressive," Rein nodded, supporting his friend. His gaze was more focused; he wasn't just looking, he was analyzing, absorbing the atmosphere and noting details: exit routes, guard placements, the hierarchy within the adventurer groups.
After looking around for a bit, they headed deeper into the hall. Their attention was drawn to a single counter that had no one in front of it, while adjacent windows were swarmed with adventurers. "Strange," Bell whispered. "Why is no one over there?" "Maybe a lunch break? Or maybe we just got lucky," Rein shrugged. "Come on, let's take advantage of it."
Behind the counter sat a cat-girl. Her dark hair was cut short, and two mobile, chestnut ears twitched atop her head. She was sitting sideways to them, whispering animatedly and quite loudly about something with colleagues at the neighboring counters, paying absolutely no attention to potential clients.
Rein and Bell exchanged a glance. Well, they had no choice. They approached the counter and stood patiently, waiting to be noticed. A minute passed. The cat-girl continued her engrossed chatter, gesturing and giggling softly. Rein glanced at Bell and gave a barely perceptible nod toward the staff member, raising an eyebrow expressively. 'Go on, get her attention.'
In response, Bell threw up his hands silently and in surprise. 'Why me?'
Rein nodded insistently again, taking no refusal. Bell, seeing his friend wouldn't back down, surrendered. He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. Steeling himself, he turned back to the counter and, clearing his throat, said uncertainly, "Um... excuse me?"
At that moment, the chestnut ears on the cat-girl's head twitched sharply and stood straight up. She instantly stopped talking, spun around on her chair with lightning speed, and finally looked at the new clients. And then she blinked in surprise.
Standing before her was a beautiful youth with hair the color of first snow and large, clear, ruby-red eyes. He was looking at her with a sweet, slightly lost smile that made her heart flutter. Her ears tensed, her tail curved questioningly behind her back, and, stammering, all she could manage to force out was: "C-c-c-c..."
As if catching herself, she shifted her gaze to the young man standing slightly off to the side. He was the complete opposite of the first: black-haired, with penetrating eyes the color of molten amber. His features had a noble sharpness, and his entire figure exuded a calm that seemed almost inhuman. Seeing her look at him, he nodded slightly and gave her a warm smile.
The cat-girl trembled even more. Her brain refused to process this much at once. She tried to say something again, but only the same sound escaped her throat: "C-c-c-c..."
And then, like a spring that had been compressed for too long, she slammed her palms down on the counter with all her strength and, drawing the attention of the entire hall, screamed at the top of her lungs: "CUTIES!!!"
A dead silence fell over the hall for a moment, and then dozens of heads turned in their direction. Bell was in a complete panic, his face flooded with color, and he looked around fearfully at the curious and mocking gazes from all sides. Rein was also completely thrown off. He had expected anything, but not this.
Before they could recover, two Guild employees ran out from the staff rooms. They grabbed the desperately resisting cat-girl, who was still shouting something about "divine boys," by the arms and forcibly dragged her away.
When the commotion died down, a young elf woman emerged from behind the counter to take her place. She had long, dark-green hair pulled back in a neat hairstyle, and strict eyes of the same shade, hidden behind thin-rimmed glasses. She approached Rein and Bell, who were still standing in a daze.
"Please accept my apologies," her voice was calm and melodic, but held official undertones. "I'm afraid this isn't a very convenient place to talk." She glanced meaningfully at the adventurers who were still staring at them. "Would you be so kind as to follow me to a consultation room?"
They nodded silently. The room was small but cozy, its walls, upholstered in thick fabric, absorbed the noise from the main hall. A low table stood in the center, flanked by two soft sofas. Bell and Rein sat on one, and the elf settled opposite them.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Eina Tulle, and I am an advisor for the Adventurer's Guild. Once again, my deepest apologies for my colleague's inappropriate behavior. The Guild is prepared to compensate you for the moral distress caused. How may I help you?"
"We'd like to register as adventurers," Rein said, regaining his composure. "And go down into the Dungeon as soon as possible!" Bell added with enthusiasm.
Eina was not the least bit surprised. She had heard those words thousands of times. "I understand. I will process your registration. Please wait here, I will bring the necessary forms."
When the door closed behind her, the boys were finally able to exhale. "What a first impression..." Bell trailed off, still a little red with embarrassment. "I thought we did something wrong." "I'd call it unforgettable," Rein smirked. "I don't think the problem was with us. More like with her. But this city is full of surprises." He paused. "Especially the women."
Bell blushed even deeper, but nodded in agreement. "Yeah... Miss Eina is very beautiful." "Hooooh," Rein drew out the sound, looking at his friend with a sly grin. "So that's your type. The strict teacher? If you ask me, she's a bit too serious. Although, that has its own charm."
Soon, Eina returned with a stack of papers. She explained everything to them in detail: the dangers of the Dungeon, the Guild's rules, the necessity of joining a Familia to receive a god's blessing—a Falna—without which they would remain mere mortals, unable to develop their potential.
"You must understand," she said, looking at them sternly over her glasses, "that registering with the Guild is just a formality. It gives you the right to legally sell drops and magic stones. But to become true adventurers capable of surviving in the Labyrinth, you need a Falna. And only the gods, the heads of Familias, can grant that. Finding a Familia that will accept you is your primary objective."
After confirming that they understood all the risks and that their desire had not faded, she began filling out the forms. "All right, let's begin. Full name?" "Bell Cranel." "Rein." Eina raised an eyebrow. "Just Rein? No surname?" Rein nodded calmly. "Just Rein."
"Very well. Place of birth?" They both named their village.
"Age?" "Fourteen," they answered in unison.
"Experience with weapons? Which ones? Any combat experience against monsters?" "Yes, some," Rein replied. "Knives, homemade bows. A little experience against goblins and hobgoblins." Bell nodded energetically, confirming his words.
"Understood. Intended role in a party? Strengths?" Her pen hovered over the paper. "Vanguard," they both replied. "I specialize in martial arts," Rein added. "And I'm... speed and precision," Bell blurted out.
Eina recorded their answers, then set her pen aside. "Normally, the Guild offers newcomers a paid support program. It includes theory courses, consultations, and the option to rent equipment at a reduced price. However, as an apology for this morning's incident, we are providing you with this service completely free of charge. I will be assigned as your personal advisor."
She expected to hear overconfident declarations that they didn't need help, as was often the case with rookies eager to rush into battle. But, to her surprise, nothing of the sort followed.
"Free? That's great! Thank you so much, Miss Eina!" Bell beamed sincerely. Rein merely gave a reserved, but clearly relieved, nod. "We are very grateful."
Eina smiled in spite of herself. She looked at these two boys—one, bright as the morning sun, and the other, calm as the deep of night—and felt a wave of fondness. They were so polite and obedient. Perhaps working with them wouldn't be so boring after all. "Well then, welcome to Orario, the City of Adventurers and Heroes, Bell Cranel, Rein."
When Bell and Rein finally left the majestic Guild building, the sun was already beginning to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky above Orario in shades of molten gold and crimson. The daytime bustle was giving way to evening liveliness. Merchants were packing up their stalls, while loud voices and laughter drifted from taverns and eateries, beckoning hungry adventurers. The air had grown cooler, but the city seemed to just take a deeper breath, preparing for the long night.
They walked silently down the crowded street, digesting the huge stream of information Eina had poured over them. Her strict voice still echoed in their heads, listing rules, dangers, and their immediate tasks.
"My head is spinning," Bell finally admitted, watching the adventurers scurrying past. "There's so much to do." "The important thing is to take it one step at a time," Rein replied, his gaze methodically scanning the signs for anything useful. "Right now, our main goal is to find food and a roof over our heads. Everything else can wait until tomorrow."
At that moment, Bell's stomach emitted a loud, protesting growl. Rein chuckled. "I think my body agrees with my plan. Step one: find a place to refuel. Miss Eina mentioned a place nearby. Said the food was good and cheap."
They asked a street vendor for directions and soon found themselves on West Main Street. The tavern they were looking for was strikingly different from the noisy and dirty pubs they had passed. It was a solid, two-story stone building with a sign on which "The Hostess of Fertility" was carved by a skilled hand. A warm, soft light poured from the windows, and instead of drunken shouts, only the muffled hum of calm conversations and the appetizing aroma of roasted meat and fresh pastries drifted from within.
"Looks like this is the place," Rein said, and without a word, they stepped inside.
An atmosphere of comfort and order reigned within. Even though the evening was just beginning and many tables were still free, you could tell the place was popular. The air was thick with the smells of delicious food, making their stomachs clench in a hungry spasm. They were immediately greeted by an energetic cat-girl in a uniform—a simple but elegant green dress with a white apron. She had short, light-auburn hair from which mobile ears twitched, and cheerful green eyes.
"Welcome to 'The Hostess of Fertility'! A table for two, nya?" she purred, flicking her tail welcomingly.
Rein glanced at her in surprise. "Whoops, another one," he muttered quietly to Bell.
Bell, remembering the morning's incident, chuckled. The cat-girl, possessing excellent hearing, heard Rein's comment. She tilted her head, her ears twitching amusingly. "Nya?" she asked again with genuine confusion, looking at them with her big eyes.
Not waiting for an answer, she led them to an empty table in the corner. They settled onto the soft booth seat and began to study the menu, written in chalk on a wooden board.
"The prices really aren't bad," Rein noted, calculating their budget. "We have enough for a couple of hearty dinners. The main thing is to find cheap lodging."
"You know," Bell said thoughtfully, tracing the menu items with his finger, "Eina said that technically, nothing is stopping us from going into the Dungeon right now. Registering with the Guild gives us the right."
"And in the next second, she added that it would be suicide," Rein leaned back against the booth's upholstery with a heavy sigh. "And she's absolutely right. Bell, you have to understand, without a Falna, we can't get Excelia. We can't get stronger, we can't level up. Any fight in the Dungeon would be a pointless risk for us with zero reward. We'd just get wounded over and over until some slightly stronger kobold kills us. That's why Eina so forcefully forbade us from doing it. Not because it's illegal, but because it's incredibly stupid."
"I get it," Bell nodded dejectedly. "It's just... so frustrating. To be here and not be able to fight."
"Our battlefield for the next couple of weeks is the city," Rein concluded. "I came here for adventures, not to look for work as a carpenter, but it seems we'll have to combine the two."
"But that's part of the adventure too, right?" Bell said with optimism. "Getting settled in the biggest city in the world!"
Before Rein could answer, their conversation was interrupted. Two waitresses approached their table, but instead of standing beside it, they deftly slid into the booth on either side of them, violating every conceivable boundary of personal space.
"So, boys, decided what you're ordering?" the auburn-haired cat-girl asked, sliding in next to Rein. Her tail playfully wrapped around his arm.
On the other side, next to Bell, sat a girl with unusual ash-gray hair and eyes of the same shade. She wore the same green uniform, and a soft, yet enigmatic, smile played on her lips. She looked at Bell with such warm and intense interest that he instantly blushed to the tips of his ears.
"I'm Syr Flover," she introduced herself, her voice gentle and melodic. "And this is my friend, Anya. It looks like this is your first time here? I've never seen you in Orario before."
"Uh... y-yes, we just arrived today," Bell stammered, unable to look away from Syr.
"Just arrived and you came straight to us? What an honor, nya!" Anya chimed in cheerfully, scooting even closer to Rein. "You must be here to become adventurers, right? All the rookies are so serious and determined!"
Rein chuckled internally. Such open and familiar behavior was completely atypical for waitresses in his past world, but here, it seemed, it was par for the course. He noticed how intently Syr was studying Bell, her gaze not just curious, but somehow appraising. At the same time, he himself was not lacking for attention from the cute cat-girl, who was gazing at him with genuine delight. Well, he was perfectly fine with this.
"You guessed right," he replied to Anya with a slight smile. "We came for fame, fortune, and, of course, adventure. My name is Rein, and this is my friend, Bell."