Location: Adventurer guild. Time: 8:23 p.m.
This is the time when adventurers, who have just returned from their tiresome quest, enjoy the small moments with their fellow adventurers before going to their respective homes.
Each group and person has their own reason for being here; some enjoy their meal after completing a quest, some are just disappointed after failing theirs, some enjoy the reward money and their newly gained skills, some are already planning their next adventure, and some..… are mourning the death of their companion.
Most of all, it is a moment where solo adventurers can have a peaceful moment after clearing a quest on their own.
At the receptionist table: a young lady around the age of 15 is waiting patiently as the receptionist before her modifies her identity template.
Just this morning, she completed her third goblin quest, earning enough contribution points to finally leave the lowest rank: F-Rank.
"Congratulations, Miss Rhea, you are now officially an E-Rank adventurer. As your personal receptionist, I'm very happy for your promotion," Alexander said, as he grabbed multiple bottles from under his table.
"Please have these mana and healing potions as my way of celebrating your promotion," he said, placing three bottles on the table, one blue and two red.
Taking the bottles, Rhea, the young woman with short black hair, said: "Thank you, Mr. Alex." Then smiling ear to ear, she waited for her newly updated identity template.
A few seconds later, the template on the side of the table left a small glow. Picking it up and giving it to her, Alexander said in a gentle voice:
"I hope you continue to grow stronger, and if at some point in your quest," his voice suddenly went deep, "you ever feel the need to run away, please… do so. Remember, losing a few contribution points for failing a quest is better than losing your life."
Alexander's words were short, but Rhea understood what he was telling her. Many have lost their lives in their greed, thinking they could earn a bit more money and pride by taking on monsters stronger than themselves because of their current growth.
Slowly, Rhea cleared her mind and said: "I will," reassuring Alexander's worries.
"..… I see. Well then, I hope you continue to grow stronger, and if you have any problem, ask me. After all, I'm your personal receptionist." Rhea nodded, taking off to go to her inn.
Alexander simply waved towards her as she left the guild building, keeping the friendly smile on his face. A few minutes later, after Rhea was gone, his sister called him from her seat.
"Ohh. You actually told her your name!?" she said, surprised at his decision to do so. "This means you're now her personal helper," the red-haired lady said.
"Personal receptionist or personal helper."
It is a term used when a receptionist or any guild worker gives their name to an adventurer. At first, it might seem insignificant because of how simple the act is, but to seasoned adventurers, this is one of the greatest accomplishments one can earn in the guild.
During their training, guild workers are taught not to form any sort of relationship with adventurers. The life of an adventurer is dire, and attachments only make things harder.
They are instructed not to show favoritism, not to get attached, and not to lose their work ethic the moment they learn an adventurer they liked has died.
So when a guild worker tells you their name, it means something. It means that this person sees something in you… something they do not see in others.
They expect you to go far. And what does having a personal helper do for you as an adventurer?
Simple. Access.
Access to rare quests that aren't posted publicly in the guild. Access to more details about requests. Even receiving something from them whenever you rank up or accomplish something noteworthy.
In a sense, when a guild worker tells you their name on their own, it means they expect something big from you… something only you can achieve.
So in Rhea's case, having Alexander as her personal helper means that he sees a potential in her that no one else has noticed.
"Yep!" Alexander said to his sister.
"So… what made you do this? Also, she's your what? Eighth member," she said, remembering how Alexander is already a personal helper to seven other people.
"Nothing much. I just thought she's doing well after meeting a kind man a week ago," Alexander said.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" she asked, inquiring for more details.
"I was the one who did her application two months ago. For the last two months, she has been doing nothing but a herb collecting quest. A week ago she met someone who decided to buy her a dagger. Since then, she's been working hard and cleared three goblin quests."
"So… basically, you decided to become her personal helper because she's been working hard?" she said. Alexander nodded, agreeing with her words.
"Also, that's right. She's technically my eighth adventurer that I decided to become a personal helper..…" His sister, seeing a long pause in his words, asked:
"What else happened this week?"
"….. It's just that my other adventurers have been beaten by some asshole a week ago," Alexander said, feeling annoyed thinking about it.
"Hmm. How did that happen?"
"I don't know. I heard from them yesterday that a week ago, they decided to take a quest from a fellow adventurer. But after a small miscommunication with this asshole, he decided to beat all five of them with a chair."
Alexander expressed, his voice and tone growing deeper as he went on. Hearing his words, all four sisters moved over from their seats and looked at each other's eyes as Alexander sulked at his table, beginning to communicate with each other.
Catherine activated her skill: Mind Communication, allowing them to talk in secret.
The green-haired lady named Beatrix looked at the red-haired lady named Diane and thought:
'Isn't this asshole he's talking about Nine? The person he tried to embarrass three weeks ago?'
Diane smiled and answered: 'Yes, it is.'
'You're telling me Alex still didn't know him all this time?' Catherine said, confused at how this happened. 'Also, Beatrix, how do you know him?'
'Ohh, that. I was the one who dealt with him back then when he made the quest of his.'
'Quest? How come I don't know this?' Elaine cut off.
'He didn't tell you? Aren't the two of you meeting every morning?' Diane said.
'Yeah, but he never told me anything about this,' Elaine answered.
'Alright!!! Everyone stop talking!!!' Catherine yelled, stopping the three. 'So, let me get this straight. Nine is the person Alex tried to embarrass a few weeks ago. You, Beatrix, know him because he made a quest. You, Elaine, know him because he's been helping you every morning.'
'Yes! That's right.' The two answered.
'So, what are we supposed to do with this information?' Catherine asked her older sisters.
'Easy. Nothing.' Diane answered. She smiled widely before explaining.
'Besides, isn't it amazing how Alex here is thanking this kind person for helping this little Rhea of his by buying her a weapon, cursing this asshole who beat his other adventurers, and seeking Nine, the person he wants to make up with at the same time…..'
'Hehehe, he doesn't know it..... that all three people he's talking about right now are the same person. He's thanking, cursing, and hoping to make up with the same person at the same time, without him knowing it. Hahahaha.'
Diane broke into laughter at the situation involving her younger brother and Nine unfolding before them.
The other three sisters simply looked at her in disappointment for not clearing up this misunderstanding when she could do so with a small talk, while at the same time, they had the same thought as her.
Seeing how long the misunderstanding between Nine and Alexander could last.
---
At the same time, on Nine bedroom: "Acho!!!..… Fuck, I've been sneezing a lot, is someone talking about me?"
*****
End of Chapter 14.