"Good morning, Village Chief Edmund," Sage greeted with a wave and a warm smile as he approached.
Village Chief Edmund, who had been pacing in front of the Adventurer Guild, turned to see Sage coming toward him.
For a moment, unease and guilt flickered in his aged eyes, but he quickly masked it with a smile. "Good morning, Guildmaster Sage. How did you sleep last night?"
"Hahaha!" Sage chuckled softly. "My sleep was great,if it weren't for some meddlesome nobody, I might still be dreaming!"
"Oh!" Edmund nodded awkwardly while stroking his beard.
"Care to join me inside?" Sage offered as he opened the doors to the Guild Hall.
Edmund accepted the invitation and followed Sage into the hall. Sage made his way to one of the tables and sat down, gesturing for Edmund to take a seat as well.
With a smile, Sage pulled out a paper bag filled with breakfast items: two honey flatbreads, a bowl of dragon egg scramble, and five forest boar sausages.
A delightful aroma wafted through the air as the breakfast spread gleamed invitingly. The honey flatbread was soft and fluffy, brushed with honey, melted butter, and cinnamon.
The dragon egg scramble featured fluffy golden eggs mixed with green onions and small bits of boar meat.
The sausages were thick and juicy, crafted from boars hunted in Greyvale Forest, perfectly seasoned with just a hint of spice that made them snap delightfully when bitten into.
Sage couldn't help but salivate; he swallowed hard before taking a bite of the honey bread. The flavor burst in his mouth as he chewed slowly to savor every morsel.
He followed it up with a bite of sausage mixed with dragon egg scramble,the combination was simply heavenly. A faint tear appeared at the corner of his eye from sheer enjoyment; this food was too good.
"Sigh," he thought inwardly, "I can't get enough of Mama Arya's cooking! It's far more delicious than any five-star restaurant back on Earth." He continued eating without restraint. "I'm sorry Mama Maria," he mused silently while grinning sheepishly at his own indulgence.
Just then, a soft cough interrupted him,a reminder that he wasn't alone. Sage looked up to find Village Chief Edmund watching him with an expression that combined displeasure and disbelief.
"Oh dear! I'm sorry Village Chief," Sage said between bites but didn't slow down; if anything, he ate even faster now.
"If you're hungry yourself," Sage suggested playfully while patting his chest confidently, "you can always buy some more nearby! Just mention my name for good service."
"What an unruly brat!" Edmund shook his head in mock exasperation. "It's alright; I'm not hungry."
Sage nodded, lowered his head, and continued eating without a care in the world. Edmund scowled but remained silent, sitting across from Sage and watching him eat. The mouthwatering aroma wafted through the air, making Edmund swallow hard from time to time. However, he maintained a nonchalant expression; after all, he was concerned about how he looked.
Ten minutes later, Sage finished his meal. He cleared away the trash, downed a large cup of water, and sat back at the table, patting his bulging stomach while picking at his teeth.
Village Chief Edmund let out a heavy sigh of relief,he had endured enough torture. The breakfast had been too enticing; if it weren't for his willpower, he might have fought Sage for the food.
Sage glanced at the old man and smiled. "So, Village Chief Edmund, what brings you here so early?" Although he already knew the answer, he felt compelled to ask.
He didn't blame the old man for worrying; if roles were reversed, Sage would likely act similarly. After all, parting with over two hundred gold coins for a mission assigned to someone he'd just met could understandably cause anxiety.
Moreover, upon arriving at the Adventurer Guild only to find its doors closed would heighten anyone's nerves.
Thinking this over made Sage shake his head bitterly as he eyed the old man.
"Ahem!" Village Chief Edmund cleared his throat awkwardly and managed a smile. "Oh, nothing much! I was just going to take a look around town and visit an old friend of mine but thought I'd come here first to see how things are going."
Sage rolled his eyes internally. "You're just worried that I might run off with your money! Visiting your friend? Please! Who paces anxiously in front of shops when they're simply visiting someone?"
Despite these thoughts racing through his mind, Sage kept a professional smile on his face. "I see! This old friend of yours must have quite an impressive background."
Edmund stroked his beard thoughtfully and nodded. "You could say that! He grew up in Wrenford Village but moved to Greyvale City to make something of himself. In fact, he's one of the reasons why Wrenford Village is thriving today,but it's been over six months since I last heard from him."
"Maybe something came up,that's why you haven't heard from him," Sage suggested with a soft chuckle.
"You might be right," Edmund replied thoughtfully as he glanced between Sage and the Guild Hall. "Anyway, how is my mission progressing?"
"I knew you'd ask that," Sage thought inwardly.
He turned to face Edmund with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry; your mission is moving along well! Yesterday when you posted it, one of our adventurers took it on immediately and set off yesterday,the deadline is three days away."
The old man's eyes widened in surprise as agitation washed over him. "So soon? It was taken so quickly?"
"Yeah," Sage replied, leaning forward with a proud grin. "Village Chief Edmund, the Adventurer Guild is the top establishment in this city. As long as you have the funds and post your mission, it can be completed."
"Hahaha! Good, good, good!" Village Chief Edmund's laughter echoed through the Guild Hall. After a moment, he settled down, but the excitement in his eyes remained unmistakable.
Sage glanced at the old man and shook his head. "These Phantom Wind Wolves must have tormented Wrenford Village for quite some time, huh?"
The old man sighed sadly as he met Sage's gaze. "Yes, these wolves have become a nightmare for us. We've lost countless villagers because of them; it's the highest casualty rate in our village's history. As Village Chief, if I don't take action, I'm not fit for the role."
"I feel like a failure," he continued, guilt etched across his wrinkled face. "I'm a Warrior myself, yet I can't protect my village from these beasts. If I were just a little stronger, perhaps fewer people would have to die."
Sage fell silent, unsure of what to say. He could feel the weight of the old man's grief, but he didn't know how to comfort anyone, especially not someone else when he struggled to comfort himself.
Loneliness had been his companion for so long. When his sister passed away, he couldn't find the words or strength to console himself, let alone offer solace to others in their pain.
He shook his head and said gently, "The person who took on this mission is a 3-Star Expert Knight. I'm confident he can handle the Phantom Wind Wolves; once the Alpha is taken down, the rest should be manageable."
"Really?" The old man's expression shifted to one of slight shock.
"Absolutely," Sage nodded with a small chuckle. "You'll see him after the mission is complete,he's quite strong."
"That's reassuring! As long as someone like that is dealing with those wolves, I feel better about it," Village Chief Edmund said earnestly. "I just hope there won't be any casualties."
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the entrance of the Guild hall, interrupting their conversation.
Sage looked up toward the entrance before glancing at Village Chief Edmund with a smirk.
"Speak of the devil."
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A/N : We have successfully reached 100 PS and even exceeded target. The bonus chapter will be delivered this weekend.
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