That afternoon, Calian and Wolvin were walking side by side heading back to Sellon City. The silhouettes of the trees were slowly replaced by the sight of the city's stone walls in the distance.
Now, Calian felt much calmer with every step he took. The harsh reprimand Wolvin had given him under the shady tree earlier, along with the honest expression of dislike from his spouse, seemed to have swept away all the negative emotions and darkness that had momentarily clouded his sanity.
The youth glanced briefly at Wolvin walking by his side. He was grateful to have someone who could be his anchor, someone who could pull him back when he walked too far towards the abyss of cruelty that would lead him to ruin.
Upon arriving inside the city, the married couple walked straight together toward the adventurer guild building to report their completed mission.
As soon as they pushed the guild's double doors, a noisy atmosphere immediately greeted them. However, the two of them ignored the crowd and walked straight to the receptionist desk.
Before the two of them could report their mission to Denna, the receptionist immediately put down her quill, looking at Calian and Wolvin who had just arrived with sparkling eyes. She spoke first with a tone full of gratitude.
"Thank you very much! Thank you for completing that highly urgent mission so quickly!" said the woman with a relieved face. "The report from the victim you two saved has been received by the guild. With this, the deadly attack cases that have been rampant in the southern forest have finally been exposed."
Denna's relieved expression slowly transitioned into a face that suddenly turned very serious.
"I truly never expected that the cause of all the attacks and missing hunters was the doing of a kidnapper syndicate that intended to turn the beastfolk race into slaves." continued Denna again, her gaze wrapped in deep anger and disgust. "They are truly barbaric and have no conscience!"
Hearing both the praise and anger of the receptionist, Wolvin smiled widely until his small fangs showed.
"That is already the obligation of the two of us as adventurers who have agreed to accept the mission, Denna!" answered Wolvin in an enthusiastic and cheerful tone, trying to lighten the momentarily tense atmosphere. "At least, the terror in that forest is all over now. Hehehe."
The beautiful woman in a neat uniform nodded in agreement, returning Wolvin's words with her sincere smile.
"Then, what is your next step?" asked Denna professionally.
"Is there a caravan or merchant escort mission heading to Dacon City scheduled for departure the day after tomorrow?" asked Calian suddenly, his voice returning to being flat and calm. The youth wanted to immediately continue their journey to resume his mother's secret mission.
Hearing the specific request from the purple-haired youth in front of her, Denna immediately searched through a pile of escort mission parchments in a special cabinet drawer for long journeys.
Parchment sheet after parchment sheet she looked through and carefully examined their departure schedules. However, after a few minutes of searching, the receptionist's shoulders slumped slightly. There was not a single escort mission heading there.
"Forgive me..." said Denna while facing them with a face full of regret for not being able to provide what the two adventurers wanted. "I did not find a single escort mission to Dacon City for this week. As for the departure schedule for the day after tomorrow, the only escort route available right now is heading to the City of Gias."
Wolvin turned his head toward his husband, preparing to hear a rejection.
However, who knows what Calian was thinking in his head, the youth without a second thought immediately nodded in agreement.
"Alright. We will take that escort mission to Gias City." decided Calian quickly and firmly, as if changing the travel route was not a big deal.
Wolvin was quite surprised by the sudden decision. However, the Night Wolf youth did not lodge a protest in public. He could only sigh softly and follow what his husband had decided.
Denna immediately took a form and confirmed the escort mission to be taken by the two rank A adventurers enthusiastically. However, as she was writing, there was a tinge of loss in her heart.
The day after tomorrow, this city will lose two adventurers as great as them. she said in her heart while glancing briefly at Calian and Wolvin. But, they are true adventurers. It is only fitting that they go adventuring wherever they wish.
After completing all the registration procedures and making sure their departure schedule for the day after tomorrow was recorded in the guild system, Denna bowed respectfully.
"Please wait a moment! I will go back into the treasury room in the back to retrieve the reward money for completing your mission in the forest earlier."
Calian and Wolvin nodded, then waited casually in front of the receptionist desk. While waiting, they had a light conversation observing the hustle and bustle of the people around them.
Suddenly, Wolvin gently nudged his husband's arm.
"Darling?" whispered Wolvin with an intentionally softened tone of voice. "Before we leave and depart from this city the day after tomorrow, would you take a stroll just the two of us this afternoon... and go on a date?"
The invitation for a date that came out with a shy tone from his spouse's mouth instantly made Calian chuckle softly. His purple eyes glanced at Wolvin standing beside him with a teasing look.
"A date?" asked Calian, pretending to be innocent. "Haven't we always been just the two of us whenever we go anywhere? We walk into the forest together, kill monsters together... doesn't that count as a date?"
"That's not what I mean!" refuted Wolvin quickly, his tail stiffening because he felt slightly annoyed by his husband's answer. "I mean a romantic date! Like going out to eat together at a fancy restaurant, strolling around looking at goods in the market and shopping together, enjoying the sunset atmosphere together, or going to some nice place? Basically, not in a place that smells of blood and mud!"
Calian held back his laughter seeing his spouse pouting cutely.
"Oh, so that's how it is, huh? But, do you think when we eat together at the inn bar tonight with a simple menu, it's not a date?" asked Calian again, still wanting to tease his spouse.
Wolvin's patience ran out. His golden eyes narrowed sharply.
"I want to have dinner together at a nice restaurant with you!" answered Wolvin in annoyance, but with a low tone of voice.
Wolvin leaned his body forward, bringing his lips close enough to almost touch his husband's ear.
"If you keep joking around and dare to refuse my invitation," whispered Wolvin in a highly threatening tone, "you will have to make love with me in the inn room starting from tonight until tomorrow night arrives without stopping."
In that very instant, the mischievous smile on Calian's face faded without a trace. All the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end after hearing the absolute threat coming out of his spouse's mouth.
For him, making love with Wolvin from tonight until the next night was a nightmare that would leave his waist irreparably crushed, even if he possessed a blessing that could manipulate time.
Calian cleared his throat awkwardly, swallowing hard.
"A-Ah... you are right, Wolvin. I think a romantic dinner at the best restaurant in Sellon City tonight is an absolutely brilliant idea." answered Calian very quickly, agreeing to the invitation without the slightest bit of hesitation left. "Of course, we will go on a date tonight."
Calian's decision to immediately reverse his stance and accept the date invitation made Wolvin smile very happily. Absolute victory was in his hands.
The Night Wolf youth became very enthusiastic, his pair of golden eyes shining brightly, unable to wait for the night to arrive to spend romantic time with his husband.
A few moments later, the back room door opened. Denna returned to her desk carrying a leather pouch filled with fairly heavy coin money on a wooden tray.
"Here is your reward and thank you for your hard work."
After receiving the fairly large pouch of reward money and storing it in the dimensional necklace, Calian and Wolvin walked together, leaving the crowded adventurer guild lobby.
The married couple stepped out and walked side by side toward the inn located next to the building to get ready for their first date.