Ivela held the document out without a word.

  There was no hesitation in the gesture, no emotion—

  only the quiet fact that the job was over.

  The receptionist blinked and took the papers.

  The moment her fingertips touched the page, it felt as if a clerical chill—and a strange tension—seeped in together.

  “…You really… solved it?”

  Her voice carried disbelief.

  She scanned the document two or three times, as if verifying the stamp and handwriting.

  Her expression still held the raw, intact feeling that it was hard to believe.

  “The children returned safely to their families.”

  Rynel closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them.

  A trace of fatigue sat in his short breath—

  and beneath it, something heavier: responsibility.

  The receptionist couldn’t pull her eyes off the paper, and forced an awkward smile.

  “Ah, yes. I mean… you have a C-rank on your team, so I figured you’d manage somehow, but…”

  It was half compliment, half suspicion—hung between the two.

  Rynel tilted his head slightly and asked back,

  “Does that mean this request was dangerous for a C-rank?”

  The receptionist cleared her throat and changed direction.

  “Normally, finding missing persons is an E-rank request, but…”

  She looked down at the document and added carefully,

  “This one was an old case, and the village pushed hard for it.

  It got bumped up to C-rank, but… anyway—really, it’s a relief. Ha… ha…”

  The laugh was stiff, the ending blurred out.

  Her face looked closer to honest relief than anything else.

  “Ugh… seriously… it was brutal!”

  Aira burst out from the side, like it slipped before she could stop it.

  Her voice was blunt—and sharp for that reason.

  “We had to find the kids and there was an evil spirit on top of it…! This wasn’t a normal missing-person case.”

  She put a hand on her hip and let out a big breath.

  Fatigue—along with the last thin layer of tension—still hung on her shoulders.

  The receptionist nodded with an awkward smile.

  “But no one got hurt, and… honestly, it’s a weight off the guild’s back.

  As experience, it was probably a pretty decent request.”

  Ivela stayed expressionless.

  Arms folded, she simply listened in silence as Rynel and Aira spoke.

  *Creeeak.*

  The old wooden door opened slowly.

  A worn hinge groaned low.

  A few gazes in the guild turned without thinking.

  People mid-conversation stopped.

  One of the quiet drinkers set his cup down.

  It wasn’t a disturbance, exactly.

  Just—

  as if everyone felt it at the same time:

  someone “worth paying attention to” had walked in.

  Footsteps crossed the old floor—soft, but with weight. *Tap. Tap.*

  The sound was strangely clear.

  Like it settled down a listener’s spine without asking.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  A familiar, unwelcome voice cut in from behind them—sharp.

  “So I finally get to see that smug face.”

  A tone that made your skin crawl—

  contempt, sneering, and wounded pride mixed together.

  Monero.

  A C-rank adventurer who’d picked a fight with Ivela when she first entered the guild days ago—

  and had been crushed in seconds.

  That humiliation had already become the kind of story people would repeat for a long time.

  But today, he wasn’t alone.

  A greatsword hung heavy between the folds of a black coat.

  The mere presence of it carried pressure.

  Raken Kronoff.

  A B-rank adventurer.

  Around these parts, few didn’t know the name.

  His red hair was messy, but not neglected—

  as if leaving it that way was part of his style.

  A trace of fatigue lingered in his slightly drooping eyes,

  and in the depth of his gaze was something hard to read.

  From far away, he might not look threatening.

  Up close, he was not a man you could brush off.

  Ivela turned her head slightly.

  “Raken—hyung.”

  Monero swung his head toward the red-haired man.

  In that moment, even the adventurers lounging against the wall shut their mouths.

  The receptionist nearly dropped the papers.

  Raken swept his eyes around and spoke.

  “I heard there was someone with real skill here. So I came to take a look.

  …Is it you lot?”

  Ivela stepped forward.

  Her gaze was sharp, her voice fell cold.

  “Who are you.”

  Raken raised both hands lightly and smiled.

  “No, no. I’m not here to fight today.

  I heard my guy got embarrassed by you, so… I wanted to see your faces, that’s all.”

  Monero lifted his chin and sneered.

  “That was me letting my guard down. If I fight seriously, you’re nothing—”

  “Then try it now.”

  Ivela’s words were short.

  They stabbed in like a needle.

  Raken’s eyes flickered—just for a moment.

  But the mood snapped apart under Aira’s voice.

  “Ah, stop, stop!

  We *just* finished the request—starting another mess is exhausting!”

  Rynel moved quietly toward Ivela as well.

  “Ivela. Let’s avoid unnecessary friction right now.”

  Ivela looked at Raken for a moment longer, then turned her gaze away.

  Raken still wore a smile.

  But there was no warmth in it.

  He looked them over slowly, like he was grading something.

  “Anyway.”

  Raken folded his arms.

  “What kind of request was it? A C-rank in a backwater village like this usually isn’t nothing.”

  Rynel hesitated, then answered evenly.

  “There was a missing-person case on the outskirts of the neighboring village.

  A few children disappeared. During the investigation… we confirmed traces of an evil spirit as well.”

  Raken’s brow creased.

  “…An evil spirit?”

  The receptionist jolted and hurried in.

  “Yes! I checked the official paperwork.

  Here—this is the completion proof with the village chief’s seal.”

  She gave the document a small shake.

  A clean stamp sat at the top—small, but unmistakable.

  Raken glanced at it, then looked back at Rynel.

  His smile stayed, but his eyes narrowed—cold.

  “…That missing-person case dragged on for a long time.”

  He paused, then continued.

  “And an evil spirit… and the three of you handled it?”

  Aira shrugged and grinned.

  “Why? Not sure how you’re judging us, but our teamwork is excellent.”

  Raken stared at them without a word, then muttered,

  “…More interesting than I expected.”

  He let the end of the sentence fade, and turned away.

  Beside him, Monero—lips pushed out—asked,

  “Hyung, you’re really just leaving? Like this?”

  Raken gave him a brief, flat look.

  “…I’ve seen what I came to see. Let’s go.”

  He didn’t add another word.

  With heavy steps, he left through the guild door.

  Monero followed behind him, mouth clamped shut.

  In the space they left, a short silence lingered—oddly heavy.

  Aira watched Raken’s back and murmured,

  “…What’s with that guy?”

  Ivela frowned slightly and stared toward the doorway for a moment.

  As if following the shadow that was already gone, her gaze stayed outside.

  “Eyes like someone hiding something.”

  Rynel nodded quietly beside her.

  Then, in the corner of the guild, a middle-aged man who’d been drinking in silence set his mug down.

  *Thud.*

  The sound against the table rang strangely clear.

  He stood and strode over to Rynel’s group.

  Half grimacing, he said,

  “Haa… those guys are more tiring than they look.”

  Aira blinked at him, confused.

  The man jerked his chin toward the people who’d just left.

  “That redhead—Raken.”

  “You know him?”

  Rynel asked.

  The man snorted and dropped into a chair without permission.

  “How could I not. He was a fairly well-known swordsman even in the capital.

  Used to be in the knighthood, too.”

  He ran both hands back through his hair and went on.

  “Great skills, strong principles—everyone expected a lot from him at first.

  Then at some point, he changed. How do I put it… he got too obsessed.”

  “Why?”

  Aira tilted her head.

  “Rumor is his family went missing a few years back.

  Blood relatives, or maybe a younger sibling—I don’t know… but he searched for a long time.”

  “…So that’s why he’s staying near this village.”

  Rynel added softly.

  The man nodded.

  “That kid Monero—apparently they’ve known each other since they were young… these days he follows him like a shadow.”

  Leaning on the table, the man glanced around the guild.

  “That guy Raken picks fights with strangers all the time.

  Calls it a test, but… I don’t like that kind of method.”

  He gave his mug a small shake.

  “Anyway, if he only came to look today, that’s fine.

  As long as he doesn’t start grabbing at excuses, you should be okay.”

  A brief silence fell after the man finished.

  Then Aira broke it—beaming, throwing both arms up.

  “Alright! Should we go check out the market?”

  Rynel blinked at the sudden suggestion.

  “…Now?”

  “Of course~! We finished the request, and the pay was decent, right?

  Our gear’s a bit beat up, and we need supplies!”

  Aira glanced toward Ivela, who still had her arms folded.

  “Wanna come, Ivela?”

  Ivela paused, then shook her head quietly.

  “I’ll pass. You two go.”

  “…There you go again.”

  Aira puffed her cheeks.

  “Just when I think we’re getting closer, you push us away again… hmph. So cold.”

  “Whatever, Rynel. Let’s go—just us.”

  Rynel gave Aira a light smile.

  “Let’s go.”

  ◇

  The market in Bobre Village was livelier than expected.

  Bright sunlight streamed between canvas awnings, and laughter drifted here and there.

  Little kids ran around playing with wooden swords,

  and on one side a merchant shouted while hauling a heavy crate.

  “Hot bread! Fresh-baked black malt bread—!”

  “This is *so* good! Rynel, try a sip!”

  Aira offered him a small cup of fruit juice, sloshing it lightly.

  Rynel took it and drank quietly.

  A sweet scent filled his mouth and sank deep down his throat.

  A small smile touched his lips.

  “Not bad.”

  “Right?”

  Aira spun once with the cup in hand and laughed.

  They wandered the market slowly.

  They stopped by a shop selling leather gear,

  and at a bakery they tasted fresh cookies and cake.

  “Hey, Rynel.”

  Aira lifted a softly glowing bracelet in her hand and spoke carefully.

  “I use the spirit stone to borrow a spirit’s power for magic, right?

  But you… it doesn’t look like you use any tools at all.”

  “Yeah.”

  Rynel answered while scanning the stalls.

  “My magic doesn’t rely on chants or spirits.

  So honestly, holding something might just get in the way.”

  “Hmm… then what about wearing something on your wrist? Like—this bracelet!”

  She shook the glittering bracelet in front of his eyes.

  “A mana amplifier bracelet, or even just for decoration!

  I bought a bunch of stuff, but you haven’t bought anything.”

  Rynel tilted his head.

  “I don’t really need anything.”

  “But still~!”

  Aira poked his arm with two fingers.

  “Ivela took her share separately and told me, ‘Buy what you want.’

  If I’m the only one buying things… it’s kind of… embarrassing.”

  Rynel let out a short laugh.

  “Alright. Then I’ll buy a bracelet.”

  “Really?!”

  Aira’s eyes lit up. She grabbed his wrist.

  “This way! I saw a shop earlier!”

  And just like that, the two of them disappeared quickly into the market crowd.

  Under the sunlight, it was peaceful—for a moment—like a bright fragment cut from the day.

  But—

  Someone was watching their backs in silence.