NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 53: Unrequited Love & Peril
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In the bustling lobby of the Adventurers’ Guild, the usual hum of activity was punctuated by an interesting development.
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Adventurers, clerks, and passersby looked on as a man clad in impressive heavy armor made his way across the room, his footsteps rattling with each step.
With a confident, almost smug smile, the man came to a halt before the guild counter. He flashed his blonde hair with a flourish as his eyes met those of his soul mate.
“I can’t hold it in any longer,” he declared with a blush, his voice filled with ardor. “Thalia, you’re the brightest star in this guild, and my heart has been captured by your radiance.”
Excited whispers and knowing smiles rippled through the growing crowd as the other adventurers exchanged amused glances.
“Ha-ha! Another hopeful suitor,” one adventurer remarked.
“You’re kidding! That’s the 6th one today!” another chimed in.
“Poor guy,” a third observer mused.
A few of Thalia’s colleagues couldn’t help but stare in open delight. The most obnoxious of them leaned over the counter, her impressive bust resting on her arm, chin resting comfortably in her palm.
“Hehe! This is going to be good,” she squealed.
“These guys just never learn, do they?” another clerk chuckled.
“Huhu~ You’re just jelly because no one’s confessed to you yet.”
PAJIK!
A blood vessel bulged in her temple.
“Where’s my jerky? I want to enjoy this!” another girl teased, fumbling for a snack amidst the entertainment.
The adventurer continued, his eyes locked on Thalia who stood behind the clerk’s desk with a blasé expression, clearly unimpressed by the confession. “You see, Thalia, I recently stumbled upon a Crystal Field deep in the dungeon. With the gold I earned, I purchased a charming house on the outskirts of town. Now, all that's missing to make that house complete is a lovely woman by my side.”
A chorus of laughter and teasing comments erupted from the gathered onlookers. Thalia’s colleagues exchanged knowing glances and giggles.
Thalia sighed, having heard countless love confessions during her time as a guild clerk. She folded her arms, her expression neutral. “I appreciate your feelings,” she said with a practiced, gentle tone. “But you’re not the first to express such sentiments. I’m not looking to settle down just yet; I want to focus on my work and helping adventurers like you.”
The would-be suitor slumped his shoulders, his romantic dreams crushed, but he nodded understandingly. He turned away, his dejected footsteps echoing in the lobby as he retreated.
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As the crowd dispersed, Thalia shifted her gaze towards the windows across the room and noted that dusk was fast approaching. Though she held no joy in causing hurt feelings, she had learned from experience that being upfront with those who sought her affection was the most compassionate approach in the long run. By sparing them false hope, she hoped to mitigate the inevitable sorrow and disappointment that often followed unrequited love.
She was just about to figuratively loosen the laces of her proverbial corset and allow her shoulders to sag when a figure seemingly materialized at the counter before her.
“Oh,” she flinched back in surprise, swallowing the loud and obnoxious sigh she was about to unleash. “Sorry, I didn't see you there.”
"Huhuhu," the old man chuckled deeply, sunken eyes shrouded beneath thick gray eyebrows, giving him an eerie air. "I'm often told I don't have much of a presence."
“I-Is that so?” she stammered, her lips contorting into an awkward, lopsided smile as she peered down at the unassuming man whose presence almost felt artificially subdued.
He stood no taller than 80 centimeters in height, his hunched posture leaning on an old staff for support. His modest attire hinted at a humble background, presumably from a rural village.
"How may I assist you today?" Thalia asked, her tone poised and professional as she squared her shoulders.
"I would like to submit a guild request."
"Of course," she replied, turning with a practiced elegance towards several stacks of parchment arranged neatly nearby. "What is the nature of your request?"
“Monsters have been frequently attacking the village.”
"Then, monster eradication," Thalia concluded, selecting a single sheet from the corresponding stack and offering it to the elderly man. "Please proceed to fill out this form with all the relevant information. Once completed, I will determine an appropriate fee for the job."
The man nodded, purposefully disposing himself to the deed. Gingerly, he elevated himself on tiptoes to reach the counter. He struggled to hold the pen, and his penmanship was less than stellar, but Thalia had seen worse.
She carefully appraised the finished application, provided a quote for the commission, and bid him farewell. As the elderly man navigated through the expansive lobby, he crossed paths with a duo bearing the markings of seasoned adventurers, sparking a mysterious energy between them.
The two warriors halted in their tracks, exchanging curious glances as they observed the wrinkled old man's departure toward the exit.
“He smells of shit and piss,” one of them remarked sternly.
“...And blood,” the other added with a frown.
Thalia reached for the magic scale as one of the adventurers dropped a sack of Mana Crystals on the counter. "Seems like you both had a profitable day," she remarked, offering a friendly introduction.
"You could say that," replied the man, the more civilized of the two. "By the way, that old man... he reeks of goblins."
"Did he?" she asked rhetorically, her tone tinged with indifference. "He just submitted a request to have the goblins that attacked his village exterminated, so I imagine he's had some close encounters."
"...Is that so," the man murmured, his gaze following the elder as he disappeared through the large front door.
Thalia didn't dwell on the matter. As soon as both men had left, she shifted her focus back to the windows across the room. To her surprise, the world beyond had already succumbed to the embrace of night, shrouded in darkness.
A sigh escaped her lips, and she enveloped herself with a single arm, the other gently cupping her cheek. Her thoughts drifted towards her friend, a subtle melancholy settling over her.
I hope Haxks is doing okay, she thought to herself. It's his first night out on the field assessment, and the nocturnal monsters are known to be more powerful and aggressive than those during the day.
Little did she know, however, that her yearning was a stark contrast to the harsh reality unfolding beneath the surface—and Professor Bayley and the Guildmaster were beginning to suspect as much.
***
In the hushed confines of a dimly illuminated office, two figures were seated, their conversation carrying a weight that seemed to press against the walls around them. The air was heavy with contemplation, and the tension between them was tangible.
"So, what's your take on this?" inquired Professor Bayley, his gaze trailing Osten's departure as the youth exited the office, the door closing with a muted thud behind him.
Guildmaster Baldin, a stern figure with a graying beard, leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers beneath his chin in deliberation. His gaze remained fixed on the closed door, his mind racing, then he exhaled slowly.
“Well, at the very least, all of their stories are synonymous with each other,” he replied, his voice carrying the gravity of their situation. “But I find it interesting that, among all the Locals, not one managed to make it back with The Fallen.”
"Right," Professor Bayley nodded in agreement. "According to their report, Haxks' impulsive decision led them all to fall into a dungeon. Osten and the others were the only ones who exercised caution and restraint."
The Guildmaster’s brow furrowed as he thought about the implications. “It’s obvious that Osten’s feigning ignorance,” he mused. “And he seemed more engrossed in his anger rather than putting more effort into his lie.”
"Osten has shown nothing but hostility towards everyone around him," Professor Bayley admitted. "And he harbors a particular intense resentment towards Haxks, who has been protective of the Beastfolk."
Baldin clenched his fingers, finally holding the other man’s gaze. "Unfortunately, as the Guildmaster, I can't afford to leave the guild myself," he explained with a hint of frustration. "Especially given the current state of affairs in the kingdom. Besides, I have to consider the possibility that my departure could be part of a plot orchestrated by an unknown enemy."
“But, Baldin—”
“I can’t give preferential treatment to any one person or group,” he added sternly. “That kid, Osten, is affiliated with a large faction. As a neutral organization, we can’t risk stirring the hornet’s nest without proof or reason.”
“Reason?” the professor’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The Guildmaster steeled his heart before he responded, his expression reflecting a mix of determination and chagrin. "Adventurers perish regularly, so we mustn't exaggerate this particular situation," he stated firmly. "We need to consider the well-being of all our members as a collective whole."
The professor held his tongue, nodding in silent acknowledgment of the Guildmaster's perspective.
“I’m sorry, old friend… but all we can do is believe in the children and pray that they will make it back in one piece.”
Professor Bayley allowed a wan smile. “I have a feeling that Haxks will find a way out and bring everyone home safely; he showed a lot of promise within all aspects of the assessment.”
The Guildmaster turned in his chair to look out the window behind him. Under the veil of night, Wonderelle sparkled like a jeweled tapestry, its vibrant hues illuminated by a mesmerizing array of lights.
“I hope you’re right,” he muttered, his gaze lost in the hues of the evening.