Chapter 36
The Adventurers’ Guild tavern was quieter than I’d expected.
Perhaps many people had gone out on quests; only a few figures dotted the spacious room.
The air had a rested feel to it, as though the morning bustle had finally died down.
In one corner, three people sat huddled together by the wall, looking somehow out of place.
They stood out all the more in the quiet tavern.
“Um, I just registered a little while ago... If you don’t mind, could you tell me a little about yourselves?”
When I spoke to them, all three turned to look at me at once.
“Sure, go ahead. Sit down.”
The one who answered was a boy with short chestnut hair and prominent freckles.
His sun-tanned cheeks bore an open, carefree smile.
He pointed to an empty chair.
His tone was friendly—but his eyes were clearly sizing me up.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Noah.”
A brief silence fell after I introduced myself.
“I’m Lyle. Nice to meet you.”
His smile was bright.
But there was a faint shadow of impatience behind it.
It wasn’t the confidence of someone sure of his abilities.
Rather, it was the strained cheerfulness of someone struggling to improve, yet still trying to move forward.
“I’m Elena.”
The girl sitting across from me spoke quietly.
She had black hair tied back and sat with her back straight. Her voice was composed, with a quiet strength beneath it.
Her gaze was calm and unreserved. She examined my equipment, my posture, the movements of my hands—one thing at a time.
“Kai.”
That was all he said.
The messy-haired, blond boy sitting beside her muttered the name.
He didn’t look up, but I could tell he was paying attention to me.
As we introduced ourselves, I used 'Appraisal' on the three of them.
【Name】Lyle
【Rank】I
【Magic Power】E
【Skills】Swordsmanship
【Name】Elena
【Rank】I
【Magic Power】D
【Skills】Ice Magic, Magic Detection
【Magic】Ice Ball
【Name】Kai
【Rank】I
【Magic Power】E
【Skills】Defense Enhancement
—A fairly well-balanced party.
“Oh, before we talk, I’ll go get us something to eat.”
I said that and stood up.
As I headed for the counter, I glanced at their table.
There was a bowl of soup that had nearly gone cold and a few pieces of hard black bread.
It was hard to call either the quantity or the quality sufficient.
—They must be living on a very tight budget.
After thinking for a moment, I ordered a platter of sausages.
They were freshly grilled, their rich, fatty aroma rising into the air.
I returned to the table and set the platter down in front of them with a thump.
At that moment,
all three sets of eyes snapped to the plate.
They weren’t even trying to hide their reaction, and I nearly chuckled.
“Go ahead, dig in.”
“You got it. Thanks.”
As soon as he said that, Lyle grabbed a sausage without hesitation and bit into it.
Juices spilled out, and his expression softened at once.
The tension from earlier had vanished completely.
He was just a hungry boy now.
The way he stuffed his cheeks was so innocent that it was almost a little worrying.
“So, what did you want to ask?”
Elena asked, lifting a sausage with her fork.
Her voice had softened a little since before.
“I was hoping you could advise me on what to choose for my first quest.”
When I said that, Elena’s hand stopped.
Then she knitted her brows, looking a little troubled.
Lyle stopped chewing and looked at me too.
Kai only lifted his eyes.
A brief silence fell between the three of them.
“I’d say Horn Rabbit... but we only registered three days ago, and we haven’t caught a single one.”
Elena shrugged slightly, seeming reluctant to admit it.
“If we don’t complete a quest today, tomorrow we’ll have no choice but to clear the sewers.”
“Clearing the sewers would barely cover our lodging.”
Lyle cut in.
His tone was light, but worry showed on his face.
“But if we don’t complete a quest tomorrow, we’ll be sold into slavery. Do you understand that?”
Elena’s voice grew a little sharper.
The atmosphere suddenly grew taut.
“That’s why we’ve been waiting here in the tavern to invite someone else to join us.”
Lyle shot back.
“Then, could I join you today?”
As soon as I said it, all three turned their eyes toward me.
A brief pause.
Then Lyle smiled a little.
“Sure. You’re all okay with that, right?”
“Yes. Noah doesn’t seem like a bad guy.”
When Elena said that, Kai nodded silently too.
“Great. Then let’s get going.”
Lyle said that and went to take a quest notice off the board.
“Honestly. Wait a moment, will you?”
Elena called after him in exasperation, then hurried to follow.
Kai shoved the last sausage into his mouth, chewing as he got to his feet.
I stood as well and followed the three of them.