Chapter 168 – Something They Never Expected
Chapter 168
Something They Never Expected
Date : Day 16 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Hyoren slowly opened his eyes the next morning.
A quiet feeling of contentment lingered within him.
Bright silver rays from Luna streamed through the bedroom window, bathing the room in a cold silver glow.
He blinked several times. Then groaned.
“Ugh... morning already?”
His voice stirred the silver-haired elf sleeping beside him.
Elise shifted beneath the blanket before slowly opening her emerald eyes.
“Mmm… What time is it...?”
She rubbed her throat lightly.
“...my throat hurts...”
Hyoren sat up, stretching both arms before shaking his head to dispel the lingering sleepiness.
A faint smile slowly appeared.
“You screamed quite a lot last night.”
He scratched his cheek.
“I just hope we didn't wake anyone.”
He instinctively glanced toward the bedside table.
“Though... with the Discourse Sphere... we shouldn't have anything to worry about.”
The words instantly brought back last night's memories.
Elise's emerald eyes widened. A moment later, her cheeks turned bright red. She shot Hyoren an embarrassed glare.
“It's your fault! You brute! You beast!”
Hyoren couldn't suppress a smirk.
“But… I thought you wanted me to take more initiative, Elise.”
Elise's face became even redder.
“Th-That's true… I wanted you to be more proactive...”
She looked away, unable to meet his eyes.
“But… Last night was a bit too much...”
Her voice became barely above a whisper.
After a few moments, however, a shy smile appeared.
“But… It was actually... nice...”
She fidgeted with the blanket.
“You were... so wild… And... manly...”
Hyoren laughed.
“Hahaha. Alright... alright, Elise.”
He climbed out of bed before glancing around the room.
“We should get ready. Breakfast has probably already been served.”
Elise slowly sat up as well. She began combing her disheveled silver hair with her fingers.
“Right… Breakfast… Jackey might already...”
She suddenly stopped. Her emerald eyes froze.
Hyoren tilted his head.
“What's wrong, Elise? Why did you stop?”
Without saying a word, Elise slowly pointed toward the bedside table.
“Huh?”
Hyoren followed her finger. He froze as well.
Resting quietly atop its small stand—was the Discourse Sphere. The magical tool that muffled every sound inside the bedroom. A necessity whenever they wanted complete privacy. The tool Ina had bought to maintain it.
Normally, it would be floating slightly above its stand. A faint pale blue glow emitting from the sphere. Clear proof that it was active.
But now. The sphere rested calmly upon the stand. Completely still. No glow. No floating. Inert.
Several long seconds passed. Neither of them spoke.
Then, Hyoren finally managed to find his voice.
“Last night...”
He blinked.
“We forgot to activate the Discourse Sphere...?”
Silence filled the bedroom. The realization slowly sank in.
Especially for Elise. Her entire face became scarlet. Even the tips of her pointed ears turned red.
She slowly covered her face with both hands.
“N-No way...”
Her voice trembled.
“D-Do you think… My screams...”
She buried her face even deeper into her hands.
“...were loud enough for everyone in the manor to hear...?”
***
They were left frozen in place for several long moments. The room was so quiet that only the faint breathing could be heard.
Hyoren was the first to break the silence.
He let out a small cough. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head, avoiding Elise's gaze.
“Ehm... don't worry, Elise. This manor's walls are thick. Unlike Wanderer's Rest... I think the others won't hear your scream...”
It was meant to comfort her.
Instead, Elise only buried her face deeper into her hands for another brief moment before slowly lowering them. Her cheeks were still burning red.
“Ugh... I hope you're right...”
Her voice was barely above a mumble.
Still red from embarrassment, the two hurriedly finished dressing and straightened their appearance. Only after convincing themselves they looked presentable did they finally step out of the room and went downstairs.
Not long afterward, they entered the dining room.
The warm aroma of freshly grilled meat, toasted bread, and brewed tea greeted them immediately.
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the wooden dining area in a gentle golden glow.
Lena was in the kitchen, quietly washing the dishes. And her daughter, Vina, stood beside the dining table, diligently wiping its surface with a cloth.
Ina was already finished with breakfast, leisurely sipping a cup of tea as though she had nowhere else to be. Meanwhile, Jackey was still wolfing down his meal.
Judging from the two empty plates stacked in front of him, this seemed to be his third serving. He barely looked up, completely absorbed in devouring another large piece of grilled meat.
The first to notice their arrival was Ina.
Her amber eyes shifted toward the entrance. The corners of her lips curled upward almost immediately, while her cat ears perked with unmistakable amusement.
“Oh... look who decided to finally grace us with their presence...”
She cradled her teacup with both hands, her playful gaze moving back and forth between Hyoren and Elise.
Jackey simply ignored them. He continued chewing away at his breakfast as if nothing in the world was more important than the meat on his plate.
Lena glanced over from the kitchen. A knowing smile spread across her face before she quietly returned to washing the dishes, choosing not to comment.
The moment Ina spoke, however, Vina's head snapped upward.
The instant she realized who had entered, her entire face turned bright red. Last night's scene flashed vividly through her mind.
Elise being carried over Hyoren's shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Her uncontrollable laughter. And the way she had repeatedly pounded Hyoren's back while protesting.
Realizing what she was remembering only made her blush deepen.
She immediately lowered her head again, pretending to focus on wiping the dining table.
The cloth moved back and forth over the exact same spot again. And again. And again. Despite the table already being spotless.
Her fox ears twitched furiously, betraying the embarrassment she was desperately trying to hide.
Hyoren scratched his cheek, a sheepish grin still lingering on his face as he tried to act as though nothing had happened.
“Good morning, everyone...”
He walked toward the dining table and pulled out the chair at the head of it. The wooden chair scraped softly against the floor before he sat down, doing his best to ignore Ina's playful gaze that had been fixed on him since he entered the room.
Elise followed behind him.
Normally, the elegant elf would greet everyone with her usual graceful smile. This morning, however, keeping that composure proved much more difficult.
A faint blush had already climbed up her neck, refusing to disappear no matter how many deep breaths she took.
“Mor...ning...”
Her voice was barely audible.
She quickly took the seat beside Hyoren, lowering her head slightly as she tried to avoid meeting everyone's eyes.
Seeing her reaction, Ina's grin only widened.
Her cat ears perked and her tail swished energetically behind her chair.
Just then, Lena stepped out from the kitchen.
She carried two plates with practiced ease. The rich aroma of toasted bread and freshly grilled Ramtauro steak drifted through the dining room. Making the already warm atmosphere feel even more inviting.
Without needing to ask, Lena placed one serving in front of Hyoren before setting the other before Elise.
After that, she placed a steaming cup of coffee beside Hyoren's plate. Then a cup of warm tea in front of Elise. The older fox-clan beastkin already knew each of their preferences by heart.
She folded her hands neatly over her apron before offering them a gentle smile.
“Good morning, Master Hyoren, Lady Elise. I trust you slept well?”
She paused for a brief second. A rare, wry smile appeared on her face.
“I know that you two are healthy lovers and our master and mistress. The wall is thick, but even then, we still heard a muffled scream. I almost thought something had happened before Vina told me what she saw in the corridor.”
For a moment, the room became quiet. Then Hyoren couldn't hold it anymore. He burst out laughing.
“Sorry... we forgot to use... Discourse Sphere. We'll be careful... next time...”
He managed to say the words between bursts of laughter, wiping the corner of his eye with one hand.
Beside him, Elise completely froze.
The blush that had only reached her neck moments ago spread all the way to the tips of her pointed ears.
"Eep..."
Unable to endure everyone's attention any longer, she buried her face in both hands, only peeking through the gaps between her fingers with an expression that practically screamed please let me disappear.
Ina immediately took the opportunity. She set her teacup down with a soft clink.
“So last night was the infamous Elise's shrieking wraith? I heard the rumor before! I thought Martha was exaggerating!”
Her shoulders trembled as she tried—and failed—to suppress her laughter.
“But even with these thick walls and my exhausted state, it still managed to wake me up. Nyahaha.”
She laughed harder. Her cat ears twitching.
“I almost wanted to join...”
She casually picked up her teacup again before taking another sip.
“But I was so tired, I decided to just back to sleep. Nyahaha.”
Elise let out a long, miserable groan.
“Ughhh...”
She refused to lift her head, her face still buried behind both hands.
Meanwhile, Vina looked as though she was only one step away from collapsing.
Her cheeks were burning crimson from a mixture of embarrassment and suppressed laughter.
She quickly lowered her head again and resumed wiping the dining table. The cloth moved across the same spotless section over and over again while her fox ears twitched furiously, betraying exactly how flustered she was.
Lena simply covered her mouth with one hand and chuckled softly.
She then turned back toward the kitchen as if she hadn't just completely embarrassed her own mistress.
Meanwhile, Jackey finally looked up from the mountain of grilled meat on his plate.
“Huh?”
He blinked once.
“What happened? What's with the wraith?”
His gaze wandered across the room before finally landing on Hyoren and Elise. Only then did he realize the two had already joined them.
“Ooh. Big Bro. Elise! Good morning.”
He greeted them with his usual cheerful smile before immediately returning his attention to his breakfast.
A moment later, another piece of grilled meat disappeared into his mouth.
Judging from his completely confused expression, he must have slept like a log last night and hadn't heard a single thing.
***
Hyoren and Elise exchanged a brief glance.
Without saying another word, the two silently decided it was best to focus on breakfast instead of giving everyone more material to tease them with.
Hyoren picked up his fork and knife before cutting into the grilled Ramtauro steak. Beside him, Elise quietly did the same, carefully taking a small bite while trying to pretend nothing had happened.
On the other side of Hyoren, Ina continued watching the pair with an amused smile.
Her amber eyes occasionally drifted between Hyoren and Elise, but she chose not to say anything else. Instead, she simply sipped her tea, her cat ears flicking every so often in barely concealed amusement.
Not long after, Lena finished tidying up the kitchen.
She prepared another pot of tea before pouring two fresh cups. One for herself. One for Vina. The older fox-clan beastkin carried them to the dining table, and both mother and daughter finally took their seats.
It had always been one of the rules of this manor. Everyone ate together. Lena and Vina were never treated as servants. They were family.
As everyone settled into their seats, Lena glanced toward her daughter.
A playful yet slightly stern smile appeared on her face.
"See, Vina? This is what happens when you're not careful with your boyfriend. You get caught."
Vina, who had just raised her teacup, nearly dropped it. Her head immediately snapped toward her mother.
The embarrassment from earlier vanished in an instant, replaced by pure indignation.
"Hey! We're careful!"
Her voice came out louder than she intended.
"And I don't scream like that!"
Across the table, Elise had just taken a sip of tea.
"Pffft...!"
She immediately choked.
Her shoulders shook as she hurriedly covered her mouth before setting the teacup back onto its saucer with trembling hands. Another wave of crimson rushed across her cheeks.
She slowly turned toward Hyoren. Her emerald eyes silently pleaded for help.
Please... make them stop...
Unfortunately, Hyoren was doing a terrible job of helping.
His lips twitched uncontrollably as he desperately tried to suppress another laugh. The corners of his mouth kept curling upward.
He finally looked away before he embarrassed Elise even further.
Ina, however, completely ignored them now. Something else had caught her attention.
Her playful grin softened into one of genuine curiosity. She leaned forward slightly, resting one elbow on the table.
"You have a boyfriend, Vina?"
Even Hyoren looked over. His laughter faded almost immediately. He forgot all about the breakfast sitting in front of him as his attention shifted toward the young fox-clan girl. He was also curious.
Vina's defensive expression gradually melted away.
A shy smile spread across her lips. This time, it wasn't born from embarrassment. It was affection.
"Yeah! His name is Dirk. He's a lion-clan beastkin, the same age as me. We've known each other forever."
A soft warmth entered her voice as she continued.
"He's an apprentice at the Merchant Guild, learning the trade from his father."
As she spoke about him, her eyes sparkled with unmistakable fondness.
Seeing that expression, a quiet warmth spread through Hyoren's chest. He couldn't help but smile.
Setting his fork down beside his plate, he gave Vina a small nod.
“I see. Good for you, Vina.”
Vina's smile grew even brighter.
"Hehehe. Thanks..."
She scratched her cheek bashfully before taking another sip of tea. The embarrassment that had been clinging to her all morning had completely disappeared.
Hyoren glanced toward Lena.
Seeing the satisfied smile on the older woman's face, he quickly understood. She had intentionally changed the topic.
Not only to rescue her daughter from embarrassment. But also to rescue Elise.
The atmosphere inside the dining room gradually changed. The awkward teasing from earlier slowly gave way to a warm, peaceful family breakfast.
Laughter no longer carried embarrassment. Only comfort. Everyone was feeling contented
Well—almost everyone.
Jackey remained blissfully unaware of everything happening around him. He simply continued cutting another piece of grilled Ramtauro steak before stuffing it into his mouth. He was completely focused on what he clearly considered the most important matter of the morning.
***
Hyoren, Elise, and Jackey eventually finished their breakfast.
Jackey leaned back with a satisfied sigh after emptying his third plate, while Hyoren finished the last chunk of his steak. Beside him, Elise gently placed her forks and set aside her plate.
Seeing they were done, Lena and Vina stood up. Without needing to be asked, the mother and daughter began gathering the empty plates.
The clinking of dishes quietly filled the dining room as they carried everything back toward the kitchen.
Seeing that the awkwardness from earlier had completely disappeared, Ina also placed her teacup down on the table.
Her cat ears perked upright. Her tail swished lazily behind her chair.
“So, you guys came back safely from the dungeon.”
Since she had slept through their arrival the previous night, this was the first opportunity she had to properly greet them.
She smiled warmly.
“Hyoren, Elise, Jackey. Welcome home.”
She then leaned forward slightly, curiosity shining in her amber eyes.
“So, you guys cleared the second floor?”
Hyoren set his coffee cup down before slowly shaking his head.
“No, Ina. We met with some complications...”
Ina narrowed her eyes with interest.
“Hoo... please do tell...”
Hyoren glanced briefly toward Elise. The elf had already recovered from the embarrassment that had plagued her throughout breakfast.
Meeting his gaze, she gave a small nod.
Hyoren turned back toward Ina.
“Okay, Ina. We finished our six-day dive. We fully mapped the second floor.”
He paused for a moment.
“But the floor guardian was just too much...”
He took another sip of his coffee before continuing.
“First of all, the second floor was completely different from the first. It wasn't filled with weak goblins anymore. Almost every monster we encountered was an elite variant.”
He folded his arms.
“And honestly... almost every encounter felt like fighting a boss.”
Ina listened attentively without interrupting.
Hyoren continued explaining the various elite goblins they had encountered. Goblin Saber. Goblin Lancer. Goblin Shielder. And the troublesome Goblin Assassin.
He also explained how different the floor itself felt.
Unlike the first floor, where goblins appeared every one or two minutes, the second floor was eerily quiet. Sometimes they had to walk for fifteen. Even twenty minutes. Before finding another enemies.
Yet every battle demanded their full concentration.
The elite variants possessed proper combat skills and technique. They coordinated with each other.They understood positioning.
Even so, defeating them had proven worthwhile. The difficult battles noticeably accelerated everyone's combat instincts and skill proficiency.
Jackey crossed his arms with an annoyed snort.
“Yeah! Those elite skulkers were a pain in the ass to hit! And I got stabbed by those damn assassins more times than I wanted!”
He rubbed the back of his shoulder as though remembering the unpleasant experience.
Elise gently tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear. The embarrassment from earlier had completely disappeared.
“That's right, Ina. Those elite goblins actually knew techniques. They could evade my arrows... and they coordinated with each other surprisingly well.”
Ina slowly nodded. Her amber eyes shifted back toward Hyoren.
“I see… So you fully mapped the second floor? Were there any other complications besides the monsters?”
She tilted her head slightly.
“And are you going to share the map and information with the guild?”
Hyoren folded his arms.
“There weren't any other complications. No hidden chambers. No Monster Rooms. No dangerous traps either. The real danger of the floor is simply the elite variants themselves.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“As for the map… I think we'll hold it back. At least until we actually clear the floor. We don't want to submit a half-finished report.”
Beside him, Elise nodded in agreement.
Ina smiled approvingly.
“That's a good decision.”
She lightly tapped the table with one finger.
“And honestly... even if you shared it now, there isn't anyone who could really make use of that information yet.”
Hyoren blinked in surprise.
“Huh? No one has cleared the first floor besides us? What about Jigor? I thought after we shared our map and information, more parties would've cleared it.”
Ina laughed.
“Nyahaha. Your party was the abnormal one.”
She rested her chin on her hand.
“Currently, there are three Bronze-ranked parties that have completely mapped the first floor after using the information you shared.”
She raised her free hand, counting with her fingers.
“Jigor's party, Unbreakable Muscle. Then Shining Force, led by Fits. And lastly... Merry Go Round, led by Hilde.”
The last party name almost made Hyoren spit out his coffee. It seems even in this world there is someone with a weird naming sense.
Ina continued as though nothing had happened.
“They've all challenged the Floor Guardian at least once. And they all retreated. They said they couldn't overcome the Goblin Berserker's regeneration.”
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
“All three parties told Sherly that they're planning to train first. And maybe getting better gear. They want to prepare a way to deal with its regeneration before trying again.”
She looked toward Hyoren.
“Their parties don't have a strong debuffer like you… Or a poison user like Elise.”
Hyoren slowly nodded in understanding.
“I see… It seems… We were simply a very good match against the Goblin Berserker.”
***
Ina's amber eyes slowly swept across the three of them.
Seeing the calm expressions on their faces only made her curiosity grow. She leaned forward once more, her cat ears standing upright.
“So... so... what kind of guardian actually kicked the strongest party in Akela out of the dungeon?”
Hyoren let out a wry smile.
“Ina... the second floor guardian was troublesome.”
He rested one arm on the table.
“It was called the Goblin Ruler. Level 18...”
He paused for a moment before lightly shaking his head.
“But what made it dangerous wasn't its level. It wasn't even the guardian itself...”
He looked directly into Ina's eyes.
“It was... its army.”
The playful atmosphere from earlier gradually faded.
Hyoren calmly explained everything they had witnessed after entering the guardian chamber. The enormous ancient hall. The massive rectangular stone platform in the middle. The deep rift surrounding it like a natural moat. The single narrow bridge that connected the entrance to the platform.
Then—the Goblin Ruler itself.
Standing proudly holding a fluttering purple banner. He explained his suspicion that the monster possessed some kind of leadership-type skill.
Finally, he described what truly made the guardian terrifying. More than a thousand goblins. All standing beneath the Goblin Ruler's command.
Ina's eyes widened. Her cat ears slowly flattened against her head. Even her tail stopped swishing altogether.
From across the table, Jackey immediately nodded several times.
“That's right, Big Sis! The guardian chamber was full of green skulkers!”
He spread both arms as wide as he could.
“A sea of green!”
Even remembering the sight made him shudder.
Elise gently rested both hands on the table.
“The first time I saw it, Ina...”
She took a slow breath.
“I could only feel dread. At that moment... it truly felt impossible.”
Her voice remained calm, yet the memory was still vivid.
“I thought our progress would end there.”
She briefly turned toward Hyoren before looking back at Ina.
“Because no sane party would fight over a thousand goblins under a leadership-type monster.”
A small smile gradually appeared on her face.
“But… Hyoren saw a possibility.”
Jackey immediately raised both fists into the air.
“Yes! Big Bro is the best party leader! WOHOO!”
Hyoren could only smile awkwardly at the praise.
Ina, however, wasn't paying attention to Jackey anymore. Her widened amber eyes remained fixed on Hyoren.
“How... Hyoren? A thousand goblins...”
She slowly shook her head, disbelief evident on her face. Her cat ears gave a small twitch.
“It's not as many as the goblin armies led by a Goblin King. Those usually number around four or even five thousand.”
She folded her arms.
“But… A thousand is still an impossible number for a small party to defeat.”
Hyoren's smile slowly widened into a grin.
The more he thought about the guardian chamber, the more his gaming mindset took over. He had already analyzed the battlefield countless times during their journey back.
And after replaying the encounter over and over in his head—he had found the requirement to overcome it.
“Because of the terrain, Ina.”
He rested both elbows on the table.
“The massive stone bridge makes it possible.”
He sketched the battlefield in the table using his fingers.
“We'll use a strategy similar to when we cleared the Monster Room.”
He then explained his plan in detail.
The bridge itself would become a natural choke point. Instead of charging into the army, they would lure only a portion of the goblins across the bridge. Fight them. Eliminate them. Then retreat again before drawing another group.
Little by little.
They would shave away the Goblin Ruler's army until only the guardian remained.
Ina listened quietly from beginning to end. As Hyoren spoke, her cat ears gradually perked back up. Even her tail slowly resumed its gentle swishing.
When he finished, she let out a small breath.
“Now that you explain it like that… It was solid strategy…”
She smiled in admiration.
“You really are something, Hyoren.”
Then another question came to her mind. She tilted her head.
“So... why did you come back instead of clearing it?”
Hyoren smiled.
“It was a possible strategy, Ina.”
He lightly spread both hands.
“The problem is... with only the three of us, we'd have to keep fighting almost nonstop for several days.”
He gestured toward the imaginary battlefield once more.
“And that's assuming everything goes according to plan.”
He shook his head.
“But if we want to avoid a battle of attrition… We need something.”
Ina immediately leaned forward again. Her amber eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“What is it? What is it?”
A small smirk appeared on Hyoren's face.
“We need a fourth party member.”
He leaned back against his chair.
“A mage. A powerful one. Someone who specializes in area-of-effect spells.”
He shrugged.
“Fire, wind, earth... I don't really care. As long as they can wipe out a large number of enemies at once.”
Ina's expression gradually turned thoughtful.
The excitement on her face faded as she considered the request.
“A solo mage...”
She gently tapped one finger against the table.
“That's a tall order. Most of the good ones are already in established parties.”
She thought for another moment before smiling again.
“But... adventurers have been flocking into Akela City every day. New faces arrive all the time.”
She pointed at herself with a confident grin.
“I'll keep my ears open. If a capable mage without a party shows up… I'll let you know.”
Elise smiled warmly.
“Thanks, Ina.”
Hyoren nodded appreciatively.
“We're also planning to scout around Dungeon Town later. Maybe we'll find someone suitable who's still available.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“Until then… I think we'll spend our time training on the second floor.”
Beside him, Jackey nodded enthusiastically.
“YES! Now that I know their pattern, I CAN WHACK THEM!”
He pumped his fist into the air.
“And it feels good whacking those strong skulkers! WOHOO!”
His loud declaration echoed through the dining room.
Everyone couldn't help but laugh at his infectious enthusiasm.
***
Hyoren leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, tired sigh.
The delicious breakfast and the warm, lively atmosphere around the table had eased his mind considerably.
Ina noticed the subtle change in his expression. The amusement faded from her face, replaced by a softer look.
“So... you're going to rest now, Hyoren? Three days?”
Hyoren briefly looked toward Jackey. Then toward Elise. The elf quietly returned his gaze before giving him a small nod.
He nodded back.
“We're going to rest. Three days is good, yes.”
He stretched his shoulders slightly before settling back into his chair again.
“The toll from that dungeon dive is real, even if it doesn't feel like it right now.”
A wry smile appeared on his face.
“So today... we're doing absolutely nothing. Just relaxing at home.”
Jackey suddenly jumped to his feet. He threw both arms into the air with his usual boundless enthusiasm.
“YES! Rest time? It's finally! BROTHEL TIME! WOHOO!”
Ina's eyebrow twitched. She tightened her grip on her teacup, visibly resisting the urge to throw it straight at Jackey's head.
Hyoren only chuckled.
“But… We still need to find a mage.”
He looked around the table.
“Ina is keeping an eye out. But we can't just sit around waiting. And we couldn't go to Dungeon Town before our rest day ended. Does anyone know where we should look elsewhere?”
From across the table, Lena, who had quietly listened to the entire discussion with Vina, gently raised one hand.
“Umm… I know where you might find a solo adventurer.”
Everyone turned toward her. She smiled softly.
“My late husband and I used to go there whenever we were looking for information.”
She lightly tapped a finger against the tabletop.
Her expression shifted into that of an experienced adventurer offering advice to younger companions.
“If you're looking for a specific kind of adventurer, the Guild is certainly one place. But if you want to find them in their natural habitat...”
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
“You should visit a tavern at night. That's where solo adventurers and small parties usually gather. They drink. They boast. They exchange information. And sometimes... they're looking for work.”
She folded her hands together.
“Word of a well-funded Bronze-ranked party looking for a capable mage would spread like wildfire in a place like that.”
Ina immediately clapped her hands together.
“Oooh! Yeah! Lena's right! A tavern is probably the best place to recruit someone.”
Hyoren considered the suggestion.
It made perfect sense. Passive waiting was inefficient. Actively searching where adventurers naturally gathered was the far more logical approach.
He glanced toward Elise. She silently nodded. She clearly agreed.
“Alright. We'll rest today. Then tomorrow night… We'll head to the tavern.”
With their next objective decided, the discussion naturally came to an end.
Everyone began preparing to start their own day.
Ina had work waiting for her at the Adventurer's Guild as the Vice Guild Master.
Jackey, judging from the ridiculous grin on his face, he was undoubtedly heading straight for the brothel.
As for Hyoren and Elise—the two had already decided to spend the day resting inside the manor and letting their exhausted bodies recover.
Just as everyone was about to stand. Cling. Cling. A series of clear, melodic chimes echoed from the front entrance of the manor.
The cheerful sound cut cleanly through the comfortable atmosphere of the dining room.
Everyone paused.
Several pairs of eyes instinctively turned toward the front door. It was an unexpected visitor.
Lena rose smoothly from her chair.
“I'll get it, Master.”
She adjusted her apron before quietly making her way toward the entrance. Her footsteps were so light they barely made a sound against the polished stone floor.
A few moments later, she returned.
In her hands was a neatly sealed envelope made from thick, high-quality paper. Even at a glance, it looked expensive.
She stopped beside Hyoren and respectfully offered it to him with both hands.
“A courier service delivered this, Master Hyoren.”
Hyoren accepted the envelope.
“Thank you, Lena.”
He turned it over in his hands, his brows slowly knitting together. The paper itself was noticeably finer than anything he ever saw.
Then his gaze fell upon the wax seal. A familiar emblem was pressed neatly into the crimson wax.
A wolf holding a sword in its jaws.
"..."
He frowned.
I've seen this somewhere… Where was it...?
Before he could remember, he noticed movement from both sides.
Elise and Ina had simultaneously widened their eyes the moment they saw the seal.
Hyoren looked from one to the other.
“Huh? You two know this symbol?”
Both women let out almost identical exasperated sighs.
Ina couldn't help but point directly at the seal.
“This is Baron Akela's crest... Hyoren.”
Hyoren blinked. Then realization suddenly struck him.
“Ah...”
His eyes widened.
Now he remembered. The same emblem had been embroidered onto the city guards' uniforms. It flew proudly on the banners hanging throughout Akela City.
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Right… I just didn't expect the Baron to actually send me a letter. So it never crossed my mind.”
Elise could only shake her head. Her silver hair gently swayed with the motion.
“Open it, Hyoren. You shouldn't keep a noble waiting.”
Hyoren nodded.
“Fair point.”
Using his thumb, he carefully broke the wax seal before unfolding the neatly folded paper inside.
Elise and Ina instinctively leaned a little closer.
The handwriting was immaculate. Each stroke was sharp, elegant, and deliberate, carrying the unmistakable dignity expected from official noble correspondence.
To Hyoren Enjo, Party Leader of the Freedom Party,
The report submitted by your party concerning the Akela Dungeon has been carefully reviewed.
Your diligence in exploring the dungeon, your accurate documentation, and your willingness to share valuable information with the Adventurer's Guild have rendered a commendable service to both the Akela Barony and its people.
Such contributions do not go unnoticed.
Accordingly, I request your presence at Akela Castle this evening at the sixth bell, that we may discuss several matters of mutual interest.
Should your circumstances permit, I trust you will honor this invitation.
— Baron Guts Akela
The dining room fell silent after Hyoren finished reading.
No one spoke. Even Jackey had frozen still.
A strange feeling slowly spread across the room. Confusion. Curiosity. And just a hint of nervousness.
The ruler of the Akela Barony—the lord responsible for protecting the entire frontier—had personally invited Hyoren to Akela Castle.
No one had expected their peaceful day of rest to take such an unexpected turn.