Forging a Path to the Guild

[Althea's POV]

As Loki finished bestowing the Falna upon me and Ais, a grin spread across her face. She announced, "Congratulations, you two! You're now official members of the Loki Familia."

Leave it to Loki to always find a reason to celebrate. I couldn't help but quip, "Well, well, looks like I've got a new title to add to my resume: Professional Dungeon Diver."

Riveria, ever composed and wise, interjected, "Our next step is to register at the Guild headquarters. They'll assign ranks, provide missions, and enlighten us about the world of adventurers."

Curiosity piqued, I glanced at Ais, who remained silent but determined. I nudged her playfully. "You ready for the big leagues, Ais? Time to show the Dungeon what we're made of."

Riveria gestured for us to follow, and we left Loki's room, stepping out into the vibrant streets of Orario. Riveria took the lead, guiding us through the maze of medieval structures that lined the bustling city.

As we strolled along, Riveria acted as our tour guide, enlightening us about the various districts. With a sly grin, I remarked, "Seems like every corner of this city has a story to tell. Maybe I'll write a best-selling novel about our journey someday."

Amidst the captivating sights and sounds, a towering structure in the heart of the city commanded my attention. Its sheer size and presence were impossible to ignore.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I turned to Riveria, an eager glint in my eyes. "Alright, spill the tea, Riveria. What's the deal with that colossal tower?"

Riveria's voice held a hint of reverence as she answered, "That, my dear Althea, is Babel, the great tower of Orario. It serves as the entrance to the Dungeon, a labyrinthine abyss that holds countless challenges and treasures. Beneath the tower lies the Guild headquarters, where adventurers gather to take on quests and receive support."

I let out a low whistle. "So, it's like our personal amusement park, but with more danger and less cotton candy. Sign me up!"

Riveria nodded, her voice tinged with admiration. "Indeed, Althea. And beneath the tower lies the Guild headquarters, where all adventurers gather. That's where our journey takes us now."

Approaching the grand building that housed the Guild headquarters, a sense of anticipation surged within me. It was like stepping onto a stage before a grand performance, ready to showcase our skills and leave a mark on the world.

With a mischievous glint in my eye, I whispered to Ais, "Ready to make our debut, Ais? Let's show them what the newest members of the Loki Familia are capable of."

As we crossed the threshold into the Guild headquarters, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The doors swung open, unveiling a world of possibilities and adventures that awaited us within the Guild's hallowed halls.

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As we entered the guild headquarters, my eyes widened in awe at the sheer grandeur of the building. Its vast interior sprawled before us, filled with bustling adventurers going about their business. I couldn't help but throw a quippy remark about the spaciousness of the place.

"Well, well, Riveria. Looks like they built this guild with giants in mind. I guess they anticipated some larger-than-life adventurers stomping through here. Good thing we're just the right fit," I quipped, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.

Riveria, although amused by my remark, maintained her graceful demeanor. She gestured for Ais and me to follow her, leading us through the busy corridors toward the receptionist area. Eager to explore, I complied, my curiosity piqued by the bustling atmosphere of the guild.

As we reached the receptionist area, Riveria's voice resonated with authority as she called out to a bored werewolf receptionist.

"Rose," Riveria elegantly says the receptionist's name, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Rose's bored eyes met Riveria's, and she tried to greet her formally. "Welcome, Vice-Captain Riveria Ljos Alf of the Loki Familia. What brings you here today?"

Riveria, however, dismissed the formalities with a dismissive wave of her hand. "You don't need to be formal, Rose. I know you're not acting like you mean it."

I watched their interaction, intrigued by how Riveria and Rose interacted. It seemed like they didn't need to be so formal with each other. I couldn't help but smile at how efficient they were.

Rose blinked, she's a bit surprised by Riveria's directness. She explained, "we're told in the rules to greet the familias like that. I don't have much choice, you know? If we don't follow the rules, they'll cut our pay."

I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at Riveria's blunt demeanor. She certainly had a way of cutting through the red tape and getting straight to the point. Formalities seemed to bounce right off her. It was like watching a formal greeting meet its match in a no-nonsense whirlwind. Quite the refreshing sight, I must say.

While Riveria engaged in a lively exchange with Rose, my attention started to wane. Boredom crept in, and I turned to Ais, extending an invitation. "Hey, Ais, how about we break away from the paperwork for a moment? Let's take a little adventure around the guild and see what catches our eye."

Ais refused silently, as her determination unyielding. It was as if her words took a vacation, leaving her unwavering determination to do all the talking.

Well, actions speak louder than words, and Ais's determined stance was practically shouting her desire to learn the ins and outs of the guild. Who needs chitchat when you've got a fierce commitment to self-improvement?

I shrugged my shoulders, understanding Ais's dedication. "Alright then, suit yourself, Ais. I'll go on a little solo exploration. Don't get lost in a pile of forms!" I teased, before venturing off into the depths of the guild, my eyes scanning for something intriguing.

As I wandered through the bustling guild, my gaze was drawn to the notice boards adorned with various quests and requests. One particular quest caught my eye—an adventure to recover a lost relic from the depths of an ancient ruin.

The thrill of the unknown surged through my veins, but before I could immerse myself in further thoughts, Riveria's commanding voice echoed through the guild, calling me back to reality.

"Althea! Where do you think you're going? We have important business to attend to," Riveria reprimanded, her tone laced with mild exasperation.

Turning on my heels, I offered a playful retort. "Just scouting for potential chaos, Riveria. You know me, always one step ahead of trouble."

Riveria sighed, shaking her head. "Your wanderlust will get you into serious trouble one day, Althea. But for now, let's focus on the task at hand."

She handed me a registration paper, instructing me to fill it out. I took the paper, my eyes scanning the contents.

I noticed the empty spaces for personal details and couldn't resist a quippy response. "So, Riveria, they want me to write my life story here? They'll need a bigger paper for that."

Riveria chuckled softly, her patience evident. "Keep it concise, Althea. Stick to the essentials."

Taking the registration paper, I pondered for a moment. Instead of using the common language, I decided to write everything in my native Japanese text. Ais, on the other hand, diligently filled out her registration using her own distinctive handwriting.

Once we finished, we handed our papers to Rose, who seemed utterly perplexed by the unfamiliar characters. She turned to me, as her confusion evident.

"What did you just write here? I can't make heads or tails of it," Rose asked, her voice tinged with bewilderment.

I shrugged nonchalantly, a playful smile on my lips. "Oh, Rose, let's just say I have my own unique way of expressing myself. Can't be confined by standard conventions, right?"

Riveria approached the desk, her calm demeanor contrasted with Rose's confusion. With a patient smile, she took the papers and addressed Rose. "Let me guide them in using the common language of Koine for the guild's paperwork. It seems we need to find a way to bridge the language barrier."

Rose nodded, a mix of curiosity and frustration on her face. "I suppose we'll have to figure something out. This is certainly a first."

With Riveria's guidance, she patiently taught us how to write using Koine, the common language of this world.

Despite the initial confusion, we soon grasped the basics, thanks to Riveria's expertise. With the paperwork finally in order, we were one step closer to fully immersing ourselves in the world of adventurers.

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After we finished with the registration paperwork, Riveria, Ais, and I returned to the receptionist counter. Riveria handed the completed forms to Rose, who took a skeptical glance at the information written on our papers.

"Althea Wallenstein and Ais Wallenstein, huh?" Rose muttered our names, her eyebrows raised in suspicion. She then noticed that the rest of our papers were almost entirely blank, except for our ages. A frown creased her forehead, but she didn't voice her doubts.

As I ponder the names Rose mentioned, I recall when Ais advised me to switch our last name to Wallenstein in order to conceal our true identities. A wry quip slips into my thoughts, "Well, a name change might make us sound important, but I hope we're not mistaken for long-lost nobility."

"Well, according to your registration, it seems you two don't require an adviser," Rose remarked, her tone tinged with disbelief. "Being from the Loki Familia, I suppose you're well-versed in the ways of adventuring."

Ais turned to Riveria, her eyes seeking confirmation. "Is it over, Riveria?"

Riveria nodded, her expression calm. "Yes, Ais, the registration process is complete."

"Then I'm going," Ais declared resolutely, her words filled with determination. Without a moment's hesitation, she swiftly leaped off the stool, poised to dash away.

I was about to follow suit when Riveria swiftly grabbed both of us by the collar of our shirts, preventing our escape.

"Where do you think you're going?" Riveria's voice held a hint of reprimand. "Straight to the dungeon?"

Ais let out a cute cough before glaring at Riveria, while I couldn't resist the urge to respond with a quippy remark.

"Ah, Riveria, you know us. We like to dive headfirst into danger without even a second thought," I teased, a smug smirk playing on my lips.

Riveria sighed and shook her head, reprimanding us gently. "Going to the dungeon without proper preparation is suicidal. What do you plan to do without even a weapon?"

"Tch," Ais clicked her tongue in frustration, her annoyance evident.

Meanwhile, I retorted playfully, "Well, I've heard that bare-knuckle brawling is making a comeback. Who needs weapons when you have these fists of fury?"

Riveria's reprimanding gaze shifted to me, and I couldn't help but sheepishly chuckle, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

Riveria shook her head, a mix of frustration and concern in her eyes. She scolded us firmly. "Take this seriously, Althea, Ais. You can't go into the dungeon without proper preparation. We'll make sure you have suitable weapons and gear before going inside."

Blushing slightly in embarrassment, Ais shot Riveria a serious glare, while I couldn't help but maintain a smug smirk on my face. Eventually, though reluctantly, we both gave in to Riveria's wisdom.

Rose, who had been silently observing our conversation, interjected, offering a solution. "If you want, we have beginner adventurer equipment in stock that you can use," she suggested.

Riveria agreed, surprising Rose. "That would be helpful. Thank you, Rose," she replied, appreciating the offer.

Rose couldn't believe her own words as she watched the interaction. "Never thought I'd see the day when I'd be offering beginner adventurer equipment to the mighty Loki Familia," she muttered, shaking her head.

"Well, Rose, looks like you'll have to make an exception for us Loki adventurers. After all, we're quite the special case," I remarked playfully.

Rose frowned at my comment but remained respectful as she directed Ais and me to follow a clerk who would take our measurements.

"Please follow me," the female clerk called by Rose led us aside.

The clerk reached out to take Ais's hand, but Ais boldly refused, simply following behind silently like a doll. On the other hand, I couldn't help but try to cheer up the clerk with a few quips, patting her back gently as we walked.

"Don't worry, we'll make sure the equipment fits us perfectly. We wouldn't want any fashion disasters in the dungeon, would we?" I joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

Led by the clerk, Ais and I were escorted to a designated area where our measurements would be taken, marking the next step in our adventurer journey.