Adventurer's [ID]{Re-write}

"Sir, I have a doubt… may I ask?" I said, my curiosity tugging at me despite the hesitation in my voice.

"Of course," Master Roland replied warmly. "Ask anything related to your concern. I'll do my best to clear it up."

"Thank you, sir," I nodded. "But… how did you come to know all this about me? I just arrived here. I haven't told anyone anything."

There was a short pause. Master Roland's expression shifted—less warm now, more calculating.

"Ah, well... that's a question you'll have to ask Miss Layla," he said, glancing toward the door.

Layla? That threw me off. She seemed like the last person to be snooping on me. Sweet, helpful… kind of, well—adorable. Wait—no, I meant respectable. Definitely respectable.

Before I could spiral deeper into that thought, her voice chimed in from beside me, gentle as always.

"If Sir Alex wishes to know, I'll gladly explain," Layla said, stepping into view.

Hearing that kind of bummed me out. I mean, I'd figured she was just a helpful NPC, not someone peeking into my stats behind my back. It made me feel a little weird, honestly. I had trusted those honest—adorable—eyes of hers.

"Sir? Sir Alex?" Her voice snapped me out of my head.

"Huh?" I blinked.

"Are you listening?"

"Oh! Yeah, yeah. Sorry, please go on."

She gave a slight nod. "So, would you like to know how I came to have access to your information?"

"I would. Please do explain."

She took a breath, then spoke with calm confidence. "I possess a passive skill—an innate ability granted to me as the assistant to the village chief. It allows me to view certain details about adventurers. My role is to keep them safe and support their journey in Tervana."

That made more sense now. A system feature, not some underhanded trick.

"I see… that clears things up. Thank you, Layla. I appreciate what you're doing."

She gave me a gentle smile. "It is both my duty and my pleasure, Sir Alex. And if you ever need assistance, don't hesitate to seek me out."

"Oh, and let's not forget—we still need to finish your adventurer registration. I believe we've taken up quite a bit of your precious time already."

I chuckled lightly. "Right. Let's finish it."

We stepped out of the room, leaving Master Roland behind.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Meanwhile, in a quiet, hidden corner of the hall, a hushed conversation was underway.

"Is it him?" Master Roland asked, his voice low and cautious.

From the shadows, a masked figure stepped into the dim light. "Yes. It's him," the figure confirmed, voice steady.

"You're absolutely sure?"

"One hundred percent. His eyes... they're just like hers."

Master Roland fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "But we can't act, can we?"

"No," the masked figure replied. "Not yet. If we move too soon, she'll sense us. And if she does… she won't rest until we're wiped out. We need to stay quiet. Watch."

Roland's eyes narrowed. "Understood. I'll observe him carefully."

"If an opportunity arises—"

"Should I silence him?" Roland interrupted, voice colder now.

The figure's reply was immediate—and firm. "No. Don't move unless ordered by Master. Your job is to watch and report. Nothing more."

Roland hesitated, then gave a slow nod. "Understood."

"One more thing. Stay away from Layla. She's noticed too. If she realizes the full truth, she'll alert her."

"Tch… that woman," Roland muttered. "She never trusted me. Left her little watchdog here to keep tabs on me."

"That's because you failed to gain her trust," the masked figure said sharply.

"I did everything I could! If she still doubts me—what else can I do?"

"I don't want excuses. Just do your job. Stay hidden. Report everything."

With that, the figure melted back into the shadows, leaving Master Roland alone with his thoughts—and the weight of everything left unsaid.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Back in the registration room, Layla led me to a pedestal, a glowing crystal resting on top.

"Please place your hand here," she instructed.

I did as she asked, pressing my palm against the smooth, cool surface. The crystal pulsed with soft light, humming quietly as it scanned.

"Whoa... it's beautiful," I murmured, captivated by its soft shimmer.

After a moment, the glow faded. Layla gently removed my hand and handed me a small rectangular object.

"Here you go," she said.

I stared at it. "What is it?"

"Your adventurer ID," she smiled.