Day off

Yesterday was the last day of the circle's fest, as expected, the final night was really amazing... Or so I heard from Reiya since I didn't even show my face around last night. Yesterday, after I took a bath, my head was spinning around. I assumed that was because of the poison from that assassin, even though I purged it, there must be some residual effects. Luckily, it was only to that extent, I am completely fine by the next day. Yep, I dozed off for more than 12 hours.

That aside, what surprised me wasn't that, but the fact there three people joining my circle by their own hand and feet surprised me. Well, it not like I force the other to join our circle, but two out of three were on our blacklist. It was Alfonso, Penelope, and Vincent friend. Since I wasn't there at that time, Reiya doesn't know how to reject the two of them. It should be a happy occasion since with them we met the requirements for starting a new circle, but somehow it leaves me with a bitter after taste. The milk has been spilled and the bread has been cooked, so there is nothing I could do to reject them as Reiya already submit the form to the academy faculty.

Anyway, since the festival has ended, all the students got a week off before the new term started. Also, Reiya already informs them to meet at the lake on the last day of the week off. So I got nothing planned until then... Ah, I almost forgot that Ramza asked me to drop by once every three days though. His reasoning was, he wasn't as skillful as me and didn't understand many terms of the book, so he needs me around to continues his research. Of course, he will pay me for every meeting. It made me wondering whose research it was. Somehow, he seems to resemble those professors on earth that use their grad students for their research.

Basically, I got plenty of free times before the new term starts. Since I am free, I plan to raise my adventurer rank and do some research on magic engineering, the former was my priority though. I need to get stronger faster so that definitely the best plan to raise my level, whilst raising my adventurer ranks. Although my growth is faster than those normal students in the academy, it still too slow. I keep getting a bad feeling since the assassination attempt, did I raise a death flag or something. I seriously wonder about it, that's why I need to get stronger faster.

So once again, I teleport assy to the hotel room that I've paid for 2 months. I plan to use this place as 'Nies' home base, so I will commuting to the guild from here, then teleport back to the dorm after dinner. With that in mind, I change my appearance at once and wear clothes from the last time. Then I pulled out the katana and put it on my belt before I headed out of the hotel. When I walk out of my room, the owner was cleaning the hallway. She is a middle-aged woman in her 40s, with a plump body and brown wavy hair. Her name is Carol, she got a personality like those aunty next-door, which caring, kind, and gentle. She looks at me as she hears my door opened. Her eyes are opened wide before she frowns at me.

"Good morning aunty~"

I greet her cutely as I come closer.

"Aiya, this girl! Where have you been?! You suddenly disappear without telling us or leaving a note. I came to your room yesterday since you haven't come out for 3 days, but you weren't there! My husband planning to drop by the adventurer guild today, to check up on your condition. He even planning to put a request to search for you and notice the guards."

Yep, that kind of aunty. Well, this hotel wasn't the best, to be honest, and it was cheap. But, it leaves a great impact on me, or should I said the past Zein. When he runs away from home, he stayed here for a couple of days. That's why I know about her personality. I could tell that she is sincerely worried about me, that why I listen to her scolding. She scolds me in the past to for drinking too much. While her husband also a good man, he looks like a bear tho. I keep listening to her scolding as I nod my head and agreeing to her words.

"Next time, if you go out please tell me or my husband."

"Yes, aunty. I will put that in mind."

"Sigh, this girl. I will tell my husband to cancel his plans."

"Yes, thank you, aunty."

"Anyway, breakfast is ready. Just go to the dining room."

"Ah, I already have an appointment. So, I'll pass for today."

"Geez, then go."

She continues her cleaning, as I walk past her. When I come across the check-in desk, it happens.

"Oh my... When did you come back?"

This time is her daughter, Ilya. Like her mother, she got brown wavy hair, but her figure is more like her father. She is pretty tall for a girl, she is around 180 cm with a slim waist and long legs. Her face is kind of seducing overall, with a couple of freckles. Her brown eyes are sharp, with long eyelashes. Her nose bridge is kind of small, but her nose is sharp. While her lips are thin and curved sexily.

"Err... Yesterday night..."

"Is that so? But I didn't see you at all."

"Ahahaha... You might be relieving yourself when I come back."

"I am sure I lock the door when I do those."

"A... Hahaha..."

"Don't hahaha me."

Yep, she is pretty angry, and I got another round of scolding and preaching. My plan to go to the adventurer guild was delayed for another 15 minutes, and when she is done it already 8 a.m. I finally got released from Ilya scolding and make way to the adventurer guild. Along the way, many people gaze upon me, which kinda annoying. Yep, let's stop gazing at passers-by in the future. When I arrive at the guild, it really packed with people. There are so many people inside, moving around and waiting in line for the counter. Those are free staring at me when I come in, some even whistling as they scan my body, while those inside the training ground when I took the test gulping down and shifting their gaze at once.

Whilst I am waiting in line for taking the quest, it happens. The legendary cliche scene from novels on earth happened to me. A group of adventurers party comes and pick me up.

"Hey lass, I never see you around. Are you a newbie? Wanna join our party? This big bro will teach you the ropes."

The guy with blond hair said those pick up lines. His eyes keep scanning my body and face as if he licking me all over the place with his leeching eyes. While his party members weren't any better, they snickering as they lick their upper lip. Even the surrounding adventurer starting to frown, while those female adventurers got disgusted face at once.

"Seriously, those guys doing it again?"

"I heard that the last girl they scam into their party got mentally break down. She would scream every time a guy comes close to her. Luckily, the Lilies garden party rescue her before she completely breaks down."

"Didn't they got punished before and thrown to jail?"

"They did for a week and got banned from adventurer guild for two months. I heard that the guild already warned them if they got caught doing something like that again, their guild card will be confiscated and they will be banned for life."

"The hell, it only a week? Isn't it too lenient?"

"That the problem, I heard some pretty high ranking person pull some string from behind and lessened their punishment. It someone from rank-A if my information is correct."

"D-damn, shouldn't we help the girl then!?"

I could hear the murmur of our surroundings adventurers, some of those seems really worried about me. I keep quiet and only stare at the blond hair. Of course, the man himself, couldn't let the remarks of the surrounding adventurer just like that. His face is red like an octopus. He then looks around the surrounding adventurers with an angry face.

"Who said that?! Come forward if you dare. Trust me, I won't kill you!"

The surroundings adventurers frown at his words, some even clenching their hand but they didn't come forward. While those females adventurer being held back by their party members.

"Gahahaha, what a pussy after such a great speech. You didn't even dare to step forward?"

"How could they dare to do so, big bro. After all, they won't say those in a crowd if they dare."

Said one of his party members, as he snickering behind the blond hair. I guess this is as expected from an adventurer guild? The majority of adventurers are male after all. So they can't help it when they see a young girl walking inside alone, I guess. But maybe I shouldn't label the other as a pervert like these guys. Although they looking at me like a leech, they didn't do anything other than that. They even shift their gaze after a moment, so I guess they only appreciating a girl beauty. I could understand them tho since I also do that with my friends on Earth. Then only a couple of adventurers that really a pervert, like these animals. While why the others didn't help me right now, I could tell it because of the rumors that these animals got pretty high backers. Even I think it troublesome since they seem had a backing of a rank-A adventurer party.

"So lass, what you say? We will handle you gently as we teach you the ropes for being an adventurer."

He stares at me once again with a perverted smile plastered on his face.

"Yes, our adventurer party is already rank-C. If you join us, your safety will be guaranteed."

"Kekekeke, you could raise your rank easily with u—"

They surround me as they speaking, one of the members, let's called him thug B, tried to pull my waist. Of course, I dodge him which made him stop in the middle of his sentence. They're really disgusting I almost lost my control and beat him up at once. I tried my best to keep up my facades of innocent, kind, and cute girl. There are too many eyes right now.

"Thank you for your invitation mister, but I must apologize to you, I couldn't accept it. My mother told me not to go with a stranger."

Hearing my response the blond haired guy got dumbfounded before he laughing out loud.

"Hahaha... Are you a kid, lass!? What kind of adventurer are you? You couldn't work as an adventurer if you can't go with strangers! There are many works of adventurer that needed you to join forces with strangers."

He shook his head as he said those words. The other adventurer frowns at his words that seems like mocking my mother's advice, but they couldn't retort that since what he said was correct. As an adventurer, there are many quests that needed to join with another party. Like a subjugating of high ranking monster or escorting someone. In this case, adventurers need to be able to work with strangers.

Honestly, his response is unexpected for me. I am sure he could read between the lines of my words that I declined him. I thought he would jump at me and forces me to join his party. In that case, it legal for me to beat them up, but who would expect him to give me real advice. Or maybe he was that stupid? No, if he was that stupid he won't be dumbfounded at my reasoning to decline his offer.

Hmmm, I kinda want to bait him, but a familiar face comes from behind the crowd. It's miss Fina, and beside her is the guy that said: "we need to help the girl". I see he didn't escape from them, but he goes to the counter to notice the staff. Then miss Fina come forward with her business face from before.

"It seems like you didn't heed the guild warning."

Hearing what miss Fina said, the blond haired guy flinched. He then fidgeting for a moment before he put a smile on his face.

"This is a misunderstanding, miss Fina. We are only offered her our guidance as a senior adventurer."

He answered her fluently as if he already prepared the answer.

"This is a misunderstanding, eh? Then scram."

"Yes, we will get out of the way at once."

The walk away at once with their tail between their legs. Whoa, she completely got them under control. I never thought miss Fina influence is this great, even someone with a rank-A party as their backers didn't dare to cross path with her. She must be someone important in the guild or she had stronger backers, let's not make her angry in the future. I put my brightest smile as I face her.

"Thank you for your help, sister."

I thanks her as I bow down courtly.

"No need to be polite, it is my job after all. But I guess you could take care of them, without me stepping in."

That indeed the case. If I including their backers in the fray, it would be difficult to determine. I might be able to send them away with magic still there is too many variables. If it one by one with a rank-A, I might be a winner if I caught them off guards. But against a party of rank-A, it impossible for sure. I am not strong enough to fight against them! So, I shook my head at her words.

"No, that is not correct. I will be troubled if you didn't step in before."

Somehow she smirks as if she knew something before she shook her head.

"Anyway, I should return to the counter. It pretty crowded right now. Also, you should thank him. After all, he was the one that informs me about this."

She points at the guy beside her as she said that before she returns to her counter. The guy himself shook his head and wave his hands.

"Ah, no, no need... I-it was the right thing to do to help someone who needed a hand. I-it wa-was mya... pleasure to be able to help."

Ah, he stuttering and bite his tongue in the middle of the sentence... If I am a girl I would be swayed and think he is cute. He is a wolf beastman with a blue hair and fur, his tail been waving for a while now. He got big emerald eyes and his ears look fluffy. His face is red from embarrassment.

"No, you really help me. Thank you very much for your assistance."

I want to pat his head some— no, I already did it as I give him my thanks. After all, he is shorter than me. He should be around 160 cm, his face got redder as I pat him, while his tail waving faster. He got a pleasant look as I do that... He is a dog person... No, he was a wolf from the start. Looking at us, the adventurers around us exclaiming and snickering.

"Way to go Veer!"

"Ohohoho, it finally springs for little Veer."

"Saving the damsel in distress, little Veer finally graduated from being vir—"

"Cu-Cut it out, brother Douglas!"

He turns around at once and rebuttal to the last speaker.

"Hahaha, someone got hot in his ear aye! Should I teach you how to please a woman on—"

"No-not you too, old man Goldart!"

"Now miss, please take care of out little Veer."

"Wh-why did you seems like sending me off to my wedding?!"

They keep teasing him one after another, I could only smile wryly in my mind. From the start, it impossible for me to fall in love with him. I am a man and as miss Fina said, I could take care of them even without help. Some adventurers that knew my test even sighing in relief, they must be thinking I would go on a rampage and shooting those flame spear from before. But still, I didn't feel any lust from this Veer guy since he looks at me innocently.

"Anyway, thank you for your help once again Veer."

I stopped their teasing with those words since I got a feeling they won't stop if I didn't say anything. With a face as red as a beet, he returns my gratitude as he scratches his head.

"I-it wasn't much. Ah... Right, my name is Veer as you heard from them. I am a rank-D adventurer. Co-could I ask your name?

"Ah, I almost have forgotten about that. My name is Nies, I am a rank-E adventurer. I just joined the guild for 3 days, it is my pleasure to meet you Veer."

"Ah... Th-the pleasure is mine. It pretty amazing to be able to reach rank-E in 3 days."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Huh? Didn't you start a G-rank?"

"Etto... No?"

I tilt my head slightly as I am at loss. So, normally you start at G? Then why did I starting at E? Is this because of the test?

"Huh? Then did you start at rank-F?"

"No... I got rank-E from the start."

"Eh?! Amazing!"

He exclaimed loudly as if he looks at me in wonder. It seems like it wasn't normal to start at rank-E.

"You must be really strong to be able to get rank-E from the start."

Somehow he wasn't stuttering anymore.

"I-is that so?"

"Nnn, I heard the test was really hard to get it from the start. You must be able to reach a rank-B trainer requirement to get it."

Hoo, that Agun was a rank-B adventurer. He doesn't seem to be that strong tho, but he indeed takes it easy against me. Since he put restrictions on himself in the fight. Also, he could parry my probing slash easily.

"Ah... A-anyway, do-do you wa—"

"E-excuse me! Pardon me... Veer!"

Then suddenly someone cutting the line and calling Veer name. From the crowd, a familiar face pops out, he got distracted at once as he sees me. His eyes are wide open whilst he looks at Veer and me repeatedly. He then walks to Veer side and nudges him with his elbow. Veer face goes red at once.

"Wah... What a beautiful lady! As expected from you Veer, to be able to make an acquaintance with such a beauty."

"T-that... I just mwet... Auuu..."

"Eh? Your cool side crumbling Veer!"

The beastman that come to Veer side smile mischievously, as Veer bite his tongue once again. But really, I never thought this guy was this kind of characters.

"S-stop it, Vincent! Now, this is the worst..."

"Oh, isn't that harsh coming from you Veer. You make an acquaintance with such a beautiful lady, and you said it the worst?"

"A-ah... No, miss Nies, I didn't mean it like that. Vincent, you—"

Yep, it is Vincent... The deer beastman. What a gap in personality! He was a meek boy before, but now he is devious in front of Veer. He is someone that shows his true self in front of his friends I guess. Meek with strangers, devious and mischievous with his friend.

"Okay, okay... I'll stop making fun of you. Now then miss, please—"

He takes a deep breath and then he shocked as he looks at me once again as if he saw a ghost. Then he observes me from head to toe.