Family.

"Mistress, you are late."

A crowd had gathered by the guild building. Outside, Melida's assistant Anna was waiting to take her inside as soon as possible.

"Disperse the crowd around the guild and tell them to come in a few hours later. If they refuse, tell them that the guild won't be taking in the request until everyone leaves. And if someone tries to cause trouble, kill them."

She entered the building and walked past the soldiers representing the Duke, who bowed down in respect.

"You two are early."

"It's you that is late."

Carus, Minerva's uncle and an old friend of Melida.

"Uncle, you can't talk to her like that."

Minerva reprimanded her uncle. You can't be disrespectful to the witch of Malen.

"You should listen to the girl. After all, we are not kids anymore."

Carus was surprised. Melida was acting coldly.

"Did you see him today?"

Melida looked at him and said,

"Minerva, ask your uncle to stay outside. You and I will be having this conversation."

'So she did see him. Sigh..."

"Minerva, make sure not to offend her today. Just state your purpose and leave the quest to the guild."

Both of them entered the room.

"Minerva, will you put up a silence spell so that your uncle won't pick anything up from the conversation?"

The princess uttered the spell and a barrier formed inside of the room.

"Good. Now we can discuss business."

She sat on her chair and asked,

"What can the adventurer's guild do for you?"

Minerva took out a page from her space bag.

"I am looking for him."

A portrait of Vincent, hand-drawn and colored by the princess herself.

Melida looked at the portrait and asked,

"His name?"

"Vincent Hunter. A kid from the village that was destroyed a few days back."

Melida maintained her poker face.

"Why are you looking for him?"

Minerva remained silent. She couldn't let her know about the appearance of a hero. She trusted no one with that information.

Melida didn't force her. She changed her question and asked,

"What is the reward?"

"15 platinum coins."

Melida took out a paper from her desk and handed it to Minerva.

"The quest form. Fill it."

Minerva took out her pen from the space bag this time. She inserted some mana into the pen. The mana turned into water and mixed with the powder inside to form ink.

She filled up the form. In the end, she used the Royal family signature.

"This is a quest of great importance. I would request you to treat it with utmost importance."

Melida took the form off her hands and said,

"The adventurer's guild merely employs adventurers to do the work. I can't guarantee results, but the 15 platinum coins should be enough."

She put the form inside the desk and said,

"He isn't a royal, is he?"

Minerva nodded in approval.

"Then it's fine. The quest will be valid as long as the nobles don't intervene."

Mineva stood up from her seat and said,

"Thank you."

Melida remained seated and said,

"You can see yourself out."

The barrier collapsed, and Minerva left.

"Typical."

Melida smirked.

She took the paper and stared at it for some time. This was Vincent alright, but his features were different.

"Unfortunately for her, I can't let an innocent kid like him fall into the hands of the royal family."

She walked out of her room after they had left. She posted the page on the quest board and left the building.

"Good work."

Anna had her sword out, blood dripping slowly on the ground. The area had been cleared, and a few corpses were lying around.

"Clean it up."

Melida left for her house. It was too late for her to be working anyway.

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"Mona."

James was finally home.

"Shhh!"

Mona came out and smacked his head. Vincent was still asleep.

"Sorry."

He took out something from the bag in his hands and said,

"Macrons? We finally got paid for the monster bones."

Her mood lightened up a bit.

Vincent walked out of the room.

"What happened?"

Hearing James shout, he felt like something bad had happened.

"Nothing. Would you like to have some sweets?"

James handed him a macaron. Vincent took a bite and said,

"Tasty!"

"James, go freshen up."

Mona took the bag from James and went inside the kitchen. She came out with the sweets neatly served on two plates.

James was done cleaning himself up using magic, and he sat beside Vincent on the ground.

"What did Grandma teach you today?"

Vincent made a smug face. He opened his palm, and a small flame appeared on it.

"Ignition."

James patted his head and said,

"Very good. But you still have a long way to go."

James did the same thing that Vincent had done, but he could move the flame around in his palm, unlike Vincent.

Vincent was hooked. He extinguished his flame and completely focused on the flame dancing on his palm.

Mona and James had been orphans. For many years after their parents had died in a monster expedition, James did not trust anyone. Unlike Mona, he had seen what the world truly was. Accepting 50 gold coins for a 2000 gold coin item was not ideal, but it was necessary. They couldn't afford to make enemies.

Taking in a hero went against that philosophy. He was still not sure whether he should continue his deal with Melida.

But looking at the kid in front of him, he couldn't help but smile.

"You both are so similar."

He looked at Mona and said.

"Vincent, eat."

Mona took a macaron and handed it to him.

James put out his flame.

The three of them begin to eat and gossip about their day.

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