The sun rose warm.
But only Rei noticed.
The Kori Inn's room had no enchantments. No floating braziers. Just cracked wooden beams and a square window bleeding soft amber light across the floor.
It was… enough.
Rei stretched, spine popping, and sat up in the stiff bed with a half-yawn.
He reached into the satchel beside him — felt the weight first.
Then counted it.
> "Ten gold… thirty silver… fifty-three copper…"
He leaned back, letting the sun hit his face.
> "I could buy Mom a house with this."
His voice barely broke above a whisper — soft, almost surprised.
Then he blinked. The softness faded.
> "...So it's that kind of world, huh?" "Kill monsters, get rich."
He scanned the room — bare floor, rough sheets, no bath in sight.
> "Still no bath though…" Sigh.
> "Why do fantasy worlds never have baths?"
The complaint was genuine. And gone in a second.
He was already thinking about the coins again. The way they clinked. The way they meant something here.
Not favors. Not lies. Not pity.
Just worth.
---
An hour later
A knock — then a voice.
> "Still alive in there?"
Rei opened the door.
Ailith leaned casually against the frame, half a bread roll in her mouth and the rest in her hand. Her hair was less chaotic this morning, horns polished slightly, her jacket still wet at the edges from drying overnight.
She looked like a mess.
A confident mess.
> "So?" she said, chewing. "What's next, boss?"
Rei buckled the last strap on his coat.
> "Make money."
Ailith grinned.
> "Knew you'd say that." "You do know how guild missions work, right?"
> "I'll figure it out."
> "Right. Strong, stupid, and mysterious. Real full package."
She tossed something toward him — a dark wool scarf. He caught it midair without blinking.
> "Here's the pitch," she said, brushing crumbs off her jacket.
"Let me join your party."
"I don't care about the split. You pick what's fair."
Rei blinked once.
Analysis mode kicked in.
> She knows the world.
Knows the monsters.
Knows what questions to ask.
> And she's a demon. A pretty one.
Not a priority, but not a bad perk.
He gave a small nod.
> "Deal."
---
Back at the Guild
The main hall buzzed — adventurers bickering over missions, smiths hammering contracts onto boards, coin pouches jingling with desperate purpose.
But behind the desk?
Leyla sat quiet.
Chin on her palm, pen half-dragging across a mission ledger, eyes caught in some far-off daydream.
Until—
> "Hey."
Rei's voice sliced through the room like a clean strike.
She jerked upright.
> "You—! Uh, yes?"
He pointed at the board.
> "Mission. Now."