The road stretched quietly ahead of us.
Packed earth softened by years of travel, winding gently toward the distant silhouette of the city walls barely visible on the horizon.
Ai walked slightly ahead, the rope of the small wagon looped across her shoulder. Each step she took made the wooden wheels creak softly against the dirt path.
Creak.
Creak.
Creak.
The rhythm was slow.
Unhurried.
Matching the careful pace Viole was forced to keep.
Even now his legs still felt unreliable beneath him, every step carrying a faint reminder of how close this body had been to collapsing for good earlier that day.
Yet somehow…
The road didn't feel quite as lonely anymore.
Ai seemed to notice when his steps slowed.
Without saying anything, she adjusted her own pace to match.
Small things like that were easy to miss.
But from where I was…
I noticed.
After several minutes of quiet walking, the landscape began to open slightly around us.
The road curved along gentle hills dotted with tall grasses that swayed under the afternoon breeze. Lavender from Ai's wagon mixed faintly with the scent of warm earth.
Ai glanced sideways again.
Then quickly looked back at the road.
Then sideways again.
She was clearly thinking about something.
Or more accurately…
Trying to gather the courage to say something.
Eventually she spoke.
"Um… Viole?"
Her voice carried the same soft hesitation as before.
"Yes?"
His reply came a little easier this time.
Still weak.
But steadier.
Ai hesitated for a moment.
"…The monster you mentioned."
Her fingers lightly tightened around the rope across her shoulder.
"Do you… remember what it looked like?"
Her curiosity seemed genuine.
But there was also a hint of concern behind the question.
Viole thought for a moment.
Even inside the body, I could feel the memory stirring.
"…Large."
He began slowly.
"…Larger than a wolf."
"It had black fur… but parts of its body looked… wrong."
Ai tilted her head slightly.
"Wrong?"
"…Like the fur didn't grow naturally."
He frowned faintly.
"…More like it was… spreading."
"Almost like rot."
Ai's steps slowed.
"…Rot?"
Viole nodded.
"And its eyes…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"…Red."
For a brief moment, silence returned.
The wagon creaked softly again.
Ai didn't speak immediately.
But I could see her expression shift slightly.
Concern.
Real concern.
"…That's strange," she murmured quietly.
"Verdant Hollow Forest doesn't usually have monsters like that."
Her gaze drifted toward the distant northeast horizon where the forest lay beyond the hills.
"…My village sometimes gathers herbs there too."
That made Viole glance toward her.
"…You do?"
Ai nodded faintly.
"…Mostly near the edge."
Her voice softened slightly again.
"My parents taught me how to recognize medicinal plants."
There was a brief pause before she added quietly:
"…Before they passed away."
Ah.
So that was it.
The pieces fit together quickly.
Why she knew how to make potions.
Why she was traveling alone with a wagon of medicines.
Why she looked young…
Yet capable.
Viole didn't ask further.
He simply nodded.
"…They must have been skilled."
Ai blinked once in surprise.
Then a faint smile appeared.
"…They were."
For a moment the shy girl seemed a little brighter.
The wagon creaked again behind her.
Lavender swayed gently in the breeze.
And far ahead of us, the distant outline of the city walls slowly grew clearer against the afternoon sky.
The journey was still long.
But step by step…
The two of them continued forward.
Step by careful step, the road stretched ahead beneath the open sky. The packed earth path widened gradually as it approached civilization, the scattered grasses giving way to smoother ground shaped by years of wagon traffic.
In the distance, something massive slowly began to rise above the horizon.
Stone.
At first it looked like nothing more than a long grey line cutting across the hills.
But as they drew closer, the shape grew clearer.
The walls of the city.
High stone ramparts stood firmly against the landscape, their weathered surfaces glowing faintly under the bright afternoon sun. Watchtowers rose at regular intervals along the walls, their silhouettes sharp against the wide blue sky.
From afar they looked quiet.
But as the distance shortened, life began to reveal itself.
Merchants.
Travelers.
A few wagons rolling along the road ahead of them.
The low murmur of voices carried faintly on the breeze.
Sunridge City.
The name surfaced in my mind the moment Viole's eyes settled on the familiar walls.
Not because I had been here before.
But because he had.
Fragments of memory stirred quietly beneath the surface of his thoughts, and like a door slowly opening, information began to flow through.
Sunridge City.
A scenic trade city located along the eastern region of the Thaloria Kingdom, positioned close enough to smaller villages to serve as their primary market hub.
The city wasn't among the largest in the kingdom.
But it was well known for two things.
Trade.
And accessibility.
For villages like Lunareth, this was the closest major settlement where merchants could sell goods, adventurers could report to the guild, and travelers could resupply before continuing further into the kingdom.
Viole had walked this road many times before.
Which meant…
I was seeing it through memories that were not originally mine.
Beyond the walls of Sunridge lay the greater lands of the Central Continent, the largest landmass in the world.
Thaloria Kingdom.
A nation known less for political power and more for something else entirely.
Adventurers.
Dungeons.
Relics.
Artifacts.
The memory continued unfolding quietly in the background of Viole's mind.
The world itself was divided across five continents, arranged across the vast oceans like points of a cross.
Each one governed by its own kingdom.
To the north lay the frozen lands of Aldrynn Kingdom, a place of towering mountains and endless winters where metalwork and weapon forging were the pride of its people.
To the east existed the forested kingdom of Sylvara, known for magical academies and rare herbs that thrived within its enchanted forests.
Far to the south, beyond deserts and jungles, stood Kaelara Kingdom, a land of harsh climates, spice trade, and rare resources found nowhere else in the world.
Across the western seas rested Velmora Kingdom, a maritime civilization of ports, harbors, and naval trade routes connecting the continents.
And at the center of it all—
Thaloria Kingdom.
The largest continent.
The crossroads of the world.
A place where adventurers gathered not only for trade, but for something far more dangerous.
Dungeons.
But those thoughts faded as quickly as they appeared.
Because the present moment demanded attention.
The road had grown crowded now.
Several wagons rolled toward the city gates ahead of them, merchants chatting casually while guards inspected incoming travelers.
Ai slowed slightly as they approached the growing line of people waiting to enter.
Her small wagon creaked softly behind her as she glanced up at the towering stone walls.
"...We're almost there," she said quietly.
Her voice carried a faint mix of relief and nervousness.
For someone who clearly visited the city before, the scale of the walls still seemed to humble her slightly.
The gates themselves stood wide open.
Two enormous wooden doors reinforced with iron bands rested against the sides of the wall, allowing travelers to pass freely beneath the shadow of the gatehouse.
Guards stood nearby, casually observing the incoming traffic rather than strictly interrogating it.
Most of the people entering appeared to be merchants or villagers.
Which meant neither Ai nor Viole drew much attention.
As they passed beneath the towering archway, the temperature shifted slightly.
The shade of the stone gate cooled the air for a brief moment before sunlight returned on the other side.
And suddenly—
The world changed.
Stone roads replaced dirt paths.
Buildings rose on both sides of the street, their wooden balconies and tiled roofs stretching along the busy avenue leading deeper into the city.
Merchants called out from roadside stalls.
The scent of baked bread drifted faintly through the air.
Footsteps.
Voices.
Wagons rolling across cobblestones.
Sunridge City was alive.
Ai paused briefly just inside the gate, glancing around as if confirming their direction.
Then she turned slightly toward Viole.
"The healer's clinic is this way," she said softly.
Her hand lightly adjusted the rope across her shoulder before she began walking again, guiding the small wagon through the busy street.
"We should get your wounds checked properly."
Even with the bandages she had applied earlier, her concern clearly hadn't faded.
And judging from the dull ache still lingering inside Viole's body…
That was probably a wise decision.
So the two of them continued forward once more.
This time not along a quiet country road—
But through the lively streets of Sunridge City.
Merchants called out from wooden stalls lining the street, displaying everything from fresh bread to bundles of herbs and tools meant for traveling adventurers. Wagons rolled across the stone road while townsfolk moved about their day, their conversations blending into a constant hum of activity.
Despite the lively surroundings, Viole's steps remained slow.
Not weak enough to collapse again, but not strong enough to move normally either.
Ai seemed to notice immediately.
She kept her pace steady beside him, careful not to walk too fast while guiding her small wagon along the side of the road.
"The clinic is just a little further," she said softly.
From what I could gather through Viole's memory, that statement was accurate.
Sunridge City had a simple but practical design.
Each of the four main gates had a healer's clinic nearby.
The purpose was obvious.
Adventurers returning from expeditions often arrived injured, and forcing them to cross half the city before receiving treatment would only increase the number of casualties.
So the clinics were placed close to the gates.
Efficient.
Logical.
And judging from the steady flow of travelers nearby, clearly necessary.
While we walked, Viole remained quiet for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"…Ai."
His voice was still slightly strained, though much steadier than before.
Ai looked up at him immediately.
"Y-Yes?"
Viole hesitated briefly before continuing.
"…The potions you used earlier."
His eyes drifted toward the bandaged wounds on his body.
"They were… very effective."
He paused again.
"…More than I expected."
Ai blinked softly, clearly not expecting that comment.
But Viole wasn't finished.
"…I didn't have any potions with me," he continued slowly. "They're… expensive in the city."
His breathing remained controlled, but it was clear that even simple conversation still required effort.
"So… I just wanted to say… if those potions were costly… I might not be able to pay for them right away."
His voice lowered slightly.
"…But I will repay you."
Ai stopped walking for half a step.
"…Eh?"
Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"T-There's no need for that!"
She shook her head quickly, the faint movement of her ponytail swaying behind her.
"My potions aren't expensive at all."
Viole looked at her.
"…Not expensive?"
Ai nodded.
"I sell them for fifteen copper coins per bottle."
For a moment—
Viole didn't respond.
But through his thoughts, I could feel the brief shock that passed through his mind.
Fifteen copper coins.
That was the standard price of a low potion sold in city shops.
A potion that could only heal minor wounds.
The one Ai had used earlier, however…
Even I could tell the difference.
The potion had closed a wound that should have been fatal.
Not completely.
But enough to stabilize him.
That wasn't the effect of a low potion.
It wasn't quite the strength of a true high potion either…
But it was close.
Very close.
In other words—
A top-tier mid potion.
Yet she sold it for the same price as the weakest potions available in the city.
Viole seemed to reach the same conclusion.
"…Ai."
His voice was calm, but there was clear concern behind it.
"You might not know this, but… potions like yours can sell for much more than that."
Ai tilted her head slightly.
"…Really?"
Viole nodded slowly.
"If the shops in the city knew about them, they would definitely raise the price."
He paused.
"…So if you want to increase the price… you should."
There was a small silence before he added another sentence.
"…Even if it becomes expensive, I'll still repay you for the potions you used on me."
His voice remained steady despite his condition.
"…If I can't pay it all at once… I'll pay little by little."
Ai listened quietly.
Then she shook her head again.
"No."
The answer came quickly.
Firmly.
"I won't raise the price."
Viole blinked slightly.
"…Why?"
Ai lowered her gaze slightly as she walked, her hands lightly gripping the rope tied to the small wagon behind her.
"Well…"
Her voice softened a little.
"The herbs around Lunareth Village grow very easily."
She gestured vaguely toward the east, where the distant hills beyond the city lay.
"There are a lot of forests and plains nearby, so collecting them isn't difficult."
"The cost of making a potion is only around ten copper coins if I gather the ingredients myself."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"So if I sell them for fifteen copper coins… I still earn a little."
Her reasoning was simple.
Practical.
But then she added something else.
"…And…"
Her voice grew slightly quieter.
"If I make them too expensive… people in the village won't be able to afford them."
Viole remained silent.
Ai continued walking slowly beside him.
"In Lunareth Village, people get injured while farming or gathering herbs all the time," she said softly. "Sometimes hunters return with bad wounds too."
"If potions are too expensive… they might hesitate to buy them."
She glanced at Viole for a brief moment before looking forward again.
"So I keep the price low."
Her voice remained shy.
But the conviction behind it was unmistakable.
"That way… anyone who needs them can afford them."
She didn't sound proud.
She didn't sound like she was trying to be noble either.
It was simply—
The most natural decision to her.
A quiet kindness built on practical reasoning.
For several seconds, Viole didn't say anything.
He simply walked beside her in silence.
Then—
"…I see."
That was all he said.
And after that, he didn't argue any further.
The two of them continued walking through the busy street, the sound of the city surrounding them.
Not long after, a modest stone building came into view ahead of them.
A wooden sign hung above the entrance.
A simple symbol carved into it.
A staff wrapped with cloth.
The healer's clinic.
The clinic was quieter than the streets outside.
The moment Ai and Viole entered the building, the scent of medicinal herbs and clean linen drifted through the air. Shelves lined the walls, filled with glass bottles, cloth wrappings, and neatly organized jars containing powdered ingredients.
It felt less like a hospital…
And more like a carefully maintained apothecary.
Before either of them could say anything, someone approached from behind a nearby counter.
"Oh?"
A calm female voice greeted them.
"Well, if it isn't a familiar face."
The woman who stepped forward looked to be in her mid-twenties, wearing simple healer robes of pale white and green. Her long ash-brown hair was tied loosely behind her back, and a small silver insignia rested neatly on the chest of her robe.
Her eyes settled on Viole.
"…You again?"
There was a pause.
Then she sighed.
"Honestly, Viole. At this point I should just reserve a bed for you permanently."
Ai blinked in surprise.
Viole looked… mildly embarrassed.
"…Hello, Mira."
Ah.
So that was her name.
Mira stepped closer, folding her arms as she examined him from head to toe.
"Let me guess," she said. "Monster trouble again?"
"…Something like that."
She shook her head before turning toward Ai with a small polite smile.
"And you must be the one who dragged this reckless adventurer back to the city."
Ai immediately straightened.
"Ah—y-yes!"
"I… I only applied some basic treatment."
Mira nodded slightly.
"Good enough to keep him standing, at least."
As she stepped closer to inspect the bandages, the insignia on her robe became clearly visible.
And the moment Viole's eyes registered it—
Information surfaced.
Not just from his memory.
But from the strange overlap between his knowledge and my own.
The insignia wasn't decorative.
It displayed three things.
Class.
Job.
And proficiency rank.
In this world, combat ability was structured through a system widely recognized by adventurers, armies, and magical academies alike.
Combat Classes.
Jobs.
And Proficiency Ranks.
Even without some magical "status window," the system functioned through recognized training paths and measurable skill levels.
Honestly…
It reminded me a lot of RPG systems from my old world.
The difference was that here, no floating menus appeared in front of your eyes.
No glowing windows listing stats.
Instead, proficiency was measured using specialized tools maintained by the Adventurer's Guild.
And the insignias people wore displayed the results.
Mira's insignia read clearly:
Class: Mage
Proficiency Rank: B
Job: Healer
So she was a mage specialized in healing magic.
That explained the clinic.
Combat classes themselves were straightforward enough.
Blade fighters specialized in swords and close-range combat.
Marksmen fought at long range using bows and projectiles.
Vanguards controlled the battlefield with spears and polearms.
Mages relied on spellcraft and mana manipulation.
And Strikers specialized in martial arts and close-quarters combat.
Each person could only follow one main combat class.
Jobs existed within those classes, allowing fighters to refine their combat style without abandoning their primary discipline.
From what I could tell through Viole's memory—
His own insignia would read something like this:
Class: Blade
Proficiency Rank: D
Job: Swordsman
Not particularly rare…
But respectable enough for someone working as an adventurer.
Meanwhile—
Ai didn't have any insignia at all.
Which meant she belonged to the other category entirely.
Noncombatant.
People who pursued professions rather than combat paths.
Apothecaries.
Blacksmiths.
Merchants.
Scholars.
Normal citizens.
Mira gently removed part of the bandage Ai had wrapped earlier.
"…Hmm."
Her expression shifted slightly.
"Well now."
She glanced at Ai again.
"You did more than 'basic treatment.'"
Ai froze.
"Eh?"
Mira pointed at the wound.
"This was nearly fatal."
She then looked at Viole.
"And yet it's already closed."
Viole gave a small nod.
"…Her potion."
Mira raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
That seemed to interest her slightly, but she didn't question it further.
Instead, she placed a hand lightly over the wound.
"Hold still."
A faint glow gathered in her palm.
Soft.
Warm.
Gentle light spread across the injured area, seeping through the bandages and into Viole's body.
Healing magic.
The warmth spread through his chest and ribs almost instantly.
Internal strain eased.
Residual pain faded.
The faint tension lingering inside his breathing gradually disappeared.
The process didn't take long.
Mira stepped back after a moment.
"There."
She crossed her arms again.
"No internal bleeding."
"No damaged organs."
"You'll live."
Viole nodded slightly.
"…Thank you."
Mira then turned toward the counter.
"That'll be five copper coins."
Standard clinic fee.
Viole reached into the small pouch attached to his belt and carefully counted the coins into his hand.
Five small copper pieces.
He placed them on the counter.
Mira collected them casually.
Once everything was settled, Viole and Ai stepped outside the clinic again.
The sunlight greeted them immediately as they returned to the lively street.
Behind them—
Mira leaned against the doorway.
"Hey."
Viole paused.
She gave him a long, tired look.
"You know… most adventurers eventually learn how to avoid becoming my regular customer."
Ai glanced at Viole with visible concern.
Mira continued.
"You should seriously consider forming a party already."
"Solo adventurers don't live very long."
Viole scratched the back of his head slightly.
"…Yeah."
His reply came out in a quiet, familiar tone.
"I'll try not to die before my next visit."
Mira sighed.
"That's exactly the kind of answer you always give."
But she didn't push the topic further.
Instead she waved them off.
"Just be careful."
Viole gave a small nod before continuing down the street.
Ai followed beside him, still pulling her small wagon.
As we walked away from the clinic—
Something surfaced quietly in Viole's thoughts.
The unspoken reason.
Why he avoided parties.
It wasn't that he disliked teamwork.
It was simpler than that.
His proficiency rank was already higher than many adventurers within his current standing.
Which meant whenever he joined temporary groups…
He often ended up carrying most of the work.
Or worse.
Being taken advantage of.
Trust, in the adventurer world, was something people learned to give carefully.
The streets stretched ahead once more as they began walking toward the Adventurer's Guild.
Then—
Both of them spoke at the same time.
"Um—"
"…Hey."
They stopped.
Looked at each other.
Ai immediately lowered her gaze.
"Ah—sorry…"
"You can go first."
Viole hesitated slightly before speaking.
"…About earlier."
His voice sounded slightly awkward.
"You heard what the healer said."
He rubbed the back of his neck again.
"…I end up there pretty often."
Ai nodded quietly.
"So I usually avoid buying potions from the city."
"They're expensive… and the effect isn't that great."
He looked at her briefly.
"But your potions…"
His tone grew more serious.
"They're different."
"If I buy a few bottles from you… I can keep them for emergencies."
"Even if I get badly injured like today… at least I'll have something that might save my life."
Ai listened carefully.
Then her eyes widened slightly.
"…Ah."
"That's actually what I was going to say too."
Viole blinked.
Ai continued shyly.
"I only come to the city once a week… on the first day of the week."
She lightly tapped the small wagon behind her.
"I usually bring my potions and medicines to the Adventurer's Guild."
"Adventurers there buy them sometimes."
"And the guild doesn't mind."
Viole nodded slowly.
That arrangement made sense.
Then Ai tilted her head slightly as she looked up at him.
"Um… Viole?"
"…Yes?"
She hesitated briefly.
"Your Insignia is Blade class… right?"
"…Yeah."
"And your job is Swordsman?"
"…That's right."
Ai thought for a moment before asking the next question.
"…Then your proficiency rank is D?"
Viole nodded.
"Yes."
For a civilian, she actually knows how to read and identify insignia. A common knowledge or is it something she gained from visiting the Adventurer's Guild?
Ai blinked in surprise.
"…Then…"
She tilted her head slightly in confusion.
"If your proficiency rank is already that high…"
"…why are you still a Silver rank adventurer?"
Viole stopped walking.
Ai nearly bumped into him before stopping as well, tilting her head slightly.
"Um…?"
She seemed hesitant for a moment before continuing her earlier thought.
"I remember the guild receptionist saying that the proficiency rank needed for Platinum is D Rank."
Her voice carried the tone of someone recalling information she had heard rather than learned formally.
"So… since your proficiency rank is already D… shouldn't that be enough?"
Viole scratched the side of his cheek slightly.
"…Not exactly."
He resumed walking, and Ai quickly followed beside him.
"There are other requirements too."
Ah.
So that was how it worked.
Through Viole's thoughts and memories, the structure of the Adventurer Rank System slowly pieced itself together in my mind.
Unlike the simple level systems from games in my old world, this one relied more on real accomplishments rather than raw strength.
An adventurer's rank reflected three things.
Dungeon contribution.
Relic or artifact retrieval.
And class proficiency.
Proficiency rank alone wasn't enough.
It only proved that someone had the skill to fight.
The guild still required proof that they could apply that skill in real situations.
Viole continued explaining.
"To reach Platinum Rank or Higher, an adventurer needs more than just Rank proficiency."
"They also need to complete promotion quests, and before promotion quests there are qualifications."
"For example, the qualification for platinum ranked adventurers to move up to Mythril requires them to have D rank proficiency in their class and to successfully clear a C rank Dungeon and retrieve a C rank relic or artifact."
Ai blinked slightly.
"Oh…"
Viole looked ahead as he walked.
"I'm not even Gold rank yet."
Which meant—
He wasn't even at the stage where those requirements became relevant.
The lower ranks were much simpler.
Copper.
Iron.
Silver.
Gold.
Those were the foundation ranks where adventurers mostly took on gathering requests, escort missions, and small-scale monster extermination tasks.
Threat levels in those quests usually ranged from F Rank to E Rank monsters.
Relatively manageable threats.
The purpose was simple.
Training.
Experience.
Survival.
Only after reaching Gold Rank did things start to change.
Viole continued explaining calmly.
"When adventurers reach Gold rank… they need to eliminate at least one D Rank monster to move up to Platinum."
Ai nodded slowly.
"…That sounds difficult."
"It is."
Viole gave a faint shrug.
"Especially for someone working alone."
That part made sense immediately.
From what I understood through his memory, D Rank monsters were far more dangerous than the creatures normally encountered during low-rank quests.
Handling one alone was already risky.
Hunting them consistently would be even worse.
Ai hesitated before asking another question.
"…Then why not form a party?"
Her voice was soft, but the curiosity behind it was genuine.
"If it's easier with more people…"
Viole went quiet for a moment.
His steps slowed slightly.
Normally, he probably wouldn't answer a question like that honestly.
But something about Ai's presence seemed to make him more open.
"…I've tried before."
His tone was calm.
Matter-of-fact.
"My proficiency rank is usually higher than most adventurers around my rank."
He spoke without pride.
If anything, it sounded slightly tired.
"So when I join a party… I end up doing most of the fighting."
Ai listened quietly.
Viole continued.
"And sometimes…"
He paused.
"…people take advantage of that."
Ah.
There it was.
The unspoken answer from earlier.
Trust was expensive in the adventurer world.
Especially for someone who worked alone.
After a brief silence, Viole added another explanation.
"The guild allows adventurers to form temporary parties for quests."
"They just need to register the party at the reception desk before accepting a mission."
Ai nodded again.
"That sounds simple enough."
"It is."
"There aren't many restrictions either."
Party members could organize themselves however they wanted.
Balanced groups.
Magic-heavy teams.
Exploration-focused squads.
Even strange setups like all swordsmen.
The guild didn't interfere with party composition.
Their only real concern was rank safety.
Low-rank adventurers between Copper and Gold could freely form mixed parties.
But once ranks became higher, the guild enforced stricter limitations.
Lower-ranked adventurers weren't allowed to join high-ranked parties because the danger gap became too large.
However—
Higher ranked adventurers could still join lower rank groups to provide assistance.
The system was designed to prevent inexperienced adventurers from wandering into deadly environments.
After finishing his explanation, Viole fell silent again.
The conversation slowed naturally as they continued walking through the busy streets.
And then—
The building came into view.
Even from a distance, it stood out.
A large stone structure with a wide entrance and a carved emblem displayed proudly above the doorway.
Two crossed weapons behind a shield.
The unmistakable symbol of the Adventurer's Guild.
As Viole's eyes settled on it, more information surfaced within his memory.
Guilds were powerful institutions in this world.
Not just organizations.
Influential bodies that shaped society itself.
There were three major guilds recognized across the kingdoms.
The Adventurer's Guild regulated adventurers and dungeon exploration.
The Merchant and Commerce Guild controlled trade routes, markets, and economic stability between cities and nations.
And the Scholar Guild specialized in studying relics, artifacts, and dungeon phenomena.
Most of the scholars within it were former adventurers who had transitioned into research roles after leaving active combat.
Each guild served a different role.
But the Adventurer's Guild was arguably the most visible to the public.
After all—
Adventurers were the ones who ventured into the unknown.
Recovered relics.
Cleared dungeons.
And fought the monsters that emerged from them.
Viole stepped toward the entrance.
Ai followed closely behind, gently pulling her small wagon.
The moment the doors opened—
The interior of the guild revealed itself.
The Reception Hall stretched wide across the front of the building.
Several reception desks lined the far wall where guild staff handled registrations, quest reports, and party formations.
To one side stood a massive Request Board, covered in pinned parchment sheets listing available missions.
Adventurers gathered in small groups nearby, scanning through the requests.
On the opposite side of the hall sat the Appraisal Counter, where dungeon materials and relics could be submitted for evaluation.
Further inside, the guild building extended into additional sections.
An Adventurer Lounge where people gathered to rest and exchange information.
A Training Yard for practicing combat techniques.
And even a small equipment and supply store that sold basic gear and travel necessities.
Somewhere deeper within the building was also the Guild Master's office, where the branch leader managed local guild operations.
The atmosphere inside the hall was lively.
Voices.
Laughter.
Arguments.
The clatter of armor.
Adventurers of all kinds filled the room.
For a moment, the sheer noise almost felt overwhelming compared to the quiet road we had just walked.
Yet despite the crowd, something interesting happened almost immediately.
"—Ai!"
A bright voice called from one of the reception counters.
A young woman leaned forward over the polished wooden desk, waving enthusiastically the moment she spotted Ai.
She looked to be in her early twenties, dressed in the standard uniform of the Adventurer's Guild—white blouse, dark vest embroidered with the guild emblem, and a neatly pressed skirt. A narrow ribbon tied her long copper-orange hair into a high ponytail that swayed energetically behind her whenever she moved. Several loose strands framed her face, softening her lively features.
Her eyes were a warm amber color, sharp with intelligence but filled with the easy friendliness of someone accustomed to speaking with adventurers all day.
A small brass nameplate rested on the counter in front of her.
Liora.
Her smile widened as Ai turned toward her.
"Liora!"
Ai's expression brightened immediately.
She hurried toward the counter, pulling her small wagon along behind her.
I followed—well, technically Viole followed, though I had the distinct feeling the movement was half instinctive.
Liora leaned forward with clear familiarity.
"You're right on time this week."
Ai nodded shyly.
"Y-Yes… I finished preparing the potions yesterday."
Then Liora's eyes shifted past Ai.
And landed on Viole.
"Oh?"
Recognition flickered instantly across her face.
"Well if it isn't one of our most hardworking Silver adventurers."
Viole gave a small nod.
"…Hello, Liora."
Her gaze moved between the two of them.
Then one eyebrow lifted.
"Wait a second."
"You two know each other?"
Ai blinked.
Viole answered simply.
"…We just met today."
That seemed to surprise her slightly.
But then Liora noticed something else.
Her gaze moved over Viole's armor.
Or rather—
What was left of it.
Torn cloth.
Scratches.
And the faint marks of recently healed wounds visible beneath his shirt.
She sighed.
"Oh come on, Viole."
Her tone shifted into something that sounded suspiciously similar to Mira's earlier lecture.
"You look like you got run over by a monster cart again."
Viole didn't deny it.
"…Something like that."
Liora crossed her arms.
"You know, I'm honestly impressed."
Ai tilted her head.
"Impressed?"
Liora nodded.
"That someone can reach D Rank proficiency while still being such a disaster magnet."
Viole looked mildly tired.
Liora continued anyway.
"You're one of the hardest-working adventurers we've got at this rank. That's obvious."
"But if you want to move up…"
She pointed a finger at him.
"You seriously need to learn how to be careful."
Viole nodded without arguing.
"…Yeah."
His answer came easily.
Too easily.
It was clearly the kind of response someone gave after hearing the same lecture many times.
Then, perhaps to escape further scolding, he changed the subject.
"…How do you two know each other?"
Liora's expression brightened instantly.
"Oh, that?"
She leaned slightly toward Ai with a grin.
"I remember the first time we met."
Ai immediately looked embarrassed.
"It wasn't that big of a thing…"
"Oh, it absolutely was."
Liora ignored her protest and continued.
"The first time Ai came to the city, she was standing right outside the guild entrance."
She gestured toward the door behind us.
"Dragging that same little wagon."
Ai lowered her gaze slightly.
"She looked like she wanted to talk to someone… but she was too shy to approach any of the adventurers."
Ai's ears were turning faintly red now.
"So I went outside and asked her what she was selling."
Liora shrugged casually.
"Turned out she had potions and medicine."
"So I asked how much they cost."
Ai spoke quietly.
"…Fifteen copper coins."
Liora nodded.
"Which, by the way, I thought was suspiciously cheap."
She chuckled.
"So I invited her inside the guild to talk properly."
"At first only a few adventurers bought some."
"But once they tried them…"
She spread her hands.
"Word spread."
Now she pointed toward the wagon behind Ai.
"And now she comes every week with a new batch."
Ai looked even more embarrassed now.
Throughout the entire conversation, she had mostly stood there quietly while the two of them talked about her as if she weren't right in front of them.
Liora suddenly turned toward Viole.
"Oh, and since you've already experienced the potion yourself…"
She smiled casually.
"I'm expecting you to become one of her regular customers too."
Viole nodded.
"…That's the plan."
Ai looked between the two of them in quiet embarrassment.
A small pause settled between them.
Then—
Ai finally spoke.
"…Um."
Both of them turned toward her.
She looked at Viole with clear concern.
"Shouldn't you rest for the day?"
"Even if your wounds are healed… your body probably still needs time to recover."
Viole didn't argue.
That alone probably proved her point.
"…Yeah."
He reached toward the small pouch attached to his belt.
"But before that…"
He placed a folded parchment on the counter.
"The herb gathering commission."
Liora looked down at it.
"I'll finish it tomorrow."
She nodded casually.
"Sure."
"No problem."
Then Viole turned toward Ai.
"…By the way."
Ai straightened slightly.
"H-Yes?"
"How many potions did you use on me earlier?"
Ai immediately shook her head.
"No, it's fine—"
Viole cut her off gently.
"It's bad business if you refuse payment."
Ai hesitated.
Clearly torn between politeness and practicality.
Eventually she gave a small nod.
"…Two bottles."
Viole counted coins from his pouch and placed them on the counter.
Thirty copper coins.
Then he added another fifteen.
"For one more bottle."
Ai blinked in surprise.
"But—"
"I'll buy more next time you come."
He said it simply.
Matter-of-fact.
Then he gave a small nod to both of them.
"…I'll head home."
And just like that—
He left the Adventurer's Guild.
The walk to his house wasn't long.
Which was where my next thought immediately appeared.
Wait.
Hold on.
How the hell do you have a house…
…but not enough money to buy a single potion?
That question barely finished forming before the answer surfaced from Viole's memory.
Inheritance.
The house had belonged to his parents.
They had been adventurers too.
Until they died during a Dungeon Outbreak several years ago.
Ah.
That… explained it.
The house itself wasn't the result of his income.
Just the last thing they had left behind.
The moment he stepped inside, Viole headed straight for the bathroom.
His armor and clothes were stiff with dried blood.
He stripped the ruined shirt away and rinsed his body under the basin water, scrubbing away the remaining grime from the day's fight.
Eventually he lifted his head.
And looked into the mirror.
For a brief moment—
My thoughts stopped.
The face staring back at us possessed a sharp, ethereal quality that felt almost out of place in such a worn and battered setting.
His complexion was chillingly pale, as smooth and cold as fresh mountain snow. Against that pale skin, his dark hair and eyes stood out with striking intensity.
And those eyes—
Deep.
Dark red.
Like freshly spilled wine.
Or glowing embers fading within a dying fire.
They were framed by thick lashes beneath straight brows that carried the faintest trace of a weary frown.
Despite his youth, there was a strange stillness in that gaze.
A quiet heaviness.
As if he were always looking through the world rather than simply at it.
His black hair was tied loosely into a low ponytail, though several jagged strands had escaped, falling along the sides of his face.
Without armor covering him, the sharp elegance of his features became clearer.
High cheekbones.
Defined jawline.
Lean structure.
There were no scars.
Nothing visibly marking the life of violence he lived.
And yet—
The longer I stared at that reflection…
The more a strange realization slowly crept into my mind.
That face.
That structure.
Those eyes.
It felt…
Familiar.
Then it hit me.
…Wait.
No.
There was no way.
But the longer I looked—
The more certain I became.
The face staring back from the mirror…
Was my own.
Or rather—
Viole's face and mine were exactly the same.