Chapter 42, Here We Are

Translator: Barnnn

 

Horsebuses rattled in and out the city gates, their wheels rolling in different directions throughout the sprawling districts.

The Adventurers’ Guild lay close to the city center, so Ize and Hal boarded a horsebus to skirt the residential quarter near the towering walls.

As the bus trundled along, the streets grew livelier, thrumming with people in simple, practical clothing. The residential lanes gave way to a bustling district lined with shops hawking daily goods and foodstuffs.

Ize felt a restless urge to jump off and explore, but reporting to the Adventurers’ Guild and securing lodging for the night took priority.

 

“There’s a lot of butcher shops here,” Hal observed, glancing out the window.

“Do you think it’s Dungeon-sourced?”

“Probably. Hunting outside the walls sounds like a hassle.”

“True,” Ize said with a wistful sigh. “Hope I get to bag some top-tier meat soon.”

“We’re hunting Mystic Beasts, not groceries.”

“Right… good point.”

 

As Hal corrected her with calm amusement, Ize’s eyes wandered to the displays outside the shopfronts.

Even here, far from the sea and surrounded by formidable walls, fresh seafood gleamed on ice. Could those, too, have come from the Dungeon?

 

The scenery shifted as they traveled deeper into the city. Passersby began wearing the armor and weapons of adventurers, their gear as varied as their expressions.

Hal raised his hand, signaling the driver to stop. The horsebus groaned to a halt, and Ize quickly followed Hal off, not wanting to lag behind.

According to the map they’d been handed at the gate, the Guild was about two blocks away.

 

“Wow, that’s huge,” Hal murmured.

“It’s even bigger than the Guild in Lazulseed’s royal capital,” Ize agreed.

“Well, that city doesn’t have a Dungeon. Makes sense this one’s built for the demand. Let’s head in.”

“Right.”

 

The Guild, an imposing structure of stone, loomed before them.

A broad staircase, reminiscent of a temple’s grand approach, led to massive wide-open doors containing a bustling crowd.

Adventurers streamed in and out — among them, a burly man hefting an axe larger than Ize herself and a woman with the poised confidence of a seasoned mage.

Ize found herself gawking, and before she knew it, she had lagged behind Hal.

By the time she noticed, he was already climbing the stairs. She hurried after him, quickening her pace, only to falter at the threshold.

 

“Hey! Don’t just barge in!”

“Huh?”

 

A sharp yank pulled her back, and a high-pitched voice rang in her ear.

 

“That’s right! No cutting in line! Guild rules!”

“W-what?” Ize stammered, startled.

“You can’t go in there!”

“Yeah, you’re not even an adventurer! You’re too short for that! Hilarious!”

“Ha! Totally!”

 

She blinked in confusion, realizing she was surrounded. A group of children crowded around her and started shouting accusations she barely registered.

At the center stood a tough-looking girl.

 

“Quit spacing out and move it already!” she said, shoving Ize’s shoulder with enough force to make her stumble.

 

[Ah, the stairs–!]

 

The thought struck too late. Her footing slipped, and the world tilted as she fell backward into empty air.

Ize instinctively squeezed her eyes shut.

 

“Ize!”

 

Hal’s voice reached her as his strong hands seized her arm. Her cheek collided with something solid.

 

“Ugh!”

 

A thud accompanied Hal’s voice.

Though Ize was sure she had fallen, the expected pain didn’t come.

She opened her eyes to find Hal grimacing beneath her.

 

“Ow… Damn it…”

“Y-you okay, Hal?”

“Landed on my ass. Damn kids… What about you, Ize?”

“I’m… fine…”

 

Hal had cushioned her fall, sparing her from injury.

Relief surged through Ize as her heart pounded like a bike’s roaring engine.

 

“Hey! What do you brats think you’re doing to my brother, huh!?”

 

Still holding Ize close, Hal rose to his feet, his fiery glare pinning the children in place.

From her slightly elevated vantage point, Ize counted five children standing farther back, fidgeting uneasily under Hal’s furious glare.

 

“What’s wrong with you!?” Hal’s voice rang out, sharp and indignant. “Shoving someone down the stairs — are you out of your minds!?”

“N-no!” one of the boys stammered, his words tumbling over themselves. “He was trying to sneak into the Guild!”

Hal’s brow furrowed. “What’s wrong with an adventurer walking into the Adventurers’ Guild!?”

“Wha–?”

“Adventurer?”

“No way…”

 

The children glanced at one another in a flurry of panicked whispers before their gazes collectively dropped to the ground.

The silence that followed only seemed to ignite Hal’s temper further.

 

“You pick a fight, try to push someone down the stairs, and now you can’t even apologize?”

“But–!”

 

All eyes shifted to the girl at the center of the group, the one who had shoved Ize. She crossed her arms defiantly, glaring at both Hal and Ize with a stubbornness that bordered on insolence. Not a flicker of regret crossed her face.

Ize frowned, her lips tightening in frustration.

With an exasperated sigh, Hal turned his back on the group and started for the Guild entrance.

But before they could leave the encounter behind–

 

“I didn’t even push him that hard! It’s not my fault!”

 

Hal spun back in time to see the girl stick her tongue out at them, her defiance flaring one last time before she bolted down the street.

 

“Hey! Damn it, what a little shit…” Hal cut himself off with a growl, watching her retreating figure.

 

His gaze flicked briefly to the remaining children, who now stood frozen in awkward silence, before he shook his head and resumed his stride toward the Guild.

 

“They’re not following us in. Let’s just go.”

“Okay.”

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen a kid stick their tongue out like that…”

“Maybe she’s younger than she looks…”

“Unlike someone else I know, huh?” Hal muttered, his tone softening.

 

Ize shot him a sidelong look but didn’t respond. Instead, she let herself go limp, leaning fully into Hal.

 

“Whoa — careful! You’re heavy!” he protested, staggering under her sudden weight.

“I’m just a kid,” Ize replied, deadpan.

“Kids are supposed to be light!” Hal grumbled as he carefully lowered her to the ground.

 

Ize steadied herself, one hand gripping his arm for support. Though her legs trembled faintly, she managed to plant her feet firmly beneath her.

 

“I’m fine now.”

“All right. Let’s go.”

 

Hal nodded, scanning the Guild’s expansive interior. Together, they approached a reception counter marked with a sign reading “New Registration.”

 

“We’re two adventurers who arrived today,” Hal began. “We need to transfer our base registration and, if possible, check on the whereabouts of a companion.”

“Understood. May I see your Adventurer Cards?”

“Here you go.” Hal handed over his card, then gestured toward Ize. “Ize, yours too.”

“Right.”

 

Following his lead, Ize placed her Adventurer Card onto the tray.

 

“I’ll process your registration and check the system,” the receptionist said. “What is the name of the companion you’re looking for?”

“Fieda,” Hal replied. “Last registered in Lazulseed’s royal capital.”

The receptionist nodded briskly. “Understood. Please wait a moment.”

 

As she stepped away from the counter, Ize turned to Hal.

 

“Are you sure you’re okay after that fall? Did you hurt yourself?”

“It stings a little,” he admitted. “But nothing serious. Do you think the Guild staff knows anything about those kids?”

“Wouldn’t hurt to ask,” Ize said. “If we’re going to be regulars here, we don’t need them causing trouble again.”

“Good point.”

 

Their quiet conversation was interrupted as the receptionist returned, holding their Adventurer Cards along with a small folded note.

 

“Thank you for waiting,” she said with a polite smile. “Here are your cards. Additionally, we’ve located a message from Fieda addressed to both of you. Please take this.”

 

Hal accepted the note, scanning its contents briefly before slipping it into his chest pocket.

 

“I have a few questions, if that’s all right,” Hal said, his tone measured but clipped.

“Of course. How can I assist you?”

“Earlier, just outside the Guild, a group of children surrounded my brother, shoved him, and nearly sent him tumbling down the stairs. They refused to explain themselves, showed no remorse, and didn’t apologize. Who exactly are they?”

The receptionist hesitated briefly before replying, “Those children are not yet of age to register as adventurers. They earn small amounts of money by assisting adventurers as porters or by collecting materials.”

“So one of them mistook Ize for someone their age and resorted to violence, even though he’d done nothing wrong?”

“That seems likely,” the receptionist admitted. “However, I must apologize — the Guild cannot mediate disputes that occur outside its premises, especially when non-adventurers are involved. If necessary, you may report the matter to the city guards.”

“I see,” Hal said tersely, his fingers drumming against the counter. “I suppose I understand the Guild’s position, if anything…”

 

His irritation radiated off him, making Ize shift uneasily.

They would be in this city for at least five months, and starting off with conflict was far from ideal.

She tugged gently at Hal’s sleeve, drawing his attention.

 

“Hal, it’s fine.”

“But–”

“Neither of us got hurt, and we didn’t do anything wrong,” Ize said firmly. Then she turned to the receptionist, offering a polite smile. “Thank you for your help.”

“Not at all,” the receptionist replied, matching her smile.

“Oh, and since we just arrived today,” Ize added, “we’ll probably have more questions about the Dungeon tomorrow. We’re staying here through the winter.”

“Of course. The Guild offers full support for new arrivals. Please don’t hesitate to ask.”

 

Hal sighed, his irritation softening as he watched Ize’s effort to smooth things over.

 

After a pause, he nodded toward the receptionist. “Apologies for my tone earlier. I know this isn’t your fault. That said, do you have a booklet with details about the Dungeon? And could you recommend an inn for tonight, as well as options for long-term accommodations?”

“Certainly,” the receptionist said. She retrieved a small booklet and a neatly folded list of inns. “Here’s a free copy of the Dungeon guide. Additional copies can be purchased in the Guild shop. This list includes short- and long-term lodging options, with pricing and any available discounts.”

“Thank you,” Hal said, scanning the list. “Do you have a personal recommendation?”

“Oh, um…” The receptionist hesitated briefly, then flipped through the list and pointed to an entry. “How about this?”

“The Sage’s Table…?” Hal raised an eyebrow. “It’s pricier than the others. Why do you recommend it?”

“There are several reasons,” she explained. “First, based on your attire, I assumed it was within your budget. Second, lower-cost inns often attract… troublesome guests, which might pose a risk given your age and demeanor. Apologies if I’m presuming too much, but it’s better to be cautious. Lastly, the owners are known for maintaining a peaceful environment.”

“Fair enough,” Hal said. He turned to Ize. “What do you think?”

“It has ‘table’ in the name — is the food good there?”

The receptionist smiled faintly. “Yes, the landlady specializes in recreations of recipes passed down from an old Sage.”

“Awesome! Let’s stay there!” Ize said, her enthusiasm decisive.

 

With that, their lodging was settled. After thanking the receptionist, they headed for the exit.

Hal paused at the door, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the same group of children still lingering outside.

 

“They’re still here,” he muttered. “Ize, stay close to me.”

“I’m… fine…” Ize insisted, but her trembling hands betrayed her.

“Your hands are shaking. So are your legs. You’ll trip on the stairs in that state. Here.”

“…Okay. Sorry for the trouble, Hal.”

 

Hal proceeded to bend down and scoop Ize into his arms.

 

[I’m not a preschooler, you know…]

 

Embarrassment flared as Ize buried her face in Hal’s shoulder, wishing she’d asked for a piggyback ride instead.

 

“Hey!”

 

A voice called out from behind, but Hal didn’t stop. His steady pace carried them away from the Guild and into the city streets.

 

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