3months later.
3 months have passed since the demon king's disappearance most people have fled the middle lands, other than those who lived in the great kingdom of Medluica. The panic in town has basically disappeared after a month, many did escape, but the majority calmed down and kept on living as is. Lena never stopped her questing even when the adventurer's guild temporarily closed down from the amount of journalists that tried to force a statement out of the master. Lena had already memorized the best spots for her to hunt down monsters without having to relay on a quest, even though there was no reward she didn't care much for it anyway.
A short walk from where she stays to the guild is taken by Lena everyday with today being no exception. She enters the guild to be greeted by a crowd standing in front of the pinboard for quests all looking at the same exact quest. It was a simple yet understandably terrifying quest, it was a party request from the 4th strongest in the guild, he was requesting a lower ranked skilled luggage carrier to accompany him on slaying the dragon who had been spotted on the top of a mountain close to here.
All were hesitant for even though life continues normally no one has forgotten about the demon king's disappearance, plus even though the person requesting is the 4th strongest this kingdom is known for its weak adventurers, for him to fight a dragon one-on-one and win would take more than a miracle, but even with all of that in mind without hesitation Lena takes the request and submits it in herself. Those who were deep in thought just cheered her on since now they wont have to make a life or death choice anymore.
"Aye, Lena if you make it back alive we can drink out together and it's on me" said a man to lena while winking with a thumbs up.
"Hey! don't you go taking her for yourself, She is gonna be drinking with me!" said another man.
"Shut up you all! Of course she would be drinking with me!" said another man.
Lena had made a name for herself in the guild, even though she herself never communicates with anyone, the guild had grown accustomed to her especially those in the lower ranks. She would always be in party quests either hosting or joining them, and would be a person worth depending on if shit gets out of hand.
"Come on now guys! If she comes back in one piece we shall all drink together and it would be on me!" said some dude without giving much thought to what he said.
After fully submitting her acceptance to the request she left the guild building without talking with anyone. The quest would take place in 2 days, she thought about going on another quest for the day and tomorrow, but decides to finally just relax and cool down for a bit.
She takes a walk toward a familiar place. The place she was first greeted at. toto's family's shop. She thought having lunch there would be a good idea, she doesn't visit them much since she doesn't want to burden the family or to not make them to attached to her, she is an adventurer after all, One wrong move out there and she is a story of the past. Toto is still young, so having her go through something like this would make Lena feel terrible even though she already made her go through a similar thing for a year or so.
She took a seat at one of the tables and waited for toto to come out and ask for her order. It did take some time, but she waited with a slight smile. Finally toto walks out of the kitchen and walks towards Lena.
"What would you like to have today Lena!" said the girl with a smile worth the entire world.
"Just the usual would be fine." Lena replied
"Alright! please wait patiently!" said the little girl as if ordering Lena.
It's probably because of that one time Lena ran out after ordering something because of a commotion she had heard outside.
Toto ran to the kitchen and after a short moment runs back out and takes a seat next to lena.
"hehehe" she gives a slight laugh as she sits next to lena.
"So, how have you been toto?"
"Great!" she says while flexing her right arm.
"I've started helping dad out in the kitchen, I can even cook some meals on my own now!"
"Ooh! really now!? then how about the next time I come you cook me something yourself?"
"hehehe, sure!" she says while rubbing her nose
"So, Lena you got any more stories you can tell me!"
"Hmmm... let me think about it."
Whenever they would sit down Lena would always tell toto stories about all types of thing she went through or places she went, even back then almost 2 years ago now she would tell her stories about the stuff she experienced alongside Octan. She would try to filter out the stuff that would be too much for a child but even with that she had many left to tell.
"then how about this!" Lena says as she starts telling her a story.
Toto listens with her expression changing mid story. From happiness to excitement to anticipating and finally sadness. The end was a bit of a sad one so it was to be expected, but it still makes Lena feel a bit bad for making Toto make such an expression. She sits there in silence as toto probably thinks about what just happened at the end of Lena's story.
Shortly after toto's dad calls for her from the kitchen to bring in Lena's food. Toto makes a quick jump off her chair and runs towards the kitchen. She then walks out with a tray that has 2 plates on them, one is definitely for Lena but there is no other customer at the moment so that would mean one thing.
Lena puts the tray on the table then sits back on her seat. She hands one of the plates to Lena and the other places it in front of herself. Toto quickly begins to eat with a smile while Lena just enjoys the moment. With food still in her mouth toto begins to talk.
"you brow Rena bat shtory weally markes me shink Mr. Octan was zetty kool." with a mouth full she says.
Lena takes a moment to understand what the little girl said.
"yeah.... I guess you could say so...." Lena said.
After finishing her food Lena pays her bill and takes her leave while saying goodbye to little toto.
Lena then heads towards the adventurer's guild. When she enters the building she heads towards the receptionist desk.
"Heyoooo!! Lena how've you been!" says the self-acclaimed friend of Lena.
"fine, how about you." lena replied to her friend.
"ohh.. that's weird usually you would just ignore my greeting and go right to what you need me to do." says the receptionist.
"hey, don't put it like that you make me sound like an awful person." said Lena a bit annoyed.
"well it is the truth you know" said the receptionist with a shrug.
Lena sighed and said "anyway, when do you get off work today?" said Lena while facing the other side.
"Ohhh... OOOOHHH... LENA MY DEAR DEAREST!" the receptionist said loudly.
Lena panickily shushes her "you are being too loud!"
"hehe.. it's just that I wouldn't have expected you out of all people. So what you finally accept me as your one and only friend?" the receptionist said with a smug
"j-just shut up..." Lena said with a red embarrassed face.
"hey hey now, Lena, my one and only friend! no need to get so embarrassed! I will get off in around an hour or 2 for a thirty minute break other than that you would have to wait till before midnight."
Lena nods and leaves the building. (what am i doing...) she thinks to herself.
2 hours later Lena comes back just to see that the receptionist is waiting for her in the lobby.
She is waving her hand very energetically it almost makes Lena walk the other way and leave. Instead Lena speeds up her walking to reach her faster and then says
"can you please not embarrass us like that!"
"huhh... but i was just so happy My best friend finally invited me out!" said the receptionist.
Lena sighs and sits down.
"So, Lena, what do you want to do!" says the receptionist enthusiastically.
"not gonna lie, I don't know. I just invited you out on a whim."
"...." the receptionist gave Lena a stare.
"what?" lena tilted her head.
"*sigh* and here I thought you were gonna hit on me."
"weren't you my best friend, when did this turn into a lovers relationship."
"it's always been like that Lena! from the moment I saw you I just fell in love with you. Your long beautiful black hair, your dazzling hazel eyes, and your giant build."
"...I'm not that tall..." said lena with a slight frown.
"oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that." says the receptionist apologetically.
"*sigh* anyways, what do you like to do in your free time." lena asked
"So you are trying to hit on me!" said the receptionist as if she had caught someone off guard.
"no, I'm not!" lena gave a quick reply.
"hehe... I guess nothing really most of my free time is work related anyway and when I'm home I mostly spend it asleep." the receptionist sighs at her own lifestyle
"Huh, and here I thought you spent your day doing stupid stuff and getting drunk." lena says surprised.
"Give me some credit here Lena, and also call me trestina!" said trestina with a smile.
"yeah you're right, trestina." Lena replied
they spent the 30minutes talking about pointless stuff together, Lena enjoyed the company.
After the 30minutes had passed trestina was called to come back to work. After leaving Lena went back to her inn and stayed there for the rest of the day. The next day she just walked around town while buying stuff to prepare for the day after it for the dragon slaying.
it was then that it hit her. (what kind of man am I gonna travel with) the quest would take them up to 4 days since the mountain was a wild one so climbing it would be a bit difficult.