Would you pass on the opportunity to let a cute elf girl join your party if given the chance? Of course, you wouldn't! But let's go back to the beginning before we get to the cute elf girl.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Elio, currently 16 and just started my journey by joining the adventures guild. See, once you become a man of age, you get to leave home and start your life, leave the small village and see just how big the world is. The only exciting thing that I looked forward to every night as a kid was listening to stories of heroes who went on adventures and sometimes stopped a great calamity from destroying our world. Every night after those stories, I could envision my own adventures that I would go on one day. But things don't always go the way you want, unfortunately.
I remember it like it was yesterday… that's because it really was yesterday when this whole mess started. I was with my one and only friend, kael. We grew up together, and even though I was older by 2 years, he was still my best friend.
"Aww, are you gonna miss me?" He rolled his eyes and started grinning the biggest smile. "What's that smile for?" I asked.
He stopped smiling and became serious. Kael walked over to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and looked me in the eye. "Promise me one thing, Elio. You'll make sure to start a harem."
Did he really just say that with a straight face? I couldn't help but chuckle. "Please do it for me. You know I won't ever be able to go on my adventure." Ever since his father passed from an illness, he'd been the man of the house, taking the responsibility of raising his two younger siblings.
I sighed, knowing how much this meant to him. "I won't promise anything, but if I somehow get cute girls to join my party, I'll send you a letter."
Tears welled up in his eyes as he turned to face me. "It seems this will be our last conversation for a while. I wish you the best on your journey, Elio. Just don't forget about me."
I smiled, ruffling his hair. "How could I ever forget about you?"
With tears in my eyes, I bid farewell to everyone in the village and set off on my journey. It was a heart-wrenching departure, but I knew I had to follow my dreams. My destination was Veridian known as the birthplace of legends, where adventurers became heroes by delving into the dungeon.
Days turned into weeks, and finally, I arrived at the bustling city. Thousands of people streamed through its gates every day. The contrast between this lively metropolis and my quiet village in the boonies was staggering. Overwhelmed, I approached a burly merchant and asked, "Hey, sir, could you help with directions? I'm trying to find the adventurers guild."
He sized me up for a moment, then his face twisted into a smile. "Kid, turn back around and go back where you came from. A scrawny kid like you isn't cut out for this life."
My smile faded into disbelief, but I couldn't let his words deter me. "Sir, I didn't travel all this way to turn back now."
He glared at me, shaking his head. "Kid, you'll die."
With unwavering resolve, I declared, "I won't die."
He sighed, exasperated. "Fine, don't say I didn't warn you, but I'm not giving you directions. Let someone else lead you to your death."
I bowed and pleaded, "Sir, I only had enough money for the wagon ride here. I can't go back, even if I wanted to. I'm flat broke."
A tense silence hung in the air, and I wondered how long I'd need to stay like this. Finally, a woman chimed in, seemingly out of nowhere. "Darling, just let the boy know where to go and stop giving him a hard time."
I looked up at her, and she winked at me. The merchant coughed and relented, "Fine, see that giant tower towards the center? It's near there. You can't miss the sign."
I grinned and ran off, yelling back, "Thank you so much! You won't regret this. I'll make you proud!"
His wife smiled at her husband, and he shook his head with his hand to his face.
I hurried towards the adventurers guild at top speed, weaving through the crowded streets. Finally, I arrived at the towering structure and saw the sign to the right of it. This was it, the place where my life would change. I whispered to myself, "I'll make you proud, Kael."
The registration process was surprisingly simple. They handed out guild cards to just about anyone. They informed me about the dungeon's location and how to turn in loot from monsters for currency, depending on the rarity of the drops.
As I walked out of the building, I overheard some people snickering, "Top's one day," one of them said. Another chimed in, "Nah, nah, more like an hour," and they burst into laughter.
Ignoring them, I headed towards the dungeon, an endless labyrinth that had never been fully explored. As I prepared to enter, I locked eyes with the most cutest girl I had ever seen. It was my first time seeing an elf, let alone an elf girl. A thought crossed my mind, echoing Kael's words: "Make sure to start a harem." But I quickly shook myself out of such fantasies. First, I had to become stronger. At my low level, I'd never be able to protect her or anyone from harm.
I know you're eager for the elf girl to join my party, but patience, dear friends, this is just the beginning.