As I stepped into the adventurer's guild, I was struck by the sheer number of people. Warriors, mages, shield-bearers, and all manner of adventurers filled the vast hall, each one seemingly lost in their own world of quests and adventures.
"This is… quite a sight," I said, scanning the crowd with genuine interest.
"Shall we head to the reception?" Yukki suggested, her hand slipping into mine. The gesture felt unexpectedly warm and comforting, so I let it be, not wanting to disrupt the moment.
Yukki greeted the receptionist, a calm and professional-looking woman with a kind smile.
"Good afternoon, Aira," Yukki said, sounding more at ease now that she was with someone familiar.
"Good afternoon to you too, Yukki," Aira replied, her gaze shifting to me. "And who might this be?"
"Hello, I'm Yuna. I'll be staying with Yukki for a while," I introduced myself, giving a polite nod.
"Ah, I see. I'm Aira, the guild's receptionist." She gave me a warm smile before continuing. "So, Yukki, I take it you're here to help your friend register?"
"That's right!" Yukki beamed. I found myself admiring how approachable she seemed around people she knew.
"If you're ready, Yuna, we'll just need to record your information. The crystal orb here will handle that for us," Aira explained, handing me a glowing crystal orb.
I took the orb and glanced back at Aira. "Are all the details mandatory?"
"Yes, the orb helps verify your information for guild purposes. If you're good to go, just touch the orb, and it'll gather what we need," Aira said, watching with a bit of curiosity.
"Alright." I placed my hand on the orb. "My name is Yuna Kurozaki. Age… 200. Skills include… error... error… specialty: unknown." I felt a slight pang of worry, as the orb didn't seem able to read everything correctly.
Aira's expression shifted, her face betraying a mix of shock and puzzlement. "Two hundred years old, and… errors with your skills and specialty? Yuna, who exactly are you?"
"Just a regular traveler," I replied, trying not to smirk at her reaction.
"Well, this is unusual," Aira said, glancing over the orb as if it might hold more clues. "Please wait here, Yuna. I'll call the Guildmaster."
I turned to Yukki. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Well… maybe just a bit." Yukki laughed nervously.
While we waited, I observed the bustling guild around us. Adventurers chatted excitedly, some sharing tales of their recent quests while others polished their weapons or prepared for upcoming missions. The atmosphere buzzed with energy, and I found myself getting drawn into it.
A few other adventurers glanced our way, curiosity evident in their eyes. I could sense they were wondering about me—who I was, what my skills might be—but they quickly returned to their conversations, some casting glances my way before moving on. It felt strange to be the center of attention, but I couldn't help but feel a thrill at the prospect of becoming part of this vibrant world.
Aira returned, interrupting my thoughts. "Yuna, Yukki, please follow me. The Guildmaster would like to speak with you."
As we walked through the winding corridors, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had drawn some attention. I exchanged glances with a few adventurers, noticing their intrigued expressions as they whispered among themselves. I chuckled to myself, wondering what tales would arise from my presence here.
Upon entering the Guildmaster's office, we were greeted by an imposing figure behind a grand desk—a man named Harzard, who exuded an aura of ruggedness and authority.
"So… am I in trouble?" I asked, trying to gauge the Guildmaster's reaction.
"Not at all." The man gave a hearty laugh. "Your information is rather… unique. I'm Harzard, the Guildmaster here. Welcome, Yuna."
"Thank you, Guildmaster. Just Yuna is fine," I replied, giving him a small bow.
"Good. Now, the reason I called you here," he continued, "is that you're clearly no ordinary adventurer. I have a task that I think would suit your abilities perfectly. Complete it, and I'll fast-track your rank to C instead of G."
My interest piqued. "What task is that?"
"There's a demon that's settled in the forest nearby. It's become a threat to the townsfolk, and we need it dealt with. If you can handle it, the guild will be in your debt."
"A demon, huh?" I glanced over the details he handed me. It seemed straightforward, though Yukki shot me a concerned look.
"I thought it'd be something more intense, like a Hydra or a Fenrir," I muttered.
Harzard raised an eyebrow. "Those are legendary creatures only elite heroes can handle."
"Understood. I'll take care of the demon," I said, slipping the document back to him. "Come on, Yukki!"
As we left the office, I caught the Guildmaster murmuring to himself. "Only a demon, she says…"
Yukki pulled me aside as we walked through the guild's hall. "Are you sure about this, Yuna?"
"Of course!" I replied, grinning to reassure her.
"But… it's still a demon," Yukki said, her worry evident.
"It'll be fine. You can trust me." I gave her a reassuring nod.
She sighed, her trust unwavering. "Alright, I'll follow you."
The moment we left the guild, I felt it—a dark mana signature in the distance, coming from the forest to the east.
"There's no need to ask for directions," I said, focusing on the dark presence. "I can sense it."
Yukki glanced at me, curiosity mixing with concern. "You can?"
I nodded, following the path toward the forest as I muttered to myself, "Arch Demon… interesting." This was going to be quite the adventure.