The new couple made it to the gates of the city with little issue. Though Rin was awestruck at the sheer size of a main city walls being around 25ft tall. And the gate being guarded by a full squad of 12 soldiers with 3 mages helping.
They inspect Seth and Rin as they approach asking for ID and such. But with Seth vouching for her and her old traveling pass they enter the city with very few questions.
Soon though they see the bustling city right after the gate. Many people are shopping at the stalls others are going into the stores and still others are gathering at landmarks for group activities like adventurers or housewives who are going together to shop for families.
Seth smirks at Rins mouth being practically all the way to the ground before leading her through the city towards their destination.
However as they walk Rin stops her gaping and noticed something. Many people thay they pass by or get near either turn with a look of worry on their face or gaze at Seth with a look of pity as he nears them then walk more slowly as they pass as if to assess him as you would a sickly man.
Seth sighs a little at the familiar treatment thanks to his curse but Rin is noticing this all and was feeling sad for Seth.
He was a good, strong, and healthy guy and he didn't deserve this treatment. He should be free to walk proudly through the city without any worry. But as things stand he will always be underestimated and put down for what they think is his safety. She begins to form a plan in her head as they near the adventurers guild.
They enter and many people turn to see their guilds best C ranker enter with a goblina at his side. They weren't going to question anything except that the pair were walking together. Hand in hand. And the goblin girl seemed to be staring at Seth with a loving gaze in her eyes.
Seth walks to the registration counter while Rin is lost in the atmosphere of the guild building and the feeling of the stares they are getting.
Someone even choked on their beer at seeing Seth with a woman on his arm who looked like she was willing to be by his side without pitying him or being worried for him due to his career choice.
Rin tilts her head cutely to the side accidentally making the whole guild gush in their heads at her adorableness.
Seth chuckles at figuring out what was going through their minds before reaching the counter. He sees Felicia is there again today and she smiles sadly at Seth before grabbing a health scanner magic tool to.make sure he isn't pushing himself as he is still too thin to be an adventurer to these people. She feels bad about this. As she had gotten to know him a little over the years he has been an adventurer. He is nice, considerate, and friendly. But the look of him has her constantly worried that he is hiding some sort of disease that makes him sickly and less effective as an adventurer and hence that is the reason he is stuck as a C ranker. His mysterious ailment keeps him from growing stronger than he is now.
She just for the life of her can't get over how much he looks like a man who is down with a constant cold or flu. And the paleness of his skin doesn't help he seems to never get enough sun to her eyes. Which is bad as outside activities are great for fighting against sickness.
So the magic tool turns on and she does her best to return Seth's honestly good personality back to him as well. All while scanning him for any hidden diseases.
She greets them with a slight bow and asks, "Greetings Seth! How did the dungeon raid yesterday go? I was wondering where you were since you never came back."
Seth rubs the back of his head with his free hand before glancing down at the goblin girl who was grasping his other hand with both of hers. Seth answers, "Well I met up with an old friend from childhood who was in trouble from some wild orcs. They were the stronger variants so it was tricky."
Felicia nods in understanding and brings out the registration crystal ball and paper work while asking, "Given how you came to this desk, I'm guessing she needs to register?"
Rin happily nods then drops the bomb that would shock everyone present except her boyfriend, "Yes please! And can you register me as Seths fiancee under the guild betrothed couples law and pact please? I would like to have that security for our relationship."
Felicia nods then goes to grab the paperwork out of habit before she stops. Then straightens. Then looks rapidly between Rin and Seth who is grinning happily at the goblin girl.
She goes, "Eh?"
Processes the request a bit in her mind, "EH?"
More processing, "EH!?"
Finished processing, "YOU WANT TO REGISTER AS BETROTHED ADVENTURERS?!"
Everyone in the guild stop and stare at Seth then the goblin girl. Then back at the weakest looking adventurer in the guild. Then they all check their drinks and check to see how drunk they are then stare at the couple. They all realize that yes. This is real. And yes Seth is engaged to the pretty and cute goblin female on his arm.
Half the men are in denial while the other half are jealous that such an wimpy and sickly looking guy could get such a pretty fiancee.
The girls were all relieved at that news. They were sad for Seth that he was alone despite being such a good and nice guy. Always being a gentlemen to them but they just couldn't get past the how he seemed ready to drop dead from some hidden disease that none of them knew. The constant worrying and pity for his condition was just too much for them. So the fact that someone was able to look past it all and want to marry him really showed that love can conquer anything for anyone.
Rin nods and goes to fill out both sets of paperwork as Felicia is still stunned stiff from the news and is currently comatose while standing straight behind the counter.
They were soon done with the papers and were now registering Rin using the crystal ball as Seth remembers the process after every yearly renewal an adventurer needs to do.
They finish and Felicia, while on auto pilot due to her years of experience, files and organizes the papers needed for the process of both requests.
She finally snaps back to herself and smiles gently at the young man who looks a little less sickly for some reason now as she has gained a new found respect for him. The goblin girl seems to actually be in love with him and likes him despite his mysterious chronic illness. So she began to respect Seth more and care for him as a truly good man.
However as she goes to congratulate them on their betrothal and to guide Rin to her testing site for her rank placement. They suddenly see a familiar person approach them all. Grolick the half orc warrior has returned to ruin their day.
He saunters up to Seth and Rin without taking his eyes off the cute little goblin female. Rin begins to squirm uncomfortably under the gaze and Seth goes to stand between them.
Grolick sneers at the eternal C ranker and smirks at Seth, "Let me guess! Another C rank dungeon conquered?"
Seth nods and stays quiet waiting to see where this is going. Grolick smirks smugly again making Rin shudder at how yellow his teeth and tusks looked, "Nice! You certainly deserve that Dungeon Lord title we gave you! However now you have someone here trying to usurp your throne!"
Seth quirks and eyebrow before looking at Grolick carefully and seeing a few pieces of ancient and Ultra rare class gear on his person. He gasps before asking, "Wait have you been dungeon diving at the lower ranks too now?"
Grolick sneers and mockingly states, "Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! My records are now 15 F rank dungeons, 20 E ranked, 18 D dungeons, 20 C dungeons, and more recently! 12 B ranked dungeons! That's where I found this bad boy!"
He draws an ancient class great sword off of his back and brandishes it. It is an impressive piece with flame runes all over it and a heat aura coming off of it. And its stat boosts aren't bad, x2 the users level to str, end, and skill.
Seth thinks before asking, "So you want my title?"
Grolick nods and says, "I do! In fact! Let's make it interesting! That goblin lady is your betrothed right? Let's make a bet! By the end of the week we will go and conquer as many dungeons as possible! You can go together or you can go alone! But the main thing is we need to prove we conquered them to the guild with the boss cores! And no repeat cores they won't be worth anything since we have conquered them anyway!"
Seth nods along so far then asks, "So we see who can be the best dungeon diver huh? But where is the winnings of this leading? What are the stakes?"
Grolick smirks as he says, "How about this? I win? You give your title of dungeon lord to me! And you break up with that goblin girl of yours and let me spend a few nights with her so she can feel how a real man is like!"
Seth goes to argue before both Grolick and Seth feel killing intent coming from the said goblin girl. They both look to see her eyes blazing red in anger and her magic aura fluctuating madly as she yells out, "You could never measure up to my beloved Seth! He will conquer circles around you! Seth! Prove to him you're superior! I don't mind being a bargaining chip to prove your superiority!"
Grolick smirks at this knowing a goblin would never back down when it involves proving the strength of their mate to others.
Meanwhile Seth face faults at this as he processes what Rin just said, "Rin are you sure? We don't even know what we would win and I don't want to treat you like a poker chip or a simple object to bargain with!"
Rin huffs and smiles proudly at Seth, "I believe in my beloved! I know you will win this! So show him what you can do!"
Seth sighs before getting a notification of his curse but puts it aside for later. He squares his shoulders then asks Grolick the burning question, "So what do we get if we win?"
Grolick smiles at this knowing he has them now, "If you win. And that's a BIG if. I'll give you any two of my items of Ultra rare or ancient class. And I'll be your examiner in the rank up exam that way you show us that you didn't beat me in a fluke and you also gain some much needed experience to level up more. What do you say? That sound good?"
Seth checks with Rin as she is nodding like crazy at the opportunity to gain more powerful and rare items for their family. Seth nods and goes to shake the half orcs hand.
Grolick shakes it enthusiastically and says, "Remember! One week from today! We'll ask the guild where our records stand by then to see if we go to the rank up arena or not!"
Seth nods and says, "Looking forward to beating tour ass down Grolick! Be ready!"
Then Grolick drops a bomb on the unsuspecting couple, "Ha! Let's see if you can C ranker! I recently got my class upgrade and am now a Great Warrior class at level 112! Good luck beating me with your level 60s stats in these higher level dungeons!"
Seth notices his curse announcement from earlier and smirks, 'Oh I think I have a better chance of fighting him now even with his power up. But first.'
He turns to Rin and asks her, "You ready to get your placement in the guild and help me with this bet beautiful?"
Rin blushes while cutely brushing her short hair behind her ear and nods shyly at being called that in public.
Many adventurers watching all think the same things, 'Cute/Adorable/Pretty/Kawaii!'
Rin joins her hand with Seth happily as they go to the examination arena to get Rin tested for her rank.
Seth was already making plans for the upcoming bet and which dungeons they would raid for it together.