In the guest quarters of the Adventures Guild, Kai's attention was immediately drawn to the entrance of a captivating female figure. Possessing a stature comparable to his own, she exuded an aura of refinement, characterized by her sleek, ebony tresses and entrancing amethyst eyes that were fixated upon him. Her attire, consisting of a fashionable black suit, complemented by a pristine white blouse and a form-fitting skirt, served as a testament to her impeccable sense of style. Furthermore, the addition of purple stockings accentuated the allure and elegance of her legs.
"Behold, am I not a vision to feast your eyes upon?" she mischievously shattered the stillness, her words oozing with playful charm, aimed squarely at Kai.
"Indeed, you are," Kai retorted, his countenance a blank canvas, causing her lips to twitch with anticipation.
"Is that all? Merely a meager recognition of my exquisite allure?" she pouted, prompting Kai to nonchalantly reply, "Pray tell, what else am I expected to utter?"
She tried to put on a show of self-obsession, and Kai played along, matching her theatrics.
"Jokes are apart, Forgive me for not making my grand entrance sooner. I am Sara Curt, the illustrious guild master of the Second Floor Adventures Guild," she introduced herself with a touch of elegance.
"As for me, I am a player of the esteemed 'Player' rank, known as Kai Springfield," Kai chimed in, his tone dripping with playful sarcasm.
"I am a member of the newly awakened players, and the sole player to conquer the treacherous second floor," Kai boasted, puffing up his chest with exaggerated pride.
Sara was already privy to the rumors swirling about the vanishing portal on the first floor, yet she couldn't fathom the reason behind its disappearance.
"Did I hear correctly? The mine has transformed into a veritable dungeon?" Sara inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Kai, nonchalant as ever, replied, "Indeed, it has undergone quite the metamorphosis. I've already taken care of the initial clearing."
Sara's surprise was evident on her face as she processed this information. "But I didn't manage to exterminate all those pesky sewer rats. Some of them managed to escape. And strangely enough, I haven't encountered any more since the dungeon reverted back to its original state as a mine," Kai added, his curiosity piqued as well.
Sara scrutinized Kai, trying to gauge the truthfulness of his words. After a moment of silence, she responded with a smile, her expression filled with reassurance. "Not to worry, we'll handle the remaining matters. You can rest easy now," she assured him. Rising from her seat, she gracefully walked towards him and executed a deep 90-degree bow.
"We humbly request a favor from you," she said politely, her movements exuding elegance and grace.
Kai was caught off guard by the sudden shift in her demeanor. Pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts, he responded with a nonchalant air, "Well, spill the beans. What's your request?" Despite his casual tone, Kai maintained a professional composure.
Sara's face instantly brightened with relief upon hearing his response. With a serious expression, she began to explain, "We're knee-deep in trouble with these mane wolves. It's been a real struggle to subdue them." Her tone conveyed the gravity of the situation.
Intrigued, Kai's curiosity was piqued as he looked at her with a mix of interest and wonder. He couldn't help but ask, "What's been going on?"
Nodding in response, Sara continued to explain, her expression growing even more serious, "Not only has the population of these beasts skyrocketed, but their strength has become a major concern." She emphasized the severity of the issue.
Kai's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he delved deeper, "Anything out of the ordinary you've noticed?"
Recalling the tales of surviving adventurers, Sara replied with a hint of unease, "Oh, you bet. These creatures emit a sinister dark aura from their very beings."
Her words caught Kai completely off guard, causing his eyebrows to shoot up in surprise. Memories of the previous incident flooded his mind, the one where the hobgoblin had emitted that eerie, malevolent aura. It was a moment that had sent shivers down his spine.
As Kai's expression betrayed his astonishment, the woman couldn't help but be intrigued. Her curiosity sparked like a flame, urging her to dig deeper. "Your reaction tells me there's something you know about all this," she probed, her eyes gleaming with genuine interest.
Locking eyes with her, Kai weighed his options for a brief moment before deciding to share a few tidbits. "Indeed, while I was battling my way through the first floor trial, I stumbled upon a boss that exuded the same sinister darkness. Its status even revealed a blessing from the dark lord."
The woman leaned in closer, her gaze fixated on Kai's face as if trying to extract every ounce of information from him. "Is there anything else you can tell me?" she pressed, her voice filled with anticipation.
Kai hesitated, contemplating how much he should reveal. "The boss's stats were off the charts, and I barely escaped with my life," he finally divulged, his words dripping with the weight of his experience. It was clear that he had reached the limits of his knowledge, but that only fueled the woman's curiosity even more.
But lo and behold, she realizes that the measly amount of information they possess is as useful as a broken compass. So, with a dramatic flourish, she sets him free and declares, "Fear not, my friend! If you agree to our humble request, we shall shower you with riches beyond your wildest dreams!" She punctuates her statement with an exaggerated thumbs-up, because why not?
And just when he thought he was about to embark on a solo adventure, she drops the bombshell. "Oh, but wait! You won't be alone on this perilous journey. We shall assign a legendary adventurer, a master of all things daring and dashing, to accompany you!" she proclaims, struggling to contain her laughter because, let's face it, the whole situation is pretty hilarious.
Kai, being the cool cucumber that he is, simply nods in agreement and casually remarks, "Well, that's a relief. I graciously accept this quest." The moment those words leave his lips, Sara's face lights up like a thousand suns, radiating joy and gratitude. "Oh, thank you, thank you! You have no idea how much this means to us," she gushes, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.
But Kai, being the practical soul that he is, has other matters on his mind. "Before we embark on this grand adventure, I must collect my payment for the rat quest," he states matter-of-factly, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. Sara can't help but chuckle at his straightforwardness, finding his bluntness oddly endearing. "Of course, of course. They're still busy counting the rat tails, so it might take a while," she explains, slightly awkwardly.
Trying to make amends, she suggests, "Why don't you make yourself comfortable here? I'll arrange for some delicious food to be brought to you."
"Very well," Kai responds nonchalantly, plopping himself down on the plush sofa. He leans back, finally allowing himself to relax and unwind. After all, he's got a legendary adventurer and a belly full of food to look forward to.
Life is good.