Stepping into the Adventurer's Guild with Aria, I was immediately struck by the diversity of people present. Adventurers in various types of armor and with unique appearances filled the guild. The walls were adorned with weapons for sale, each item displaying its price tag, and curious eyes from the seasoned adventurers were fixed on Aria. I couldn't help but wonder about the attention she was receiving.
However, Aria seemed unfazed by the attention. She confidently approached the receptionist, a woman with bright yellow hair and green eyes. Aria greeted her with familiarity, saying, "Hey, Yamane."
Yamane responded with surprise, "Hi, Aria. What brings you here? It's rare to see you."
Aria chuckled and explained, "I'm here to register my buddy Tatsuya. He wants to become an adventurer with me."
Yamane, still in a state of mild astonishment, remarked, "Really? It's rare for someone to willingly want to be near you." She chuckled and then added, "Alright, I'll register him."
Yamane turned her attention to me and asked for my name. I replied, "Hello, I am Tatsuya Ryota, and I'm here to become an adventurer."
Yamane, who was evidently in a light-hearted mood, laughed and said, "Alright, come with me. I'll need a bit more information."
We walked through a door at the back of the guild, entering a smaller room where Yamane sat down with me at a table. She started the registration process, asking questions about my age and abilities. As we went through the questions, she remarked, "What is your specialty?"
I answered honestly, "I don't really have a specialty, but I'm pretty good at killing things, that's pretty much it."
Yamane continued with her questions for a while before finally instructing me to wait with Aria in the other room. I exited the room and found Aria waiting for me.
She asked, "Wanna check out the tavern?"
I replied, "Yes, but first I want to see if I like any of these weapons."
Aria agreed, saying, "Alright, I'll wait for you."
As I perused the weapons on display, one particular item caught my attention: a beautifully crafted scythe. It had a sleek, dark color scheme, intricate engravings along the blade, and a unique, asymmetrical shape. However, the price tag stunned me – 10 gold coins. It was an exorbitant sum, and I couldn't afford it.
Feeling somewhat disheartened, I stepped away from the weapon display. Aria noticed my disappointment as we left the guild. She disappeared for a moment, and when she returned, she was holding the scythe in her hands. She handed it to me and said, "This is a welcoming gift."
I was taken aback by her generosity and asked, "Wow, you didn't have to! Plus, how did you know I wanted it?"
Aria laughed heartily and replied, "Your face said it all!!"
Walking toward the tavern with the new scythe securely attached to my back, I continued to be captivated by the beauty and grandeur of the Kingdom of Hyogan. The streets were bustling with people, each with their own unique features and appearances, adding to the city's diversity.
However, as we progressed along our path, I found myself drawn to a dark alley where an unsettling scene played out before me. In that secluded corner, three individuals stood, two men and a little girl locked inside a cage. It was evident that something sinister was afoot, and I felt an urgent need to intervene and help the girl.
Before I could take a single step in that direction, Aria's strong grip seized me by the back of my shirt, pulling me back. Her face carried a stern expression, and it sent a shiver down my spine. She warned me, "That is none of your business."
I tried to argue, my voice filled with distress, "But they are doing something bad!"
Aria's gaze bore into me, and her response was resolute, "Sometimes you don't have to get involved in someone else's affairs. You don't know who they are or what they are capable of. What if they are strong and decide to kidnap you too? What if they are part of a dangerous gang? It's better to stay out of it."
Reluctantly, I heeded her advice and allowed her to guide me away from the scene. The sense of helplessness weighed heavily on me, but Aria's caution made sense. She continued to lead me towards the tavern.
Upon entering the tavern, I was greeted with a diverse and colorful crowd of patrons. There were people with bunny tails and ears, individuals with wings, and others with dragon scales and tails. It was a captivating display of the various races and species coexisting within the kingdom.
Despite the earlier unsettling encounter, the vibrant atmosphere of the tavern, filled with laughter and camaraderie, began to put me at ease. The diversity of the kingdom's residents was both fascinating and comforting, offering a sense of acceptance and belonging.
Aria and I approached the tavern's receptionist, a striking figure with red and black hair, black eyes, and a well-built physique. He extended a warm greeting, "Hello, how may I help you both?"
Aria inquired about room availability and costs, to which the man obligingly responded, "A day is 2 silver coins, 3 days 4 silver coins, a week 7 silver coins, 2 weeks 2 gold coin, and 30 days 5 gold coins."
Without hesitation, Aria decided, "We will take 30 days, thank you."
The man seemed pleased and continued, "Perfect. What are both of your names?"
Aria introduced us, "I am Aria Michiko, and this is my little companion, Tatsuya Ryota."
The man nodded and extended his gratitude, "Perfect, I am Hoki Tsuka, the owner of this tavern. It's a pleasure to meet you both. Your room is R12 on the second floor."
Thanking him, Aria and I made our way upstairs to find our room. Upon entering, we were greeted by a cozy space with two beds, each nestled in the corner of the room. Lanterns hung above each bed, providing a warm, soft glow. There was a bathroom, a closet, and a window that overlooked the road and sidewalk below.
As we settled in, I couldn't help but reflect on how fortunate I was to have met Aria. She had shown me kindness and guidance from the very moment we met. Looking at her, I couldn't help but think of her as an older sister.
I found the courage to express my feelings, "Aria, thank you for everything you've done so far. I know we've only just met, but I feel like you're my older sister. The way you've treated me and offered advice, you're pretty cool."
Aria's laughter filled the room as she playfully responded, "You are so adorable!!!! I will squish you to your death!" She embraced me with a warm hug, and we both laughed together. Aria's words warmed my heart as she added, "I also consider you my little brother. I will spoil you!"
As we both settled, I couldn't help but glance at a clock on the wall, which read 6:16 PM. Curiosity got the best of me, and I asked Aria, "When will my Adventure ID be ready?" Aria suddenly realized she had forgotten about it and said, "Oh my God! I totally forgot about that! It's most likely done right now. Do you want to check it?" I decided to go alone, but Aria insisted on coming along, saying she wouldn't let me go alone.
We put on our shoes and walked outside, but the town's atmosphere was starkly different from earlier. The streets had become eerily empty, with only a few individuals appearing sporadically. It felt as though everyone had disappeared, and the once-vibrant town had turned into a ghost town.
As we walked through the quiet streets, my gaze fell upon a dark alleyway. There, I saw the same two menacing figures, the ones I had encountered earlier, but this time, they were terrorizing the young girl. They were physically abusing her, and it was evident that they meant her harm.
My blood boiled, and I instinctively moved to intervene. But Aria, sensing my intentions, swiftly grabbed the back of my shirt, stopping me in my tracks. With a stern tone, she told me, "That's not your fight, Tatsuya." Though I wanted to help, her assertiveness made me hesitate.
Frustrated, I argued, "But they're doing something terrible!" Aria looked at me with determination mixed with annoyance and responded, "Fine, I'll take care of them for you, Tatsuya." Before she could react, I had already dashed toward the alley to confront the bandits.
The first bandit, armed with a dagger, noticed me approach and moved to counter me. In a lightning-fast move, I jumped off the wall, narrowly avoiding his attack, and drew my scythe as I landed gracefully on the ground.
With my scythe, I swiftly severed the dagger into two pieces, rendering the bandit weaponless. He tried to retaliate with a punch, but I deftly blocked it with the scythe's handle and delivered a counterpunch, knocking him unconscious.
The other bandit, equally unyielding, lunged at me. I spun around, crouched down, and extended my leg, tripping him and sending him sprawling to the ground. In one fluid motion, I stood up, clenched my fist, and delivered a precise blow to his abdomen, rendering him unconscious and spitting saliva.
With both bandits lying defeated on the ground, I turned my attention to the frightened girl. She was understandably traumatized by the ordeal. I approached her and extended a reassuring hand, asking, "Are you okay?" She shook her head in response, indicating that she was far from alright. I took her trembling hand and promised, "It's okay now. You're safe with me. Trust me."