"Finally… We're here…"
Marius brought the carriage to a halt in front of the bustling adventurer's guild and then stepped down, holding the goddess by her hand, leading her down.
Releasing Ayla's hand, he firmly grasped the reins and securely fastened them around a sturdy stone pole, guaranteeing that the horse wouldn't stray by ensuring a tight knot.
While Marius was engaged in his task, the goddess walked to the back of the carriage and picked up a small bucket. She filled it with water from their jug and went back to the front, placing it in front of the horse.
Then Ayla went back once more, grabbed another bucket, and filled it with food—apples and carrots. Once again, she repeated the same action of going back to the front and putting the bucket before the horse, even though the horse had already begun drinking the water with its long tongue.
Both Marius and the goddess knew that neglecting the horse would be unwise, as it would leave them without a means of transportation.
So, they wanted to avoid any harm or illness befalling the horse, so they were committed to properly caring for it.
"Let's head inside. It's burning hot out here," Marius mumbled quietly, audible to the goddess, who nodded in agreement.
In spite of the scorching sun and the extreme heat enveloping him in his armor, he found a moment and removed his helmet, allowing him to wipe away the sweat that had accumulated on his forehead, before placing it back on.
When Marius turned his head, he was met by the sight of the massive adventurer's guild building, its wide and tall structure made solely from brick and logs.
Continuing onward, he ascended the curved steps towards the entrance of the adventurer's guild, with Ayla trailing behind him, once again becoming the center of attention, causing whispers to fly around.
"Who is this beauty?"
"We are truly blessed to be able to share the same air as her..."
"Are we even worthy of the privilege to lay our eyes on her?"
"Wait, who is that bastard? The one she's following?"
"Probably some noble. Nice guys always finish last!"
"Lucky dude… Get's that beauty to himself…"
Paying no mind to what was happening around him, Marius let out a sigh as he swore he heard someone curse him and hope for his death.
He held the door open, allowing the goddess to enter before him, and then he followed suit, all while enduring the disdainful glares from onlookers.
Marius was greeted by a giant hall, its vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate carvings. Massive wooden beams supported the structure, the surfaces covered in the scars and scratches.
The wooden floor beneath him was completely smooth, with no creaking whatsoever.
In the back of the hall stood a long row of bulletin boards, filled with quests.
Marius's gaze wandered further until it settled on the receptionist, whom he had expected to be a cute girl, but turned out to be something else entirely.
As beside the boards, a grizzled receptionist sat at a heavy oak desk, talking with numerous adventurers. Those who stood in line held a paper with a quest on it.
"Was not expecting that…" Marius's words were overshadowed by the many voices chattering, as he still let out a small chuckle.
He was expecting a cute girl! Not some old, grizzled fat dude.
However, it appeared that Ayla heard him as she reassured, "don't worry, hero. You can still find girls who are really cute in here."
The goddess looked around for a second then pointed to a woman who was drinking beer and had a large number of empty wooden mugs nearby, as she appeared to be drunk, laughing and making fun of people.
"Look. She has big breasts," Ayla commented. Emphasizing the largeness of the other woman's breasts, she positioned her hands beneath her own. "A lot bigger than mine."
Marius let out a heavy sigh, feeling as if he were about to cough up blood. He didn't mean it in a sexual way; he simply expected the receptionist to be an attractive girl based on what he had seen in anime, light novels, and manga.
"How about you add her into your harem?" Ayla asked with a tilt of her head. "You are a hero, after all."
Marius rolled his eyes and flicked the goddess on her head, causing her to react by holding her head and letting out a fake, emotionless: "Ouch."
"No horny."
Ignoring Ayla, who seemed to pout in a monotone way, he went back to scoping out the building.
On the left side of the boards, there stood a massive fireplace, casting a flickering light. Its mantle was filled with the heads of monstrous creatures, all unfamiliar to Marius.
Where the drunk woman was, large tables were scattered throughout, where groups of adventurers huddled together.
On the right side of the hall, a grand staircase spiraled upwards to the private quarters and meeting rooms of the guild's higher-ranking members, from what Marius guessed.
Once he had looked around, he realized it was time to join the line and register as an adventurer. Ayla trailed behind, attracting the gazes of many adventurers, who all were in a daze.
"We really need to cover you up." Despite cracking a small joke, Marius couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed and uncomfortable because of the constant staring of people wherever they went.
The stares were not just a nuisance; it was inviting trouble. Surprisingly, no one approached them, not even as a young master or an arrogant adventurer.
'That would be troublesome…' Marius thought to himself, thinking about the cultivation stories he's read back on Earth, remembering the hassle those protagonists have to go through.
If a random noble were to show up and express interest in Ayla, only to be face slapped, he might respond by sending his guards or elders after him.
'Just gonna pray nothing happens.'
Marius clasped his hands together and prayed, hoping to avoid any unnecessary difficulties.