As Kazuki and Serena entered the Adventurers' Guild, the lively atmosphere hit them immediately. The main hall was filled with adventurers of all types: warriors clad in heavy armor, mages in flowing robes, and archers with their bows slung over their shoulders. The air buzzed with conversation, the clink of mugs, and the occasional burst of laughter.
Kazuki couldn't help but be impressed by the variety of people around him. This world really is like something out of a game.
Serena made her way toward the counter, where the guild receptionist—a tall, elven woman with golden hair and sharp green eyes—was handling requests. She gave Serena a warm smile as they approached.
"Back already, Serena? I see you brought a friend this time," the elf said, her voice smooth and melodic.
"Yeah, this is Kazuki. We took on the Forest Beast quest together," Serena replied, holding up the proof of their kill—the glowing gem from the monster.
The elf's eyes widened slightly in surprise as she inspected the gem. "Impressive. That creature's been causing trouble for days now. I'll mark the quest as completed and send your reward to the treasury." She glanced at Kazuki, curiosity in her eyes. "It's rare to see a newcomer take on such a dangerous quest right off the bat. You must be quite skilled."
Kazuki shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I just got lucky, I guess."
Serena shot him a sideways glance, clearly not buying his attempt at modesty, but she didn't say anything.
The receptionist handed them a small pouch of coins. "Here's the reward. Fifty silver pieces for the both of you. Spend it wisely."
Kazuki took the pouch and gave it a quick shake. "Not bad. I might actually be able to afford a decent meal tonight."
Serena chuckled. "You should probably save some of it for supplies. If you plan on taking more quests, you'll need better gear."
Kazuki gave her a grin. "I'll think about it."
As they stepped away from the counter, Kazuki took a moment to look around the guildhall. There were so many adventurers, each looking more experienced and battle-hardened than the last. He couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. He had only just started his journey in this world, and already he could tell that there were bigger challenges waiting for him.
Before they could leave, a voice called out from behind them. "Serena! You're back!"
They turned to see a young man approaching them, waving enthusiastically. He had messy brown hair, a pair of glasses perched on his nose, and a wide grin on his face. He looked to be around their age and was dressed in light mage's robes, a staff slung over his back.
"Leo," Serena greeted, her tone friendly but reserved.
"Who's this?" Leo asked, eyeing Kazuki curiously.
"Kazuki," Serena introduced him. "He helped me with the Forest Beast quest."
Leo's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? You took down one of those things? Impressive!" He extended his hand to Kazuki. "Nice to meet you! I'm Leo, a mage in training."
Kazuki shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too."
Leo's grin widened. "I've been hearing all kinds of things about that monster. It's been causing havoc for a while now, but you guys actually managed to take it down! You must be pretty strong, huh?"
Kazuki scratched the back of his head. "I've got some strength, yeah."
Leo's eyes lit up. "That's awesome! We could use someone like you in our next quest. Serena, you should totally bring him along."
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Next quest?"
"Yeah," Leo said, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "There's a rumor going around that some strange ruins were discovered deep in the northern woods. Apparently, they're filled with ancient artifacts and treasure."
Kazuki's interest was piqued. "Ruins, huh? Sounds like an adventure."
Leo nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! The problem is, the area's been overrun with monsters lately. That's why I think we should form a party and go together. What do you think?"
Serena crossed her arms, considering the offer. "Ancient ruins can be dangerous. And if there's treasure involved, we won't be the only ones heading that way."
Leo shrugged. "That's all part of the fun, isn't it?"
Kazuki glanced at Serena, waiting for her decision. He wasn't against the idea of exploring ruins—if anything, it sounded like the kind of adventure he'd been looking for. But he also knew that it could be dangerous, especially if monsters were involved.
Finally, Serena sighed. "Alright, I'm in. But we're going to need more information before we head out. I don't want to walk into a trap."
Leo grinned, clearly excited. "Great! I'll start gathering info. We'll meet up tomorrow and make a plan."
With that, Leo waved and hurried off, leaving Kazuki and Serena standing by the counter.
"Well, that was sudden," Kazuki said, watching Leo disappear into the crowd.
"Leo's always like that," Serena replied with a small smile. "He's enthusiastic, but he means well. Just be prepared—he tends to get us into more trouble than we bargain for."
Kazuki chuckled. "Sounds like it'll be an interesting trip."
Serena nodded, but there was a hint of caution in her expression. "Just make sure you're ready. If we're really heading into ancient ruins, we'll need to be prepared for anything. Ruins like that usually have traps…and worse."
Kazuki wasn't sure what she meant by "worse," but he could tell she wasn't exaggerating. Still, the thought of exploring ruins, finding treasure, and learning more about this world intrigued him. He wasn't looking for glory, but a part of him couldn't deny the excitement of the unknown.
"Don't worry," Kazuki said, flashing her a confident smile. "I'll be ready."
Serena gave him a nod, though there was still a trace of uncertainty in her eyes. "Good. Let's get some rest for now. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
As Kazuki made his way to the inn that night, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get more complicated. This world was vast, filled with mysteries, and he had only scratched the surface. From the bustling guild to the diverse people he had seen on the streets, it was clear that there were countless stories unfolding around him.
But something else lingered in the back of his mind—the knowledge that he had been summoned here, not for a peaceful life, but for a purpose. The talk of the demon king and the seven deadly generals still loomed over him, though he hadn't given it much thought since arriving. He didn't care about being a hero, but fate had a way of pulling people into conflicts whether they wanted it or not.
Lying on his bed in the small inn room, Kazuki stared up at the wooden ceiling, his thoughts drifting to the journey ahead.
"Ruins, monsters, treasure…" he muttered, closing his eyes. "Guess we'll see where this goes."
And with that, he drifted off to sleep, unaware of the forces that were already beginning to move around him—the seven deadly generals, the demon king, and the mysteries that lay hidden within the northern ruins.