As I opened my eyes, the sun had yet to ascend in the sky.

My dad, already engrossed in his morning coffee, and my mom, orchestrating an elaborate breakfast, greeted me.

"Heading out, son?" Dad inquired casually.

"Yeah, off to the Guild," I responded.

Just as I was about to step through the entrance door, my mom extended a couple of sandwiches to me.

It seemed as if there was something they knew, a concealed aspect lingering both when I departed for the US and upon my return.

Near the entrance, our loyal canine companion, Biscuit, lay in peaceful slumber.

He roused and fixed a gaze on me as I swung the door open. It had been some time since I last played with Biscuit..

Accessing my inventory, I treated him to some snacks I had bought a few days prior.

He gleefully chomped on them and emitted a contented bark.

As I prepared to depart, closing the door behind me, my mom expressed, "Take care of yourself, Asriel."

At 6:07 am, I reached the inn where Dia was staying.

She greeted me at the door, still adorned with a sleepy expression.

Dia had never been an early riser; she cherished her sleep, and if left undisturbed, she'd likely slumber until noon.

"I knew you were going to wake me up early!" she proclaimed, as if she had successfully predicted a winning lottery number.

Surprisingly, she was already dressed and ready, seemingly anticipating my arrival.

It appeared that she hadn't forgotten my tendency to rouse her early from our time back in the US.

"Hehe, I slept early yesterday," she continued, wearing a triumphant smile.

It was reassuring to see her in her usual self.

"That looks tasty!" Dia exclaimed upon seeing me relish Mom's sandwich.

"Here's yours," I replied, offering one of the sandwiches to her.

She eagerly grabbed it, taking a bite, and I noticed a faint smile on her face as she finished the sandwich.

It brought back memories of how Aunt Helen used to prepare the sandwiches Dia typically enjoyed for breakfast.

"We'll grab breakfast after talking to Guild Master Gray," I suggested, aware that a single sandwich wouldn't satisfy Dia.

"Don't treat me like a glutton!" she protested, her face blushing slightly.

Heading to the Guild early would help us avoid unnecessary attention, given that Dia was a foreigner and would stand out.

She gently placed her hand on my shoulder as we strolled through the serene streets of Maceria.

Old Gray was leisurely sipping his hot coffee as we entered his office, gesturing for us to take a seat.

He had grown accustomed to my habit of arriving early, especially when there was important business to discuss.

"Did you two have breakfast?" Old Gray inquired.

"We had a sandwich before coming here," I replied.

"Riel promised to treat me to breakfast after this," Dia added.

I noticed a subtle grin on the old man's face.

"So, what happened to the unknown attacker yesterday?" Old Gray questioned.

"Actually, that unknown attacker was me," Dia confessed shyly.

I observed a momentary surprise on the old man's face, which gradually transformed into a more serious expression.

"So why did you attack us?" he inquired.

Dia explained, admitting it was a misunderstanding and her fault for acting impulsively.

She cast a few glances in my direction while narrating, as if implying that I shared some responsibility, which, to some extent, might be true.

After a brief round of questioning, Guild Master Gray seemed satisfied and released a relieved sigh.

I understood his concern; a skilled ranger with the ability to strike beyond the city walls could pose a substantial threat to everyone.

"Why are you looking for Asriel?" Guild Master Gray inquired.

"I was going to deliver some confidential documents to him," Dia responded, shooting me a look as if seeking approval to share sensitive information with the Guild Master.

"We were members of UNION's top-secret group, Genesis," I revealed.

"It's a military organization established to secure and safeguard world relics at any cost. Dia and I belonged to Genesis Zero Branch, specializing in the retrieval of world relics," I continued.

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"So that's why you're so strong, young man," Old Gray remarked suddenly. "Of course, Riel is strong.

He's our close combat specialist, trained in various military martial arts from a young age, and unparalleled in handling bladed weapons," Dia proudly stated, as if boasting about her brother's capabilities.

Guild Master Gray regarded me with a newfound perspective.

I was on the verge of discussing the confidential documents with him when he brought up a crucial matter that had slipped my mind.

"Your cousin, Earl, informed me that the light on the Ancient Tree is fading, and he seeks assistance for the upcoming Monster Siege in Castor town," the old man disclosed.

A fleeting thought crossed my mind, considering that Earl was still working on unlocking the one of the Mage’s Advanced Class, Archmage.

However, I wasn’t worried knowing that Dia already possessed one of the Archer's Advanced Class, Ranger.

"Will you join in defending my cousin's home, Dia?" I asked.

"Never again will I let you go alone.

I will always have your back, Riel," she responded, a hint of regret in her voice, perhaps recalling the time I embarked on Genesis Zero Branch's tenth mission.

"Do you need additional support, young man?" Old Gray inquired.

Despite contemplating the idea of seeking reinforcements, an inexplicable urge compelled me to put the Ranger and Blade Dancer Classes to the test against the impending monster threat.

"My group should be sufficient, but I still requested half of our force to prepare in case of any unforeseen events," I proposed.

Castor Town doesn't have walls unlike Maceria, making defense challenging with monsters approaching from all sides.

However, it was manageable if Earl and Neil utilized the Stone Wall skill to create pseudo barriers in anticipation of the impending Monster Siege.

The Monster Siege was likely to occur tomorrow, so preparing today offered our best chance for a well-organized defense.

After lunch, I urged the Guild Master to issue the order for my group to assemble at Maceria's Transport Gate.

This would provide Rain and Neil with valuable experience, allowing them to witness Dia and Earl using their skills in actual combat.

Dia cast a concerned glance my way, questioning the safety of my friends assisting in defending a town.

"I understand the risks, but we'll be there to safeguard them.

They need to adapt to facing stronger monsters; otherwise, we might eventually be overwhelmed," I reassured her.

Dia nodded in agreement, recognizing that, regardless of our strength, the power of a few individuals alone might not be sufficient to protect a city against a formidable horde of monsters.

"You're right, allowing them to confront stronger monsters while it's still manageable is an excellent way to provide them with valuable actual combat experience," Dia concluded.

The surroundings were still relatively quiet as we exited the Guild to grab breakfast.

"I really want to eat at the Bellflower Diner again," Dia insisted, clearly savoring the spicy fried Sand Fowl we enjoyed the previous day.

Uncle Ed was just unlocking the diner as we reached the Bellflower.

"You guys are right on time for breakfast," Uncle Ed greeted us with a smile.

Upon opening the diner's door, I spotted a familiar face – Rain, waiting for her breakfast.

"Why are you two here so early?" she asked as we joined her at the table.

"Riel is taking me out for breakfast," Dia exclaimed with excitement. Rain's gaze bore into me like daggers.

"We just left the Guild Hall after a discussion with the Guild Master," I explained.

"Dia missed breakfast since we went to the Guild very early this morning," I added.

Rain seemed to accept my explanation as she took a bite of her delicious breakfast – fried rice crowned with breaded red boar meat.

"So, what would you like for breakfast, Asriel?" Uncle Ed inquired.

"I'd like fried rice topped with a sunny-side-up egg and a fried Sand Fowl," I replied.

"And you, Miss?" Uncle Ed turned his attention to Dia.

"I'll have the same dish that Miss Rain is having," Dia replied.

"And I'd prefer the breaded meat to be spicy," she added.

Midway through her meal, Rain paused and focused her attention on me, then gradually shifted her gaze to Dia, who seemed somewhat puzzled.

"Asriel, can I request your assistance in improving my monster-fighting skills as an Archer?" she suddenly inquired, nearly catching me off guard.

"I felt that I could do more, especially during the recent Monster Siege," she continued.

Dia looked at Rain and took hold of her hands.

"I'll give my best effort if you're okay with me as your mentor," Dia declared, as if she had just discovered a new friend.

Rain's expression lit up as she embraced Dia's offer.

"Then the upcoming Monster Siege in Castor Town will be a perfect opportunity to learn from Dia," I remarked.

"What do you mean, Asriel?" Rain asked, a bit puzzled.

"Our group will help defend Castor Town during the impending Monster Siege," I replied.

I anticipated her surprise, but her expression hinted that she was looking forward to it for some reason.

Uncle Ed served our dishes, and Dia's face brightened as she enthusiastically dug into her breakfast.

"The spiciness is just perfect!" Dia exclaimed, praising the dish prepared by Uncle Ed.

"When are we heading to Castor Town?" Rain inquired. "Today, after everyone in our group has received the order from the Guild Master," I replied.

I was halfway through my meal when Dia requested another serving.

Rain looked at her with a smile as she enjoyed a second helping of her breakfast.

Following breakfast, Dia insisted on taking a stroll in the city, and I gladly agreed.

It had been a while since we had spent time together.

By the time we finished our walk across the city, it was already lunchtime.

Despite the curious gazes from others, Dia seemed unfazed and continued to enjoy tasting snacks here and there.

After lunch, we joined the group at Maceria's Transport Gate.

They appeared less nervous than when we were defending against the Cyclops and hordes of Ogres.

It seemed the Old Man provided a highly detailed explanation and order, as nobody asked questions and swiftly joined the party, heading to the Transport Gate.

"Transfer: Castor," I uttered once everyone was inside the Transport Gate.