"A tavern?" I ask, raising an eyebrow as we approach the building.
"It's the guild house. More or less like a tavern, yeah," Orin replies, glancing back at me with a slight smirk. His tone carries a matter-of-factness, but there's a glint of warmth in his eyes, as if this place holds a familiarity that comforts him. He pushes the wooden door open, revealing the light spilling from within.
"I see," I reply, stepping closer.
As the door swings wide, a burst of warm, golden light pours out, bathing me in its glow. The hum of laughter, chatter, and clinking mugs fills the air. I walk in quietly behind Orin, my eyes scanning the room. The space carries the lively energy of a tavern but with a distinct sense of purpose—this is where adventurers gather.
The guild-folk are scattered around the large room, seated at sturdy tables with their drinks in hand. Their voices overlap in lively conversation, none of them even sparing us a glance. It's as if their camaraderie has absorbed them completely. I notice the diversity among them: mages and warriors, rogues and archers. Some look experienced, exuding confidence and strength. Others seem newer, perhaps younger, their eyes wide with ambition. Yet all of them share an undeniable liveliness.
It's not the kind of atmosphere I imagined when I thought of a fantasy tavern. These people don't have the overly intense or brooding look you'd expect from hardened adventurers. They seem… human. Relaxed, cheerful even. It's a surprising sight, but maybe that's a good thing. Hopefully, I'm right about them.
"Well," Orin says, his voice cutting through the noise as he turns to me. "Here's the guild house. We'll head in, turn in the quest, and then after that, we'll make our way to the inn to feast for ourselves." His expression is calm but serious, his tone practical. "I'd love to splurge on staying here at the guild house for a night, but we'd need to save a bit more for that. So, for now, let's celebrate the day just for us. And…" He pauses, glancing at me briefly with a small, reassuring nod. "This way, Kaito can have some time to get to know us. We can introduce him to the others once he feels comfortable with it."
His words carry a sense of understanding, making it clear he's giving me time to settle into this unfamiliar world of adventurers.
Without giving me a chance to respond, he turns and strides into the tavern, making his way toward the desk. A young woman, no older than 18 or 19, catches my eye as she serves a drink to a man at the bar. Her bright smile radiates warmth, and her long brown hair cascades over her shoulders, reaching down to her waist. She wears a simple white fabric that drapes gracefully over her slender shoulders, falling gently just above the hem of her soft, delicate chest. The fabric flows down from her bust, tracing the curve of her stomach before it's tucked beneath a belt. Her mint-green skirt then sweeps downward over her smaller curves, reaching just below her thighs with a light, fluid movement.
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"Hi there, Leona. We're here to turn in our quest," Orin says, laying his elbows on the desk as he starts talking.
"Hey, Orin! Glad to see you. Was it the advanced quest, the one where you had to kill a monster near the village?" Leona responds, her voice soft and calm, carrying a lighthearted tone. She looks down briefly, then reaches beneath the desk, pulling out a wooden board and sliding it across the surface for Orin to see.
"Yeah, that one… wait," Orin says, reaching into his pocket. "Here," he continues, placing a large tooth—about the size of his hand—on the desk as proof of the beast's defeat.
"I see… a Vuraskal, huh? They aren't typically found around here. Could this be a sign that winter is coming closer?" Leona says thoughtfully, picking up the tooth and placing it out of sight beneath the desk. She then grabs a small bag and slides it across the counter toward Orin. "Well, here you go."
"Yeah, maybe…" Orin replies, his tone casual, as if this kind of occurrence was common. "We should keep an eye out for more. If it's a sign of winter, they'll be moving down from the north soon enough."
"Thanks again, Leona," Orin adds, preparing to leave for the inn.
"No, thank you," she replies with a soft smile. "You and your party are the ones out there working to protect our village, so thank you."
Orin takes the bag and glances around the room before heading toward the door. Leona watches him, then asks, "By the way, who's this? A new member? I don't think I've seen him before, and that black hair of his is hard to miss around here." She chuckles softly, scanning the guild house where no one else has dark hair like his.
"Yes, he's our newest member. I hope you'll get to know each other soon," Orin says, giving me a warm look.
"I see," Leona replies with a friendly smile, turning to me. "So, new guy, what's your name, if I may ask?" Her voice is warm and inviting, and I can't help but feel a sense of comfort from it.
"Oh. My name is Kaito Nakamura, I'm glad to meet you, Leona," I say, giving a slight bow out of reflex. I did it again...
"Wow, so polite," she giggles, a small amusement in her voice. "I'm glad to meet you too, Kaito. I don't have a surname, so just Leona is fine."
"Leona! Come on, come over to the inn and join our feast! We need a sexy lady like you there. Pretty please," Ronan interrupts with his usual boisterous charm.
"Sorry, I'd love to, but I can't. I've got work to do here," she replies, brushing off his words with a warm smile. "I'll join you guys when you come feasting here, okay?"
"Ahhhhh… alright… well, see ya, Leona!" he concedes with a mock pout, retreating toward the exit in defeat.
"See you, Ronan," she responds with a cheerful wave goodbye.
"Alright, we'll get going then. See you later," Orin says, turning toward the door. The rest of us follow close behind, leaving the tavern and its lively warmth behind.
Wait… why does it feel like… I don't know, like someone—or something—is watching me?