“My, my name is Lander! S-soon, I will become an S-ranked adventurer!” It was a sudden declaration. And Darwyn has no idea how to answer it.

Why did he say it? What was the point? “I see.” He grunted before pivoting and walk into the field of snow.

“Ah eh...!” Perhaps he didn't expect Darwyn's reaction, Lander panicked. His hand flinging around, his eyes swimming. He was then called by his female companion.

“There you go again, you don't need to declare that to everyone.” Slowly raising up to her feet, she gave him a small tap on the back.

“S-sorry...” Lander bashfully said. Raka was watching all of this, fully amused as to what was happening. He let out a nyaa deep in his throat before approaching the two. “Younglings should dream big! It's been 200 hundred years since an S-ranked adventurer appeared, we could use it today especially now that the demon lord came back!” Raka exclaimed exaggeratedly.

“Now, let us follow Paladin,”

He added.

Darwyn, who was already working his way back on the road of civilization, pondered the words of the young adventurer. S-ranked adventurer. It was the title that even he dreamed of. Every child had heard of this. An evil dragon came to attack the castle of the royals, then a man appeared, killing the dragon single-handedly, and it was he who becomes the first S-ranked adventurer.

That man was the pinnacle of what mortals could be, the beacon of hope to everyone and anyone who was close to him. A simple fairy tale, yes, but for Darwyn, it was the reason why he had become an adventurer in the first place.

But it's impossible for me. The first time he ranked up, it was a joyful moment. Then again, and again and again. He thought that maybe, just maybe, it will be him who will become the first S-ranked of this century. But the path was proven to be harsh, even for him.

Reaching A-rank, he realized something. The gap of each rank, the distance between S-rank and A-rank, it was like heaven and earth. This caused something to him, he thought of giving up, and eventually, he did.

The high walls of the city came into view to the party, the line of carriages was still there. The sun was passed its zenith, but the evening was still far away. Through his visor, everything was calm, and this peacefulness was what he was fighting for.

He knew of how humans are struggling to survive against the monster, against the world, against itself. Sure, there are evil ones who would kill innocent without hesitation, but there were also the kind ones who would not think twice to save someone just because.

The face of Sinthia, her mother, ran across his mind. As long as there are people like her, then I wouldn't mind fighting forever. It will also gladden the heart of his goddess who was guiding him.

Entering his ear was the cacophony of travelers and merchants. Behind him were the two tired adventurers with the tired look. He needed to report what happened. And to take another quest. Yes, one that has a higher reward.

Darwyn strode without grace to the crowd inside the city. The day was still long, there were still many things that had to be done. He will not rest, he couldn't afford to. With that in mind, Darwyn entered the Guild.

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***

The room was definitely warmer than outside. She sat on the bed, though it was not soft, it was still better than the ones that she had used during travels.

Liliana exhaled before resting her tired body to the bed, her still developing chest expanded and contracted with each breath as she was staring at the wooden ceiling of the lodging.

“I wonder where's Darwyn?” She muttered, then shot a glance to the monk who was standing near her. Shen crossed her arms, caressing her red lips repeatedly. “I don't know, but I don't think that you have to worry about that guy.”

“You may be right but...” I'm still worried. Just the thought of it made her red. The fatigue in her body was blown away, she twisted her body and buried her face in the sheets. Her legs raised up and down repeatedly.

“What's happening to you?” Shen's long ear gave a twitch. It's just Liliana acting weird, nothing to worry about it. Her footstep was almost none existence as she walked through the floor. The refine movement of Shen reached the windows of the room.

Peeking into it, the crowd came into view. She had never seen this many people all at once. Shen could see the singing of the bards, the shouting of the merchants. Colorful fabrics were hung as the passerby glanced at it.

“Shall we visit the store, Liliana?”

Liliana's red face rose up with a sour expression. The thought that she had earlier still affected her. “Yeah, doing nothing is bad for my mental health.”

She was aware that she has some kind of romantic feelings for Darwyn, and she was not denying it. But having feelings for that kind of guy... It will not surprise her if Darwyn became a priest or something like that.

She sighed before dragging her body upwards, sluggishly walking with her feet. Not good. She shook her head, then slapped her cheeks lightly as if to encourage herself. “Come on Shen!”

“Yes yes.” Shen chuckled. They exited the room and went down from the stairs, leaving the tavern behind and stepping in the ancient pavement of the city.

“This place is really big!” Liliana exclaimed. Shen glanced at her, then observed the flow of the crowd. “Don't go too far from me Liliana.”

“I know I know.” The wizard replied with a smug smile. She might look like this, but she was used in crowded people. In her past life, she has seen places more crowded than this one. But Shen didn't know any of that, as to why she grabbed the soft hand of Liliana.

“Ah!” Liliana didn't expect something like this to happen. “Y-yuri!? N-no Shen! I don't swing that way!”

“You rei? What are you saying, Liliana?”

“N-nothing!” She hid her blushing face with her hat as she looked down. There was no way she could tell that Yuri means lesbian love to someone pure as Shen. These dirty thoughts! It's all your fault Darwyn! She did her usual frown at the man who was not even here.

The two walked together like they were sisters, the street people were watching them with warm eyes. Stopping at the certain merchant who has herbs and soaps displayed at his stores, Shen asked, “Don't you have the hard soap? Or that shanpoo thing?” Her melodic voice cut through the bustling crowd like a sword, attracting the attention of the passerby.

Though the merchant dwarf that was tending the stores couldn't care less about her majestic appearance. “Hard soap? I don't have those.” Grumpy he might be, his action brings comfort to his costumers.

“Hmm? But I heard that a certain merchant came here to sell hard soap and that shanpoo.” Shen replied, confused, maybe she was deceived by her informant? The answer came from the merchant dwarf who took a bottle of solution, shaking it. “If you buy something then I will tell you about it.”

“Ggrr! Greedy dwarf!”

“Hahahaha! Tell me about it!” Liliana's remark was met with a loud laugh. That kind of insult wouldn't cut even to the dwarf who has the most fragile skin.

Shen calmed Liliana with “Don't worry about it,” before inspecting the line of goods the dwarf has. She can recognize some, can name a few, but there was one thing that caught her eyes.

A stone of strange shape, embedded with runes that she could not read. Her hand solemnly picked up the stone, pinched it between her index finger and thumb as it was reflected in her black pupils.

“This.” She said, then looked at the dwarf in all seriousness. “I want this.”

“Hooo... I didn't expect an elf could see how fine stone is. Fine. Six silver coins.”

“Sure.”

The stone was held up, contrasting the blue sky of the city. Strange, she felt some kind of connection to it. “Cough! Now for the information. Truth to be told, I know that guy who sells that personally.”

He took something from his bag of collection, a small white thing. “This is a sample that he gave me.” It resembled a marble, yet it was smooth and carried a distinct smell to it.

“He only comes here once a month. You have to wait for a long time elf.” He snorted before putting it back to his bag.

Shen listened intently while Liliana was uttering a complaint softly to herself. A customer is always right, does this world don't know that?

“Shen, let's check the other stalls. I bet they sell something that this oversized halfling doesn't.”

“O-oversize halfling!? Don't compare me to a race of slackers ya fool! H-hey come back here!”

Liliana ran while grabbing Shen, she looked back and stuck her tongue out. “I'll never come back old man!” Blee! They merged with the mass, leaving the merchant dwarf fuming.