Adrest was happy to see the achievements recorded for their team, they were one step closer to ranking up in the guild. While it wasn’t what decided their livelihood like most adventurers, it would still be very useful later for all sorts of things. Whether that be passports for various countries, extra gold for high-level quests, or protection. All were offered here if you were worth it.

While Adrest didn’t necessarily fear other nations as long as he had the little dragon clan princess by his side, she couldn’t stay with him forever, as much as he hoped. Alissa was a free spirit with grand ambitions, she also had her own troubles and responsibilities.

This is why Alissa suggested joining the guild, as long as she could get the two to a high enough rank, the guild would go out of their way to offer protection. From keeping an ear out for rumors in the underworld of society, to specifically vetting quests they accept, the guild was happy to help as long as they continued to clear high difficulty quests.

At the end of the day, it was a simple relationship of give and take, the guild didn’t have enough adventurers that could takes on quests from B rank up, there was a constant demand in this wild monster infested continent, but almost no supply of parties actually able to clear them. So it has quickly become known to every high ranking official in every place the guild operated that once a party proved themselves at the B rank, it was a horrible idea to openly plot against them. Worst case would be the guild blacklisting an entire county, Alissa has told her that it had actually happened in the past, and cost the nations army millions in Trevil to fill their place.

While Adrest was distractedly off on his own train of thought, Alissa thanked the man and they went on their way to the Inn where they’d made plans to eat with Rin. There was nothing too interesting along the way, so it was only a brisk 10 minute walk before in the cold before they were back inside and Belle ran over to the large fire, only waving at Rose in greeting.

Adrest and Alissa however felt fine so they sat down to say their hellos and relax a little before changing for dinner.

Right now the three were wearing thick parkas lined with beast fur, and were soaked just from the few hours they'd been used. Taking care to not wet the table, they gladly accepted the mulled wine Rose had been keeping warm behind the bar, and after their first sip, Adrest and Alissa felt revitalized.

“Keep treating us like this Rose, and we won’t know what to do without you. Has Rin made it back yet? Its around the time she told us.”

Rose was exceptionally happy with the compliment, but showed a little worry at the question Adrest finished with.

“No, not yet. And I heard there’s a huge wyvern loose nearby, I hope she’s okay out there.” Rose had a worried look to her eyes, but Alissa spoke up with comforting words.

“Don’t worry, she might not look it, but Rin is a hero after all. A little snow and an overgrown lizard aren’t anything she needs to worry about.”

Alissa and Adrest were curious where the girl had gone, but as Alissa said there really wasn’t a reason to worry. The drake would’ve been a messy fight since Rin would’ve been expecting a wyvern, but Alissa earlier said that she could kill it in an hour or so, or at least that was what her instincts were telling her. So, with assumedly the only A rank in the area, excluding a moody dragon, gone Rin should be back any minute now.

The pair finished the drinks before dragging their rabbit into the baths to clean up and properly dry off, much to the comfortable girl’s protest.

Rose felt better after watching the family comedy play out and she watched them walk off. Too quickly the bar was empty and seemed colder to Rose. She had always hated this part of the year. Growing up, when the town was still developing, it meant their family would have to cut back on about everything as there were no savings left after moving here, and it was common to go two months without a customer.

It was better now that the rest of the country had realized how many materials came through the outpost, and Rose had learned from a lean youth to save as much as she could. Even now that the town was much bigger, there were a scant 6 people staying at the Home and Hearth, and three of them had just walked off to the bath.

Not wanting to think about her childhood anymore, Rose sat up and went to the back, with so few people Rose made diners herself. She was soon humming through the wide and surprisingly clean kitchen, she wouldn’t start dinner until Rin was back, but a little appetizer should be fine, right?

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As the fiery red hair whipped around the kitchen, tied back in a simple ponytail. Adrest and Alissa were sitting outside the changing room, waiting for Belle, Alissa told her to take her time and completely warm up.

“By the way, do you know what’s causing the beasts to move so far from their usual spots?”

Alissa nodded smiling, “I was waiting for my oldest student to ask. It’s going to be interesting around here for the next few weeks. Rin is really lucky we showed up when we did and that she’s such a nice girl.”

She was obviously baiting Adrest, and as much as he loathe to admit it, he was firmly hooked.

“Would the kind, smart, and beautiful Alissa Covenscar be so kind as to enlighten your student?” Adrest knew by now how to get his way.

Alissa who was indeed fishing for compliments still blushed when Adrest used her full name, it was the first time he’d said it and thinking back she found it amazing he remembered it at all.

“We…well, I guess I can slowly explain it to you since we haven’t covered it in class yet. When a new overlord of an area is in the process of being born, beasts nearby instinctively sense it and gather to defend it, an offer obeisance.”

Adrest blanched at what the dragon had just said, and interrupted the impromptu lesson “An S rank? So close to the border?”

You had to keep in mind, beasts and monsters naturally tried to go closer to the northern edge of the forest, Where the real nation of beasts hid. Alissa had told him that on the northern border, near the nations dragons ruled, there was a city state made from the beast clans with the best bloodlines.

If they were strong or intelligent enough, the strays would be allowed entrance into the city, and could even be adopted into a family to learn their techniques and earn their backing. It made no sense for what had once been an A rank to hide in a mountain where the highest rank was usually the rare C.

Alissa, in her teaching mode, sent Adrest a withering glare before continuing, “Whatever is breaking through is smart, it's hiding somewhere deep in the mountain and using the entire range to disperse their excess energy, masking their presence. It’s nearly impossible for a human to sense it, maybe demi-humans can if their ancestral blood is strong enough, but they wouldn’t know what it means other than an overwhelming reverence and anxiety echoing nonstop in their mind.”

Waiting to make sure she was finished, Adrest asked, “Do you have any idea what kind of monster it is? Will we be okay? I know you’ve said before you could probably kill an S rank, but this is serious Alissa.”

Alissa was happy to answer, if only to express her greatness, “I have no idea other than it’s good with earth magic. As for if I can kill it, definitely. It’s been a while since I bragged like that Ady. Now I have a few new tricks up my sleeve. And don’t forget, this is a newly ascended S rank, it’ll have the power but not the control.”

Adrest was relieved seeing the completely confidence in her sparkling purple eyes. But he had one last question, “What happens if Rin tries to fight that thing? She’s a hero after all, it wouldn’t be weird for her to run right for that thing the second it comes outside.”

"That depends a lot on Rin and the monster. I can’t imagine she’ll be able to handle it if it’s any of the ones I have in my head, so I’ll let her have some fun then give her a hand. The only issue is dragons and demons aren’t viewed kindly by most of the churches through humans, and to play with an S rank I’ll have to be serious.”

Adrest didn’t like the sound of that, knowing Rin’s origins. But they could only cross that bridge when they got to it, and the girl that would be in the middle of it seemed more excited than concerned.

Confirming his thoughts she lost the professional teacher persona and she grabbed Adrest’s arm with both her own.

“Just think of how much fun it’ll be Ady! I haven’t been able to stretch properly for ages. A genuine overlord on one side, and a righteous, dazzling hero on the other. I’ll be able to brag about it for centuries.”

Alissa’s eyes grew a bit sad adding, “I just hope Rin doesn’t hate us, I don’t have many friends, and she’s such a good girl.”

Adrest gave the moping dragon a tight hug, getting a yelp in exchange. “Don’t worry, Rin likes us and I’m sure she’ll remember that if the time comes.”

Getting a glare in return for the sneak attack, Adrest clapped her on the shoulder with a goofy grin, ‘Besides, if she doesn’t listen to reason, you can always beat it into her and take your time talking later, right?”

Alissa giggled like he’d just told a joke and nodded, “Right!”

What neither of them realized through this entire conversation was that Adrest was slowly taking on more and more of a dragon’s sensibilities. But he is a demon after all, so maybe they just have an affinity for each other’s thoughts.

They had only just finished their talk before a flushed and still damp Belle came out, now in a long-sleeved green shirt Adrest had bought her the previous day. It was made from a special material found in the South that was known for its insulating properties, while there were no decorations or frills, it would keep the little rabbit cozy as long as she wasn’t standing outside in the cold for hours.

She was also wearing a pair of white pants Alissa picked out that were fashionable with a wildflower design in a shimmering silver running down one leg. As she approached, Adrest couldn’t help but stare at the girl he couldn’t recognize when thinking back to when they’d first brought her back to the Inn. He’d not really noticed until now because they had been sucked into routine alone in their forest getaway, but Belle had sprouted at least 3 inches since they’d found her, her head now up to nearly his chest. What’s more, her body was no longer unhealthily thin and weak, she looked like a teenager in the prime of her youth.