Chapter 8 – First Time at the Adventurer Guild
Chapter 8 – First Time at the Adventurer Guild
Wow, wow, wow.
The town is packed with shops—nothing like back in the village!
So many people… it’s making my head spin.
“Not too cold? We’ll all grab a meal later, so hold off on the street food.”
Heart chuckles at me, my eyes glued to the skewer stall.
Ugh.
I want some hearty, flavorful, piping-hot meat…
“Where are you headed?”
“The Adventurer Guild. Everyone else went on ahead.”
We’d been told to take it slow and do a little sightseeing on the way.
He even bought me a bunch of warm coats and winter clothes along the route.
Come to think of it, I never packed any winter outfit changes.
Lately, I’d just been bundling up in blankets whenever it got chilly.
The shopkeeper said I looked just like my dad, which startled me.
Just like?
They peeled off my blanket cocoon right there and made me change on the spot.
That said… Heart’s a total heartthrob.
Girls everywhere turning their heads.
We’ve got the same aqua-green eyes and beige hair—maybe they think I’m his daughter.
That’s when it hit me, and I clapped my hands together.
“Hm? What is it?”
“No, just… Heart and I have matching eye and hair colors, right? So we look like parent and child. That’s why Gain assigned you as my bodyguard, huh?”
“Exactly. This town’s got decent security compared to most, but kid kidnappings are still rampant. No one would dare mess with an S-rank adventurer and their kid.”
“I see.”
So that whole “dad lookalike” thing from earlier…
Who knew musclehead Gain had thought it through that far? As expected of an S-rank leader.
Whoa… so this is a real Adventurer Guild!
Nothing like that makeshift one at the village hall.
The moment we stepped inside, everyone’s eyes were on us—probably ’cause bringing a kid along is so rare.
“You’re okay.”
I’d been gripping his hand tight without realizing it. He reassures me with a gentle pat while scooping me up into a hug.
This is the same guy who turns into a demonic sadist during training…
Oblivious to my terribly rude thoughts, Heart strides right into the middle of the room.
“Hey, that kid your daughter?”
“Yeah.”
A sultry older lady calls out to us, and my heart skips a beat.
“New face, huh, handsome? You solo?”
“Nah. My party’s already here somewhere…”
A rugged guy flashes me a grin, and I fidget nervously.
“Oi! Heart! Over here!”
Sid’s voice!
Hearing that familiar tone washes away my tension completely.
Even Heart would be in a bind if a fight broke out while carrying a kid.
Suddenly, the crowd parts for us.
“S-rank at that age?” “Black Dragon’s got a pretty boy quota now?” “S-rank with a kid? No way.”
All I can hear amid the murmurs is jealousy aimed at the young and handsome.
Heart’s got it rough.
I can’t help shooting him a sympathetic look.
S-ranks are rare to begin with, so of course they draw eyes.
Having people like that as long-term guards… how much did Dad shell out, I wonder?
Maybe I was being looked after more than I realized.
Time to reflect on how my biases had warped my view.
“Looks like the appraisal’s gonna take a bit longer.”
The others are lounging in chairs up ahead.
I must’ve looked relieved, ’cause Gain smirks and teases, “Scared, huh?”
Hmph. Ignore, ignore.
I line up the bags of my new winter clothes on the guild counter, and everyone showers them with praise.
Nooo, that’s embarrassing…
“This one’s perfect for you, little miss. Looks warm too.”
“The one you’re wearing suits you great.”
“Nice pick on that coat. Heart’s eye for fashion?”
“Kids grow fast, so I went for bigger sizes. The shopkeeper…”
My winter haul gets rave reviews.
Heart smiles bashfully.
I’ll keep quiet about how the shopkeeper fully bought the parent act and gave him a bunch of parenting tips.
“Man, I’m starving though.”
“I want meat.”
“Spot anything good?”
“Yeah, right by that butcher shop Marie was drooling over—there’s a perfect place nearby.”
“Hey!”
He settles slowly into an empty chair with me still in his arms and drops that bombshell.
I wasn’t drooling or anything.
With all the other adventurers listening in, I bury my face in Heart’s chest from the shame.
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thanks for the chapter