CHAPTER 51: DILEMMA

"So you two fought against those hundreds of monsters by yourselves?!" Evelyn shouted in disbelief.

"Yup. Me and Alan. Just the two of us," Bob said, folding his arms as his glasses caught the light dramatically. He was beaming with pride, maybe a bit too much.

We were now at the café Maya had recommended. It was located near the city center, and it had a cozy, warm ambiance, surprisingly similar to a modern café from our world. The place had two floors, a long counter lined with round bar stools, and several window-side tables arranged with cushy sofas and wooden railings that doubled as lean-back rests.

I was seated across from Maya, right next to the window. Bob sat beside me. Through the glass, I could see the city rooftops and people walking the cobbled streets below. Honestly, it was the perfect view for enjoying a slice of cake.

Speaking of which, the strawberry cake? Absolutely divine. No wonder Maya ordered two slices for herself. The grape and passion fruit cakes were also delightful. And the coffee... rich, aromatic, and just perfect. I am really starting to love this city.

"And then a light descended from the sky and wiped out all the monsters?" Evelyn gasped, eyes wide in awe as Bob recounted our story, with quite a bit of dramatic flair, of course.

I could not help but smile. Bob definitely exaggerated a few parts to make himself look cooler. But I guess that’s just what guys do sometimes.

"Alan... can I see your new weapon?" Evelyn asked, her eyes practically sparkling with anticipation. Maya also seemed interested, leaning slightly forward.

I hesitated for a moment. Showing my weapon in public didn’t feel like the smartest idea. But then Bob started nudging me with his elbow and giving me that look. Eventually, I gave in.

"...Indra," I whispered.

In a shimmer of blue light, the gunblade materialized in my hand.

"Woooaaah!" Evelyn gasped in amazement. She carefully took the blade and examined it, her fingers tracing the intricate design. Maya leaned closer, eyes sharp and curious.

"Where did you get this weapon?" Maya asked, her gaze fixed on the blade. "It’s incredibly well-designed. I can feel the magic flowing through it just by touching it."

"Err... someone gave it to me," I replied, dodging the truth.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Is that so? And who exactly was it?"

"Some old man... he gave it to us at a cheap price, so we bought it," I added, avoiding eye contact. A bead of sweat rolled down my temple.

"Yes, Alan’s right," Bob jumped in, backing me up. "We spent all our savings on it. That’s why we’re broke now."

He conveniently skipped the part where I gave all our loot money to the people of Lily Town.

Both girls stared at us, clearly unconvinced, as if we’d just committed some kind of crime.

Eventually, Maya handed the blade back to me. "If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. But sooner or later, others will start asking questions about your power."

"What do you mean?" I asked, feigning innocence.

Maya gave me a sharp look. "Do you think we’re stupid? We saw you lying there, dead for several minutes. Then suddenly, you revived. And not just revived...somehow, the useless guy turned into someone strong enough to take down an entire bandit group alone."

That "useless guy" part was a bit harsh.

"Yes... luckily, we haven’t told anyone about it yet," Evelyn said, her eyes fixed on me. "You promised you tell us everything, right?"

I was stuck in a dilemma. How could I possibly tell them the truth? There was no way they believe me.

"Stop pushing him, Eve. I’m sure he has his reasons," Maya interrupted.

Damn it. Why does this feel like I being interrogated for cheating in a relationship, and they’re just waiting to hear who I cheated with?

And look at my dear friend over there, he already abandoned me. Bob was just enjoying his cake like this was none of his business.

I let out a sigh. "Yes... something happened. But I’m really sorry, I can’t tell you more than that." I bowed my head slightly, hoping for a little understanding.

Maya and Evelyn exchanged glances. The tension softened. They must’ve realized they were pushing too hard.

"It’s alright, Alan. We promise we won’t ask about it anymore," Evelyn said with a gentle smile, trying to lift the mood.

"It’s your right not to tell. We’ll respect that," Maya added, casually taking another bite of cake.

I nodded, thanking them both.

We continued chatting for a while. After nearly two hours in the café, we finally stepped outside with full stomachs. True to her word, Maya treated us. Though I couldn’t help but notice a few beads of sweat on her forehead every time Bob ordered yet another dish. She really is a nice girl after all.

"The cart owner mentioned something about a carnival in the city. What is that about?" Bob asked, still chewing on the last piece of cake in his mouth.

We were now strolling toward the central district as Maya and Evelyn wanted to show us around.

"In about a month, there’ll be a Guild Tournament," Evelyn explained. "It was held every five years. A major event to determine which guild is the best in the kingdom. Even guilds from other nations come to participate."

"I see... That sounds interesting. So your guild is joining too?" I asked.

"Yes, our guild is participating," Maya replied, though her voice lacked any excitement.

"Why don’t you sound excited?" Bob asked between bites. "Isn’t it a great chance to test your skills, maybe win the whole thing and become famous?"

Out of nowhere, Maya snapped, "Yes, of course, it’s exciting...if you can actually compete. But if you always come last—"

Before she could finish, Evelyn clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Come what?" I asked, missing the last part.

"She means if you always come to the competition, you have a chance to win and become champion!" Evelyn answered, smiling way too brightly while still holding Maya’s mouth shut.

...That sentence felt a little off.

Maya then pulled Evelyn’s hand away with a glare. Evelyn leaned in and whispered urgently, "Don’t tell them we always come last. They’ll never want to join our guild. Remember, we want their help."

Maya looked at her, clearly unamused, then sighed. "Fine. I won’t tell them."

The girls rejoined us, and we continued walking until we arrived at a large, beautiful building with grand steps leading up to it. The structure gleamed with golden hues, supported by tall pillars at the entrance. A massive set of doors stood proudly at the front, and above them, a symbol of a five-petaled flower was etched into the stone. People bustled in and out, a clear sign of the building’s importance.

Evelyn took a few steps up the staircase, then turned to us with arms wide open.

"Welcome to the Dawnbloom Guild!"

"Your guild looks amazing," Bob said, eyes wide. "This must be the strongest guild in the kingdom! No wonder it was based in the capital. I can’t wait to join and start taking quests!" He practically bounced with excitement.

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, from the looks of it, this guild must have a strong foundation and serious backing."

Maya and Evelyn glanced at each other. Their smiles twitched slightly.

"Err... yes, yes, you’re both absolutely right!" Evelyn said, still smiling a little too brightly. "This guild is... definitely the most majestic of them all!"

Beside her, Maya quietly facepalmed. How long are you going to keep this up? she thought.

"So, can we can register now?" Bob asked, already heading toward the stairs.

Evelyn quickly intercepted him. "Oops...sorry! Not just yet. The initiation ceremony is only held once a month, and the next date hasn’t been announced yet. You’ll have to wait a little while longer, so just relax for now."

"What a bummer," Bob sighed. "In that case, we’ll go find an inn. I’m already sleepy."

"Oh, don’t worry about that! We actually have a contact who rents rooms," Evelyn said, clapping her hands. "Come on, I’ll introduce you to her."

She began leading the way, and I followed alongside her. Maya trailed behind us with a quiet sigh.

---

"Who are Evelyn and Maya with?" a woman asked, her tone curious but laced with mild suspicion.

She had long, wavy orange hair that reached her lower back, sharp black eyes, and long eyebrows. Dressed in tight pants and a crisp white buttoned shirt, she exuded both confidence and command as she walked up the steps toward the guild entrance.

"Not sure. Probably some of their friends," another woman replied, adjusting her glasses. Her hair was neatly parted down the middle and cut just to the neck, jet black like her sharp eyes. She wore a fitted blue jacket over a white blouse, with a matching skirt. In her hand was papers and quill pens.

"Forget about them now, Guildmaster Mirinda. We’re already late for the guild meeting. The other guildmasters are probably waiting."

Mirinda’s eyes narrowed, annoyance flashing across her face. "Ugh. I really don’t want to see those people. Can we skip it, Ida?"

Ida did not even blink. "Absolutely not. You want to be executed by the king? The tournament is being hosted here this year. We’re the organizing guild, remember? You have to be there."

Mirinda groaned, exhaling sharply. "Fine, fine."

The two women entered the guild hall and made their way to the second floor. As they stepped into the meeting room, the heavy wooden door creaked open. Inside, six people were already seated around a grand oval table, each occupying a plush red armchair. One seat empty.

She walked across the room and sat down calmly, but all eyes turned toward her.

"I thought you finally decided to run off, Mirinda," a man’s voice drawled from across the table.

The speaker had fiery red hair and eyes to match, wearing a sleek white swordsman’s uniform. A cocky smirk played on his lips.

Mirinda’s gaze snapped to him, sharp as a blade. "Why would I run, Gabriel?"

"Well, whether you’re in this tournament or not, I doubt it would make much difference to the other guilds," Gabriel added with a smug grin.

The other guildmasters chuckled, some covering their mouths, others shaking their heads in amusement.

Mirinda’s smile vanished. A faint orange aura began to pulse from her body, hot, sharp, and unstable.

"Ohhh... so you do want to do this the hard way," Gabriel’s smirk widened. A crimson aura began to swirl around him, thick with heat and confidence.

The atmosphere in the room shifted. The air grew heavier, like a storm about to erupt. One wrong move, and the meeting room might turn into a battlefield.