CHAPTER 79: FROM ESCORT TO GUILDHALL

Chapter: 78 From Escort to Guildhall

The stone-paved road at the gates was still buzzing with activity as merchants, travelers, and soldiers moved in and out of the city. The cool breeze carried the faint smell of roasted chestnuts from a nearby stall, mingling with the dust of horse hooves.

Darian adjusted his cloak, his merchant’s badge glinting faintly under the evening sun. He looked at Ethan with a wry smile.

"So... I suppose your next stop will be the Adventurer’s Guild, yes?"

Ethan gave a small nod, his expression calm but sharp. "Naturally. I need to report in."

"Good, good..." Darian said, then reached into the satchel slung at his side. He pulled out a folded slip, pressed with wax, and stamped it with his family seal. The sharp thunk of the stamp echoed faintly as he handed it over. "Here. The official proof of mission completion. With this, there’ll be no disputes at the guild."

Ethan accepted it without hesitation, sliding it into his pouch.

But then Darian hesitated for a heartbeat. His hand returned to the satchel, this time retrieving a small bronze token engraved with the crest of a kettle surrounded by flames—House Kettlemore’s mark. He offered it to Ethan, his tone turning more deliberate.

"One more thing. This is the Kettlemore family’s house token. Instead of dragging your spoils to sell piece by piece in the market, why not let me handle it? Take this token and come to our estate in the inner district. You’ll get your payment in full. I give you my word—our house doesn’t scam adventurers. Reputation is coin in itself."

Ethan studied the token, his fingers brushing over the cold metal grooves. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm. That does save us the trouble of hauling everything across the city." He glanced at Darian, weighing his sincerity. "Very well. We’ll come. Within a week, perhaps."

Darian’s face lit with relief. "That’s perfect timing. My family will be moving to another city soon—rumors of a beast tide are stirring, and I’d rather not gamble with safety. We depart in a week’s time, so if you come before then, you’ll find us. You’re welcome at our gates."

Ethan pocketed the token, his tone steady. "Then it’s settled. We’ll see each other again before you depart."

Darian gave a courteous bow, the formal grace of a merchant who had dealt with countless nobles and warriors alike. "Until then, my friend. May fortune follow your path."

Ethan smirked faintly, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "Take care of your own as well, Darian. The road ahead isn’t forgiving."

With that, their paths diverged. Darian and his men blended into the flow of the city, their merchant wagons creaking down the wide street. Ethan stood for a moment, watching them go, before turning toward the bustling heart of the city where the Adventurer’s Guild awaited.

The crowd thinned as Ethan and Lireal turned down a quieter street. The sun dipped lower, throwing long shadows across the cobblestones.

Ethan slipped his hands behind his head, strolling with an easy smile. "So, how much do you think we’ll rake in today?"

Lireal counted on her fingers, her expression unusually serious. "Hmm... with all the mana crystals and proof of subjugation, I’d say eight to ten gold. Add the monster materials... that’s at least fourteen. Then the escort fee, two gold." Her eyes widened slightly as she murmured, almost to herself, "Sixteen gold in total... I never thought I’d see that much from a single mission. And most of it’s from the hunt, not the escort itself."

Ethan chuckled, voice carrying a hint of pride. "Heh... just you wait. This is only the beginning. My CEO aura shines everywhere."

Lireal blinked, tilting her head in confusion. "CEO aura? Is that like... sword aura? Or some strange mana technique?"

Ethan’s smile froze. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck. "Ahem—forget that. Wrong... terminology." He waved it off quickly, eager to change the subject. "Anyway! That reminds me—I should send them back."

His eyes flicked to the four armored soldiers silently trailing behind them. Their movements were crisp, but now unnecessary in the bustling city streets.

He let out a low hum, almost satisfied. "This trip was worth it. Numbers Two, Three, and Four have all reached level thirteen—one’s even brushing against fourteen. Progress is good."

Lireal folded her arms, clicking her tongue. "Tsk. I’ll never understand why you insist on calling them by numbers. They’re people, not ledger entries."

Ethan smirked. "It’s called efficiency. Easier to manage. You’ll thank me when I have a hundred under my command."

She rolled her eyes, muttering, "I’ll still call it heartless."

They slipped into a narrow alleyway where shadows pooled against the stone walls. With a wave of Ethan’s hand and a shimmer of faint golden light, the four soldiers dissolved into motes of mana, vanishing one after the other. The air crackled faintly as the last one disappeared, leaving only the two of them standing in silence.

Lireal brushed back a strand of hair and exhaled. "Better. Now we don’t stand out as much."

Ethan glanced toward the central district where the guild’s spire-like building pierced the skyline. Warm light spilled from its windows, and the faint sounds of laughter, shouting, and clinking mugs drifted even from here.

"Come on," he said, a confident grin forming. "Let’s see how much gold sixteen really looks like in person."

And with that, they set off toward the Adventurer’s Guild.

The Adventurer’s Guild in this city was nothing like the squat, plain lodge they’d seen back in the border village.

Here, the building rose high above the nearby shops, its façade a fusion of artistry and intimidation. Wide marble steps led up to a pair of colossal oak doors banded with iron, polished until they gleamed in the torchlight. Etched into the archway above was the guild’s crest—two crossed swords wrapped by a serpent, encased in a wreath of laurels. Colored glass windows stretched across the second and third floors, catching the late evening glow and scattering it into shifting patterns of gold and crimson on the street below. Stone gargoyles perched along the roofline, their wings outstretched as if to ward off evil.

Compared to the modest wooden hall of the border village, this was a cathedral to adventurers.

Ethan smirked faintly, tilting his head back to take it all in. "If the branch in a border city looks like this... I can only imagine how ridiculous the guild must be in the capital. Probably has towers scratching the heavens."

Lireal adjusted her hooded cloak more tightly around her shoulders. Beneath it, her once-pristine maid uniform was smeared with dried blood and grime. She kept her face lowered, cheeks flushed, her thoughts trembling through their link.

"My dress... ruined... one of my best dresses... ruined by gore. Do you even know how expensive this was...?"

Her telepathic sobbing made Ethan grin from ear to ear. "ohh? Best dress you say?" He chuckled "That’s why I bought four sets, silly. And now that we’re in a real city, I’ll buy even more. Relax—we’ve got funds to spare."

Her ears visibly perked beneath the hood, and then she snapped her head toward him, her voice sharp in his mind. "No! Never! I won’t allow you to waste money again! I’m keeping all the gold this time. No—every time. You can’t be trusted."

Ethan chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "What are you even talking about? I was a CEO—very rich, very responsible. Honestly, I lived a modest life if you ask me."

Lireal’s scoff was loud enough that a passing adventurer turned to glance their way. "Modest? Right. Let me guess—your ’modest life’ involved throwing parties, buying unnecessary luxuries, and living in some absurdly large mansion."

Ethan faltered. For a heartbeat, his mind wandered to his carefully guarded shelf back home—lined with limited-edition anime figurines. His smile twitched. He shook his head vigorously.

"N-no! Absolute false accusation. I did no such thing."

Lireal’s dry tone dripped with disbelief. "Mmhm. Of course you didn’t."

Their banter continued all the way up the marble steps, through the heavy doors, and into the cavernous guild hall.

Inside, golden chandeliers bathed the space in warm light. Long rows of tables were filled with armored adventurers boasting loudly over drinks, mission boards stretched along the walls with papers fluttering from recent postings, and the scent of ink, steel, and alcohol hung thick in the air.

Ethan and Lireal wove through the crowd until they reached the reception desk at the far end, the polished counter lined with clerks diligently sorting paperwork.

It was only when they stood there, Lireal still muttering indignantly about money management in her head, that Ethan leaned against the counter with a grin and said, "Alright then. Let’s cash in."