CHAPTER 279: A WORLD OF CHOICES ( 279 )

A moment of silence passed as they walked the road.

No jokes, no sarcasm.

Just that cold, honest wind brushing past them—like the truth had weight.

"...Ellyn wouldn’t do that." Hazuki said softly.

"Huh? Of course she can’t! Pinky promise, remember?" Ridan replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yeah." Hazuki nodded. His hand subconsciously brushed over the ring on his finger.

Ridan added with a smug grin,

"Not to mention she picked you—the ugly human."

"Oi! That’s harsh! I’m average! Not ugly!"

"Average where? In the land of potatoes maybe." Ridan snickered.

"Seriously, you think the Ellyn back then—adult Ellyn—would’ve chosen you if not for the pinky promise?"

"Huh?... she chose me, didn’t she?"

"Miracle of miracles." Ridan floated in slow circles.

"You know who goes to brothels in this world? Single men. You know why? Because marriage here ain’t strict like your old world. You can marry more than one, as long as you can be fair."

Hazuki raised an eyebrow.

"Fair? Like how? Time split? Schedule rotation? Tuesday-Thursday girl, weekend wife?"

"Exactly." Ridan grinned.

"But you? Pfft. You’re already a slave to one. And that one’s a little catgirl."

"Yeah yeah... but that little catgirl’s gonna be my wife someday."

Hazuki said it with a faint smirk—but also a bit of pride.

Ridan glanced at him.

Then nodded.

"Damn right she is."

Ridan floated lazily, arms behind his head.

"And don’t think most of those single guys want to be single."

He glanced sideways.

"There’s all kinds of races here—human, elf, beastkin, dwarven, halfling, merfolk, centaur..."

He paused.

"...Well. Err. Depends on their taste."

Hazuki looked at him sideways.

"You seriously naming centaur like that’s a normal choice?"

Ridan shrugged.

"Hey, I’m not here to judge. You should’ve seen the guy from two kingdoms west. Fell in love with a talking slime. Built her a house. Best honeymoon story I’ve ever heard."

"...Slime."

"Yep. Sentient slime. Had a personality and everything. Bouncy, too."

Hazuki rubbed his face.

"This world’s getting weirder the more you talk."

"Nah, it’s just got more options. Everyone’s got their... preference."

Ridan smirked.

"You? You’re all in on catgirls."

"No shame. Catgirls are the peak." Hazuki declared proudly.

"Ellyn’s already top tier. I’m not looking anywhere else."

"Heh... loyal to a fault, huh?"

Hazuki just smiled faintly.

After arriving at the gate, Hazuki handed over his adventurer card without a word.

The dwarf guard gave a short glance, nodded, and waved him through.

"Welcome back, lad. Try not to pass out in the middle of the street again."

Hazuki scratched his cheek awkwardly. "No promises."

He walked slowly into the town, hands in his pockets, the leather bag with the captured Kruko still bouncing slightly at his side.

The streets were starting to get lively again.

Dwarves were already seated outside taverns and stalls, raising mugs and laughing loudly.

Some clinked their glasses together with pride.

Others were slurring half-sung drinking songs.

A few were sitting calmly with their wives, sharing meat platters and chatting softly under the lantern light.

"OW OW OW WOMAN I’M SORRY I SWEAR—"

A burly dwarf was being dragged by the ear across the road by a much smaller but terrifyingly angry wife.

Hazuki watched with a deadpan stare.

"...Damn. That’s familiar energy."

"You mean future energy," Ridan whispered with a smirk, floating next to his shoulder.

"Once Ellyn becomes your wife, just wait. You’ll get the double-ear grip."

"I’m gonna enjoy my freedom while it lasts, thanks."

Hazuki slowed his steps, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he watched the scene unfold.

Down the street, one beautiful, slender dwarven girl—long braids swaying—was dragging her burly husband by the wrist.

He stumbled slightly, clearly drunk, yet his words slurred with affection.

"Ah swear, yer the glow o’ me forge, lass... best treasure I ever found!" he mumbled, leaning his weight against her.

"Ach, shut it, ya drunk fool. Yer breath smell like burnt ale."

But even as she scolded, her cheeks were red—and she clung to his arm tighter.

Another dwarf girl, shorter and round-faced, had both hands around her husband’s neck—dragging him home like a sack of potatoes.

"Come on, ya idiot! Can’t leave ya with yer buddies or I’ll find ye under the table again!"

"But love! The moon’s out, an’ so are yer eyes~"

"W-Watch yer tongue!" she stuttered, visibly flustered.

Hazuki chuckled softly.

"Hah... these guys really live it up."

"Yeah. No need to hide what they feel. Just drink, shout, and go home with their girl." Ridan said, watching alongside him.

Hazuki’s smile faded into something more thoughtful.

"...Kinda nice, isn’t it?"

"What, getting dragged home by a wife with strong arms and stronger words?"

"Yeah. That too." Hazuki shrugged, still smiling.

Once Hazuki stepped into the adventurer guild, he was greeted by the usual warm light and the clatter of mugs and quest chatter.

He walked up to the counter and placed the leather side bag gently on it.

It squirmed faintly inside.

"Here. Two Kruko—still alive."

The dwarf receptionist blinked in surprise.

She peeked inside the bag, eyes widening at the sight of the squirming creatures.

"Well I’ll be... you actually caught ’em."

Hazuki raised an eyebrow. "What, you didn’t think I could?"

"No, lad, it’s not that—" she chuckled, "It’s just... you came in here like you were gonna ask for a breakfast menu. Then suddenly you took that quest, and the herb gathering one too. I was like... what?"

She mimicked a stunned face.

"Kruko catchin’ and legendary herb collecting? Back-to-back? What kinda drink did you have?"

"I was bored, alright? And someone—" Hazuki shot a glare at Ridan, floating nearby, "—possessed me into taking one of them."

"Heh. Sounds like adventure to me."

The dwarf tapped the crystal orb to verify the completion, and the guild crest glowed in response.

She handed over a small pouch of reward coins.

"Job well done. Here’s your pay for the Kruko quest."

Hazuki pocketed it casually.

"Oh yeah—about the herb quest. Does it have a deadline or time limit?"

The receptionist paused.

Then gave him a look.

"Lad... it’s a special request. From a high-priority source. These types are ongoing, but the sooner the better. The requester didn’t set a hard deadline, but you know what that usually means."

Hazuki nodded.

"Understood. Got it."

"Also, just a heads-up... folks who take quests like that usually have a party. Or a death wish." She gave a half-laugh.

Ridan smirked.

"We’ve got both."

Hazuki sighed.

"Don’t jinx it."

( End Of Chapter )