First bursts of dawn

                                                                      Lys nodded, her heart pounding. She felt almost out of place in the face of their confidence, like an intruder in a too-perfect picture.

As they reached the entrance to the cemetery, a dense brown fog suddenly enveloped them. The sky clouded over, making the place as dark as a moonless night.

At first, nothing seemed unusual.

"Strange..." Iris murmured.

Elena closed her eyes and activated her detection ability.

Suddenly, her eyes reopened, alert.

"We're surrounded!"

The whole group went on guard.

Tristan drew his longsword, Anne pointed her spear, Iris cast the light spell.

A white light burst from her hands, slightly illuminating the fog around them.

The undead appeared: armed skeletons, ragged zombies, and even a specter crawling on the ground. About twenty of them.

 Lys stood frozen. It was the first time she'd seen such a large number of monsters. Her legs were shaking.

"Stay behind me, Lys!" Tristan shouted.

The others threw themselves into the battle. Elena fired arrow after arrow, Anne sliced through skeletons, Iris summoned small fireballs.

She launched a swirling flame that pulverized two zombies.

But Lys did nothing. Just stood there, protected, useless.

Anne called out between two thrusts of her spear

"Are you going to stay there for long? Are you a priestess or a statue?"

The remark stung. Lys's heart sank. But she forced herself to close her eyes and clasped her hands.

A white aura burst from her.

[Purification - Sacred Magic]

The fog dispersed suddenly, pierced by a divine light. The sun returned.

 The undead creaked, recoiled, and began to collapse, their necrotic energy evaporating in the sunlight.

Tristan took advantage of this:

"Now! Attack!"

The group finished off the survivors easily. Within minutes, calm returned.

Tristan planted his sword in the ground, struck a heroic pose, and declared:

"Honestly, without you, Lys, we wouldn't have had the divine light on our side. You deserve a real thank you!"

Lys blushed a little.

Anne approached, looking embarrassed.

"Look... I'm sorry about earlier. I was too harsh. You did the right thing."

Lys replied with a genuine smile:

"If you hadn't shaken me, I might never have woken up. Thank you."

 She closed her eyes and clasped her hands.

[Sacred Light]

A soft wave of light enveloped all the members of the group, healing cuts and scratches.

Everyone looked at her, impressed.

"Welcome to the group, Lys," Iris said with a smile.

They then made their way back to the guild, chatting happily.

At the guild, Lys handed over the quest form, her hands still slightly trembling. Eris gave her a warm smile.

"Congratulations, Lys. Your participation raises you to Rank F."

Lys felt a slight shiver of emotion run down her spine and asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper,

"Is Kyle back?"

Eris looked confused, frowning slightly.

"No... Yet he left long before you."

Tristan, leaning against the counter, raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued.

"Kyle?" 

"He's the second adventurer to be admitted. We live at the same inn. He's... very talented." He rose in rank solo on the first day, Lys explained, a hint of admiration in her voice.

Tristan crossed his arms, staring at Lys.

"Hm. Interesting. Are you close?"

"That's not it," Lys replied, a little embarrassed, biting her lip. "But he is... very remarkable."

Tristan turned to Eris, her tone serious but curious.

"Which quests did he choose?"

"Two missions: goblin extermination... and wolves."

Tristan blinked in surprise.

"Two? Solo?"

Eris nodded, her expression slightly worried.

Lys suddenly paled, feeling a lump form in her throat.

 "It's dangerous... He must be in trouble..."

Tristan straightened, his gaze hard and determined.

"We're going to go get him. If he's your friend, we have no choice."

And that's when the guild door burst open.

Everyone turned around.

Kyle entered.

His clothes were in tatters, his shoulder was bleeding slightly, his sword scratched. His expression? Impassive.

He walked straight up to Eris, placed a hand on the counter, and said in a bored, sarcastic tone,

"Mission accomplished."

Eris was speechless. The rest of the guild did too.

Tristan stared at him, impressed. Kyle ignored him completely, turned to Lys, and smiled at her.

"So, how was it on your end?" »

But before she could answer, he raised his hand.

"Wait, we'll talk about this again at the inn with Rose."

He walked towards the exit, calmly... as if he hadn't been on the brink of death five hours earlier.

After leaving the guild to the surprised and worried gazes of Kyle, he dragged his feet along the cobblestone streets, his tired body threatening to give way at any moment. Pain pulsed through his muscles, his clothes were torn, covered in dirt, dried blood, and ash. Yet, as usual, he showed nothing. He maintained his nonchalant facade, his characteristic detached attitude.

But Lys, who had watched him walk away silently, couldn't just stand by and do nothing. She rushed after him, running to catch up. When she reached him, she saw he was limping slightly.

"Do you want me to help you?" she asked softly.

Kyle looked away and replied in a cold, almost automatic tone, "No need... I'm fine."

But Lys wasn't to be dismissed so easily.

"We're going to the same place, aren't we?" So we might as well walk together."

Kyle remained silent. He had nothing against her, really. It was just... he'd never been very comfortable around girls. He'd rather ignore them than feel awkward. Yet, Lys stood there, walking beside him, without saying another word.

The silence lasted for a moment, until Kyle's legs gave way beneath him. Exhausted, he stumbled and fell to his knees. Before he could react, Lys had already knelt down at his level and extended her hand.

"Will you let me help you now?"

Without waiting for his reply, she slipped her arm through his to help him up. Kyle, a little embarrassed, looked away and whispered,

"...Thank you."

This simple word made Lys smile.

They continued like this, all the way to their inn.

When the door opened, Rose, who was drying glasses behind the counter, looked up. Seeing Kyle's state and Lys supporting him, she immediately ran over.

"By the gods, Kyle! Why did you come back in such a state?!"

 Kyle tried to defuse the situation with a wry smile:

"It's nothing. Just the joys of the adventurer's life..."

But Rose wasn't fooled. She glared at him, arms crossed, chin slightly raised.

"You think this is funny? If you keep this up, you'll end up dead," she said sternly.

Kyle opened his mouth:

"I just wanted to exp—"

"Not a word," Rose interrupted. "You need to find a group. It's crazy to continue quests alone."

Before he could reply, she placed her hand on his chest and [heal] her voice firm.

A faint green glow spread around Kyle, closing his deepest wounds. He took a deep breath, feeling the pain ease, and slowly sat up.

 "Two days," Rose continued, crossing her arms and shaking her head slightly. "You've only been an adventurer for two days, and look at you."

Kyle looked down, almost guilty, then tried to slip away to rest. But Rose grabbed his shoulder.

"Not so fast. You need to eat," she ordered, her voice firm but tinged with concern.

"I'm not very hungry," Kyle murmured, his shoulders slumping.

Rose narrowed her eyes and assumed a mock-offended tone.

"Is it because you don't like my cooking?"

Kyle sighed, defeated, and replied with a small, forced smile.

"Okay, I'll come."

He reluctantly sat down at a table. Rose went into the kitchen, leaving Kyle alone for a few moments. Lys, who remained standing near the entrance, watched the scene. A strange warmth rose in her chest, mixed with a hint of sadness, as if she didn't belong among them.

He reluctantly sat down at a table. Rose went into the kitchen, leaving Kyle alone for a few seconds. Lys, who remained standing, watched the scene with a strange feeling. A gentle warmth in her chest, but also a small hint of sadness, as if she didn't belong there.

Rose soon returned with a hot meal. She glanced at Lys.

"And you, Lys?" How was your day?"

Lys, a little surprised, smiled sincerely as she put down her spoon.

"I joined a group today... And I completed my first mission. We defeated some undead in a graveyard. As a result, I got ranked F."

Kyle, chewing slowly, raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"You joined a group?"

"Yes, Tristan's," Lys replied, nodding slightly.

"Who?" Kyle asked, frowning.

"The adventurer who was with me at the guild earlier, when you arrived," Lys clarified, a little hesitant.

Kyle frowned even more, her lips pursed.

"Him..."

He swallowed his mouthful with a grunt.

"I don't like him."

Rose, resting her arm on the back of her chair, raised an eyebrow and moved closer.

"Why? Do you sense something off about him?"

Kyle shook his head thoughtfully.

"No... I'm sure he's nice. But he must be very popular too..."

He placed his spoon on the table, staring into space, his face slightly scowling.

"There are people... even if they haven't done anything to you, even if you have no reason to, their very existence annoys me to no end."

Lys lowered her eyes for a moment, understanding what he meant, while Rose watched Kyle with a mixture of curiosity and slight concern.

 "You're incorrigible, Kyle," Rose finally said.

And in that moment of calm, under the soft light of the inn, between the warmth of the meal and the newfound tranquility, the atmosphere relaxed.

A new milestone had been reached.

The next day, the sun had barely pierced through the curtains when Kyle was already on his feet. Despite his aches and pains and barely healed wounds, he intended to return to the guild. The call of adventure still rumbled within him.

He descended the inn stairs, ready to leave, but stopped dead in his tracks. In the common room, Rose and Lys were sitting at a table, deep in their morning conversation. The sweet smell of toast and eggs wafted through the air.

"Are you going to leave without eating anything?" Rose asked when she saw him.

Kyle wanted to refuse, but before he could protest, Rose gestured for him to come and sit down. He complied, defeated, dragging his feet slightly.

As soon as he sat down, a lavish plate was placed in front of him. He didn't even have time to taste it before Rose gently rapped her fist on the table.

"Oh, I forgot. You're banned from missions for a week."

"Huh?!" Kyle asked in surprise, his eyes wide.

"No discussion," Rose replied, her gaze stern. "You've earned enough in two days to live comfortably for at least three weeks. And if you keep this up, you'll end up in a coffin."

Kyle wanted to protest, but thought better of it. She was right, he knew it. He looked down at his plate and let out a sigh.

"You know, Kyle," Rose continued, softening her tone, "most people become adventurers for the money. Quests are just a way to make a living." And some do it for the fame and all the perks that come with it. And you? Why did you choose this path?"

Kyle looked up, silence lasting for a few seconds.

"For adventure," he replied simply, his voice calm but sincere.

Rose and Lys watched him, intrigued. For them, the word was just a vague concept, a romantic illusion.

But for Kyle, adventure was something else. Every mission, every walk in the forest, was like opening a new game. That sense of the unknown, that surge of excitement at what lay ahead... That was what made him tick. That feeling was his drug, his fuel. He'd spent many sleepless nights exploring fictional worlds... And now he had the chance to experience one. It wasn't an escape, it was a reason to move forward. A way to accept this new world.

 "That's the goal of the protagonist in me. Adventure..." he thought with a discreet smile.

After breakfast, temporarily deprived of missions, Kyle decided to repair his equipment. His leather armor was in poor condition, his gloves had holes in them, and his blade was already worn.Lys offered to accompany him to buy a chainmail. He accepted without much thought.

On the way, they stopped by the guild to collect their respective rewards. Once the formalities were completed, Lys suddenly pulled him towards a group in a corner of the room.

"I'll introduce you to my group!"

Kyle sighed inwardly, uncomfortable with the idea of making introductions. But he followed her anyway.

As soon as he approached, his gaze fell on her. An elf.

Long, pointed ears. Cascading silver hair. A piercing, distant gaze. Pale, perfect skin.

"An elf... A REAL ELF!!!"

Kyle stood there, his mouth half-open, his eyes shining. He studied her with fascination, almost as if scanning her for a character sheet. Images of his favorite waifus flashed through his mind. He silently feasted his eyes, without even realizing it.

But the poor elf, Elena, tensed under his gaze. She looked away, uncomfortable.

"Kyle!" Lys hissed, shaking him by the shoulder. "Stop staring at her like that, you pervert!"

Kyle blinked and came to.

"Sorry, this is the first time I've seen an elf in real life."

"Hmph." Elena looked away, crossing her arms, visibly annoyed.

Lys introduced the members of the group, one by one.

"This is Elena, elf archer. Anne, our spearwoman, and Iris, the group's mage. And this is Tristan, our leader."

Tristan extended his hand to Kyle with a friendly smile.

"Nice to meet you." I heard you took on a pack of wolves alone. Impressive."

Kyle squeezed his hand limply, staring at him intensely.

"Now I know why I don't like that guy."

Tristan blinked, surprised.

"What? Why?"

Lys frowned, intrigued.

"You barely know him, why do you say that?"

Kyle crossed his arms and let out a long sigh, a wry smile on his lips.

"It's nothing personal," he said casually. "I've just never liked guys surrounded by girls... You know, this type of guy surrounded by a five-star cast of women like it's normal. I already hated those guys. So now, to run into them in real life..."

He turned his head briefly toward Anne, Iris, and Elena. Each of them seemed lost in thought or focused on something else, oblivious to the comment, which made Kyle grimace with a mixture of exasperation and amusement.

Then, he returned his gaze to Tristan, staring at him intensely.

"You're everything I've never had... and always secretly wanted," he whispered almost to himself, but loud enough for Tristan to hear. "Anyway, you're the kind of guy I want to gently strangle in a dark corner... and watch writhe in pain, but with a smile, of course."

A silence hung for a few seconds. The contrast between his irony and the sincerity of his words hung in the air. Tristan blinked, a slight quiver on his lips, while Lys remained in the background.

A heavy silence fell.

Then Anne burst out laughing.

 "Wow, at least that's honest!"

Iris raised an eyebrow, amused.

"That guy has style."

Even Elena gave a small smirk.

Tristan, a little confused, took a step back.

"Huh... I'll... take that as a compliment?"

Kyle shrugged with a half-smile, bitter but sincere.

"As you wish. I'm still coming to terms with the fact that you exist."

As they finished their introductions, Tristan turned to Kyle with a cordial smile.

"Did you come for a quest?"

Kyle briefly looked away from him, his tone sharp as a cold blade.

"No."

He crossed his arms.

"I just came to collect my rewards and repair my equipment. Nothing more."

A slight unease lingered. Tristan simply nodded.

"Oh, actually, Anne and I also need our armor fitted. We can make the trip together, right?"

Kyle didn't answer. Lys, smiling, accepted in his place.

They went to the counter. Eris, seeing Kyle approach, revealed a genuine smile.

"Well, you look better than yesterday!"

Kyle nodded, giving a discreet smile.

"Thanks, I think."

Eris laughed lightly and handed him a purse.

For Kyle, money has never been a priority, so he took the purse without really checking its contents.

Afterward, the small group set off towards the artisans' district. As they walked, Lys and Anne naturally grew closer. The two young women began to chat lightly, exchanging laughter and stories about their missions.

 Kyle walked in silence, hands in his pockets, occasionally glancing at the gun shop windows.

Tristan, trying to break the ice, moved slightly closer to him.

"You're always this calm, aren't you? What did you do before you became adventurers?"

Kyle didn't even deign to answer him. He stared straight ahead, as if Tristan had become transparent. The group leader waited a few seconds, then shrugged with an embarrassed smile, before slowing his pace to join the girls.

Kyle, however, continued walking in silence, content to make it clear, without a word, that he wasn't in the mood to socialize—especially not with the guy in the harem.

They arrived in front of the blacksmith shop where Kyle had ordered his equipment. The sign gave off a stifling heat, and the hammering echoed through the cobblestone street. Anne and Tristan seemed familiar with the place. They exchanged a knowing glance before Anne turned to Lys and Kyle.

"Welcome to Gareth's! The best blacksmith in this part of town."

She had barely finished her sentence when a large, bare-chested man, covered in soot and sweat, emerged from the workshop. His eyes glittered when he saw Kyle.

"Well, well... I see you're still alive, kid. It's almost a miracle."

Anne burst out laughing. Lys gave Kyle a curious look.

"Do you know each other?" she asked.

"I forged his armor and sword," Gareth replied, crossing his arms. "I didn't think I'd see this stuff again so soon, especially in this condition."

Kyle silently pulled out the leather armor he was wearing. Gareth took it and carefully turned it over. His eyes narrowed as he took in the claw marks, gashes, and black burns.

"That damage isn't just goblins... What did you fight?"

"Goblins. And a few wolves," Kyle replied, as matter-of-factly as possible.

The silence that followed was almost comical. Gareth stared at him for a long time, then shrugged.

"Yeah, wolves. I imagine they were hellwolves."

He obviously didn't believe him, but didn't ask any further questions. He simply grunted and piled the armor on his workbench.

Lys approached next, a little embarrassed.

"I'd like to order some chainmail, if possible."

"You're lucky, I still have one in stock for small guys like you."

Kyle, for his part, held out his sword.

"This one needs some TLC too."

Gareth took the weapon, and his expression changed for a moment. He recognized the enchanted blade he'd personally forged with a high-level magical strengthening spell—one meant to last for months even in the hands of a seasoned adventurer. And yet, it was already chipped, dull, and cracked.

"This guy's a lot stronger than he lets on," he thought. "And that's exactly the kind of guy I like to forge for."

 But he kept his thoughts to himself, simply smiling:

"I'll refurbish it for you. Pick it up tomorrow."

Once they were outside, Anne cheerfully suggested,

"How about we go get something to eat? I know a good tavern nearby."

Kyle wanted to decline and slip away—he planned to secretly test the attacks he'd invented against the demon wolf—but Lys cut him off, arms crossed and a gentle but firm smile.

"You're coming. No discussion."

Kyle sighed resignedly. He could have insisted, but... a part of him wasn't entirely against the idea. Reluctantly, he followed them.

Seated around a table in a small, lively inn, the four adventurers began to chat. Anne, curious, opened the conversation:

"Hey, Kyle, where are you from? Were you an adventurer elsewhere before?"

"From Asterion, and No."

"Do you have a family here?"

"No."

"When did you arrive?"

"Two weeks ago."

Kyle answered with disconcerting detachment. He said the bare minimum, dodging more personal questions with the agility of a ninja. Yet the two girls seemed amused by his attitude. Tristan, however, didn't give up.

"Are you planning on staying solo for long? We could welcome you into our group. We always have room for a tough guy like you."

 Kyle raised an eyebrow and replied with a wry smile, his voice drenched in sarcasm.

"Just for the chance to see a harem guy in a pit of despair, I'm hesitant."

Lys burst out laughing.

"It wouldn't be so bad, you know. Even temporarily. Besides, if you join a party, Rose will probably let you get back to missions faster."

Kyle remained silent for a moment. He knew she was right. Joining a party could save him time... even if this group reminded him a little too much of the clichés he hated so much in his isekai.

Finally, he sighed, resting his chin in his hand.

"Okay. But it's temporary. Very temporary."

Tristan smiled, satisfied.

Lys, on the other hand, seemed pleased.

And Kyle, deep down, wondered how much more complicated his life was going to get from now on.