Autumn

The guild hall buzzed with the usual evening crowd, adventurers unwinding after long days, merchants negotiating deals, and the steady clink of coins changing hands. 

Voices rose and fell in animated conversation, bursts of laughter and the occasional argument over job assignments.

At a corner table, an interesting scene was unfolding.

A young woman sat with her shoulders hunched, staring into a clay mug that she slowly swirled but never brought to her lips. 

Her most striking features were the pointed ears that poked through silver-white hair and the fluffy tail that twitched with barely contained agitation behind her chair. Amber eyes with vertical pupils reflected the tavern's lamplight as she continued her stirring.

Across from her, a grizzled adventurer in his forties leaned back in his chair with obvious satisfaction. His weathered face bore the scars of countless battles, and his arms were thick with muscle earned through years of swinging heavy weapons.

SLAM!

He brought his empty mug down on the wooden table with enough force to make the surface jump.

"Ahhhh!" The man released a long, satisfied sigh, wiping foam from his beard with the back of his hand. "What now, little kitten? Where's all that previous confidence gone?"

Around their table, a small crowd had gathered. Other adventurers pressed closer, some standing on chairs to get a better view. Coins clinked as side bets were placed, and voices rose in encouragement.

"Come on, Nyssa! Don't let him show you up!"

"Drink! Drink! Drink!"

"Old Carus has had twice as much, you can catch up!"

The cat-girl's ears flattened against her head as the chanting grew louder. Her grip tightened on the mug's handle, but she still hadn't taken a single sip.

Carus grinned, revealing his teeth. "Five mugs down, kitten. You haven't even started on your first."

Finally, after muttering something under her breath for courage, Nyssa gave a few sharp exhales and then tilted her head back, chugging down the entire mug in one go.

Her companions erupted in cheers.

"That's our Nyssa!"

"Show him what you're made of!"

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and stared directly into Carus's eyes.

"More."

But internally, she was screaming. 'Oh no, oh no. Mother said never to drink, but I...'

She shook her head firmly. 'No, I didn't do anything wrong. It's this old bastard's fault. He was the one who insulted my team first.'

Carus chuckled, already reaching for the pitcher to refill her small mug. "Well, well. Maybe there's some fight in you after all, kitten."

Nyssa picked up the refilled mug, brought it slowly to her lips with eyes that were already looking a bit glassy, then chugged it down and slammed it back on the table.

"More," she said, but her voice had a noticeable slur as she wiped her mouth.

Carus's chuckle deepened. "You sure about that? You're already looking pretty wobbly there."

SLAM!

Nyssa's fist hit the table, making several mugs jump. "No! I can have more!"

One of her friends, a young man with concerned brown eyes, stepped closer. "Nyssa, maybe you should stop now."

But she shoved him away with surprising force. "Don't worry about me! I'm completely fine!"

Carus chuckled and had just placed his hands on his mug when the heavy wooden doors of the guild hall swung open.

A figure stepped inside, wrapped in a tattered black cloak that had seen better days. Beneath it, glimpses of a red tunic and black pants were visible, both looking travel-worn and dusty. The newcomer's face was hidden beneath the cloak's deep hood, but their purposeful stride spoke of someone who knew exactly where they were going.

The figure headed straight for the main counter, ignoring the crowd gathered around.

The effect on the guild hall was immediate. Conversations that had been flowing freely just moments before dropped to hushed murmurs. Even the cheering around Nyssa and Carus's table died down as heads turned to watch the cloaked stranger.

The clerk behind the counter straightened up as the figure approached, her professional smile wavering slightly. 

The whispers began to ripple through the crowd like water spreading from a dropped stone.

"Hey, isn't that a solo?" someone murmured near the bar.

"One-man party? Here?"

"I heard they don't take parties. Ever."

"That's Lone wolf, they're dangerous as hell, working alone like that..."

The hushed conversations spread from table to table, each group adding their own speculation to the mix. 

Solo adventurers were rare, most didn't survive long without backup, and those who did had earned reputations that preceded them.

Nyssa tilted her head toward the cloaked figure, her amber eyes focusing with the kind of sharp attention that cut through her alcohol haze. Her cat-like ears twitched as she tried to pick up more details about the mysterious newcomer.

Carus scoffed loudly, his voice carrying over the whispers. 

"Solo this, solo that. Probably just some showoff who thinks he's too good for teamwork." He took another long drink from his mug. "Give it a month, he'll either be begging to join a party or feeding the worms."

But despite his dismissive words, even the grizzled veteran's eyes kept drifting back to the counter where the figure stood speaking quietly with the clerk.

The cloaked figure gave a brief nod to the clerk and turned toward the exit, moving with the same purposeful stride. As the guild hall doors swung shut behind them, the tension in the room seemed to break like a snapped bowstring.

The murmur of conversations resumed almost immediately, though the topic had clearly shifted to speculation about the solo adventurer.

Nyssa suddenly stood up, swaying slightly as she looked at her friends. "Let's go. Hurry up."

"Then what about the competition—" Carus started, but Nyssa cut him off by dropping her coin pouch on the table.

"I let you win this time," she said, though her words came out slightly slurred.

She turned to leave, but her unsteady movements made it clear the alcohol had hit her harder than she'd admitted. 

One of her friends, a young woman with brown hair tied in a practical braid, quickly moved to her side.

"Easy there," her friend said, slipping an arm around Nyssa's waist to help steady her. "Lean on me."

"Thanks, Mira," Nyssa mumbled, grateful for the support as they made their way toward the door.

Carus watched them go with an amused shake of his head. "Kids these days. Can't hold their liquor but think they can chase after solo adventurers."

The crowd around the table was already dispersing. The guild hall settled back into its normal evening rhythm.

*****************

(Kaito POV)

I stepped out of the guild hall, the familiar weight of my advancement scroll tucked securely in my belt pouch. The nest had been messier than expected, but the job was done.

Behind me, Rei and Wrath were deep in conversation as we walked through streets.

Yeah, I had given them names. Rei for my scaredy, panicked echo. And Wrath for my other one.

"I still think you used too much energy on those spiders," Rei was saying, its nervous voice carrying that familiar edge of worry. "What if we'd run into something bigger afterward?"

Wrath snorted. "Better to end fights quickly than drag them out. Dead enemies can't hurt us."

"But what if—"

"What if, what if," Wrath mocked. "You sound like a broken record."

I tuned out their bickering and looked down at myself. My red tunic was stained with spider ichor and forest dirt, the black pants were torn in several places, and my cloak looked like it had been through a war. 

'I look like a vagrant.'

The fabric was beyond saving at this point.

"I should probably buy new clothes," I muttered, scanning the shops along the street for anything that looked like it sold adventuring gear.

Rei perked up. "That's actually a good idea. These clothes are starting to smell."

"Everything smells when you're dead," Wrath replied dryly. "But yeah, you look like shit."

As we moved a clothing shop with warm light spilling from its windows caught my eye. Through the glass, I could see racks of practical clothing designed for people who spent their time outdoors.

I pushed through the shop door, a small bell chiming overhead. The interior was warm and well-lit, with racks of clothing organized by function rather than fashion. 

"Welcome!" The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with measuring tape draped around his neck, looked up from folding tunics. "What can I help you with today?"

"I need a complete new set of clothes and gear," I said, gesturing at my current state. "Something that won't fall apart after a week in the field."

His eyes took in my torn and stained outfit with professional assessment. "Ah yes. Let me show you some options."

He led me to a section filled with sturdy-looking garments. "These tunics are made from reinforced wool they won't tear easily." He held up a greyish-green one. "This color hides dirt and blood stains."

Rei shifted beside me, studying the selection. "That's practical. And it matches your eyes."

"Who cares about matching?" Wrath scoffed. "Get something dark. Easier to move unseen."

The shopkeeper moved to another rack. "For pants, I'd recommend these." He showed me dark navy trousers with reinforced knees. "Thick enough to stop thorns, flexible enough for climbing."

"Those look good," Rei nodded approvingly.

"Not black though," Wrath complained. "Navy blue stands out at night."

"We're not an assassin," I muttered under my breath.

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow but continued his sales pitch. "And for outerwear..." He pulled out a black cloak with golden clasping pins at the throat. "This is our premium model. Weather-resistant, doesn't snag on branches, and the pins are enchanted to stay fastened."

"Ooh, shiny," Rei said with obvious approval.

"Finally, something with style," Wrath admitted grudgingly.

I gathered the items along with brown leather boots, matching gloves, and a proper belt. "I'll take these. Where's your changing room?"

The shopkeeper pointed to a curtained alcove at the back of the shop. "Right there. Take your time."

A few minutes later, I stood in front of the small mirror, adjusting the golden clasp at my throat. The black cloak hung well over my shoulders, and underneath, the greyish-green tunic fit properly without being too loose or tight. The dark navy pants were tucked neatly into the brown leather boots with their sturdy straps, and the matching brown gloves completed the look. Lila's short blade hung at my hip from the leather belt.

"Much better," I said to my reflection. 

Then I started browsing through the shop's gear section, picking up a few essential items, a proper adventuring pack, a water flask, some rope, new armor and a basic camping kit. The shopkeeper tallied everything up on a piece of parchment, his fingers moving quickly across an abacus.

"Let's see... new clothes, boots, gloves, cloak, light armor set camping gear..." He looked up with a smile. "Sixty-two silver total."

I winced internally at the price but pulled out my coin pouch. "Any chance of a discount? I'm buying quite a bit here."

The shopkeeper stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, you are purchasing both clothing and gear sets..." He paused, considering. "I could bring it down to Fifty-eight silver."

"What if I throw in my old leather armor as trade?" I gestured to the worn pieces I'd set aside. "It's used but still functional. You could resell it to someone just starting out."

He examined the leather pieces, checking the stitching and flexibility. "This is decent quality, just well-worn. I could take it for... let's say six silver credit."

"So Fifty-two silver total?"

"Deal." He extended his hand for a shake.

I counted out the coins, watching my funds take another significant hit. 

The shopkeeper wrapped my old clothes in brown paper. "Will you be needing anything else? We have some basic potions, travel rations..."

"I'm good for now, thanks." I shouldered my new pack, adjusting the straps. "Appreciate the discount."

I stepped out of the shop and headed toward the forest path that led to my next job location. The air carried the crisp bite of autumn, leaves had started turning gold and red, and there was that particular scent of approaching winter that made you want to pull your cloak tighter.

'Two months.'

It had been more than two months since I'd arrived in this world. At first, I'd been a complete mess, stumbling around like a lost tourist, barely knowing how to hold a sword properly, trusting people like Adrian who saw me as nothing more than disposable bait.

Now I could at least keep myself alive. The guild jobs had become routine, the money steady enough to keep me fed and equipped. I knew which herbs were poisonous, how to skin a monster properly, which taverns watered down their ale.

But I still felt like I was just... existing.

I frowned, unfolding the job notice in my hand as I walked. The familiar frustration gnawed at me - the same questions that had been eating at me for weeks.

"I still can't figure out why that goddess sent me here," I muttered. "Or how the hell I'm supposed to get back home."

Rei walked beside me, keeping pace as we entered the treeline. "Maybe she just wanted to get rid of you? You did call her abilities a 'skill issue.'"

"That's not helpful," I said flatly.

Wrath appeared on my other side, his bloodshot eyes fixed ahead. "Who cares why? We're here now. Focus on not dying instead of whining about cosmic purposes."

I looked down at the job notice again. Another solo contract, clearing out some bandits who'd been hitting merchant caravans. Nothing too complicated.

'At least I'm good at killing things now. That's something, I guess.'