Kurenai’s Rollercoaster of a Registration at the Adventurers’ Guild...

The inside of the adventurers’ guild looked nothing like what I had imagined... It wasn’t just the outside but also the inside.

Additionally, Lucian left with a pleased expression on his face, saying.

“I need to go back to finish the preparations for tomorrow’s course! You should be fine from here on out... hopefully!”

He’s way too smug! I’ll get my revenge on him one day.

Yet, one thing did come true. Everyone was eyeing me as I strutted up to the receptionist. I loved every second of it!

“Welcome to the Capital’s Adventurers Guild Headquarters! How can I help you today?”

The receptionist asked me with a bright and bubbly smile.

“I’d like to register as an adventurer!”

“To earn some extra credits?”

“No? What even are those?”

“Oh. Let me apologize.”

She apologetically bowed forward.

“As you are a student of the Royal Magic Academy, I assumed you’d be here to make up for failed courses.”

“How do you know that I attend the Academy?”

Suspicious!

My eyes narrowed as I stared her down.

“Hehe. Your... He. Uniform?”

Oh...

Looking down and remembering that I’m still wearing it, I slowly looked back up at her.

How embarrassing! I want to disappear! How could I forget that!?

My face glistened like a ripe tomato.

“So if not for extra credit, then why would you want to join?”

“T...to make some m-money.”

“Ah. To earn some extra pocket change! How admirable of you.”

Slowly I shook my head.

“No?”

“I need it for the tuition fee...”

She froze for a second, seemingly trying to process what I had just said.

“Oh! You had a fight with your parents, and now they are forcing you to pay it yourself!”

“No! My parents are awesome! They just can’t afford the fee...”

“Hmm... Still quite admirable of you.”

“Thank you...”

While nervously fidgeting with my fingers, I thought to myself.

Hopefully she isn’t mad at me for shouting like that! But I can’t just let someone think badly of Mom and Dad... It’s not their fault.

Next she wrote down my information and officially registered me as an F-rank adventurer while also explaining the rules to me.

Like how you aren’t allowed to attack each other for no reason, or how to rank up through the quests... way too much...

So much in fact that I spaced out midway... maybe even right at the beginning.

Tehe.

So, I just ended up imagining Hikari and me eating curry together, hunting together, climbing the adventurer ranks together, and finding lots of rare treasure, making us rich!

Wawawawawa.

“Rich, huh?”

Fuwa!?

Jolting backward, I saw the receptionist glaring at me with pure bloodlust in her eyes.

“Did you even listen to anything I said?”

“Yes!”

I saluted with my chest puffed out.

“Ugh... well, you better have. Breaking the rules comes with heavy fines!”

My eyes widened.

“Nou! Not the maid uniform for Hikari!”

“The what now?”

“...”

My face flushed darker this time, even smoke escaped my ears.

“Just make sure you don’t break any...”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Suddenly people behind us started cheering and celebrating.

“What’s going on?”

“Today one of the capital’s heroes returns.”

“What did you just say...?”

I stared right into her soul through her eyes.

“O-one of the capital’s heroes returns today?”

Heroes!? So they are real after all!? And I’m about to see one in person!

Watching the crowd that gathered, I was just waiting and hoping for the hero to walk through and maybe get a chance to approach him.

Luckily for me, I didn’t have to wait long, as just then, one after another, formidable-looking adventurers emerged from the crowd.

Oh. My. God!

I thought it’d be just one! But I’m getting to see their entire party!?

Shiny swords, staves and even daggers!? Shiny leather and heavy armor!? Shiny backpacks filled with even more shiny things!? They even have shiny smiles!

They are just tooo shiny!

I leaned backwards, covering my face from the bright glow.

“We are back! We finished the Wyvern request successfully.”

He told the receptionist as he slammed a bloody bag on the counter.

“Welcome back, Rafael.”

“Rafa! We’ll let you handle the paperwork. Meet us at the usual pub afterwards?”

“How typical, the moment we get back you rush to get drunk. Hahaha.”

A burly laugh? Adventuring together? Celebrating afterwards and getting drunk? He’s a real hero! Just like from the fairy tales.

Speechless, I just stared at him with stars in my eyes.

“Then just don’t flirt as much with the receptionist, and you’ll be able to join us sooner!”

Rafael and the receptionist both blushed at that.

“D-don’t say things that could be easily misunderstood!”

“Sure. Sure. See you later!”

“I apologize for their rude behavior, Ana.”

“It’s... okay.”

Her cheeks blushed even brighter.

Her name’s Ana!? Hopefully she didn’t mention that while I was spaced out...

They do look so cute together, though.

“Who’s that staring at me like that, Ana?”

He whispered to her, taken aback by my star-struck stare.

“That’s Kurenai, a student from the Royal Magic Academy who signed up just now.”

“How commendable, seeking to earn extra credits through something dangerous. The experience will come in handy, as well.”

She placed her hand on his shoulder, leaning forward and whispering into his ear.

“She’s trying to earn her tuition fee.”

“Oh... I gotcha.”

“A-a-are you a real hero!?”

Finally, I managed to formulate a few words.

“Indeed, I am the Hero, Rafael. Leader of the Echoes of Eternity.”

Almost fainting, I forced myself to stay strong.

Am I asleep? He said the exact line from the fairy tale...

“I’m Kurenai! Nishe to meet you, Rafael!”

“Quite an energetic one, huh?”

“It’s always been my dream to meet a real hero!”

“Oh ho? Is that so? Then how about we take you with us on an adventure?”

He gave me a warm and humble smile.

Did he just...

Looking left, right, and behind me, I confirmed there wasn’t anyone else around that he could have meant, before looking back at him and pointing at myself.

“M-m-me!?”

“Who else? Of course you.”

Barely able to stop myself from jumping around in celebration, I instead imagined myself doing that.

“Hold your horses. Even you, Rafael, can’t just take her with you on a dangerous quest.”

Ana glared at him, forcing him to surrender to her with his hands raised.

“I know! I wasn’t planning on taking on a high-rated hunt one, anyway!”

“You weren’t?”

My head drooped in disappointment.

“Look at what you’ve done now!”

“But! I didn’t even do anything?”

“You gave her false hopes!”

She playfully swung once at him, but he dodged.

“How-”

“Getting invited by a hero personally, of course, anyone would assume it’d be for some dangerous request!”

Ana scolded him.

“Like fighting a dragon... or storming the Demon Lord’s castle... or saving a princess...”

I added, scooting closer to Ana.

“Exactly! Like storming the demon lords... what!?”

Her glare snapped onto me.

Tehe.

“As if they’d storm the castle with just four people!”

“You mean... five...”

I muttered.

“Especially not with you in tow! You’d just end up holding them back!”

Angrily, she bonked me over the head with a stack of rolled-up paper.

Hehe...

Reminds me of home...

I reminisced as I fell backward.

“I’m sorry, Kurenai! I didn’t mean tooooo!”

Afterwards, Ana profusely apologized for what she did while I was waking up.

Since I was used to it, I didn’t really mind it... Moreover, I fainted a little because of the pent-up ecstatic feeling, not the hit itself... Hehe.

But that’ll stay a secret! Since I’ve got to protect my strong and distinguished image.

“Ana, does the guild know any information about the attacks on Kudon?”

“You mean... The village that got pillaged?”

“Any survivors?”

The air around us shifted significantly. Not only serious, but also filled with sadness.

“...”

“Damn it! Do we know who’s behind it?”

“The... rumored demi-human bandit tribe...”

“So the sightings...”

She just silently nodded.

How could they... I don’t understand it... Why do some end up choosing such an evil life path? What did that village ever do to them!?

“We’ll set out tomorrow and check on Kudon. Afterward, we’ll attempt to locate the ones responsible...”

“I’m going with you!”

Bolting upright, I declared with fire in my eyes.

“Such passion... Fine! You’re coming along, Kurenai!”

He stood in front of me and firmly shook my hand.

Ouch... He definitely didn’t hold back at all!