Chapter 122 Introduction

Lisanna couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart as Larry's compliment rolled off his tongue. "Oh, you devil," she teased with a grin, "you know just what to say when you need a favor." The way he looked at her made her feel like she was the only person in the room, and she couldn't help but be drawn to his charm.

Without missing a beat, Larry flashed a dazzling smile, his charisma on full display. "Well, you know me," he drawled, his voice smooth as silk, "I always have something up my sleeve. Got me a juicy quest, just a little problem I need you to help me with. And you, my dear, are the best at that."

Lisanna's heart skipped a beat at the way Larry called her "my dear." She couldn't resist his charms, and she found herself eagerly looking over the papers he had presented to her. "Yeah, I see the problem," she said with a playful pout, "your quest hasn't been processed by the guild yet. How do you manage to get your hands on all these quests, Larry? This isn't the first time you've asked me for help. Normally these types of quests take a few days before going on the quest board, and you have them firsthand. Now I understand having local civilian-issued quests but you bringing quests with royal seals on them. Do you have connections with nobility in the main town or something?"

Larry leaned in a little closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, I can't agree or deny the fact but let's just say I have my ways," he said with a wink, "and I know I can always count on you to help me out. You're the best, Lisanna."

Lisanna caught on to Larry's subtle hint and took it as a sign that she shouldn't pry any further into his affairs. With a playful glint in her eye, she leaned forward and said, "Well, Larry, don't worry, I'm here to help you out. I can take care of your problem in no time. All you have to do is sit back and relax while I work my magic with these papers."

She took the papers from Larry and began to peruse them, scanning each line with a sharp eye. "I can help you get this processed quickly and efficiently, as long as everything is in order, of course. We don't want to break any rules and cause trouble for the guild, now do we?" she added, raising an eyebrow and flashing another sultry smile.

Larry returned her grin with a reassuring smile of his own. "Oh, my dear, you have nothing to worry about. I assure you everything is in perfect order and follows all the rules," he replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

 She finished reviewing the papers and gave them a quick stamp of approval before placing them in Larry's files. "All processed and ready to go. You just need to get yourself some party members and complete the quest. I would recommend taking Helen, she's always ready for action. Good luck, Larry. I hope to see you around the guild more often," she said, with a sultry smile.

Larry flashed a charming grin and replied, "That was my plan from the start. And while we're at it, write down David's name as well."

Upon hearing the name, Lisanna's face contorted like she'd tasted grapefruit for the first time in her life. "For fuck sake, Larry. You sure know how to ruin the mood," she said in a sour voice. "But whatever, it's your business if you want that loser on your team."

With a charismatic smile on his face, Larry turned to Lisanna and said, "Oh, Lisanna, don't be like that. You're much more stunning when you smile. How about we turn that frown upside down, hmm?" His charming demeanor was impossible to resist as he walked away toward Suzuka.

Lisanna couldn't help but chuckle at Larry's flirtatious tack. As she watched him walk away, she couldn't help but think how much of a catch he would be if he ditched that loser, David. "Oh, Larry," she said, "You would be number one in the guild if you weren't hanging around with that loser David. It's such a shame."

As Larry sauntered up to Suzuka, he couldn't help but flash his charming smile and gaze into her eyes. "Well hello there, beautiful. It's been far too long since I've had the pleasure of your company. Care to join me on a quest?"

Suzuka's face lit up with a smile at Larry's charismatic demeanor. "I'm up for anything as long as the coin is good, Larry. What kind of quest are we talking about here?"

Larry pulled up a chair and sat down across from Suzuka, unable to take his eyes off her. "It's a scouting mission. You see, a few days ago, one of the biggest bandit camps located in the castle ruins went silent. Our job will be to scout the area and investigate. If the bandits are still there, we'll retreat and report back. If they're gone, we'll investigate the camp and try to figure out what happened. All the loot we find is ours to keep and of course, we're free to do as we please, but I'm not one for senseless violence. So, no killing anyone - well, at least no humans."

Suzuka couldn't help but laugh at Larry's noble intentions. "Sounds like a piece of cake, Larry. We just need to investigate and report back. So, when do we leave?"

Larry leaned in closer to Suzuka, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "We leave as soon as possible," he said in a smooth and confident tone. "And the reward is five gold coins. We'll be in a party of five, which means one gold each just from the quest reward alone. Plus, any loot we come across will be split evenly amongst us all. What do you say? Sounds like a lucrative opportunity, don't you think?"

Suzuka couldn't help but be drawn in by Larry's charisma. "Sounds good enough to me," she replied a hint of flirtation in her voice. "But do we really need three more people for this? I think we could handle it just the two of us."

Larry's expression turned serious, "Trust me, Helen. These types of quests can be sink or swim. It's better to be safe than sorry. We need a full party to ensure our success."

Suzuka nodded, "It's your call, Larry. Let's gather a full party and make this quest a success."

"Don't worry about that, I have all the members ready." 

Suzuka had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach as soon as Larry mentioned that he had already picked out members for their upcoming quest. She and Larry stood up from the table and began to walk towards the exit. That's when Larry turned to David and said, "Buddy, you coming? It's minimum a gold coin as a reward."

Without hesitation, David stood up and agreed to join them. "Of course, I'm coming. Let's go."

 Suzuka's worst fears came true. "Oh, hell no, Larry. Are you serious?" she exclaimed, her voice full of frustration and anxiety. "David? Do you want to take David with us? Now, I know the quest may sound like a piece of cake, but trust me, he will find a way to screw it up. He always does. I'm sure he will find some way to mess things up so badly that we won't even be able to get the reward, and maybe even worse. If you take him with us, people will die."

David, on the other hand, remained calm and tried to ease the tension. "Whoa, let's relax a bit. It's going to be fine," he said in a soothing tone. "I don't see any way that could happen. Sure, things may have gone bad in the past, but every quest has a chance to go sideways. Whether I'm in the group or not, it will be fine."

Larry convinced that it was an easy job, chimed in. "I think we should give him a chance, Helen. It won't be that bad." Suzuka, having admitted defeat, reluctantly agreed. "Fine, Larry. I won't protest against him joining us."

"Alright, now that we have that settled, let's head outside. I'll introduce you to the rest of the group," Larry said before taking off toward the exit. Suzuka and David quickly followed him as they made their way outside.

As they stepped out, they were greeted by the sight of two men. One was a tall, muscular, and tough-looking individual in his late twenties, carrying a large double-edged sword on his back. He was clad in stylish leather and cloth armor that looked both practical and fashionable.

"Hey, everyone, meet the newest members of our team," Larry announced as he gestured towards Suzuka and David.

The tough-looking man stepped forward, his rugged demeanor and battle-hardened aura making him an imposing presence. "The name's Drogath," he said in a deep and commanding voice, as he extended a hand towards David. "Welcome to our little group. I hope you are ready for some serious action."

David confidently extended his hand, meeting Drogath's firm grip. In response to Drogath's question, David replied with a straightforward answer, "Yes, sir. I am ready."

After addressing David, Drogath shifted his attention towards Suzuka, scrutinizing her with a sly smirk and a critical gaze. "And who is this, Larry? A woman?" he sneered. "We're going on a quest, not some leisurely picnic. Can she at least wield a sword?"

Unfazed by Drogath's belittling comment, Suzuka stepped forward and confidently stated, "Hey big boy, I can wield a sword and much more. How about I cut you down a size and you'll see how good I am." Her words were sharp, like the blade of a sword itself.

Drogath gazed at the woman standing before him, he took note of her well-toned physique. He couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by her muscular build, causing him to take a step back. "Okay, okay. I see you can handle yourself just fine," he said, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Let's not get mad, I just wanted to be sure we have capable party members."

The other man standing next to Drogath, who appeared to be in his late twenties, chimed in with a friendly smile. "Don't worry, he's got a mean way of speaking but he's on our side," he said reassuringly. Suzuka relaxed slightly at his words, taking a closer look at the man who had spoken.

He was of average build, about the same size and build as Larry. He was dressed in well-made leather armor, suggesting that he was well-equipped for combat. Upon first glance, it was clear that he was a skilled scout, with a keen eye and steady hand. He was carrying a well-made long bow and a quiver full of arrows, ready for any situation that may arise.

"Allow me to introduce myself," the man said with a nod. "My name is Arin, and I'm a scout by profession. I specialize in tracking and archery. I may not look like much, but I assure you, I'm a valuable member of any party."

Arin had short, tousled brown hair and sharp, piercing blue eyes. He had a calm and collected demeanor, which was evident in the way he carried himself. His leather armor was adorned with various pockets and pouches, indicating that he was well-prepared for any situation.

After everyone had introduced themselves, Larry, the group leader, stood up and addressed the team. "Alright, now that we've all gotten to know each other, let's set off on our journey. We have a few days of walking ahead of us, so let's not waste any daylight and get moving."

As the group began to gather their gear and prepare for the trek, Larry checked in with each person to make sure they were ready and had everything they needed. His attention to detail and concern for his team members demonstrated his commitment to their safety and well-being.

With everyone ready to go, the group set out on their journey, eager to see what lay ahead. They walked in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts and taking in the beauty of the wilderness around them. As they walked, Larry periodically checked in with the group, making sure they were doing okay and that no one was falling behind.

Thanks to Larry's strong leadership, the group made good progress on their journey, covering several miles each day and enjoying each other's company along the way.

 After taking a leisurely pace, they finally arrived at their destination on the evening of the third day. They had chosen to proceed cautiously to avoid any unnecessary encounters with monsters. Upon arrival, they quickly hid themselves and carefully observed the castle ruins. To their relief, there were no signs of any humans in the vicinity.

As they scanned the ruins, they noticed that it was eerily dark, with not even a single glimmer of light visible through the castle windows. They waited for a few minutes, expecting to see some guards or bandits patrolling the area, but there was no sign of any movement.

After making sure that the coast was clear, they crept towards the ruins, moving stealthily and quietly, trying not to make any sound. As they approached the entrance, they were surprised to find that the gates were wide open, with no signs of any recent activity.

Cautiously, they entered the castle ruins, their senses on high alert for any signs of danger.