The rift collapsed behind them with a low rumble.
The torn reality stitched itself back together like a wound slowly closing.
The jagged black portal flickered… then vanished completely.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The evening air outside the eastern forest felt almost unreal after the suffocating pressure of the dungeon.
Fresh wind brushed across Noah’s face.
Birds chirped somewhere in the distant trees.
It felt… peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Hayate leaned slightly against Noah as they walked down the forest trail.
The captain was recovering quickly thanks to the healing magic, but the wounds from Magnus Ironhart were still fresh.
Even an A-rank adventurer wasn’t walking away from that fight without feeling it.
Hayate exhaled slowly.
“…Hell of a first mission.”
Noah chuckled quietly.
“I was expecting maybe a few goblins.”
Hayate laughed.
Then immediately coughed.
“Yeah… sorry about that.”
He wiped a little blood from the corner of his mouth.
“That rift should’ve been a routine C-rank cleanup.”
His eyes hardened slightly.
“But we both know now it wasn’t.”
Noah nodded quietly.
“The Great One.”
Hayate’s jaw tightened.
“Yeah.”
They walked a few more steps along the forest trail, the evening wind pushing gently through the trees.
For a moment the only sound was their boots crunching against the gravel path.
Then Hayate spoke again.
“That revenant…”
His voice dropped slightly.
“…Magnus Ironhart.”
Noah glanced at him.
“You knew who he was?”
Hayate nodded slowly.
“I didn’t at first.”
“But when he took that helmet off…”
Hayate exhaled through his nose.
“General Magnus Ironhart.”
“The Shield of Allador.”
Noah frowned.
“That’s a big title.”
“It was,” Hayate said quietly.
“Years ago.”
He glanced toward the horizon where the sun was beginning to sink behind the trees.
“Magnus was famous.”
“Veteran commander. Brilliant battlefield strategist.”
“He helped hold the northern border of Allador for almost a decade.”
Noah thought about the man they had just fought.
Or what he had become.
“So the Great One raised him.”
Hayate nodded.
“Looks like it.”
They walked in silence for a moment.
Then Noah spoke.
“But why send him into that rift?”
Hayate gave a quiet, humorless chuckle.
“Because if he fought me there, nobody could interfere.”
He gestured vaguely back toward the forest behind them where the rift had been.
“In a dungeon like that… no one outside would even know the fight happened.”
He glanced sideways at Noah.
“I’d be alone.”
“Vulnerable.”
Hayate shook his head slightly.
“A perfect place for an assassination.”
Noah let that sink in.
“So the plan was simple.”
“Kill you inside the rift… and nobody would ever know why.”
“Exactly,” Hayate said.
He exhaled slowly.
“But the Great One didn’t count on you being there.”
Noah rubbed the back of his neck.
“Yeah… I kind of ruined that plan.”
Hayate smirked faintly.
“Yeah.”
“You did.”
They walked a little further down the forest road.
The tall stone walls of Caldonia were beginning to appear through the trees now, lantern lights flickering near the gate.
Hayate’s expression slowly grew more serious.
“You realize something else though.”
Noah glanced over.
“What?”
Hayate spoke quietly.
“If the Great One knew I’d be the one responding to that rift…”
“…then someone out there is watching the guild.”
Noah’s brow furrowed.
“You mean a spy?”
“Maybe.”
Hayate shrugged slightly.
“Or maybe he’s just been observing us long enough to predict our moves.”
He looked ahead toward the city.
“Either way…”
“…this wasn’t random.”
Noah nodded slowly.
“No.”
“It wasn’t.”
Hayate adjusted his stance slightly as they continued walking.
The pain from the earlier wounds still lingered despite the healing magic.
“That revenant was strong.”
“But more than that…”
He glanced toward Noah again.
“He was empowered.”
Noah nodded.
“That sword.”
“Yeah.”
Hayate’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“That crystal was feeding him miasma.”
“And letting the Great One watch the fight.”
Noah exhaled slowly.
“So he saw everything.”
Hayate didn’t answer immediately.
But his silence was answer enough.
They walked the rest of the road in thoughtful quiet.
The gates of Caldonia grew larger with every step.
Lanterns flickered along the stone walls.
Hayate finally broke the silence again.
“We need to report this immediately.”
Noah nodded.
“Galvin.”
“Exactly.”
Hayate gave a tired grin.
“…And kid?”
Noah glanced at him.
“You just helped kill a resurrected war general.”
Noah blinked.
“…When you put it like that it sounds kind of insane.”
Hayate laughed.
Then coughed again.
“Wait until Galvin hears it.”
He shook his head.
“…he’s going to lose his mind.”
Ahead of them the massive gates of Caldonia stood open beneath the evening sky.
And waiting beyond them—
The consequences of what had just happened.
The towering gates of Caldonia loomed ahead, their iron bands glowing faintly in the lantern light of early evening.
Two city guards stood watch as usual, spears resting against their shoulders while they chatted idly.
Then one of them noticed the approaching figures.
“…Captain Hayate?”
Both guards straightened immediately.
As Noah and Hayate stepped closer into the lantern glow, the guards’ expressions changed.
Hayate’s coat was torn.
Blood stained the front of his armor.
And though he was walking under his own power, it was obvious he had taken serious damage.
“Captain!” one of the guards said quickly, stepping forward. “Do you need assistance?”
Another guard hurried closer.
“Should we call a healer?”
Hayate raised a hand calmly, stopping them before they could crowd around.
“No.”
His voice was steady despite the exhaustion in it.
“It’s quite alright.”
He gestured slightly toward Noah.
“I’ve got all the help I need.”
The guards looked toward Noah with curiosity and surprise.
Hayate continued walking slowly through the gate, leaning just slightly on Noah as they passed.
“We’re just heading back to the guild.”
“Nothing to worry about.”
More people along the street had begun to notice.
A few merchants packing up their stalls paused.
A pair of adventurers sitting outside a tavern turned their heads.
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Whispers started spreading quietly.
That’s Captain Hayate…
Why is he hurt?
What happened?
Hayate noticed the growing attention.
He sighed softly.
Then raised his voice just enough for the nearby crowd to hear.
“I made a mistake.”
He smiled casually.
“It happens to the best of us.”
A few people chuckled nervously.
Hayate forced a small laugh himself.
Even though the movement clearly caused pain.
But the gesture worked.
The tension eased.
People began returning to their business.
The guards still watched with concern, but none of them pressed further.
They knew better than to argue with the captain.
Noah glanced sideways at him as they continued down the lantern-lit street.
“You sure you should be joking right now?”
Hayate smirked faintly.
“If people think their captain’s falling apart…”
“…that’ll cause a lot more panic than a few scratches.”
He exhaled slowly.
The walk was clearly costing him energy.
But his posture remained steady.
The two of them continued through the city streets.
And ahead of them—
The tall stone structure of the Adventurers Guild came into view.
Lanterns burned bright along its entrance.
Hayate glanced at the doors.
“Well…”
He gave a tired grin.
“…time to break the news.”
Noah pushed open the heavy guild doors.
The familiar roar of voices, clanking mugs, and conversation spilled out immediately.
Adventurers filled the hall like always.
But as soon as they saw Captain Hayate walking in wounded—
The noise began to fade.
One table went silent.
Then another.
Within seconds the entire hall had turned to stare.
And behind the counter—
Guild Master Galvin slowly looked up.
His sharp eyes moved from Hayate…
To the blood on his armor…
Then to Noah.
Galvin stood.
The scrape of his chair against the wooden floor cut through the silence like a blade.
His eyes swept over Hayate in an instant.
The torn armor.
The dried blood.
The way the captain leaned slightly on Noah just to stay upright.
For the first time since Noah had met him—
The Guild Master looked genuinely alarmed.
“Hayate—”
His voice sharpened immediately.
“Yuri!”
The young clerk behind the counter jumped upright.
“Yes, Guild Master!”
Galvin didn’t take his eyes off Hayate.
“We need your healing.”
“Now.”
His voice rose across the hall.
“My quarters.”
“Move!”
Yuri grabbed the small satchel beneath the desk where she kept her healing reagents and hurried around the counter.
Galvin stepped forward quickly.
“Noah.”
His tone shifted from command to urgency.
“Bring him this way.”
“Quickly.”
Noah nodded.
“I’ve got him.”
He adjusted his grip and helped Hayate forward as Galvin led them through the back hallway of the guild.
Behind them the guild hall erupted into murmurs.
“What happened?”
“Was there a dungeon breach?”
“Did Hayate fight something big?”
But Galvin ignored it all.
The heavy door to his office opened with a sharp shove.
“Lay him on the couch.”
Noah helped Hayate down onto the large leather couch along the wall.
Hayate exhaled heavily as he leaned back.
“…Sorry about the mess.”
Galvin didn’t respond.
He was already scanning the wounds.
His brow furrowed.
“This wasn’t a C-rank rift fight.”
Hayate gave a tired half-smile.
“…No.”
“…It wasn’t.”
Yuri rushed into the room moments later.
Her satchel clinked with small glass bottles and enchanted bandages.
She immediately moved to Hayate’s side.
“Oh my—”
Her hands began glowing faintly as she prepared a healing spell.
“What happened to him?”
Galvin crossed his arms slowly.
His gaze moved toward Noah.
“…That’s exactly what we’re about to find out.”
Hayate chuckled weakly.
Then winced.
“You might want to sit down for this one, Galvin.”
The Guild Master didn’t smile.
Galvin didn’t sit.
He remained standing beside the desk, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Hayate and Noah as Yuri began working.
Soft white light filled the room as her healing magic spread across Hayate’s wounds.
The deep gash across his shoulder slowly began to knit closed.
The torn flesh across his side sealed little by little.
Hayate exhaled slowly as the pain began to ease.
“…Ah.”
“That’s better.”
Yuri frowned slightly while focusing on the spell.
“You shouldn’t joke when you’re bleeding like that, Captain.”
Hayate smirked faintly.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Galvin’s voice cut in again.
Flat.
Controlled.
“…Report.”
Hayate glanced at Noah briefly.
Then leaned back slightly against the couch.
“The rift we responded to wasn’t a normal C-rank.”
Galvin’s brow furrowed immediately.
“Explain.”
Hayate nodded once.
“We cleared the outer mobs easily enough.”
“Standard ghoul pack.”
“Nothing unusual.”
Galvin waited silently.
Hayate continued.
“But when we reached the final chamber…”
His eyes hardened slightly.
“…the dungeon boss was already dead.”
Yuri paused slightly mid-healing.
Galvin’s expression darkened.
“…Already dead.”
Hayate nodded.
“Killed by something else.”
Galvin’s voice lowered.
“What?”
Hayate exhaled slowly.
“A revenant.”
The room went quiet.
Galvin didn’t move.
“…What kind of revenant?”
Hayate met Galvin’s gaze.
He leaned back slightly as Yuri finished binding the last of his wounds, the glow of her healing magic fading from his shoulder.
“It wasn’t just any ordinary revenant.”
The room grew quieter.
Galvin’s expression sharpened.
Hayate continued slowly.
“Someone brought him back.”
He glanced toward Noah briefly.
“…But not just anyone.”
Galvin’s eyes narrowed.
Hayate gave a small nod.
“You remember the journal Noah brought us.”
“The one talking about the corruption… the miasma… and the cult.”
Galvin’s face hardened immediately.
“…The Great One.”
Hayate nodded.
“That’s who raised him.”
He exhaled slowly.
“General Magnus Ironhart.”
“The Shield of Allador.”
Yuri’s eyes widened slightly.
Hayate continued.
“And he wasn’t just wandering through that dungeon.”
“He was summoned there.”
“Placed in that rift specifically.”
Galvin folded his arms tighter.
“For what purpose?”
Hayate answered without hesitation.
“To kill me.”
The words settled heavily in the room.
“He said it himself.”
Hayate continued.
“The Great One sent him there knowing I’d respond to the rift.”
“In a dungeon fight…”
“…no one could interfere.”
Galvin’s jaw tightened slightly.
Hayate gestured toward Noah.
“But that plan didn’t account for the rookie here.”
Noah rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
Hayate smirked faintly.
“He saved my life.”
Galvin didn’t react immediately.
Hayate continued.
“There’s more.”
He nodded toward Noah.
“Tell him about the sword.”
Noah stepped forward slightly.
“The general’s sword had a miasma crystal embedded in the hilt.”
“It was feeding him power.”
“And…”
Noah hesitated briefly.
“…someone was watching the fight through it.”
Galvin’s eyes hardened.
“The Great One.”
Noah nodded.
“Yes.”
Hayate continued.
“After we killed Magnus…”
“The crystal activated.”
“He spoke to us directly through the blade.”
Yuri looked unsettled.
“What did he say?”
Hayate’s expression darkened.
“He said…”
“…we’d stopped his plans for now.”
“He also said this was only the beginning.”
Galvin’s gaze slowly shifted toward Noah.
“And what else?”
Hayate answered instead.
“He wants me dead.”
He paused briefly.
“Which means he probably wants you dead too.”
Galvin didn’t deny it.
Hayate gestured slightly toward Noah again.
“And now…”
“…he knows about Noah as well.”
The room went quiet again.
Galvin’s eyes studied Noah carefully.
Then the Guild Master slowly exhaled.
“…So the Great One has finally decided to step onto the board.”
Hayate nodded.
“Looks that way.”
Galvin’s voice dropped slightly.
“Then the game just changed.”
The words settled heavily in the room.
Galvin stood quietly for a moment, arms crossed as he looked between Hayate and Noah.
Then he spoke again.
“From this moment on…”
His voice was firm.
“You two will operate together.”
Hayate raised an eyebrow.
Galvin continued.
“I can’t afford to have either of you killed.”
His gaze moved briefly toward Noah.
“You just proved you’re capable of surviving something most veterans wouldn’t.”
Then back to Hayate.
“And you’re still one of the strongest fighters this city has.”
Hayate shifted slightly on the couch, a small grin creeping onto his face.
“Well…”
“That works out.”
Galvin looked at him.
Hayate nodded toward Noah.
“I was going to say the same thing.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“I want to take the kid under my wing.”
Galvin raised an eyebrow.
“Train him?”
Hayate nodded.
“He showed serious potential in that fight.”
His grin widened a bit.
“Actually… potential might be an understatement.”
He glanced toward Noah.
“Kid adapts fast.”
“Moves fast.”
“And he’s got guts.”
Hayate leaned back again.
“With the right training…”
“…he could become something special.”
Galvin studied Noah quietly for a moment.
Then he nodded once.
“Yes.”
“He needs to grow stronger.”
His voice lowered slightly.
“Especially if the Great One is already moving pieces.”
Yuri looked between them with wide eyes.
Galvin turned toward the desk.
He opened a small drawer and removed a thin metal plate with the guild crest etched into it.
Then he placed it on the desk in front of Noah.
“Noah J. Blackwell.”
His voice carried the official tone of the guild now.
“For saving the life of Captain Hayate…”
“And for defeating the revenant General Magnus Ironhart of Allador…”
Galvin paused briefly.
“…which I might add is quite the feat for a first mission.”
Hayate chuckled quietly.
Galvin slid the plate across the desk.
“I am promoting you to Rank B Adventurer.”
Noah blinked.
“…Already?”
Hayate laughed.
“Trust me kid.”
“That’s not normal.”
Galvin gave a small nod.
“No.”
“It isn’t.”
“But neither was what you just accomplished.”
He gestured toward the plate.
“Your new guild card.”
Noah picked it up carefully.
The metal shimmered faintly as runes activated across its surface.
Guild Identification Updated
Rank: B
Noah exhaled slowly.
“Wow.”
Galvin leaned back in his chair.
“Now.”
“There’s another matter we must address.”
Hayate’s expression grew serious again.
“The king.”
Galvin nodded.
“Yes.”
“If the Great One is resurrecting dead generals…”
“…then this is no longer just a guild issue.”
His eyes hardened slightly.
“This is a matter for the crown.”
Hayate nodded slowly.
“You’re going to request an audience?”
“Immediately.”
Galvin answered.
“I’ll send word to the palace tonight.”
He looked at both of them again.
“In the meantime…”
“Recover.”
“Train.”
“And prepare yourselves.”
Hayate gave a tired smirk.
“Sounds like more fun.”
Galvin’s tone remained steady.
“Because until we know what the Great One is planning…”
“…that’s the only thing we can do.”
The Guild Master stood again.
“You’re dismissed.”
Hayate pushed himself slowly to his feet.
“Come on, newbie.”
He clapped Noah lightly on the shoulder.
“Let’s go get patched up and celebrate your ridiculous promotion.”
Noah chuckled.
“Yeah…”
He looked down briefly at the new guild card in his hand.
Rank B.
His first real step in this world.
But something told him this promotion wasn’t just a reward.
It was preparation.
Because whatever the Great One had planned next…
It was coming.
The heavy tension inside Galvin’s office slowly faded as the meeting ended.
Hayate stretched his shoulder cautiously, testing Yuri’s healing work.
“Alright,” he muttered, rolling the arm once. “That’s a lot better.”
Galvin waved a hand toward the door.
“Go.”
Hayate smirked.
“Yes, sir.”
He pushed himself upright and nodded toward Noah.
“Come on, newbie.”
The two stepped back into the guild hall.
The moment the doors opened—
Noise hit them like a wave.
Tankards clinked.
Adventurers argued over quests.
Someone laughed loudly near the back tables.
Then someone noticed.
“…Captain?”
A few heads turned.
Then more.
The chatter began to die down again as people noticed the bandages around Hayate’s shoulder… and Noah standing beside him.
Hayate raised a hand casually.
“Relax.”
His grin widened.
“Good news.”
The entire hall leaned in slightly.
Then Hayate slapped Noah on the back.
“Your boy here just got promoted.”
Noah blinked.
Hayate raised his voice slightly.
“Rank B!”
For half a second—
Silence.
Then the hall exploded.
“WHAT!?”
“No way!”
“In one day!?”
Tankards slammed against tables as people stood.
Across the room—
The trio Noah had noticed earlier looked up from their drinks.
The silver-haired boy at the center of the table froze mid-sip.
Then promptly spat his drink across the table.
“WHAT?!”
Ale splattered across the wood as the entire table jolted in surprise.
The massive man sitting beside him—Rook—nearly flipped his chair backwards when he jumped up.
“You’re kidding me!” Rook barked, his huge arms crossing over his chest as he stared across the hall at Noah. “Rank B!? In one day!?”
Across from them, the purple-haired mage girl leaned forward with wide eyes, brushing a strand of violet hair from her face as she stared toward the counter.
“That can’t be right…” she muttered.
Her sharp gaze moved from Noah… to Hayate… then back again.
“You’re telling me the rookie who walked in here this morning just skipped half the guild ranks?”
The silver-haired boy slammed his mug down on the table.
“That’s absurd.”
His voice was sharp now, irritated.
“There’s no way.”
Rook leaned forward, squinting across the room.
“…That the same kid who bumped into us earlier?”
The mage girl nodded slowly.
“Yep.”
Rook snorted.
“Had to get lucky.”
The silver-haired boy scoffed loudly.
“Or someone pulled strings.”
Across the hall, Noah had clearly heard them.
He turned his head slightly toward their table.
Then gave them a small, confident smirk.
That did it.
The silver-haired boy’s eye twitched.
“Oh hell no.”
He shoved his chair back and stood abruptly.
“Come on.”
Rook stood up beside him, cracking his knuckles.
“Yeah, this is bullshit.”
The purple-haired mage girl sighed softly as she stood, grabbing her staff.
“Relax you two.”
But even she looked annoyed.
The silver-haired boy shot one last irritated glare toward Noah.
“Lucky rookie.”
Rook shook his head as they headed for the door.
“Rank B my ass.”
The guild doors slammed shut behind them as the trio stormed out.
For a moment—
Then the entire guild hall erupted into laughter.
Hayate nearly choked on his drink.
“Well.”
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Looks like you already made rivals.”
Noah glanced toward the door where the trio had stormed out.
Hayate waved a hand dismissively.
“Don’t worry about those pushovers.”
He leaned back against the counter and gestured toward the door.
“The silver-haired one? His name’s Kael.”
“He’s a Rank C.”
Noah raised an eyebrow.
“Really?”
Hayate smirked.
“Yeah. Loud mouth, decent swordsman, thinks he’s better than he is.”
He pointed toward the direction they’d left.
“The big guy was Rook.”
“Rank D.”
Noah blinked.
“The huge one?”
Hayate nodded.
“Yep.”
“Strong as an ox.”
“Not much else going on upstairs though.”
A few nearby adventurers laughed.
Hayate continued.
“And the purple-haired girl…”
He tapped the side of his temple.
“Selene.”
“She’s their mage.”
“Rank C as well.”
Noah nodded slowly.
“So two C ranks and a D.”
Hayate shrugged.
“Basically.”
“They run around pretending they’re a big shot party.”
Then he smirked again.
“Truth is?”
“They’re still trying to prove themselves.”
He took another drink.
“And you just leapfrogged all three of them in one day.”
Noah chuckled awkwardly.
“Yeah… I can see why they’re upset.”
Hayate grinned.
“Upset?”
“Oh kid.”
He clapped Noah on the shoulder.
“They’re furious.”
The nearby tables burst out laughing.
One of the older adventurers raised his mug.
“To the rookie who broke the guild rankings!”
More cheers followed.
Hayate leaned closer and spoke a little quieter.
“Don’t let it get to your head though.”
His tone carried the calm seriousness of a veteran now.
“You earned that promotion.”
“But now people are going to start watching you.”
Noah nodded.
“Good.”
Hayate raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
Noah smirked slightly.
“Let them watch.”
Hayate stared at him for a moment.
Then burst out laughing.
“Alright.”
“Yeah…”
He raised his mug again.
“You’re going to do just fine around here.”
The celebration rolled on.
Someone shoved a deck of worn playing cards onto the nearest table.
“Alright!” a dwarf shouted. “If the rookie’s celebrating, he’s playing!”
A few adventurers dragged chairs over while tankards continued to circulate around the table.
Hayate dropped into a seat beside Noah and tossed a coin toward the center of the table.
“Alright boys.”
“Let’s see if the new B-rank is lucky with cards too.”
Noah laughed and sat down.
Across from him sat a burly woman in leather armor with braided hair who introduced herself with a grin.
“Name’s Branna.”
She pointed her thumb toward the man beside her.
“That’s Torin.”
Torin lifted his mug.
“Welcome to the madhouse.”
Cards were shuffled.
Coins clinked into the middle of the table.
Hayate leaned back casually, watching Noah.
“You know how to play?”
Noah shrugged.
“A little.”
The dwarf across the table squinted.
“Uh oh.”
“That’s what they all say before they rob you.”
The first round started.
Within minutes—
Torin slammed his cards down.
“No way!”
Hayate burst out laughing.
“Beginner’s luck!”
Noah looked down at his hand, blinking.
“…I think I won?”
The dwarf groaned loudly.
“Of course the rookie wins!”
Branna shook her head.
“Great.”
“We’re feeding the new B-rank now.”
Hayate leaned toward Noah with a smirk.
“Careful.”
“You win too much money tonight and the guild might promote you again.”
Noah chuckled.
“I think I’ve had enough promotions for one day.”
The table roared with laughter.
Stories started flying after that.
Torin talked about the time he accidentally kicked a goblin chief down a cliff.
The dwarf told an overly dramatic story about wrestling a swamp troll.
Hayate exaggerated the rift story just enough to keep everyone entertained.
“And then—”
He leaned back dramatically.
“The revenant swings down at me like a falling mountain.”
The table leaned in.
“And this kid—”
Hayate pointed at Noah.
“Just jumps straight in and saves my ass.”
The table erupted.
“No way!”
“The Captain got rescued by the rookie!”
Hayate raised his mug.
“Hey.”
“A win’s a win.”
More laughter followed.
Then a soft voice appeared beside Noah.
“Well well…”
Noah looked up.
Standing beside the table was a beautiful elven girl he had never seen before.
Long white hair flowed down past her shoulders like silver silk. Her light blue eyes shimmered in the lantern light, sharp and curious. A sleek bow rested across her back and she wore fitted light leather armor that hugged her frame in a way that made Noah suddenly forget how breathing worked.
She folded her arms lightly and smiled down at him.
“What do we have here?”
Her voice carried a playful tone.
“I leave the guild for a single quest…”
“…and a rookie gets promoted to B-rank in one day, huh?”
Her eyes moved over him slowly.
“Mmm.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Easy on the eyes too.”
Captain Hayate chuckled under his breath.
Across the table the dwarf leaned toward him and whispered quietly,
“…Here we go.”
“This ought to be good.”
The elf casually pulled a chair over—
But instead of sitting normally, she dropped into the seat very close to Noah.
So close their legs nearly touched.
Noah froze.
His brain immediately short-circuited.
She leaned toward him slightly, resting her elbow on the table as she studied him.
“So…”
“Got anyone special waiting back home, cutie?”
Noah’s face turned bright red.
“Uh—no—I mean—”
His eyes darted nervously—
And unfortunately landed directly on the front of her armor.
Right on her chest.
He panicked and snapped his head away immediately.
What the hell are you doing!? Noah screamed internally.
Look somewhere else!
Before he could recover—
A familiar voice suddenly rumbled inside his mind.
Ignis.
Noah…
The dire wolf’s deep voice carried an amused tone.
You seem to have trouble with the opposite sex.
Noah’s eyes widened slightly.
What?
Ignis continued thoughtfully.
In my pack, when a female shows interest, the male must assert dominance.
That is how it is done.
Noah nearly choked.
Huh!?
Ignis, that’s not how—
His thoughts cut off as the elf girl’s smile widened.
“Like what you see?”
Noah nearly choked.
“N-no!”
The dwarf suddenly burst out laughing.
“Alright alright!”
He slapped the table.
“That’s enough messing with the newbie!”
The elf laughed softly, clearly amused.
Noah blinked in confusion.
“Wait—what?”
Captain Hayate burst out laughing.
“Oh man…”
He wiped a tear from his eye.
“Kid…”
He pointed toward the elf.
“This here is Aeris Moonfall.”
He gestured toward the bow on her back.
“One of the best scouts in the guild.”
The dwarf raised his mug proudly.
“And the reason half the idiots in this hall volunteer for suicide missions.”
Aeris smirked.
“Oh please.”
She glanced sideways at Noah again.
“I was just curious.”
Her bright eyes studied him one more time.
“You’re the one who saved Hayate from that revenant, right?”
Noah rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“…Something like that.”
Aeris smiled.
“Impressive.”
She stood up and stretched lightly.
“Well.”
She glanced down at Noah again.
“Don’t die on your next mission, B-rank.”
Then she gave him a playful wink.
“Would be a shame.”
She walked off toward another table.
The dwarf leaned toward Noah again.
“…You survived a revenant.”
He raised his mug.
“But that was way more dangerous.”
Hayate burst out laughing again.
Noah buried his face in his hands.
“I hate this guild.”
The entire table erupted in laughter.
The laughter at the table slowly settled into a warm, easy rhythm.
Mugs clinked.
Cards slapped against the wooden table.
Someone in the corner started playing a small lute while a group of adventurers sang loudly—and very poorly—along with the tune.
Noah leaned back slightly in his chair, still a little red in the face from the earlier encounter.
The dwarf across from him grinned.
“Relax, kid. You survived.”
Noah raised an eyebrow.
“Barely.”
Hayate snorted.
“You should’ve seen your face.”
Noah groaned and dropped his head onto the table.
“I should have just become an alchemist.”
“Too late,” the dwarf said, sliding a small stack of wooden tokens toward the center of the table. “You’re one of us now.”
Noah looked down.
“…What’s that?”
The dwarf grinned.
“A better game.”
Hayate leaned back in his chair.
“Oh no.”
The dwarf slapped the table happily.
“Oh yes.”
A few nearby adventurers leaned closer, clearly interested.
The dwarf spread the tokens out.
“Alright! Newbie gets the first guess.”
Noah blinked.
“Guess what?”
The dwarf pointed dramatically toward a wooden mug sitting in the center of the table.
“Simple.”
He held up three fingers.
“One of us secretly puts one of these tokens under a mug.”
“Then you guess who did it.”
Noah nodded slowly.
“…Okay.”
The dwarf leaned closer.
“If you guess right, they drink.”
He grinned wider.
“If you guess wrong…”
He slid a mug toward Noah.
“…you drink.”
Noah stared at the mug.
“…This seems rigged.”
Hayate lifted his drink lazily.
“It absolutely is.”
The dwarf clapped his hands.
“Alright!”
He spun around in his chair and quickly shuffled the tokens under the mugs while everyone pretended not to look.
“Done!”
He slammed his hands down dramatically.
“Alright newbie.”
“Who hid the token?”
Noah looked around the table.
The dwarf looked way too confident.
Hayate looked completely bored.
A random adventurer beside them was trying not to laugh.
Noah narrowed his eyes.
“…You.”
He pointed at the dwarf.
The table went silent.
Then the dwarf lifted the mug slowly.
Nothing underneath.
The entire table erupted in laughter.
“Drink!”
The dwarf shoved the mug toward him.
Noah sighed and took a long drink.
The dwarf wiped tears from his eyes.
“Oh this is gonna be a fun night.”
The game continued.
Noah lost the next two rounds.
Hayate somehow won every single time without even trying.
At one point the dwarf accused him of cheating.
Hayate raised an eyebrow.
“You’re just predictable.”
Another round.
The mugs slammed down again.
The dwarf grinned.
“Alright newbie.”
“Final round.”
Noah leaned forward.
He scanned every face carefully.
The dwarf was smirking.
Hayate was completely relaxed.
The others looked suspicious.
Noah pointed slowly.
“…Hayate.”
The Vice Captain lifted the mug.
A small wooden token rolled out.
The table exploded.
“HEY!”
The dwarf slammed the table.
“That’s impossible!”
Hayate smirked and slid the mug toward the dwarf.
“Drink.”
The dwarf groaned and took a long drink while everyone laughed.
Even Noah laughed now.
For the first time since arriving in this world—
He actually felt like he belonged somewhere.
Eventually the night began to quiet down.
The guild hall slowly emptied as adventurers drifted off toward their rooms.
Noah stepped outside for some air.
The cool night breeze brushed across his face.
A moment later Hayate stepped out beside him, leaning casually against the wooden railing.
“You handled yourself well tonight.”
Noah raised an eyebrow.
“The game or the revenant?”
Hayate smirked.
“Both.”
They stood there quietly for a moment.
Lanterns flickered across the streets of Caldonia below.
Hayate stretched slightly.
“Get some rest, Noah.”
He glanced back toward the door.
“Your training begins tomorrow.”
Noah exhaled slowly.
“…I can’t wait.”
Hayate gave a small nod.
“…And kid.”
Noah looked over.
“Thank you.”
Then Hayate headed back inside.
Noah stayed leaning against the railing, looking up at the night sky.
The stars stretched endlessly above the city.
Beautiful.
Silent.
He thought about everything that had happened.
The rift.
The revenant.
The Great One.
Aoi…
Was she really out there somewhere?
Reborn like he was?
Or was he just chasing a memory?
A shooting star streaked across the sky.
Noah watched it disappear.
“…Guess it wouldn’t hurt to wish.”
Then—
Something strange caught his eye.
Far out among the stars…
A faint distortion.
A swirling patch of purple darkness twisting slowly across the cosmos.
At its center—
A distant red star pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat.
Noah blinked.
“…What?”
He rubbed his eyes and looked again.
The sky was normal.
Just stars.
Nothing strange.
No purple.
No red pulse.
Noah stared for another moment.
Then shook his head.
“…Okay.”
“Now I’m definitely seeing things.”
He pushed himself off the railing.
“Time for bed.”
And with that—
Noah stepped back inside the guild hall.
Unaware that far beyond the sky above Caldonia…
Something had just begun to take place.
