It had not been long after entering the inn that Algeni noticed Amanda standing behind the counter with nothing to do, calmly going over a few papers. Warm afternoon light streamed through the windows, filling the cozy room with a golden glow. When she looked up and recognized him, an amused smile spread across her face.
“So, you’re back?” Amanda teased with a playful grin. “I thought that after getting your adventurer’s card, you’d run off to complete missions like a madman.”
Algeni smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Honestly, that was my plan,” he admitted. “But right now I’m starving, and this was the only place that came to mind.”
Amanda let out a soft laugh and rested an elbow on the counter.
“So you only remembered me because you were hungry? And here I was thinking you wanted to come visit me.”
Algeni’s eyes widened in panic, afraid she had misunderstood him.
“W-Wait! That’s not what I meant! I didn’t just come because of that… I’ll also be staying here tonight.”
Amanda folded her arms, a sly smile revealing that she was thoroughly enjoying his reaction.
“Really? I’m glad my little strategy still works, even if I’m getting older.”
Algeni narrowed his eyes suspiciously before asking slowly,
“Strategy…? Don’t tell me all of that was just to…”
Amanda burst into laughter.
“Yep. Now you’re a customer, at least for one night, thanks to my ‘make people feel sorry for me’ strategy.”
Her words struck Algeni like an arrow to the heart.
He dramatically dropped to his knees with a defeated expression and muttered to himself,
“The last time I got tricked like this was when that idiot Pearn told me we were going to watch Penguins of Madagascar… and we ended up watching The Penguins Are Going to Suck Me Off…”
Amanda laughed even harder as she walked over and gently patted him on the shoulder.
“Come on, don’t feel so bad. It was only a little lie.”
Algeni slowly got back to his feet, still looking completely defeated.
“Even so… your guilt-trip strategy actually worked…”
Amanda smiled, clearly entertained by his reaction.
“Come on. I’ll make you something to eat… but don’t think it’ll be free.”
Algeni let out a long, weary sigh.
“Well… it’s better than nothing.”
Amanda stepped out from behind the counter and led him toward the inn’s dining hall.
The room felt warm and inviting. Several sturdy wooden tables were occupied by travelers and adventurers chatting between bites of food. The comforting aroma of freshly baked bread and a hearty stew drifted through the air, blending with the quiet clinking of cutlery against plates and the low murmur of conversations. Sunlight poured through the windows, giving the entire inn a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere.
As Algeni looked around at the customers, curiosity got the better of him.
“Do you run this place all by yourself?”
Amanda raised an eyebrow and answered with a teasing smile.
“What? After I tricked you, do you suddenly want to work here?”
Algeni quickly shook his head.
“No, that’s not it. It just seems difficult to manage a place like this alone. Cooking and serving customers at the same time must be exhausting.”
Amanda laughed sincerely.
“Of course it is! If I had to do everything by myself, I would’ve gone out of business a long time ago. Luckily, I have help.”
Algeni nodded slightly.
“Sorry if it seems like I’m asking too many questions. I’m just curious.”
Amanda gave him a patient, reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s perfectly normal to ask lots of questions when you arrive somewhere new, and I don’t mind answering them.”
Algeni let out a relieved sigh.
“I’m glad my questions don’t bother you.”
“They really don’t,” Amanda replied warmly. “Actually, I enjoy it when someone wants to have a conversation. Most people only come here to eat or rent a room. I won’t lie—that’s what keeps this inn running—but standing behind the counter waiting for customers all day can get pretty boring.”
She shrugged before continuing with a slightly amused expression.
“And it’s not always pleasant either. Some customers are complete jerks, and I have to throw them out before they cause a scene. It’s a real headache.” She looked at Algeni with an easy smile. “Fortunately, you don’t seem like that kind of person.”
Algeni returned the smile politely.
“That sounds like a very stressful job… I hope I won’t cause you any trouble.”
Amanda waved a hand dismissively, brushing the matter aside.
“Anyway, forget about that. Go ahead and take a seat at one of the empty tables. I’ll be right back.”
Algeni nodded and did as she said. He chose a seat beside a window where warm rays of sunlight streamed inside, illuminating the polished wooden table. As he waited, he quietly observed the lively atmosphere of the inn. Travelers laughed over drinks, adventurers exchanged stories about their latest quests, and the rich aroma of fresh bread and simmering stew drifted through the room. Meanwhile, his stomach growled over and over, reminding him just how hungry he was.
About ten minutes later, Amanda returned carrying several plates piled high with food, balancing stacks of dishes in both hands with remarkable ease.
Algeni watched her with concern and quickly asked,
“Do you need some help with that? It looks like you’re about to fall.”
Amanda smiled with complete confidence.
“Thanks, but don’t worry. I’ve got it under control.”
She carefully set every plate down on the table one by one. The delicious aroma of the freshly prepared meal immediately filled the air, making Algeni’s stomach protest once again with an even louder growl.
“I hope this is enough,” Amanda said with a playful smile. “And remember, none of this is free.”
Algeni frowned slightly.
“I understood that the first time you told me. Why do you keep repeating it?”
Amanda’s grin turned mischievous.
“Just in case you forgot.”
Without asking permission, she pulled out a chair and sat across from him.
The moment she did, Algeni began devouring the food as though he hadn’t eaten in days.
Amanda watched him with obvious surprise.
“I thought you were just a little hungry, but you look like you haven’t eaten anything for days.”
Algeni swallowed quickly before answering.
“A lot happened… and, well, I was really hungry. Besides…” He glanced down at the food with genuine appreciation. “This is delicious.”
Amanda smiled proudly.
“I’m glad you like it… although I don’t know if I should be worried about whatever happened to you before you arrived in this village, considering you were almost killed by an orc afterward.”
Her words caused Algeni to stop eating for a few seconds.
He remained silent, slowly chewing as his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
“Should I tell her everything that happened? I’ve only known her for a short time, but she seems trustworthy. I don’t think she’d do anything bad with the information. Still… I should avoid telling her I’m from another world. I have no idea how she’d react. She might think I’m crazy… or even become frightened. I’d better tell her what happened while leaving out that part of the truth.”
After swallowing, he looked up calmly.
“Do you want to know?”
“Not really.”
Algeni dramatically fell backward off his chair, which scraped loudly across the wooden floor.
“W-What?! Then why did you ask?!”
Amanda burst into laughter, loud enough that several nearby customers turned to glance at them before returning to their own conversations.
“Because it might change the way I see you…” she replied with an amused smile. “And if that happened, maybe I’d end up feeling bad enough not to charge you. So no, I’m not letting you use the pity strategy.”
Algeni let out a long sigh.
“Seriously? We just met, and that’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
Amanda closed her eyes and casually raised both hands.
“Doesn’t matter… you never know.”
Already exhausted by their strange conversation, Algeni decided not to argue any further. He quietly continued eating while the gentle murmur of conversations, the clatter of dishes, and the cozy atmosphere of the inn surrounded them.
About twenty minutes later, not a single bite remained on any of the plates.
Algeni set his utensils down on the table and leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
“That was delicious.”
Amanda smiled proudly.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it… but that doesn’t save you from paying.”
Algeni made a resigned face.
“You know… I just finished eating. You really shouldn’t ask your customers to pay that quickly.”
Amanda shrugged without the slightest concern.
“Hey, I don’t tell you how to be an adventurer, so don’t tell me how to run my inn.”
Algeni sighed once again.
“Okay, okay, I get it. How much do I owe you?”
Amanda’s smile widened before she answered.
“Forty coins.”
Algeni’s eyes went wide.
“F-Forty?!”
Amanda repeated herself without changing her expression.
“Forty coins. Are you deaf or something?”
Algeni immediately shook his head.
“I’m not deaf, but… forty coins? That’s almost half of what I earned from that mission! What exactly did I just eat? Dragon meat or something?”
Amanda folded her arms and raised an eyebrow.
“If I had dragon meat, do you really think I’d serve it to just anyone?”
Algeni sighed in defeat.
“I guess not… but forty coins… Did you make me the most expensive meal on the entire menu or something?”
Amanda patiently extended one hand toward him.
“Just give me the forty coins and stop complaining. You said you weren’t going to cause me any trouble, and, you know… you’re causing quite a bit.”
Algeni let out another defeated sigh.
He pulled out the pouch of coins Diana had given him as payment for completing the mission. Carefully counting them one by one, he gathered forty coins and placed them into Amanda’s waiting hand.
“If one meal costs this much,” he muttered, “I don’t even want to imagine how much a room costs.”
Amanda accepted the coins and looked at him with a surprisingly gentle smile. The playful teasing faded from her expression for just a moment as she prepared to answer, while the warm atmosphere of the inn continued around them, filled with quiet conversations and the comforting scent of freshly cooked food.
A faint smile appeared on Amanda’s face as she casually waved a hand.
“Don’t worry about that.”
Algeni stared at her in disbelief after her sudden change in attitude.
“You’re a demon disguised as an old lady.”
Amanda smiled with complete composure.
“I’ve been called much worse, young man.”
Algeni watched her silently for a few seconds before thinking to himself,
“Seriously… my luck is absolute garbage.”
He let out another long sigh before pushing himself up from his chair.
“Well, I’m going back to the Adventurers’ Guild to take on a few more missions.”
Amanda nodded as she began gathering the empty plates from the table.
“I’ll be waiting for you.”
Algeni turned his head for one last farewell.
For just a brief instant, his imagination played a trick on him.
He could have sworn Amanda was smiling with a pair of enormous black horns rising from her head and a long demon’s tail lazily swaying behind her.
He blinked, shook his head, and the illusion vanished.
“…Yeah, I’ve definitely been around too much weird stuff lately.”
Without another word, he stepped out of the inn.
As he walked through the bustling village streets toward the Adventurers’ Guild, merchants called out to passing customers while adventurers wandered between shops carrying weapons and supplies. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone roads, but Algeni barely paid attention.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
“Why does this kind of thing always happen to me? I almost died three times in less than a week… and now I got scammed out of forty coins. I don’t know much about this world’s economy, but still… that definitely felt like a scam.”
With his head slightly lowered and his spirits just a little dampened, he continued walking through the crowd of adventurers and merchants until, a few minutes later, the familiar Adventurers’ Guild came into view.
He was just about to walk inside when—
Well, what a surprise.
Someone stepped directly into his path.
The men he had knocked unconscious on the day he first arrived in the village had returned. The moment they recognized him, they began approaching with unmistakable hostility.
One of them pointed an accusing finger at him and growled,
“Well, well… look who we’ve got here. The bastard who knocked us unconscious.”
Algeni recognized them immediately.
He answered in a calm, even voice.
“Listen, I really don’t want any more trouble. Just forget what happened that day.”
“Not a chance. We’re members of the Black Swords Guild, one of the strongest guilds around. We can’t let our name be stained by some F-Rank adventurer.”
Algeni let out a slow, tired sigh.
“The most original guild name I’ve ever heard… Black Swords. And they’re just as annoying as their name.”
He narrowed his eyes before replying firmly,
“Look, I honestly don’t care about your guild or who you are. I just want to complete missions and earn some money, so if you don’t mind, I’m leaving.”
Without waiting for an answer, he walked toward the guild entrance.
Suddenly—
One of the men drew his sword and lunged at him from behind.
The attack lasted less than a heartbeat.
Algeni reacted almost instinctively.
His sword flashed from its scabbard with astonishing speed.
Clang!
Steel collided against steel.
He knocked the attacker’s blade aside with a single precise movement, sending the weapon spinning high into the air.
Before the man even realized what had happened, the razor-sharp tip of Algeni’s sword was already resting against his throat.
Silence.
The bustling sounds around them seemed to disappear for a moment.
The attacker slowly raised both hands in surrender.
Looking at him with cold, unwavering eyes, Algeni spoke in a serious voice.
“I’m giving you and your friend one more chance to walk away.”
His grip on the sword tightened ever so slightly.
“But if either of you tries something like that again…”
The point of the blade pressed gently against the man’s neck.
“…I’ll cut both of your throats.”
“Do you understand?”
The two men turned completely pale.
Neither of them dared to answer.
Without saying another word, they spun around and fled as fast as they could, disappearing into the crowded street.
Algeni slowly lowered his sword before sliding it back into its scabbard.
He released a quiet sigh.
“Maybe I went a little too far… but I’d rather they fear me than try something like that again.”
With the path finally clear, he stepped into the Adventurers’ Guild.
The enormous hall was just as lively as ever.
Adventurers constantly came and went, turning in completed requests while others examined the quest board or gathered around sturdy wooden tables to rest. Receptionists worked tirelessly behind the counter as conversations echoed throughout the building.
Algeni walked over to the reception desk where Diana was still busy assisting customers.
When she noticed him, she looked up with a pleasant smile.
“Well, you’re back already. I thought you’d wait until tomorrow before taking on another mission.”
Algeni answered naturally.
“I like using my time as efficiently as possible.”
Diana smiled approvingly.
“That’s a good habit. Not many adventurers know how to manage their time well.”
Algeni rested one hand on the counter.
“So, what missions are available?”
Diana pulled out several low-rank requests and carefully spread them across the counter.
“These are the missions recommended for F-Rank adventurers.”
Algeni quietly read through them.
Gather medicinal herbs.
Eliminate six wolves and bring back their special claws as proof.
Exterminate five goblins.
He remained silent for a few moments, carefully considering each request.
“The goblin mission sounds tempting… I’m already getting tired of dealing with those things.”
After thinking it over for another moment, he finally made his decision.
“I think I’ll take the wolf mission.”
He picked up the request form.
A hint of concern appeared on Diana’s face.
“Are you sure? It’s dangerous to take on missions like this by yourself. Even if you’re strong, you could still get hurt… or worse.”
Algeni noticed the concern in her voice and answered with a calm smile.
“Don’t worry. I’m used to fighting alone. This is nothing.”
Diana still looked unconvinced.
“I’m sure… but there are plenty of adventuring parties you could join.”
Algeni gently shook his head.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll handle it myself. But seriously… thank you for worrying about me.”
Diana sighed in resignation.
“Then there’s nothing more I can do.”
She slid the request toward him.
“Please take the mission… and be very careful.”
Algeni smiled confidently.
“I will.”
He tucked the request away with his belongings and began walking away from the counter.
Diana watched him leave with a faint smile.
“Adventurers these days are always in such a hurry… although that boy reminds me a lot of Nen.”
With that thought, she returned to her work as the lively chatter and constant bustle of the Adventurers’ Guild continued all around her, while Algeni prepared to set out on his very first solo mission.