At the mention of teaming up, Bai Xuan felt a flicker of amusement. You might not be able to handle my healing.
Just then, Bai Xuan thought of the Nightshade team he would be traveling with tomorrow.
This drunken yet experienced dwarven veteran might know something about them.
Bai Xuan leaned in slightly. “Mr. Barend, have you heard of an adventuring party called ‘Nightshade’? Their leader seems to be a Shadow Cat demi-human named Kami. They—”
Right then, a hand wearing a dark fingerless glove silently came to rest on the back of the empty chair beside Bai Xuan.
Then, a voice carrying a hint of a mischievous smile sounded right next to Bai Xuan’s ear:
“Having a good chat, our future teammate? It seems you’ve already found some common ground.”
Bai Xuan’s body tensed for a fraction of a second before instantly relaxing.
He didn’t turn around, simply taking a sip of his tea before responding calmly, “Your entrance is as silent as ever, Miss Kami. You do love flanking people.”
The cat-girl Thief slid gracefully into the empty chair beside Bai Xuan and sat down.
Her golden vertical pupils contracted slightly in the dim light of the tavern.
“Well, I can’t exactly appear on top of your head, can I?” Kami looked upward briefly.
Then, her gaze swept over the messy mugs and plates on the table, lingering for a moment on Barend’s flushed face before settling back on Bai Xuan.
Her smile remained sweet, but there was something else in her tone. “Your dwarven friend seems to be enjoying himself.”
Hearing the voice, the dwarf slowly tried to focus his eyes, wanting to see who had suddenly interrupted.
But the alcohol made his reactions sluggish and his gaze unfocused; he only let out a mumble in the dwarven tongue that no one could understand.
“Still, little brother Bai Xuan,” she said, her voice trailing upward, “we have to get up early for work tomorrow. Team operations require everyone to be in top form. I wouldn’t recommend… well, overindulging.”
“I’m drinking tea,” Bai Xuan said, setting down his cup.
“Even better!”
Kami blinked, her cat ears twitching slightly amidst her hair. “A clear head and sharp reactions are good for all of us.”
“I was just passing by and saw you here, so I thought I’d come say hello.”
As she spoke, her gaze seemingly drifted toward Barend once more.
Kami retracted her gaze and leaned forward slightly, speaking to Bai Xuan. “Remember, tomorrow morning at the entrance of the Adventurer’s Guild. Don’t be late!”
Without waiting for a response, she stood up just as suddenly as she had appeared.
She gave Bai Xuan a casual wave, turned, and with a few light, agile steps, vanished into the shadows of the crowd moving in and out of the tavern entrance.
Barend muttered something else in the direction Kami had disappeared, and this time it was a bit clearer: “…Cat?”
As he mumbled the word, his brow furrowed unconsciously.
“…Shadow… familiar…” He shook his head, but the heavy drunkenness finally won out.
With another loud thud, his head hit the table again. This time, he was completely out, and snores soon followed.
Bai Xuan glanced at the night sky outside the window and called for the boss to settle the bill.
He handed over two silver coins, feeling his coin pouch get a little lighter.
Barend was supposed to treat, but now I’m the one paying. I’ll get it back from him when he wakes up.
“Where do you live? I’ll take you back.”
He was answered by a loud burp.
It seemed he wasn’t going to get an answer.
He hoisted the drunken dwarven warrior up.
Barend was almost completely unconscious, his full weight leaning on Bai Xuan as he slurred the name “Mora…”
Stumbling all the way, they arrived at “The Fire God’s Forge.”
Only a single windproof lantern at the entrance emitted a dim, yellow glow.
Bai Xuan pushed the door open and entered; the shop was silent.
Behind the counter, a human girl had replaced the previous attendant, reading a worn leather-bound book by the light.
Hearing the door, the girl looked up, a habitual welcoming smile forming on her face. “Welcome, how can I—”
Before she could finish, she saw Bai Xuan and the Barend he was supporting, her expression turning to surprise.
“Is Master Mora resting?” Bai Xuan asked.
“The Master took on a very important commission. She’s in the workshop drawing blueprints and calculating material ratios. She worked until very late and only just laid down,” the girl answered in a low voice, her gaze falling on Barend with a look of helplessness.
“Mr. Barend drank too much again… Just help him to the mat by the storage room in the back. He… used to do that often.”
There was a hint of complaining familiarity in her tone.
Following her instructions, Bai Xuan settled the dwarf on a thick leather mat in a corner at the back of the shop.
As soon as Barend hit the mat, he curled up, and his snoring grew even louder.
...
Morning light had not yet fully dispersed the mist over the rooftops of Blackcreek Town, and the cobblestone road was slick with overnight dampness.
Bai Xuan stood outside the gates of the Adventurer’s Guild, his solid iron rod hidden behind his white robe and his staff in hand.
The street was empty, save for the occasional distant sounds of the morning market starting up.
He didn’t have to wait long.
Four figures turned the corner and walked straight toward him.
Kami walked at the front, still wearing the same black leather armor that allowed for easy movement, the daggers at her waist swaying slightly with her steps.
Three people followed behind her.
They stopped in front of Bai Xuan.
Kami’s face wore her usual smile, but her vertical pupils swept over Bai Xuan quickly, as if confirming something.
“Very punctual, little brother Bai Xuan.”
Her voice was light as she gestured to her side. “Quentin, the team’s Swordsman. Logan, our shield user. Tessa, like me, she’s quick with her hands and feet.”
The three who were named reacted indifferently.
Bai Xuan looked over them, focusing his mind:
【Quentin: Swordsman Lv.3】
【HP: 200/200 MP: 40/50】
—
【Logan: Mercenary Lv.2】
【HP: 160/160 MP: 20/20】
—
【Tessa: Thief Lv.2】
【HP: 110/110 MP: 30/35】
Quentin was a tall, thin man with neatly maintained leather armor and a longsword with a handguard on his back.
He gave Bai Xuan a slight nod, his face expressionless.
His gaze lingered briefly on the weapon by Bai Xuan’s hand and the slightly bulging leather pouch at his waist before moving away, and he began checking the bindings on his sword hilt.
Logan was much more robust, wearing a chainmail shirt over his half-plate armor with a leather-covered wooden shield slung behind him.
He carried a short-handled battleaxe and didn’t hide the measuring look in his eyes as he sized up Bai Xuan, leaning over to mutter something to the younger female Thief, Tessa.
Tessa had some freckles on her face and her hair was tied in a neat short ponytail. Hearing him, she glanced at Bai Xuan before quickly looking down, her fingers unconsciously twiddling with the edge of her leather armor.
“The commission has been accepted,” Kami said, giving Bai Xuan no time for pleasantries as she turned and pointed northeast of town.
“The target is a newly emerged goblin nest near the Old Mine that’s been harassing several logging sites.”
“Intelligence says there are about thirty of them, led by a great goblin. Clear them out and bring back their left ears to complete the mission.”
She started walking as she spoke. “I’ll explain the details on the way. Let’s hurry.”
Rate on N.U.
