In the same inn where Aya had spent the night, rustling noises stirred in the room where she was currently sleeping. Her eyes slightly twitched at the sound, and she gradually woke up, fully aware that she needed to prepare herself to leave the place soon.

"Aya."

Hiroki's voice called out to the sleepy girl, who became aware of her first signs of waking up.

"We should hurry up and leave before the sun rises."

Slowly regaining her senses from her restful slumber, Aya opened her eyes to find her benefactor standing before her first thing in the morning.

"Ah, sorry...." she apologized, her blurry vision picking up on the presence of another person in her room. Having Hiroki as a companion in her room had become a regular occurrence, so she didn't react much to his presence.

However, once she completely regained her vision from just waking up, she noticed that something was different about her benefactor. 

“Eh….?” she uttered in surprise.

From his usual cloudy form as a ghost, right now he seemed almost to be just like another human. With long human legs, a tall and well-toned body, sharp red eyes, and long, silky white hair that made his pale face rather attractive. A strange feeling stirred in Aya's stomach as she couldn't understand this sudden transformation.

"Hiroki.... Is that you?" she asked, feeling unsure and nervous about this new appearance.

"You can't tell? Or are you still asleep?" Hiroki replied with a slight smile, his quiet response causing Aya's face to slightly blush from the unexpected change.

“Ah!— N-no, it's just that you look so different. What happened?”

"It's one of my powers," Hiroki briefly explained. "It allows me to mimic the human form and image to a certain degree. Unfortunately, I couldn't change the color of my hair or eyes. Also it seems like I don’t have a reflection. I still can't touch anything physically either. But I hope I don't look too strange."

"No, you look much better now," Aya commented, her eyes fixated on the sharp-looking features of her benefactor.

"Then I'm glad," Hiroki replied with a soft smile before turning around to give Aya privacy to get up and dress.

However, his smile quickly faded as he looked at his own hand, which, despite appearing like any other human hand, still lacked any physical sensation.

‘This new form is rather draining and hard to use.’ He thought to himself before looking at his own status.

‘Even though I had to sacrifice one of my skills for this, this is still nothing but a temporary solution to my appearance. Relying always on Aya to do certain tasks is going to be very difficult; that's why, until I find a suitable other human I can possess, I will use this.’ 

Hiroki concluded while looking at his own status. 

"Hiroki, I'm ready," Aya called out after dressing in her clothes and cloak.

"Alright, let's go."

After Aya finished getting ready, she called out to Hiroki before he returned to his usual form and possessed her again. Aya was initially puzzled about why he did that, given that he now had a new human-like form. However, after a brief thought process, she quickly realized how his sudden appearance out of nowhere in this town, without any form of identification, could draw unwanted attention.

* * *

Running along the path that led to Fixy Town was Aya. Even though it would take almost one day to reach there by foot, she had already run half her distance before the sun could reach the highest point in the sky. 

She was much faster and could easily continue her run without bothering with the wandering monsters along the way. 

And soon enough, she finally reached the gate of Fixy Town. Since Aya was covering her hair with her cloak, she simply showed the guards her adventurer card before they allowed her to enter.

Hiroki guessed that her reputation in the town made the process easier, but he didn't dwell on it too much.

“Hiroki, what should we do now?” Aya inquired upon returning to the town.

~For now, we should head back to the guild and report our return from the dungeon. However, if they ask you why you have returned so early, you must tell them that the dungeon was ruined the moment you arrived there.~ Hiroki advised.

“Huh? But we went inside the dungeon.” Aya rebutted with confusion.

~I know, but let me ask you something. What will the guild think after getting a report that many other adventures died because the dungeon’s core was destroyed?~

Aya thought to herself for a bit before her eyes relaxed from the usual expression she usually has on her face.

“....I will be held responsible for their deaths….” she whispered to herself, her head hung low, weighed down by the consequences of her actions.

But because of the startling realization, she began to fumble around, blind to her surroundings, and as a result, she unintentionally ran into someone else. After seeing her carelessness, she gasped and took a step back.

“Ah, sorry. I wasn't looking where I was walking.” 

Looking up at the person she bumped into, Aya saw a tall man wearing a red uniform-like cloak, indicating he was likely a knight of the country. His long gray hair, almost white, was tied at the end. Bright yellow eyes and a well-built physique suggested extensive military training.

Despite his stern posture, a smile appeared on his face as he closed his eyes in response to the sudden interaction.

"No, there's no need to apologize. I wasn't looking where I was going as well, so there's no need for you to apologize."

Feeling that there were no problems with this knight, Aya prepared to continue walking away. 

“If that's so, then please excuse me.” she said, bowing slightly before leaving.

“Ah, hold on!”

However, just as she was about to walk past the knight, he held her arm gently, wanting to ask her a question. 

“Let—”

The knight, who was trying to be gentle, felt a staggeringly threatening aura before grasping the empty and red eyes of the little girl, who wasn't pleased with the way she was being held like that.

“—go of me.”

“Ah, no! I'm terribly sorry!” 

The knight quickly released her arm, apologizing for his actions and admitting that such behavior wasn't appropriate for a knight to display towards a young girl.

“I didn't mean to bother you. I simply wanted to ask you a question due to your white hair.”

Aya simply expressed a hint of surprise at that point before checking to see if her white hair had emerged from her cloak. She then lowered her head and gently pulled her hood over her head.

"I'm not a demon," Aya explained. "My hair turned white after I failed to remove a poison during one of my quests. Or are you going to assume now that anyone with white hair is automatically a demon?"

She didn't want to create any more trouble with the knight, so she took the opportunity to walk away from him before he could ask any more questions.

“Ah, no…. That's not what I... ”

The knight was left with a confused expression on his face, unsure of what to say. He didn't chase after the girl, nor did he do anything that would draw attention to them. 

“........meant……”

* * *

Upon arriving at the guild, Aya made a conscious effort to remain hidden under her cloak, trying not to draw any unnecessary attention. Her hair had significantly lightened, losing all signs of its previous brown color. While her hair had turned white due to her benefactor's possession, she couldn't deny that it had also made her much stronger, and she was grateful for that.

However, despite her stealthy figure, someone still noticed her white hair. And to make things much worse— a knight who could potentially spread the news about her even more. 

Aya knew that this was bound to happen at some point, and she braced herself for the potential consequences. She understood the need to be even more cautious and careful from now on, no matter what.

Upon approaching the receptionist desk, Aya noticed the usual receptionist who was in charge of her. She was working with many adventurers who were signing up for their quests. And despite the fact that it was a busy time of the day, the receptionist still kept a professional smile on her face.

After waiting for nearly thirty minutes, the line finally dwindled down, and it was Aya's turn to approach the receptionist's desk. The receptionist didn't immediately recognize Aya due to her cloak, so she greeted the dark-cloaked girl with her usual friendly smile.

"Welcome to Fixy's Adventurer Guild! What can I help you with today?"

Aya raised her head a little higher to make eye contact with the receptionist.

“A-AY….. Ahem….. Aya, you’re back already?” 

The receptionist was taken aback by the unexpected encounter with Aya and nearly let out a surprised call before composing herself. She noticed the cloak Aya was wearing and asked if she was hiding from someone, offering to help her find a safe place

“And what's with that cloak? Are you hiding from someone? If so, I can help you get somewhere safe.”

“No, that's not—”

“If that's the case, then let's hurry up and leave this place as soon as we can. The faster we move, the quicker you can get into a safer location.” 

The receptionist softly said to the addled girl, who wasn't getting a chance to talk, leaving behind a few more adventurers that were waiting behind the cloaked girl.

“What about your work…..” Aya attempted to calm the receptionist down.

“No need to worry about that. Your safety comes first.” The woman in a suit insisted.

Then, as the receptionist had already made up her mind, she held Aya’s hand and led her to the back rooms of the guild in order to take her away from the eyes of the public.

“Miss Mirai! I'm not in danger, so please calm down.” Aya uttered, finally making the receptionist calm down.

“You’re not being followed? Are you sure? You could still have been followed without anyone knowing, so you can’t be too sure.”

“No, I'm not.” Aya quickly answered.

“But what about that clothing…. You look as if you’re trying to…” The receptionist speculated from the way Aya was clothed and acting.

Aya trusted Mirai, which is why, in order to explain everything that led her to wear that cloak, she pulled down her hoodie and revealed her bleached white hair that was in worse condition.

“....It's getting worse…,” the woman in a suit uttered with concern, realizing the reason behind Aya's cloaked appearance. '...So that's why…,' she continued to ponder in her mind.

“Don't worry, though,” Aya reassured with a wry smile on her face. “Because I'm already getting used to it.”

‘....And….. she’s embracing it….’ The receptionist concluded in her mind.

“I'm here to report that I wasn't able to enter the informed dungeon because it was already destroyed. That's why I came back so quickly,” Aya explained about the state of the newly discovered dungeon.

After hearing Aya's report, the receptionist took a moment to think.

She knew that Aya must be telling the truth, considering she returned much more quickly than expected. Normally, it would take adventurers over a week to thoroughly investigate and conquer each floor. But in Aya’s case, she returned in just three days.

"I understand. I will have to cancel the quest regarding that dungeon due to its expiration," the receptionist hummed to herself before focusing back on Aya. "Were there any casualties, or were you unable to gather any information on that part?"

Aya looked to her side for a split second before looking up again at the receptionist. 

"I'm not sure, but I think a few adventurers were buried alive due to its sudden collapse..."

"I understand. I will make sure to inform the staff and all adventurers about this," the receptionist responded with a serious expression, appreciating the valuable information Aya provided.

However, before the conversation was over, the receptionist let out a gasp as if something came to mind.

"I forgot to mention something. I need to give you something later, but first, I must finish writing this report."

The receptionist wryly smiled, as she didn’t want to bother Aya any longer. She was sure that she must’ve been tired from her trip. 

Can you come back in a few minutes or so?"

"Sure," Aya replied with a wry smile before leaving the guild.

* * *

Outside the guild's building, Aya patiently waited for the receptionist to finish her reports. She made sure her white hair remained hidden under her cloak while staying close by.

~We don’t know how long she will take to finish writing those reports, so how about we do something else in the meantime?~ Hiroki suddenly suggested in Aya’s mind.

“Like what?” Aya pondered.

~We need to head to the merchant’s guild and form a registration on your name as a new merchant.~ 

“Huh? A merchant? But I don't know anything about being a merchant….” Aya expressed her doubts, feeling unsure about this idea.

~I will explain to you later, so let's go over there.~ 

Hiroki continued insisting until Aya finally decided to do as the ghost inside her suggested.

* * *

After Aya entered the merchant's guild, she immediately sensed the subdued atmosphere that permeated the entire building. It was a quiet place with only a few people around, most of them diligently attending to their paperwork or signing documents before leaving with somber expressions. The gloom seemed to affect everyone present.

Aya walked up to the nearest desk, where a merchant was just finishing up his business. 

The merchant then walked out of the guild with a similar expression, just like the rest of the employees here.

"Welcome to the Merchant's Guild. How may I assist you today? Are you here for tax payment or resignation?" The receptionist asked, her expression professional but slightly fatigued. Though she had noticeable eye bags from overworking, she remained composed and courteous in her demeanor.

“I want to register as a merchant.” Aya answered with a genuine yet serious expression.

“....Eh?... Oh, yes! Right away!” 

However, the moment that Aya stated what she wanted in here, the receptionist freaked out for a slight moment before looking under her desk and taking out a form which Aya had to fill in.

“Please, fill in the information that you have. And if possible, if you have any sort of identification card, that would make our work much easier.” She explained while trying to contain her stress and excitement.

“I have an adventurer's card. Does that work as well?” Aya inquired.

As Aya handed over her adventurer's card, the receptionist's face darkened and her eyes narrowed, indicating a growing sense of disappointment and concern. 

It was clear that the identification in front of her was not what she had been expecting, and Aya couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety form in her stomach at the woman's reaction.

“Are you perhaps an adventurer?”

“Yes?” 

Perplexed by the receptionist's sudden question, Aya confirmed with a hint of confusion in her voice.

“Then I'm terribly sorry, but you cannot register here as a merchant.” the receptionist stated bluntly, leaving Aya to ponder her options.

Aya paused for a moment, her gaze scanning the room as if looking for a solution. 

After a few moments of deep contemplation, she turned back to the receptionist and spoke again, determined to find a way forward.

“May I know the reason why I can’t register as a merchant?” Aya wondered.

“It's simply our new policy," the receptionist explained, "which indicates that an adventurer can’t become a merchant. This will prevent not only their loss as adventurers but also save us the trouble of dealing with new, untrained, unprofessional, and ignorant individuals who only seek to exploit the merchant’s guild for their own benefits. As much as you might dislike this new policy, there’s nothing I can do about it. So please save yourself the trouble and continue your job as an adventurer. That's what you were trained for, after all.”

As Aya left the merchant’s guild, her shoulders slumped in defeat. It was clear that the rejection had hit her hard, but she didn't say anything as she walked out into the bustling streets. 

After Aya left the registration office, her mind was reeling with disappointment and frustration. However, she was not alone in her thoughts. 

~Don't worry about it,~ 

Hiroki's voice echoed in her mind, offering her some sort of comfort. 

~There's nothing we could've done about it in the first place about this.~

Despite her disappointment, Aya couldn't help but feel curious about Hiroki's motives. 

"Did you know this would happen to me?" she asked, her tone uncertain. 

She trusted Hiroki completely, but she also knew that he had his own reasons for everything he did.

~Yes, I kinda knew,~ 

Hiroki admitted, his response sounding measured and thoughtful. 

~But I had to make sure of it. And it was thanks to you that I was able to figure this out. But also answered another question I had about this town.~

“…..” 

As Aya made her way back to the adventurer's guild, Hiroki continued to explain his findings. 

~This town is declining in new merchants and people who aspire to become one,~ he revealed, painting a troubling picture of the local economy. 

Aya, on the other hand, listened intently, grateful for the companionship and wisdom of her benefactor.

* * *

After returning to the adventurer's guild, Aya was warmly greeted by Mirai, the receptionist, who seemed eager to see her. Unlike the somber atmosphere of the merchant's guild, the adventurer's guild was bustling with energy and excitement, filled with people preparing for their quests and adventures.

“Oh, Aya, there you are!” Mirai exclaimed, her face lighting up at the sight of Aya in her dark cloak.

“.......”

“Is everything okay? You look as if something terrible has happened. You did mention that you were working as an adventurer to buy back your parents. Is everything okay?” Mirai asked with concern.

“No, everything is fine. Please don't worry about it.” Aya replied, her voice getting slightly colder.

“If anything is wrong, then don't hesitate to talk to me. I’ll make sure to lend you an ear if there’s something you can talk to me about.” The receptionist responded.

“I appreciate your concern, Miss Mirai, but there’s nothing troubling me right now.” Aya reassured her.

"If that's so, then let's continue on what I called you here….."

After seeing how Aya didn't want to talk about her concern, Mirai decided to change the subject by handing over a brown-colored adventurer's card. Aya stared blankly at the card before returning her attention to the receptionist.

"Congratulations. From now on, you are a D-ranked adventurer." The receptionist smiled as she softly clapped her hands together once.

Aya examined her newly acquired guild card, her face showing a hint of surprise.

"You shouldn't be surprised because it's thanks to your hard work, you've gotten this far despite being so young in comparison to other adventures." 

Aya stared at it with slightly widened eyes before a soft smile appeared on her face. 

"It wasn't only thanks to me....." she trailed off.

As Aya expressed her gratitude to the receptionist, she couldn't help but notice the warmth and sincerity in the woman's smile. It was a far cry from the fake smiles she had encountered in the past.

Mirai felt a sense of pride swell up inside her as she realized how far Aya had come. 

Once a naive girl who had been used as bait by other adventurers, she had grown and matured into a capable adventurer in her own right. 

However, from this point on, things will only get much harder for Aya, and the receptionist was already aware of that. 

But the person Aya was most concerned about was the guildmaster. While he had admitted to helping her out, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something from her. This suspicion made it one of her top priorities to keep a close eye on her boss and observe his actions and words closely.

“........”

As Aya eagerly examined her new adventurer's card, she couldn't help but notice the unusual silence that had engulfed the guild. Even Mirai, the receptionist, seemed to be distracted, her attention drawn to the entrance. 

Following her gaze, Aya turned around to see the cause of the sudden commotion. She noticed that everyone in the room was looking at one individual who had just entered, casting a shadow of unease over the room.

It was a certain adventurer who had just entered. She was a stunning young woman with red hair who wore a stern expression on her face like a battle-hardened warrior and carried a large, heavy metal sword on her back with ease. 

Despite her menacing entrance, all of the other adventurers either ignored her or simply whispered to one another about her rumors.

“Who is that?” Aya suddenly asked after a moment of silence.

“She is one of our highest-ranked adventurers in our guild. She goes by the name Theresa, and she is an A-ranked adventurer.” The receptionist quietly explained to the curious girl.

“Are there no other A-rankers?” 

Aya asked after seeing how many other adventurers reacted to her entrance.

“No, we have two other adventurers of the same rank….. However, what makes her more popular than the others is the fact that she always does quests on her own. And somehow she always comes back unscratched.”

The receptionist briefly explained in a low voice. 

"However, she only takes up quests that are related to criminals or wanted posters.... That's how she has managed to get to that kind of rank so fast. I'm surprised that she hasn't become a knight yet.” 

As Aya listened to Mirai, she kept looking at this red-haired girl, as if trying to figure out if she truly possessed such power. 

The receptionist noticed this sudden behavior from Aya. However, she decided to remain silent about it before looking back at the menacing figure of the red-haired woman.

“I would advise you to find a proper party that you can trust, Aya. What she does is incredibly dangerous, so please try not to look up to her too much.” Mirai concernedly added.

Ignoring what the receptionist said, Aya continued to stare at the red-haired woman who was looking at the quests on the wall. She seemed different than usual. However, a sign of interest could be seen rising from the cloaked, white-haired girl. Or more like— from the entity possessing her.

* * *

The next morning, Aya woke up early with a renewed sense of purpose. Her new copper adventurer's card had given her a boost of confidence, and she was eager to take on new challenges. Determined, she headed to the guild, ready to prove her worth as an adventurer.

It didn't take long for her to find a new quest — one that was quite different from anything she had done before. 

This time, she was to investigate a problem in a remote village, one that was said to be suffering from a mysterious affliction.

Hiroki also seemed to support her from inside all the time, which is why she had nothing to fear about this new experience.

However, as she approached the village, she began to feel uneasy.

The air felt heavy and stagnant, devoid of any signs of life or activity. It seemed as if the entire village had been deserted, or worse, cursed.  Despite her growing unease, Aya kept going, determined to finish her mission.

When she finally arrived at the village's entrance, she noticed an elderly woman sitting with her eyes gloomily fixed on the ground. The old woman looked frail and worn, her face etched with worry. Aya could see the fear in her eyes, and she knew that whatever was happening in this village was serious. 

After carefully checking that there was no one nearby, she began walking towards the entrance of the village, earning a flinch from the elder woman.

“I'm sorry, I came from the guild about a certain investigation. May I know what is going on?” Aya asked the elder.

The elder, however, after confirming who had arrived, gave a doubtful look at the young girl before letting out a groaning sigh.

“So even though this is an emergency, all they can send is just a young lad? And they're wondering why our country is so hopeless..." 

The elder said to herself, showing no sign of alarm despite claiming the village was in an emergency.

After seeing the troubled look on the elder's face, Aya only kept a stern expression while trying to explain the quest to the elder. It was clear that something had happened there. However, she wasn't planning on returning without confirming what she needed to investigate.

“I’m confident in my skills, so please tell me.” Aya confidently insisted.

"Fine… go and tell your guild and their ignorant fools that all of our young men and villagers who can fight are going to the goblin’s nest to rescue their children and women. They might as well be dead by now, so extend my gratitude to everyone in the guild from the bottom of my ass." The elder's brows twitched as she glared, her unclean, broken teeth showing in anger.

Aya’s eyes widened at the sudden revelation. She was aware that something was going on, which is why she couldn't simply leave things alone and leave this village at their mercy. That's why she clenched her hands before angrily looking at the elder.

She wasn't going to leave this village after understanding what was going on, which is why she convinced the elder to give her more information about this emergency.

The elder tried to save the girl from taking a risky and life-threatening position by sending her back. But the moment she caught a glimpse of her unfeared eyes filled with motivation and blood thirst, the elder’s eyes widened for a bit. She could even tell from the hard work and callus on her hand that she had worked for her strength. 

She has never seen a brave adventure as strong-willed as hers in a long time. 

It was a mixed feeling, filled with hope and a slight fear of what would happen. However, if her guts were right…. Then increasing the chance of saving the villagers from the fall was the right choice for her.  

* * *

As soon as Aya learned the location of where the villagers had headed, she rushed in there as quickly as she could in order to assist them in helping the kidnapped children and women escape from there. But also avoiding as many casualties as possible.

“Hiroki!” Aya suddenly called out.

~Yes?~

“What is the fastest way I can deal with this?” She sternly asked for his opinion as she continued rushing towards the goblin’s nest.

Hiroki was a bit surprised to see Aya willingly help someone and ask for his help without being told so. 

~Depending on the situation, I have a few methods. But some of them might require of some—~

“I don't care! If it works, then I'm willing to do anything.” Aya interrupted as her eyes narrowed in anger.

~........~ 

Hiroki was also surprised by the confident risk she was willing to take. 

~Very well, then, from now, I’ll take control~

* * *

Some time later, in the same village, where the elder was waiting on the edge of her seat, she noticed a group of shadows approaching in the distance.

Her eyes narrowed to their limit as she was unable to see that far. However, the moment she noticed who that group was in the distance, her eyes lit up with hope and excitement at seeing the same familiar faces that should have been dead by now.

In the distance were all of the villagers and everyone else who had been kidnapped by the goblins. The elder couldn't believe her eyes, to the point where tears were rolling down her wrinkles.

“Elder! We’re back!” 

One of the villagers waved in the distance with a smile on his face while greeting the eagerly waiting elder.

The rest of the old people who were waiting in their houses also got out to meet their families and younglings with excitement on their faces. 

They are the eldest of the village, and they knew very well the importance of the younglings in this village. Many were filled with tears, while some were very happy just so they could reunite with their families.

The elder, after seeing the village get filled again with their own residents, slowly walked towards a man who had a bag of materials on his back.

“I-Isaac! What happened?! P-please tell me!” The elder asked, a hint of tears filling her eyes at the unbelievable sight.

“A young girl from the guild came and killed all of the goblins and saved us all.” 

He informed her as he put down his bag, showing her what was inside. The elder’s eyes immediately widened to their full extent as she saw so many goblin corpses inside the bag.

“That youngling did all of this?” 

The elder inquired as she saw that this guy wasn't the only one holding a bag with goblin corpses inside. There were also many other bags that were filled to the brim. 

“As much as I can say….. My eyes didn’t lie to me….. That girl was able to easily overwhelm all of the goblins in just a matter of time….. ” 

Isaac informed the elder as his hair was going upward from the goosebumps he just experienced from recalling what happened. 

“We were afraid of her white hair at first, and from the immense power she just demonstrated…… however….”

“However?”

“The way she just killed all of those goblins in a matter of time…… still brings chills down my face.” 

The villager said as he recalled the cold-blooded way Aya was able to slay the goblins. He could still hear and see the way the goblins were crying out in pain as they got killed without any mercy. 

Aya was way too overwhelming, to the point where he thought that she was the biggest danger. 

But despite that, she still saved them all…

“I know that you may be scared of her. But don't you dare say that to her face after she saved you all.” 

The elder gave the order with a stern look on her face. She knew very well what that look meant and the consequences it could have for someone else, that's why she tried warning the young man about it.

“I w-won’t!”

Once everything came to a conclusion, the elder confirmed all of the missing persons who were not able to come back to the village in one piece. 

As quick as Aya was able to go and kill all of the goblins, a small number of women still couldn’t help but feel traumatized from getting raped, killed, or played by many goblins. 

That fate was inevitable…. But despite that, the elder was glad that the village wasn't completely hopeless, and that was all thanks to the brave young adventurer. That's why she wanted to thank her from the bottom of her heart.

“Young lad, I don’t know how to thank you for everything that you’ve done for us.”

Aya softly closed her eyes while waiting to return to the guild. 

“No, I'm only doing my job. So there’s nothing for you to do for me.”

The elder softly chuckled at the unexpected response. 

“You really are humble, aren't you? But I can't let you go empty-handed, so please accept all of the goblin materials we've collected for you. Of course, one of my sons will come with you to also confirm your report to the guild, together with the bags of goblins.”

Aya thought for a bit before nodding with a soft smile on her face.

The moment a carriage filled with goblins was prepared, Aya and one villager who was going to complete her report departed from the village to head to the main town. 

* * *

Back at the main guild, there stood Mirai, the same receptionist girl who has been helping Aya out on many occasions. 

The guild had already reached its least busy point of the day, so after a long day of work, she could finally take a breather at the main desk.

But after a short amount of time, a certain knight entered the guild, catching the eye of the receptionist, which transformed her face back to her professional smile.

“Welcome to Fixy’s guild. What can I do for you today?” 

“Hello, I’m looking for a certain girl with white hair. I believe that she works in this guild.” The knight kindly explained his reasons while he was waiting for an answer.

But on the other hand, the receptionist, who wasn't expecting that, narrowed her eyes for a bit. 

She looked at him closely, realizing that this knight must’ve been someone of high importance, as he actually held a red uniform that represented the kingdom that they actually were in.

"I'm sorry, but there is no one here who fits that description. There are many adventurers that come in here, so I can't remember anyone with white hair.”

The knight with yellow eyes slowly changed his expression from a kind one to a serious one as he looked at the receptionist. 

“Are you sure? I'm sure that someone with such a description can stand out from other adventurers.”

The receptionist showed her usual forced professional smile once again as she tried responding again.

“I am sure of it that there is no one here with such des—”

However, her smile slowly faded away as she soon noticed Aya enter the guild.

“—cription…..” 

The sudden distraction didn’t go unnoticed by the knight in the red uniform. 

He cast a worried glance towards the receptionist before he also turned around in order to see what was going on. And to his surprise, he saw the cloaked young girl he had been looking for the whole time.