Chapter 72: The Most Forgettable Adventurer in the World II

The news that Kael had completed another guild mission without destroying half the city had spread surprisingly quickly.

Well…

Technically, a new lake had appeared.

But the guild had decided to classify that as "minor terrain alteration."

Kael had learned that the guild's definitions were quite flexible.

"I don't understand how that's 'minor'…"

He muttered as he walked down the main avenue toward the Adventurer's Guild.

On his head, the Little Fat King slept deeply as if the entire world existed solely to serve as his pillow.

Beside him, Sir Dogerino walked with his back straight, chest puffed out, and the Sacred Stick between his teeth.

Several people moved aside when they saw him.

Not out of fear.

But because enough stories about the "puppy that split mountains" were already circulating.

Sir Dogerino, completely unaware of his fame, cheerfully greeted by wagging his tail.

"Woof!"

A child returned the greeting.

"Woof!"

The dog responded even more happily.

Kael smiled.

"You're definitely too friendly to be a global calamity."

The Fat King opened one eye.

Looked at the dog.

Then went back to sleep.

As if thinking:

"How embarrassing this guy is…"

---

Upon entering the guild…

The atmosphere was the same as always.

Adventurers arguing.

Mercenaries showing off scars.

Receptionists trying to keep order.

And someone being thrown out a window.

"A completely normal day…"

Kael sighed.

The brown-haired receptionist raised a hand when she saw him.

"Good morning, Kael!"

"Good morning."

"Here for a mission?"

"I wanted to turn in the report from the last one."

She smiled.

"You're always punctual."

Kael began pulling out some documents.

Then…

A hand landed on his shoulder.

"HA!"

Kael jumped a little.

He turned his head.

In front of him stood a man about twenty-five years old.

Black hair.

Overconfident smile.

A long red scarf.

And a pose so dramatic that it looked rehearsed in front of a mirror.

"Finally, I found you!"

Kael blinked.

"…Yes?"

The stranger smiled, showing all his teeth.

"I've come to recruit you."

Silence.

Kael looked at the receptionist.

She simply shrugged.

As if saying:

"Good luck."

"Recruit me?"

"Exactly!"

The man opened his arms.

"I've observed your feats.

Your summons.

Your potential."

He leaned slightly toward Kael.

"And I've reached a conclusion."

He made a dramatic pause.

"You are the perfect partner for me!"

Kael looked at him for a few seconds.

"…Thanks."

The man smiled even wider.

"I knew it!

I knew you'd accept!"

"No.

I was just being polite."

The adventurer's smile trembled slightly.

---

The man recovered his composure with surprising speed.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

He placed a hand on his chest.

"I am Malrik."

Kael frowned slightly.

"…"

He thought for a few seconds.

Five.

Ten.

Fifteen.

"Do we know each other?"

Malrik felt a pang in his heart.

"What…?"

"Do we know each other?"

Repeated Kael with total sincerity.

"I think so…

But I don't remember from where."

The silence was absolute.

Even some adventurers stopped talking to listen.

Malrik began to laugh.

A nervous laugh.

"Haha…

Good joke."

Kael tilted his head.

"It wasn't a joke.

I really don't remember."

Critical emotional damage.

The receptionist had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.

An adventurer whispered from a nearby table.

"He survived the slap…

But he won't survive this."

---

Malrik took a deep breath.

"Don't lose your cool."

"Don't lose your cool."

He pointed at himself.

"Malrik!"

"The inquisitor!"

"The one who fought your cat!"

Kael opened his eyes a little wider.

"Ah!"

Malrik smiled.

"Yes!

You remembered!"

Kael nodded slowly.

"You're the medicine guy."

The smile disappeared.

"…"

"No."

"The slap guy."

"No."

"The inquisitor!"

Kael thought again.

"…"

"Yeah.

But I gave you medicine after.

That's what I remember most."

Another direct blow to his pride.

Malrik felt the world spin a little.

"Why…?

Why is that what you remember?"

Kael answered with absolute naturalness.

"Because I thought you were still hurt."

Silence.

The man didn't know what to say.

For some reason…

That made it impossible to get angry.

---

After a few seconds…

Malrik decided to focus on what was important.

He gently tapped Kael's shoulder.

"Forget that!

Listen to me."

He lowered his voice.

As if revealing a great secret.

"You and I…

We can rule the world."

Kael remained completely still.

The receptionist stopped writing.

Several adventurers turned their heads.

Even Sir Dogerino stopped wagging his tail.

"Rule… the world?"

"Exactly!"

Malrik opened his arms enthusiastically.

"Imagine our power!

You with those two summons!

Me with my talent!

No one could stop us!"

Kael stared at him for several seconds.

Then he answered with the same tired expression as always.

"I still don't know who you are."

…

…

…

Absolute silence.

A glass fell to the floor.

Someone coughed to hide a laugh.

The receptionist turned around because she could no longer hold back her laughter.

Malrik stood petrified.

That sentence…

Had done much more damage than any slap from the Fat King.

---

Malrik remained motionless.

He felt his soul had just left his body.

Behind him, an adventurer murmured in a low voice:

"I think that sentence did more damage than the slap…"

Another nodded solemnly.

"Much more."

The receptionist wasn't even pretending to work anymore.

She was hiding her face behind some documents so no one would notice she was laughing.

Kael, completely unaware of the emotional disaster he had just caused, tilted his head.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Aurelion, who had just entered the guild with a bag of freshly bought bread, heard the last sentence.

He looked at Malrik.

Then at Kael.

And finally let out a laugh.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Malrik slowly turned toward him.

"You too…?"

Aurelion tried to speak between laughs.

"Kael…

There are things…

You just…

Shouldn't say…"

Kael frowned.

"But it's true.

I still don't know him well."

Malrik felt another direct stab to the heart.

---

He took a deep breath.

"No."

"I won't give up."

He adjusted his scarf with dramatic flair.

"Fine.

Let's start over."

He extended his hand.

"I'm Malrik.

Adventurer.

Former inquisitor.

Elite swordsman.

Rank—"

Kael shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you."

Malrik smiled.

"Nice to meet you.

Now you know who I am?"

Kael thought for a few seconds.

"Yeah.

You're Malrik."

The adventurer smiled, satisfied.

"Perfect."

Then Kael added:

"Though I'll probably forget again."

Silence.

The smile disappeared again.

Aurelion had to lean against a column to keep from falling over laughing.

---

Malrik decided to change strategy completely.

"Listen to me."

This time he spoke seriously.

"I've seen what you're capable of."

He looked at the Little Fat King.

The enormous cat opened one eye for just an instant.

Recognized him.

Snorted with evident disinterest.

And went back to sleep.

Malrik decided to pretend that hadn't happened.

Then he looked at Sir Dogerino.

The little dog raised a paw, greeting him.

"Woof!"

"…Hi."

He looked back at Kael.

"Your summons are extraordinary.

Mine aren't.

But I have experience.

I know dungeons.

I've traveled almost the entire continent.

And I know how the adventurer world works."

His expression became completely serious.

"We could form a team.

I'd help you.

And you'd help me regain my reputation."

For the first time since the conversation began…

Kael stopped joking.

He looked at him in silence.

Malrik felt a small hope.

"So…?"

Kael answered sincerely.

"No."

"Huh?"

"I already have a team."

Malrik blinked.

"A team?"

Kael began counting on his fingers.

"Luna.

Seraphina.

Aurelion.

Sometimes Darius."

Darius, who had just entered the guild at that moment, raised an eyebrow.

"Sometimes?"

"Depends on if you're in a bad mood."

"…Fair."

Kael kept counting.

"And those two."

He pointed at the Fat King and Sir Dogerino.

"That's already enough."

Malrik slowly lowered his head.

"You won't even consider it?"

Kael shook his head with a kind smile.

"I don't want to make teams too big.

It'd be hard to take care of everyone."

That answer was completely logical.

So logical…

That Malrik couldn't even get upset.

---

At that moment…

Sir Dogerino began sniffing around.

His ears perked up.

He wagged his tail enthusiastically.

He had detected something.

Or rather…

Someone.

He ran straight toward Malrik.

"Woof!"

The adventurer jumped a little.

"What?"

The dog dropped the Sacred Stick on the ground.

And began wagging his tail in front of him.

Kael smiled.

"I think he likes you."

Malrik blinked in surprise.

"Really?"

Sir Dogerino took the stick.

Dropped it at his feet.

"Woof!"

Aurelion smiled.

"He wants to play with you."

Malrik looked at the stick.

Then at the dog.

And finally smiled.

"Well…

That I can do."

He picked up the stick.

Threw it gently to the other end of the guild.

Sir Dogerino shot off with absolute happiness.

"WOOOOOF!"

Five seconds later…

He returned.

With the stick.

And an entire table dragging behind him.

"…"

Everyone looked at the huge oak table.

Malrik swallowed.

"I…

Only threw the stick."

Kael sighed.

"It happens often."

---

The Fat King opened one eye when he heard the noise.

Looked at the table.

Looked at the dog.

And slapped it.

WHAP!

Not the dog.

The table.

The huge table flew out a window.

Landed in the courtyard fountain.

Silence.

Sir Dogerino wagged his tail.

He interpreted that as an invitation.

He ran for the stick again.

The receptionist dropped her pen.

"Another table…"

Kael brought a hand to his forehead.

"Sorry.

We'll pay for it."

She sighed.

"We already have an open account in your name."

"What?"

"Since the first lake."

Kael closed his eyes.

"…Makes sense."

---

Malrik watched the entire scene.

The lazy cat.

The hyperactive dog.

Kael apologizing for things he clearly couldn't control.

And, for some reason…

He smiled.

A small smile.

Genuine.

"What a weird group…"

Kael smiled too.

"Yeah.

But they're good company."

Malrik nodded.

"I guess…

I understand why you don't need another partner."

Aurelion patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't take it personally.

It's hard to compete against a cat that destroys mountains with slaps and a dog that plays baseball with geography."

Malrik let out a laugh.

"Yeah…

I don't think anyone can compete with that."

As he left the guild, he looked one last time at Kael.

"Hey."

Kael looked up.

"Yeah?"

"Next time we meet…

I hope you at least remember my name."

Kael smiled.

"I'll make the effort."

Malrik nodded, satisfied.

It was a small step forward.

Though…

When he was already crossing the door, Kael raised his voice.

"Hey!"

Malrik smiled.

"Yeah?"

"Was it Malik… or Malrik?"

…

Aurelion fell to his knees laughing.

Darius turned around to hide his smile.

The receptionist had to sit down because her stomach hurt from laughing.

And Malrik…

Simply looked up at the sky.

"Why…?"

"Why does this always happen to me?"

The Little Fat King opened one eye.

Looked at him for a second.

And, surprisingly…

He seemed to feel a little pity.

Just a little.