Chương 285: I Want to Become an Adventurer!

"I… I want to become an adventurer!" 

At a counter in the first-floor hall of the Guild Headquarters, the white-haired rabbit boy spoke timidly, but his eyes couldn't hide the excitement and anticipation, as he addressed a staff member. 

Receiving him was a half-elf girl with straight, shoulder-length chestnut-brown hair. 

Eina Tulle, nineteen years old. 

As one of the Guild's top-rated staff, known for her exceptional competence and popularity, she was meticulously handling her duties even today. 

"Let me confirm—so you want to register as a novice adventurer, right?" 

"Yes, that's right." 

"Do you know how to write in the Koine?" 

"Yes, yes! Grandpa taught me." 

"Then please fill out this form first…" 

The procedure was completely formal and professional. After verifying that all the information on the form was correct, Eina instructed him to return the next day. 

The Guild required some time to process and record new adventurer information. 

Of course, if a member from a well-known familia came to register, the process would be entirely different. 

The most obvious difference? The Guild's efficiency would instantly skyrocket. 

For example, a few months ago, when Ota brought the Twin Stars to register as novice adventurers, it only took a dozen minutes to complete all the formalities. 

It was essentially an unwritten VIP protocol. 

But today… 

"Let's head back to the headquarters first." 

"Huh? Not going to the dungeon?" 

"Don't joke around. Lili is just a normal Lv.1, and with Renjiro-sama absent, I wouldn't dare take a rookie like you running around a dungeon." 

"Oh~" 

The naïve boy felt slightly disappointed, but after hearing the little human girl's "experienced advice," he was led away from the Guild Headquarters. 

Eina watched their departing figures. 

"Bell Cranel… belongs to the Frigg familia, huh." 

"Fourteen years old… so young." 

She glanced down at his personal information in the files, her expression subtly changing. 

That kid might die young. 

The words didn't come from Eina herself. 

They were spoken by a colleague passing by. 

A female receptionist from the rarely seen Werewolf race stood beside Eina. Her wolf tail wagged as she casually said, 

"Eina, you've worked at the Guild for years. You should be able to tell that kid has no future." 

"Weak body, indecisive personality… and worst of all, he lacks confidence." 

"None of the qualities needed to become a renowned adventurer." 

"Probably just another dreamer who thinks adventuring will make him rich overnight." 

"You've seen plenty of those burn out halfway, right?" 

Although blunt and unapologetic, Eina couldn't refute her. 

Indeed, she had seen far too many dreamers fail before their time. 

At this moment… 

"Huh? That white-haired boy wants an elven female as his adventurer advisor?" 

Misha Flott, a pink-haired girl and Eina's closest colleague—also the designated advisor for the Twin Stars—peered over. 

"Elven girl… Sophia, will you take him?" 

"Let me decline." 

A pale-lavender-haired, beautiful elf shook her head. 

"A short-lived adventurer… being his advisor would be a waste of time." 

Hearing her colleagues one by one mention early death and short-lived, Eina's anger flared. 

"Miss Rose, Miss Sophia, I don't think we should judge someone's future so casually…" 

"Then… want to make it a bet?" 

Their relationships were good privately, and there had never been workplace disputes in the Guild. Rose spoke casually: 

"I bet he'll last at most half a year… not that he'll die immediately, just likely give up adventuring." 

"I'll bet two months," Sophia added. 

"Let me join… half a month," said another human female, "Since it's a bet, let's add a little stake and update it every half month…" 

"Alright, alright~" 

The situation escalated. 

Meanwhile, Eina's frown deepened—this joke had gone too far. 

Finally… 

"Fine. Then I'll be his advisor." 

Her words, deliberate and measured, silenced the bustling counter instantly. 

After a long pause… 

"Huh? That's not what we meant." 

"Besides, don't you have special assignments from the higher-ups lately? Aren't you too busy for this?" 

Her colleagues realized they might have gone too far. 

But now, it was too late. 

"No problem. It's just taking care of one more adventurer; I can handle it." 

Eina spoke, fuming: "I may be a half-blood, but I'm still partly elven. If I win, the stakes go entirely to the boy. And… no more bets like this in the future." 

"Oh~" 

Seeing the Guild's top-rated staff losing her temper, no one dared to say a word. 

And so… 

Unbeknownst to the boy, a bet on how long a new adventurer will last quietly began to accumulate funds—over six months. 

======= 

At noon, elsewhere… 

"Ren—jiro—kun!" 

"Talk calmly, Syr, put the kitchen knife down first." 1

The location: the kitchen of the Hostess of Fertility. 

The black-haired youth, having reverted from his god-transformed state, shrank into a corner, nervously eyeing the gray-haired, smiling little goddess before him. 

"Calmly? Sure!" 

Syr slammed her knife onto the cutting board with a sharp CLANG, hands on her hips. 

"Now, dear Renjiro, can you tell me how you plan to win the upcoming War Game?" 

"Honestly, I really don't want to know. With the game restricted to the Old Town ruins and nearly two hundred enemies searching all around for three hours… how exactly do you expect to survive?" 

Yes, that's the rule of this hide-and-seek style War Game. 

The Frigg familia hides; the Soma familia hunts. 

It was a unique event that leveraged numerical advantage, not just combat strength. 

Even Syr, confident in her plan, now felt uneasy. 

Renjiro, however, was composed. 

"Don't worry. I never act without confidence," he said with a dangerous smirk. 

"Some might think hide-and-seek is a non-violent challenge," he continued. 

"But… according to the rules, as long as I'm not physically touched by anyone from the Soma familia within three hours…" 

In other words… 

"Why not incapacitate all the hunters before they tag me? That counts as victory too, right?" 

Syr leaned back, startled. 

"I see now." 

She smiled knowingly. 

"This hide-and-seek format is indeed interesting… and more exciting to watch." 

"Well… I'll be watching your performance then~" 

"No problem," Renjiro patted his chest. 

"Just remember, you can't get away with randomly 'messing around' without consulting me first." 

"Huh?" 

Syr pressed her hands together at her cheek, smiling sweetly. 

"Renjiro-kun, after this War Game, as a 'punishment,' you have to go on a date with Freya-sama and me." 

The black-haired youth twitched. 

"No refusals~" 

"Actually…" 

"No refusals!" 

Before he could react, Syr moved close, her presence radiating an almost oppressive aura—like divine authority in shadow. 

Renjiro muttered: 

"Uh… fine, if it makes you happy." 

"Yay~" 

Syr hopped in excitement and linked arms with him. 

"It's settled. On the date, we'll go shopping first, buy new clothes… everything follows my plan~"