This Hero is Sleeping!

"Adventurer… huh?" Claude repeated.

"Yup!" Elric nodded his head. "Just think of it, imagine how cool it would be!"

"Well, I was thinking of a more realistic job." Claude stopped crying and went back to his food. Elric thought his mood shift was incredible but was more caught up on the adventurer thing.

"Realistic job? Like what?"

"Dragon slayer."

"Fuck, sounds cool." Elric believed himself to be a great judge of things. Keeping materialistic matters on a scale of comfort and spiritual matters on a scale of coolness was his dao. "But wait, what's the point of killing a dragon if people don't know who you are?"

"Right…" Claude muttered. "Adventure is important with dragon slaying…"

"Are there even dragons in this world?"

The two looked at each other, and then decided to ignore the question. They weren't ready to face the truth if it was going to be a 'no.'

"So adventurers… do you think we can get any money?"

"Well baldie and friend are adventurers, and they are kind enough to fund us here. I'm guessing there's some serious money."

Claude ate the last of the food on his plate and wiped his face. "They are old. And strong too, they could take on an Orc each, bet."

"What? Oh yeah, definitely. I could tell at a glance… That strong?"

"Yup. Strong, but more importantly, experienced."

"Well, I did think a bit about that," Elric said. "Remember, Claude. Where did we meet them?"

"Mystic Forest…"

"And prithee, what would—"

"They are investigating the forest because we got rid of the Mist…" Claude cut Elric off. It was a chance to make a lot of money for the two of them, after all, they were what spurred this investigation in the first place. Elric and Claude knew the Mystic Forest like the back of their hands, if the adventurer guild asked them to dive into that place, it would be as good as cheating for them.

"Sounds like a plan, Elric. I was thinking of going back to the forest sometime anyway."

Elric frowned deeply.

"Go back? Why?"

"To tie some loose ends," Claude leaned back on his chair and crossed his legs. He raised his hand and tapped the long scar running down his eye.

"Gardar…"

"Don't interfere when it comes to it. Even if it looks like I'll die."

"Hah!" Elric scoffed. "Then don't be on the edge of death against that bastard."

The two of them grinned and sat back relaxedly with the pile of plates in front of them. The gentle breeze of the morning washed into the room from the windows and sent the large chandelier swaying lightly. Red wooden walls, blue clothing, there were many more colors in here than Elric and Claude had the chance to witness in the last two years.

"Feels weird, huh?" Claude said.

There was no need for him to elaborate, Elric knew exactly what he meant. It had been more than three weeks since they had accomplished their goal. Over the two hellish years, it was their drive, their purpose to get out of that forest that had kept them going…

… But now?

There was the matter about their class and the church, but Claude did not feel any hostility toward them at all. He didn't care whatever they did or happened to them, and Elric… he was the one responsible for the situation. While he never let Claude know the truth, he never blamed the others either.

Earning money for the inn was not a necessity. Even revenge against Gardar… countless scars on their bodies was a small price to pay for everything they had done in the forest. It was just Claude grasping at straws.

"It feels weird," Elric said, resting his chin on the table.

Right then, the door to the dining hall swung open, and hurried footsteps rushed inside. At the perfect time, Jamie and Quinton entered the hall and fell to their knees after seeing the long pile of plates on the table.

"O-our savings…"

"It's all gone…"

"Oh! Perfect timing, Quamie, Jinton." Claude dusted his hands and stood up from his seat, he looked down on the two adventurers with a wide grin as he spoke up. "Take us to the Adventurer's Guild."

"The guild…? Why?"

"To register, of course." Claude patted their shoulders and smiled wider. "Take good care of us, seniors."

***

A gloomy pair of C-Rank adventurers trudged their feet through the streets of Leunderk. Behind them, two cheery young fellows smiled and walked excitedly, matching the mood of the morning town, ready to face the new day head-on.

Claude was looking forward to the prospect of making money. He remembered that one of his classmates used to run an online business, leaving that and maybe some others aside, even in their previous world they had never had any chances to be responsible for their finances. Having no experience, Claude was slightly disillusioned with the power of money, not knowing the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that go into earning it.

Elric, on the other hand, had a much simpler thought going through his mind.

He wanted to be hassled at the entrance. Elric could not give up on the romance of such a situation.

The group turned through the stone streets of the town and soon came in front of a wide building. The structure covered an entire block as it spread over the place, forming a giant square a few streets away from the center of the town. A small crowd of people wearing full-plate armor and robes carrying weapons and staves constantly went inside the giant entrance of the two-story guild house.

The logo of a sword and a staff with a coin in the center was etched on top of the entrance with the words 'Adventurer's Guild' embossed underneath.

Jamie and Quinton nodded and slowly opened the doors of the building, and of the clamor and racket of the adventurers. Burly men and women screamed and shouted as they talked with each other. Some of the more serious ones read books and newspapers at one end of the place while the others started their mornings with fresh bread and beer.

Excited, Claude grinned and took a step inside.

And a quiet filled the adventurer guild.