Chapter 22: At The Adventurers Guild, A Fateful Encounter
As dusk settled and they rested at the table after their meal, Ewaan gazed out the window and spoke, "It's already past dusk; we should secure some rooms for the night and plan to visit the Adventurers Guild tomorrow."
Ayami responded with a nonchalant nod, showing her indifference to the plan.
Meanwhile, Maya and Ayaka exchanged glances, their faces reflecting a sense of disappointment at the thought of delaying their visit to the Adventurers Guild.
As they approached the reception of the Sylvan Haven Inn, Ewaan inquired about the bill for their food and accommodations for the next two days.
However, before he could finish, the girls interjected, requesting a triple room instead of three single rooms.
As the Innkeeper elf lady presented the bill, indicating a total of 2 large gold coins and 2 silver coins, the girls audibly gasped in disbelief.
Shock was evident on their faces, their expressions betraying their surprise at the unexpectedly high expense.
Meanwhile, Ewaan, ever composed, calmly retrieved the necessary payment without hesitation, unfazed by the amount.
After settling the bill, the Innkeeper arranged a triple room for the girls and a single room for Ewaan's stay.
°°°
Ayaka and Maya rose early in the morning, their excitement palpable as they anticipated their visit to the Adventurers Guild.
They roused Ayami from her slumber, urging her to wake up and get ready. Once they were prepared, they headed to Ewaan's room, intending to wake him.
However, to their surprise, as they burst into his room, they found him shirtless, engrossed in a set of push-ups.
Glancing at them, he halted his push-ups and rose to his feet. Covered in sweat, Ewaan reached for the towel lying on his bed.
As he wiped the perspiration from his face, he uttered bluntly, "Next time, do me the courtesy of knocking before barging in!"
His body was lean and well-toned, with defined muscles evident even while at rest. The sheen of sweat glistened on his tanned skin, accentuating the contours of his physique.
His shoulders were broad, indicating strength, and his arms showed the results of regular exercise, with veins faintly visible beneath the surface.
Their faces flushed with embarrassment, they quickly slammed the door shut behind them, the sound echoing through the hallway.
Ewaan descended shortly after, spotting the girls already seated at a nearby table. He made his way over and joined them.
After a light breakfast, they set off for the Adventurers Guild. While the girls were brimming with excitement, Ewaan remained indifferent as usual.
Maya couldn't help but sneakily glance at Ewaan as they walked towards the Adventurers Guild. Observing the brightness in his eyes, she couldn't resist a smile.
– Even though his expression doesn't reveal any emotions, I can tell he's enjoying himself. This world... I'm grateful for it.
°°°
As they approached the Adventurers Guild, they noticed the receptionist, Alina, along with three others, engrossed in assisting other adventurers.
So they decided to wait until one of them became available.
As they waited, Ayaka's attention was drawn to a bulletin board adorned with various job and quest requests.
Curiosity piqued, she approached the board, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she perused the available quests, scanning each one with keen interest.
Ayami kindly offered to give Maya a tour of the guild, and sensing their excitement, Ewaan decided to leave them to it.
While observing the bustling atmosphere of the Adventurers Guild, he found a nearby bench and settled down, unaware that a Katzlein Beastnoid girl had also chosen the same spot.
As they both sat down simultaneously, her tail ended up under Ewaan, eliciting a surprised "Mrrrrrrrrrawr..!" from the girl, abruptly interrupting his moment of tranquillity.
As the pain shot through her tail, the Katzlein girl let out a yelp of surprise, her cat-like ears flattening against her head in discomfort.
Her two tails twitched erratically, one recoiling from the sudden pressure, while the other lashed out instinctively.
Startled by the unexpected sound, Ewaan swiftly stood up.
"WHAT THE…" His words were cut short as he turned around, "fu…" only to be surprised by a beautiful Beastnoid girl from the Katzlein tribe. "UCK!?" But before he could react, however, she leaped at him swiftly, scratching his face with surprising agility.
She possessed a striking appearance, bearing a unique blend of human and feline features.
Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back, matching the color of her two tails and the tufts of fur adorning her cat-like ears atop her head.
Her eyes gleamed with an intense violet hue, and vertical pupils, reflecting her feline heritage.
Draped in a worn-out cloak, she concealed the outfit beneath, hinting at a hidden identity or purpose.
"Ugh… ah... Why did you do that?" Ewaan exclaimed, holding his face with his right palm in pain, his expression a mix of surprise and discomfort.
Still nursing her tail in pain, she looked at him with hostility. Their eyes locked in a tense standoff, her feline instincts pulsating with aggression.
With a snarl, she made to strike again, her right hand poised like a clawed weapon.
Reacting quickly, Ewaan shifted his head to the left with a fluid grace and intercepted her hand mid-air with his left hand in a swift countermove. Narrowly avoiding the impending attack.
"Whoa there, just because you succeeded the first time, it doesn't mean you'll succeed another time too!" Ewaan remarked, maintaining a steady and composed tone despite the unexpected encounter.
As she struggled to free her right hand from his grasp, she hissed in frustration. Undeterred, she attempted to scratch him with her left hand once again.
However, Ewaan swiftly moved his head straight, then seized her other hand as well with his firm and unwavering grip, effectively immobilizing her and leaving her unable to break free.
"Hmph, you won't learn, would y—OCK!" With surprising agility, she delivered a swift kick to his stomach with both legs.
In a fluid motion, she then performed a backflip, gracefully landing on the ground with three points of contact, freeing herself from his grasp.
In the process, her cloak slipped from her body, remaining caught in Ewaan's hand.
Despite his increased strength and agility, he isn't invulnerable, particularly due to his lack of experience in real-life combat situations.
As her cloak slipped away, it revealed her sleek black ninja-style dress, which hugged her slender frame with a snug fit, accentuating her lithe physique.
The dress exuded an air of mystery, enhanced by the addition of a large scarf draped around her neck.
Despite the garment's long sleeves, the fur on her arms peeked out, ending halfway down her human-like upper wrist.
Adorning her waist were two dagger-sized katanas, their sheaths secured firmly in place. These weapons hinted at her prowess in combat, further enhancing her enigmatic aura.
Clutching his stomach in pain, Ewaan braced himself for her next move, preparing for a counterattack.
"Come on!" he uttered in frustration, his gaze locked onto her as she poised herself for another strike, determined not to let her catch him off guard again.
[Metallic Tendrils, Bind And Constrain! — FERROUS BINDINGS]
A deep voice echoed, with a sudden emergence of metallic tendrils, coiling and intertwining to form strong and flexible bonds that resembled metallic chains, interrupted their confrontation.
The bindings encircled them tightly, restraining any further conflict as they shimmered in magical particles.
••• ••• •••
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone