Adventurers were the ultimate jacks-of-all-trades, relying on their skills to tackle a wide array of tasks—slaying monsters, exploring ancient ruins, or guarding dignitaries.
The nature of their work attracted a rough-and-tumble crowd, individuals forged by danger and driven by ambition.
The Adventurer's Guild served as their mutual aid society, a vital hub that coordinated jobs, distributed them to its members, and handled the logistics of their trade.
From paying out rewards for completed missions to appraising and purchasing monster materials or relics unearthed from ruins, the guild was an indispensable lifeline for adventurers, a fact Karen had explained with the practiced ease of someone deeply entrenched in its world.
Now, Karen and I were en route to the guild to report our demon subjugation, our horse-drawn carriage rattling along the dusty trade road.
The journey would take about half a day each way, and we'd been traveling for roughly two hours, the carriage swaying gently as the endless expanse of arid wilderness stretched beyond the window, a sea of cracked earth and sparse scrub under a pale sky.
"Once we've reported to the guild, we can stay at an inn for the night,"
Karen said, her voice casual as she leaned back in her seat. "You could head back to the village right after, or stick around for a bit if you want."
"An inn, huh?" I mused, picturing a warm bed and a hot meal.
"Don't worry, I'll cover the costs," she added with a grin.
"No way, I can't let you do that," I protested, shaking my head.
"It's non-negotiable," Karen insisted, her tone firm but playful. "The guild reimburses these as necessary expenses, so you might as well accept it."
Her words sounded more like those of a corporate employee than a battle-hardened adventurer, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the contrast.
But then—
GOOOOOOOH!
A deafening roar shattered the quiet, and the carriage lurched violently, throwing us against the seats.
"Wha—?!" I gasped, gripping the edge of my seat as the world tilted.
What the hell was happening? We halted the carriage and scrambled outside to assess the situation, my heart pounding with anticipation.
"Monsters…!" I growled, instinctively tensing as I spotted the threat.
About a hundred meters ahead, a massive centipede-like creature thrashed wildly, its segmented body gleaming under the sun, each movement sending tremors through the ground.
Two young girls, likely adventurers judging by their gear, were locked in combat with it, their movements swift but strained.
"They're being pushed back," Karen observed, her voice calm but edged with concern, her eyes narrowing as she analyzed the scene.
The girls were struggling; the centipede's whip-like strikes and lightning-fast lunges overwhelmed their defenses, its sheer size and speed giving it a brutal advantage.
"Let's help them!" I shouted, breaking into a sprint, my boots pounding against the dry earth.
As I ran, I mentally cataloged my skills: A-rank [Freeze] and [Defense Penetration], B-rank [Shooting (Intermediate)], and C-rank [Unlocking (Low Level)] and [Recovery (Small)].
For offense, I had [Freeze], [Defense Penetration], and [Shooting (Intermediate)] at my disposal. Considering the open terrain and the need to minimize collateral damage, [Freeze] seemed the safest bet to start with.
"Freeze!" I roared, activating my A-rank skill.
Pakin!
In an instant, the centipede monster was encased in a crystalline sheen of ice, its thrashing form frozen solid before shattering into countless glittering fragments, scattering across the ground like broken glass.
The demon's barrier had deflected [Freeze], but against this beast, the skill's raw power and versatility shone through, proving once again why it was a cornerstone of my arsenal.
I exhaled, a grin tugging at my lips as I realized how effortlessly the threat had been neutralized, the battlefield now silent save for the awestruck gazes of the two girls we'd just saved.
"I'm Prim. Thank you so much for saving us!" The pink-haired girl said with a bright, bubbly tone, her voice brimming with gratitude.
"Beatrice. I owe you my life. "Thank you," the silver-haired girl added, her cool, composed demeanor a stark contrast to her companion's warmth.
Prim, with her fluffy, long pink hair cascading in soft waves, introduced herself as a swordswoman, her vibrant energy practically radiating from her. Beatrice, her silvery hair tied back in a sleek ponytail, was a whip-wielder, her sharp gaze and poised stance exuding confidence. Both were strikingly beautiful, their features delicate yet fierce, perfectly suited to the adventurous life they led. Since arriving in this world, I seemed to cross paths with stunning women at every turn—a trend I wasn't about to complain about, though it left me quietly marveling at my luck.
"Glad you're both okay. I'm Kairi, and this is Karen," I said, gesturing to my companion.
"Nice to meet you," Karen said, her lips curving into a warm smile, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight.
"Karen… Wait, you mean the S-Class adventurer, the Crimson Lotus Princess?!" Prim gasped, her eyes widening in awe.
"To encounter an S-Class adventurer out here, of all places," Beatrice murmured, her tone tinged with respect, her gaze appraising Karen with newfound interest.
I turned to Karen, a grin spreading across my face. "Wow, you're pretty famous, huh?"
She shrugged, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Fame's not my thing. I don't really keep track of how well-known I am," she said, her nonchalance only adding to her effortless charisma.
Then I noticed something. "Hold on, Prim, Beatrice—are you hurt?"
Both girls had countless small scrapes and abrasions on their arms and legs, likely from their desperate struggle against the centipede monster.
"I've got [Recovery (Small)], so let me heal those for you," I offered, realizing it was the perfect chance to test the skill.
"Really? That's amazing!" "Prim!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Healing skills are rare… Are you a renowned adventurer yourself?" Beatrice asked, her brow arching with curiosity.
"Nah, I'm just a beginner," I said with a sheepish smile, activating [Recovery (Small)] for the first time.
The skill worked flawlessly, a soft glow enveloping their wounds as the scrapes vanished without a trace, leaving their skin smooth and unmarred.
"Wow, my injuries are completely gone! Thank you so much!" Prim chirped, her gratitude infectious.
"This is the second time I'm thanking you," Beatrice said, offering a formal bow. "I'll repay this debt someday. Thank you."
"No big deal," I said, scratching the back of my head, a bit embarrassed by their praise. "I just learned [Recovery], so I figured I'd put it to use when I got the chance."