Chapter 578 The City Awaits
"Uhh…"
The next day arrived pretty quickly, and Rey woke up with a slight grunt, his eyes slowly opening up to the world around him.
The cause for his grunt wasn't the sudden exposure to light, or any stiffness in his body. No, he had long surpassed any of those inconveniences. The cause for his expression and reaction of discomfort was due to one reason alone.
~Master, good morning! Did you sleep well? Hehe… that was our first night together! Did you enjoy yourself? I know I did!~
"A good morning to you too…" Rey mumbled in a monotone voice as he rose from his soft and comfy bed.
Stretching his body, only out of habit, he also yawned.
His naked body stood immaculately, properly outlining his flawless form and well-toned muscles. Everything about him seemed to be maxed out—from the biceps, to the triceps, to the distribution of muscles all over his body. He had all the proper aesthetics to go with his slim body.
~P-perfection!~
"Why am I naked, Emil?" Rey mumbled.
He distinctly remembered going to bed in nightwear, so this current look surprised him.
~W-well, I just thought… being our first night together and all… and also for comfort, and, well…~
Rey rolled his eyes as he listened to her meaningless ramble. In all honesty, he didn't feel as conscious of his body as he used to. Pretty much all his classmates had seen his naked form, and the same applied to his Familiar.
All were yet to comment on his yogurt dispenser, so he took comfort in the fact that it didn't stand out—especially for the wrong reason.
~What are your plans for today, Master?~
"Just a few…" Rey mumbled. "There's going to be a Gala tonight, commemorating the near-completion of the Capital, so I'll have to attend."
Before that, he and the other Otherworlders would have to talk a walk around the city, greeting the locals and reassuring them of their safety—also going as far as thanking them for their perseverance.
'The party will be bothersome, but it would be nice to take a good walk with everyone.' He smiled to himself.
Yes, he had seen the rebuilt Capital from the sky, so he was able to tell just how much progress it had made. The city was about eighty percent complete, and now completely habitable without any encumbrance.
Just a month would be enough to finish things off.
"I'm sure we should be able to finish before going to the Front Lines." He mumbled, already completely zoned out of what Emil was telling him.
He did hear something about a "Date", but there was already so much else on his mind that he didn't think to digest it.
"Ater is busy again, so I can't rely on him for this. I really should start properly searching for Esme. Maybe I should start in the Adventurers City…"
Rey already had business there, with Trisha being the only one among the readily available Otherworlders he was yet to speak to, so he figured that was a fine way to kill two birds with one stone.
'Alright then! I'll head there today.' First off, though… he had to freshen up.
~Hehehehe! We're going to have a bath together!~
At this point, Rey couldn't help but feel a slew of emotions. On one hand, he felt creeped out by Emil's borderline unhinged disposition regarding their relationship. On the other hand, however, he felt relieved that he wasn't the biggest pervert he knew.
… Not anymore.
**************
As always, the Adventurers City was a lively and colorful hub, bustling with energy and the vibrant mesh of many cultures. The city thrived as a melting pot, with narrow cobblestone streets winding their way between old, multi-story buildings painted in dull and harsh colors.
Merchants lined the sidewalks, shouting out their wares—everything from exotic foods and handcrafted accessories to Enchanted Items and rare, curious weapons.
The air was filled with the scent of roasting meats, fresh bread, and a hint of incense wafting from the stalls of wandering traders or stationary kiosks. Walking through all of this was a young lady no older than 17—an adult by H'Trae's standards, but a young one regardless.
She had short dark hair, with her brown eyes glancing left and right as she took in the city she was yet to get fully used to. Her outfit was skimpy, by normal standards, but it was what made her most comfortable.
With a body hogging black tank top, having a dark brown jacket over it, as well as incredibly tight shorts and tall boots, she kept a steady pace and advanced to her destination—The Adventurers Guild.
The tall Guild Building stood at the heart of the city, and the dark-skinned lady noticed the intricate carvings that adorned its façade before stepping in. She even passed by a stone monument of two Adventurers raising their hands in the air; the new symbol of the City.
"Jet and Lux…" A feminine voice that betrayed the muscles on her gleaming skin echoed from her lips as she kept moving.
Large wooden doors, reinforced with ornate ironwork, swung open as she stepped inside.
The interior of the guild was vast and impressive, with high ceilings supported by heavy wooden beams. Hanging lanterns bathed the room in warm, golden light, illuminating the wooden paneling.
The main hall to the left bustled with Adventurers discussing quests, gathering Party members, and sharing stories of their journeys. However, what she was after was to her right.
—The Receptionist.
The lady made her way to the front desk, where a receptionist greeted her with a friendly smile. "Lady Trisha, you're already back from your Quest?" There was surprise hinted in her voice, but based on who she was talking to, this was to be expected.
After all, Trisha was a recognized Otherworlder and Savior of humanity.
In fact, right when she was walking through the city, and even when she entered the Guild Building, all eyes were on her. This wasn't due to her good looks and enchanting body, but also due to her status in the Alliance.
All showed her some measure of deference. "Yeah. The settlement will send word of the completion soon, but I have a letter signed by the chief about its completion." Trishs brought forth a parchment from the little pouch that hung around her waist.
"You can also send agents for inspection, so—"
"Lady Trisha, we trust you. There's no reason for you to lie about a Monster Subjugation you are overqualified for." The receptionist said with an awkward laugh.
"Hm. Okay…" Trisha, one of the few Heroic Rank Adventurers in the City, replied with a slight nod.
Her stern presence remained.
"Should I begin to process your reward?"
"No need. Once an emissary comes from the village, give the money to them. They'll need capital to rebuild their settlement, and I'm sure the support from the Capital won't suffice." "O-okay! I will do that right away!"
Trisha was bathed in gazes of admiration by the Receptionists and many Adventurers around her. Naturally, there were those who didn't seem too pleased by her action—considering how constant it had become—but they kept their dissatisfaction to themselves.
Trisha was a champion who refused to collect a dime for her labor. Instead, she would selflessly use it to help others.
"I guess my work here is done. Do you have any other task for me, preferably something involving stronger Monsters."
"W-well… about that… while you were away, someone came and made a private request for you."
Trisha raised her brow once she heard this. "Who?"
"He called himself Yer, and he said his situation is rather urgent." Once the receptionist said this, Trisha narrowed her gaze and deepened her scowl.
'What do you want now, Rey?