The sun was already starting its descent when Inigo returned to the Adventurer's Guild, his new leather identification badge swinging gently against his chest. The crowd had thinned a little, but the hall was still alive with the usual din—laughing adventurers, clattering mugs, and the low thrum of chatter that never truly faded.
He made his way straight to the front desk, where the same receptionist from earlier sat poised with her feather quill, scribbling onto a parchment with practiced precision. Her blonde hair was neatly tied back as always, not a strand out of place beneath the dim golden light of the wall sconces. She wore that same professional half-smile, and when she looked up to see him, the warmth in her expression deepened.
"Back again, Mr. Inigo?" she asked, setting her quill aside.
Inigo gave a small nod, holding up his ID. "I've got it now."
She accepted it gracefully, examined the details, then handed it back with a nod of approval. "Everything checks out. Welcome to official status."
"Thanks," he said, then leaned slightly closer to the counter, lowering his voice. "I'd like to take on a quest."
"Of course," she replied, already reaching for a registry logbook. "Do you have one in mind?"
"I saw one earlier," Inigo said. "Goblin extermination. Bronze rank. Cave subjugation."
That made her pause.
She flipped through the log until she found the listing, eyes narrowing slightly as she reviewed the quest description. "Yes, it's still active. South of the city, about half a day's ride into the foothills. Estimated goblin numbers—fifteen to twenty. Possibly a chieftain. Cave structure. Ambush risk—high."
She looked back at him, more serious now. "I should inform you that this is a high-difficulty subjugation quest for a Bronze-tier. Most adventurers don't attempt it alone."
"I can handle it," Inigo said, calmly but firmly.
Her eyes lingered on him, studying his face. "You understand that if you accept this and die in the process, the guild holds no responsibility. No rescue teams. No bounty payout if your corpse goes missing. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
A moment of silence passed between them.
Then she sighed, reached for a stamp, and began processing the quest form. "Very well. Standard reward is fifteen silver coins, with an additional five for eliminating the chieftain if confirmed. Tusk and ear collection required as proof."
She handed him the assignment sheet.
Inigo accepted it and slipped it into his satchel, then hesitated a moment before smiling faintly.
"Hey… I've been coming to this counter a lot. But I never got your name."
She blinked, a little surprised, but smiled. "Elise."
"Elise," he repeated. "That's a nice name."
"Thank you," she replied, a hint of a blush rising in her cheeks despite her composed demeanor.
He tilted his head, lips curling into a teasing smirk. "So tell me, Elise. Hypothetically… if I come back from this quest alive, coins in hand, would fifteen silver be enough to cover dinner with a beautiful receptionist?"
That caught her off guard.
She blinked again, then gave a small laugh. "Flattery, huh? I see the adventurer's confidence kicked in."
"I'm just asking a question," he said, holding his hands up playfully. "Purely academic."
Elise leaned forward slightly, resting her arms on the counter, eyes half-lidded with mock scrutiny. "Survive the goblin cave. Come back in one piece. Then maybe I'll consider your proposal."
Inigo gave a mock salute. "Then I guess I've got all the motivation I need."
"Good luck, Inigo," she said, amusement still in her voice. "Try not to die. It'd be such a waste."
He turned with a small grin and made his way out of the guild hall, the form tucked securely in his satchel and the image of her amused smile lingering in his mind.
[Equip: Combat Uniform – Active Mode]
[Equip: M4A1 Rifle – Standard Loadout]
[Equip: Sidearm – Desert Eagle]
[Equip: Tactical Visor – Enhanced Threat Detection Mode]
The digital shimmer of his gear replaced his civilian clothes in seconds. Black body armor snugly fit against his frame. Pouches auto-filled. His HUD recalibrated for field mode.
He took a slow breath and activated the GPS overlay, plotting a route toward the quest site. The path glowed faintly on the map—just southeast of the city, past the farmlands and into the forest foothills.
With one last glance back at the towering spires of Elandra, Inigo muttered to himself.
"Time to earn my keep."
He set off, boots crunching against the cobbled road, already half-lost in mission focus.
But deep in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but replay that smile.
Elise, huh?
He'd definitely survive this.
And maybe—just maybe—have dinner waiting on the other side.
The journey southeast of Elandra took longer than expected.
The cobbled roads soon gave way to packed dirt trails, and from there, to the uneven paths of the countryside—rutted wagon grooves, the occasional wheel-busted cart abandoned off to the side, and the tall shadows of trees crowding the horizon. Farmers on horseback passed him by, offering cautious glances at the armored figure marching alone with purpose. Even they could feel it—Inigo wasn't just some traveler out for a walk.
The foothills began to rise slowly, wrapping the forest in undulating slopes. Trees thickened. The air grew cooler.
He slowed his pace, eyes scanning the terrain. The forest here was dense and quiet—too quiet. Not even the wind stirred the leaves.
Inigo moved off the trail, stepping between moss-covered trunks and ducking beneath twisted branches until he reached a shallow ridge.
And there it was.
The cave.