Hod told me the first thing that I missed. And at the end of the story, my eyes couldn't even grow wider anymore.
"See? Shocking."
He chuckled seeing the expression on my face, but I couldn't control myself.
"I can't believe it... Jrake and Klane got married?"
"Yeah. Those two started dating one and a half years ago. About the same time you left, I guess."
"Huh... Don't tell me I'm the one who has been between them all this time…?"
"What makes you think that?"
"Ah... actually never mind. Jrake has always shown careful behaviour around Klane. It was so obvious, but I was probably too apathetic to see it."
"Haha, I agree."
… Why is he agreeing?
"So how are the two?"
"Well, they got married just two months ago. They decided to live in a small village on the south east. It's Jrake's hometown, so..."
Two months… so it was the new year's eve? That is so Jrake.
"Ah... That's so sweet. So Klane retired, then?"
"Yeah. She found a replacement around the time you left. The replacement is doing a great job."
As he said that, Hod quickly remembered a small little detail. I also seemed to recall the same memory as him, and I quickly escaped my gaze before his eyes landed sharply on me.
"Speaking of the replacement… you have met her haven't you?"
"Nope."
"You came back around a year ago, didn't you??"
"Nope."
"Then who the hell is the masked man that got registered as a White ranked adventurer?!"
"No clue."
Even after all of that, Hod glared at me with a distrustful expression. I ended up letting out a sigh of giving up.
"What the hell you were doing at the Office, anyways? I thought you quitted adventuring."
"So that was really you!! You didn't even say hello to me!"
"I just didn't want anyone to know I'm back. Shouldn't that part be obvious?"
Hod let out a sigh and looked up again to continue the interrogation.
"So how did you come back that time?"
"Well, I learned how to fly."
"… I don't believe that."
"Hmm… are you sure?"
I asked him that simple question, and he went silent for a flat ten seconds.
His expression changes so many times in just a span of ten seconds, so I know he is giving it a lot of thought. I ended up chuckling at the end, and he let out a sigh.
"I shouldn't be surprised… And yet I did."
I laughed even louder seeing his reaction finally coming out.
"Stop trying to expect less of me. That's everyone's first mistake."
"… You are correct."
Hod continued with the news story telling, and nearly every single one of them surprised me. They are not as shocking as my news, but the level of surprise is still pretty up there.
Nearly everyone on Fran's team is a Yellow ranked adventurer now. All, except the magician girl, Emily, who is still a Blue ranked. While Fran herself is already a seasoned White ranked adventurer, 'Swordsaint'. Their team is insanely strong, possibly the strongest squad in the kingdom right behind Jonus, since Jonus is just a different level of White rank now.
There is a new White ranked adventurer, and he is called 'Cane, The Dragon Slayer'. I asked Hod why his nickname is that, and Hod told me that the past few months the kingdom has seen quite a ton of dragon activities.
Cane was the one who held the highest number of dragon slain. He got promoted into a White ranked adventurer thanks to that.
Hod also warned me that Cane has changed. He didn't tell me why, but he told me that Cane is no longer the polite and funny person he was back then.
He is now cold and ruthless, not socializing with anyone and apathetic. He took every single mission regarding dragons by himself, and he always aces them, despite coming back with tons of wounds.
He lost his mind, and became heavily obsessed with dragons.
By… himself?
I was gonna ask more, but then Hod continued with the next news. From the way he suddenly changed the topic, it's like he is implying that he doesn't want to talk about it, and so I let him continue.
There is a new smith in the city, and it was quite popular for making some really good weapons. Adventurers came there nearly every week and requested some weapons. It is located on the south-eastern main road, so it's fairly close to the Office.
Since the number of dragons increased, dragon scale armour became a new trend for expensive armours. Not only is it fireproof, it also has the strength of multiple times stronger than steel, depending on the dragon type. It is also ten times lighter than steel, since it is basically a very powerful leather. A lot of adventurers are getting it, but I think there is no point for me to wear one.
My skin is tougher than dragons, anyways.
The situation with the demon kingdom got even worse. The spies that the demons placed on the kingdom had been brought to light and got enslaved, and that made the demons angrier.
The alliance and the demons have been having some small fights in some areas around the Mazino kingdom's territory.
From the sounds of it, it seems like the situation is a lot worse than what Veneo has been telling me. But that makes sense, after all I am only a student.
But now, I am back at the field. I should be able to do more.
We kept on talking until the shop nearly closed. A lot of people have left already, so we agreed to finish it here for the night. Hod went to the back while I left the restaurant.
Ah, right. I don't have an inn to stay at.
Let's see if the previous inn can still accept me.
I walked towards the south-western road, all the way towards the inn I am very fond of. And after reaching the front, I can see now that this does not change a bit.
"Some things never change, I guess."
I entered the inn's front door, and that's when I nearly bit my own tongue.
The lobby of the inn has turned into a bar. A lot of grown ups are drinking and talking loudly to one another, making the entire lobby rather lively.
The bartender's desk is on the left, while the right is filled with tables for the guests. At the end of the room is where the receptionist desk is, the same as before.
I walked up to the receptionist desk, trying not to touch the drunk old men standing on the way. I finally arrived at the desk after trying really hard, and I talked with the receptionist.
Hmm… she seemed fatter.
"A room for one please."
"Okay, for how-Oh! It's you!"
The receptionist quickly recognized me. I grinned and lifted my hand.
"I have returned."
"I thought you were dead… I mean, don't get me wrong. Adventurers tend to do some dangerous missions."
"Haha, it's okay. That is a very normal way of thinking."
She picked a key from under the desk and placed it on top of the desk.
"The same spot. Nothing has changed."
"Thank you very much."
I paid the money for a night and left her in my room. There are plenty of people passing me while on the stairs, and it does weird me out that there is a bar on the first floor.
I shook my head and continued going up the stairs.
I arrived at my old door. I placed the key in and opened the door. The moment I entered, I was welcomed by a sense of longing.
Immediately, all those memories of me living in this room for six whole months returned. The time I got stabbed by that assassin, the time Valey and Cony visited me and scolded me for not having any decorations, all those moments I've spent living here.
"Oh my... I am back here."
I turned the lights on and studied the room. It is the same as it was back then. It didn't change at all.
I tried checking the bathroom, and really, nothing has changed.
I placed some of my stuff on the table while I dropped my body on the bed. I closed my eyes and started sleeping again.
Tomorrow, I have a lot of greetings to do.