As they stepped out of the guild, Orion felt the chill of the night air against his face. Paris glowed with vibrant lights, a perfect contrast to the dark, mysterious dungeons Chloe had explained earlier. Ellie was waiting outside, leaning casually against a lamppost, arms crossed, her gaze distant as she watched the city's movement.
"Took you long enough," Ellie said, raising an eyebrow.
"A little setback," Chloe replied with a faint smile, glancing at Orion.
He simply shrugged, looking down at the guild card in his hand.
"Now that I'm a registered hunter, are there any weird rules? Like… I can't just go around breaking things?"
Chloe chuckled.
"Well, technically yes. You can take missions, but if you ever want to climb ranks, you'll have to take tests inside the dungeons."
Ellie sighed, shaking her head.
"Please. As if he'd waste his time on that."
Orion slipped the card into his pocket and stretched his arms.
"If I ever get bored, maybe I'll try it. But for now, I'm more interested in the good things in life. Like food."
At that moment, a mouthwatering scent caught his nose. Orion turned sharply, spotting a small street restaurant with a bright neon sign flashing "Les Délices de Paris." The aroma of grilled meat and fine spices was hypnotic.
"We just ate," Chloe remarked, laughing at Orion's hungry expression.
"So what?" he answered casually. "My metabolism is on another level."
Without waiting, he was already in line. Ellie and Chloe followed, exchanging exasperated looks.
In front of them, a burly man was handed a massive plate of meat, letting out a satisfied laugh.
"Now this is what I call a real meal!" the man exclaimed, while nearby customers whispered about the restaurant's famous dishes.
Orion crossed his arms, fixing his eyes on the cook behind the counter.
"Give me the biggest plate you've got."
The attendant, a graying man in a greasy apron, looked at Orion and then at the two women.
"Does your friend even have money? That plate isn't cheap."
Ellie stifled a laugh, while Chloe grabbed Orion by the arm.
"Did you forget we're heading to a bar? If you eat all that, you'll pass out at the counter."
Orion frowned.
"Tsk. When this modern world learns that there's no such thing as too much food, let me know."
The trio eventually left the food stall behind, continuing through the glowing streets.
"So, where's this 'Le Nocturne' place?" Orion asked, already changing the subject.
Ellie pointed toward an alley ahead, where a discreet blue neon sign flickered.
"There. One of the most exclusive bars in Paris. But fair warning—the owner doesn't like troublemakers."
Orion smirked mischievously.
"Let's see if he likes a little fun, then."
And so, the three vanished into the entrance of Le Nocturne, where a new stage of Orion's journey was about to begin.