As he looked around, it did not take him long to spot Miss Eina.
That said… she looked rather busy at the moment.
Several adventurers of varying ages, all in gear, were crowded around the counter in front of her, their faces full of ingratiating smiles. Clearly, they were there to ask for something.
He took a few steps closer and immediately heard their completely unrestrained voices.
"So, Miss Tulle, how about becoming my advisor? I'm really strong, you know. I'll definitely make your reputation rise even higher. By the way, could you tell us a little about Mr. Xien? No other intentions, really—we just want to admire his greatness…"
"Well… I'm terribly sorry, but privately disclosing someone else's information isn't allowed…"
Eina wore a strained smile, both hands raised in front of her in a placating gesture as she tried to decline them.
But they were clearly not about to give up so easily.
"It's not that serious. We just want to know where he usually goes. We only want an autograph… please help us out."
"Yeah, yeah, please, Miss Tulle…"
Ever since Xien became famous, even her own "business" had improved quite a bit. The number of adventurers wanting her as their advisor had multiplied several times over. Of course, as for how many of them really wanted her and how many were just hoping to use her to get close to Xien—that was another matter entirely.
Eina crossed her hands over her chest, her attitude firm as she refused them. She was already starting to lose patience. These people were seriously interfering with her work now.
Just as she was about to drive them off more sternly, a voice rang out from behind them.
"Hey. If you keep pestering my advisor like this, it's going to be pretty inconvenient for me."
That single sentence made everyone turn around.
A small-framed boy lowered the hood he had been using to hide his identity.
It was Xien.
"Sorry, but I need to borrow this pretty lady for a while. Could you all please make a little room?"
The very people who had been clamoring to see Xien a second ago now stood there staring in astonishment, suddenly silent.
And as if by instinct, they actually parted, opening a clear path wide enough for someone to pass through.
That was the instinct of adventurers in this city: respect for those who possessed power.
Even though Xien had done nothing more than say a few words, they obeyed without thinking.
Smiling faintly, Xien walked over to the half-elf girl and gestured for her to follow him.
The two headed into a consultation room. Before entering, Xien turned back to look at those still staring eagerly at him.
"I don't mind giving autographs afterward to anyone who can quietly wait until we're done talking. See you in a bit."
That one sentence was like dumping a bucket of cold water over the Guild's almost-exploding atmosphere. The agitation instantly cooled, and the people outside began settling down with almost unbelievable calm.
Even the receptionists who had been preparing to step in and maintain order were left staring blankly. They had never imagined a single sentence from that boy could have such a powerful effect. It was almost miraculous.
Inside the room—
"So, it looks like I've brought you quite a bit of trouble."
He sat down on the sofa. Though his words were apologetic, there was a trace of amusement in his expression. Clearly, he did not mean it sincerely. It was more playful gloating than anything else.
"It's manageable. After all, your fame has brought me quite a few benefits too. This level of trouble was within expectations. I can still handle it."
"I see. That's good, then."
"So? What did you come to me for this time? Don't tell me you're here to level up again, Hero Xien?"
She poured him a glass of water and casually set it on the table in front of him.
She had definitely seen it—he really had been gloating just now.
She was not the sort of person to simply take it lying down, either. She was more than capable of fighting back with soft knives of her own.
Sure enough, Xien immediately surrendered.
"Please don't. That title is way too embarrassing. And what kind of thing is that to say? Can't I come see you even when there's nothing going on? You're my advisor, remember? Be careful, or I might file a complaint."
He took a sip of tea, grinning as he looked at the puffed-up little girl before him. She really did resemble an angry pufferfish. It was kind of amusing.
Eina finally gave up in helpless resignation.
This guy really had everything going for him—except that sometimes his personality was just a bit too terrible.
"Well, I know you're not the type who enjoys the spotlight, but the fact remains that you're the hottest rising star in Orario right now. You should pay attention to your public image."
"Understood. Here—please help me register this."
Xien readily agreed and handed over a certificate of task completion.
"This is…?"
"A classified commission from the Guild's upper management. I've already completed it. Please help settle the reward."
Even though he had already gotten those books, there was still money attached to this kind of confidential mission once it was formally closed out—a rather hefty sum, in fact.
At first glance, Eina had not recognized it. There were many different formats for this sort of special commission, and unless you had something to compare it with, it was hard to identify. Besides, Xien could not exactly show her the actual letter.
"All right, just a moment."
Now that she understood what it was, her efficiency became astonishingly fast. In no time at all, she had finished all the necessary paperwork. All he had to do afterward was visit the exchange desk to collect the payment.
Watching her busily work for his sake, Xien continued.
"That thing I promised you—treating your mother. It's probably time to put that on the schedule. I've got some free time right now. How about your side? Is it convenient?"
Eina instantly looked up, joy lighting her face.
"Y-you really can?"
"Of course. Things in the familia have been pretty relaxed these past few days. Taking a few days off shouldn't be a problem. The real question is whether employees like you can take leave. Request a few days off, then come with me by wyvern. I've done the math—it should only take about two days total, so it won't be difficult to fit in."
His words filled her heart with warmth.
She was not made of stone. How could she not be moved when someone cared this much, and helped her this earnestly?
"You really thought it through that far… Thank you so much, Xien."
Seeing her radiant smile, Xien chuckled softly.
"If I promised something, then of course I'm going to do it. Besides, we're friends, aren't we? That makes it even more reason to help."
"…Mm. I'll go request leave tomorrow."
"Good."
And just like that, the matter was decided. They agreed to contact each other by magic stone communication before evening.
When Xien came back out, he found a long, snaking line waiting for him.
Immediately regretting his little act of showing off, he had no choice but to use the hand speed of his twenty-plus years of singlehood to churn out autograph after autograph.
Roughly an hour later, when the last person had finally gotten theirs, Xien silently swore he would never try to act cool like that again.
It was hard to believe he could actually feel tired from something like this.
Still, the smiles on all those faces had been genuine.
It had to be said—most of the people in this city were unexpectedly pure-hearted. Dealing with them was relatively easy. The "fans" here were the kind who, barring some major upheaval, could keep supporting someone for a lifetime.
And so, with a bright smile on his face, he kept working through the crowd in misery.
Just as Xien was preparing to leave, someone stepped in front of him.
Looking closely—well, he was an elf, male, dressed neatly in a formal suit, but his face… honestly speaking, he looked less like an elf and more like a goblin.
Of course, Xien knew exactly who he was.
Royman Mardeel—the Guild's Guildmaster, the highest true executive authority in the Adventurers' Guild aside from its founder, the great god Ouranos himself.
"Mr. Xien, correct? Hello. I am Royman Mardeel, Guildmaster of the Adventurers' Guild. A certain great one wishes to see you. Please follow me."
And with that, without waiting for any reply, the short and rather ugly elf turned and walked away.
Xien raised a brow and followed.
He had a pretty good idea who wanted to see him, though he still could not help feeling surprised. He had not expected that great deity to choose this moment to meet him.
They passed through the corridors of the Guild and came to a hidden chamber.
As they went deeper, the surroundings began to change. The air in the stone passageway was cool and sharp.
Xien and the elven Guildmaster walked step by step through the dim artificial tunnel. Besides the crisp echoes of their footsteps, there was not a single other sound.
The ceiling was not especially high, and the passage itself was so narrow that three people could not have stood abreast. The walls were made of a strange seamless material, faintly glowing patterns carved into their surface. There were no windows, no doors of any kind—"secret passage" was the most fitting term for it.
"Hm? Dead end?"
After walking for a while, the two reached the end of the corridor.
Just as Xien was frowning in confusion, the elf stretched out a hand and touched one of the glowing patterns on the wall.
Then he murmured something that sounded very much like an incantation, and the wall rumbled lowly before sliding aside.
Beyond it lay a broad, dimly lit space.
Following after the Guildmaster, Xien climbed a short flight of stairs and entered a stone hall.
They emerged from the darkness at the edge of the chamber and looked around.
The floor was paved with stone slabs. The ceiling was high and lost in darkness. The stone walls carried the weight of endless years, making the place feel like a forgotten temple from the ancient ages.
Aside from the underground tunnel they had just come through, the only other apparent exit was a staircase leading upward, enough for Xien to understand that they were deep underground.
And there, at the center of the hall—
He sat upon a throne on a raised altar lit only by four torches.
A massive stone throne.
Seated upon it was an aged god, unmoving as a mountain.
His body was over two meters tall and thick with power. His presence, his weight, and the divine aura surrounding him were utterly different from that of an ordinary god.
He resembled one of those beings in Heaven who were called Great Gods—deities who retained a fragment of real power.
Long white hair and a matching beard spilled out from beneath his robe and hood. His broad, powerful arms rested on the armrests.
Like a statue.
Like a sovereign.
He simply existed there, and that alone was enough.
A king who never moved—the true ruler of the Guild—slowly raised his head and looked down at Xien.
"It is our first meeting, Hero Candidate Xien."
"You are… a god?"
Xien's expression turned strange.
Not because of the deity's identity, but because of his appearance.
He was… more handsome than expected. He carried the mature gravitas of a distinguished elder.
Though Xien had known of his existence, this was their first true meeting. There was no way he could simply act as if he already knew him, so his faintly odd reaction served as a perfect cover.
Still, it had to be said—even just in terms of presence, this was a god of tremendous authority and weight. Anyone seeing this scene for the first time would have been shaken.
"Yes. You should have heard my name before. I am Ouranos. I was also the one who commissioned your previous task."
Ouranos spoke slowly, without any attempt at mystery. He directly gave his name.
From his observations over this period of time, he already knew the boy before him was the straightforward type. There was no need to dress things up.
"I see. So it was you, Great God. Then the Adventurers' Guild is your organization?"
"Yes."
"Then if you've called me here, Great God, is there something you want to discuss with me?"
Xien asked the question directly. He wanted to know why this ancient deity had chosen to summon him.
Ordinarily, if it were not something absolutely necessary, there was no reason for this god to appear before any ordinary mortal at all.
After all, in the original story, even over such a long span of time, this god had never once summoned the protagonist to meet him. That alone said enough.
And yet now, he had called Xien here personally.
There had to be a reason.
Xien's instincts were correct.
The great god nodded.
"It is easier to speak with the clever. Your guess is correct. I invited you here because of a request—a commission that only you can accomplish."
Ouranos, expressionless and composed, stated the purpose of the meeting.
Hearing that, Xien's brow lifted. His interest was piqued at once. He spread one hand casually.
"I'm listening."
"We wish to borrow your power in order to soothe the Dungeon."
At those words, Xien's pupils contracted sharply.
Honestly, this was the last answer he had expected.
Did the god mean that literally?
Borrow his power… to soothe the Dungeon?
What did that even mean? Xien himself had never known his power could do something like that.
Seeing the confusion in his face, the great god explained.
"I believe you have already noticed, to some extent, that your power is exceedingly unusual. So unusual that the entity known as the Dungeon itself longs for it. The abnormal richness of your drops, the way the number of monsters does not increase when you are alone—these are all evidence. Through our observations, I can tell you with certainty: the Dungeon is drawing close to you. Or rather, it is currying favor with the one who possesses that power."
…
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