Sophia's voice echoed throughout the guild:
"Tomorrow."
Helen grumbled, crossing her arms.
"Tomorrow? You haven't even paid us for the materials!"
"Hm? Paid you, you say? This quest was intended to settle your debt, and you didn't fulfill it, remember?" Sophia confirmed.
"Eh, I don't remember anything like that," Helen muttered.
Ryan looked directly at Sophia. He was exhausted. This whole situation felt like a waste of time.
"Then let it be tomorrow, no problem," Ryan said, putting an end to their complaints. "I didn't want to get involved with the kingdom's higher-ups, let alone the King. Right now, I'd rather just enter a dungeon and level up."
Ryan leaned against the counter as he spoke.
"I really want to reach A-rank already," he muttered.
Sophia let out a mocking laugh and leaned onto the counter.
"Ryan, seriously, just give up on that. No matter what achievements you have in an S-rank party, it will be impossible for you to rank up. You're a support member. Your role is to assist. You can't fight on your own. Just forget about it."
"Of course he can fight!" Mirian and Helen yelled at the same time.
"You have no idea what you're talking about, Sophia," Mirian said. "Ryan isn't just an ordinary support."
"Exactly," Helen added. "He's really strong. Probably stronger than many A-rank adventurers. You should watch him fight before saying stupid things."
Sophia laughed.
"Strong? You mean smart," Sophia replied. "He's a support member, after all. They aren't strong; they're useful."
Sophia sighed and continued:
"But that's precisely why nobody wants to become a support, and why they're so scarce."
Karol walked up to Ryan while the others argued. She nudged him with her elbow and whispered:
"I have to admit, you give off that impression as a support. When I first saw you, I thought you were weak. But you captivated me... in more ways than one..." Karol said, winking and giving him a mischievous smile.
"Hey... we're in public. Keep those comments to yourself," Ryan retorted.
"So you don't mind if it's when we're alone?"
"I didn't say that..."
Karol giggled mockingly, and Sophia turned back to the party to put an end to the argument.
"Enough stubbornness! Your offenses from the previous quest—where you vanished for a month—and this new quest will be overlooked. Just go, present yourselves before the King, and don't cause trouble. Consider that debt cancellation as a congratulatory gift for reaching S-rank."
"Oh, Lady Sophia, you're always so lenient with them," Irene commented, organizing some papers on the counter.
"What did you say?" Sophia glared at her.
"Nothing, I didn't say a thing," Irene said.
Then Sophia turned her gaze back to Ryan's party, staring intently at them as her voice sharpened:
"I'm serious. Don't cause trouble in front of the King."
"Don't put it like that," Helen replied. "You make us sound like troublemaking adventurers."
"That's exactly why I'm saying it," Sophia added.
In the end, they accepted reluctantly, and since it was already late, they went to rest after their long journey.
◇◇◇
Each of them went to a room, and Ryan fell asleep immediately. When he woke up, he felt a weight on him. Mirian was hugging him in her sleep. On the other side was Karol.
'Hm? After what I did with both of them, it's not unusual, but for both of them to be here... since when do they get along so well?'
"Good morning. I came to see you, but you were already asleep," Mirian said. Then she complained when she noticed Karol next to her, having had the exact same idea.
Karol was waking up and greeted Ryan with a lazy smile. Instead of getting up, she went back to sleep resting against his chest.
"That's enough! How can you both be so relaxed? There's plenty to do!" Ryan ordered, getting out of bed.
Karol and Mirian lingered, bickering briefly before heading out.
They went downstairs to grab a quick bite to eat. While they were eating, Helen showed up, walked over to the table, and stole food from Mirian and Karol without asking.
"This isn't enough for me," Helen said with her mouth full.
"Hey! Give it back!" Karol and Mirian yelled at the same time.
Ryan found it amusing to watch them. They looked like children fighting over candy. Once finished, they just waited for the appointed time to see the King.
When the time came, they went to see the King, guided by Mirian through the city streets.
◇◇◇
The guards escorted them to the throne room. It was a massive hall filled with people dressed in expensive clothes. Standing there was a man acting as the King's herald, and upon seeing them enter, he struck his staff against the floor.
The man was an A-rank mage.
"Here we have the infam—" He cut himself off and continued: "The S-rank heroes of Lunar Veil!"
"He was about to call us infamous, wasn't he?" Helen complained about the nickname, but Mirian stopped her. There were royal guards and several mages throughout the hall watching them.
The guards were of a well-refined A-rank, very similar to Guild Master Sophia.
Whispers among the guards and other adventurers present echoed everywhere.
The herald ordered them forward.
"Kneel!" the man commanded.
Mirian, Helen, and Karol obeyed and knelt down. Ryan didn't do so immediately. He remained standing, observing the surroundings.
And looking directly at the King, who also possessed A-rank with very high attributes.
'Kneel? Do I really have to do that? Which leg was I supposed to bend...?' He watched the girls in his party to check their posture.
The herald grew indignant and ordered him to kneel once more, claiming Ryan was displaying a lack of respect.
Helen snickered quietly, as did Karol. Mirian tried to silence her companions with a stern look.
Then, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind Ryan's group. Suddenly, he felt an immense weight on his body. It was a physical pressure that threatened to crush him against the floor.
"Gravity Domain," a voice echoed behind him.
Ryan dropped a little, but bore the weight and remained crouched. He pushed up with his legs, refusing to sink lower, not letting his knees touch the ground.
'Shit, who the hell does this power belong to...'
The girls immediately stood up, their auras turning menacing.
"Who the fuck are you, bastard!" Helen shouted, gripping her sword. In an instant, both Helen and Mirian were already armed.
The people around them went on high alert.
The herald shouted, attempting to restore order.
Several mages stepped in front of the King.
The skill suddenly ceased, and the one responsible spoke in surprise:
"Well. Even though I only used 40%, I didn't expect you to endure it. You're unusually strong for a mere support. Are you carrying many magic relics on you?" he asked.
Ryan stood up completely and looked at him: a tall man with short, messy yellow hair.
"What are you talking about? I have no reason to answer you... Attacking someone without introducing yourself is extremely rude," Ryan retorted.
"Yes, you're right. I am—" the man tried to speak.
"Shut up! If you want to fight, bring it on," Helen snapped, and without waiting for an answer, she lunged forward.
Five thrusts, but they were stopped by an instant barrier created by the man.
"He stopped Helen's attack?" Mirian murmured.
"Calm down, I had no intention of hurting you," the man said to Helen as her sword clashed against his barrier.
"Bastard! You say that after attacking us!"
"I only wished to prevent such disrespect toward His Majesty," the man explained.
Helen was about to launch another attack, but the King's voice stopped her.
"Enough. End these games," the King declared from his throne, raising his hand. "I summoned you today to speak, not to fight. Stop this nonsense at once."
Helen and the others looked at Ryan, and seeing that the man with the gravity skill made no further moves, Ryan nodded. Everyone sheathed their weapons.
The rest of the guards and mages in the hall also calmed down and lowered their weapons.
The King looked at the herald and gave him a nod. The man began introducing them again, this time formally:
"The S-rank hero party consists of... Mirian, S-rank archer. Helen, S-rank swordsman." The herald looked at Karol, whom he didn't recognize.
"I will introduce myself," Karol said with a smile. "I am Karol, an A-rank mage."
"Very well. Continuing... They also have Ryan, a B-rank priest."
The herald paused briefly before continuing:
"And although he currently does not have a party, on the other side we have Hero William, an S-rank mage."
'I figured he would be the S-rank hero...'
"Inspect."