As Arthas left the Adventurer's Guild with the bracer Eina had given him, he remembered something crucial.
He needed a support member, but he had no idea where to find one.
Should he just ask people on the street?
Looking up, he saw the sky turning reddish-brown; it was dusk.
He'd ask Eina tomorrow; she knew more than he did.
Thinking this, Arthas walked down West Street and into the maze of back alleys.
Then, from deep within the alley, he heard hurried footsteps.
As he wondered who was running, a small figure darted around the corner, colliding with him.
"Oof!"
A small cry escaped; the figure bounced off and fell.
A dwarf?
Arthas looked at the fallen girl; she was tiny, with thin limbs that looked like they might break. Her unique features reminded him of a certain race.
Her appearance and large backpack were familiar. He often saw her near the Dungeon entrance. Was she a support member?
He'd been wondering where to find one, and here was one.
"Are you alright?"
Arthas offered a hand. The girl, small, stood up, her auburn hair covering her neck.
Her face was childish; her large, round eyes were striking.
"I caught you, you darn Palum!"
As Arthas reached for her, a man appeared, shouting angrily. The shout frightened the girl.
The man, with menacing eyes, seemed to be an adventurer.
Around twenty years old, he carried a large sword.
"You can't escape…!"
The breathless young man looked like a fiend, ignoring Arthas. Arthas, in turn, focused on the fallen dwarf girl.
"Are you… a support member?"
"Y… yes."
The terrified girl answered instinctively.
"Good. I'll hire you."
"Eh?"
The girl, still shocked, stared at the man who'd stopped her escape.
What's wrong with this guy? So sudden. Is he a simpleton?
As the girl thought this, the ignored adventurer roared.
"Who are you? Get out of the way!"
"Is he a problem?"
Arthas glanced at the man, then asked the girl.
"He… he…"
The stammering girl didn't know what to say; Arthas nodded.
"If I deal with him, can I get a discount?"
"You're underestimating me! Get lost, or I'll kill you both!"
"I want to hire this support member. Can you leave?"
Arthas politely asked, but his words weren't pleasant.
"You're asking for it! I'll kill you…!"
The man drew his sword.
Arthas frowned; that wasn't simple hostility; it was killing intent!
Hestia and Eina had told him about adventurer rules; the most important was to avoid killing.
Killing members of other Familias was unforgivable.
But this man would kill Arthas if he had the chance.
The man lunged.
No one noticed the faint white frost under Arthas's feet.
"Stop."
The sudden cold vanished as quickly as it appeared; Arthas was surprised. The man stopped.
A strong, stern voice intervened.
He turned to see an elf girl carrying a large paper bag.
Exquisite features, like Eina's. Unlike the half-elf Eina, her pointed ears were sharper.
Sky-blue almond-shaped eyes pierced the adventurer.
Arthas recognized her; she worked at the Hostess of Fertility with Syr. Ryuu, if he remembered correctly.
"Another one… What now?!"
"The man you're attacking… will be my important colleague's lifelong partner. Don't touch him."
What is she saying?
"What are you all talking about?! Are you crazy?!"
"Shut up."
The air froze.
The shouting man fell silent; Ryuu's narrowed eyes emanated an overwhelming pressure. His discomfort was evident.
Arthas felt the pressure too; he was curious about this seemingly ordinary waitress.
"I don't want to hurt anyone. I tend to overdo it."
Bathed in the fading light, Ryuu said calmly.
Her words carried undeniable conviction.
The adventurer's mouth moved, as if issuing a final warning. Ryuu drew a small tanto.
"Damn it!"
The man fled, his face ashen.
"Are you alright?"
"Thank you."
Arthas smiled politely.
He wasn't sure of the man's level; his instinctive power almost killed a Level 5. He wasn't sure if the man could withstand it.
If he died, it would be troublesome.
The frost would easily identify the killer, causing trouble for Hestia.
"It was nothing. And I believe Mr. Arthas could have handled it."
Ryuu bowed politely, her intense gaze seeming to see through Arthas.
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