After walking for about 20 minutes from the West District, Rent and Moro finally arrived in front of a massive building. It was a structure adorned with carvings of a silver shield and sword on its left and right sides, with several crystal stone mp beads lining the edges of the building.

  It was the Lumeria Branch Guild.

  Rent and Moro, who was floating beside Rent's shoulder, stood right in front of the rge entrance. The door was made of polished copper, with intricate wood carvings around the edges of the double doors.

  Moro spun briefly, then turned to Rent. "This is the pce, Master! How is it? Quite amazing, right?" his body shook with excitement.

  Rent stared at the rge building for a moment. He swallowed hard. "Moro. Are you... sure this is the pce?"

  Moro nodded quickly. "Of course! This is where new adventurers make a living or, well, just build their rank status."

  "Hmm... never mind. For the sake of paying debt and sleeping soundly," he muttered.

  "Come on, Moro. Let's finish this quickly."

  Moro saluted, raising one imaginary hand. "Ready! Commander!"

  Rent took a deep breath, preparing his mental state. He pushed the heavy copper doors open.

  CREAAAK.

  Instead of glory, what hit Rent first was a wall of sound.

  BZBZBZBZBZ!

  Voices. Hundreds of voices shouting, ughing, bargaining, and boasting all at once. The air inside felt thick and warm, smelling of a mixture of cheap ale, rusty iron, and the distinct aroma of men who hadn't bathed for a week after returning from a dungeon.

  Rent froze in the doorway. His face paled slightly.

  "Moro," Rent whispered. "Cancel the mission. We're going home. Now."

  "Negative, Master! Retreat is not an option! Look at that board! Look at the money! And look at our future ahead!"

  "Damn. This pce is noisier than it looks."

  Rent forced his legs to move forward, entering the chaotic hall. The Guild's interior was vast, resembling a grand train station hall. On the right was a bar area filled with adventurers drinking at noon. On the left was a giant quest board surrounded by a crowd. And straight ahead...

  A long queue lined up neatly, and at the end of the line was the receptionist's desk.

  A pce to get the first money through missions.

  "Great," Rent muttered. "Bureaucracy. The pce I hate the most."

  He walked sluggishly and stood at the very back of the line. In front of him was an Orc standing two meters tall, wearing only a leather loincloth. The smell of raw musk coming from the Orc's back made Rent want to hold his breath until next week.

  Five minutes passed. The line didn't move. Ten minutes passed. The Orc in front of him scratched his back, sending a cloud of dead skin dust flying toward Rent.

  Rent closed his eyes, trying to find inner peace. "Patience. You are strong, Rent. It's just a normal smell, you often cleaned Big Sister's food scraps at home. This is just a normal smell."

  "Bored, huh, Mr. Mirror?"

  A whisper right in his left ear. His focus instantly shattered.

  Rent's eyes snapped open. He didn't turn his head. He knew that voice. He knew that scent of vender that suddenly cut through the smell of Orc sweat.

  Slowly, purely out of horror reflex, Rent gnced to the left.

  Standing right beside him, as if she had been there for hours, was Kaensista.

  The girl leaned casually with one hand on her hip, smiling sweetly at him.

  "You..." Rent hissed. "What are you doing here? And... why are you following me?"

  "Ara? Why am I here?" Kaen pointed her thumb at the long line behind them. "I'm with you. We're partners, remember? Debt Partners."

  "Since when? You're just a debt-bringing girl, not a partner," Rent emphasized every word. "Go to the back. The bearded man (Dwarf) behind you is looking at you with killing intent."

  Kaensista turned, gring sharply at the Dwarf who was about to protest because she cut the line. The girl's amethyst eyes fshed cold, a predatory gaze that emerged for a split second. A look of pure intimidation from Kaensista.

  The Dwarf instantly looked down, pretending to fix his belt which was actually fine.

  "See?" Kaen smiled innocently again. "The bearded man doesn't mind. Besides, if I'm not a partner, who will help make money, hmm?"

  "You... really, never mind. Whatever," Rent replied ftly.

  Rent tried to ignore her, staring straight at the receptionist counter. But Kaensista clearly didn't know the definition of 'personal space'. She stood too close, her shoulder occasionally brushing against Rent's arm.

  "So," Kaen whispered again. "How much money do we need?"

  "I need 50 coins. And that's all your debt."

  "Hah?! I just accepted your invitation! Stupid!"

  "Yes. That was my silly invitation, because the sound of your stomach at that time was very concerning."

  Kaen's face instantly turned bright red. "Y-You! Ugh! Don't remind me of that event! That was just a coincidence! You're mean!" Kaen replied while rubbing her own reddened cheeks.

  "If so, be quiet. We're almost there."

  Finally, after what felt like a century in purgatory, they reached the front of the counter.

  The receptionist was a young woman with gsses and tired eyes. She looked like she hadn't slept in three days. Her nametag read: Mi Syrenda.

  "Next," Mi said in a monotonous robotic voice, not even looking up from her paperwork.

  Rent stepped forward, spping his silver card onto the wooden desk. "Give me one mission. Any job, I don't know about rank but give me the biggest pay."

  Sp!

  Another hand spped a card right next to Rent's hand. "Same for me," Kaensista said cheerfully. "Something fast. I'm still hungry."

  Receptionist Mi slowly looked up. She blinked, staring at Rent, then looking at Kaensista.

  One deadpan-faced young man with bck hair and one bright-smiling girl with purple hair. Identical sharp eyes. Identical ahoge sticking out on top of their heads.

  "Twins?" Mi asked ftly.

  "NO," Rent and Kaen answered in unison.

  "Okay, I don't care," Mi sighed, taking a stack of papers from under the desk. She shuffled them zily.

  "Bad news. Since it's almost noon, all the good gathering missions—like collecting herbs or delivering letters—are taken."

  Mi pulled out one st crumpled sheet of paper.

  "This is the only beginner commission left. F-Rank Mission, many don't want to take it because... it's disgusting."

  Rent leaned in to read the paper.

  [Urgent Mission: Sewer Cleaning]

  Target: Giant Sewer Rats (10 Tails).

  Location: East District Waterway.

  Reward: 60 Copper Coins.

  Note: Please bring your own boots. It smells quite bad.

  Rent stared at the paper. "Sewer rats. Smells." He looked at his clean leather jacket. Then he looked at Kaen who was wearing a short skirt.

  "Perfect," Rent said sarcastically. "An easy mission for a quick nap."

  "Sixty coins?" Kaen's eyes lit up, ignoring the 'smell' part. "Ohoho! Not bad for home food stock!"

  "I'll take it," Rent said quickly.

  "No, I'll take it!" Kaen cut in.

  "I asked first," Rent gred slightly at her. "I have a debt to pay."

  "I have a stomach to fill with snacks!" Kaen gred back, imaginary electric sparks cshing between their eyes. "And technically, my debt is your debt too!"

  Mi, the receptionist, smmed a stamp onto the paper hard. BAM!

  "Done," she said, handing the paper to Rent. "This is a party mission. Max 4 people. Since you two are noisy and look like a comedy duo, just do it together. Split the reward 50-50."

  "HAH?!" Rent and Kaen shouted together.

  "Thirty coins each," Mi expined, pointing at them with her quill pen. "Take it or leave it. The next mission won't be avaible until tomorrow morning."

  Rent froze. 30 coins. His debt was 50. He had 3 coins in his pocket. Total: 33 coins. Still short.

  "Wait," Rent calcuted quickly. "If I take 30... I'm still short."

  He turned to Kaen. The girl was staring at the mission paper with a thoughtful expression.

  "Hey you," Rent whispered. "If we do this... give me your share."

  "In your dreams, Mr. Mirror," Kaen scoffed. "But... if you treat me to lunch afterward, maybe I'll consider lending you my share."

  Rent gritted his teeth. Lending. That meant more debt. Digging a hole to cover a hole. But he had no choice.

  He snatched the paper from Mi's hand.

  "Fine. We'll take it."

  "Good choice," Mi said, already waving her hand to shoo them away. "Next! Oh, and watch out for slimes. I heard they breed in the sewers too."

  Rent turned around, walking away from the counter with heavy steps. Kaensista followed him, humming happily.

  "Sewer date!" Kaen chirped. "How romantic."

  Rent stopped for a moment, staring at Moro floating beside him.

  "Moro."

  "Yes, Master?"

  "Let's finish this quickly. I want to take a nap."