"-Right, and that would be all the business you've got with myself in particular. If you wish to do any other quests, I would personally recommend you to do them after this one. Ah, and before I forget, please take care of the rats this evening. Be done by morning," the Guildmaster said, returning the other papers to his drawer.

"Yes sir!" Todd said, doing a little salute as he made for the door.

As much as I love being in this semi-human form, I don't think it'll go over well with the adventurers downstairs, so before I join Todd on his shoulder I transform back into my insect form. Mal trails after us, but not before making a short, curt bow to the Guildmaster. He got a nod in response, and once that was done with, he followed us properly.

The hallway was exactly the same as when we entered, with the small difference that it was a fair bit darker since the sun was almost down.

Man, are we going to have to stay up all night killing rats-? Somehow, that just doesn't sit right with me. Can't a guy get some sleep-?

Not that I'm any tired, but still.

"Wait. Wait wait wait. What time is it??" Todd asked all of a sudden, whipping his head around and about in search of a clock that likely doesn't exist in this medieval-like world. Yeah, sorry dude, you'll need to go back to the village to check out their sundial to catch the time. "Shit shit shit-,, guys, I've gotta go soon or I'll have my ass whooped, just-,, I mean, I kind of want to tell you not to go into the, the sewers and do all the cool shit for the special quest, but..."

"But what, Hero?" Mal asked, his pointed ears twitching oddly.

"Yeah, um, I kind of stayed up playi-, being here all last night, and mum caught on, so she told me if I tried to do the same tonight she'd confiscate my stuff, so, uh..." Todd explained, his voice high and shaky. "I-,, I might need to go, like, really soon-? But I can pay for a room for you two! I still have some of my starting money, though I didn't get the rewards for defeating you, Johnny..."

-Huh? Oh, yeah, that was a quest, wasn't it? It should have been a D-ranked one, so maybe it gave really good rewards? Either way, a room to sleep in would be really nice. If we didn't have work to do. Who thought you'd have to work in the afterlife?

"I... Hero. Please don't leave me alone with the Villain," Mal said, and... Wait, what-? Mal, what'd I do?...

"Heeeeey, Mal, what's wrong with ya??" Todd threw his arm around Mal's shoulder, briefly bringing the three of us very very close, "you know Johnny! Forget hurting you, he'll protect you from any and all harm! Isn't that right??"

Oh, yes, of course! Never-ever!

I nod, making his point as clear as it possibly can be.

"-See?? Harmless! A good boy! Here, we'll even your score, and..." Todd pulls a fast one on my and sticks me on Mal's shoulder, "-boom! Now you've both been on top of each other!" I'm not sure I like how he worded that, but he is correct. After all, Mal has never carried me, and I've carried him tons of times! Even in my hair! Man, that was weird... Hope I never have to get that big again.

"I-, I-, I-," Mal stammers.

He's looking at me really weirdly. Is he sweating? Oh, shoot, he's growing even paler than usual-,, kind of reminds me how the Guildmaster looked earlier. His shoulder's growing shaky, and his pupils are... What's the word opposite to "dilated"?

"Pleasegetitoffme."

Hey! I'm not an it, I'm a him! Get the pronouns right, buddy!

"Nah, nah, you look great! I don't think I have to log off right away, but it'll do you good to just, like, practice!" Todd said, giving a big thumbs-up before turning to the stairs to head back downstairs into the pub-area. We could probably grab us a drink before we went to wherever-we-can-get-a-room.

The second we get downstairs, we're met with an odd number of stares, some frightened, some curious, and one, just one, furious.

Skill (System Recon Interference) has been used Hans Schwartz You are unable to view any further information

-Oh, it's him! The other returner! Or, player, or something. His name was Hans, right? It says so on the tin, but Todd goes by the name "Tobiath", so I'm not sure how trustworthy the information is.

The man in question was actually more than looking at us, no, he was standing right by the stairs, back to the wall, empty mug in hand. In other words, he was waiting for us. Or the Guildmaster. Hopefully the latter, I kind of don't like the way he's looking at us. It's late, and I'd rather not deal with an angry adven-,

"You. Newbie. Todd, whatever. Gussy told me your name," he glances between me and Todd, "got a lot of gall bringing that fucking thing in here. I swear, if it does just one thing wrong-,"

"Hmmm... Uh, Hans, can we talk in private? Johnny, I got a plan. Mal, just like, stay out here, alright? Hang out with Gus or something, we'll be right back, okay?" saying so, Todd grabbed me from Mal's shoulder and practically shoved the three of us into a remote, hidden corner of the bar. What in the world is-,, "Hrmm, this'll do. Okay, Johnny, just transform, we'll be hidden like this, okay?"

Uh. Um.

I glance about, and it does seem like people wouldn't be able to see whatever I do from this angle. Well, if... if you insist, Todd, shapeshift!

"-Todd, what in the world are you on about-?" I ask, rising from within myself, a process I've no grown only somewhat used to. I notice Hans flinching, but I'm sure he's alright.

"Okay, yeah, guys. Guys. We need to have a talk, Earthling-to-Earthling-to-Earthling," Todd said, locking his finger together, oddly serious.

"What the fuck."