Chapter 72 – For Now

Morning breaks, Ramiel who is feeling hung over woke up with the sun's light pestering his eyes. He moved his limbs, only to agonize about the swollen ailments he has. He caressed his throat for a while and sigh at it never getting better.

He turns around his eyes and saw the small round table where he put his things. Ramiel stepped on the floor; he stretched his body for a while before equipping his things. He turns to the door, opened it and walked down the Inn. When he got down, he saw Leone taking a meal.

He greeted Leone before ordering a meal for himself. He saw down opposite of Leone, he started eating his meal, as he asks.

"You are leaving to the Elven Forest?"

"Yeah, I need to do something. I might come back again here. Are you staying here?"

"Who knows? I might earn some cash here and then find a place where no one can bother me."

"So you really want to apply for the fighter's guild?"

"Maybe, I hope that they are willing to take another staff member."

"Good luck with that." Leone said.

The two ate silently for a minute or two before talking again.

"So what are you going to do back in your homeland anyway?"

"Take care of things. I rather not say what it is."

"Okay, I can take a hint that you don't want to talk about it."

"Glad you understand Ramiel." Leone smiled.

"Really, is there any place in this world that isn't fucked up beyond beliefs?" Ramiel said.

"What do you mean?"

"This world seems filled with monsters. But other than that, I could tell that there are places that aren't totally fucked up. I could sense that there are great forests, deserts, and plains in this world. But is there any place that is truly safe?"

"Who knows? I never trek the world before so I can't tell."

"Bah..." Ramiel took a piece of meat and ate it.

Ramiel fiddled with his plate. He ate his meal cleanly and put it aside, waiting for the slow eating Leone to be done eating. Leone finally finishes her meal, she wiped her mouth and let the worker of the Inn take the plates. Standing up together, the two walked out of the Inn.

Outside, the streets of Lugenstan is shaded in blue, the sky above is covered in dark clouds, the wind blows grass and leaves that fly everywhere. Ramiel saw half of the city covered in a dusty mist, he felt like the scenery is nothing like he seen before.

"This is where we part Ramiel." Leone said.

"Yeah, good luck on your quest Leone, hope to see you again bud."

Leone oddly hugged Ramiel as he said. Closing her eyes, she hugged him tightly before letting go. Ramiel's cheeks went red for a bit, he patted Leone's back as he separates himself away her. Ramiel smiled wearily at this touching friend of his, not knowing that a maiden is buried inside her androgynous appearance.

"Goodbye, for now, Ramiel, see you again, some day, some time."

With that Leone turned towards the direction she is headed. In order to reach the borders of the Elven Forest, Leone needs to go west and travel for two months. She strolled for a distance before looking back at Ramiel standing waving his hand towards her in goodbye. She clenched her fist near her heart, a small ache appeared, but as the thought of her homeland appears in her head, Leone decided to move forward, not daring to look back.

...

Leone disappeared into the crowd, leaving Ramiel standing on the stone paved road of Lugenstan City. The citizens of the city crowd upon Ramiel as he stands idly on the street, he looked at the direction where Leone left, feeling a bit of loneliness in seeing a companion leave.

I guess goodbyes are still bitter. They always go away, all of them...

Ramiel's face darkened at the thought, a bitter smile appeared. He gave a sigh, he turns to one of the idlers in the street and asked for the location of the fighter's guild. The person he talked to was a native of the land, so he was able to give the location of the guild.

He went to the street where the fighter's guild was located. He saw the building of the guild, mainly composed of stones like the rest of the city. Inside the guild, he saw the wooden floor, the various mercenaries looking at five to ten boards filled with papers. Walking to one of the receptionists manning the counters, he asked them if he can work here. The receptionist, who is quite docile turned to look at Ramiel, analyzed him and thought that he is another mercenary.

"You can look at the boards to get a work, Sir."

"No, I am asking if there is any position in the guild. I can read, write, balance accounts and calculate earnings, I can also sort out documents if asked."

Surprised as she was, the receptionist replied.

"So are you implying that you want to work as a staff of the guild?"

"Yes, if that is possible."

The Receptionist frowned a bit, after hearing Ramiel's reply. In the guild, most of the people that come are men and sometimes women that long for adventure and glory of killing monsters and getting fame in the process. So when someone like Ramiel comes and asked to be a member of the staff, the first and most expression they would get is a frown. For in the fighter's guilds, the weaklings are placed in the back of the receptionist's counter.

"Are you sure about this?"

The receptionist said. Indeed there are places available for anyone, but accepting the position might label someone as weak. Some of the receptionists are former adventurers who were put down, unable to adventure no more. They could not bear to work as farmers so they choose to accept the guild's hand.

"Of course I am sure."

Ramiel however, doesn't give any single shit about what people thinks. Not because he doesn't care, but because he rather prefers to be safe. So when the receptionist asked such question, he could not help but take a hint of what Leone said about working for the guild.

"I see, please follow me."

"Okay."

Saying that, the docile Receptionist with long black hair lead Ramiel inside the receptionist area, the fighters of the guild saw Ramiel entering the area, and immediately a hint of mockery appeared on their faces.