My mind suddenly went blank from the words that came from the male elf receptionist’s mouth. This is bad, no, COMPLETELY BAD!! What am I supposed to do!?

“… Umm… Kiera-san, can I---”

“What? What do you want?”

Before I could finish, Kiera stopped me with a question of her own with a dark and creepy smile. With a smile like that, how could I continue?

“… It’s nothing…”

I turned my head back and looked at the male elf who was still spouting off scary things that can ruin my health, not physical, but mental health. Even now, my SAN (Sanity) value is going down.

Since I was cut off from all corners, and if I don’t do this, I can’t continue to uphold my promise, Ii steeled myself and walked towards the counter.

“E- Excuse me…”

“Yesss… What can I do for you today?”

With still blushing cheeks, the male elf receptionist replied with a question. I could really do without your face blushing you know.

“I was wondering if I could register as an adventurer and submit a couple of bounties…”

“Yesss… Then, one adventurer registration and bounty submission, coming up!”

With quick hands, the receptionist picked up a piece of paper, a feather pen, and some ink in under two seconds. If it wasn’t for his personality, he would probably be the most popular and most respected receptionist in this guild branch.

“Thennn… Please fill up this form.”

With still blushing cheeks, he explained how t o fill up the registration form. What I need to write is my name, age, gender, race, specialty in any field (optional), and skills you want publicized (optional).

I had no problem in filling up the form, but the only thing I had to remain secret is my race. Looks like I’ll be stuck with [Dragon Knight]’s skill set for a while. Specialty in field, I listed as vanguard, and the skill I want publicized, none. I don’t want to bring attention to myself when I’m trying to have low profile, but it’s probably too late. But at least, I can limit information about myself.

“Thennn… Now that you’re done please wait for a while.”

The receptionist turned around and started doing something. I wasn’t able to see what he was doing since he was covering it.

“Kukuku… *Smooch*”

… Did I hear a kissing sound? I did, didn’t I? I have a bad premonition about this…

The receptionist came back with a black card and needle in hand.

“Thennn… Please drop a drop of your blood on the card.”

I took the needle from his hand. My skin touched his skin, and the receptionist… No, I can’t think about it anymore… Anymore than this, I just might go insane and turn into a dragon to run way…

I pricked my finger with the needle and dropped my blood onto the card. The blood was absorbed and the card lit up, showing my status to only myself.

Name: Endou Kouta

Level: 16

HP: 1612 / 1612

MP: 524 / 524

Str: 68

Agi: 54

Int: 58

Dex: 49

End: 65

Luc: 10

Skills:

[Dota 2 Skill Set 1]

[Dragon Knight] [Breathe Fire] [Dragon Tail] [Dragon Blood] [Elder Dragon Form]

[Language Comprehension 10]

Titles:

[Saint]

[Golem Crusher]

This is what appeared. It seems that all of my status related to God was hidden and wasn’t shown in my card. This is actually a good thing since it cannot be seen by the others when I show my status to them.

“Thennn… Would you like me to explain?”

“… Please do…”

For now, since I kind of forgot some of the rules of the adventurer’s guild, and for the sake of appearances to the three behind me, I approved of his suggestion.

“First is your guild card. The color of your guild card represents your rank as an adventurer. It is like this…”

G – Black

F – Green

E – Red

D – Blue

C – Bronze

B – Silver

A – Gold

S – Mithril

SS – Adamantite

SSS – Orichalcum

“Quests are also categorized in this way. An adventurer can only take a quest that is one rank higher or equal to or less than his adventurer rank. There are four types of quests, gathering, subjugation, escort, and nominated quests. Accepting a nominated quest has an advanced payment of 30% of the total reward, and is given the rest upon completion. Upon completion of a quest, the adventurer is given points. Gather enough points, and you can rank up. Failure of completion of quests requires you to pay a fine, and will lose points.”

After a brief pause, the receptionist continued…

“Thennn… About the guild rules, no fighting inside the guild building, except the training field at the back. No trading of quests. No illegal method in completing a quest. Committing a crime is equal to having your guild card revoked, any questions?”

“… None…”

“Thennn… Once again, I welcome you to the adventurers guild, Kouta-chan!”

GUHH!!!??? … Chan???

The receptionist held out his hand and asked for a handshake. I hesitated for a while but accepted a friendly handshake…

“My name is Kutz, please take care of me, Kouta-chan…”

Guh!!! Stop… My SAN value is…

*Smooch*

!? Did… Did he just send a flying kiss at me… He did, didn’t he…

My brain overheated and my mind went blank before my consciousness faded into darkness…

…

~ Kayaka POV ~

“Hiku… *Sniff*… Kouta-nii…”

It’s been a month since my brother died. After his death, I killed the giant beetle, brought his corpse back to the surface and held a funeral. I have been stuck up in my room, while the little girl, also known as Alexis, was also stuck in her room. Hyoudo was giving his best to support the both of us mentally and financially. He is the one taking quests to gain money for the food and lodging.

Like that, a month passed in a blink of an eye, but I still can’t get over his death. At this rate, I might even follow him to the grave.

“… Hicc… Why… Why did you leave me… Kouta-nii… It’s so lonely…”

Like that, the urge to let out tears came through my eyes, and another wave of tears fell down. This is probably the second time I’ve felt the most despair in my lifetime.

“… Kouta-nii…”

I held his last piece of remembrance to me. It was a handkerchief. Its color was pink and was weaved with flowers as the decoration. Since my brother knew that I like flowers back on Earth, he gave me something that can represent a flower during my birthday as a birthday gift. And that picture was a rose. The red color of the petals blends in perfectly with the pink background, and the rose was also one of my favorites.

Tears never stopped running down my cheeks, wetting the bed sheets. The handkerchief was drenched in tears. Why… Why did you leave me… Didn’t you promise me that we will always be together…

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

Just as I was reminiscing the past of the two of us, a knocking sound came from the door.

“It’s me, Hyoudo. Can we talk for a moment, Endou-san.”

“… Yes…”

“Okay, I’m coming in…”

The door slowly creaked open as it revealed a young man, wearing what seems to be light armor and a katana on his waist. The katana and armor was forged by me back in the castle, and I gave it to him for his protection. He was Hyoudo, the first person to approach my brother back in the castle.

He slowly walked to the side of my bed and sat down on a chair that was situated near the bed, in front of a desk.

“… So…”

Hyoudo was trying to find a topic to lighten the sad mood in this room. He stuttered for a while, and after that, gave up and went straight to the point.

“Ah mou!! Endou-san, no, Kayaka-san! That’s enough of wallowing in your own tears! This isn’t healthy for you!! What would your Kouta-san say if he saw like this!!!”

“… What…? What will my brother say in this situation…? HE WOULD COMFORT ME AND TELL ME TO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT!! AND HERE YOU ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO BE A GOODY TWO-SHOES AND NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT US!!! GET OUT OF HERE!!! GET OUT!!!”

My temper blew through the roof when I heard about him talk about my brother. I spouted off insults and told him to get out my room.

“… You still don’t remember? Back in the orphanage?”

“… Did you say orphanage?”

My curiosity went passed my rage when he said something about an orphanage. Why would he talk about an orphanage at this time?

“Yes, an orphanage. You were there right? After being released in a hospital”

“!?”

When he talked about me being in an orphanage and being released from a hospital, I finally connected all the dots.

“… You were also an orphan back in that orphanage?”

“Yes. I was always observing you back when you were alone in the orphanage. Even while being friendly on the outside, you actually closed your heart on the inside. All of it happened during the time when you were still the last one to be admitted in that orphanage, but all of it changed one day. A boy with black hair was admitted to the orphanage, and that’s when you changed.”

“…”

Hyoudo paused for a moment before continuing.

“That, was Kouta-san right? When he first arrived back in the orphanage, the atmosphere around you changed. You were more prone to opening up your heart when he was around.”

“…”

I was completely silent while listening to his story. It’s true. He was probably the boy who was practicing kendo back in the orphanage. I didn’t recognize him because he changed from his former self. Before, he was weak and childish, but now, all I can see is a trained martial artist. A second later, Hyoudo continued his story.

“Then, a week passed and a fire broke out, right? You saw Kouta-san rushing inside the building with a fire extinguisher in hand, didn’t you? I was trapped inside the building and thought that I was going to die, but he rescued me from that hell and that’s where I started to respect him. Not as a savior, nor a guardian, but as someone who can be considered as a true friend, and family. Remember what the caretakers back in the orphanage just said? All of us are family, whether we are taken to different households, in our hearts, we are always family. That’s the reason why I always try my best when it is related to Kouta-san. And also, I also try my best when it also relates to you because you are the main reason why I respected him.”

“…?”

I had a confused face. Why am I the main reason for his respect to Kouta-san.

“!? Ah… It’s nothing, it’s nothing…”

Hyoudo’s face blushed as he turned away to hide his red face. Ahh… I get it… I’m not so dense to not realize his feelings…

“…Hahaha… Thanks for cheering me up… But for now, please leave, I’ll try to collect my feelings and sort them out for a while…”

“Yes. I’ll be back to deliver your food.”

Hyoude then left the room with light steps, as if a huge burden was lifted from his shoulders.

“Kouta-nii… You really are kind…”

For the first time in a month, a smile broke on my face as I went back lying down on the bed, and fell asleep. This was the first time I was able to sleep soundly in a month.

…

~ Kouta POV ~

… Where am I… I can feel that I am lying on a bed, and I can see an elf at the corner of my eyes. Wait, isn’t that the male elf receptionist earlier!?

I tried to move, but found that my hands and legs were bounded by something. What the heck!! Is this a kidnapping!?

“Ara, you are awake… Now, I will let you feel pleasure like you’ve never felt before… Kukukuku…”

!? I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!!!