Loganel sat in his seat, stiff as he was deep in thought. He tried to envision numerous possibilities which would not require him to make contact with those of his former party, but it seems like that is not an option for him. He does not know anyone else in the Academy well enough to join their party, thus limiting him to only them if he were to participate in this expedition.

What should I do? he scratched his head as he sat in his desk during break time since class had ended a few seconds ago.

"Loganel," he heard Tetsuya approaching him. "I know it might be tough but ugh...can you go with us to the expedition?"

He's...inviting me? Loganel asked himself.

"I know it is selfish of us to ask you this but um...for everyone's sake, can you please go register with us and go with us the day of?"

"Sure..." Loganel answered without much hesitation. However, he made sure to not show much enthusiasm since he noticed that the others were all staring at him.

"Then it's decided then," Tetsuya let out a sigh of relief. "Then let's head to the Adventurer's Guild after school and register then, of course, with everyone."

Loganel merely nodded in response. Afterwards, he watched from the corner of his eye as Tetsuya returned to the larger group and said something to them. He saw a smile appear of Sheriel and Juliana's face, and as for Azura, it was the same as it ever was: expressionless and cold.

With somewhat conflicting feelings, Loganel walked after the others on the streets of Astalan. He made sure to lag back a few paces so that he wasn't close to them so as to avoid striking up a conversation. However, no matter how hard he would try, Tetsuya would always try to drag him back into the conversation, making Loganel extremely fatigued when they had arrived at the Adventurer's Guild, which was located near the main gate of Astalan for easy access for the many traveling adventurers that are in the Guild.

The Adventurer's Guild is a big building located in a hard to miss spot. Inside, Loganel was greeted by a lively lobby, where numerous adventurers hanging about, exchanging information or seeking for a quest that they could accomplish so as to earn money. Amongst these people were more male than female, and the average age of these adventurers seems to be quite young. There were people around Loganel's age to some that appeared to be in their early forties.

Just walking by, the five of them caught the eye of some of the adventurers who were in the lobby due to their school uniforms. However, the others didn't pay them much mind since it was a common sight for students of the Royal Academy to occasionally visit the Adventurer's Guild for more requests that aren't offered at the Academy quest board. In fact, all students of the Academy are actually a member of the Adventurer's Guild since the Academy cooperates with the Guild in receiving and handing out quests.

Tetsuya led the others to the open reception desk and sitting there was an above average looking young woman that was dressed in the Guild's uniform with a friendly and professional smile on her face.

"Welcome to the Astalan Adventurer's Guild," she said, smiling at the five of them. "How may I help you today?"

"We're here to register for the upcoming expedition to the Ekeletas Ruins," Tetsuya explained their motive.

"Is this everyone in your party?" the woman said fluidly, almost as if she's said similar things in abundance in the past and that it was now hardwired in her brain as if an automated machine. "Please fill out this application."

She then handed a piece of paper to Tetsuya, who scanned over it before starting to fill it out with his own information first. Next, he passed the paper and pen around to the others so that they could fill in their own respective information as well. He first handed it to Azura, who after writing elegantly for a brief moment handed the paper off to Sheriel, and from there, she gave it to Juliana before it finally stopped in Loganel's hands.

Loganel looked through it, and was somewhat surprised to see that Juliana had already filled out his information for him. He glanced over at her, and looked back at the paper after not seeing much of a reaction from Juliana to check if the information she had filled out was correct. In line with his anticipation, they were all correct.

"I have a quick warning for you all before you sign," the female employee at the reception desk said. "This expedition is quite dangerous since the areas that shall be ventured to is unexplored area. In addition, in the unfortunate cases of any deaths or injuries, the Guild shall not be responsible. Is that okay? If so, then please have the party leader sign there down below on the line."

Tetsuya looked around at the other's face to check for their approval. He smiled bitterly after he realized that everyone was quite indifferent about the situation before he signed his name on the line and handed it back to the woman.

"Thank you," the employee said after accepting the application and neatly placing it in a folder. "The day of the expedition is on the first of next month, which is in about a month. Please prepare and stay safe."

It was a nice, sunny day outside, and after leaving the Guild, Loganel excused himself from the others and went off. He didn't want to prolong his stay with them. That was one reason why he left in a hurry. However, the main reason was telling Iry about this. Just the thought of Iry's face brought a faint smile onto his face.

Would she be happy? Of course she will. This is one Gold. That means I'm about one tenth of the way done.

Then, Loganel walked towards the direction of Sister Lori's with excitement and happiness overflowing from within him.

***

Loganel hasn't stopped by for a few days now... Iry thought as she walked with no other companion on the streets. Would he be surprised if I stop by his place today? Would he be surprised that I'm out by myself? Iry looked around nervously. Walking by myself is kind of scary...Loganel was always there with me...But if I want to be of use to him, I have to be able to do such little things by myself.

She then chuckled at the thought of surprising Loganel with her presence. I wonder what he's doing right now. Is he working hard still? I hope he's taking care of himself. I really don't want him to get hurt.

Suddenly, Iry felt a hand cup over her mouth, muffling her screams and another hand pulling her frail body into a dark alleyway. She screamed and struggled to release herself, but she was too weak compared to her aggressor, and could not break free.

Then, she came to a daunting realization as she heard and felt the deep breathing flowing down her neck. In addition to that, she could feel a the man's hand move around on her thighs and then moving over to her stomach.

"I've waited for this for a long time," the man said as he breathed heavily, moving his hands to grope her body. The man's other hand was still covering Iry's mouth to prevent her from screaming and attracting attention. "It's your fault you know? For looking so god damn erotic and everything."

Tears emerged in her eyes as he felt the man move his hands slowly unbutton her shirt from the front. However, she still didn't give up in her desperate struggle. Years of being isolated in a castle during her youth and always having servants around had made her weaker than the average woman. She knew this, but she didn't want to give in so easily. She want to preserve her body for her special someone, and she is willing to fight till she is unable to move from fatigue.

In her mind, she's hoping. Hoping that if it is him, he might be able to sense that she's in danger. She hoped that he would come to her rescue and save her from the disgusting man who is playing with her body.

As if a dirty mop, the man dragged his hands across her body, leaving behind a dirty odor. In addition, Iry felt as if there was a layer of taint that was burned into her skin wherever the man had touched her. She felt as if she was the dirtiest being now, and she felt helpless as she was unable to keep her purity.

Then, she saw him. Even though it was just for a split second, she saw him as he walked by the alleyway. He was smiling, as if he have some good news for her.

Upon seeing him, Iry prepared to call out even louder and put all her energy in the second's worth of struggle. However, just as she opened her mouth, the man stuck his two fingers into hers and clipped onto her tongue while covering her mouth with the rest of his hand.

"Shut the fuck up!" he panted. "I know that was the kid that walks around with you all the time. Man, he must've done it with you a bunch of times already hasn't he?"

With the lost of those precious seconds, Iry could no longer see him since he has walked past. And along with him went Iry's hopes. Her arms fell limp and she no longer ceased to struggle. Instead, all she did was wept as she could not stop the man from forcing himself onto her.

***

"Is Iry here?" Loganel asked one of the girls after he knocked on the door to Iry's room.

"She went out half an hour ago," the girl said. "She went to see you. You never saw her."

"Yeah," Loganel frowned. "If she isn't here then I guess I'll head home for today then. When she comes back, can you tell her to wait for me tomorrow?"

After leaving the message with the girl, Loganel proceeded to walk down the stairway into the front desk area of Sister Lori's. And there, he saw her walking into the store, eyes red and teary. In addition to that, her clothes were somewhat messed up, causing Loganel to wonder what had happened to her.

"Iry," Loganel smiled as he saw her.

As he approached her, Iry immediately evaded him and rushed up the stairs. Loganel was still in shock when he heard Iry slam her door close upstairs.

"Go check on her," Loganel heard Lori command him.

Loganel quickly walked upstairs and stopped in front of the door to Iry's room. He then gently knocked on the door.

"What's wrong?" he asked her in a gentle voice.

"..." no response came.

Loganel then repeated his question again. "If there's anything bothering you, you could always talk to me about it."

"Loganel," he heard Iry finally say. "Do you think I'm dirty?"

"Of course not," Loganel reassured her.

"Even if I work at a place like this?" she asked. "Even if...my purity has already been taken?"

Loganel immedaitely paused in shock. He was pondering over what Iry had just said to him.

"Iry?" Loganel spoke, but he was interrupted by the girl on the other side of the locked door.

"Let's not see each other anymore..."

***

Outside, the sky was gloomy and cloudy. There, outside of Sister Lori's, Loganel dropped onto his knees. That was when the rain started. The heavy downpour caused Loganel's clothes to become wet, drenching him and causing his hair to stick onto his forehead. Even then, he didn't move. He just stayed there motionlessly, still shell-shocked as to what had happened to him.

Through the sound of the heavy rain, Loganel heard footsteps approaching him from behind. Then, a shadow loomed over him and the rain that poured onto him stopped.

"Let's go home," Juliana said gently.

"Why did you do this?" Loganel asked in a defeated voice.

"I don't understand what you're talking about," Juliana answered back in an unusually calm voice. "...Loganel, a prostitute does not match your status..."

"God," Loganel gasped as he lowered his head to the ground, clutching both hands over his chest. "It's not enough..."

That day, the scarce few of Loganel's happiness was washed away with the sudden rain.

Author's Note:

Don't stop, keep reading. There's more to this than you think. It's not that simple. Please don't give up on this book yet. I have something planned. You might not like it, but at least give it a chance please.

I know I've pissed off a bunch of you, but still, please VOTE to show me some of your support. Remember, the more votes I get, the better things will go for Loganel. But just know that he won't be suffering for ever. It's part of the development.

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