"W-Wha… g-go out with you?"
Hal was immediately flustered, caught off guard by the question.
Korren and the others inevitably faded into the background in the face of the sudden confession.
'A-As in on a date? What the hell is wrong with this woman?! Are all women in the city like this?!'
He even forgot that Liora was from the sticks like him.
"Look, I know I'm somewhat attractive and all… but should you really be basing your preferences on just looks? Also, we only met each other today, so shouldn't we at least get to know each other first or something…"
Liora realized she had been misunderstood and blushed slightly.
However, she didn't lose her composure and simply cleared her throat.
"I… meant on a mission. You're now an E-ranked Wizard, are you not?"
Hal froze at the clarification.
His brows rose, then furrowed.
"How… did you know that?" he asked with a wary tone.
Meanwhile, the onlookers were dumbfounded by what they heard.
Hal Fennec, the one-star wastrel, was already an E-ranked wizard while they were only just beginning to take missions?
Not all of them, of course, since some had already taken on missions for a while.
But wasn't Hal moving a bit too fast?
Since when has the wastrel been completing missions?!
Even Korren and the others from Poporo were in utter shock and disbelief.
They had been among those who dared to take on missions ahead of everyone else, yet they were still only halfway to being promoted.
"Well… maybe this isn't the best place to explain…" Liora hinted, prompting Hal to quickly glance around.
This was indeed not the appropriate place to spill the beans.
But where?
Fortunately, the white-haired young woman knew just the perfect place.
"Let's head to the second floor?"
This time, it was Hal who was dumbfounded.
"You're… also an E-ranked Wizard?"
"Yeah," Liora confirmed, boldly pulling Hal's wrists towards the ascending staircase.
Unbeknownst to Hal, aside from Korren and his former friends from Poporo Village, there were a few displeased individuals in the crowd, watching coldly as Liora pulled him to the second floor.
The young lady was undeniably a looker.
Many four- and five-star students fancied her and often daydreamed about being with her, and now Hal had unintentionally infuriated them and stirred their jealousy.
Arriving at the second floor, Hal gently twisted his wrists free from Liora's hands and questioned coldly,
"So? How did you know I was an E-ranker?"
"I've… started observing you since that day in the swamp…"
Hal's eyes widened for a moment.
Of all his missions, he had only been to the swamp once, when he was hunting Garbirds and encountered his childhood nightmare—the Reptilian.
"You were also in Ulwick Swamp that day?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "Why? Were you following me?"
"Ah, no. I was there to steal some Reptilian eggs when I stumbled upon you by accident," Liora explained, then added honestly, "I… watched your battle with that Reptilian, and that's why I know you're not as simple as you look."
Hal opened his mouth but no words came out.
He didn't know how to respond.
Was Liora trying to threaten him using his secret, or was she simply, genuinely trying to invite him on a mission after being impressed by his skills as a wizard?
Only after a few moments of silence did Hal finally respond with a question:
"And that's why you're inviting me on a mission? Sorry for being skeptical, but aren't you a talented one yourself? I doubt you'd have trouble handling an E-ranked monster when you're an E-ranker too."
To his surprise, Liora let out a brief, self-deprecating laugh.
"Haha, now, yes. But back then? I probably would've fallen prey to that humanoid lizard…"
But Hal still wasn't convinced, and the young lady could only sigh at his reaction.
"Aihh… you're really going to make a lady say it? Fine. I'm scared to go on an E-ranked mission alone since it would require me to go deeper into each mana-dense location, and I'm not sure I can survive. So I'm asking you, someone I believe is stronger and reliable, to go with me to increase my chances of returning alive. Now, are you satisfied?"
Hearing Liora's heartfelt explanation, Hal nearly let out a stifled laugh, appreciating the five-star student's straightforwardness.
If she could even say such things to try and convince him, then he could only conclude that she was sincere in her invitation.
Hal naturally wouldn't say it out loud.
However, at this early stage, he believed that he still held the advantage, even compared to five-star students.
He simply had too many useful spells in his arsenal.
But he didn't reply immediately, taking time to weigh the pros and cons of going on a mission with someone.
In the end, the combination of realizing it would be safer, Liora's honesty, and his ego being flattered by her words compelled him to agree.
"Well… I can't really refuse after everything you said, can I? Fine then, let's go on our first E-ranked quest together. It would be safer for me that way too, anyway…"
The young lady didn't find Hal's reluctant words annoying.
She was simply happy that she had managed to convince him.
With him around, their chances of surviving their first E-ranked mission and becoming officially registered as novice wizards of the Arcanum Imperium would skyrocket.
This would be the first step toward escaping poverty.
Nodding in clear good spirits, Liora instinctively grabbed Hal's wrist again, pulling him toward the mission board.
"H-Hey, why do you keep grabbing my wrist? Are you sure you're not just using this chance to get close to me?"
The white-haired young woman blushed slightly and quickly let go before explaining,
"I-It's just instinct… I have a little brother back home, and he's quite unruly, so I'm always dragging him around like this. I just got used to it… Please don't misunderstand."
Hal simply shrugged at the explanation, shifting his attention to the mission board to search for a suitable mission.