Fortunately for Jan, Erza directed her scolding entirely at Rollo, blaming him for whisking Jan away before he could even take a single bite. With his shoulders hunched and gaze lowered, he accepted the reprimand in silence before quietly slipping out of the inn, leaving Jan to have his meal alone.
Jan watched him go, still surprised by the knight commander's uncharacteristic meekness. 'Is he actually afraid of her?' he thought.
Finishing his food, he rose from the table.
"Did you enjoy your meal, hero?" the innkeeper asked, approaching with a cautious smile.
"Yes, thank you very much. It was delicious," Jan replied with a polite nod. Even though it was a little cold, the food was still very enjoyable.
The innkeeper chuckled nervously and called over his shoulder, "Did you hear that, wife? He said he likes the food!"
Silence.
The innkeeper visibly tensed, then leaned toward Jan, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Please, don't ever do that again. She might actually kill us all."
Jan's eyes went wide, and he nodded quickly. "Y-yeah, I understand... I'll be careful next time."
With that, Jan made a swift exit, mentally vowing never to cross Erza again. As the inn's door swung shut behind him, he exhaled, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped some unseen peril.
'Let's put some distance between me and that spatula.'
Quickening his pace, Jan navigated the streets, weaving past townsfolk going about their daily business. It wasn't until several minutes later that he slowed down, realizing he had wandered farther than he meant to.
"Wait... where am I?"
He glanced around, scanning the familiar streets until he recognized the area.
This is the west side of the city... near that portal.
Jan paused, feeling a strange tug of curiosity.
'Rollo told me to avoid the portal until I was stronger, but...'
Despite the warning, his gaze drifted toward the far end of the street, where the portal's faint glow peeked over the rooftops.
'It's right there... Just a quick look wouldn't hurt, right?'
Guided by curiosity, Jan moved swiftly through the narrow alleyways until he emerged before a large, imposing building.
It towered overhead, its blackened stone worn by time but still unyielding, as if standing watch over the city. Heavy, iron-banded wooden doors sealed the entrance, flanked by tall, narrow windows. Above the doorway hung a massive wooden sign bearing an emblem—crossed sword and staff—marking the union of strength and magic. Even faded, the symbol still held a weight of authority.
"What is this place?"
Drawn closer, Jan ascended the stone steps leading to the entrance. His hand hovered near the iron handle, hesitating just for a moment—
Creak.
The door swung open from within, and before Jan could react, a hooded figure stepped past him, vanishing into the street without a word.
Seizing the opportunity, Jan slipped inside, as the door closed behind him with a heavy thud.
The first thing that caught his eye was a young girl standing behind a large counter that dominated much of the hall.
She looked slightly younger than him, her petite frame wrapped in a flowing white robe adorned with delicate silver embroidery. A slender belt cinched the robe at her waist, adding a touch of elegance to her otherwise simple attire. Her light blue hair—almost pastel in shade—barely brushed the collar of her robe, enhancing her soft, ethereal presence.
Yet what stood out the most were her eyes—bright yellow, like citrine gemstones. Despite their brilliance, a gentle calmness in her gaze softened their intensity. Her delicate features and her gentle demeanor gave her an almost otherworldly presence.
The moment she noticed Jan's entrance, her eyes lit up, greeting him with a warm smile. "Welcome to Valkeries Guild, hero!"
"T-Thank you," Jan replied, caught off guard by her enthusiasm.
"You're here to join the guild, right?!" she asked eagerly, leaning forward slightly.
"Am I?" Jan replied, unsure why she assumed that.
"Of course! It's practically a must!"
Jan glanced around the hall. Empty, except for her.
"Is that so?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"W-well, maybe not exactly a must, but it comes with a lot of perks!" she said quickly.
"Like what?" Jan asked, still unconvinced.
"Like resources! Missions! Connections!"
None of her words piqued Jan's interest. Guilds seemed like too much hassle—rules, obligations, expectations.
'I'd rather read a book,' he thought, already turning away.
"…MONEY!" the girl blurted out, sensing his hesitation.
Jan stopped mid-step. "Money?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" she said quickly, her eyes lightning up. "Please, come closer so we can proceed with your registration!"
'Well... I do need money,' Jan thought, 'Can't keep relying on others forever.'
He stepped forward without another word. As he drew near, the young woman bowed respectfully, her smile never fading.
"I'm Maria! From now on, I'll do my best to assist you with anything you need in the guild!"
"I'm Jan. And I didn't say I'd join... You mentioned making money—so how much are we talking about? And what would I have to do?"
Maria's confident smile didn't waver. "That depends on your willingness to take missions, hero!"
"What kind of missions?" Jan asked, leaning slightly forward.
Maria gestured to the right side of the hall. "This board will answer your questions. It has a variety of missions you can choose from."
Jan's eyes followed her hand to a large notice board pinned with dozens of parchment sheets. He stepped closer and started going through them.
Each sheet detailed different quests: some asked for gathering herbs, others required escorting merchants, and the more dangerous ones involved hunting beasts or exploring the Endlesscape.
'They're not all dangerous,', Jan thought, his eyes lingering on one that stood out.
[Mission: Gather 20 Nightshade Bloomleaf (0/20)]
[Location: Forest of the Dead]
[Reward: 10 Gold Coins]
Jan's eyes flickered to the last line. 'Ten gold coins?' He remembered that the room Rollo had gotten him cost only one gold per night. Earning ten gold for gathering herbs? It sounded too good to pass up. Especially since it didn't involve fighting any beasts like the other missions.
Maria, watching his reaction, smirked knowingly. "So, shall we proceed with the registration, hero?"
"Yeah," Jan replied, convinced by the prospect of quick money.
"Excellent! Please fill out this form."
Maria pulled out a sheet of paper from beneath the counter and placed it in front of him, along with a feathered quill.
Jan quickly scanned the form. It wasn't too complicated—name, age, race, class, and a few more basic details. Within minutes, he had finished and slid the paper back to Maria.
"Here you go."
Maria took the form with a thankful nod, but her smile quickly faltered as she read the details. Her brows furrowed, her smile vanished, and her lips pressed into a thin line.
"...What the hell is this?!" she suddenly exclaimed.
Jan blinked, startled. "What?! What's wrong?!"
"Are you making fun of me?!" Maria's yellow eyes flared with frustration.
"No! What do you mean?!"
"No way you're human! And what kind of class is... B-12?!"
Jan's face scrunched in confusion. "Oh—that's my class back home! I thought that's what you meant. And what do you mean I'm not human?!"
Maria's glare softened into puzzlement. Jan wasn't smirking or being smug—just plainly lost. He clearly had no idea why she was reacting this way; his confusion was genuine.
The front door creaked open before she could answer.
Her shoulders relaxed as she let out a breath of relief. "Thank goodness! You're here, Guild Master!"
Jan curiously turned toward the entrance—then froze. His gut twisted like he'd been punched from the inside.
"Oh no..." he whispered. The last person he wanted to see was standing in the doorway.
'Wait. Guild Master? That's her?!'
She looked different. Her fiery red hair was pulled back into a long, thick braid that fell over her shoulder. Gone was the apron—replaced by a rugged leather chest plate molded snugly against her torso. Curiously, the faint outline of abs was etched onto the leather beneath her chest. A matching piece covered her back, both plates secured with thick cords that crisscrossed over her shoulders and sides. She carried herself with the authority of someone who'd seen battle more times than most cared to count.
Jan's eyes darted around the room, searching in vain for a place to hide. Before he could retreat, her familiar voice called out.
"Oh, Jan! You're here!"
"Y-Yes..." Jan stammered, forcing himself to stand still.
"You left the inn so quickly this morning. I thought Rollo dragged you off again."
"N-No... A-And I made sure to finish the food this time..."
"Good boy!" Erza said with a warm smile before turning to Maria. "So, what's the issue?"
Maria wasted no time, thrusting the registration form at Erza. "Take a look at this!" she huffed.
Erza's eyes scanned the form—then she burst into hearty laughter, her voice echoing through the hall. It was the same wild, carefree laugh as Rollo's. So familiar, Jan froze—his brain taking a beat to catch up.
"It's fine, Maria. We don't need to worry about those details." She chuckled, shaking her head. Then she looked at Jan with an amused smile. "As long as you can handle the job, we don't care how you do it or who you are."
Jan blinked, unsure whether to feel relieved or insulted. Before he could decide, Erza clapped her hands lightly.
"Maria, finish his registration and prepare his badge. Jan, you and I will talk in my office."
Jan stiffened as Erza marched past him and up the staircase. She moved like someone used to being obeyed. Quietly, he followed her upstairs and down a narrow hallway until they reached a sturdy wooden door. Erza opened it, gesturing for him to enter first.
The office was surprisingly tidy and well-organized, with shelves of ledgers and scrolls lining the walls. Near the window stood a large oak desk, carefully arranged with documents, ink bottles, and a stack of parchment. Off to one side, a small fireplace crackled, casting a warm, flickering glow over the room.
Jan hesitated at the threshold until Erza motioned to one of the chairs in front of the desk. Only after she sat behind the desk herself did Jan sit as well, awkwardly folding his hands in his lap.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The fire crackled softly, and faint voices echoed from the guild hall below.
Then Erza broke the silence. "Is it so surprising that I'm both the chef at the inn and the Guild Master?"
"N-no..." Jan mumbled, eyes downcast.
"Kid, why are you so scared? What did that rascal tell you about me?"
"W-who...?"
"My younger brother, Rollo!"
Jan's head snapped up. "What?! Rollo is your younger brother?!"
"Yes! Didn't he tell you?!"
"No!"
"Then what did he tell you?!"
"N-nothing..." Jan mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
"That bastard... He's getting a beating next time I see him at the inn!" Erza growled, cracking her knuckles with a menacing grin.
Jan chuckled nervously, feeling genuinely concerned for Rollo's safety.
Erza waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, you've decided to join the guild. Curious choice..."
"Why's that?" Jan asked cautiously.
"Most heroes these days skip the guilds. They're more focused on climbing the tower."
"Does joining the guild go against that?"
"Not at all, it's just different," Erza replied, leaning back in her chair. "Guilds came about to deal with the Endlesscape—clearing out monsters before they reach the towns. Not exactly what heroes usually care about, but..." She tilted her head, studying him. "... for someone like you? It might actually work in your favor."
Jan shifted in his seat. "And why is that?"
"You're weak."