Free Web Novel“You... are?”
Interrupted mid-sentence, Luna looked displeased. She turned her head toward Vieya, who only reached up to her chest in height, and immediately frowned.
Whose kid was this?
Luna asked: “Who are you? Why haven’t I ever seen you in the Adventurers’ Guild before?” free𝑤ebnovel.com
“Ahem, Lady Luna, this one is also a Guild-certified Gold-ranked adventurer.”
The guild receptionist added this helpful reminder, then sighed with visible distress:
“If what you just said is all true—if you really saw the dead Hero at Mount Aisa—then I hope you’ll temporarily abandon this request and wait until the higher-ups...”
“This is the final commission for ‘Fairy’s Wings’ to advance to Diamond-rank adventurer party. I cannot abandon it. And besides...”
The struggle on Luna’s face flashed by quickly, but was soon replaced with firm resolve:
“My comrades are still trapped inside the Hero’s Domain. I cannot forsake them. This is the promise we of ‘Fairy’s Wings’ made together.”
Thud! Thud!
The ignored Vieya unhappily tapped her finger against the reception counter. This nearly two-meter-tall draft horse of a woman was giving her quite a sense of pressure with sheer height.
Mm... her neck was already aching from looking up.
“Anyway, do you all need a stand-in for your promotion match? I can provide you three tiers to choose from: for 20,000 gold coins, I’ll accompany you once as a competent hired hand; for 200,000, I guarantee you won’t lose anyone; for 2 million, I guarantee full success and advancement.”
The price was not cheap.
After all, even the world-class bounty on the Black Cat only stood at 1 million gold coins.
“I know right now you probably think I’m overestimating myself...” Vieya seemed prepared for this, laying three certificates out across the counter.
These were originally prepared to help Jasmine register for her adventurer certification, backed with Church recognition and endorsement. When it came to convincing strangers, they were very effective.
Don’t underestimate a few sheets of paper—sometimes you couldn’t trade even millions of gold coins for one of these.
Both Luna and the receptionist turned their gaze toward Vieya, their expressions markedly different.
“You are... a cleric of the Church?”
The confusion in Luna’s eyes eased a great deal when she saw the golden emblem of the Church on the certificates.
But at the same time, a new doubt rose up. Luna pressed her lips together, thought for a moment:
When had Church clerics been allowed to take on side jobs like this?
As far as Luna knew, anyone employed under the Church, regardless of their rank, was forbidden from moonlighting for extra coin.
Not that there had never been exceptions—but she had only heard of them, never seen one herself...
Could this be one of those exceptions?
“In my memory, clerics shouldn’t be able to do this kind of thing, right?” Luna looked down at Vieya.
“It’s fine. I’m just asking if you want a stand-in for your promotion match.”
Vieya said this with one hand on her hip, the other dangling a certificate in the air, her tone sly like a fox.
“If I weren’t struggling to find a proper commission suited to me right now, I wouldn’t bother with this. Opportunities like this don’t come twice.”
She was telling the truth. High-paying commissions usually consumed huge amounts of time. Quick jobs weren’t impossible, but their rewards were pitifully small.
Being a temporary hired hand was much more lucrative—especially with a quality team like “Fairy’s Wings,” which already had a clear objective and complete division of roles.
“...I might need to discuss it with my companions first.” Luna did not immediately agree.
Money wasn’t the issue. But as acting party leader, she bore responsibility for the future of the party and the lives of each member.
This was no joke.
“No problem, go on and discuss it.”
Vieya waved her hand, dropped her smile, and tucked the certificates back into her clothing.
From Luna’s perspective, the so-called dead Hero appearing at Mount Aisa was likely connected to some kind of undead. With a cleric of the Church offering to join them, they had ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) no grounds to refuse.
Besides, Luna’s mention of abnormal phenomena at Mount Aisa had stirred Vieya’s own interest.
A Hero wielding a holy sword to strike humans?
Me, dead for years, reappearing like a clown from It after decades?
Interesting.
“Miss Vieya, these world-class commissions are dangerous. Have you truly prepared yourself...” The receptionist was still full of worry. “This isn’t child’s play.”
I can’t just let some supposed version of me roam around unchecked...
Vieya slowly shook her head, then softly said: “Could you bring me a complimentary cup of green tea as well?”
Receptionist: “...”
“Big Sis Luna, you’re saying you want to hire that girl to travel with us?” The one who spoke was a boy who looked carefree, wearing a straw hat and sandals. “She doesn’t look like she can fight. Can she really handle it?”
“Shh, Kare.” The blonde girl beside him made a gesture for silence. “Her companion is still right here. Show some manners.”
“....”
Kare was silent for a second, then turned toward Jasmine, who was hugging her black cat. He laughed loudly and pulled out a bubbling red drink. “Hey little sis, I’ve got chili-water here, want some?”
“....”
Jasmine shook her head, too timid to speak, and only hugged her black cat tighter.
“Keep that chili-water for yourself.” Luna glared at Kare, then added, “She is a cleric of the Church.”
“What the—? Even clerics are so poor now they’re stealing our jobs?”
Kare choked on his chili-water, his face turning red. “Cough, cough! That can’t be right. I heard if a cleric gets caught doing this kind of work, they’ll be dragged before the Tribunal to test their loyalty to that so-called God of Light.”
The blonde girl gasped, whispering nervously: “It’s really that serious? But we adventurers don’t do anything illegal...”
“This isn’t about legality, it’s about the Church’s rules.” The one who spoke now was a gloomy, taciturn black-haired boy. His long collar covered half his face, dark blue eyes staring coldly at Kare. “Everywhere needs rules.”
“Bullshit! Rules are dead, people are alive!” Kare scoffed.
“Enough. Stop quarreling.”
Irritated, Luna waved her hand. She turned toward the burly bald man standing with arms crossed and the tea-haired girl whose body was covered in dangling crystal keys, who had been curiously staring at Jasmine the whole time.
“Arc, Yuancherin—do you have any thoughts? Say them now, so we can consider everything.”
“Oh, that’s all up to you guys.” Called on, Yuancherin let out a girlish giggle, finally pulling her gaze away from Jasmine’s face, red as an apple. Looking at Luna, she smiled brightly: “In any case, I support everything Sister Luna decides!”
Luna stayed silent for a while, then looked toward the bald man. “Arc, what about you?”
“Me?” Arc straightened his muscular frame, sat upright, gaze steady. “Menesis and Rakaide are still trapped in Mount Aisa waiting for us. So for me, as long as anyone who joins won’t betray us midway—as long as they’re friends—then I welcome them.”
