The laughter stopped.
Not gradually.
Instantly.
The moment the gold coin struck the counter.
**CLINK.**
The sound wasn't loud.
Yet somehow—
everyone heard it.
The guild hall fell silent.
Adventurers.
Mercenaries.
Hunters.
Even the receptionist froze.
Every eye locked onto the coin resting on the polished wood.
Real gold.
Not silver.
Not copper.
Gold.
For a map.
A single map.
The young receptionist blinked twice.
Then looked up at Draven.
Then back at the coin.
Then back at Draven again.
"...You're serious."
Draven stared at her with a completely blank expression.
"What gave it away?"
Silence.
Aldric immediately looked away, pretending he had absolutely nothing to do with this situation.
Several nearby adventurers snorted.
One nearly choked on his drink.
The receptionist coughed awkwardly.
"...Right."
She quickly regained her professional composure.
"Of course."
"One continental map."
"Reward: one gold coin."
She hesitated for a moment.
Then curiosity got the better of her.
"...You do realize most maps cost significantly less than that, right?"
Draven shrugged.
"I need one."
A brief pause.
"I don't care what it costs."
The receptionist stared.
Several guild members stared too.
One old adventurer muttered under his breath.
"...Rich idiot."
Another nodded in complete agreement.
"...Definitely a rich idiot."
Aldric immediately pointed at them.
"See?"
"I told you."
"People think you're funny."
Draven glanced at him.
"...Shut up."
The receptionist quickly pulled out a task form.
"Do you have any specific requirements?"
Draven considered the question briefly.
Then answered.
"Accurate."
The receptionist blinked.
"...Anything else?"
"A recent one."
She sighed and continued writing.
"...Anything else?"
Draven frowned thoughtfully.
Several seconds passed.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
The receptionist slowly wrote that down.
Around the guild hall, conversations had already begun again, though now they were little more than whispers.
Because a reward of one gold coin wasn't small.
Not even close.
It was enough to attract the attention of veteran adventurers.
A continental map could probably be acquired within a few hours.
Maybe sooner.
Then—
a voice sounded from nearby.
"I have one."
The entire guild hall turned.
An older adventurer stood from a nearby table.
Gray beard.
Weathered leather armor.
A travel pack resting beside his chair.
The look of someone who had spent more years on the road than at home.
He slowly approached the counter.
A long cylindrical case appeared in his hand.
"I bought it a few months ago."
The man eyed the gold coin.
"...Wasn't planning on selling it."
A pause.
"But for one gold?"
He shrugged.
"I can always buy another."
The receptionist immediately brightened.
"Perfect!"
Draven's gaze shifted toward the map.
The old adventurer set the cylinder onto the counter.
With a flick of his wrist, he withdrew a small triangular device from his pouch.
A faint hum filled the air.
Blue light erupted from its surface.
A holographic projection unfolded above the counter.
An enormous continent appeared.
Detailed.
Precise.
Kingdom borders glowed in different colors.
Trade routes crisscrossed between major settlements.
Cities.
Mountain ranges.
Rivers.
Forests.
Sea lanes.
Even regional landmarks were clearly marked.
The projection hovered in the air like a miniature world.
Several nearby adventurers leaned closer.
Even they looked impressed.
Draven glanced over it.
Three seconds.
Four at most.
Then he nodded.
"Good."
The old adventurer blinked.
"...That's it?"
"You checked it for three seconds."
Draven picked up the device.
"It looks like a map."
A pause.
"It'll do."
The old adventurer stared.
Aldric stared.
The receptionist stared.
Even the nearby adventurers stared.
The old man slowly accepted the gold coin.
"...I feel like I got scammed."
Draven had already tucked the device beneath his cloak.
"You didn't."
The old adventurer somehow felt even less reassured.
The receptionist looked like she was fighting for her life not to laugh.
Draven ignored all of them.
The map disappeared into his spatial ring.
Task completed.
Without another word, he turned toward the exit.
Aldric followed behind.
They were halfway to the door when—
"Wait!"
The receptionist's voice echoed across the hall.
Both men stopped.
The young woman looked at them curiously.
"If you're new around here..."
She hesitated.
"...Where exactly are you trying to go?"
Aldric stopped in the doorway and slowly turned around.
His expression carried complete disbelief.
The kind normally reserved for witnessing a crime.
"You shouldn't ask people that kind of question."
A pause.
"That's rude, you know."
The entire guild hall froze.
The receptionist stared.
Several adventurers stared.
Even Draven glanced sideways.
The young woman pointed at herself.
"...Me?"
"Yes, you."
Aldric folded his arms.
"What if we were mysterious travelers?"
The receptionist opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then opened it again.
"...You asked for a map because you don't know where you're going."
"That's not the point."
"It feels like the point."
Aldric shook his head firmly.
"No."
"It feels invasive."
The receptionist looked genuinely offended now.
"I was trying to help!"
Aldric nodded immediately.
"Exactly."
"That's how they get information out of you."
Silence.
One adventurer slowly lowered his mug.
"...What?"
The receptionist stared.
Aldric stared back.
Neither moved.
Neither blinked.
The silence somehow became even more uncomfortable.
Then—
Draven started walking again.
Without looking back.
"Let's go."
Aldric immediately pointed at the receptionist.
"See?"
"Now you've made things awkward."
The receptionist's eye twitched violently.
"I made things awkward?!"
"Yes."
Aldric nodded with complete seriousness.
"You should reflect on this."
The guild hall exploded.
Laughter erupted from every corner.
"Hahaha!"
"What the hell is wrong with this guy?!"
"She's the victim!"
"How did he turn that around?!"
The receptionist's professional smile finally shattered.
"...Get out."
Aldric gasped dramatically.
"Ooh."
"You see?"
He pointed accusingly.
"Hostility."
"I knew it."
"GET OUT!"
The laughter only grew louder.
Several adventurers were practically doubled over.
Even the old adventurer who had sold the map was wiping tears from his eyes.
Draven reached the door.
Paused briefly.
Then looked back at Aldric.
"Are you done?"
Aldric considered the question carefully.
A few seconds passed.
Then he nodded.
"Probably."
Draven pushed open the guild doors.
The cool evening air rushed inside.
Aldric followed after him.
Still muttering.
"I was only offering constructive criticism."
The receptionist grabbed a rolled-up document from her desk.
"Leave before I throw this at you."
Aldric pointed triumphantly.
"Threats!"
The door slammed shut.
**BANG.**
The guild hall remained silent for exactly one second.
Then everyone burst into laughter again.
The receptionist dropped into her chair and buried her face in her hands.
"...I was literally just trying to help."
Nearby, the old adventurer chuckled.
"Kid looked normal."
A pause.
"But his friend..."
The old man slowly shook his head.
"...His friend is a disaster."
Outside—
Draven and Aldric continued down the lantern-lit street.
The town bustled with evening life.
Merchants called out from their stalls.
Children ran between crowds.
The scent of roasted meat drifted through the air.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Then Draven finally broke the silence.
"You enjoy being unbelievably annoying."
Aldric looked genuinely confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Draven stared at him.
Aldric stared back.
Then—
a small furry head poked out from beneath Draven's cloak.
The cat looked directly at Aldric.
And meowed.
Once.
As if offering its professional opinion.
Draven nodded.
"Yeah."
The cat meowed again.
Aldric slowly pointed at it.
"What was that?"
Another meow.
The cat's expression somehow looked judgmental.
Aldric's eye twitched.
"...I'm being bullied by a cat now."
The cat blinked.
Entirely unrepentant.
For the first time since leaving Blackwater—
the corner of Draven's mouth moved.
Just slightly.
Almost invisible.
Almost a smile.
Almost.