When Haimer squeezed into the Guild hall with a flock of dazzling young women in tow, along with two black bears that did not look particularly intelligent, they instantly became the center of attention.
After all, the visual impact was overwhelming.
Even in Orario, a city famed for its abundance of beauties, it was rare to see so many top-tier girls of completely different styles gathered together in one place.
"So this is…the Guild?"
"It's not quite how I imagined it…"
Mary hugged her rapier to her chest, a trace of disdain in her voice.
Walking ahead, Tsubaki did not even turn her head as she replied, "This is what real adventurers are like. Don't assume that becoming one means living in glamour and enjoying the spoils every day. Most of the time, adventurers deal with mud and monster blood."
With that, she skillfully parted the crowd and led everyone to a relatively quiet counter.
Seated there was a young female clerk.
Emerald eyes, distinctive pointed ears. Even while sitting, her back remained perfectly straight.
At that moment, she adjusted her glasses and meticulously checked the documents in her hands. Her serious expression made it seem as though the word "diligence" had been carved into her forehead.
Eina Tulle.
"Eina!"
Just as she was pushing up her glasses and reviewing the files with complete focus, Tsubaki slapped her palm heavily against the counter.
Smack!
The crisp sound made the stack of papers jump.
"Yo! I'm here!"
Startled, Eina nearly tore the document with her quill. She quickly looked up and saw the grinning, eyepatch-wearing captain.
The stern expression on her face immediately softened into visible helplessness.
"Miss Tsubaki…"
Captain of the Hephaestus Familia. Level 5. The "One-Eyed Master Smith[Cyclops]," Tsubaki Collbrand.
Someone of that stature was impossible not to recognize within the Guild.
Eina sighed quietly and lowered her voice. "This is a workplace. Please refrain from being so loud. You may disturb the other adventurers."
"What brings you here today, Miss Tsubaki?"
"I'm taking these newcomers into the Dungeon," Tsubaki said with a shrug. "They even managed to get my iron-rooster goddess to open her wallet, so I want to see what they're capable of."
She stepped aside and gestured toward Haimer and the group behind her.
"Taking newcomers?" Eina blinked in confusion at the phrase "iron rooster," but out of professional restraint, she did not pursue the meaning. Instead, she composed herself and followed Tsubaki's gesture.
Then her gaze stopped.
A flock of beauties.
An elegant noble type, a loli, a refined young lady, a blind swordswoman and a green-haired girl…
This hardly looked like an adventurer party.
And then,
Her eyes shifted downward.
Those were black bears.
Two very real black bears were sniffing the Guild's polished floor, one even attempting to lick a nearby pillar.
Eina pressed her fingers against her temple. She had a feeling her headache would arrive earlier than usual today.
While the Guild had no explicit rule forbidding pets, bringing clearly dangerous large beasts inside the hall was a bit excessive.
"Um…" Eina was about to inquire about their identities when her movement suddenly stiffened.
Her hand froze mid-motion as recognition struck.
A month ago, at this very counter, she had met this very man.
Back then, when he came to register his Familia's divine name, she had asked as usual about his divine domains and titles. His response had been a string of epithets that could make anyone's scalp go numb:
Lord of Arms.
Calamity of War.
Instigator of Strife.
Father of Ten Thousand Weapons…
At the time, she had assumed he was another newly descended god amusing himself by teasing Guild staff. After all, Orario was not short on gods who enjoyed such antics.
But later, out of caution, she checked the celestial registry and even gathered the courage to discreetly ask a few veteran gods in Orario.
The answer she received was always the same.
"That lunatic descended?"
Every title had been genuine.
"Lo… Lord Haimer?"
"It's… been a while."
Eina adjusted her glasses, her voice immediately turning restrained.
"Indeed. It has been a while, Miss Eina," Haimer replied with a faint smile. "I was worried your busy workload might have made you forget me."
"How could I…" Eina let out a dry laugh.
Forget? Who could forget a résumé like that?
"These are the members you've recruited for your Familia?" she asked, quickly changing the subject, her gaze sweeping across the girls with complicated emotions.
"That's right." Haimer nodded. "You can see for yourself. They're good children, just a little individualistic."
Eina's expression twitched as one of the cubs attempted to gnaw at the corner of the counter.
A little individualistic?
Still, since they were members of a god's Familia, she did not dare to delay further. She promptly pulled out a thick stack of registration forms.
"Please fill in your basic information."
With Eina's efficient handling, the registration process began smoothly.
Until it reached Tsukuyo.
"Inaba… Miss Tsukuyo?" Eina called tentatively.
"Are you calling me?"
Tsukuyo turned her head slightly toward her voice.
Only then did Eina fully realize the source of her unease. From the moment they entered, this girl had never once opened her eyes. Even her steps, though steady, carried that subtle probing quality that Eina, having seen countless adventurers, recognized immediately.
"Forgive my bluntness… but your eyes…"
"You cannot see, can you?"
Her tone carried a trace of caution.
Tsukuyo did not react strongly. She simply nodded gently, a serene smile appearing on her porcelain-like face.
"Yes."
"I cannot see."
Eina's gaze fell upon those crimson eyes, open yet unfocused.
Delicate and fragile. Like a porcelain doll that would shatter at the slightest touch.
Eina inhaled deeply.
Although she had suspected it, seeing it confirmed still made her chest tighten.
Blind.
In Orario, that was often considered synonymous with useless.
Forget the Dungeon, a place fraught with danger, even ordinary life in this city would be difficult.
Eina's brows furrowed, her grip on the pen tightening unconsciously. As a Guild employee, she should remain impartial and refrain from commenting on an adventurer's physical condition.
But looking at this seemingly fragile blind girl, she could not help feeling reluctant.
"Lord Haimer…"
Before she could voice the thought that "Tsukuyo cannot see, she is too weak and vulnerable to enter the Dungeon," the blind swordswoman, who had already sensed the labels of weak, helpless, and pitiful being silently placed upon her, spoke first.
"Miss Eina."
"Your heartbeat changed."
"Eh?"
Eina blinked, the carefully prepared words caught in her throat.
Tsukuyo raised a slender, pale finger and steadily pointed toward the corner of the counter.
"Here."
"Under the stack of documents to your left, there is a quill. The tip is facing me."
Eina instinctively lowered her head.
There was indeed a quill under the stack of files to her left.
Not even slightly off.
"And…"
Tsukuyo tilted her head gently. Silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, revealing ears that trembled faintly, as though capturing the faintest whispers in the air.
"At seven o'clock in the hall, about fifteen meters from here."
"Two people are quietly discussing last night's tavern dancer."
"One of them has heavily worn boot soles. His steps drag slightly."
Eina turned toward the seven o'clock direction.
Two adventurers were indeed whispering to each other.
When they noticed her looking over, they appeared confused.
One of them, a tall man, had a left boot sole worn noticeably uneven.
"As you can see," Tsukuyo said calmly, lowering her hand, "some things do not require eyes to perceive."
"In my case, my hearing, and my sword, are more useful than sight."
She folded her hands before her once more, returning to that composed, doll-like posture.
This child is blind. She cannot see. Weak, helpless, and pitiful.
At least, that is what others would assume.
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