The night didn't feel as busy as usual. As Rena was about to head toward the city center—where the adventurer's guild was—the stone streets, normally full of activity, felt… strange.
Rena looked around, tucking both hands into the pockets of her oversized robe, and gazed at the city center from a distance, grinding her teeth slightly.
Cold… too cold for a royal capital.
And too quiet…
Her footsteps echoed softly, as if the city itself was holding its breath.
As Rena passed through the residential area toward the guild, she slowed her pace and looked around. From the cold weather to the way the citizens were acting—everything was so synchronized that it made Rena start to think about what was really going on.
Something is wrong…
Along the streets, Rena saw the residents… standing, sitting, or just silently staying in front of their houses. But what gave her chills wasn't the silence itself.
It was who was there.
All women.
A mother hugging her child with an empty stare.
A young girl sitting on some steps, head bowed, silent.
An old woman standing at her doorway, clutching a cloth with trembling hands.
No men.
Not a single one.
Rena stopped walking.
Her eyes darted around, trying to confirm—maybe she had seen wrong, maybe it was just a coincidence.
But no.
Every corner she looked… only women.
And stranger still—
Only a silent sadness, hanging in the air like a thin fog.
Rena swallowed hard.
This… what is really happening…?
She walked more slowly, her heart beginning to beat uncomfortably.
A few women glanced in her direction.
Their gazes… empty, but deep. As if they wanted to say something, but couldn't. As if they were too exhausted to even hope anymore.
That was when Rena felt something familiar.
This feeling…
She had felt it before.
Back when the teachers came to her house.
They weren't angry.
Nor were they particularly friendly.
They had that mixed, yet professional look—visiting Rena who had just lost the Headmaster.
And the atmosphere back then—
It was exactly the same as now.
Cold.
Quiet.
Full of unspoken things.
Rena gripped her bag strap tighter.
Could it be…
Her mind started forming possibilities she didn't want to believe.
Is this related to the school?
Were the missing male students not the only case of disappearance?
Or… something bigger than that?
Finally, with each step and the thoughts racing through her head,
Rena arrived in front of the guild.
She looked around the adventurer's guild, then pulled her hands out of her robe's pockets and clenched both fists tightly.
Looks like… it's true…!!!
Around the guild, the atmosphere was the same, which only made Rena more curious.
The wind blew gently, passing through the guild building.
And Rena, with a sharp gaze fixed on the guild door, made her decision.
I have to find out what's going on!!..
With full confidence, Rena looked at the guild building—it resembled the Headmaster's house, with marble and expensive stone flooring—which made Rena even more certain she could get the answers she wanted. Finally, firmly yet gently, she opened the guild door.
As usual, the guild receptionist greeted Rena with a slightly shadowed face, but remained professional. She fixed her hair, wiped her slightly fogged glasses, then began to serve Rena.
Hello, I'm the receptionist. How can I help you?
Rena looked at the receptionist sitting in the middle of the guild building with her desk and various receptionist equipment. To the left and right were different quest postings, and in other areas were seats for adventurers or those wanting to register. But this time, those areas were also quiet… almost like they had become just a resting place for a few adventurers with shadowed faces.
Seeing that only made Rena more curious. With both fists clenched tightly, she slammed them onto the reception desk firmly.
Miss Receptionist, what is really going on?
The receptionist paused for a moment at Rena's words, then adjusted her slightly shifted glasses, took a breath, and exhaled calmly.
Huff…
Meanwhile, Rena—with uneven breath and overwhelming curiosity—just stared at the receptionist intently.
The receptionist, seeing Rena's gaze, looked away for a moment, then slowly looked Rena over from head to toe. She noticed a badge on Rena's chest, partially hidden by her oversized robe, and thought to herself.
Looks like this little girl is still in school…
Then, with a forced smile, she began answering Rena's question while squinting her eyes.
Don't worry, kid. What's happening right now is being handled by heroes from another world—directly by the kingdom!!
So you'd better go home, and everything will be fine by tomorrow!!
Rena was a little disappointed hearing that answer. She stared seriously at the guild receptionist, then this time drew her sword with her right hand and drove it into the guild's hard floor, causing a small crack.
The receptionist was slightly startled, fixed her glasses again, then looked seriously at the sword stuck in the floor. She thought to herself.
Hmm… isn't this the student who was close to the Headmaster?
Yeah… that's right. Her name is Rena. The only student who became a knight.
And the Headmaster herself was also a knight before…
Meanwhile, Rena spoke in a firm voice, then sat on the floor next to her sword, crossing her arms, and stared at the receptionist who was still standing there silently. That snapped the receptionist back to attention.
I hope that's enough proof, Miss Receptionist… that I'm not an ordinary student.
The receptionist looked around, fixed her hair again, then steadied herself by leaning slightly toward Rena, who was sitting on the floor. Finally, she spoke more openly.
Sorry about that. So, young Rena, if you're looking for information about the Headmaster… I don't actually know where she is myself.
Rena accepted that answer and tried to dig for more information, raising her voice slightly while tucking one hand into her robe pocket.
And…??
With a shadowed face, the receptionist revealed more.
If you're asking about what happened to the male students and what's going on now…
Yes, they've all disappeared… but not exactly disappeared.
Rena was a little confused. She tucked both hands into her robe pockets while still staring seriously at the receptionist.
What do you mean????
Once again, the atmosphere turned silent. You could even hear the breathing of the adventurers lounging around—some of them asleep.
The receptionist tried to calm herself, adjusting her glasses once more for no real reason, as well as her hair which she had already fixed. Then, with a shaky breath, she finally explained.
Like you've heard, young Rena, about the other heroes… the men are being moved by them to a safe place.
Then, with a shadowed face and biting her finger, the receptionist quickly continued.
Tch. The men are currently an anomaly. You could say they've become half-monsters.
When those words came out, a few of the lounging adventurers stirred uncomfortably.
Meanwhile, Rena was stunned, as if she couldn't believe it.
???????
Then, ambitiously, Rena asked in a loud voice, pulling one hand out and standing face to face with the receptionist.
Can they be cured??!!
The silence returned instantly, and even the receptionist was completely speechless.
Rena's question made a few others stand up and start to leave the guild. Then, with a loud slam of the door, they exited—as if they had already known but just didn't want to hear that word spoken in their ears again.
BAM!!!!!!
Rena looked around, saw the silent receptionist, and without pushing for an answer to her question, she pulled both hands out of her wide robe's pockets. But this time, it wasn't just casual. Her left hand firmly gripped her sword and pointed it toward the receptionist, then she changed the subject.
Miss Receptionist, please help me register as an adventurer!!
The receptionist hesitated a little at Rena's request, then fixed her glasses again and tried once more to look at the badge on Rena's chest, as if what she had seen earlier might have been different.
Rena noticed that. She immediately opened her robe wide with her right hand so the receptionist could see clearly, then gave a small, ambitious smile.
It's not exactly new for an active student to also become an adventurer, is it, Miss Receptionist?
Hearing that, the receptionist realized something, then tried to answer, steadying her voice.
But before she could speak, Rena cut in, clenching her fist and raising her right hand high while lowering her sword—which had been pointing at the receptionist—and sheathing it behind her back.
As long as you're of age!!
It's written clearly on the back, you know.
The receptionist immediately reflexively looked behind her, wondering.
Could it be…??!!
The receptionist adjusted her glasses, looked carefully, then swallowed hard and read aloud.
The rule bo—
Rena cut her off, finishing the sentence.
Right!! The rule board!!!