Alina's playful yet flirtatious remark carried an edge that caught Maya's attention,
– Wha??? Did she just outright started flirting with him?"
She felt a surge of irritation and restlessness upon hearing Alina refer to Ewaan as a 'handsome gentleman'.
Though she managed to maintain her composure outwardly, there was a subtle twitch of her eye, betraying her inner turmoil, Causing her to shoot a wary glance at Ewaan.
But because of his usual stoic demeanor, Ewaan's response to Alina came out in a rather chilly tone. "Why bother? Will sharing my information earn me membership? If not, it's pointless..."
– Huh? Who does this guy think he is? The Hero of the World? How arrogant!
Ayami pondered in annoyance, hearing Ewaan's response.
Meanwhile, Alina flinched at his chilly tone.
But soon, a sudden feeling of restlessness made Ayami ponder once again as she looked at Alina,
– Oh no! This idiot... what have you done?
"WAAAAH~ WHAT A COLD REPLY... OH MY!" Alina exclaimed, breathless with excitement. "No one... has ever spoken to me... like that before... HANDSOME GUY..." She reached for his hands, "MARRY ME...!" but he skillfully dodged.
Meanwhile, Ayami facepalmed, muttering, "I knew it!!"
Maya's rope of reasons, snapped! Her irritation, anger, and restlessness escalated, fueling the tension in the hall.
Every man in the guild glared at Ewaan with murderous jealousy, their gazes intense and filled with hostility.
Though even after sensing the palpable animosity directed towards him, Ewaan remained neutral. "Okay, I'm done! Maya, let's go," he uttered, turning around abruptly, his tone firm and decisive.
As he moved to depart, Alina urgently pleaded, "No, no, no, no, no… Wait—"
But Ewaan cut her off with a stern declaration, his voice laced with frustration and resolve, "I'm here to register as an Adventurer, not to sign a marriage certificate, and certainly not for some random ass woman to boot! If that's not an option here, I'll find another guild!"
Listening to Ewaan's outburst, Ayami couldn't help but ponder in confusion,
– When did he decide that? Until this morning, he knew nothing! What's this guy even thinking?
Maya sighed with relief after hearing Ewaan's bold remarks, grateful that he stood up for himself and put an end to the awkward situation.
His assertiveness reassured her, dispelling the tension that had been building in the hall.
Stopping Ewaan's departure, Alina regained her composure, drawing in a deep breath before switching to her official mode.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters. To register, there's a fee of one small gold coin. We also have a test for those aspiring to adventure. Whether you pass or not, the fee is non-refundable. If successful, you'll become an official member and receive an Adventurer's ID."
"I don't have any money," Ewaan remarked bluntly.
"Eh?!" Alina left speechless by his response.
A sudden silence fell over the bustling hall, the air thick with anticipation as Ewaan's blunt response hung in the air.
Then, like a dam breaking, laughter erupted, echoing off the walls and filling the room with the echoes of mockery.
Alina, undeterred by the laughter, slipped into her flirtatious persona. "Well then, I don't mind giving you a free registration... if you agree to have dinner with me. My treat, of course!"
Maya's expression turned to one of concern, her eyes darting between Alina and Ewaan.
– Oh no! This woman has her sights set on him... If I don't do something right now...
Her thoughts raced, her face a mask of urgency as she contemplated her next move.
"I... I'll pay for the registration!" Ayaka's interruption cut through the tension like a knife, her voice firm and resolute as she stepped forward to defuse the situation.
"What? Why must we pay for this guy's registration fee?" Ayami's frustration creased her brow, her tone edged with annoyance.
With concern, Maya uttered, "You don't have to do this, Ayaka—" only to be interrupted by Ayaka's determination.
"No, I want to do it!" She squeezed Maya's hands reassuringly, stating, "And I'll cover for you too." her eyes sparkling with resolve.
"Don't worry, it's not just generosity," she added, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "you can pay me back later after becoming a full-fledged Adventurer and earning lots of money..." Her smile was infectious, spreading warmth and assurance.
With a soft smile, Maya expressed her gratitude, her eyes reflecting her sincerity. "Thank you. I don't know what to say..."
"Don't worry," Ewaan interjected bluntly, "after becoming an Adventurer, I'll pay you back ten times the amount you'll be giving us today!" His declaration lacked finesse.
As Ayami observed him, furrowing her brow in contemplation,
– This white hair... not even a shred of courtesy while accepting our money, and yet, shamelessly boasting!
"Ugh, fine…" Ayami grumbled under her breath, reluctantly retrieving two small gold coins from her pouch and handing them over to Alina with visible dissatisfaction.
Alina accepted the coins with a smirk, her eyes gleaming mischievously as she pocketed them.
"Alright, please follow the gate to your left and head inside," She instructed, gesturing towards the entrance to the evaluation room.
Ewaan and Maya followed her guidance, with the Takagi sisters trailing behind.
As they entered the evaluation room, they were greeted by a middle-aged man seated at a table, his expression focused as he diligently noted down information on a piece of paper.
Alina approached him, her demeanor professional yet friendly. "Hey Razzak, these two are looking to join the ranks of Adventurers. Can you evaluate their abilities?" she asked, prompting the man, Razzak, to look up from his paperwork and nod in acknowledgment.
"Hm?" Razzak glanced behind from his paperwork, a spark of interest igniting in his eyes. "Hoho~ two youngsters with fire in their hearts, ey?" he remarked, his tone jovial yet perceptive.
Alina stepped forward, gesturing towards Razzak with a flourish. "This is our Adventurers Guild's ‹6th Stage Analyst›," she introduced proudly. "He can evaluate you in every way, from Magic to Swordplay, Archery, and so on."
Ewaan raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "He can do all that?" he inquired, his tone displaying a blend of skepticism and intrigue.
Ayaka chimed in, "The role of an Analyst involves assessing an individual's capabilities," she explained. "With infinite aptitude, they possess the ability to acquire basic knowledge in various fields. To excel, they must continue learning. However, they can only attain 'one level' of expertise in each profession, and proficiency in multiple areas raises their Analysis level."
"Wow~ you're pretty knowledgeable, kiddo!" Razzak remarked, his tone filled with admiration as he continued to jot down notes.
Ayaka chuckled softly, her eyes shining with a mixture of passion and modesty. "Hehe~ I just love learning," she expressed, her voice carrying a genuine enthusiasm for knowledge.
Razzak finished his notes and stood up, addressing the group with a sense of authority. "Alright, enough chit-chat," he declared, turning towards Alina, "Could you pass me their registration forms?"
Alina's expression shifted to one of sudden realization. "Oh no, I completely forgot to give them the forms!" she exclaimed, a hint of embarrassment colored her features.
Razzak couldn't help but grin sheepishly,
– She completely got distracted by pretty faces again, didn't she?
He cast a slight glance at Ewaan as he pondered.
Reassuring Alina, Razzak uttered, "No worries, since they're here now…" turning his attention to Ewaan and Maya, he posed his question with an air of authority, "Tell me, newbies, what's your awakened class? I'll analyze your worth based on that information." His aura exuded intellectual prowess as he spoke.
Standing firm and serious, Ewaan simply responded by saying, "...A what now??"
••• ••• •••