Chapter 26: Debt 26 - Return to Lunar Veil

"Ryan, do you want to do it one more time?"

’Of course I do.’

"...Now’s not the time for that, get dressed already," Ryan replied as he got out of bed and started putting his clothes on.

Mirian was still on the bed, her legs slightly spread and her chest exposed.

’I had already thought about it before, but Mirian is really beautiful.’

"Ryan, don’t stare at me like that. After what you told me, now you’re looking at me like you want to eat me up..." Mirian said with a teasing smile.

"Stop messing around. Karol and Helen should be here soon, and if they really bring the materials, we’ll have to leave."

’Even though it took longer than the time we were given, I hope there won’t be problems at the guild because of it. No... there definitely will be.’

After Ryan and Mirian finished getting dressed, they went out and headed to the main hall, the one that led to the exit, and sat down there.

But Ryan noticed that something had definitely changed in Mirian.

She couldn’t stop looking at him.

Even while they were talking, she seemed distracted, though there was a constant glow in her eyes.

Whether it was because he had sex with Mirian or because he had added Karol to the group, Ryan suspected that from now on, his daily life would become much more troublesome.

So, while they waited, he decided to spend some of his points on something that, although he didn’t fully understand how it worked, just the name of the stat made him think it would benefit him one way or another.

He started increasing his luck points until reaching one hundred.

’They won’t go any higher? Is 100 the max for this stat?’

Ding!

[Attribute Luck has reached the maximum value]

› Drop Rate: +15% → +50% You now have a higher chance of obtaining rare and epic items in dungeons.

› EXP Bonus Activation Chance: 10% → +40% There is a chance to gain additional EXP when earning experience.

’This will be really useful for leveling up in dungeons. I should’ve increased it back in the S-rank dungeon.’

Ryan stayed lost in thought for a moment and spent the remaining points on strength, stamina, and psyche.

Using points like that was only possible thanks to the debt system.

’Even though I’m not that far from reaching Rank A, it’s true that my current power is already comparable to a Rank A. Not to mention I supposedly have healing and enhancement magic.’

Ryan smiled, thinking about how exciting that was.

After Karol arrived with Helen and everyone gathered together in the house’s living room, they began planning what to do next.

Mirian stood up from her seat.

"At this point it should be obvious, but I’ll confirm it anyway..."

She looked at Helen for a moment, then at Karol, and finally turned her gaze to Ryan.

"Is this mage girl, Karol... going to be a new member of our group?"

Helen tensed for a moment, her gaze shifting from side to side.

Ryan thought she would complain, but she stayed silent.

So he just said it.

"Yes, Karol will be the fourth member and also the mage we needed. She may look like an idiot, but her attack magic is really powerful."

"That’s enough, Ryan, don’t say that, you’ll make me blush."

"That wasn’t a compliment, you know?"

’Well, looks like everyone agrees after all.’

Karol had brought the materials they needed, so for now they had no reason to stay in the city any longer.

The demon situation had ended without injuries since they were all fine; the Viscount, the boy’s father, would probably arrive soon.

But now Ryan’s group had to return to the Adventurers’ Guild in Lunar Veil.

Whether or not things had gone smoothly, Ryan couldn’t help but think that, despite ending up in this world for some strange reason, it was a place he was starting to enjoy.

Even though the whole group knew they had exceeded the time limit Sophia gave them to complete the mission, they simply prepared to return.

Using Karol’s flight magic, it would only take two days to get there.

◇◇◇

Now that they were finally back in Lunar Veil, they headed to the guild to report that they had completed the mission and to deliver the materials.

As soon as they entered, the guild was unusually crowded.

"Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen most of these people here before," Helen commented as they walked toward the counter.

"So this is the guild in this city; it’s not much different from other guilds," Karol murmured.

They stood in front of the counter, though Sophia wasn’t there—only a girl Ryan didn’t recognize.

The adventurers around them kept staring and whispering among themselves, though Ryan couldn’t make out what they were saying.

"Isn’t the guild master here?" Helen asked the girl.

"She’s busy right now. Are you here to turn in a mission?"

"Yes. Karol, take out the materials," Ryan said, leaning against the counter.

Karol did so; she took out her magical inventory item and placed the materials on the counter.

Just as the girl was about to take them, a voice interrupted.

"You! Will you ever be able to complete a mission within the allotted time?"

’Sophia. Well, it was obvious she’d complain.’

"Even if you’re Rank S now, don’t you think it’s time you started acting more responsibly?"

"Alright, alright, calm down. This time we have a good explanation," Helen stepped in.

"Is the guild master always this loud?" Karol asked Mirian in a low voice.

Mirian replied:

"Yeah, she never changes, it’s always the same, hehe. But she’s actually kinder than she looks, you know."

"Well, this time I’m not mad about the mission itself, but because His Majesty the King held a celebration and invited nobles, adventurers, and the Rank S Hero William two days ago. And of course, you as well. That’s why I told you to be here on time."

Sophia paused, then continued.

"But you didn’t come. Do you have any idea how much I got harassed at that celebration? And you took so long to show up..."

"Hmm... a celebration for what?" Ryan asked.

"Basically, it was to present the new Rank S Heroes to the nation."

Sophia leaned against the counter.

"I’m an idiot. Even knowing you can’t be trusted, I promised you would show up."

Helen walked up to Sophia.

"Alright, alright, now you’re making me feel worse. I’m really sorry, but honestly, I wouldn’t have gone anyway; I hate those kinds of events."

Sophia stood up straight in front of them.

"But it doesn’t matter, that got resolved somehow. The point is, the King asked me to send you to him when you returned, so you’ll have to go tomorrow morning."

She pointed at the three of them.

"And I see you have a new companion... anyway, I don’t want excuses! Understood?"