"The blank dungeon is no more," I say and place the faceted mana crystal together with my adventurer's card on the counter.

Attendant Ania, looking relieved, smiles at me and collects the items. "Good work, Lucius." Then she looks me up and down, her smile transforming into a frown. She shivers. "How are you not freezing? I can't even look at you."

Shrugging, I reply, "I like the cold. Don't bother with heating spells either."

"I'm making you a hat. You'll at least wear that, right?"

"Really? Yes, I'll wear it. Thank you, Attendant Ania." Score.

She nods a few times and heads off to update my card. C-rank has been achieved.

A barrage of winks comes down upon me. The regular loungers, soaking in the Hall's heat, are probably way more invested in my rank growth than I am. And that's saying something. If only I could recognize them under the layers and layers of clothing. Attendant Ania was distinguished only by her voice. I laugh internally and direct my attention to the returning attendant.

She presents me with my new card. "Congratulations. If you try to conquer a B-grade dungeon before you are fully ready, I am kicking you out of the Guild."

"Wha—" I start to say but then chuckle. "Very funny."

She levels me with a serious gaze. "I'm not joking." She's really not, huh.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good answer. Ren would like to see you." She looks around and continues in a hushed tone. "It's important. I know Ren well enough to sense when he's anxious. And if he is anxious, there's a very good reason for it."

My face is confused. "Okay?"

"He sometimes thinks himself invincible and inadvertently transfers that property to our adventurers. You are a blind spot. His blind spot. What I am saying is, try to be careful. Even more so than you already are."

Oh. That stings. "I will, and I'll be fine. Trust me." My confident tone placates her somewhat.

"We are always here for you, Lucius. Now go talk to him and go rest." I nod and scurry off.

I knock and enter Ren's office.

"Kiddo! Nice work," the man himself says, beckoning me to an empty chair.

I reply with a grin, "Thank you, talking pile of clothing."

As I take a seat, he rumbles out a laugh. "No wonder you beat that C-grade dungeon. Are you immune to ice magic perchance?"

"Maybe you're just vulnerable."

He laughs again. "Could be. But seriously, congratulations, kiddo. If you try to conquer a B-grade dungeon before I approve, you are out of the Guild."

I groan. "Did you and Attendant Ania coordinate your threats or something?"

Ren nods in satisfaction. "Nope. My staff is just that good." His expression turns from jovial into serious, his tone changing. "I have a mission for you." I mimic his mood, standing up straighter. "I'm not making it mandatory, but I would really like for you to handle it. It requires someone... not straightforward, {Best approximation: 'if you catch my drift' (Similar colloquial expression with different origins)}."

"I do."

"The city will be hosting a dignitary from the {'beastfolk' (Translation Note: Distinctly different term than the one used for the dungeon variant.)} principality {'Qerin' (Translation: 'Claws of the Ruler')}. Sovereign Rak'Na's daughter—Princess Khi'Na. They won't be hiding, but they won't be announcing their arrival either. My intuition is telling me there's major rogue bullshit involved. Guild master agrees. She asked me if I had someone I trusted, and I immediately thought of you, Lucius. But if you—"

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"I'll do it."

Ren smiles at me kindly. "Of course you will." He continues with his explanation, "The princess obviously has her own guards, but they requested someone from the Guild to join her while she's out in the city. Guild master thinks they are using an adventurer, and the Guild, as another extra layer of protection. Plus, the princess wants to keep sharp. You'll be escorting their group on delves, too." He sighs. "Whatever bullshit is happening behind the scenes, she's just a kid. Only a few years older than you. For Qerin to send her to the Union... It must be pretty bad."

"When does she arrive?"

"In two days."

"Just escort around the city and to dungeons?"

"Pretty much. Her guards are all heavy hitters. Even if someone tries something, they'll have it handled. Show her around. Maybe take her mind off of things. And if you are up for it, find out what's got them so spooked. But only if it'll help keep her, and yourself, safe." He studies my face for a few seconds, deciding something. "Say the word, and I'll let the guild master know she'll have to find someone else."

"No, it's fine. I accept."

"Alright, kiddo. Now, tell me how the delve went? What the fuck was in that blank?"

"Devourers." He looks giddy at my answer, intently listening to my slightly altered retelling of events.

Half an hour later, I walk out of the Guild and head for Elisa's house. Best eventuality has just occurred. The easy part's over.

***

Elisa laughs excitedly. "You nearly had it!" She throws her arms around me and proceeds to jostle me a few times, settling in on a habitual hug. "I've experienced an All-Missing's counter magic before. Even if the damage wasn't lethal, it speaks a lot about your improvement." Her hold tightens slightly, her voice losing the delight. "Please tell me you weren't in danger. Erasing a singularity so easily..."

"No. I wasn't."

The elf lets me go, looking into my eyes. "I'm sorry, Lucius. You know what you are doing. That was really condescending, wasn't it."

"You worry too much."

"Hey! That's my line." I smirk at her. "Now I am going to worry even harder just to spite you."

I gasp in shock. "You wouldn't!"

"Oh yes, I would." She tries to adopt a worried expression.

"My only weakness." I grasp at my chest, seemingly in pain.

Elisa chuckles at my theatrics. "Fine. I'll go back down to normal levels of worry."

"Phew. That was close." I shut off the projection of my delve and ask, "Any requests for dinner?"

"Surprise me."

***

Elisa hums and haws about a vitally important decision. While deliberating, she turns to me, "Our beastfolk problem going well?"

I answer with a question of my own, "Do problems ever go well? Quite contradictory."

She huffs. "You know what I mean, smartass." A decision is reached, and she issues the command.

"We are on the right track, at least. Hopefully, I won't have to involve you, but it's too soon to tell," I say.

Elisa shrugs, issuing another command. "Whatever you need." She realizes something with a jolt. "But... Uh. I have a new group. Try not to do anything drastic between nine and twelve. Or make sure we wrap up quickly."

"I'll take that into account."

She turns to me with a mischievous smile, "Or you could make me a substitute—"

"No."

Elisa turns away with a mock pout. "You're no fun." She once again focuses on the problem at hand. "I can't believe we have to work with the cultists now. Do you think they still bear a grudge?"

"You could ask them."

She does just that. "...Oopsie. I'll try a sincere apology."

***

"A snowball fight?" Elisa asks. I nod enthusiastically. She grins at me. "You are so cute." Alert. Self-destruct sequence initiated. Three. Two— "Sure." Self-destruct sequence aborted.

When we teleport back, Elisa removes the snow stuck to us, evaporating it with barely a thought. The magical intrusion upon my mana field was interesting. I imagine the feeling is similar to the sensation people experience before a warp process.

"Hot chocolate?" I ask.

Elisa quickly replies, "Wait."

A pot escapes its cupboard. A bottle of creamy milk exits the enchanted cold box. A carefully wrapped bundle shoots out of a pantry and unravels itself, revealing a dessert extremely similar to dark chocolate. The chocolate breaks up into segments and submerges itself in the already heating milk, the enchanted stove assisting. The liquid starts swirling, changing color as the chocolate melts.

The elf addresses me, hardly a distraction from the magically enhanced preparations, "Can't have you doing everything around here."

"Thank you, Elisa."

The fully incorporated drink pours itself into two cups. Elisa and I pluck them out of the air. A dozen small marshmallows plop into hers.

She shakes her head with a smile. "Couldn't resist, huh." I shrug, smiling back. She takes a sip, sighing in pleasure, "A prize worthy of a victor."

"I'm pretty sure I won. After all, I got to watch you having fun in the snow."

"Goes both ways, buddy."

We laugh, enjoying the warming drinks.

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