A Life-Changing Encounter at the Guild

“Is this your first time drinking?” Dals asked, watching Tang Wenxu finish his glass.

“How did you know?” Tang Wenxu was surprised; it truly was his first time.

“You’ve been trembling, which clearly shows this is your first time in a tavern. And your smile is too fake; it feels like you’re not savoring the drink but rather forcing it down. If it tastes bad, don’t drink it.”

“Let me see… Oh, a bronze badge. You’re a new adventurer. You want to understand something about new adventurers through this drink, don’t you?” As a tavern owner who frequented the Adventurers’ Guild, Dals possessed exceptional observational skills.

“Yes,” Tang Wenxu admitted without denial.

“My advice to you is to go home. This place isn’t for you. Going home now is the best choice,” Dals said indifferently.

“Hey, old man, why are you telling new recruits to go home again?” an adventurer sitting nearby interjected.

“Exactly! Why do you always discourage newcomers? Then tell us, what kind of person is suitable to be an adventurer?” another adventurer asked.

“Two kinds of people. One type has a family background; they can shamelessly earn fame because they have protection. The other type has talent; they can solve all sorts of troubles.”

“As for you all, forgive my poor judgment, but you are neither nobles nor exceptionally talented.”

“But we’re happy!” one adventurer explained. “We just love this adventurous life!”

“You might be happy now, embarking on so-called adventures with your companions every day, returning to fine wine and food. But have you thought about death? Can you still be this happy after experiencing the death of a companion?”

Dals knew everyone here. He clearly understood who was suitable to be an adventurer and who wasn’t. Some might get lucky once, narrowly escaping death to complete a high-difficulty quest, but who could guarantee they would always survive?

This was a life-threatening profession. While alive, they imagined it was a grand adventure, only realizing they were waltzing with death when their own demise loomed. By then, it was often too late. Having dreams was good, but having dreams without the strength to pursue them was the greatest misfortune in the world.

“What’s your profession? Mage?” Dals asked Tang Wenxu.

“Swordsman,” Tang Wenxu replied.

“No, absolutely not. You’re as scrawny as a mage, and your hands don’t even have calluses from sword practice. Look at your listless state. Brother, this is a life-or-death job, not a child’s game of knights.”

Dals was merciless. “So, which of you is willing to entrust your back to this new swordsman brother for your own happy adventure?”

Without exception, all the adventurers fell silent. They were unwilling to entrust their backs to this seemingly weak new swordsman.

Tang Wenxu’s face flushed. He wondered if he should just go home.

Suddenly, a resonant voice broke the silence.

“I am willing.”

A young man, around eighteen years old, with long black hair and crimson eyes, walked in. At that moment, Tang Wenxu even had the absurd illusion of being at a wedding ceremony. ‘Damn, why am I acting so gay?’

As he stepped inside, all eyes were drawn to him. He was exquisitely beautiful; without an Adam’s apple, perhaps no one would have recognized him as a boy.

His skin was as translucent as a pearl, and he wore a black English-style formal suit, prompting involuntary admiration. ‘What a perfect noble!’

Clearly, this man was the first type of adventurer Dals had described: a noble with a family background. Yet, no one looked down on him for it, because his badge proudly proclaimed him a Mithril-rank adventurer.

Mithril rank couldn’t be achieved simply through family connections and wealth. Fewer than a hundred individuals across the entire continent held this rank; each was a top-tier powerhouse, a hero sung about by bards, and someone kings sought to curry favor with. If they chose to change professions, the best jobs on the continent would be theirs for the taking.

A female adventurer, who appeared to be a mage, was already smitten. Abandoning her mage’s decorum, she leaned forward. “Sir, ignore that rookie. Team up with me instead.”

However, facing the invitation from such a beauty, he treated her as if she were air. He gently pushed her aside, gracefully walked up to Tang Wenxu, knelt on one knee, and kissed Tang Wenxu’s hand.

“May I have the honor of forming a party with you?”

Tang Wenxu gave an awkward laugh. Being kissed on the hand by a man made him uneasy. “May I ask who you are?”

“Just call me Karamanda.”

“I’m Tang. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Tang Wenxu first introduced himself as politely as possible, then tried to pull his hand away from Karamanda’s, but his hand was held tightly. “Um… Mr. Karamanda?”

“Oh, forgive my impropriety.” Karamanda blushed and released his hand. “I was deeply captivated by your beauty.”

‘He can’t be gay, can he? Or is this noble etiquette in this world?’ He glanced at the expressions of the other adventurers. The male adventurers looked somewhat peculiar, while the female adventurers glared at Tang Wenxu as if he were a romantic rival. Clearly, Karamanda was gay, without a doubt.

‘My current situation is dangerous. This boy, who looks like a girl, might just eat me alive…’

“Let me make one thing clear: I don’t have that kind of preference,” Tang Wenxu stated upfront.

“Don’t worry, my feelings for Mr. Tang are simply like appreciating a beautiful flower, compelling me to cherish it,” Karamanda smiled shyly.

“We just met today, didn’t we?”

“Do you believe in love at first sight?” Karamanda looked at him deeply.

Tang Wenxu was drawn to those crimson eyes. They resembled Kuroki Nao’s so much.

Karamanda took his hand and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, walked towards the quest counter.

The female adventurers watched Tang Wenxu with envy, jealousy, and hatred. Some male adventurers even harbored the dangerous thought of wanting to have their hand held by him, for this man named Karamanda was truly beautiful.

Despite Karamanda’s beauty, Tang Wenxu shivered incessantly. At this moment, he felt a little like crying, his mind replaying scenes of philosophers wrestling in locker rooms. Even though Karamanda looked like a girl, that didn’t mean Tang Wenxu wanted to wrestle with him.

The receptionist, seeing this, pierced Tang Wenxu with a cold glare.

‘Hey, Miss Receptionist, don’t look at me like you want to devour me. I’m the victim here…’

‘Forget it, thinking more won’t help. All I can do now is stand firm.’ Although Karamanda was probably gay, after a brief interaction, the sensitive Tang Wenxu didn’t sense any malice from him. He could only trust him for now.

“Tang, what quest do you want to do? Don’t worry, choose freely. I’ll protect you,” Karamanda said, smiling as he gently lifted Tang Wenxu’s chin.

Tang Wenxu forced a stiff smile, then carefully scrutinized the many quests on the board.

“Mr. Karamanda, how about we take this quest?”

In a corner lay a neglected quest: “Rescue the female villagers abducted by goblins.” Such quests were usually posted by impoverished villagers, offering meager rewards. Goblins were weak, and for advanced adventurers, the reputation gained was pitifully small. It was a thankless task.

“You can choose a more difficult quest, you know. With me, you don’t have to worry. Doing harder quests will also help you advance to a higher rank faster, like hunting demons or bandits,” Karamanda advised.

“No, saving people is more important than advancement.”

“You truly are an honorable man, inside and out,” Karamanda smiled.

But Tang Wenxu didn’t smile. He asked with some worry,

“Do you think that female villager can still be saved?”

“Don’t worry, goblins generally don’t kill women. It’s just…” Karamanda trailed off, then shook his head. “Never mind. Let’s go.”