Chapter 24

"Not enough...?" The Guildmaster's eyes widened. What more did he want from him?

"Yes, you're asking us to risk our lives to help someone we have no relation to whatsoever. Don't you think it's improper for you to set the payment instead of us?"

"...You're right." The Guildmaster couldn't refute what Seal said as it was very much true.

"So, what do you propose?" The Guildmaster was ready to listen to what Seal had to request.

"First, we want you to help us hide our identities; then, we want your full cooperation; finally, we will set our price after completing the quest. Do you accept?"

"Of course, I can accept that, but why hide your identities?"

"It's more convenient."

Seal started explaining to the confused Guildmaster. They wanted to hide their identities so that they don't attract unnecessary attention to themselves. It might bring more bad than good.

"Then may I have your adventurer cards, please?"

Seal nodded and handed the Guildmaster their adventurer cards.

"Understood, please give me a moment."

The Guildmaster said as he took the cards, stood up, and left the room. A few minutes later, he came back with three cards.

"These are your fake identity cards. The cards display you guys as Green-ranked adventurers. But in reality, you guys are Black-ranked adventurers. They should keep you out of trouble for a while."

Seal took a look at the cards that had the names blurred and showed only the rank. He then put all three of the cards inside his system's inventory space.

"Good." Seal said.

"As for my full cooperation, I will try my best to help you." The Guildmaster said.

"First, I want to ask some questions." Seal said before asking questions about who they were traveling with, when will they leave, etc.

...

"Alright, we'll get ready to head out to do the quest." Seal said.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

The Guildmaster repeatedly thanked Seal after answering all of his questions.

Seal got up and left the Adventurer's Guild with Yue and Shea.

While walking, he noticed Yue pouting next to him.

"What's wrong?" He couldn't help but ask.

"It's nothing! I thought we were going to get some alone time together..." Yue said in a barely audible voice.

But Seal, who heard what Yue muttered, smiled wryly. He pulled Yue in for a hug and stroked her head.

"I'm sorry." Seal sincerely said.

"Mmm..." Yue hummed as if she could feel his sincerity and nuzzled in his warm embrace while feeling his warm hands on her head.

"Mouuu! That's unfair, Yue-san!" Shea said while on the verge of crying. She also wanted to be stroked on the head by Seal.

She ran up to him and tried to forcibly tear one of Seal's arms to wrap around her. But how could her strength compare to Seal?

"Hm? What are you doing, Shea?" Seal asked.

"I'm trying, to, get you, to stroke my head!" Shea said between her tired breaths.

"That—!"

Shea was about to continue complaining when she felt one of his hands on top of her head and stroking it.

"Fuwahh..." Shea immediately melted with his warm hands moving on her head.

After a few minutes of hugging and stroking, Seal finally stopped stroking their head.

"Shall we get ready now?" He said.

"Un." Yue nodded.

"Yeah!" Shea said.

They went back to their inn and gathered all their belongings; they were not returning to the inn afterward.

Then they left the inn and went to the meeting place of the escort quest. And it looked like they were early, so they waited and chatted with each other.

A few minutes later, the heroes that they were escorting arrived. They were a group consisting of mostly girls and a few boys.

"Are they our escorts, Sensei?" One of the girls asked.

"They are so beautiful!" Another girl said.

"Who's that man?" The group of girls stared at Seal.

'Hm...?' Seal turned around as he noticed their curious stares.

"Are you guys the heroes we're escorting?" He then proceeded to ask.

"Y-yeah, we are." The woman leading the group stammered as she was surprised at his appearance and sudden voice.

"Are you our escorts?" One of the girls spoke up.

"We are indeed your escorts."

"Okay, I'm the teacher of these students. My name is Aiko Hatayama. Nice to meet you." The woman said as she extended her hand for a handshake.

"Un, nice to meet you too." Seal extended his hand to accept her handshake.

"Well, shall we get going them?"

"Okay."

They got on two carriages that the Guildmaster prepared for Seal and left the town.

"Hey, what's your name." A boy asked Yue while another boy asked Shea.

"Can't say," Both of them said at the same time. Seal told them to keep their identities a secret, so it would make it harder for people to investigate them.

The boys shrugged it off and continued asking questions. There was only one female talking to them, and that was Aiko.

On the other hand, most of the females were talking to Seal. What they asked were not that different from what the boys asked Yue and Shea.

"What's your favorite hobby?"

"Do you work out?"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

Seal smiled and answered most of their questions respectively. Of course, he answered the questions while not revealing any information that could be used against them.

They were greatly disappointed that he had a girlfriend. But soon, they realized it was not weird at all as someone handsome as him would have a girlfriend or two.

On their way to their destination, there were no dangerous threats that came their way. It was a lot more peaceful than Seal expected.

Another thing Seal felt a dragon aura not far from where they were, perhaps two or 3 miles from where they were.

As expected, a few moments later, they heard a roar in the distance as a black dragon came into view. Its body gave off a dangerous aura while its blood-red eyes gazed at the group on the carriages menacingly.

"A-A-A dragon?!" Aiko yelled in fright.

✦A/N: Sorry for the late update! ✦