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Knock… knock!!
"Mister, it's breakfast time. My dad and the others told me to wake you up!"
Dracula stirred awake as a little girl relayed her message before dashing away the moment she finished speaking. They must still feel uncomfortable around him—he didn't talk much, after all. Nonetheless, he got up and washed himself using the water bucket they had provided the night before, then made his way to join them for breakfast.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up. Must be tired after staying up late," said Sardina, the bard.
Dracula scowled at him for being nosy, though he didn't let it show to the others.
"So… did you catch the demon?"
"…"
"Don't tell me—you let it escape?"
"…"
"That's not like you. What's the reason?"
"Because of that extroverted heir."
"You mean the prodigy of the Paisley family, Icarus Paisley?"
"Who else?"
"Heh. Just making sure. Everyone knows how close the Paisley siblings are."
"That's enough. Remember the deal. It's your turn now."
"Alright, alright," Sardina said, raising his hands in surrender.
Just then, one of the caravan's front-line adventurers approached their table.
"Mr. Conrad, if you're not busy, can you help with a task today? I just returned from the guild, and since the festival is about to start, they need adventurers to patrol the city with the guards."
"Well, I don't have anything else to do, so I might be up for it," Dracula replied.
"And what about you, Mr. Bard?"
"The name's Sardina. Call me whatever nickname you're comfortable with—Bardsman, Dina, doesn't matter."
"Then I'll call you Dina."
Sardina chuckled. "Likewise. How should I call you?"
"They call me Rama. Ramavan."
"Then take care of Conrad for me, Rama."
"…"
"From what I've seen, he won't be a nuisance. He's strong, too—seems like I'll be the one under his care instead," Dina joked.
---
After finishing breakfast, everyone except Dina headed toward the guild.
At the guild's front desk, a small woman with flame-red hair sat with a grumpy expression—her name was Eris. She was currently yelling at two adventurers.
"Don't come here just to ask trivial things! We don't have all day for your nonsense!!" she snapped.
"What were they asking, Miss Eris?" asked another receptionist nearby, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"N-Nothing!" Eris answered, flustered.
"Good morning, Miss Eris!"
"Good morning, Mr. Sardina. Are you here for a request?"
"Yes, I'm here with our team, Wandering Ghoul, and Conrad."
"You remember the task, right? Let me remind you—your job is to patrol the slums near the entertainment district. Last night, some crooks vandalized the old cemetery, so the guards want to tighten security. Report any suspicious people or items to the guards. Understood?" Eris asked in her sharp, high-pitched voice.
"Yes," they all answered in unison.
"Then take these badges. These will let the guards know you're from the guild. Submit them after your task is complete," Eris instructed before dismissing them.
---
Outside the massive guild doors, Dina and his team members, along with Dracula, made their way toward the slums.
"Hello, Conrad! My name is Chasty, I'm an Enchanter. That blonde archer is Pescil, the swordsman is Keld, and the spearman is Dancan. We'll be in your care!" Chasty introduced herself in an energetic tone, bowing slightly. She wore a white robe, had a bob-cut hairstyle, and carried a long staff topped with an orb.
"Though I didn't get the chance to see your skills during that ambush, I hope to spar with you someday," Keld said.
"I'm not that skilled. It was just luck," Dracula replied.
"I don't think so…"
They kept chatting until they reached a checkpoint—a station set up at the junction between the slums and the entertainment district.
"HALT!!"
A soldier, armed with a spear, stepped forward, blocking their path.
"State your business!"
"We're here from the guild," Dina replied.
"Wait here. I'll call the captain."
The soldier disappeared into the checkpoint house and soon returned with a large, mustached man.
"So, you're the adventurers assigned to patrol the boundary between Slum A1 and Entertainment District 1. Don't wander beyond that area, or you might run into conflicts with other adventurers. Report anything suspicious to the nearest soldiers. Understood?" the captain said in a serious tone.
"Yes, we understand," Dina responded.
---
In the slums, not far from the entertainment district checkpoint, a dark presence stirred.
A thick black smoke seeped out from an old well.
The well had been abandoned for years—useless and nearly forgotten, its structure now partially covered by crude mud walls.
The smoke drifted into the open air before converging, twisting and warping into the form of a winged demon.
A gargoyle.
It sniffed the air, then, as if catching a scent, dashed into the dark alleyways.
---