Chapter 2: Guild

I'm not a fan of guests in my apartment, but this situation is worse than I could ever imagine. How could I have known that my plan to ignore Miko would backfire so hard?

The disappointed, almost sad expression on her face pains me. I don't know if it's the room or me, but something is really bothering her. I'm sorry, okay?

Yes, it looks rather bland here. Even hotel rooms have more character and charm than mine. Not that that should be a reason to get so annoyed. It's actually relatively clean here… maybe a little dusty, but come on.

It's striking how often she sighs... I understand that she's waiting for me to say something. In my mind, I've already started more than once, but I can't get a word out.

The atmosphere is tense. Looking in her direction, I'm constantly afraid our eyes could meet. But the way she sometimes gazes in a completely different direction makes it seem like she avoids me anyway.

In these moments, I can at least shamelessly admire her beauty. I am disgusted at myself when I stare at her like this, but I have never had anyone like her in my presence. Long eyelashes, jet black hair, bright blue eyes, full lips, and a perfectly shaped nose.

I've never been in a relationship with another woman, but I must admit... I suppose I could see myself with her.

The silence is shattered by a loud clapping noise from Miko's hands. I flinch and instinctively give her a death stare, which doesn't quite tell if I'm wishing her dead or if I am about to die myself.

Miko smirking at me feels irritatingly cheeky, but it's nice that she's enjoying herself.

"That's really awkward."

She knows I can hear her, right?

"Have you thought about the offer?"

"Yes."

"So?"

Good question, I'm determined to decline. But I don't want to say it.

"You probably have a few reservations, don't you?"

"You could say so."

"What worries you the most? The dungeons?"

"I think so, I can't really imagine fighting and stuff."

"What if I promise to protect you?"

I can't help but smile weakly. No matter how romantic it sounds that Miko would protect me, putting myself in situations that require this has nothing to do with how I envision my work life.

"Why me, actually? Aren't there any healers with more passion and experience?"

"Because we want you. We only need you."

My consciousness tells me she just wants to flatter me, but how can it not work if it comes from her and is directed at someone like me?

"Can I set conditions?"

"Of course."

"I want to decide for myself when I go into a dungeon, and I want to work with you," I couldn't bear to get involved with another stranger for now. It's really enough that Miko has me wrapped around her finger.

"With us, it's unlikely that we'll go into a dungeon anyway. So, if that's it, we're good."

Oops, should I have asked for more? No, rather not. And why am I actually so worried? When in doubt, I just don't do it. No one except myself can force me to do anything I don't want to do.

"What kind of face is that?" Miko giggles.

"Huh?"

"This cute smile, like you were thinking about something nice."

Cute? I direct my gaze to the floor. She can stop. She's already convinced me, after all.

"So how does this work now? Do I still have to do an interview somehow?"

"Our guild leader wants to get to know you and discuss the contract with you. We could meet her right now."

Hello? Did she even look at me? No offense, but I'm rocking the homeless style right now. My hair is a mess, the dark circles under my eyes look scary, and I'm still in my pajamas.

Now that I think about it, it's a bit embarrassing to present myself like this, but you could say she's already seen me at my worst, and it can only get better from here.

"I'd like to freshen up and take a quick shower," I announce quietly and get up. Miko checks me out from head to toe. I start to blush in an instant.

"Yeah, you should probably wear pants. Otherwise, you're quite adorable."

I had no intention of stepping outside in my oversized sleeping shirt. I give her a quick nod, go to my closet, take out an outfit, and disappear into the bathroom.

My satisfied smile that greets me in the mirror disgusts me a little, but no matter how genuine her behavior is, it somehow feels good that she cares about me... even if it's fake.

I quickly get rid of my clothes and throw them in the laundry basket, and before I even turn on the shower, there's a knock at the door. My heart stops momentarily and I try to cover up my most essential parts with my hands.

"Can I play with your Switch?"

"Eh, sure."

"Thanks."

With a racing heart, I throw myself under the warm water and try to wash the shock out of my body. I can't stop thinking for a second. Still, it's relaxing to be separated from Miko for a moment, at least physically. I'm unnaturally excited and tense when I'm with her.

After a mere ten minutes, I step out of the bathroom with a newfound freshness and discover Miko lying on my bed. A sight I could get used to, but I definitely shouldn't.

"Ready already?" she looks at me, slightly annoyed.

"Did you want to continue playing or what?"

No answer is an answer, too. She puts the console away, goes to the door, and slips her feet into her shoes. Standing there, she checks me out again. "You've convinced me you look better like this."

"Thanks," I grab my keys and follow Miko outside.

I walk slightly offset to her and simply follow. Every now and then, she looks over her shoulder to make sure I'm still there, but that's all the interaction we have for the first few minutes.

"Am I going too fast?"

"No, why?"

"Because you're running behind me, it's annoying having someone at your back all the time."

"Sorry."

I catch up with her so that we're walking side by side.

"Better," She gives me a big smile and then looks ahead again.

"You can just take the bus in the future."

"I don't know. Some exercise is probably good for me."

"Huh, I personally find it exhausting."

"Really? You must be super fit since you fight monsters."

"Do I look fit to you?"

She stops and presents herself, my eyes scanning every centimeter of her body with permission.

Only when my gaze returns to her face do I realize that she seems slightly disgusted. 

"Very fit," I say quietly, walking away without knowing where to go.

"Hey, don't run away," she calls after me, but I carry on charging ahead. Was it so weird that I stared at her? I'll think about that forever. Suddenly, I feel her hand on mine, and she pulls me towards her. "We have to go this way… do you need a leash or what?"

I wait for a laugh or some other sign that she's joking, but she seems rather serious. I'm really not into S&M, but being put on a leash by her sounds anything but bad. A creepy laugh escapes my mouth.

Is my subconscious trying to make me unpopular? Is it trying to protect me from this new job? If that's the case, I must disappoint myself. Even without a leash, I follow Miko… for now.

We went back to being silent, but luckily, we arrived at our destination a few minutes later. From the outside, the office looks like a regular house. Although I've lived in this city for over four years, I've never realized that there's a mage guild here.

"Come," Miko walks ahead, and I follow her to the entrance. Instead of ringing the bell, she takes out a key and opens the door. Once inside, we stand in a small hallway. A few jackets are hanging on the right wall, and a sign on the left that reads -Magical Support-

"You can leave your shoes on if you like," Miko explains as she removes hers and changes into a pair of slippers. I walk after her in my socks.

We are standing in a large room. In front of us is a long table that reminds me of the reception desk of a doctor's surgery. Behind it are two doors, and to the left of us is another door. A staircase goes down to the right of the table, and to the right of me, one leads upstairs.

Apart from this table, everything here looks like a typical home. I look around while Miko stalks behind the table and enters the room behind it. Shortly afterward, she comes out with a woman. The woman seems a little tired, much like I did this morning, but somehow, the expression suits her. She has tied her dark brown hair with light purple highlights into two messy space buns. Round black glasses distract a little from the dark circles under her pinkish eyes.

"This is Eliza. She'll take over. I'm going to my room for a moment."

"Hello, my name is Kayla," I introduce myself after Miko has disappeared up the stairs.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Eliza. I'm kind of like the assistant to the guild leader. Please follow me," she takes the first steps toward the basement stairs but then notices my feet. "Didn't she offer you slippers? What a brat!" 

"Everything's fine, no problem," I wave my hands placatingly.

"The ground below is freezing cold. Here, take mine," with two skillful kicks, she shoots her slippers right at me. After this demonstration, I don't feel able to refuse her offer.

With cozy, warm feet, we enter the basement. A large meeting room opens in front of us, with two doors at the far end. I follow Eliza to one of them.

"I'll see if she happens to be in there," she knocks gently on the door twice and then goes in.

"You two don't notice anything," a voice behind me startles me to death. 

I turn around and see a young woman almost a head shorter than me. I'm speechless when I realize how unnaturally pretty she is. Long, wavy white hair, piercing red eyes, and porcelain-like skin, she looks like a doll... but it's not just her face. Her dark blouse also looks like something from another world.

And unlike her height, she carries around two things that are anything but small. Never before have I stared so shamelessly at another woman's breasts.

"Do you like what you see?" she starts to laugh.

"I'm sorry!" I hold both hands in front of my face. I'm not using my brain today. Sleep deprivation has turned me into an instinct-driven animal. Otherwise, I would hardly be standing in the basement of a mage guild right now.

But this woman reacted the opposite way to Miko when I looked at her, almost as if she enjoyed my attention.

"There you are," Eliza comes rushing out of the room and stands between us almost protectively.

"This is Kayla," she begins but is immediately interrupted by an "I know" from the white-haired woman.

She looks past Eliza and gives me a broad smile. "My name is Lilith. I'm the leader of our little guild. I'm delighted you're here."

Delighted? Yes, I am, too, I suppose. Compared to Miko, Lilith actually seems happy that I'm here. Not that Miko showed disinterest in me, but even though I let myself be charmed by her, it was clear that she was a bit too nice.

"Where is Miko anyway?"

Eliza sighs. "Upstairs."

"Don't hold it against her. That was no easy task."

What does she mean? Dragging me here? So yes, it was tough on paper, but when I think back, she didn't do much to convince me.

In fact, when I thought about my mom last night, I already knew I would do it. At least, that's what I like to tell myself. This way, it all makes a bit more sense than the idea that I'm doing it just to have Miko around.

"Well, before I leave you standing here, let's go to my office so I can tell you all about the job." Lilith holds the door open for me, and Eliza disappears up the stairs, leaving us alone.