The receptionist adjusted her glasses as she flipped open the ledger.
“Alright, young man. To proceed with registration, I’ll need some basic information. Where do you come from, and your age?”
Riki swallowed the last bite of his snack, scratching his head as if the question was a little bothersome.
“I’m from Elixwell,” he said plainly. “And… I’m part of the Fire Rat family.”
For a moment, silence filled the guild hall. Then—
“Pfft—hahahaha!”
Adventurers all around burst into laughter. Even a few clerks behind the counter covered their mouths. The sound echoed through the room, mocking and cruel.
Fang Zulu’s expression soured. He crossed his arms and scoffed, his voice cutting through the noise.
“Fire Rat family? Hmph. Vermin. That explains it.”
His disdain was sharp, and many nodded in agreement. But Ruby’s crimson eyes didn’t leave Riki. Instead of disgust, there was a glimmer of thoughtfulness.
The family doesn’t determine the man… He’s still interesting. Very interesting.
Fang’s eyes narrowed, unease flickering across his face. Was my instinct… playing tricks on me?
Riki scratched his cheek, looking around the room, confused.
“Uh… what? Did I say something funny?”
Before the receptionist could intervene, a muscular warrior stepped forward, smirking. His armor bore the markings of an A-rank B-tier adventurer.
“Yes,” the man sneered. “Your whole family’s a joke. No talent, no gifted S-Ranks for generations. The Fire Rats have always been bottom-feeders.”
Aria stiffened beside Riki, her hand twitching as a faint shadow of dark mana gathered at her fingertips. Her crimson eyes burned with hostility.
“You dare—”
But before she could act, the warrior grinned mockingly.
“Oh? You want to fight, little weaklings?”
Riki quickly raised a hand, stepping between them.
“Sorry for the rudeness. Let’s just call it quits here, okay?”
But the man wasn’t finished. He leaned closer, voice dripping with arrogance.
“Fine, fine. We can let bygones be bygones… if you let your maid here join my party. She’d be quite beneficial.” He laughed crudely, his companions chuckling behind him.
Aria’s aura flared, but in the next instant Riki’s hand shot out. His grip clamped onto the man’s wrist like steel.
“Sorry,” Riki said with a calm smile, tightening just enough to make the warrior wince. “But she’s not on the market. Find someone else.”
With a flick of his arm, he pushed the man back effortlessly. A red mark already burned on the warrior’s skin.
“Y-You bastard—!”
The man’s hand went to his weapon, fury burning in his eyes. But before he could draw, the receptionist’s sharp voice cut through the guild.
“Stop! Weapons cannot be drawn inside the guild hall—it is strictly prohibited!”
“Tch… lucky Fire Rat trash…” the man spat, retreating toward his party. He shot one last glare before storming away.
The receptionist let out a weary sigh. “Apologies for that. That was Sorensen, a B-rank adventurer. His party is… troublesome, but they are quite strong. They once wiped out several Mana Eaters alone.”
Riki blinked, tilting his head. “Mana Eaters? What’s that?”
Before the receptionist could answer, Ruby stepped forward, her fans snapping shut in her hands. She smiled faintly at him, her tone carrying a hint of amusement.
“They’re B+ ranked monsters. Creatures that feast on mana itself. The more they consume, the stronger they grow. Their bodies are covered in rock-like armor—quite a nuisance, even for veterans.”
Riki’s eyes lit up, excitement bubbling in his voice.
“Wow, that’s amazing! There are so many cool things in this world. I’m glad I’m finally becoming an adventurer.”
Ruby leaned closer, her gaze soft but sharp.
“You’re still young,” she said, her voice carrying an oddly warm note. “But once you grow… I can already tell you’ll be splendid.”
Aria shivered under Ruby’s stare, her protective instincts flaring.
Ruby’s eyes shifted to her, lips curling. “You must be his aid, hmm? I admire how you protect him.”
Aria squared her shoulders, her voice low but firm. “Of course. There might be wolves… trying to sink their fangs into him.”
“Oh, really?” Ruby chuckled softly, her gaze never leaving Aria’s.
The two locked eyes, tension sparking silently between them.
Riki glanced between the two, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
“Uh… you guys are already friends?” he asked with an awkward laugh.
The receptionist cleared her throat, breaking the moment.
“We’ve gathered most of the information we need. Now, the final step… we’ll measure your potential and mana level.”
Fang, who had begun heading for the door, froze mid-step. His eyes sharpened.
“…Mana measurement?” he muttered.
A flicker of interest  returned to his chest as he turned to look at Riki again.