[Recruit Board]
In front of the recruit board, Fang Raon looked at the pictures of the players with his arms crossed.
After trying to think of a place where he could find Helpers, he couldn’t think of any and decided to come to check on the Recruit Board instead.
’As I expected, there are mostly level 1 Helpers, but there is one that is level 2.’
Fang Raon looked at the picture—it was of a silent-looking girl—she introduced herself as quiet but very hard-working.
’I don’t sense arrogance from her. I should probably send her a message.’
Fang Raon pulled out the chat window, added her login details, and sent her a quick message.
[Fang Raon: Hello, I am looking for a Helper for my party. If you are interested, please let me know. Thank you]
He then sat down for a quick meal and a drink—the Adventurer’s Guild’s food and drinks were always delicious and refreshing.
It had been since Fang Family village days that he had eaten and drunk something as delicious.
When he was living alone, he always ate microwave dinners and instant noodles. And the caretaker facility’s food wasn’t the best.
[Poppy: Hi, yes, I am interested in joining a party!]
In that moment, he received a message from the quiet-looking Helper, and Fang Raon quickly sent her another message.
[Fang Raon: Can we meet somewhere?]
[Poppy: Sure, I am over in the Player’s Bar in Covenant Street. I’ll be waiting for you!]
’...Player’s Bar. I’ve heard about it. It’s a player-owned business and is apparently doing very well as an information trading place.’
After paying for the meal and for the drink, he headed straight to Covenant Street, and since he didn’t know this place that well still, he asked for help from the locals.
It took him about forty minutes of walking there, and it became pretty obvious that he was getting close after seeing drunken players stumbling down the street.
[Fang Raon: I am here]
He sent her a message while entering the Player’s Bar, and he saw players celebrating and drinking inside.
"...I grit my teeth. I howl. I grit my teeth. I howl. I howl. I HOWL!"
On the stage, a drunken player was singing with one hand holding a bottle of beer and the other gesturing wildly.
[Poppy: I am at the back alley]
’...Back alley? Why?’
Fang Raon frowned, thought that something was off, but he still made his way there, slowly walking down the alleyway.
When he arrived at the dirty back alley of the Player’s Bar, he saw the quiet-looking girl pacing back and forth, looking anxious.
She had short black hair with dark green eyes, was dressed in a Helper’s gown, and had a worried expression on her face.
"Hello, are you Poppy?"
Fang Raon asked, even though he already knew the answer, and the girl turned to look at him with her round eyes.
"Ah, yes... I am Poppy. Nice to meet you."
She bowed and then twirled with her hair, as if she were really nervous, and she didn’t even dare to look into Fang Raon’s eyes.
"Why are we meeting in the back alley and not in the bar?"
Fang Raon asked.
That question silenced Poppy as she looked really hesitant about something, and she then bowed her head in apology.
"I am really sorry..."
"...Sorry about what?"
Fang Raon asked with a frown.
At the same time, he was looking at his surroundings in case he was going to get ambushed now.
He thought that she was apologizing because she baited him to come here so her friends could rob him or something.
"...I am actually part of a party already."
Poppy said.
"You’re in a party? Why did you tell me you’re interested in joining a party then? Was I too late or what?"
Fang Raon asked.
Poppy shook her head wildly.
"When I said that to you... I was already in a party... but I don’t like this party, and I want to leave."
She said.
"Why don’t you just leave then?"
Fang Raon crossed his arms and asked.
"Ah... I’ve tried, but... They always make me feel like a horrible person for wanting to leave, especially now that they’re going to go attempt the boss raid..."
Poppy said with a sad look.
’...She is a person that has a hard time saying ’no,’ it looks like. If she hates being in this party this much, she must not like other party members at all.
’They also sound quite manipulative with the way she described them.’
Fang Raon thought to himself.
"...That’s why I want you to come with me and help me to leave that party once and for all. If you do that for me, I’ll join your party!"
Poppy said.
"Are they inside the bar? Which is why you wanted to meet at the back alley?"
Fang Raon asked.
"Yes... They don’t allow me to leave out of their sight. I was only able to put up my recruit poster in the Adventurer’s Guild very early in the morning before anyone else was online.
"I had to wake up very early to do that..."
Poppy said.
"Let’s go then."
Fang Raon opened the door to the bar, and Poppy looked as stiff as a board, as she didn’t expect him to do it so suddenly.
"A-Already?"
"Yeah, why not?"
Fang Raon asked in confusion.
He thought it was better to get it over with, as Machary had already been bombing him with messages.
Have you gotten Helper yet... What’s taking so long... Hurry up...
With a nervous gulp, Poppy followed him inside, and when they arrived at the bar, she looked straight to the corner table.
There was a party of nine people there, talking and drinking with smiles on their faces.
"T-That guy with gray hair is the leader... Be careful with him... I’ve heard that he used to be a gang member back in the real world."
Poppy said nervously.
"...I need a drink."
Fang Raon ordered one quick shot of bitter whiskey, gulped it straight down, and then approached the table where the former gang member was sitting.