"Are you perhaps looking for a quest?"
The question came from a girl who had suddenly appeared at his side. She was petite, with platinum blonde hair tied in an elegant lace-braid ponytail. Her outfit—a white blazer over a black skirt and a flowing black robe—made her look like a student from a magic academy.
While her polished appearance stood out among the crowd, what truly caught his attention were her eyes. She wasn't a beastkin, elf, or dwarf, yet her striking blue eyes each held two black pupils, overlapping and colliding like stars in orbit.
'It's like watching two worlds collide...'
"My, my... Have you been enticed by my beauty?"
Her teasing remark made him realize he'd been staring for too long. Her mischievous smile only deepened his embarrassment. He averted his gaze, cheeks tinged with red, and stammered an apology.
"I-I'm sorry for staring, Miss."
She responded with a pleased smile that bordered on smug, then continued with her initial question.
"You're looking for a quest, right?"
Given that he was standing right in front of the adventurers' guild notice board, crammed with job postings, it was a pretty safe guess.
Doesn't take a genius to figure that out. He wanted to say that, but held his tongue, not wanting to wipe that satisfied smile off her face just yet. Instead, he offered a neutral answer and a mild smile.
"I'm here to take a quest, but I'm having trouble choosing one..."
"It's because you can't read them, isn't it?"
Instead of feeling insulted, he found himself impressed. She had figured out his illiteracy in an instant. She seemed pleased by the reaction and launched into a proud explanation.
"It's not because you look dumb, it's the way you were staring at the board with a confused expression. Someone uncertain about their abilities wouldn't look like that. That kind of face belongs to someone who can't understand what the quest even says."
Her words walked the line between insight and insult, but he found her deduction more fascinating than offensive.
"Are you a detective or something?"
"Huh? What's a detective?"
"...Never mind. Forget I said anything."
"Hmm... Either way, if you're having trouble picking a quest, how about joining my party for one?"
He wasn't especially large, but his laid-back demeanor and well-built frame made an impression. A ragged halberd-axe was strapped to his back, complemented by a dagger, worn black leather armor over his clothes, black arm and knee guards, and a tattered light brown coat that matched his brownish-gray hair. A copper adventurer's tag hung from his neck, but his presence hinted at more experience than his rank suggested.
That was her second impression of him—and exactly what her party needed. Someone who could stay calm and lead when the rest of the group, a collection of fresh copper-rankers, inevitably panicked. Not that she'd say all that out loud.
"The truth is, I need more meat shields for this quest."
The cheerful tone and innocent smile with which she said it annoyed him more than the blunt wording itself.
"Could you at least call them tanks instead of meat shields?"
"Anyway," she said, waving the point away, "it's a cushy quest. Easy and effortless. And if we get lucky, we might earn a little bonus on top of the reward."
He wasn't exactly desperate for money yet—he had enough saved to cover food and a few nights' rent at the inn. But if he didn't start earning soon, he'd be sleeping outside the city walls and foraging for meals.
Being a solo copper-rank newbie didn't open many doors. Joining a party was necessary to take on more worthwhile quests. So this was a good opportunity to get his feet wet. Even if her phrasing was grating, her offer seemed fair, and likely came from decent intentions.
"Can I at least hear what kind of quest it is?"
"Mhm! It's a simple goblin-slaying quest."
Goblins. With his gear, that wasn't an issue.
"Alright then. I'd like to join your party, Miss...?"
"Lynn. You may worship me by that name."
Ignoring his incredulous tone and growing irritation, Lynn pressed on with smug confidence.
"You should be grateful I'm letting you join. Especially after being rude to me twice."
"Mhm! Anyway, could you at least introduce yourself?"
"Please call me Arezu."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Arezu."
"Likewise, Ms. Lynn."
Here are the concept designs for the characters Lynn and Arezu. Please take a look at the comment.