In the vast mansion, everyone chose their own rooms. The master bedroom, naturally, belonged to Nolan, and he stayed there alone.
When morning came, sunlight filtered through the tall windows. Nolan stretched and let out a deep breath.
"Finally, I slept well," he murmured to himself. "No need to worry about anyone lying beside me. I usually feel restless... but not this time."
Nolan froze. Something shifted under the sheets near his legs. His eyes narrowed—then, in a flash, he threw the covers aside and leapt out of bed.
Three figures lay curled up beneath the sheets. Celia. Linda. Lyra.
"What the—?!" Nolan’s voice cracked. "Why are you three in my bed?! Didn’t we each pick our own rooms?"
The girls stirred at his outburst, stretching with sleepy yawns.
"Good morning, Master," Celia said softly, rubbing her eyes.
"Good morning, Master," Lyra echoed, her voice lazy with drowsiness.
Nolan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Answer my question."
"I couldn’t sleep," Celia admitted, sitting up. "I felt restless not having you nearby."
"Same here," Linda added, her tone quiet but firm.
"I just thought it looked fun," Lyra chimed in with a mischievous grin.
Nolan let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Unbelievable... Fine. But listen up—today we’re heading to the dungeon. We need to be prepared."
Lyra shook her head and slid off the bed. "Not me. I have somewhere else I need to be."
Nolan’s eyes narrowed. "Where?"
"I’m meeting someone," Lyra replied casually.
He studied her for a moment, then exhaled. "Alright. No need to press further. Just... be careful."
Lyra leaned closer until her breath brushed against Nolan’s ear. "There’s no need to worry about me. Have you forgotten? I am a divine beast.
Her voice carried a warmth that sent heat creeping across Nolan’s face. He quickly turned his head, trying to hide the faint flush in his cheeks.
"Yeah... I understand," he muttered.
"Master," Celia’s voice broke the moment. "We’re going to the dungeon today, aren’t we?"
"Yes," Nolan replied, straightening his back. "You should all prepare yourselves. You need to grow stronger—I need you to. Because I’ll be joining the tournament as well."
"The tournament?" Linda’s eyes lit up with curiosity. "Will Lyra be joining us too?"
Celia shook her head before Nolan could answer. "No. She’ll decline. I can feel it. That’s why I didn’t even bother asking her."
Nolan sighed. "I thought as much." He looked at the two of them with firm eyes. "Then tell me, why do you want to fight alongside me? Is it just because you feel obligated?"
Linda stepped forward, her hand curling into a fist against her chest. "No, Master. I want to fight to prove I’m strong. I want to stand beside you, not behind you."
Celia nodded eagerly.
Nolan’s expression softened. "Good. That’s what I wanted to hear. The truth is, I don’t just want companions. I want a team. The three of us, together, winning, being recognized. I wanted Lyra with us too, but she’s chosen her own path. Still, with the three of us, we can carve our names into this world. We can be someone."
"Yes, Master," Celia said, her voice steady with conviction.
"I would love that too," Linda added with a smile.
The whole group dressed and prepared for their adventure. Once ready, the three of them walked together to the Adventurer’s Guild.
"Welcome," said Ella, the clerk at the front desk as they approached. "How may I help you today?"
"We need a job," Nolan replied.
"For you?" Ella smiled knowingly. "We can give you any job you want. You’re more than capable."
"No," Nolan shook his head. "I mean something specific—like undead. Do you have any requests dealing with the undead?"
"Yes, there are," Ella said, pulling out a ledger. "Quite a few, in fact. There’s one extermination request—about two hundred and fifty undead. The reward is two hundred thousand gold coins."
"What?" Nolan frowned. "Why is the reward not higher? That seems low compared to orcs."
Ella gave a small shrug. "Undead are not as powerful or dangerous as the monsters you’ve dealt with before. That’s why the payout isn’t as high."
"I see..." Nolan thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you know where I could buy weapons?"
"Just across the street," Ella replied. "There’s a blacksmith who forges fine weapons. You should be able to find anything you need there."
"Oh, thank you," Nolan said.
"You’re welcome," Ella replied warmly as they turned and left the Adventurer’s Guild together.
As they left the guild, they crossed the street and stopped in front of a weapon shop. Nolan pushed the door open after knocking, and a burly man greeted them.
"Hey, welcome to my store," the man said cheerfully. "What are you looking for today?"
"I need a sword, and also a bow with arrows," Nolan answered.
The shopkeeper raised a brow. "Is this for you, sir?"
"No," Nolan shook his head, stepping aside to gesture at the girls beside him. "It’s for these ladies with me."
The man smiled and moved forward, his eyes sharp as he studied Celia first. He reached out, and with a brief touch of her hand, a faint glow ran across his palm—his skill activating. From a rack nearby, he pulled down a blade and handed it to her.
Celia gave it a swing, the steel humming through the air. Her eyes widened. "Wow... it feels so light, yet incredibly sharp."
The shopkeeper nodded in satisfaction. "A perfect fit."
He then turned to Linda and fetched a bow and quiver of arrows. Handing them over, he said, "This type is perfect for any elf. Elves are known for their skill with bows—and I’m sure you’re capable of using wind magic."
"Yes, I am," Linda admitted, taking the weapon.
"That’s good. You can apply wind to your arrows—it’ll increase both speed and piercing power," the man explained.
Nolan watched the exchange with a faint smile. He’s actually smart... he knows his craft very well, he thought to himself.