Zayn watched as the green-skinned witch disappeared into the bustling streets, her cloak billowing as she slipped away after healing him before Bran could grab her.
The mont she vanished, Bran clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Damn it," Bran muttered, extending a hand toward Zayn. "You alright?"
Zayn exhaled sharply. "Yeah, I’m fine."
He grabbed Bran’s hand and let himself be pulled to his feet.
The soreness in his ribs had completely vanished, and his body felt light — but that lingering sensation from her magic still bugged him.
He wasn’t about to say it out loud, but sothing felt off.
Just as he took a step forward, the System window flickered in front of him.
[Warning! You have been branded by the Witch Princess.]
Zayn stopped mid-step. His eye twitched.
’Of course,’ he thought dryly. ’Because my luck is just that great.’
Bran glanced at him. "What is it?"
"Nothing," Zayn muttered.
He stared at the System notification before clicking his tongue.
He didn’t like the idea of being branded by so random witch, no matter how harmless she had acted.
’Can I remove the brand?’ he thought.
[Processing request... Brand removed.]
Imdiately, the strange sensation in his body disappeared.
Zayn smirked. ’Well, that was easy.’
Whatever that witch had been planning, he wasn’t interested in playing along. Problem solved.
For now.
With a shrug, he continued walking, following his party toward the GUILD.
#####
The GUILD was as lively as they left it.
The scent of ale, sweat, and parchnt filled the air. Adventurers gathered around wooden tables, discussing missions and bragging about their latest accomplishnts.
The clatter of armor and the occasional burst of laughter made it clear that this was the heart of the city’s rcenary workforce.
As they stepped inside, Zayn’s eyes imdiately locked onto a group standing at the counter.
A team of five, all clad in well-worn but high-quality gear.
Their weapons were polished, their postures relaxed but confident. The leader, a man with a deep scar running across his nose, was speaking to the receptionist in a low tone.
Zayn recognized their kind instantly.
B-Rank adventurers.
It was embroidered on the back of their armor after all.
They were the kind of people who had already proven themselves in multiple dungeons and large-scale missions.
They were a tier above most of the rowdy groups lounging around the GUILD.
Bran nudged him. "Think we could take them?"
Zayn smirked. "I know we could take them."
Bran chuckled. "Cocky as always."
The conversation at the counter grew louder as one of the B-Rank adventurers — a bulky man with an axe — grumbled.
"A monster subjugation in that area? Are you serious?"
The receptionist, the sa half-elf from before, nodded. "It’s been reported multiple tis. There’s a dangerous beast lurking near the southern fields."
The scarred leader crossed his arms. "Sounds like an A-Rank problem, not a B-Rank one."
Zayn raised an eyebrow. A-Rank? If sothing that powerful was lurking nearby, why hadn’t the town taken more action?
Tobias adjusted his glasses. "Interesting."
Kara frowned. "Sothing’s not adding up."
Bran cracked his knuckles. "Maybe we should take a look at it ourselves."
Elisse, who had been silent until now, sighed. "You just got blasted through a wagon, Zayn. Can you try not dying for one day?"
Zayn grinned. "Where’s the fun in that?"
The party went silent as Tobias took a step forward.
The air in the GUILD felt heavier, everybody grew silent though it wasn’t from magic or any visible force — it was just him.
The way he carried himself, the weight of his words, the way everyone instinctively made way for him without even realizing it.
Zayn could tell Tobias was not happy.
The half-elf receptionist, clearly uncomfortable, tried to gather herself as the Hero reached the counter.
She clutched the counter as she spoke, her voice faltering at first.
"T-The situation is serious," she stamred, shifting her gaze between the adventurers gathered before her. "A monster has been spotted in the woods, not far from town. We suspect it’s from a dungeon break — likely from sowhere beyond our reach."
’Dungeon breaks.’
Zayn’s fingers twitched slightly. That was bad.
It ant sothing had slipped through the cracks of whatever containnt was supposed to be in place, and if one monster got out, there was a good chance more would follow.
"It’s powerful," the receptionist continued. "The scouting party barely made it back alive. We need high-ranked adventurers to — "
"We’ll assist in the subjugation."
Tobias’s words were spoken so plainly, so decisively, that for a mont, the GUILD went quiet. Then, laughter broke out from the B-Rank adventurers.
The captain of their group grinned at Tobias as if he had just heard the best joke of the day.
"That’s cute, kid," he said, folding his arms. "But this isn’t a ga. If that thing is as powerful as the half elf claim, then it’s no place for rookies."
Zayn rolled his eyes.
Kara and Elisse both exchanged looks but remained silent.
The half-elf receptionist looked like she wanted to speak up, but Tobias raised a hand, signaling for her to remain silent.
Then, he took another step forward.
The mont his foot touched the ground, the room shifted.
It wasn’t magic.
It wasn’t mana.
It was pressure.
A suffocating weight that pressed down on the air itself, making it feel as if the entire GUILD had shrunk.
The scarred adventurer’s smirk faltered. His breath hitched. His body wavered, and his knees buckled slightly.
He fought against the invisible force pressing down on him, but his efforts were futile. Slowly, inevitably, he began to descend onto one knee.
His teammates behind him stiffened.
Their hands twitched toward their weapons, but none of them dared to draw them.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Tobias adjusted his glasses again. His expression remained unreadable, his posture relaxed — but his presence was anything but.
Then, for the first ti since Zayn had arrived in this world, he spoke in a way that was completely out of character.
"I’d have you know," he said, his voice calm and steady, but carrying a weight that could crush mountains, "I am one of the goddamn heroes sent here to save your world."
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