After hearing Octavia's words, Aster quickly decided to ask the rest of the girls for their opinions. Of course, their decisions were split equally: 2 for and 2 against.
"I don't like her! She's definitely targeting Darling, and I don't want to have more rivals than this!" Tina exclaid with indignation.
Kali, on the other hand, simply muttered. "I refuse." Before turning around and moving to her room once more.
Although she didn't give a valid reason, Aster could tell that Kali was simply annoyed that Magnus was sending another "observer," as if indirectly telling her that she, alone, wasn't enough.
"Having more mbers is always better. It's a pleasure~!" Cassy, despite being unable to see the other person, quickly gave her approval with a wide smile.
Finally, there was Liz, who extended a hand forward in an expression of acceptance. "I'm in favor of taking you into our party, Ms. Octavia. I'm looking forward to working with you."
"Alright, so it's decided then. Ms. Octavia, welco to our party!"
Aster clapped his hands before turning to their new mber. With his vote added in to the count, it was 3-to-2 in favor of taking Octavia in as a new mber! Although it wasn't pleasant for Tina, she had no choice as it was a fair thod of voting. Still, she was grumbling under her breath while walking away.
"Mhmm! Thanks for the warm welco~!" Octavia smiled, with Argus still within her arms. "Right, when should we go and register the party at the guild? Today? Tomorrow?"
Before they could truly be called "party mbers," they first needed to go through the guild for party registration. After a week of trial period, they would then have to renew the contract once more, making it slightly botherso considering that they were rushing through the dungeon.
"I guess now is just as good as anyti," Aster decided, thinking that the faster they were over it, the better.
"Then, Cassy, Liz, we're going to the surface for a mont. Watch over the place while we're gone." He commanded the two worriedly. "Rember to not let any adventurer, whether you know them or not, to co in while we're away. Also, avoid going outside as much as possible. Always prioritize safety first."
"We know, Star. We're not kids, you know? Hehe!"
After listening to Aster's instructions, as if a worried mother going to work while leaving her child alone at ho, Cassy let out a soft chuckle while giving a thumbs up. Still, Aster couldn't help but get worried. Discover more stories at empire
"Don't worry. No matter what happens, even if a sudden attack by a Rogue Boss on this peaceful floor occurs, I swear to protect everyone with my life on the line!"
But with Liz's manly declaration and firm resolve, Aster had no choice but to leave it to them. Heaving a short sigh while changing gears, Aster turned to Octavia and nodded. "Then, shall we?"
"Yup!"
Just like that, Aster and Octavia left for the surface, heading straight to the Adventurer's Guild.
---
"Oh? Who do we have here?"
Orinfeld City, Adventurer's Guild. 12:46 p.m. Aster and Octavia arrived at the guild and were quickly welcod by Zena, who was behind her usual desk, leaning over it while smiling teasingly.
"Isn't this the talk of the town lately, Aster?" She continued with a sweet, playful grin. "It feels like it's been a while since I saw you. How are you doing~?"
"Still the sa," Aster rely shrugged, not humoring her idle talk. "Anyway, we're here to—"
"Add Miss Octavia Nebula into your party, correct?"
"... Yes."
Aster was surprised that Zena guessed what he wanted to ask for. But thinking again, it was quite obvious that having only him—the party leader—and a "new face" together could only an that.
"Wait a bit. I'll go get the contract docunts set. Please give your Adventurer's Card, both of you."
Aster and Octavia did as told, passing their cards over to Zena. After confirming that she got the correct docunt, she then turned around and slithered away to the back of the reception desk, out of view.
The entire ti, Octavia kept on gently brushing and patting Argus' fluffy little head, with the pup enjoying his ti, completely relaxed. It was almost as if they were in their own world, with the "background noise" filtered out. Aster watched over the two, feeling a mix of emotions—happiness and envy. To which one of the two he was envious of, well, it didn't need to be said.
"Thanks for waiting~!"
And just a minute or so later, Zena had already returned. In her hand was the new magic contract that the two of them were supposed to sign.
"... Huh?" But after checking the details, Aster raised a brow. "Why is the one-week clause missing here?"
Normally, whenever soone enters a party for the first ti, they get a 1-week trial period. This is to ensure that there would be no troubles stemming from forcefully putting people together through the power of the magic contract. However, the one before Aster didn't have that very clause!
"Ah, that?" Zena didn't seem surprised and simply explained. "Apparently, there's a directive from up above instructing the guild regarding Miss Octavia's matters. She was allowed to skip the 1-week trial and just enter the actual contract directly."
Aster, listening to this, felt a little wary. He was sure that it was Magnus who pressured the guild, as he heard from Octavia herself that Magnus was the one who urged her to enter his party.
'Don't tell ...'
Finding his own imagination a little wild, he quickly shook his head, shaking the thought away. Instead, he put the matter to the side for now and focused on reading the contract, ensuring that nothing else was different other than the missing 1-week trial period.
After three minutes, Aster completely skimd through the contract, making him sure that there's no problems whatsoever with it. With the pen he got from Zena, he finished signing his section of the contract before passing it over to Octavia... Who signed it too without even bothering to read its contents!
"You... nevermind."
He wanted to chide her, telling her to at least skim through the contract. But after seeing her eyes gazing back at him—sparkling with excitent and full of trust—he completely lost the will to rebuke her.
Well, it's true that the guild wouldn't really try and scam them through a contract, anyway. So not reading a contract that's used by all adventurer parties wouldn't really have much impact.
"Aaaand... Congratulations!" Zena cheered, clapping lightly after checking the completed docunts. "With this, Miss Octavia has officially entered your party! Please confirm."
Right after, she returned the Adventurer cards of the two, and Aster didn't delay and checked his.
[
Na: Aster Mistral
Age: 2518
Race: Human
Purity: 100% ( ?)
Level: 104
Party mbers: Cassandra Bright, Kali Norma, Celestinya Zirroth, Lizandrea Von Dragonseal, Octavia Nebula (Empty) (Empty)
]
And just as expected, Octavia's na was now added to the Party mbers entry.
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