After the conversation with Obsidia, I hurriedly headed back to the Hunters' Guild Shenzhen branch to collect my rewards. Then, I planned to take i Gui and head up to the Avast Mountains once more to et Obsidia again. I would just tell her my Hunter identity on the way there, I guess.
I entered the guild building and went directly to the shortest line, not caring who the receptionist was. Under normal circumstances, on the way back, I would've gotten a gift for that veiled receptionist for all she's done for so far and went to her to collect my reward for this quest, but right now the situation was different, and I wanted to find out how Obsidia and I were connected as soon as possible.
Around 5 minutes later, the person in front of finished their business at the guild and I walked up to the receptionist. By chance, it was the sa mature woman from this morning, the one that the veiled receptionist had switched places with.
"Good evenin- oh, it's you," she said, smiling once she realized who I was.
"Uh, yeah...so I just completed my first quest, how do I collect my rewards?" I asked, slightly nervous. I rember the handbook having so information regarding the reward collection procedure, but at the ti I just skimd past it since I didn't judge it to be anything important. Thus, asking this was kind of embarrassing, considering all Hunters were supposed to have thoroughly read that handbook (though to be honest, I doubted 100% of the Hunter population really did so).
"Very well," she replied, not at all fazed by my lack of knowledge. "First, present with your guild card."
I complied, and handed her my guild card after she pulled on the lever on her desk, which made the glass panel in front of slide upwards.
"Hm...Kai Xuan, yes?" she asked for confirmation.
I nodded. "Yeah."
"Very well. Now then, do you have the materials you harvested on hand...no, it appears not." Apparently, she had originally wanted to ask that question, but stopped once she saw I wasn't carrying anything. Of course, that was just because all the materials I harvested was placed in my Space Locket, but...
Wait, this ans I'm going to have to reveal I had a Space Locket in public...damn it. Now I'm definitely going to be attracting unwanted attention. Why didn't I think of this sooner?!
"W-Well...about that, actually I do," I said hesitantly. Ignoring the receptionist's puzzled look, I pulled out my pouch (Space Locket) from my black cloak's inner pocket, and took out several large pieces of gold. The receptionist widened her eyes at the sight, and quickly scrambled to slip on a pair of gloves and inspect the materials I harvested.
"Goodness ...to think you had an artifact such as a Space Locket," she murmured quietly.
I sighed. I knew this was going to happen...including the nurous gazes of shock and envy directed at right now by other Hunters. Anyway, the receptionist soon had completed verifying all 11 chunks of gold, and had placed them in several baskets on a conveyor belt behind her (two to three per basket, 4 baskets in total). She then removed her gloves and threw them out in a garbage bin beneath her table...at least, that's what I assud it was. I couldn't actually see what was underneath her table from where I was standing.
"...As stated by the quest specifications, your reward for completion is ¥500 and 5 bounty points. I have already added the points to your profile in the guild database, and as for the cash..." she took out a bundle of bills and placed them on the countertop. Since the glass pane was still raised, I took it without any problems.
"Thank you," I said, shoving the bundle of money into my pocket.
The receptionist glanced at as if she had just witnessed doing sothing very abnormal.
"What?" I asked.
"...You're not going to verify the amount of money I gave you?"
Oh, that. Well, normally I would, but I'm kinda in a hurry right now. It was already 5 PM, and by the ti I get back from the cave again it will probably be around 7 or 8. Any later and that's past curfew. Even though we're on break from school for these few days, the curfew still remains in place.
"Nah, I trust you," I said nonchalantly. "Besides, the Hunters' Guild is a massive organization, I don't believe they'll swindle their custors like this. Otherwise, they would've collapsed a long ti ago."
"Fufu..yes, that much is true," the receptionist replied. "Still, it is rare for normal Hunters to not check their reward...are you a noble or sothing by chance?"
From what I knew, there were so nobles that also were Hunters, and went on quests like any other. However, these were few, since most people treated this occupation as just a ans of making money. Nobles didn't need to worry about financial crisis too much, so most refrained from participating in such...vulgar activities. Monsters were quite disgusting, after all.
"No, I'm not," I answered exasperatedly. "And, uh...I can leave now, right?"
The receptionist laughed softly in amusent. "You don't need to ask for permission, Hunter. You are free to co and go as you please."
"Er...right, then...farewell," I said awkwardly.
After that, I quickly left the building, went to a relatively isolated corner, and called i Gui (who had also gotten a smartphone recently - we bought two at the Coastal tropolis). She picked up almost imdiately, and I ntally made a note of how quick she learned how to do things.
"Hey, i Gui, where are you right now?" I asked, keeping my voice low in case anyone was listening in. Because I was still wearing my facemask, my voice probably ca out as a bit muffled, but luckily i Gui still understood over the phone. Was this our telepathic connection at work? No way, right? She's definitely far away from ...not.
"I see you, master. I'm coming," she replied curtly, and hang up.
I stiffened as she walked over to , phone in hand. What are the odds of this?!
"Greetings, master," she bowed down slightly.
"Uh...hi," I responded awkwardly. "And don't bow every ti you see ...it's embarrassing."
"Understood, master," she said, bowing even deeper than before. 'Understood' my ass! You clearly didn't get it!
I sighed and glanced around. "Where are the others? Didn't you go register at the Hunters' Guild together with them this morning?"
"That is correct. However, after that, we all proceeded to do our own quests individually."
"Ah, I see...still, you're getting along better with them now, huh?" I mused.
"That's..." she looked away. Considering she originally wanted to just kill all of them, this was a pretty big step for her, as far as relationships go. I was happy for her.
In any case, it seed the girls were all in the process of doing their first quest. i Gui just happened to be the first to finish - I wasn't surprised; she was the strongest of the five.
"Master, if you don't mind asking, what did you need for?" she asked.
"Right, I need you to co with ..." I said, rembering my original mission.
She tilted her head in confusion. "Where...?"
I smiled deviously. "Kuku...To the Avast Mountains."
*****
- 20 Minutes Later, A Certain Cave on the Avast Mountains -
i Gui and I soon arrived at the cave I had been in just a few hours ago. Incidentally, this ti, we flew our way there instead of walking like I did, which saved around 40 minutes of travel ti. I still used the Hunters app for navigation, though.
On the way there, I explained to i Gui what happened, along with my identity as a Hunter. I also told her not to snitch on and tell the other girls, since they might get mad at doing sothing without their knowledge again. Honestly, I was pretty tired of them getting pissed every ti I do sothing on my own, but thinking about it logically, they had every right to be. If I considered them my allies, and more importantly, friends, then I shouldn't be hiding this kind of stuff from them. But I was used to working alone. I felt better this way. I realized it was sothing I needed to change going forward, but I would worry about that later.
I headed inside the cave, i Gui tagging along behind . She clutched my hand tightly in fear. What, so you're not that tough after all, huh? Well, I guess you're still more or less a girl. Not being sexist here, but it's perfectly normal to have a fear or two. Hell, even I have one, just not of darkness. I'm severely afraid of insects. Yes, those disgusting tiny critters! They terrify to no end. Ugh...
"We're back," I called out loudly, my voice echoing within the cave. I could feel Obsidia's presence still, so hopefully she would co out here instead of us going deeper in. I didn't feel too good about going into a dragon's lair, friendly or not.
Soon enough, a loud rumbling shook the cave, and Obsidian, clad in her beautiful black scales, slithered out to face us.
"It appears you have returned, human."
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