CHENG-CHENG-CHENG
In the bustling lobby of the Adventurers' Guild, the usual hum of activity was punctuated by an interesting development.
CHENG-CHENG-CHENG
Adventurers, clerks, and passersby looked on as a man clad in impressive heavy armor made his way across the room, his footsteps rattling with each step.
With a confident, almost smug smile, the man came to a halt before the guild counter. He flashed his blonde hair with a flourish as his eyes met those of his soul mate.
"I can't hold it in any longer," he declared with a blush, his voice filled with ardor. "Thalia, you're the brightest star in this guild, and my heart has been captured by your radiance."
Excited whispers and knowing smiles rippled through the growing crowd as the other adventurers exchanged amused glances.
"Ha-ha! Another hopeful suitor," one adventurer remarked.
"You're kidding! That's the 6th one today!" another chimed in.
"Poor guy," a third observer mused.
A few of Thalia's colleagues couldn't help but stare in open delight. The most obnoxious of them leaned over the counter, her impressive bust resting on her arm, chin resting comfortably in her palm.
"Hehe! This is going to be good," she squealed.
"These guys just never learn, do they?" another clerk chuckled.
"Huhu~ You're just jelly because no one's confessed to you yet."
PAJIK!
A blood vessel bulged in her temple.
"Where's my jerky? I want to enjoy this!" another girl teased, fumbling for a snack amidst the entertainment.
The adventurer continued, his eyes locked on Thalia who stood behind the clerk's desk with a blasé expression, clearly unimpressed by the confession. "You see, Thalia, I recently stumbled upon a Crystal Field deep in the dungeon. With the gold I earned, I purchased a charming house on the outskirts of town. Now, all that's missing to make that house complete is a lovely woman by my side."
A chorus of laughter and teasing comments erupted from the gathered onlookers. Thalia's colleagues exchanged knowing glances and giggles.
Thalia sighed, having heard countless love confessions during her time as a guild clerk. She folded her arms, her expression neutral. "I appreciate your feelings," she said with a practiced, gentle tone. "But you're not the first to express such sentiments. I'm not looking to settle down just yet; I want to focus on my work and helping adventurers like you."
The would-be suitor slumped his shoulders, his romantic dreams crushed, but he nodded understandingly. He turned away, his dejected footsteps echoing in the lobby as he retreated.
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As the crowd dispersed, Thalia shifted her gaze towards the windows across the room and noted that dusk was fast approaching. Though she held no joy in causing hurt feelings, she had learned from experience that being upfront with those who sought her affection was the most compassionate approach in the long run. By sparing them false hope, she hoped to mitigate the inevitable sorrow and disappointment that often followed unrequited love.
She was just about to figuratively loosen the laces of her proverbial corset and allow her shoulders to sag when a figure seemingly materialized at the counter before her.
"Oh," she flinched back in surprise, swallowing the loud and obnoxious sigh she was about to unleash. "Sorry, I didn't see you there."
"Huhuhu," the old man chuckled deeply, sunken eyes shrouded beneath thick gray eyebrows, giving him an eerie air. "I'm often told I don't have much of a presence."
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Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended
FantasyWhat would you do if you found yourself trapped in a video game as an NPC with seemingly no hope of returning to the real world? Having grown up without parents, Daisuke finds himself in a perpetual cycle of poverty as he tries to survive in the bot...
