Chapter 71: Drunkard Healer
When Aurelius turned toward the voice, he came face to face with a group of adventurers.
Two men. Two women.
All armed and dressed accordingly.
The one who had spoken was at the front.
A blonde woman wearing a long green robe and carrying a wooden staff.
Combined with her slightly pointed ears, she truly looked like an elf who had escaped the Elf Kingdom.
Beside her stood another woman with a bow hanging behind her back, while half a step behind them were two men, one holding a thick metal shield and one wearing bronze knuckles.
Their composition truly made them look like a textbook adventurer party.
But this was not what attracted Aurelius’ attention.
Instead, his eyes concentrated on the four people, causing four interfaces to emerge.
[Andrea Level 6 Healer], [Medea Level 8 Archer]
[Matthew Level 5 Brawler], [Marcus Level 7 Shield Bearer]
Four names. Four Classes. Four Awakeners!
Aurelius was caught off guard.
The number of Awakeners he had encountered naturally in the past was only a handful.
Most either belonged to the Sunless Sect or he had sought them out of his own accord.
But now, four of them had appeared shortly following his arrival in the city.
Aurelius was surprised to say the least, wondering whether his increased Luck had played a role.
His silence, however, was misunderstood by the Healer, Andrea.
Approaching him with a smile, she stopped a few feet away.
"Don’t worry. We are an authenticated team. You have nothing to worry about."
As she spoke, she pointed toward the emblem embroidered on the left side of her robe.
It was a crest, with the painting of a shield, arrow, sword, and spear overlapping to create a beautiful image.
Aurelius immediately recognized it.
It was the emblem of the Adventurer’s Guild, an organization composed exclusively of adventurers.
Unlike what its casual name would suggest, the requirements to join it were stringent. Every member had to have a clean record.
The criminals and shady people who attempted to join despite this would face the guild’s wrath!
The emblem and Andrea’s words let him know what was happening.
He was being recruited!
Judging by the many similar squads along the street, talking loudly with the passersby, he was far from the only one who had the chance.
Seeing this, he smiled faintly and was about to politely decline her offer.
He had no reason to join an adventurer team after all.
But before he could do so, he suddenly paused. Lines of text appeared before him.
"Ding! Mission issued!"
"Mission—Expedition: Ensure that Medea’s Adventurer Team achieves their goal."
"Reward: 1000 EXP. 3 Skill Points. A Promise."
A second Mission had been triggered in a short amount of time. The promised rewards were far more impressive than when he saved the village.
1000 EXP. Skill Points.
Even a mysterious promise.
Yet...
It failed to change Aurelius’ mind.
Joining a team would not be conducive to his plans.
After all, he had come here with the goal of killing goblins and interacting with Players. Both of these would become more difficult when part of a group.
With that thought, Aurelius shook his head.
He opened his mouth once more, ready to decline.
But for one more time, his movements paused.
This time it wasn’t because of the System or any notification.
Subconsciously, his eyes moved toward the woman behind the Healer.
Long brown hair. Hazel eyes.
A face that gave him a sense of familiarity.
Once he dove deeper into his memories, focusing on the name Medea he had just learned, Aurelius’ eyes widened.
This woman... was an acquaintance.
The two did not know each other from the Blood Sun City, but from the Imperial Capital.
Aurelius almost thought he had made a mistake at first. How could she possibly appear here?
It was only after examining her further and double-checking on the floating interface that he finally accepted it.
’What is she doing here? How could her father allow her to appear at the border when the monster riot is happening?’
Aurelius confused.
Medea Hearth—the daughter of the Adventurer Guild Master!
In other words, the daughter of a Rank 5 Awakener!
This woman was a bigshot even in the Imperial Capital, with a status surpassing that of his own.
Aurelius panicked for a brief moment.
Did she recognize him as well?
It was only after focusing on Medea’s eyes, only to find the indifference one would show to a stranger, that he relaxed.
’It makes sense. It has been several years since we last met, and that was only in a noble banquet.’
’My appearance is completely different from back then. With the adventurer’s clothes, I doubt anyone will recognize me as a noble,’ he muttered inwardly, satisfied with his disguise.
Although his thoughts wandered all over the place, not much time had passed in reality. Barely a second.
Andrea was still waiting for his response, while her teammates were looking at them.
Aurelius suppressed the urge to decline.
Facing Andrea’s expectant expression, he smiled faintly and nodded.
"I have been searching for a team for a while. Becoming part of an authenticated team is perfect."
"Good! I knew that such a handsome man would know how to make the right choice!" Andrea praised.
"You’re not like that other trash! So what if they are powerful while you’re a weakling? What matters in life is intelligence and beauty!"
After saying that, Andrea grabbed his arm, as though afraid he would escape, and pulled him deeper into the city.
Waving her free hand, she yelled at her teammates.
"I’ve found another fat sheep—ahem—a perfect companion! Let’s get to know each other before leaving the city!"
--
A few minutes later, Aurelius found himself inside one of the city’s busiest taverns, surrounded by mercenaries, adventurers, and everything in between.
Laughter filled the room, while the smell of alcohol permeated the entire tavern.
"Handsome! Is this your first time visiting such a place?" Andrea smacked Aurelius’ shoulder, pausing his observation halfway.
She patted her chest.
"Don’t worry, Big Sis will cover for you! If you have any trouble, just mention my name!"
"Who dares ignore my words in the northern border?"
Her voice was solemn, and her Awakener identity should have made her promise look reliable.
However, her current appearance made her look everything but that.
Holding a cup filled with beer that was as big as her head, she took large gulps of it, her face turning crimson with each sip.
She continued slamming Aurelius’ shoulder throughout the process, as though venting her anger.
Aurelius wondered whether he should stop her.
But when he raised his head, he noticed that her companions looked helpless but remained silent.
One man in particular looked at her speechlessly, before turning to look at him, his gaze openly hostile.
For a moment, Aurelius had to wonder whether following this strange group was the right decision.
Andrea’s next words only strengthened his doubts even further.
"Waiter! Bring two—no, five large cups of beer! Put everything on this man’s tab!"
"Don’t worry! Look at his soft white skin and gentle appearance!"
"He must be a noble who sneaked out of the family! He is filthy rich!" Andrea shouted, her mouth right beside Aurelius’ ear as if afraid he would fail to hear her.