A moment later, the two of them sat side-by-side on the worn wooden bench just outside the bustling Guild entrance, each clutching a bag of freshly baked potato balls.
"Well... I'm really, really grateful to big brother for treating me to these snacks," the small Pallum girl, Liliruca Arde, murmured, offering Kevin an awkward, slightly forced smile.
"But you still haven't answered my earlier question, have you?"
"Hmm…"
Kevin then realized he might have inadvertently developed a habit of instinctively offering food to anyone smaller than Hestia.
Seeing a creature even tinier than the hearth goddess, he'd automatically extended a portion of his fried potato balls.
After a moment's thought, he replied casually.
"Supporter? Actually, yes, I could really use an assistant."
"Huh?! Really?!"
Liliruca's face instantly lit up, all traces of awkwardness vanishing. Her amber eyes sparkled with undisguised excitement.
Her gaze couldn't help but flick down to the emblem proudly displayed on Kevin's chest.
It was the unmistakable crest of the Hephaestus Familia – the renowned craftsman Familia of Orario!
For a supporter like her, possessing no inherent combat abilities and often finding herself the target of bullies,
Securing a connection with a member of the Hephaestus Familia was a stroke of incredible luck.
It was undoubtedly a far more reliable prospect than latching onto some unknown adventurers from a small, insignificant Familia with no backing whatsoever.
And Liliruca harbored her own secret agenda.
Since they were devoted followers of the goddess of the forge,
This kind black-haired "big brother" likely possessed some high-quality, self-forged equipment for protection.
Everyone in Orario knew that the equipment crafted by the Hephaestus Familia was legendary for its excellence and, consequently, its exorbitant cost.
If she could somehow pilfer one or two such items and discreetly resell them, she could finally escape her current impoverished circumstances!
While these cunning thoughts danced in her mind, Liliruca puffed out her small chest with newfound confidence and eagerly recommended herself to Kevin.
"Lili is a very experienced supporter!"
Her voice, though small, held a surprising amount of conviction.
"Big brother, would you be willing to take Lili on an adventure into the Dungeon?"
The petite Pallum girl looked up at Kevin with wide, seemingly innocent and pure eyes, radiating an air of hopeful expectation.
Kevin responded without hesitation, his tone matter-of-fact.
"Sure, that's fine by me."
"But… I haven't actually registered as an adventurer yet."
"…Huh?"
Liliruca blinked, her initial excitement abruptly replaced by a look of utter bewilderment, as if she were struggling to decipher the meaning of his simple statement.
"'Not registered'… Does that mean big brother isn't an official adventurer yet?"
"Exactly as you said."
Damn it, Lili thought, her initial impression of a handsome, wealthy, and easily manipulated target shattering before her eyes.
Unexpectedly, he's just a fresh-faced, completely green rookie adventurer!
A barely perceptible flicker of disappointment crossed Lili's features, but she was adept at masking her true emotions.
"Then Big Brother must be planning to head to the Guild to register as an adventurer now, right?" she asked, her tone regaining its earlier enthusiasm, albeit with a subtle undercurrent of calculation.
"I can wait for you right here outside the door until Big Brother finishes all the formalities!"
Kevin regarded Liliruca thoughtfully, his gaze steady.
It seemed that even without her initial encounter with Bell Cranel, this particular Pallum girl was already exhibiting the tell-tale signs of a habitual offender when it came to preying on naive newcomers.
Such a troublesome kid… he mused internally. Perhaps a bit of proper guidance is in order.
If she actually tries to pull something on me, it might present an interesting opportunity.
After a brief moment of consideration, Kevin tilted his head, feigning a puzzled expression.
"You won't be coming with me into the Guild Hall?"
Hearing his question, the small Pallum girl scratched the side of her head beneath her large hood, adopting a pitiful, almost childlike expression.
"The Hall is always so full of… well, aggressive adventurers. If a weak supporter like Lily were to appear in their field of vision, she might… get bullied."
In reality, Liliruca was primarily concerned that her less-than-savory reputation might precede her if she entered the Guild Hall, potentially leading to other adventurers recognizing her and warning Kevin to steer clear.
However, her words weren't entirely without merit. The social standing of supporters amongst adventurers in Orario was often precarious, to say the least.
It wasn't uncommon for unscrupulous adventurers to exploit their supporters, delaying payment or unfairly withholding their agreed-upon share of the adventure's spoils and remuneration.
Lili, unfortunately, had experienced the darker side of this dynamic firsthand on numerous occasions.
"I see," Kevin replied, nodding slowly, deciding not to press the issue.
"Then you'll have to wait outside for a little while. I'll complete the registration process as quickly as possible."
Reaching out, Kevin gently touched the top of Liliruca's head, the soft fabric of her hood brushing against his fingers. Then, he turned and followed the flow of the crowd as they entered the grand doors of the Adventurer's Guild.
Once his figure had completely disappeared into the bustling interior, Liliruca's cheerful smile vanished, replaced by a more calculating and guarded expression as she murmured softly to herself.
"...What a strange guy."
If it had been any other new adventurer, they would have likely jumped at the offer of a supporter, eager for any assistance.
They would have also immediately established firm rules and expectations regarding the distribution of profits earned during their Dungeon explorations.
But Kevin seemed completely unconcerned with such practicalities, not giving the matter a second thought.
He had even readily taken her to a food stall to buy her some fried potato balls as soon as she'd approached him.
This was a novel experience for Lili, who had grown accustomed to being exploited by teams of black-hearted adventurers, often forced to pay for her own share of adventure supplies out of her meager earnings.
Do you really want to betray him during your adventure, just like you've done before? a small, cynical voice whispered in the back of her mind.
"…There's nothing else I can do about it," Lili muttered, her gaze gradually dimming, the initial spark of opportunistic excitement fading from her amber eyes.
"Who made Lily so weak? If she wants to survive in this cruel city of Orario, she has to do whatever it takes."
...
Inside the Adventurer's Guild, at one of the busy registration windows,
"Hello, I'm here to register as an adventurer," a clear and crisp young man's voice stated, causing Aina Tulle to look up from the stack of documents piled high on her desk.
It wasn't difficult to discern from her pointed, gracefully slender ears that curved slightly upward that this particular adventure and guild teller lady was a half-elf.
Aina's gaze settled on the young man standing patiently before her, and she had already formed a preliminary assessment in her mind.
A new face. And his race is likely human.
Judging by human lifespans, he should have just reached adulthood, right?
Is it truly wise for someone so young to venture into the perilous depths of the Dungeon?
Although numerous thoughts urging her to dissuade him flickered through her mind, Aina maintained her professional demeanor, offering a polite smile as she reached for a registration form.
"Alright, can you write the common tongue? Of course, I can also fill this out for you if you prefer…"
"Don't bother, I can handle it myself," Kevin replied casually, taking the offered form and beginning to fill it out with a practiced ease that surprised Aina.
She had witnessed countless powerful adventurers pass through the Guild's doors over the years.
But it was relatively rare to encounter someone so young who possessed such fluent literacy.
After all, the majority of individuals who chose the dangerous path of an adventurer were often uneducated and rough individuals.
In most cases, simply being able to scrawl their own name was considered sufficient to pass the basic literacy test.
Only clerks like her, who had the privilege of attending the "school district" from a young age, typically possessed a higher level of formal education.
The teenager efficiently completed the entire registration form in less than five minutes.
"Kevin… human… age… 16. So, he has indeed just reached adulthood," Aina murmured softly as her eyes scanned the information he had provided, subtly observing the young man standing before the window.
Even by the notoriously discerning aesthetic standards of the elves, this young man could be considered quite handsome.
However, as her gaze drifted down to the "Familia Member" column, Aina couldn't help but exclaim in genuine surprise.
"Eh? You've already joined a Familia?"
Her eyebrows rose slightly as she read further.
"And they are… the followers of Lady Hephaestus?"
In her mind's eye, the members of the Hephaestus Familia, renowned throughout Orario for their exceptional forging skills, were almost exclusively burly, muscular blacksmiths.
While there were exceptions, like the formidable "One-Eyed Blacksmith," those were precisely that – exceptions to the general rule.
"That's right," Kevin confirmed, nodding, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, no, my apologies… I'm just a little surprised," Aina quickly replied, shaking her head slightly as she continued to scan the remaining details on the form.
After a brief moment, she had a general understanding of this new adventurer named Kevin, prompting her to look up at him once more.
"The information you've provided is very thorough and there's nothing further to add."
"However, before you can officially register as an adventurer, you are required to choose an 'Adventure Consultant'."
"Adventure consultant?" Kevin echoed, a puzzled expression creasing his brow.
Noticing his confusion, Aina cleared her throat lightly and offered an explanation.
"To help prevent new adventurers from… well, losing too many lives in the Dungeon due to a lack of common sense and other related issues," she began, her tone professional and informative.
"The Guild has established the 'Adventure Advisor' system in the hope of reducing such unfortunate casualties."
"The assigned adventure consultant will provide relevant advice and crucial information tailored to the new adventurer's progress and experience level."
"There are currently several experienced staff members who oversee this matter, including…"
Suddenly, Kevin politely interrupted Aina's explanation.
"I would like Miss Aina to be my adventure consultant, if that's alright?"
"Huh? Yes, I am indeed responsible for adventure consulting as well," the half-elf lady stammered, momentarily taken aback by his direct request and answering almost subconsciously.
"But there are other, more experienced seniors within the Guild. Perhaps you would like to consider your options before making a final decision…"
"No," Kevin replied, a gentle smile gracing his lips as he confirmed his choice in a decisive yet polite tone.
"I believe Miss Aina will be the best person to guide me."