The afternoon sky in Orario had turned crimson like an open wound, casting golden light that reflected off the tall buildings of the adventurers' city.
The air hung heavy with a mixture of freshly baked bread's sweet aroma, smoke from kitchen chimneys, and the faint metallic scent lingering around Babel Tower.
Amidst the crowded streets, that figure walked with confident yet relaxed steps.
A blood-soaked spear swung lazily in his grip, its tip occasionally touching the ground, leaving red marks that quickly dried.
Kazuma strode forward with cold eyes, his clothes tattered with dried blood spatters in several places—in stark contrast to his seemingly uninjured body.
Pedestrians instinctively made way. Some whispered as he passed.
"Look, is that monster blood or human blood?"
"Shh, not so loud. Look at his eyes—cold as a killer's."
A mother pulled her child closer, whispering softly, "Don't stare at him, dear."
A muscular adventurer with an eye patch and facial scars furrowed his brow, muttering to his friend, "His clothes are torn, but look, not a single wound on his body. What kind of Familia has such powerful healers?"
"Maybe he has a special skill," his friend replied in a low voice. "Or perhaps all that blood belongs to monsters, not him."
A pair of red-haired female adventurers whispered while glancing at him. "He's handsome, but his aura... terrifying. Like a predator."
"I heard Loki Familia has some new members. Maybe he's one of them?"
"No, impossible. Loki Familia always hunts in groups."
The intimidating aura radiating from Kazuma made people hesitate to approach him directly.
Even some city guards merely observed from a distance, hands ready on their sword hilts, but none dared come near him.
Kazuma passed them all expressionlessly, as if they were merely passing wind.
In his mind there was only one destination—the Guild. He needed to exchange the magic stones he'd collected and report to Eina.
Only after Kazuma's figure disappeared around the corner toward the Guild building did the whispers turn into open conversations.
"Who is that adventurer really?"
"Not sure, but I think he's new. Never seen him before."
"He must have gone deep into the Dungeon. Just look at his killer aura..."
"I bet he's from a powerful Familia. Maybe Freya? They like the handsome ones."
"No, no. Freya Familia is more... aristocratic. He's more like a street fighter."
While these whispers continued, no one realized that the blood-covered adventurer would soon become the talk of all Orario.
---
Inside the magnificent Guild building, Eina Tulle sat seriously behind her desk. Her eyes repeatedly glanced toward the entrance, hoping to see the adventurer who was supposed to report his progress today.
Today, several rookie adventurers had entered the dungeon, and Eina worried about all the beginners who had newly registered as adventurers.
Her hand played with a pen, tapping it against the desk surface in a quick rhythm that revealed her anxiety.
"Eina, you look tense. Is something wrong?" asked her colleague, Rose.
"Ah, no... It's just, there's a new adventurer who should come report," Eina answered while straightening the documents on her desk for the umpteenth time.
"Another troublesome adventurer? Bell Cranel?"
"No... This is a new member of several Familias," Eina sighed.
Rose raised an eyebrow. "Which Familia?"
Before Eina could answer, the Guild door opened and Kazuma stepped in with a blood-covered spear in hand. All activity in the room instantly stopped. Adventurers and Guild staff stood frozen, staring at Kazuma's appearance as if he had just emerged from a battlefield.
"T-that's him," whispered Eina, her eyes widening at Kazuma's condition.
Kazuma ignored all the stares and whispers, walking straight to Eina's desk. His steps left traces of dried blood on the floor.
"K-Kazuma-san?" Eina stood up, her face a mixture of shock and concern. "What happened to you?!"
"I'm back," Kazuma answered briefly, placing a heavy bag of magic stones on Eina's desk. A small thud was heard as the bag touched the desk surface.
Eina looked at the bag, then back at Kazuma. Her eyes examined Kazuma's torn and blood-soaked clothes, yet strangely, there were no visible wounds on his body.
"Let's go to the consultation room," Eina said in a firm tone, trying to hide her concern. "Now."
Without waiting for an answer, Eina walked quickly toward the private consultation room in the back. Kazuma followed her with casual steps, as if unaware of the small commotion he had just caused.