I didn't have to look far to find the problem. It was there, in the same place as always, hidden behind low voices and poorly disguised laughter. The guild remained busy like any other day—adventurers coming and going, contracts being taken, conversations crossing the hall—but there was something different in the air. It wasn't just an impression. It was direction. Looks that turned away too quickly, silences that appeared when I passed, whispers trying to hide behind tables and mugs.
I had noticed it before, but that day it became too clear to keep ignoring.
I walked through the hall calmly, as always, without hurry, without showing any reaction. The group was with me, spread out naturally, as we were used to. Liriel kept her gaze firm, clearly irritated with the atmosphere. Elara seemed more observant than usual. Vespera simply analyzed everything in silence, as if measuring every detail. Scarlett stayed a little closer to me, and I could feel that it bothered her more than she showed. Rai'kanna and Lyannis followed behind, each reacting in their own way, but neither unaware of what was happening.
I passed by one of the tables in the back, and that's where the voices became too clear to ignore.
"I'm telling you, it's not normal," one of them said, in a low tone, but not low enough. "The guy only hangs around with women."
"I've heard worse," another replied, letting out a small laugh. "They say he picks missions just to impress them."
"Impress? That's something else…" the voice dropped even lower, but the tone gave it away.
I stopped.
It wasn't abrupt. I simply stopped.
The hall kept moving around, but that small area seemed to freeze for a moment. I didn't look at them immediately. I took a step forward, as if I were going to keep walking, then slowly turned my body, facing the table directly.
Three adventurers.
None of them looked particularly strong. Average equipment, posture too relaxed for people who truly faced danger often. But it wasn't about strength.
It was about attitude.
I walked toward them without hurry. Each step made the surrounding noise lower a bit more. Some people noticed, others pretended not to. When I stopped beside the table, the three were already tense, even trying to hide it.
I looked at them in silence for a second.
"Go on," I said calmly.
None of them answered.
One of them tried to laugh, like it was nothing.
"It's nothing, man, we were just talking…"
"I heard," I interrupted, without changing my tone.
Silence returned, heavier this time.
I stepped a little closer, placing my hand on the table—not forcefully, just enough to make my presence clear.
"Then say it properly."
They exchanged quick glances. The confidence they had seconds ago was gone. One looked away. Another swallowed hard. The third tried to hold his ground, but not for long.
"It wasn't anything serious," he said, his voice less steady than before. "We were just commenting…"
"Commenting on what?"
No one answered.
I didn't raise my voice. I didn't need to. The silence was already doing the work for me.
I straightened up slowly and glanced around for a moment. Some people were already watching openly. Others pretended to be busy, but it was obvious they were listening. I looked back at the three.
"If anyone has a problem with me," I said, unhurried, making each word clear, "deal with me directly."
The sentence landed in the middle of the hall like dead weight. There was no immediate reaction. No laughter, no comments. Just silence.
"Face to face. Fists. However you prefer."
One of the three raised his hands slightly, almost by reflex.
"There's no need for that," he said too quickly. "We don't want trouble."
"Then don't create it."
Another lowered his head.
"Sorry," he muttered. "We went too far."
The third just nodded, avoiding direct eye contact.
I stayed silent for a second, observing the three. There was no challenge there. Only discomfort and regret. There was no need to go further.
I removed my hand from the table and took a step back.
"It's simple," I said. "Everyone minds their own business."
They nodded again, this time more quickly.
Without saying anything else, I turned my back and started walking. It took a few seconds for the hall to return to normal, as if everyone was waiting for something more to happen. But there was nothing else.
The matter ended there.
I felt the group closing in around me again as I walked toward the counter. I didn't need to look to know they were watching me.
"You went easy," Lyannis said, with an almost amused tone.
"It was enough," I replied.
Liriel still seemed irritated.
"They didn't even deserve a response," she said.
"Now they deserve silence," I answered.
Vespera let out a small sigh, as if agreeing.
"This will spread fast," Elara commented.
"Let it," I said, unconcerned.
Scarlett didn't say anything for a few seconds. When she did, her voice was lower.
"This will change how they see you."
I paused for a moment before answering.
"It already has."
I started walking again right after. There was no reason to stay there thinking about it.
As I moved away from the center of the hall, I noticed that the looks were still there, but they were different. There was no longer that tone of disguised judgment. Now it was something else. More caution. More respect.
Or, at least, less courage to speak.
For me, that was already enough.
I left the guild without looking back.