The Adventurer's Guild sat just inside Solmere's main gate like a monument to poor decisions.
The massive stone building buzzed with constant noise:
clashing armor
drunken laughter
shouted quests
gambling arguments
and at least one man loudly insisting he "totally could've killed that wyvern alone."
It even had its own tavern attached.
Naturally.
The Vixens knew the place well.
Too well.
Every previous visit came with:
stares
whispers
condescending smiles
and at least one idiot asking which one of them needed "protecting."
Apparently four attractive women forming their own successful party offended people spiritually.
But today felt different.
Because today—
Jax walked in front.
The guild doors swung open loudly.
Conversation didn't stop completely.
But it definitely stumbled.
Heads turned.
Eyes followed.
Because Jax Darquebane didn't carry himself like a rookie adventurer.
He looked calm.
Composed.
Dangerously self-assured.
Like the kind of man who belonged wherever he decided to stand.
Even the Vixens noticed the difference immediately.
Interesting.
Jax walked straight toward the reception desk while the girls followed behind him.
The receptionist looked up from her paperwork.
Then blinked.
A slime-girl.
Teal hair.
Soft translucent skin.
Bright golden eyes.
And currently staring at Jax a little too long professionally.
She recovered quickly though.
Mostly.
"Welcome to the Solmere Adventurer's Guild," she said brightly.
Then her smile widened slightly.
"Name?"
"Jax Darquebane."
The receptionist began writing immediately.
"Jax Da-queue-bane—"
"Dark-bane," Jax corrected gently.
She blinked.
"…Oh."
"Like darkness."
"That is significantly cooler."
"Thank you."
Nyxian snorted quietly behind him.
The receptionist smiled again.
"Well then, Mister Dark-bane, what can the guild do for you today?"
"I'd like to register a new party."
That immediately got attention.
Nearby adventurers subtly started listening.
"Oh?" the slime-girl asked excitedly.
"Party name?"
Jax didn't hesitate.
"Jax and the Vixens."
A few nearby guild members nearly spit out their drinks.
The receptionist physically paused mid-writing.
Then slowly smiled.
"…Bold."
Nyxian looked deeply pleased.
Bunny puffed up proudly.
Llandra looked resigned.
Zee looked like she wanted to disappear.
The receptionist tapped her system panel.
"Alright then. Party leader?"
"Me."
"Rank?"
Jax answered immediately.
"S-Rank."
The entire reception desk froze.
Somewhere in the background—
someone dropped a mug.
The receptionist slowly looked up.
"…Pardon?"
"S-Rank," Jax repeated slightly less confidently.
The slime-girl blinked twice.
"…Sir."
"Yes?"
"You just registered today."
"Correct."
"You cannot START at S-Rank."
Jax frowned.
"…Why not?"
The receptionist stared at him like she was trying to determine whether he was joking.
"Because S-Rank parties are composed of elite national-level adventurers."
"That feels restrictive."
"It's supposed to."
Several nearby adventurers started snickering openly now.
The receptionist rubbed her forehead patiently.
"Alright. Let's verify levels."
She opened the registration crystal.
"Please place your hand here."
Jax complied.
The crystal flashed.
Then displayed:
LEVEL: 1
Silence.
The receptionist stared.
Then stared harder.
Then slowly looked back up at Jax.
"…Sir."
"Yes?"
"You are level one."
Jax coughed lightly.
"…Technically."
The guild exploded laughing.
Even Nyxian failed to hold it together.
The receptionist looked genuinely sympathetic now.
"Oh no."
"That feels slightly insulting."
"You asked for S-Rank."
"I had ambitions."
Bunny immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulder protectively.
"Don't worry, Jax."
Nyxian leaned comfortably against his other side.
"We'll protect him."
The guild laughed harder.
Jax closed his eyes briefly.
I really need to level up.
The receptionist smiled kindly while trying not to laugh herself.
"Unfortunately, Mister Dark-bane, guild policy prevents level one adventurers from registering above E-Rank."
Llandra stepped forward gracefully.
"I am the acting party leader."
Her hand touched the crystal.
LEVEL: 22
The room quieted slightly.
Respectable.
Very respectable for Solmere.
The receptionist nodded immediately.
"Accepted."
Then she glanced back toward Jax again.
"…You should definitely stay close to your party."
Nyxian smirked wickedly.
"Oh trust us."
She squeezed his arm tighter.
"He stays VERY close."
Jax sighed internally.
The registration process finished shortly afterward.
"As a newly formed party," the receptionist explained, "you'll begin at E-Rank. Complete enough missions and you'll advance through:
D-Rank
C-Rank
B-Rank
A-Rank
then eventually S-Rank."
Jax raised one hand thoughtfully.
"Hypothetically…"
The receptionist immediately looked tired already.
"Yes?"
"What if an E-Rank party completes an A-Rank mission?"
"…Why would you do that?"
"Hypothetically."
She sighed.
"The guild would reject payout authorization."
Jax blinked.
"…Seriously?"
"It discourages suicidal behavior."
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Grathok would still buy materials privately.
Good to know.
The group moved toward the quest board afterward.
Only six E-Rank requests remained.
Mostly:
herb gathering
pest control
weak monsters
escort work
Jax studied the board intensely.
Too intensely.
He started cross-referencing:
routes
terrain
travel time
cave systems
monster density
The girls immediately recognized the look.
Planning mode.
Which unfortunately meant—
Jax became oblivious to literally everything else.
Including the enormous shadow suddenly looming behind Bunny.
A massive minotaur stepped toward them through the crowd.
Nearly seven feet tall.
Leather armor.
Battle scars.
Enough muscle to frighten furniture.
One massive hand landed casually on Bunny's shoulder.
She froze instantly.
"Well now," the minotaur rumbled.
"The Vixens are back."
His grip tightened slightly.
"Still runnin' around without a proper man protecting you?"
Nyxian's smile vanished immediately.
"Remove your hand."
The minotaur ignored her entirely.
"Relax, bunny girl. I've got protection in my pocket."
Nyxian's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Get your hand off my sister."
That finally got his attention.
The minotaur turned slowly toward her.
Then grinned.
"Oh?"
His eyes dragged openly across Nyxian's figure.
"A succubus too?"
He chuckled deeply.
"Now THIS party looks entertaining."
Then he leaned closer.
"I've got what women secretly crave."
Nyxian smiled sweetly.
"If what you're offering is body odor and disappointment," she replied pleasantly, "we'll pass."
Several nearby adventurers choked laughing.
The minotaur scowled.
Then reached forward—
—and grabbed Nyxian by both shoulders.
Llandra inhaled sharply.
Zee immediately tensed.
Bunny's ears twitched once.
Meanwhile—
Jax was still studying the board.
Completely oblivious.
"…Crystal caves…" he muttered quietly.
Oh no, Llandra thought.
He's planning.
Bunny moved first.
Fast.
Terrifyingly fast.
Her hands snapped upward gripping the minotaur's wrists.
CRACK.
The guild went silent instantly.
The minotaur's eyes widened in panic.
Then Bunny pulled.
The seven-foot wall of muscle hit the floor hard enough to shake nearby tables.
Before anyone fully processed what happened—
Bunny already had him pinned.
One knee against his back.
Both arms bent painfully behind him.
The minotaur looked seconds away from crying.
Nyxian crouched calmly beside him.
"Now," she said sweetly, "apologize to Bunny."
"I'M SORRY!"
"To me."
"I'M SORRY!"
"To women generally."
"…I'M SORRY WOMEN!"
Nyxian smiled proudly.
"Good growth."
The minotaur looked ready to confess crimes he hadn't committed.
Bunny released him instantly.
He scrambled backward across the floor in terror.
"That bunny girl's a MONSTER!"
His party immediately dragged him away.
The guild remained completely silent.
Then slowly—
everyone looked toward Bunny differently.
Jax finally turned around.
"…Did I miss something?"
The Vixens stared at him.
Then at each other.
Then Nyxian burst out laughing.
Bunny proudly crossed her arms.
"I protected you."
Jax blinked.
"…Thank you?"
Nyxian wiped tears from her eyes.
"Oh my gods."
Then she leaned comfortably against him smiling wickedly.
"One night with Jax and Bunny already folded a minotaur like laundry."
Bunny proudly opened her stats screen.
Strength: 45
Agility: 45
Several nearby adventurers physically recoiled.
Zee stared in disbelief.
"That's tank-level strength…"
Llandra swallowed slowly.
"…Already?"
Nyxian smirked.
"We should probably continue training every night."
Llandra immediately turned bright red.
Jax looked deeply concerned.
"…Why does that sound threatening?"
Nyxian smiled innocently.
"No reason, beloved."
Jax looked unconvinced.
Then suddenly brightened.
"Oh! I picked our first mission."
The girls immediately focused again.
"What is it?" Zee asked.
Jax pointed toward the board.
"Mana Bulb gathering."
Silence.
Zee blinked.
"…Flowers?"
"Sort of."
Jax lowered his voice slightly.
"They grow near the Crystal Caves."
Nyxian's smile sharpened instantly.
"That's A-Rank territory."
Jax nodded calmly.
"We'll clear it."
Llandra stared at him.
"…Jax."
"Yes?"
"We are E-Rank."
"For now."
The confidence in his voice sent chills through all four Vixens simultaneously.
Because somehow—
despite being level one—
every single one of them believed him completely.
"Tomorrow," Jax said calmly, "we train."