The constant noise of the city—the loud shouting of street vendors and the heavy clanging of blacksmith hammers—pressed against Blue's eardrums like a physical weight. But beneath the surface din, a much more dangerous rumor was traveling through the streets. His sudden promotion to a Kingdom S-Rank had already shifted the air. Restoria lived on secrets and backroom deals, and a mysterious, unregistered powerhouse drawing the personal attention of King Fen didn't bring glory. It brought a target.
Looking for a temporary escape from the staring eyes, Blue spotted a narrow gap between two leaning stone buildings. A small coffee shop sat tucked away in the alley, exhaling the rich, bitter scent of dark roasted beans. The aroma was a clean contrast to the grime-tinged air of the market. He stepped inside, a soft brass bell chiming overhead to mark his entrance.
The shop was a quiet haven of deep shadows and worn, dark wood. It was almost empty, except for two figures sitting by a corner window, caught in the weak sunlight filtering through the dirty glass panes.
Celia and Lyra.
Celia was leaning back in her chair, arms crossed tightly over her leather armor, a sharp, familiar smirk playing on her lips. Her obsidian eyes were constantly tracking the room, though she didn't look directly at the doorway as he entered. Across from her, Lyra sat with a quiet, natural grace, the soft glare of the window catching the intricate blonde braid pinned against her shoulder. She took a slow sip of her tea, looking like a calm island next to Celia's restless energy.
Blue hesitated for a split second, considering turning back to find a completely isolated corner. But the sudden comfort of seeing familiar faces in a hostile city won out. He walked forward, his boots making almost no sound against the creaking wooden floor.
Celia's sharp instincts picked up the movement first. She looked up, her smirk widening into a sharp grin.
"Well, well, look what the shadows dragged in," Celia said, her voice a low, amused rasp. She arched an eyebrow in a silent challenge. "Didn't expect to see your brooding face in a joint like this, Blue. Did you finally decide to come up for air, or are you just hiding from the King's guards?"
Lyra looked up next, her moss-green eyes softening into a genuine, welcoming smile. "Blue. I didn't think you'd be out in the open today," she said, her calm voice cutting through Celia's sharp tone. "How was the guild hall? Did the place manage not to catch fire when you walked in?"
Blue offered a small nod, the tension in his neck relaxing slightly as he pulled out the empty chair at their table.
"It was eventful," he said evenly, glancing around the cozy interior before looking back at them. "I was just looking for a few minutes of quiet. I needed the smell of actual coffee to clear my lungs."
Celia let out a short, sharp laugh. "Quiet? You? What kind of trouble are you trying to drown in a mug of caffeine?"
"No trouble," Blue said with a slight shrug. "Just recalibrating. Things are moving a little faster than I expected."
Lyra took another slow sip from her cup, her expression turning thoughtful. A trace of curiosity flickered in her eyes. "Speaking of things moving fast," she said, leaning closer, "I picked up some wild rumors near the market stalls today. Apparently, the Crown just registered a brand-new S-Rank hunter. The whole district is losing its mind over it. Nobody even knows what the guy looks like."
Celia leaned forward, her predatory interest immediately flashing in her eyes. "Another S-Rank? You think Fen is just handing those out to his favorites now? What kind of political game is the throne playing?"
Lyra shook her head, her brow furrowing. "Nobody has the details. But a jump like that doesn't happen without serious leverage. It means either world-ending power or massive royal favor. I keep wondering what makes this guy so dangerous."
Blue's lips curved into a cold, knowing smirk. He held the secret close, giving no sign of the dark metal badge hidden beneath his cloak. He lifted his steaming mug and took a slow, deliberate sip, watching them dissect his own ghost.
Celia snorted, waving her hand dismissively. "It's probably some noble's kid playing dress-up in the King's shadow. S-Rank titles are just diplomatic bargaining chips these days anyway. Mark my words, this mystery powerhouse is going to break the second a real monster hits him."
"I don't think so, Celia," Lyra countered softly, her analytical mind working through the facts. "Whoever they are, their luck will run out fast if they can't fight. You don't get to wear that specific sigil without eventually bleeding for it."
Blue set his coffee down, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. The irony was a sharp, clean taste. "You know," he said, his eyes locking onto Celia's sharp gaze, "I think you both might be in for a pretty massive surprise."
Celia's eyebrow shot up. "Oh? You got a line into the palace gossip, Blue? Spill it. Are you suddenly tight with the King's intelligence network? Do you know who the new blade is?"
Blue leaned back, his relaxed posture hiding the absolute reality of his status. "Maybe I do. Maybe I don't. It could be anyone hiding in the alleys of Restoria, right?"
Lyra studied his face for a long, quiet moment, her emerald eyes narrowing with a sudden spark of suspicion. "You're being incredibly cryptic today, Blue. Are you sure you aren't hiding something from us?"
"Could be," Blue repeated, his grin stretching just a fraction. "But you'll have to wait and see. Some facts are better when they drop all at once."
For the next hour, the tension faded back into easy conversation. They talked about the daily grind of the guild and Celia's recent advancement to the Swordsman class, a milestone she was clearly proud of.
"Honestly, ditching the daggers for a long blade was the smartest move I've made," Celia said, her fingers tapping a rhythmic pattern against the table. "The whole rogue routine wasn't hitting hard enough. Now, when I swing, the steel actually finishes the job."
Lyra smiled warmly at her partner. "I'm glad, Celia. You've always had the speed for it, but the extra weight fits your style perfectly. You'll be clearing high-tier boards in no time."
"It's about data and discipline," Celia said, leaning back with a satisfied smirk. "And I've got plenty of both."
As they laughed, Blue felt a brief, strange wave of nostalgia for the simple reality he'd left behind on Earth. The uncomplicated noise of a coffee shop was a fragile echo of safety. His thoughts broke when Lyra turned her focus back to him.
"What about you, Blue?" she asked curiously. "Are you still running standard Warrior specs, or are you looking to specialize soon?"
Blue chuckled, keeping his voice low. "I'm figuring out my own build. Taking it one step at a time."
Celia gave him a sharp, sidelong look. "Sounds like a dodge. You've been moving differently since we met, Blue. Sure there's nothing you're keeping under your coat?"
Before he had to answer, the server dropped the final check onto the table, breaking the moment. They paid their coins and left the warmth of the shop behind, heading out into the grey afternoon light.
An hour later, they met up at the main hall of the Hunter's Guild, standing before the crowded mission boards. Celia and Lyra scanned the pinned parchment sheets, looking for a quick payout.
"Let's just grab something low-tier to stay sharp," Celia suggested, her hand resting on the pommel of her new sword. "We have a few hours to kill before sundown."
Lyra pointed to a yellowed slip on the C-Rank tier. "There's a local extermination contract for a cluster of monster nests in the outer tree line. The location is close, and the layout is simple."
Celia nodded. "Perfect. Quick silver, clean run. Let's log it."
Blue looked over their shoulders at the C-Rank paper. To his current system stats, a C-Rank threat was completely non-existent—a minor delay that wouldn't even register against his passive defenses. But he kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to shatter their confidence or trigger a massive round of questions by forcing them onto an S-rank board.
"If you two are good with it, I'm in," Blue said casually.
Celia raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk on her lips. "You sure, rookie? C-Rank nests aren't a walk in the park when you're still carrying an F-rank mentality. But don't worry, we'll keep the beasts off your back."
Lyra offered a reassuring nod. "It'll be good practice for you, Blue. Just watch how we manage the perimeter and you'll pick it up fast."
"Sounds like a plan," Blue muttered.
They cleared the city gates and entered the thick, quiet woods, with Celia leading the pace. Lyra kept her staff ready, her eyes moving across the treeline for any spikes in the local mana density, while Blue walked calmly in the center. He was perfectly content to play the role of the humble companion, a silent giant walking among children.
The monsters in the first three nests didn't stand a chance. Their grotesque, multi-limbed forms were fast, but Celia's new sword work was clean, and Lyra's localized fire spells turned the burrows to ash before the pack could coordinate an ambush. Blue moved through the brush, casually stepping around the carcasses, letting the two women do the heavy lifting.
The irony stayed with him the entire afternoon. They were treating him like a liability they had to protect, all while discussing the legendary power of the kingdom's new S-Rank over lukewarm coffee just hours before.
He enjoyed the simple camaraderie while it lasted. It was a fragile illusion, but it was peaceful. He knew it wouldn't last forever; eventually, the scope of his reality would crash into their expectations like a boulder dropped into a still pond.
But as the sun began to dip behind the mountains, casting long red streaks through the pine trees, Blue was satisfied to remain a phantom. The storm inside him was locked tight, waiting for the right moment to break.