While we were busy yapping and trying to process our low-tier ranks, the heavy wooden doors of the Guild swung open, and the entire atmosphere inside the hall instantly shifted.
A party of four walked in, and you could just tell from their sheer presence that they were the undisputed "Main Characters" of this world. Every adventurer in the room naturally cleared a path for them, whispers rippling through the crowd.
Leading the pack was a girl who looked like she had stepped straight out of a high-end tech-wear catalog. She had gorgeous purple hair falling over her shoulders, wore sleek glasses, and her mage robes had a modern, perfectly fitted aesthetic. On her finger, a single glowing ring hummed with dense, visible mana. She was stunning—her soft shy aura, her quiet expression, and her sharp eyes made her look effortlessly perfect.
Right beside her was a guy easily over six feet tall, completely shirtless, casually flaunting a insanely sculpted physique. He was undeniably handsome, with a ridiculously attractive face, sharp jawline, and a perfect wolf-cut hairstyle that fell naturally over his forehead. Slung over his shoulder was a heavy adventurer's supply bag.
The third member was a guy who radiated pure "Good Vibes" energy. He had a great body, well-styled hair, and a handsome face, but what caught our attention was his constant, infectious smile.
Walking next to him was a stunning girl with glowing golden-yellow hair, laughing brightly at something he had just said.
While the purple-haired mage stayed quiet and stoic, the tall, shirtless guy walked right up to the main counter with a casual, confident grin.
"Hey! How are you?" he asked, his voice smooth and friendly.
The receptionist actually smiled—her professional, stoic mask completely slipping for a second. "I'm doing well, Nakamu! Are you all doing well?"
Nakamu tossed the heavy bag onto the polished counter with a thud. "Mission accomplished. A-Rank mission cleared. The essential target items are in here, and the rest of the bulk loot is stored in my inventory."
He swiped his hand through the air, opening a glowing, holographic UI screen to display the list of acquired items.
The receptionist nodded, tapping her quill against her ledger. "If you're looking to offload the extras, the Guild will buy them off you right now."
With a quick tap on Nakamu's screen, the surplus gear transferred straight to the Guild's inventory system, and a heavy, jingling sack of gold coins was handed over to him.
As the squad turned to check the board for their next task, they passed right by us. The smiling guy noticed the three of us standing off to the side, looking like totally lost, under-leveled NPCs.
He waved at us brightly. "Good morning, guys!"
Taken aback by the sudden friendliness from someone so clearly out of our league, the three of us blurted out in unison, "Good morning!"
We stood there paralyzed, stunned by the sheer politeness and lack of arrogance from an elite party. Without missing a beat, they grabbed an A-Rank quest scroll from the high-tier board and headed back out the Guild doors as fast as they had entered.
The moment the doors swung shut, the three of us practically pounced on the front counter, leaning over the wood.
"Who were they?!" I asked, my eyes wide.
The receptionist chuckled softly, adjusting her papers. "That's one of the absolute top parties in this entire kingdom. The guy who was walking with the yellow-haired girl is Rei—he's an S-Rank Hunter. The yellow-haired girl is Junie, she's so pretty, and she's another S-Rank. The girl with the purple hair is Miku, a high-tier mage. And the shirtless guy is Nakamu, he's incredibly popular. They're actually all very kind people despite their status."
I recalled Rei's warm, genuine smile as he waved to us. "Yeah, I could definitely feel that. No ego, just good vibes."
After the hype settled down, we decided it was time to get to work. Ayush and I were headed in the same general direction for our tasks, but Vikas had to split off alone for his assignment.
As we stepped out onto the cobblestone streets, we were struck all over again by the sheer scale of the Kingdom. Every single building was a breathtaking masterpiece of fantasy architecture—massive stone arches, soaring towers, and glowing magical lanterns that were far more beautiful than any high-budget movie or show we had ever seen back home.
Meanwhile, Vikas was walking alone toward the residential district, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he got caught up in his own head.
This place is ridiculously gorgeous, Vikas thought to himself, looking up at the towering spires. But honestly... it's terrifying. If there really is no way back to Earth, I guess the only options I have are to stay alive or grind until I become a top-level Hunter. I have no choice... I just have to lock in.
Suddenly, a sudden blur of blinding white hair crashed straight into his chest.
BAM!
A girl who had been running frantically—her body and face mostly hidden beneath a dark, heavy cloak—hit him full force and tumbled backward onto the hard stone floor.
As she hit the ground, her hood fell back, exposing her face to the sunlight. Vikas froze dead in his tracks.
She wasn't just beautiful; she was so pretty it felt surreal. She was a perfect type of gorgeous—with snow-white hair spilling over her shoulders, delicate features, stunning eyes, and a face that screamed pure royalty.
Vikas's brain stalled for a second before his reflexes kicked in. His usual playful, trolling personality completely vanished, replaced by genuine shock as he quickly reached out to help her up.
"Oh shoot, are you okay?!" Vikas said, his voice dropping all its usual sarcasm. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going!"
The girl looked up at him, her wide eyes filled with an undeniable, trembling panic. Despite her fear, she managed a soft, breathless reply.
"No... it was my fault," she stammered, her voice shaking slightly. "I'm in a huge hurry... I am so sorry!"
She gave him a quick, elegant bow of apology, pulled her hood back over her white hair, and bolted straight toward the Guild hall before Vikas could even ask for her name. He stood frozen on the pavement for a long moment, clutching his own hand, feeling a rare, awkward flush of shy energy wash over him.
While Vikas stood there trying to collect his thoughts, the white-haired girl sprinted through the heavy wooden doors of the Guild, breathless and trembling. She rushed straight past the waiting adventurers and slammed her hands onto the front counter, leaning in close to whisper something directly to the receptionist.
In an instant, the receptionist's friendly demeanor completely shattered. The color drained from her cheeks, leaving her face ghostly pale. Her eyes dilated in pure, unfiltered terror as she looked around the buzzing Guild hall, her breath catching dead in her throat.