Chapter 8 – The Broke Witch and the Annoyed Gambler

The carriage continued along the stone road.

Mina sat beside the window, her crimson witch hat sitting proudly on her head.

For the past several hours, she had watched the scenery slowly change.

The quiet countryside around Willowbrook had disappeared.

Small houses became larger settlements.

Small roads became wide roads.

And eventually—

Mina saw something enormous in the distance.

She leaned closer to the window.

Her red eyes widened.

“...Whoa.”

The carriage driver glanced back.

“First time seeing Shadowveil?”

Mina nodded.

“Yeah.”

“You're going to remember it.”

Mina pressed herself against the window.

A gigantic stone wall stretched across the horizon.

Massive towers stood above it, with guards watching the road below.

Behind the walls was a city so enormous that Mina could barely see where it ended.

“That's Shadowveil City?”

“That it is.”

Mina's eyes sparkled.

“So big…”

The carriage approached the gate.

Merchants, travelers, knights, adventurers, and countless other people passed through.

Some carried weapons.

Some carried staffs.

Some wore strange armor.

Others were pulling carts filled with goods.

Mina stared at everything.

“This place is incredible…”

The carriage finally passed through the enormous gate.

And Mina immediately sat upright.

“WHOA!”

Shadowveil City was even larger than she imagined.

Buildings filled the streets.

Food stalls lined the sidewalks.

Weapon shops displayed swords and spears.

Magic shops had strange glowing objects behind their windows.

Bookstores had mountains of books.

Armor shops displayed expensive-looking equipment.

There were restaurants, inns, taverns, guilds, markets—

Everything.

Mina's face practically lit up.

“I want to see everything!”

The carriage driver chuckled.

“You might need a few days for that.”

“A few days?”

Mina stared outside.

“Maybe a few months.”

---

Welcome to Shadowveil

Eventually, the carriage stopped.

“We're here.”

Mina blinked.

“Already?”

The driver laughed.

“You've been staring through that window the entire time.”

“Oh.”

Mina grabbed her bag and climbed down.

She paid the fare.

Then she looked at the coins remaining in her pouch.

She froze.

“...”

She counted them.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

“...That carriage ride hurt my wallet.”

The driver laughed.

“Welcome to Shadowveil.”

Mina sighed.

“Thank you.”

The carriage left.

Mina watched it disappear into the crowd.

She stood there alone.

She had her bag.

Her witch hat.

Her magic.

And considerably less money.

Mina took a deep breath.

“Okay.”

She adjusted her hat.

“First thing…”

She looked around.

“Find somewhere to stay.”

She paused.

“Second thing…”

Her stomach growled.

“Food.”

She placed a hand over her stomach.

“...You're going to have to wait.”

Her stomach growled again.

“Traitor.”

---

Exploring Shadowveil

Mina decided to explore the city on foot.

There were shops everywhere.

She passed a massive weapon store.

“Whoa…”

She saw a sword bigger than herself.

“Who even uses that?”

A nearby muscular adventurer walked out carrying it.

Mina stared.

“...Never mind.”

She continued walking.

Then she found a magic shop.

Her eyes sparkled.

“Magic items…”

She looked at a glowing crystal.

Then another.

Then another.

She checked the prices.

Her expression slowly became lifeless.

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“...Nope.”

She walked away.

Then she found a bookstore.

Mina immediately stopped.

“Books.”

She entered.

The smell of paper instantly made her happy.

She picked up a thick book about ancient monsters.

Then checked the price.

“...Absolutely not.”

She returned it.

She picked up another.

“...Also no.”

Another.

“Definitely no.”

The shopkeeper looked amused.

“Something wrong?”

Mina looked at him seriously.

“Everything is expensive.”

The shopkeeper laughed.

“That's how cities work.”

Mina sighed.

“I miss Willowbrook prices.”

She left the bookstore.

Then—

Grrrrrrr...

Mina stopped.

She looked down.

Her stomach had betrayed her again.

Across the street was a bakery.

The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air.

Mina stared.

The bakery stared back.

She slowly reached for her money pouch.

“...Fine.”

She bought a small pastry.

One bite.

Her eyes widened.

“This is delicious!”

Another bite.

Then another.

She finished it quickly.

She looked at her remaining coins.

“...That was worth it.”

---

Her First Apartment

After searching for a while, Mina eventually found a small apartment building.

The owner showed her a simple room.

It had a bed.

A table.

A chair.

A tiny kitchen.

And a window overlooking the street.

Mina looked around.

“This is perfect.”

The owner told her the price.

Mina counted her coins.

She winced.

“Okay…”

She paid.

The owner handed her a key.

“Welcome to Shadowveil.”

“Thank you.”

Mina entered.

She placed her bag down.

Then immediately jumped onto the bed.

FLUMP!

She bounced once.

“Ahhh…”

She stared at the ceiling.

“I have my own place.”

She smiled.

Then remembered her money.

Her smile disappeared.

“...I need a job.”

She sat up.

She grabbed her witch hat.

“Time to become an adventurer.”

---

The Adventurer's Guild

Mina continued through the city until she finally found a massive building.

A giant emblem was displayed above the entrance.

ADVENTURER'S GUILD

Mina's eyes sparkled.

“Found it!”

She pushed the doors open.

The moment she entered—

Noise.

People were everywhere.

Adventurers were eating, talking, arguing, repairing equipment, discussing quests, and showing off their weapons.

Mina looked around.

“This is amazing.”

She approached the reception counter.

A receptionist smiled.

“Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild. Are you here to register?”

“Yes!”

Mina filled out the registration form.

Name.

Age.

Origin.

Class.

She wrote:

Bloodmage.

The receptionist processed everything.

“Your starting rank is F.”

Mina received her guild card.

“F-rank…”

She smiled.

“I'm officially an adventurer!”

The receptionist handed her a small book.

“This is your Adventurer Guidebook. It contains guild rules, rank information, quest procedures, and safety guidelines.”

Mina opened it.

“F-rank…”

She flipped through the pages.

“E-rank…”

“D-rank…”

“C…”

“B…”

“A…”

Finally—

“S-rank.”

Her eyes sparkled.

“One day…”

She closed the book.

“I'll get there.”

The receptionist smiled.

“Good luck.”

“Thank you!”

Mina immediately ran toward the quest board.

---

The Quest Board

There were dozens of F-rank quests.

Deliver packages.

Gather materials.

Clean warehouses.

Find lost pets.

Collect herbs.

Mina picked up one.

“Find a missing chicken.”

She stared at it.

“...No.”

She put it back.

Another.

“Clean a storage room.”

“No.”

Another.

“Deliver vegetables.”

“No.”

Then—

One quest caught her attention.

F-RANK QUEST

Moonroot Cave Herb Gathering

Objective: Collect 10 Moonleaf Herbs

Requirement: Two or more adventurers

Reward: 300 Copper Lumens

Mina's eyes sparkled.

“Three hundred copper!”

Then she noticed the requirement.

Two or more adventurers.

Her smile vanished.

“...Oh.”

She looked around.

Everyone seemed to already have their own parties.

Mina sighed.

“I just got here…”

She folded her arms.

“How am I supposed to find another adventurer?”

Then—

BANG!

Mina jumped.

“What was that?!”

A loud voice echoed through the hallway.

“GET BACK HERE!”

Another voice shouted back.

“I DIDN'T CHEAT!”

“You absolutely cheated!”

“I DIDN'T!”

“YOU WON THREE TIMES!”

“THAT'S CALLED LUCK!”

Mina blinked.

“...What?”

Footsteps thundered through the hallway.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

A young man suddenly ran around the corner.

Black hair.

A white streak through the center.

A purple scarf.

Chains wrapped around his body.

He looked annoyed.

Very annoyed.

Behind him were several angry men.

“STOP!”

The young man shouted while running.

“WHY ARE YOU STILL CHASING ME?!”

“BECAUSE YOU CHEATED!”

“I DIDN'T!”

“You emptied our wallets!”

“That sounds like a personal problem!”

Mina stared.

“...What is happening?”

The young man suddenly slipped.

WHAM!

He fell onto the floor.

The angry men continued chasing him.

“You won't escape!”

The young man sat up.

“Apparently I already did.”

Then he looked at Mina.

Mina looked at him.

They stared at each other.

Silence.

Mina pointed at him.

“Are you okay?”

“No.”

“Are you injured?”

“My pride.”

“That's not an injury.”

“It is to me.”

Mina sighed.

“Fair enough.”

---

The Gambler

The young man stood up and dusted himself off.

Mina looked toward the hallway.

“They're gone.”

“Good.”

“What did you even do?”

“Nothing.”

“Then why were they chasing you?”

“Gambling.”

Mina stared.

“...You were gambling?”

“Yes.”

“And you won?”

“Yes.”

“So why are they angry?”

“Because I won.”

Mina blinked.

“That doesn't make sense.”

“It does when you take their money.”

“How much did you win?”

He paused.

“Enough.”

Mina narrowed her eyes.

“That means a lot.”

“It was a lot.”

“You really did gamble away someone else's money?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I won their money.”

“That sounds exactly like what I just said.”

“It isn't.”

“How isn't it?”

“Because I didn't cheat.”

Mina crossed her arms.

“Then how did you win?”

“Luck.”

“Three times?”

“Yes.”

Mina stared at him.

“You're suspicious.”

He stared back.

“You're annoying.”

Mina gasped.

“I just met you!”

“And you've already accused me of cheating.”

“Because you were chased by five angry people!”

“They were sore losers.”

“You still gambled!”

“Yes.”

“You're an idiot.”

The young man sighed.

“Thank you.”

“That wasn't a compliment.”

“I know.”

Mina stared at him.

He stared back.

Neither moved.

Finally—

Mina sighed.

“What's your name?”

The young man adjusted his scarf.

“Nyxhen.”

“Nyxhen what?”

“Nyxhen Caelum Meriveil.”

Mina nodded.

“I'm Mina.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

They stood there.

Then Mina pointed at his chains.

“Why do you have so many chains?”

Nyxhen looked down.

“For combat.”

“Only combat?”

“Mostly.”

“What else?”

“Blocking.”

“Okay.”

“Restraining enemies.”

“Sure.”

“Climbing.”

Mina paused.

“...Climbing?”

“Yes.”

She stared at him.

“You climb with chains?”

“Sometimes.”

“That sounds ridiculous.”

“It works.”

“Still ridiculous.”

Nyxhen sighed.

“I've been wearing them for years.”

“Doesn't it get annoying?”

“Yes.”

“Then take them off.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Habit.”

Mina crossed her arms.

“That's stupid.”

Nyxhen's eyebrow twitched.

“You've known me for five minutes.”

“And I have already discovered something stupid about you.”

Nyxhen stared at her.

“Wonderful.”

---

Two Annoying People

Nyxhen looked at Mina's witch hat.

Then her clothes.

Then her hands.

“You're a mage.”

Mina nodded.

“Bloodmage.”

Nyxhen answered immediately.

Mina's eyes widened.

“How did you know?!”

“You're wearing a witch hat.”

“That proves nothing!”

“You don't carry a staff.”

“So?”

“You aren't carrying a spellbook.”

“So?”

“You use direct hand movements.”

Mina stared at him.

“You figured all that out just by looking at me?”

“Yes.”

“That is creepy.”

“It's observation.”

“It's creepy observation.”

Nyxhen sighed.

“Fine.”

Mina pointed at him.

“What about you?”

“Shadow Wraithblade.”

Mina's eyes sparkled.

“That sounds cool.”

“It is.”

Mina smiled.

“Okay, you're forgiven.”

“I didn't ask for forgiveness.”

“Too bad.”

Nyxhen stared at her.

“Are you always like this?”

“Like what?”

“Annoying.”

Mina put her hands on her hips.

“You're the one who got chased through the guild!”

“Because I won a bet.”

“You're still the suspicious one.”

“I didn't cheat.”

“Sure.”

“I didn't.”

“Sure.”

“I really didn't.”

“Sure.”

Nyxhen closed his eyes.

“Stop saying sure.”

“Sure.”

His eyebrow twitched.

“Mina.”

“Sure.”

“Stop.”

“Sure.”

“...”

Nyxhen took a deep breath.

Mina smiled innocently.

“You're getting annoyed.”

“I noticed.”

“It's funny.”

“I'm glad my suffering entertains you.”

“It does.”

“Wonderful.”

---

The Quest

Mina suddenly remembered the quest paper.

“Oh!”

She pulled it out.

Nyxhen looked at it.

“What's that?”

“My first quest.”

He read the paper.

“Moonroot Cave.”

“Yep.”

“Ten Moonleaf Herbs.”

“Yep.”

“Two or more adventurers.”

Mina looked at him.

Nyxhen looked at her.

Mina smiled.

Nyxhen immediately frowned.

“No.”

“I didn't even ask yet!”

“You were about to.”

“How did you know?”

“Your face.”

Mina put on her most innocent expression.

“Please?”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Please?”

Nyxhen sighed.

“Why me?”

“Because you're here.”

“That's your reason?”

“Yes.”

“You know nothing about me.”

“I know you're an adventurer.”

“That's not enough.”

“You have chains.”

“That is even less of a reason.”

“You know the city.”

Nyxhen paused.

“That is at least relevant.”

“And you can fight.”

“Yes.”

“And…”

Mina thought.

“You seem less likely to run away than me.”

Nyxhen stared.

“That is somehow insulting.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry.”

“Are you?”

“No.”

Nyxhen rubbed his forehead.

“You're impossible.”

Mina smiled.

“So you'll join?”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Please?”

“Stop asking.”

“Please?”

Nyxhen stared at her.

“Fine.”

Mina's eyes widened.

“Really?!”

“Yes.”

“You'll join?!”

“Yes.”

“Yay!”

“But we're doing the quest properly.”

“Of course!”

“No unnecessary fighting.”

“Okay.”

“No wandering off.”

“Okay.”

“No touching suspicious objects.”

“Okay.”

“No stealing.”

“Okay.”

“No gambling.”

Nyxhen's face immediately became annoyed.

“That one wasn't necessary.”

“It absolutely was.”

“I don't need a lecture.”

“You were literally chased by gamblers.”

“Because they lost.”

“You were gambling!”

“They challenged me!”

“You still accepted!”

“It was profitable!”

Mina pointed at him.

“See?!”

Nyxhen pointed back.

“You're arguing with me!”

“Because you're wrong!”

“You don't even know what you're arguing about!”

“I know enough!”

“Which is?”

“You're annoying!”

Nyxhen stared at her.

“...We're going to have a long journey.”

Mina smiled.

“Probably.”

---

Registered Partners

They returned to the reception counter.

Mina placed the Moonroot Cave quest down.

The receptionist looked between them.

“Are you two forming a party?”

“Yes!”

“No.”

Mina looked at Nyxhen.

“You said yes!”

“I said I'd join the quest.”

“That's the same thing.”

“No, it isn't.”

“It is.”

“It isn't.”

The receptionist quietly watched them argue.

Mina pointed at Nyxhen.

“He's my party member.”

Nyxhen sighed.

“Apparently.”

The receptionist smiled.

“Very well.”

She checked their guild cards.

“Mina, F-rank.”

“Yep.”

“Nyxhen, F-rank.”

“Yep.”

She stamped the quest.

“Quest approved.”

Mina grabbed the paper.

“Let's go!”

Nyxhen followed.

“Wait.”

Mina stopped.

“What?”

“Do you actually know where Moonroot Cave is?”

Mina froze.

“...No.”

Nyxhen sighed.

“Of course you don't.”

“But you do, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then let's go!”

“You really are reckless.”

“You're still coming.”

“Unfortunately.”

Mina smiled.

“See? We're already friends.”

Nyxhen immediately stopped walking.

“We are not friends.”

Mina kept walking.

“We're friends.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Nyxhen closed his eyes.

“Why did I agree to this?”

Mina turned around while walking backward.

“Because you like me.”

“No.”

“You do.”

“No.”

“Secretly?”

“No.”

“Deep down?”

“No.”

“Tiny little bit?”

“No.”

“Zero percent?”

“Zero.”

Mina smiled.

“Liar.”

Nyxhen sighed.

“You're going to be a problem.”

Mina proudly adjusted her crimson witch hat.

“And you're going to be annoyed.”

“I already am.”

“Perfect!”

Nyxhen stared at her.

“That was not the response I wanted.”

Mina laughed.

Together, the two F-rank adventurers left the Adventurer's Guild.

Their first quest was simple.

Collect ten Moonleaf Herbs.

Earn three hundred copper lumens.

Return safely.

Nothing complicated.

Nothing dangerous.

At least—

That was what Mina thought.

Nyxhen, meanwhile, already had a feeling that agreeing to travel with this particular witch had been a terrible decision.

And judging by the headache he was already developing—

He was probably right.