The towering stone walls of Northpoint loomed over the caravan as it rolled to a stop before the city gates. The te afternoon sun cast long shadows on the cobbled road, illuminating the hustle and bustle of merchants, adventurers, and travelers waiting to enter.

  Arthur stretched as he stepped out of the carriage, a satisfied smirk lingering on his face. The crisp air carried the scent of spices and roasted meat from the nearby market stalls, but his mind was still fogged with the memory of Bel’s breathless moans and the way she had trembled beneath him just moments ago.

  Bel followed soon after, her usual grace slightly undone by her tousled hair and the faint blush still warming her cheeks. As she walked ahead, Arthur caught the way the guards at the gate gnced at him, smirking knowingly. One even gave him a nod, as if to say, Lucky bastard. Arthur merely chuckled, returning the smirk.

  Bel, either oblivious or purposefully ignoring them, adjusted the strap of her quiver and walked towards the front of the caravan, her hips swaying in a way that made Arthur swallow hard. She really knew how to tease, even when she wasn’t trying.

  Shaking off his thoughts, he caught up to her and gnced toward the caravan master, who was in a heated discussion with the gate guards. A small line of travelers had formed, their impatient murmurs filling the air. Arthur frowned. Why was it taking so long to enter?

  He stepped closer to Bel, lowering his voice. “Something wrong?”

  She tilted her head toward the gate. “Seems like security’s tighter than usual. The guards are checking every wagon.”

  Arthur followed her gaze, noticing the additional guards inspecting crates and questioning travelers. He exhaled sharply. So the merchant was right… things really are getting tense around here.

  Arthur and Bel approached the city gates, where a long line of travelers and merchants anxiously awaited their turn. The guards were thorough, inspecting every crate and questioning each traveler before allowing them entry. But for Arthur and Bel, things were much simpler.

  Fshing their E-rank adventurer cards, they bypassed the line without issue, stepping through the gates as the guards waved them along. Being adventurers had its perks.

  Arthur, however, took a moment to chat with the guard captain stationed nearby. The man, cd in chainmail and bearing a tired expression, was overseeing the inspections with a sharp eye.

  “Security’s tighter than usual,” Arthur remarked casually. “Something happen?”

  The captain exhaled, rubbing his beard. “Yeah. A patrol went missing two days ago. Could be bandits, could be something worse. Either way, we’re not taking chances.”

  Arthur nodded. “Got it. Thanks for the heads-up.”

  Leaving the conversation at that, he walked toward the caravan, where the merchant master was engaged in an animated discussion with some guards. The stout man noticed Arthur approaching and grinned.

  “Well, my friend,” the merchant said, cpping Arthur’s shoulder, “you and your lovely wife have done your job splendidly. We reached Northpoint safe and sound.”

  Arthur nodded. “Yeah. That means our contract is complete.”

  The merchant chuckled. “That it does. You’ve earned your pay—and a little bonus for your quick thinking back there.” He handed Arthur a small pouch, the weight of coins reassuring in his palm.

  Arthur tucked it away as the merchant continued, “If you two pn on staying in Northpoint for a while, look for me at the Merchant Union. I’ll help you settle in.”

  Arthur shook the man’s hand. “Appreciate it.”

  With that, he turned, spotting Bel near the gates. She was leaning against the stone wall, arms crossed, her golden hair catching the sunlight. She gave him a small smile as he approached.

  “All done?” she asked.

  Arthur grinned. “Yeah. Let’s enter the city.”

  Arthur gnced at Bel as they walked through the bustling streets of Northpoint. "Before anything else, we need to report to the guild," he said.

  Bel nodded. "Makes sense. No scking off just yet."

  The city stretched before them, a blend of stone and wooden buildings, with well-paved roads that hinted at a level of organization uncommon in medieval settings. Unlike the dirty, chaotic streets Arthur had expected, Northpoint was surprisingly clean, with clear pathways and well-maintained structures.

  After asking for directions, they made their way to the Adventurer’s Guild—a massive multi-floor building that doubled as both the guild office and an inn.

  Arthur pushed open the rge double doors, revealing the spacious interior. The scene inside was just as one would expect—a lively tavern-like atmosphere. Adventurers of all kinds filled the pce, seated at round wooden tables, chatting, drinking, and boasting about their test feats.

  At the far end, a bar counter was lined with mugs of ale, the scent of roasted meat filling the air. The pce was noisy yet inviting, a hub of camaraderie and business.

  Arthur felt the urge to head straight to the bar for a drink, but work came first. With Bel following closely, they walked past the bustling crowd toward a set of information windows near the side of the hall.

  Each window was manned by a guild assistant, clerks in uniforms who efficiently handled paperwork and requests. Arthur and Bel stepped up to the nearest one, ready to report their quest completed.

  Reporting their success didn’t take long. The guild assistant, a young woman in a neat uniform, quickly jotted down their names in a ledger. After a quick check, she looked up with a small smile.

  “Congratutions, you two are eligible for a promotion to D-rank.”

  Arthur’s eyes lit up. “That’s great news. What do we need to do?”

  The assistant’s smile remained polite as she expined, “To reach D-rank, you need to first form a party of at least three members.”

  Arthur frowned. He already knew about this requirement but had been hoping to put it off for a while longer. Working as a duo had worked well for them so far. Adding a third person could change that dynamic.

  Bel, standing beside him, tapped her fingers on the counter. “Is there anyone you could recommend?”

  The guild assistant hesitated before flipping through her ledger. “Let’s see… Ah, you’re in luck. There’s someone who has also been looking for a party to rank up.”

  Arthur and Bel exchanged gnces, feeling a mix of relief and curiosity.

  “But—” the assistant added, her expression turning uncertain. “She’s from a barbarian tribe. You might find her… difficult to work with.”

  Arthur raised an eyebrow. A barbarian? That wasn’t exactly what he had expected. The nomadic warrior cns that roamed the northern regions were known for their brutality and raw strength. They didn’t exactly fit the mold of cooperative teammates.

  Bel tilted her head, intrigued. “Where can we find her?”

  The assistant sighed and pointed toward the back of the guild hall. “She’s at the training yard. If you’re interested, you should go meet her first.”

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