Published: February 1, 2026
That day, an unusual group of visitors came to the guild.
As the sky was dyed crimson, adventurers who had wrapped up their requests without overextending themselves gathered. They all looked at the trio with a mix of curiosity, amusement, and surprise.
The trio in question were three children, still showing signs of their youth. Leading the group was a girl who seemed quite angry, followed by two boys who looked around with innocent curiosity.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, the girl’s pout transformed into a smile. Her gaze fell upon the guild’s reception counter, and the adventurers, unsure of who these children were, assumed they were probably the children or siblings of some guild staff and quickly averted their eyes.
The girl dashed forward, placing both hands on the now-empty counter window. Standing on tiptoes, she stretched herself as much as she could.
“Onii-chan!”
Her skirt fluttered gently as she called out cutely.
““Absolute Zeroーーー!?””
The adventurers’ gazes, previously scattered, converged all at once onto Stud, who looked down at the girl expressionlessly.
Not just the adventurers—the guild staff present were all stunned, and a young staff member sitting next to Stud even fell off his chair.
In front of their eyes, Stud, having received the girl’s beaming smile, remained expressionless and unresponsive, as expected. The girl blinked in confusion, then put her heels down flat.
“I was at the noble’s inn—”
“I know.”
The voice was flat, yet the girl’s expression brightened instantly.
For some reason, the people around felt relieved. They reasoned it was someone connected to Rizel, so it made sense. Although, even as someone connected to Rizel, questions still remained.
“Well, so I wanted to get back at them.”
“I understand. Is this your first time requesting an adventurer’s help?”
“Yes!”
“Then let me explain.”
“Wait, wait, wait, wait—”
Children requesting an adventurer.
Everyone else, blinking in confusion, watched on. Stud, however, began processing the procedures no differently than usual for clients. The staff member who had fallen to the floor tried to interrupt.
Whispering:
“Is it really okay to take what children say seriously?”
“There’s no age limit for requests, though.”
“That’s not the point! It’s just a game, so just wing it!”
Suddenly, hushed voices were heard.
“The noble said people who make fun of serious people are no good.”
“That person’s no good.”
“No good as a person.”
“I’m sorry for being alive…”
Why do children’s secret talks hit so hard? The staff member looked like he might die and backed off.
Meanwhile, Stud’s unchanging attitude gained him a lot of favor. Children are fickle; even though the staff member who backed off was more sympathetic, the kids favored Stud.
“I’m Stud, here to explain the guild. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you!”
““Nice to meet youuu!””
The good children’s greetings made the guild staff with kids smile warmly. It almost looked like a fun guild tour, if only Stud weren’t so expressionless and emotionless.
The adventurers watched, thinking how surreal it all was.
“At the adventurers’ guild, we mainly act as intermediaries for clients who want to send requests to adventurers.”
“Intermediary.”
“A bridge.”
Stud glanced at the gloom-faced staff member beside him.
“We listen to everyone’s requests, then find people good at the job and ask them on your behalf.”
The staff member raised his face and gestured to translate.
The children seemed to understand and nodded obediently. Their gaze quickly returned to Stud, showing their trust for him was still low.
“To make a request, a fee is needed. The fee is set according to the rank.”
“We know the ranks! From A to F!”
“Actually, from S.”
“Why?”
Why indeed. That caught everyone off guard.
The seasoned adventurers, accustomed to this, nodded silently while watching Stud look down on the kids without blinking. The staff member next to Stud also looked at him.