Kazuki's legs ached.
Not from battle, but from hiking four hours downhill through forest trails, a goat maze, and one suspiciously sentient puddle. His bag jangled with stolen snacks, melted mana crystals, and a sock he swore wasn't his.
Beside him, Smile jiggled happily—occasionally phasing out of existence to chase after butterflies made of light. Behind them, Aurelis followed in sullen silence, arms crossed, eyes pointedly ignoring everything Kazuki said.
And yet he followed.
Maybe it was truce. Or guilt. Or maybe deep down, the textbook hero just wanted to see what other accidents Kazuki would cause next.
"We're almost there!" Kazuki called, pointing dramatically.
He immediately slipped on a root and rolled the last 30 meters down the slope into a brick wall.
BAM.
"…He's alive," Aurelis muttered.
Welcome to Renga Town
Renga wasn't grand or elegant. It wasn't polished or regal. But it had a certain chaotic charm.
Rooftops layered in mismatched tiles.
Lanterns strung between chimneys like party streamers.
A clock tower stuck permanently at 3:14.
Cats. So many cats.
The marketplace buzzed with energy—merchants yelling over enchanted megaphones, street performers juggling explosive fruit, and a guy selling "genuine dragon bones" made entirely of paper-mâché.
Kazuki staggered to his feet.
"I love this place already," he mumbled, brushing dust off his face.
Smile bounced in approval, leaving little puddles of joy wherever he went.
The Guild of Renga
The local guildhouse was a ramshackle three-story inn painted sky blue, with a crooked sign that read:
✦ Guild of Odd Jobs, Heroics, and Mildly Illegal Solutions ✦
(Founded by Someone Who Regrets Nothing)
Inside, a blast of warm air, chatter, and the smell of grilled onions smacked Kazuki's senses.
Adventurers crowded the tavern-like interior:
A dwarf arguing with a sentient mug.
A witch knitting a scarf made of fire.
A man whose beard was holding a conversation without him.
And at the bar stood the Guildmaster—a tall woman in her fifties, with wild silver hair, one cybernetic eye, and a glowing frying pan slung over her back like a greatsword.
"You the kids from the mountain duel?" she asked, voice rough as sandpaper and whiskey.
Kazuki blinked. "…We are?"
"Then welcome to Renga, boys. You're late. We've already had two bar fights, a basilisk lawsuit, and someone married a chicken. Here's your paperwork."
She slammed a pile of forms onto the counter.
Aurelis stared. "Are… Are those legally binding?"
The Guildmaster grinned.
"Legally binding, magically enchanted, and emotionally traumatizing. Welcome aboard."
Companion Alert: Feathers Incoming
As Kazuki filled out his "Wandering Accident Classification" form, a screech echoed outside.
Everyone stopped.
Even the mug.
KREEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
A shadow swooped over the building.
Then the door exploded open, wind whipping through the guild like a typhoon.
There, perched on the chandelier with the grace of a god and the smugness of ten emperors, was a giant Philippine eagle.
White plumage. Gold-tipped wings. Piercing eyes.
And a crown made of twigs and coins.
The room went silent.
Kazuki looked up, eyes wide. "…Hi?"
The eagle dropped a letter on his head.
Aurelis picked it up and read aloud.
"To the One Who Tripped into Divinity,
I have chosen to observe you. And by observe, I mean mock, correct, and occasionally rescue you. I am Kiji-no-Hane, Sovereign of the Southern Skies. And I have decided—
You are… amusing.
I shall follow."
Kazuki blinked. "…Did I just get judged by a bird?"
The eagle squawked.
Judgment: Affirmed.
Smile giggled. Aurelis groaned. The guildmaster poured herself a second drink.
Guild Rank: Registered
Kazuki received his official tag:
[Adventurer: Class F - Wandering Hazard]
Aurelis received:
[Adventurer: Class A - Hero by Official Recommendation]
Smile received:
[Title: Slime. That's It.]
Kiji-no-Hane refused a tag.
"I transcend bureaucracy," he said with his eyes.
Chapter End Quest Board
🧹 Help the baker clean her flour elemental!
🔥 Slay the rat that breathes fire in the tavern basement.
📜 Accept mysterious scroll sealed with jelly?
🐍 ?? (Coming soon…)