CHAPTER 53: OUR VERY FIRST QUEST AS REWRITE!

The rest of the night was amazing. We laughed, we drank, we shouted loud enough to wake the gods. Before long, the whole tavern was celebrating our party—as if Rewrite were already some big deal. To me? Of course it’s a big deal. To them? ...I don’t even know half these people. But who cares. It was fun. One of the best nights of my life so far.

"Get up, darling."

A soft, silky voice brushes against my ears while I’m still sprawled in bed, lazily swimming in last night’s memories. Wait... I went to bed alone, didn’t I? Then why is it so... warm? So... soft?

Soft what? Soft who?!

Something shifts on my chest, and realization crashes into me like a wagon. I’m not alone. My eyes snap open.

Amara’s face fills my vision, her gaze locked onto me, her lips curved in a smile far too hungry, far too dangerous for this early in the morning.

"G-good... morning..." I stammer, because saying nothing would probably make this even more awkward. But before I can process, another weight presses at my side.

I glance left.

Roxy is out cold, snoring softly, clinging to my arm like it’s her favorite plush toy.

I glance right.

Anna’s sprawled out with that same smug expression plastered on her face. What the hell is she even dreaming about? I roll my eyes. Look at her—sleeping like she owns the place.

I freeze, trapped in some twisted sandwich of death flags.

Damn it... I don’t know whether to panic or celebrate. And I definitely know that if I complain, some certain readers out there will slap me to death. Yeah, I see you.

Sometimes I wonder if my luck with women is just too good. Then again... maybe it’s already spiraled so far out of hand it’s actively strangling the plot.

I mean, sure—there’s a lot of PLOT in here. But that’s not the point.

Ahem... moving on before I dig my own grave.

"Amara... what are you doing on top of me...?" I ask the only woman here who’s actually awake. But honestly, if she doesn’t get off soon... this is going to turn into one of those adult books my Pa warned me not to read. (Yeah, the ones I totally read anyway.)

"I’m just making sure my husband is still healthy." She leans closer, her voice dripping with mischief.

And here’s where we make the cut. Sorry, readers—no can do before eighteen. Big Boss already threatened to take this whole novel down if I cross that line. Tragic, I know.

After getting dressed, I bolt out of there, escaping the hungry vulture waiting to devour me alive.

"Powder! You ready?!" I slam into his room, only to freeze.

The guy’s still out cold. Literally dead to the world. Not even twitching. Worse—he’s sprawled naked across the bed like some kind of offering to the god.

...Yeah, maybe I should’ve kept that detail to myself.

But what’s this heavy stench? I sniff again, and the sour burn of alcohol slams straight into my nose. Of course. He never listens, does he?

I stride over and kick him in the side of the chest.

"Get up, you lazy drunk. I can smell the booze reeking off you!"

Can you believe it? He went and got drunk again. This little bastard... I swore I’d beat him half to death if I ever caught him drinking like this one more time.

I lift my quill, ready to carve the words into the air. Maybe it’s time to erase that addiction for good before it spirals out of control.

But then he stirs. His eyes crack open, hazy and frightened, like he’s seeing a ghost.

"Quill?! I... I swear I only had a few. Really, just last time!"

He doesn’t even notice the quill in my hand. I freeze, my chest tightening. Should I do it? It would be better for him, wouldn’t it? Cut away the bad habits, strip out the flaws.

But... would he still be Powder?

That foolish grin, that stubborn innocence, the way he drives me insane and yet always stands at my side—would that vanish if I forced him into perfection? That thought has haunted me for a while now.

The more I think about rewriting my friends, the more I realize: maybe it isn’t right. Strengthening them is one thing. Helping them grow, giving them power, fulfilling their dreams—that’s fine. That’s good for them, and good for me.

But to turn them into perfect puppets? No. That should be reserved for my enemies.

"Alright, brother..." I sigh, extending my hand to him. "But next time," I yank him up and help him sit, flashing a devilish grin, "I’ll snap your balls. So think twice about what’s more important to you."

His eyes widen at the threat, then gleam with fake sincerity. "Of course! No more drinking!" He even salutes me like a soldier reporting to his general. Idiot.

"Get up, you lazy bastard. Let’s go pick our first quest! And before the sun goes down, we’ll make damn sure to complete it!"

I know I should visit my sister soon. That thought stirs in the back of my head, heavy and lingering. But the thrill of beginning our first journey as a real party... it pulls stronger than duty. Don’t look at me like that. I’m not heartless. I miss her too. I’ll go. Just... not yet.

Powder’s face lights up like a child on festival day. He scrambles to throw on his clothes, and before long the two of us are standing side by side with the girls as we enter the Adventurer’s Guild.

Dozens of jealous stares greet us instantly. Can’t imagine why. Maybe because three women are plastered against me like I’m their damn life raft!!!

"How about that one?!" Anna suddenly blurts, finger jabbing at the quest board with way too much enthusiasm.

[D-Rank Quest: Capture the beast causing trouble for the farmers – Reward: 10 gold coins, +20 Party Experience]

Ah, right. I’d almost forgotten. Parties can gain experience together. That’s how our rank increases. Bite explained it all to me—quests equal progress. Honestly, it’s a brilliant system. I wonder which sick genius came up with it.

"Let’s see..." I read the parchment aloud. "The beast is known as the Boar of Ten Thousand Truffles. A rare creature that can make any person rich overnight. But its hunger is devastating local farmland. If left unchecked, the farmers will lose everything. Supplies for winter will collapse, and the city will starve. Please slay the boar to save our people. – Signed, Lord Maximus of Arcana."

Not bad. Sounds like an actual adventure.

"What do you think, Quill?" Roxy nudges my shoulder, her smile wide and eager.

"Me?" I blink at all of them, caught off guard.

"Of course, you fool." Anna folds her arms, rolling her eyes like I just asked if pigs could fly. "You’re the leader. Your choice is final. If you approve it, we’ll follow—no matter how difficult it is."

Leader, huh? The word still feels strange, like an oversized coat I’m not sure fits me yet.

"Alright then." I lift the parchment from the board. "If there are no objections... then let this be it. Our very first quest as Rewrite!"