CHAPTER 43: CH:43 CLASS H HEROICS AND CAT EYES IN THE DARK

As Sarios and Dila made their way toward the Adventurers’ Guild Bar, their footsteps echoed faintly on the cobbled street.

Dila glanced sideways, arms crossed. "Hey, Sarios."

He glanced at her. "Yeah?"

"Why are you part of the Adventurers’ Guild?" Her tone was flat, suspicious. "You’re the kingdom’s hero, aren’t you supposed to be doing hero things? Like saving the world or... standing dramatically on cliffs?"

Sarios laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well... technically, yes. But this guild thing? It’s kind of my side gig."

Dila slowed down. "Side gig?"

"It’s not just about gold," he said. "It helps me kill time. I get bored easily when there’s no kingdom-crashing crisis going on."

Dila stopped walking, turned toward him with a deadly serious look. "So let me get this straight... You joined a dungeon-crawling, slime-smacking adventurer guild... because you were bored?"

Sarios blinked. "That’s... one way to put it."

Dila facepalmed. "Unbelievable. You want chaos to happen just to feel alive, huh?"

"Wait—no! Not like that!" Sarios waved his hands. "I didn’t say I want the kingdom destroyed!"

She stared at him, deadpan. "It sounded like you did."

"I swear I didn’t mean it!" he said, practically pleading now.

Nari chimed in sweetly in Dila’s mind:

☆ You sure he’s the hero and not a rogue NPC with too much free time? ☆

Dila sighed heavily. "This kingdom is doomed."

Sarios slouched. "Ouch."

As they finally stepped inside the Guild Bar, the air was loud and chaotic—just how adventurers liked it. Warriors in iron armor laughed with mugs in hand, robed wizards discussed elemental runes at a corner table, and nimble-looking assassins leaned against walls like they were waiting for someone to dare them into a fight. Some adventurers carried huge knuckles, others had sleek katanas, even a girl was juggling fireballs like party tricks.

Dila blinked. "Whoa... this place is lively."

She turned to Sarios, eyes still darting around. "So this is that greedy place you were talking about?"

Sarios leaned in slightly, whispering, "Yeah... this is the one."

Dila’s eyes sparkled."Doesn’t seem greedy to me." " but still Cool! Okay, let’s grab a quest now!"

"Hold your horses," Sarios said, raising one hand. "You need a card first."

"A card?" Dila turned with a puzzled look.

Sarios pulled something from a pouch in his armor. A shiny, metallic card shimmered in the light—it looked almost like an ATM card, but with a small portrait of him and several glowing runes.

"This is a Guild Card," he said.

Dila leaned in, squinting at it.

"Hero class... Sword Type... Power Class: H."

She nodded slowly. "Oooh... so slick."

Then her eyes lit up. "Wait—Class H? Is that like ’High Power’? Or maybe ’High Quality’?!"

Sarios froze.

He took a bit too long to answer.

"Ahahaha... well..." He scratched the back of his neck and looked sideways. "...Yeah. Totally. ’H’ for... uh, High-tier!"

Dila’s expression flattened into a deadpan stare. "Why do you sound like someone trying to sell me a fake potion?"

Sarios quickly puffed out his chest and struck a heroic pose. "Look at me! Of course I’m proud of my class!"

He flexed dramatically.

Dila covered her mouth, giggling. "You look like a retired knight trying to prove he still matters."

Sarios whispered back, "That’s because I am trying to prove I still matter..."

And in her mind, Nari chimed in:

☆ Status confirmed: Heroic denial, Class H ☆

Dila laughed again. "Alright, alright. Now get me my own shiny card."

And than suddenly Dila has stopped and said. " Wait...." thinking.

And than Dila look back at Sarios and raised a brow, tapping her finger on Sarios’s shiny card.

"But before that... what’s this thing actually called?"

Sarios held it up like a prized trophy and said proudly,

"It’s called the Guild Bar International Card. In short... G.B.I.C."

He said it with the voice of a school teacher explaining the alphabet to a toddler.

Dila blinked. "Ohhh... it sounds like a super important thing."

Sarios nodded confidently. "It is! This card works across all Guild Bars—nation to nation. Whether it’s the Exonory Guild Bar or one deep in the volcanic regions, as long as it’s part of the alliance, this little beauty works!"

Dila gasped, eyes sparkling.

"So basically... it’s like a passport, a wallet, and an adventurer license combined?"

Sarios smiled. "Exactly."

Dila grinned. "So cool. It’s like the fantasy version of a platinum credit card."

Sarios raised his brow. "Wait what is credited card....,ohh will nevermind you say it like that, it sounds like we’re about to get reward points for slaying slimes."

Dila giggled. "Wait—do we?!"

"...No," he deadpanned.

Nari chimed in with a tiny chuckle in Dila’s mind:

☆ Warning: G.B.I.C. does not offer cash back or complimentary potions. Please manage your expectations. ☆

Dila puffed her cheeks. "Lame."

Sarios just laughed. "Welcome to adventuring."

As they stepped up to the Guild Bar’s main reception, the lady behind the counter—a well-dressed woman with glasses and her hair tied in a professional bun—was just finishing up with a bulky warrior, stamping his quest scroll with flair.

With a pleasant smile, she turned to the next in line. "Next—oh?"

Dila stepped forward, her usual calm expression in place. "Lady receptionist, may I know... how does the class system gauge work for humans or monsters? I’m a little curious."

Behind her, Sarios was already in silent panic mode, frantically waving both hands and mouthing "No no no no!" like he was trying to stop someone from launching a missile.

The receptionist noticed him. She squinted. Then sighed like someone who regretted coming to work.

"...Well, since you asked."

She reached under the counter and pulled out a thick laminated chart, slapping it down like a tired schoolteacher dealing with a very eager student.

"We use a universal class ranking system to assess both humans and monsters. It’s based on raw power, threat level, and magical or physical aptitude. The structure goes like this—pay attention now."

---

F-Class – Weakest level. Regular townsfolk or common critters.

G-Class – Slightly stronger than F. Still not impressive.

H-Class – Functional enough. Can use simple skills.

D-Class – Notable strength. Common among trained adventurers.

C-Class – Entry-level power. Already impressive for most.

B-Class – Strong. On par with dragons. Dangerous.

A-Class – Hero-level strength. Capable of turning tides in battles.

S-Class – Demonlord level. Major national threats.

SS-Class – God-tier. Reality-breaking strength.

---

She leaned in, pushing her glasses with a click. "There. Clear enough?"

Dila’s eyes sparkled jokingly because she already know it but now with pretend curiosity. "So... you’re saying H-Class means High-tier, right?"

She glanced sideways at Sarios with a slow, knowing look.

Sarios stiffened like a soldier caught napping. "Uhhh... ah—yes? No—wait—"

The receptionist cut in, coughing into her fist. "No. H-Class stands for ’Hopeless enough class.’ As in, you’re barely qualified to help without getting yourself or others killed."

Dila’s eyes narrowed. Slowly, she turned back toward Sarios.

"You told me it meant High-tier," she said flatly.

Sarios let out a weak laugh, already rubbing the back of his neck. "Haha... you know... trying to boost morale..."

"Lying is bad," Dila muttered, arms crossed.

"Yeah," Sarios grinned, "but I did it to protect what little dignity I had left."

The receptionist was already back to stamping papers. "You two are worse than a drunk goblin trio."

Dila sighed, long and exhausted. "And here I was thinking I was teaming up with a legendary hero."

"Legendary?" Sarios puffed up. "No, no... Helpful. That’s me."

Dila facepalmed. Loudly. It echoed across the whole guild bar.

Meanwhile, in the shadowy corner of the Guild Bar, away from the crowd and noise, a girl around sixteen sat quietly at a wooden table.

She was cloaked in black, her hood pulled low. In her hands, she nursed a simple wooden cup of milk—no alcohol, no distractions—just silence.

Her sharp eyes, hidden beneath the shadow of her hood, carefully observed the crowd... particularly Dila and Sarios by the reception. She didn’t blink. Didn’t move. Just watched. Like a cat hunting from cover.

Suddenly, a large, muscular warrior passed by—too fast, too careless—and accidentally bumped into her shoulder.

"Ah—sorry, little lady," he muttered, bowing quickly.

But she didn’t respond.

She hadn’t flinched.

The wooden cup in her hand didn’t even tremble. Her grip was perfect.

The hood shifted slightly from the bump... and dropped.

Two soft navy-blue cat ears perked up.

A pair of piercing blue eyes glinted from the shadow.

The man blinked. "Eh? Wait, you’re—"

She looked up slowly. Her face unreadable.

The man suddenly stepped back... unsure why a chill crawled down his spine.

She tilted her cup. Sipped. Then lowered it without a word.

The guild fell into a hush in that specific area for just a second—as if it felt something shift.

Who was she?

An ally? A foe?

Or something else entirely?

Stay tuned for the next Chapter...