Mr.Joe Returns ?!!!

In the park, preparations were in full swing, with several collaborators working alongside the Adventurers' Association to set up for the mission ahead. The tension in the air was palpable, and Noah could feel it as soon as he stepped out of the taxi. His heart sank when the meter showed how much the ride had cost him.

'Great, now I'm broke and about to get humiliated,' he muttered under his breath, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he scanned the scene.

The place was buzzing with activity. Noah quickly spotted a man standing near a group of Hunters. He looked to be in charge, issuing orders like a seasoned pro. As Noah approached, the man's eyes flicked over him, lingering just long enough to convey a silent evaluation.

"You're Mr. Noah, right?" The man's voice was neutral, but Noah could sense the undertone of doubt—like he was expecting someone taller, maybe more impressive.

"Yes, sir," Noah replied, his voice a little shakier than he would've liked. He added quickly, "Sorry, I'm late."

The man shook his head dismissively. "No worries. The other Hunters are over there," he said, gesturing toward a group.

Noah followed his gaze and felt his stomach twist. The men and women gathered there looked like they'd just walked out of a "Warriors-R-Us" catalog—bulky armor, and scars in all the right places. He could practically smell the collective testosterone from where he stood.

Noah nodded in acknowledgment and officially joined the group. There were ten Hunters in total, all of them appearing seasoned and rugged. But something felt off—there was a palpable sense of reluctance among them, as though they didn't really want to be there, or perhaps didn't want him there. 

Noah could feel their eyes on him, the weight of their judgment before he'd even said a word.

As he stepped closer, offering a polite greeting, he caught the unmistakable sound of low whispers and snickers. The Hunters' amusement was thinly veiled, and their smirks were all too obvious.

"Is this for real?" One of the older men, his face craggy with experience, chuckled darkly. "They're giving kids a Hunter's license now?"

"Guess they're lowering the standards," another one chimed in with a smirk. "Next thing you know, they'll start recruiting straight from daycare."

A third voice, more mocking than the others, added, "Does this boy even know what it means to kill a monster?"

The sting of their words cut deeper than Noah expected, but he refused to let it show. He kept his head down for a moment, steadying himself. Then, after a brief pause, he lifted his gaze, meeting their mocking eyes head-on. His voice was quiet but firm. "I'm not a kid. I'm 18."

Noah felt his cheeks burn as their laughter hit him like a slap. He clenched his fists at his sides, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "I repeat...I'm not a kid. I'm 18 already," he said, trying to sound firm but knowing full well he probably looked more like someone's lost little brother.

One particularly burly Hunter, built like a boulder with legs, stepped forward, eyeing Noah up and down. "18, huh? You look like you still need a permission slip to be here." The others roared with laughter, and Noah's ears turned an even brighter shade of red.

Despite his calm tone, Noah knew his appearance didn't help his case. In this era, 16 was the age of adulthood, but his lean frame and boyish face did little to support his claim. He looked more like a child than a battle-hardened Hunter. 

The men before him, with their towering builds and hardened expressions, had been through countless battles, and their bodies bore the marks of those experiences. The stark contrast between them made the situation even more uncomfortable.

"Tell me, kid," the burly man leaned in, his voice dripping with condescension. "Ever fought a Kaiju before?"

Noah didn't answer right away. He held the man's gaze, but his silence spoke volumes. He hadn't. He'd trained and prepared, studied tactics and survival, but actual experience in the field? That was something he lacked, and the man could sense it.

Noah hesitated for a second too long, and that was all the confirmation they needed. "Didn't think so," the man snorted. "Well, I guess we've got ourselves a new porter!" More laughter.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a porter." His laughter was low but derisive, and it was clear he didn't think Noah would be much help in the upcoming mission.

'Porter? Oh, great.' Noah grimaced. 'They think I'm here to carry their bags?'

Just as Noah opened his mouth to snap back with something—anything that would salvage what was left of his dignity—someone called his name. "Noah! Is that you?"

Noah blinked in surprise and turned toward the voice. His jaw nearly hit the ground. It was Mr. Joe—the same Mr. Joe who had screamed like a little girl and bolted at the first sign of a shadow monster back in the cave. And here he was, looking like a completely different person, standing tall, his eyes glinting with some newfound resolve.

"Mr. Joe?" Noah managed to sputter. 'Oh, fantastic. Of all the people to run into right now.'

Mr. Joe glanced at Noah, recognition flickering across his face for a brief second before he pretended not to notice him at all, quickly turning to join the Hunters. 

Noah's curiosity flared. 'What had happened to him since that day?' he wondered, watching as Mr. Joe moved to join the others.

Before Noah could think further on it, the man in charge of the operation stepped forward, clipboard in hand, scanning through the names of those present. "Looks like we're missing someone," he muttered under his breath, glancing around.

"Wait! Please wait!" A breathless voice called from behind. Everyone turned to see a young girl sprinting toward them, red-faced and gasping for air. She looked barely older than 14, wearing what looked like a ceremonial outfit complete with a sparkling scepter.

Another kid? The Hunters exchanged incredulous glances. "What is this? Take Your Child to Work Day?" one of them muttered, rolling his eyes.

The girl skidded to a stop in front of the group, hands on her knees, panting. "Sorry—I'm late—the taxi—it dropped me—like three blocks away."

The man in charge sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "It's fine, just—just join the group."

She nodded and hurried to join the others. Noah watched her with growing curiosity. 

There was something about her that stood out, something more than her attire or the way she'd arrived. 

'What happened to me? Who is she?' he wondered as they all prepared for the challenges that lay beyond the park's dungeon's gate.