55. Drinks at the Pub (III)

Chapter 55: Drinks at the Pub (III)

Just as Freya and I were settling into a rare moment of quiet camaraderie, Gwen appeared from the back room, holding a small pouch and a rolled-up parchment in her hands. Her amber eyes lit up when she saw me, and she sauntered over with that familiar smirk of hers.

"Here you go, Kaizen," she said, placing the pouch and parchment on the table in front of me. "Your reward for the quest. The guild's cut has already been taken out, so don't bother trying to haggle for more."

I grinned, picking up the pouch and giving it a satisfying shake. The clink of coins was music to my ears. "Thanks, Gwen. You always know how to make a man feel appreciated."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the slight smile tugging at her lips. "Don't get used to it. To earn this much, you need to be a seasoned veteran at C-rank or higher. A rookie like you with barely 2 months on the job shouldn't even be thinking of this as a regular thing. Unless you get summoned by the duchess I suppose. Rumor is she is back in town."

At the mention of the Duchess, Freya straightened slightly, her gaze shifting to Gwen. I noticed the subtle tension in the air and decided to play mediator. "Gwen, this is Freya Mikaelson. Freya, this is Gwen, the guild's most infamous receptionist."

Before I could say more, Gwen's eyes widened in recognition, and she let out a small laugh. "Freya? Freya Mikaelson? Gods, it's been years! I didn't even recognize you at first."

Freya's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Gwen. I should've known you'd end up here. Still causing trouble, I see."

Gwen placed a hand on her hip, her smirk returning. "Someone's got to keep things interesting around here. But look at you—all grown up. I heard you was working for noble Duchess or something. Who would've thought?"

I blinked, looking between the two of them. "Wait, you two know each other?"

Freya nodded, her tone casual but with a hint of nostalgia. "We grew up together in the capital. Gwen's family lived a few streets over from mine. We used to get into all sorts of trouble as kids."

Gwen chuckled, leaning against the table. "Trouble? That's putting it lightly. Remember the time we snuck into the noble district and got caught stealing pastries from the baker's window?"

Freya's smile widened, and for a moment, she looked almost carefree. "How could I forget? You blamed it all on me, and I ended up grounded for a week."

Gwen shrugged, her grin unapologetic. "Hey, you were faster. I figured you had a better chance of getting away."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling like I'd stumbled into a conversation I wasn't entirely prepared for. "Well, isn't this a small world? Here I was, thinking I'd have to mediate some awkward introductions, and it turns out you two are old friends."

Freya and Gwen exchanged a look, and for a moment, I couldn't quite read the tension between them. It wasn't hostile, but there was something unspoken—a history that went deeper than just childhood mischief.

Gwen broke the silence, her tone light but with a teasing edge. "So, Freya, what brings you to the guild? Checking up on Kaizen, or is this a social call?"

Freya's expression shifted back to her usual composed demeanor. "A bit of both. I came to thank Kaizen for his work on the quest, but it seems he's already moved on to his next distraction."

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "Distraction? I prefer to think of it as multitasking."

Gwen laughed, her eyes flicking between Freya and me. "Oh, I'm sure. Kaizen's always been good at keeping himself… occupied."

Freya's gaze lingered on Gwen for a moment before she turned her attention back to me. "Speaking of distractions, how's Ruko doing? It looks like he's actually holding a conversation."

I followed her gaze to where Ruko was sitting with the female adventurer. To my surprise, they were both laughing, and Ruko seemed more relaxed than I'd ever seen him. His tail was swaying gently, and his ears were perked up—a good sign.

"Looks like he's doing better than expected," I said, a hint of pride in my voice. "Maybe he's got more charm than I gave him credit for."

Gwen leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Ruko. "He's got a certain… quiet confidence. Some women find that appealing."

Freya nodded, her tone thoughtful. "He's a good man. He just needs to believe in himself more."

I glanced between the two women, sensing an undercurrent of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. They were both watching Ruko with a mix of amusement and approval, but there was also a subtle tension between them—like they were sizing each other up without saying a word.

Gwen turned to me, her smirk returning. "You know, Kaizen, for someone who claims to be so good with women, you're surprisingly oblivious."

I raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "Oblivious? Me? I'll have you know I'm very perceptive."

Freya let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Perceptive? You didn't even notice the way Ruko and her were vibing at each other just now."

I blinked, looking between them. "Vibes? What vibes?"

Gwen and Freya exchanged another look, and this time, they both burst out laughing. I crossed my arms, feeling like I'd missed some inside joke. "Alright, someone fill me in. What's so funny?"

Gwen wiped a tear from her eye, still chuckling. "Oh, Kaizen. You really don't get it, do you?"

Freya shook her head, her smile softening. "Let's just say you're not as smooth as you think you are."

I leaned back, pretending to be offended but secretly enjoying the banter. "Well, if you two are done ganging up on me, maybe we can focus on the fact that Ruko is actually talking to a woman without panicking. That's progress, right?"

Gwen nodded, her expression turning more serious. "It is. And he deserves it. He's been through a lot."

Freya agreed, her gaze lingering on Ruko for a moment longer before she turned back to me. "You've been a good friend to him, Kaizen. Whether you realize it or not."

I shrugged, trying to play it off. "Hey, someone's got to look out for him. Besides, it's not like I had anything better to do."

Gwen and Freya both gave me a look, and for once, I felt like maybe I'd said the right thing. The tension between them seemed to ease, and we all turned our attention back to Ruko, who was now gesturing animatedly as he told some story to the female adventurer. She was leaning in, clearly interested, and for the first time in a long while, since I met him a few days back, Ruko looked… happy. Well we didn't really talk much until just recently when he nursed me and the twins. He was super quiet on our journey the entire time before that. Maybe it was because of the twins as his possess or maybe it was just as he claimed. He was a quiet guy.

As I watched him, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up for all of us.

The pub's lively atmosphere seemed to grow even more vibrant as the night wore on. The clinking of mugs, the hum of conversation, and the occasional burst of laughter created a comforting backdrop to the scene unfolding at our table. Gwen, Freya, and I continued to chat, the tension between them easing as they reminisced about their shared past. It was fascinating to see this side of Freya—softer, more relaxed, and even a little nostalgic. Gwen, on the other hand, was as sharp-tongued and playful as ever, but there was a warmth in her teasing that suggested she genuinely cared about Freya.

At one point, Gwen leaned back in her chair, her amber eyes glinting with mischief. "You know, Freya, if you ever get tired of working for the Duchess, you should come work here at the guild. We could always use someone with your… particular set of skills."

Freya raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Tempting, but I think I'll stick to my current role. The Duchess has been good to me, and I owe her a lot."

Gwen shrugged, her smirk never fading. "Suit yourself. But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."

I couldn't help but chuckle at their banter. "You two are like a pair of old rivals who can't decide whether to fight or team up. It's entertaining, to say the least."

Freya shot me a look, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "And you're like the annoying little brother who always has to insert himself into the conversation."

Gwen laughed, pointing at me. "She's got you there, Kaizen. You do have a knack for butting in where you're not needed."

I placed a hand over my heart, feigning hurt. "Ouch. And here I thought I was the glue holding this little reunion together."

Freya rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "You're something, Kaizen. I'll give you that."

As the conversation continued, I found myself enjoying the dynamic between the three of us. It was rare to see Freya so at ease, and Gwen's sharp wit kept things lively. Even Ruko, who was still deep in conversation with the female adventurer, seemed to be thriving in the warm, welcoming atmosphere of the pub.

Eventually, Gwen stood, stretching her arms above her head. "Well, as much as I'd love to stay and chat, I've got work to do. The guild doesn't run itself, you know."

[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]