Brawls and Business ( 226 )

The receptionist girl slowly walked back through the town streets, her steps a little sluggish, her expression stuck somewhere between nervous and resigned.

She passed bakeries, merchant carts, and a group of kids running by with half-eaten fruit buns—probably ones Hazuki delivered earlier.

She sighed.

Inside her mind:

How am I gonna tell Guild Master Braham…

And Deputy Guild Master Gikan… about this?

They told me it was a simple task.

"Just find Hazuki and bring him in," they said.

"He won't give you any trouble."

She frowned, puffing her cheeks in frustration.

Right. He ran away like a criminal, made me chase him through town, scared the kids, and then…

She paused mid-step.

...And then I felt my chest bounce like something was clinging to it—nope, not thinking about that!

She resumed walking, hands nervously adjusting her collar.

I'm sure I'm going to be scolded. Hard.