Rena looked at Neo, who was still standing calmly in front of her.
"Don't listen to what they're saying."
Neo didn't answer.
But before things could become even more awkward, Diana approached Neo.
"Yeah, Neo. We'll fight together."
Neo turned toward Diana.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you, Diana."
Rena then took two cards from the table.
"All right. Since you two are still beginners..."
Rena handed the cards to Neo and Diana.
"You are now officially Rank F adventurers."
Diana accepted her card with a delighted look on her face.
"We did it!"
Neo looked at the adventurer card in his hand.
At last, they had officially become adventurers.
Rena then pointed to a large board not far from where they were standing.
"You can take easy quests from the board over there."
Neo shifted his gaze.
A large board covered with all kinds of requests stood there.
There were requests to gather materials, search for medicinal plants, help the villagers, and even exterminate the small monsters around the village.
Neo studied the board for a while.
"So... this is where our journey begins."
Diana smiled.
"That's right. Let's check out our first quest!"
Dante's Challenge
It was late afternoon.
The sun was slowly sinking toward the western horizon, while the village was growing quieter.
Neo and Diana had just returned to the guild after completing their fifth quest of the day.
Diana let out a long sigh.
"I'm so tired today..."
Neo also looked a little tired.
"Yeah. I didn't expect us to finish five quests in a single day."
Diana smiled.
"Even though I'm tired, it was still pretty fun."
"Yeah."
They smiled at each other.
Then they both chuckled.
But suddenly—
"Hey."
A voice came from behind them.
Neo and Diana stopped walking.
They turned around at the same time.
A young man stood several steps behind them.
His name was Dante.
He walked toward them with a confident smile.
"So a weak guy like you is accompanied by a girl that beautiful."
Diana fell silent.
Dante then shifted his gaze to Diana.
"Miss, why don't you come with me instead? I'm a Rank D adventurer, you know."
Diana hadn't even had a chance to answer.
Neo immediately stepped in front of her.
"Just leave. Don't bother us."
Dante was silent for a moment.
Then he sneered.
"Tch... So you're weak and arrogant, too."
Dante stepped closer to Neo.
The distance between them continued to shrink.
"How about we duel in the village tournament?"
Neo fell silent.
He stared at Dante without the slightest hint of fear.
Dante sneered.
"You dare?"
Several adventurers nearby began to take notice.
Neo finally answered.
"I agree."
Diana was immediately startled.
"Neo?!"
Neo glanced at Diana for a moment.
Then he turned his gaze back to Dante.
"On one condition."
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"If I win, don't bother Diana again."
Dante fell silent.
Then—
"Hahaha!"
He burst into loud laughter.
"You really think you can win?"
Neo didn't answer.
Dante continued laughing as he looked at Neo with complete confidence.
"All right."
He then stepped a little closer.
"If I win, you have to kneel and apologize to me."
Dante paused for a moment.
"And after that, you can't get in my way when I approach Diana."
The atmosphere around them began to change.
Several adventurers who had heard the conversation began whispering to one another.
A Rank D adventurer had challenged a Rank F beginner.
The outcome of the fight seemed obvious.
However...