The Fraudulent Protagonist Arrives in a New Town! (2)

"Ooh~ So this is Neveiria~ It's amazing. Way beyond what I imagined."

"Neveiria is one of the top ten largest cities in the Kingdom of Shun, Master."

Joyeon, having entered Neveiria, couldn't hide his excitement as he looked around at the foreign atmosphere of the city. Rion, who had been watching him, exchanged a few words with his party members before tapping Joyeon on the shoulder to stop him.

"Joyeon, we're thinking of heading to the Adventurer's Guild first. Is that alright with you?"

"Oh! The Adventurer's Guild! Of course that's fine. Let's go right now. I never thought I'd get to see something I've only read about in comics~"

"You shouldn't get your hopes up too much... It's really just an ordinary meeting place."

"That's exactly what I want to see. Hurry up, let's go."

"Whoa... I really never thought I'd get to see a scene straight out of a comic with my own eyes...!"

Upon arriving at the Adventurer's Guild located in the city center, Joyeon was overcome with emotion, his eyes sparkling. It was a large lobby where many people were drinking or chatting. A massive bulletin board on one wall was completely covered with request papers. And receptionists greeting adventurers with smiles, helping them find what they needed.

"Don't they do weapon maintenance here?"

"Personal maintenance is usually done in rented rooms. Especially these days, even among fellow adventurers, times are sensitive, so openly carrying weapons inside the city or town isn't looked upon favorably."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

Joyeon's group, led by Rion, headed toward the reception desk. The receptionist who had been watching them approach greeted them with a smile.

"Welcome. This is the Neveiria Adventurer's Guild. How may I help you?"

"Hello. I'm Rion of the Rion Party. We're looking to buy and sell information, and we need lodging for seven people."

Rion took out a palm-sized iron plate from his pocket and handed it to the receptionist. She accepted it familiarly and began checking it with a simple spell.

"Lara, what's that? What is it?"

"That's a Status Plate. I mentioned it before. It's one of the commonly used forms of identification in the magical world, issued by the guild and primarily used by adventurers."

"Ah, so that's the Status Plate. Is it different from the status window?"

"I've never possessed one myself, so I'm not entirely sure, but I believe they're quite similar."

"Confirmed. We'll proceed with the information transaction first."

The information Rion had mentioned to the receptionist was about the Neutral Saintess's hospital. Perhaps because Joyeon was present, he didn't reveal detailed information, only confirming that the rumor was true and that it had high-level treatment facilities.

"Confirmed. The compensation for information regarding the Neutral Saintess's hospital has already been determined."

The receptionist concluded the payment by handing Rion a single small bronze coin. Joyeon asked Artie to confirm what it was.

"Brown... Is it one bronze coin?"

"That's correct, Master. I explained this to you before, didn't I?"

"Yeah, I remember. 100 bronze coins equal 1 silver coin, 100 silver coins equal 1 gold coin. Above that, 1000 gold coins equal 1 platinum coin, which isn't commonly used. This currency was created by Over Imperia and can be used in most human nations."

"Excellent. I'm so happy you still remember it without forgetting."

"Of course I'd remember this much. But isn't the information fee really cheap? You could probably pick up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a bronze coin off the street."

At Joyeon's muttering, Rion chuckled and handed the coin to Joyeon.

"It means information about the Neutral Saintess's hospital has already spread widely in this area. Just knowing that many people are aware of it is satisfying enough for us."

"I see... Do you have any other information to sell?"

"Well... If I had to mention something, perhaps information about Kelts Pitra? The fact that they use monsters for banditry probably hasn't spread much yet."

"Oh, right. Those bandits."

When Rion passed on information about Kelts Pitra's raiding methods to the receptionist, she handed him a single sheet of paper stamped with an official seal this time.

"What's that?"

"For information whose veracity is difficult to confirm immediately, they issue it like this and pay the information fee later when you return to the guild after verification is complete."

"Ooh... That's quite systematic."

"The information handled by the guild has very high credibility for this reason. If someone tries to sell false information, the guild itself imposes penalties on the adventurer who sold it."

"Hmm~ Can I do that too?"

"Of course. However, the method differs slightly between guild-affiliated adventurers and those who aren't."

"I see. That method..."

"...What the?"

Joyeon, who had been continuously asking questions out of curiosity, noticed the notification window that suddenly appeared in front of his face and realized the seat beside him was empty. He looked around.

"Lara, where's Artie?"

"Artie said she would work on Master's artifact and went over to those chairs."

When Joyeon looked in the direction Artie pointed, he saw Artie sitting in a chair, carving his Nuclear Mana Reactor just as she had said. And several men had surrounded her.

"Hey there, pretty lady~ Came alone, did you~? It's dangerous to be alone these days~"

"Kukuku..! If you're looking for your companions, we could take you to them..?"

"...I have companions, so don't bother me. I have no intention of associating with men like you, so give up. And I want to focus right now, so could you disappear?"

Artie's casual clothes were quite revealing. Her beauty was unforgettable at first sight. Moreover, she possessed a powerful title that forcibly increased the favorability of all members of the opposite sex. It was only natural that flies would gather around her when she was left defenseless without her party nearby. Artie, who had experienced such situations many times before, firmly rejected them as usual, but this time her opponents weren't approaching her with the simple intention of striking up a conversation.

"Kuk.. How about abandoning your useless companions who left you behind and coming with us?"

"I told you nicely to get lost. I'm busy."

"Don't be so cold~ I'm telling you, coming with us would be much better~?"

The man who appeared to be the leader of the group surrounding Artie sat down next to her without permission, wearing a sinister expression, and casually put his arm around her shoulder. Artie, who hadn't expected them to touch her body so freely, was startled and tried to scream.

"...! Th-this is—"

"Hey. What do you think you're doing."

A low voice stopped the man's actions. The man committing the rude act and Artie turned their gazes toward the source of the voice, where Joyeon was glaring at the man with an incredulous expression. Disgust at the scene that seemed straight out of a low-grade movie wrapped around Joyeon's body, and with a nearly expressionless face, he grabbed the man's wrist that was resting on Artie's shoulder, pushed it away, and pulled Artie toward him.

The man looked Joyeon up and down for a moment before grinning like trash who had found a good toy.

"What's this runt? Don't tell me he's your boyfriend?"

"Tha—"

—Hey! A sharp, clear voice suddenly pierced Joyeon's mind. The Ability God was speaking to him through the ring.

—What are you doing taking your eyes off Artie!! If you leave her alone, bugs will definitely swarm around her!

'...I was already planning to deal with it.'

—Make sure of it! I only allowed you to stay by Artie's side specifically to keep the bugs away!!

'I'll make sure of it.'

As if responding to the Ability God's words, Joyeon strongly wrapped his arm around Artie's waist.

"What does it look like to you?"

"Ho~oh~?"

—Hey, hey! What are you doing!

'I'm making sure of it. If I want to deal with the bugs, I at least have to pretend she already has an owner, don't I?'

—Ugh, uuugh~! Well, that's true, but...!

Though surprised by Joyeon's sudden action, Artie didn't seem to dislike it and wrapped her arms around his waist as well. Anyone could see from their actions alone that their relationship was more than ordinary. However, the man showed no intention ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of backing down, as if it didn't matter to him at all.

"Hanging around with a weakling like him won't do you any good~ Don't be greedy and how about yielding her to us? We'll put her to good use. Kikik!"

Crack..!

Joyeon's patience snapped at the man's vulgar words that treated Artie like a toy.

Death Aura, unconsciously activated in response to Joyeon's anger, began spreading across the floor and filling the guild.

"Aah?!"

"Wh-what is this!"

"Who is it! Doing something like this in the guild!"

Joyeon's aura, which had dominated the surrounding space, spread wide enough to affect even unrelated people who were conducting business in the guild. And the man in front of him, Joyeon's target—

"Kit! You started it first?"

Contrary to his actions, the man was quite skilled.

The man who easily resisted Joyeon's aura pulled out a short club from his waist and swung it at Joyeon. The club flew toward Joyeon's face at high speed. It was fast enough that he could have dodged it if he tried, but Joyeon made no attempt to avoid the seemingly non-threatening stick.

However, even after seeing the Bone Armor, the man didn't stop and spoke with a sneer.

"[Pierce Shock]"

Thud!

The club was blocked by the Bone Armor and couldn't reach Joyeon. But—

Thud!!

"Kuhk...?!"

"Kyaa! J-Joyeon!"

The 'shock' penetrated through the Bone Armor and struck Joyeon directly. Caught off guard by the unexpected impact, Joyeon's neck snapped back and he staggered, and Artie, who had been clinging to him, fell with him.

"You idiot! It couldn't have been a normal attack!"

—Y-you idiot!! How could you respond so stupidly just by looking at the appearance!

The man sneered at Joyeon, who was still on the ground unable to regain his senses, while the Ability God also screamed at Joyeon's pathetic state.

"Rather than this kind of stupid guy, I—"

Rumble...!

Suddenly the ground began to shake. As if startled by Joyeon being hurt. As if disgusted by what he was seeing. As if hating the man who had created this situation. And the first to act on that anger was Artie.

"Whoa. What? An earthquake?"

While the man was distracted trying to maintain his balance on the shaking ground, Artie had already arrived right in front of him.

"Die, you insect..!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"N-no!! Artie!"

In the midst of the chaotic situation, Rion, who was the first to realize what was about to happen through quick judgment, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shouted urgently. But of course, Rion's words couldn't stop Artie. The man who turned his head at Rion's cry found Artie's iron fist already reaching his face.

"Stop."

Thud..!

Boom...!

Artie's fist stopped just in front of the man's face, creating a strong gust of wind. The ground that had been shaking madly also calmed down as if obeying Joyeon's command. The man who hadn't reacted to Artie's fist realized he had nearly died just now and broke out in a cold sweat, yet he didn't lose his sly smile.

"...Kuk, kukuk. Have you changed your mind about yielding? Don't worry.."

"Shut up."

Joyeon cut off the man's words, roughly wiped the blood flowing from his split lips with his hand, and roughly helped Artie, who had fallen with him, to her feet.

"Are you hurt?"

"N-no..."

'Joyeon is angry...'

Though Joyeon was looking at her with an unusually stiff, expressionless face, making it seem like he was angry, Artie could read the same atmosphere in his expression as when he had killed Kelts Pitra, so she felt no fear. Instead, she only felt sorry and worried, thinking that this had happened because of her. However, Joyeon didn't seem to be in a situation to notice Artie's gaze and only stared at the man who had struck him.

"Thanks to you, my head feels a bit clearer now. Don't think things will go your way until the end."

"...Kuhuhuhu. You've got quite quick wits. So surviving until now wasn't just luck, huh?"

The man grinned slyly. Moments later, guards began pouring into the guild. One of the man's companions had called the guards, saying a fight had broken out in the guild. It was natural for them to come since it was a dangerous incident that occurred inside the city. But the guards began surrounding Joyeon instead of the man who had attacked him.

"We've received reports that you used threatening magic in a place with many people. It would be best not to resist."

"...You're the one who did something like that and now you're acting innocent."

At the guard's words, Joyeon growled while glaring at the man, having realized how far the man had planned. And Artie, who hadn't expected Joyeon rather than the man who hit him to be suspected, shouted at the guards.

"W-wait a minute! What nonsense is this...! Can't you see the wound on Master's face! That man attacked Master!"

"Artie! Calm down! Strictly speaking, Joyeon is the one who caused the biggest problem right now!"

"What? What kind of bullshit is that!"

The reason the man had been deliberately provoking Joyeon's temper was precisely this. In Neveiria, no matter the reason, the one who attacks first is overwhelmingly at a disadvantage. Moreover, Joyeon was an outsider and a modern person. The man was an adventurer affiliated with the guild. Even if Joyeon had only lightly touched the man first, the situation would have been unfavorable for Joyeon. The man knew this fact very well, and that's why he used it to put Joyeon in a difficult situation. Because he was extremely jealous of Joyeon being with a woman who ranked in the top 'two fingers' among all the women he had seen so far, despite looking like a naive brat. The trap the man had set out of extreme jealousy was dirty, despicable, and ideal. Even without taking any action like now, he would already become the guards' target and have his actions restricted. Even if Joyeon hadn't stopped Artie, the man would definitely have died, but due to dozens of witnesses, Joyeon would have become a wanted criminal and been chased in an instant.

"Young lady~? Rather than staying by the side of that kind of idiot who doesn't know the ways of the world and only hides behind women, wouldn't it be much happier to come to our side and act cute~?"

The man, who was very pleased with the current situation, spoke to Artie again, trying to provoke Joyeon. Rumble...!

The ground began to shake slightly again at the man's words.

"Joyeon is thousands of times cooler than a man like you! I like Joyeon much more! Get lost!"

Despite her face turning pale at the man's unpleasant gaze that seemed to crawl up from her toes to her thighs and across her chest and face, Artie shouted loudly.

"My, my~ You're still young too. You need to learn more about the adult world~?"

"Hey, that's enough. Any more than this will only bring you disadvantages."

"Oops~ Of course, sir guard~ Let's meet again later. Pretty lady. If you ever want to throw away that beanpole of a man next to you, you're always welcome."

At the guard's words, the man, as if he had no more attachment, seemed satisfied with having put Joyeon in a difficult position and tried to leave with his companions.

"Hey, you. What's your name."

Joyeon called out to the man who was leaving.

"Huh? Do you think I'd tell you something like that~? How stupid do you have to be to ask that?"

"...... You'd better watch out for night roads. I've memorized your face."

"Oh my~ How scary~ Kwahahaha!"

The man left the guild without any restraint. Artie took out a handkerchief from her dimensional pocket and wiped Joyeon's still-bleeding lips.

"I'm sorry, Joyeon... Because of me, this unnecessary trouble..."

"Hey, Artie."

Joyeon grabbed Artie's wrist as she wiped his lips and looked at her with an expression still filled with irritation and anger.

"You, don't even think about leaving my side from now on. Never."

"Eek.. Y-yes..."

Artie nodded with her face somehow flushed.