Although Galvis was known for his flamboyance, his words this ti were surprisingly accurate.
The mont the carriage stopped and the curtain was drawn aside...
"It’s the Silver Radiance Knight!"
"Look! It’s the unerring Elf Archer!"
"The great hero Roland is here!"
Cheers rose and fell, washing over them like a tide.
The Guards, who should have been performing a routine inspection, snapped to attention and perford a solemn Knight’s salute. A few of the younger Guards were so excited that the Long Spears in their hands trembled slightly.
rchants on both sides of the street stopped their business, and children stood on their tiptoes, desperately trying to get a look.
Soone threw the first wild rose, and in the blink of an eye, flowers of all colors rained down, blanketing the stone path before the carriage.
Facing the adoring crowd and their reverent gazes, Roland shot a helpless glance at the smug Galvis beside him and sighed inwardly.
Their achievents in hunting Bear Goblins over the past month should have only circulated within the small circles of Adventurers and rcenaries.
But their party just had to have a Minstrel who was an expert at "artistic embellishnt."
Whenever the others were busy with actual business, this poet would invariably appear in the town’s various taverns, using his extravagant eloquence to spin their experiences into a Legend.
Handwritten copies of his unfinished Heroic Epic were already circulating throughout the streets and alleys.
Now, it wasn’t just the Adventurers, rcenaries, and town Guards who were familiar with the threat of the Bear Goblins; even the street vendors and young children could recount their deeds as if they were household tales.
Glancing over, he saw a little girl holding up a stick, imitating Roland’s signature Sword Techniques in a childish voice, which drew a round of laughter from the surrounding adults.
"Galvis..."
Roland smiled as he accepted a wild rose from a brown-haired boy, ruffling his fluffy short hair.
After watching the boy run back to his friends, seeing the adoring glint in the children’s eyes, he lowered his voice and spoke to the Minstrel.
"I won’t interfere with your hobby of spreading stories, but..."
Staring at the ever-growing crowd, Roland’s temples began to throb.
"You could at least retain so semblance of the truth, and also..."
"Artistic embellishnt is essential!"
Galvis puffed out his chest before Roland could finish, his Harp letting out a resonant twang.
"How can boring facts ignite the Fla in people’s hearts?"
"Fine... have it your way..."
Seeing that the crowd had completely surrounded the carriage, Roland had no choice but to lift the curtain and stand beside Galvis.
He took a deep breath, his clear voice cutting through the clamor like the edge of a sword.
"Everyone!"
The bustling street instantly fell silent.
"We are grateful for your warm welco."
Roland nodded to the Guards who were maintaining Order.
"But please don’t cause any trouble for our brothers in the Guard. Besides, we still need to go to the Adventurer’s Guild to report on our quest, so we’d ask you all to clear a path..."
Before he could finish, an excited question rang out from the crowd.
"Lord Roland, did you slay another Bear Goblin this ti?"
"Well..."
Just as Roland was choosing his words, Galvis, beside him, eagerly untied a blood-stained sack.
As the thick stench of blood filled the air, the Minstrel held up the Bear Goblin’s ferocious head as if displaying a precious treasure.
The head’s frozen, savage expression and the Arrow-pierced eye socket looked particularly horrifying in the sunlight.
Amidst a wave of cheers, a buxom woman in a red dress that looked like a Burning Fla pushed her way to the front.
"Lord Roland, co to my Golden Oak tavern tonight! All the ale is free! My boy has been practicing that Backhand Sword technique you taught him in the yard every day!"
"Miss Elf!"
A few young girls in hospun dresses waved desperately at Avril.
"Can you teach us archery? We’ve heard the Minstrel sing about you piercing two goblins with one arrow below the city wall at least seventeen or eighteen tis!"
"The Rose Tavern will always welco Miss Teresa!"
A stout owner in a grease-stained apron shouted, waving a ladle.
"Last ti, you ate our entire three-day supply of smoked at all by yourself! But the next day, the hunters brought in five tis more ga than usual, saying your appetite inspired them to hunt harder!"
Even the Guard Captain maintaining Order couldn’t help but chi in.
"Lord Galvis, my daughter’s been at ho every day trying to imitate that ’Silver Dawn Song’ you sang in the square last month on her beat-up Lute..."
He suddenly realized his impropriety, coughed twice, and straightened his back.
Suddenly, a young voice cut through the noise.
"Lord Roland!"
The brown-haired boy who had offered the flower earlier held up a Wooden Sword, his little face flushed red.
"I... I want to beco a great hero just like you one day!"
The entire street fell silent for a mont, then erupted in good-natured laughter and applause.
This boisterous interlude continued for so ti until, after Roland’s repeated polite refusals, the enthusiastic crowd reluctantly dispersed.
Watching Galvis, who was still strumming a rousing tune, Roland clapped him on the shoulder in annoyance.
"What are you spacing out for? It’s ti to go to the Adventurer’s Guild and turn in the quest."
"Hey, Roland! You don’t get it. I’m maintaining the team’s image..."
The Minstrel was about to argue when he saw Roland turn to Avril with a aningful smile.
"Avril, our adventures have been tough lately. Why don’t we have Galvis undergo so training too? Look at that scrawny fra of his. He might end up dragging us down at so point."
The Elf Maiden’s eyes lit up, her gaze locking onto the Minstrel like an Arrow.
"Great idea!"
The harp string let out a mournful TWANG.
With astonishing speed, Galvis tossed his Harp into the carriage, grabbed the reins, and spoke with a solemn expression.
"Roland, I think you’re right! Turning in the quest is the most important thing right now!"
Before he finished speaking, the carriage shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, its speed startling a flock of doves by the roadside.
In the blink of an eye, the Adventurer’s Guild was just ahead.
"Roland... so when do you think would be a good ti to start the training?"
Avril toyed with her Bowstring, smiling as she looked at Galvis.
Galvis’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently for a mont before he suddenly yanked hard on the reins.
"I almost forgot, Roland! The right rear wheel was having so issues earlier! To make sure our return trip is smooth, I’ll go find soone to fix it right now!"
Before his voice faded, the carriage had already disappeared around the corner in an exaggerated cloud of dust, leaving only the echoing whinnies of startled horses.
Seeing this, the three of them looked at each other, shared a smile, and stepped into the Guild hall carrying the blood-stained sack.
Just like on the street earlier, Roland and the others were t with another round of cheers upon entering the Adventurer’s Guild.
After another mont of clamor, Roland finally made his way through the crowded hall to the counter.
"Laurie..."
As the heavy sack landed on the counter with a thud, the refined receptionist, with whom they had dealt several tis, showed no particular surprise. He simply bowed respectfully to Roland and pushed a pre-prepared money pouch towards him.
"Mr. Roland, as agreed... in addition to the paynt, we will also grant you a Combat Skill as a bonus reward. However, before that..."
Laurie leaned forward and lowered his voice.
"A certain big shot from the Adventurer’s Guild would like to et with you. I was wondering if you... might have the ti?"
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