The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 89

Chapter 89: 03/07- Waiting
Aeliana and Kael moved to the designated waiting area, where a long queue of adventurers had already formed. The guild hall was bustling with activity—recruits and seasoned adventurers alike filled the space, some discussing quest strategies, others sharing stories of past battles. The scent of parchment, ink, and faint traces of metal and leather lingered in the air.

As they took their place in line, Aeliana found herself observing the people around her. Some were clearly veterans, clad in well-worn armor with weapons that carried the marks of many battles. Others, like her and Kael, were new recruits, gripping their freshly minted adventurer tags with equal parts excitement and nervousness.

Kael crossed his arms, leaning against a wooden pillar. “This is going to take forever,” he muttered, glancing at the line ahead. “I don’t see why we couldn’t just sign up and leave.”

Aeliana smirked. “Patience, Kael. We’re adventurers now. This is part of the experience.”

He sighed but said nothing more. Instead, he glanced toward the quest board nearby, where a clerk was pinning up new postings. Various missions were available, ranging from simple herb collection to full-scale monster subjugation. Some bore higher-ranked symbols, indicating they were not for newcomers like them.

Aeliana nudged him. “See anything interesting?”

Kael shrugged. “A few monster hunts, but they’re probably out of our league right now.”

Before Aeliana could respond, a voice called out from the front desk. “Next group, step forward!” The line shuffled forward slightly, bringing them a few places closer to the counter.

Behind them, a group of adventurers was engaged in an animated discussion. One of them, a heavily armored warrior with a scar across his cheek, glanced at Aeliana and Kael. “First-timers?” he asked, his tone friendly but amused.

Aeliana nodded. “Yeah, just finished the screening.”

“Good luck,” the warrior said with a chuckle. “The first quest is always the hardest. Not because of difficulty, but because you realize this life isn’t just about heroics. It’s about endurance.”

Kael scoffed. “We can handle ourselves.”

The warrior grinned but didn’t argue. “Hope so. What kind of quest are you two thinking of taking?”

Aeliana considered for a moment. “Something that gets us started without being too overwhelming. Maybe a monster hunt?”

Another adventurer in the group, a rogue with twin daggers strapped to his waist, whistled. “Ambitious for a first quest. Be careful. Even weak monsters can turn deadly if you’re careless.”

Kael rolled his eyes. “We’ll be fine.”

Before the conversation could continue, the guild clerk called for the next adventurers. Aeliana and Kael moved up in line, now only a few spots away from the front.

As they waited, Aeliana glanced at a notice pinned beside the counter. It listed the general adventurer ranks, from the beginner-tier Copper rank to the elite Mithril and Adamantite levels. The reality of it settled in—right now, they were at the very bottom.

Kael seemed to follow her gaze. “Gonna take a long time to climb up that ladder,” he muttered.

Aeliana smiled. “All the more reason to get started.”

A voice behind them spoke up. “You two planning to rise through the ranks quickly?”

They turned to see a female adventurer, dressed in a mix of leather and chainmail, her eyes sharp and assessing. “Not many newcomers make it past their first year,” she continued. “Guild work is dangerous, even for the best.”

Aeliana met her gaze without hesitation. “We’re ready for it.”

The woman studied her for a moment before nodding. “We’ll see.”

Finally, the group in front of them finished their registration, and it was their turn to step up to the counter. The guild clerk, a middle-aged elf with a sharp, no-nonsense expression, looked up from his ledger. “Names?”

“Aeliana and Kael,” Aeliana answered.

The clerk flipped through a few documents before nodding. “Temporary tags confirmed. You’re now eligible for quests. Do you have a specific type of mission in mind?”

Aeliana glanced at Kael, then back at the clerk. “Something to prove ourselves, but nothing too extreme. A monster hunt, if possible.”

The clerk hummed thoughtfully, running a finger down a list. “There’s a low-tier subjugation request nearby. A group of goblins has been causing trouble on the outskirts of the village. Standard elimination mission. Five confirmed targets, possibility of more. Does that sound acceptable?”

Kael smirked. “Sounds perfect.”

The clerk nodded, scribbling down their assignment. “Report back with proof of the kills. And try not to die—newcomers have a bad habit of underestimating goblins.”

Aeliana took the quest form, determination gleaming in her eyes. “We won’t.”

As they stepped away from the counter, Kael stretched his arms. “Finally. Our first real quest.”

Aeliana smiled. “Let’s make it count.”

With that, they left the guild hall, ready to take their first step into the adventuring world.

Aeliana and Kael stepped forward confidently—well, Aeliana did. Kael, on the other hand, had his usual look of skepticism, as if he were already predicting some kind of bureaucratic headache. The guild clerk, an older woman with sharp eyes and an air of someone who had dealt with one too many overenthusiastic rookies, glanced between them with an expression that hovered between boredom and mild amusement.

“Names?” she asked, quill poised over the registration log.

“Aeliana,” she said proudly, straightening her posture. “And this is Kael.”

The clerk gave Kael a dry look. “You sure about this?”

Kael sighed. “Unfortunately.”

Aeliana elbowed him, but the clerk simply smirked and continued writing. “Alright, you’re now officially registered for the goblin extermination quest. Try not to die. Next!”

Kael muttered under his breath, “Great words of encouragement.”

Aeliana grinned, grabbing his arm. “Come on, partner. Let’s go exterminate some goblins.”

Kael groaned. “I already regret this.”

Aeliana sighed, glancing at the seemingly never-ending line of adventurers ahead of them. The queue barely seemed to move, and the anticipation of starting their first quest was slowly turning into boredom. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, glancing at Kael, who looked just as exasperated as she felt.

“What a long queue…” Aeliana muttered under her breath, her arms crossed as she tapped her fingers against them. “At this rate, we’ll be here all day.”

Kael let out a small huff, stretching his arms behind his head. “Yeah, no kidding. Feels like we’ve been standing here forever.”

Aeliana glanced around the guild hall, taking in the sight of adventurers chatting amongst themselves, some trading weapons and potions, others discussing strategies for their upcoming quests. The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread wafted in from a small food stall near the corner, and her stomach grumbled in response.

She turned to Kael with a small smirk. “Hey, will you hold our spot in line for a bit?”

Kael raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“I’m going to grab some snacks,” Aeliana said, already taking a step toward the food stall. “And if I have to suffer in this line for another hour, I’d rather do it with something to eat.”

Kael rolled his eyes but gave a small shrug. “Fine. Just don’t take too long. If I lose my place because of you, I’m making you stand at the back alone.”

Aeliana chuckled. “Noted.”

She weaved her way through the crowded guild hall, making her way toward the small food stall. It was run by an elderly woman with a warm smile and a knowing look, as if she had seen countless adventurers just like Aeliana pass through these doors. The stall was filled with simple yet delicious-looking fare—grilled skewers of meat and vegetables, crispy bread rolls, and an assortment of dried fruits.

Aeliana scanned the options before finally settling on two skewers of roasted meat, a loaf of warm bread, and a small pouch of dried berries. She handed over a few coins in exchange, thanking the vendor before turning back toward the queue.

As she walked back, she glanced at the guild’s quest board once again. She couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement. Taking down goblins might not have been the grandest quest, but it was their first step. The thought of proving herself, of stepping into the life of an adventurer, filled her with anticipation.

When she finally reached Kael again, she handed him one of the skewers without a word. He took it, giving her a slight nod of appreciation before taking a bite.

“You were gone long enough,” he grumbled between bites.

Aeliana rolled her eyes. “I was making sure to get good snacks. I even got dried berries.”

Kael raised an eyebrow. “You actually like those?”

“They’re good for energy,” Aeliana said with a grin. “And they taste nice.”

Kael simply shook his head but didn’t argue. The two stood in line, eating their food while waiting for their turn. Despite the slowness of the queue, the food made the wait a little more bearable.

As they neared the front, Aeliana noticed a group of adventurers ahead of them—seasoned ones, judging by their worn armor and confident postures. They were deep in conversation about a high-level quest, something about a wyvern sighting near the mountains.

Kael nudged her. “One day, that’ll be us.”

Aeliana smirked. “I look forward to it.”

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they were next in line. The guild clerk glanced up from her desk, giving them a once-over. “Next group, step forward.”

Aeliana took a deep breath. This was it—the true beginning of their adventure.