The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 90

Chapter 90: 03/08-Garrik
Aeliana adjusted the strap of her satchel and turned to Kael, her expression shifting from excitement to mild concern. “This might be dangerous, Kael. Are you sure about this?”

Kael rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. “Of course it’s dangerous. It’s a monster extermination quest, not a leisurely afternoon tea.” His gaze softened slightly, and he sighed. “But I already told you, it’s my duty to protect you. Plus, we’re already listed as participants. Backing out now would make us look bad.”

Aeliana gave him a wry smile. “You always say it’s your duty to protect me, but let’s be honest, I can handle myself.” She nudged him playfully. “You just like an excuse to play the overprotective guardian.”

Kael scoffed. “Right. Because watching you recklessly throw yourself into situations that could get you killed is my favorite pastime.”

Aeliana chuckled. “See? You do enjoy it.”

As they continued waiting in line, the murmurs of other adventurers filled the air. Some were fully armored, others looked barely prepared for combat. Aeliana eyed a particularly young-looking adventurer fumbling with his sword belt, nearly dropping his blade in the process.

“I hope that one’s not on our team,” Kael muttered under his breath, following her gaze.

Aeliana bit back a laugh. “Be nice. Everyone has to start somewhere.”

The guild clerk cleared her throat, calling the next names. “Aeliana and Kael, step forward.”

They approached the counter, where another guild official—a burly man with a thick scar running across his cheek—examined their registration forms. “Alright,” he grunted, flipping through the parchment. “You two are in the goblin extermination group. You’ll be heading out with a squad of six others. You’ll receive an upfront payment upon departure and the rest when you return with proof of completion. Any questions?”

Aeliana glanced at Kael before shaking her head. “No questions.”

The official smirked. “Good. Try not to die.” He waved them along, already calling the next group forward.

As they stepped away from the counter, Aeliana exhaled, excitement returning to her features. “Alright, first official quest as adventurers! This is going to be great.”

Kael groaned. “You say that now, but you do remember goblins are nasty little creatures, right? Sneaky, fast, and incredibly annoying.”

“I know, I know,” Aeliana said, waving him off. “But we need to start somewhere. What better way than hunting down some goblins?”

Kael shook his head. “I can think of at least ten better ways.”

Before they could argue further, a sharp whistle caught their attention. A grizzled adventurer in worn leather armor stood nearby, arms crossed. “You two must be the new recruits for the goblin hunt,” he said.

Aeliana nodded. “That’s us.”

He eyed them critically. “You got experience?”

Kael lifted a brow. “More than enough.”

The man grunted in approval. “Good. Name’s Garrik. I’ll be leading this squad. You follow my orders, and we won’t have any problems.”

Aeliana offered a polite nod. “Understood.”

Garrik motioned for them to follow as the rest of their squad gathered. Among them were a wiry rogue sharpening his daggers, a mage adjusting the clasps of her robes, a broad-shouldered warrior flexing his gauntlets, and the nervous young adventurer from earlier.

Kael groaned again. “Oh, great. The kid’s with us.”

The young adventurer perked up. “I’m not a kid! I’m eighteen!”

Kael gave him a deadpan look. “Sure you are.”

Aeliana elbowed him again, whispering, “Stop that.”

Garrik clapped his hands. “Alright, listen up. This is a standard goblin nest extermination. Scouts have reported at least ten to fifteen goblins in a cave two miles from here. Shouldn’t be too difficult, but stay sharp. Goblins aren’t known for fighting fair.”

Aeliana nodded eagerly. Kael, meanwhile, sighed, already anticipating the trouble ahead.

The group finished gathering their gear, and soon they were heading out toward their first real adventure.

Aeliana adjusted the straps of her satchel as she fell into step beside Garrik. The rest of their squad trudged forward, some more confidently than others, as they made their way toward the goblin-infested cave. She glanced at their leader with a curious expression before finally speaking.

“Nice of you to join us,” she said, her tone light but inquisitive. “But why did you choose to group with us? You seem… experienced. Surely you had other options.”

Garrik smirked, his grizzled face creasing with amusement. “Straight to the point, huh?” He glanced at Kael, who walked just behind Aeliana, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. “She always this direct?”

Kael huffed. “You have no idea.”

Aeliana rolled her eyes. “I’m just curious.”

Garrik exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Truth is, I’ve been taking jobs solo for a while, but the guild’s been on my case about joining teams. Said I’m ‘too reckless’ alone.” He shrugged. “Figured a mixed team like this would be a good test. See if I can tolerate working with people again.”

Aeliana raised an eyebrow. “That’s… oddly honest.”

Garrik chuckled. “No point in lying. You’ll see soon enough whether I’m a good fit or not.”

Kael eyed him skeptically. “And what do you think of us so far?”

Garrik’s smirk widened. “Haven’t decided yet. But I like that you’re asking questions. Means you’ve got some sense.”

Aeliana crossed her arms. “And what do you think of the others?”

He glanced over his shoulder at their group. The young, jittery adventurer was nearly tripping over his own feet, the rogue kept to the shadows even while walking in broad daylight, and the mage was flipping through her spellbook, muttering incantations under her breath. The broad-shouldered warrior seemed the most prepared, his massive sword strapped securely to his back.

Garrik chuckled. “Let’s just say… we’ll see if we all make it back in one piece.”

Aeliana frowned. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”

Kael sighed. “I get the feeling this job is going to be a lot more trouble than it’s worth.”

They continued forward in silence for a while, the weight of the mission settling over them. The path ahead twisted through a dense forest, the trees casting long shadows as the afternoon sun began its descent.

Aeliana glanced at Garrik again. “What’s your experience with goblins?”

He snorted. “More than I’d like. Sneaky little bastards. Cowards on their own but vicious in groups. You need to be quick and watch your surroundings. If you’re not careful, one will stab you in the back while you’re focused on another.”

Kael frowned. “Sounds like we’ll have our hands full.”

Aeliana nodded. “Good thing we have a balanced team, then.”

Garrik’s expression turned amused again. “Balanced? You sure about that?”

She hesitated, glancing at the others again. The nervous rookie, the secretive rogue, the scholarly mage, and the overconfident warrior. Maybe it wasn’t the most well-rounded team.

Kael groaned. “Great. We’re going to die, aren’t we?”

“Not if you listen to me,” Garrik said simply.

The rogue suddenly spoke up, his voice low but sharp. “If you’re all done chatting, I think we’re close.”

Everyone fell silent as they followed his gaze. A small clearing lay ahead, the ground sloping downward into a rocky entrance barely visible through the thick underbrush.

The goblin cave.

Aeliana’s heart quickened. This was it—their first mission. She glanced at Kael, who already had a hand resting on his weapon.

Garrik unsheathed his blade, his expression hardening. “Alright. Time to see if you lot are worth your salt.”

The air grew tense as they crept forward, each step bringing them closer to danger. Aeliana tightened her grip on her staff. Whatever happened next, she was ready. Or at least, she hoped she was.

Aeliana blinked at Garrik’s sudden question, caught off guard by the shift in conversation. They were approaching what could be a dangerous mission, yet here he was, casually prying into her personal life. She glanced at Kael, who merely sighed and shook his head, clearly uninterested in entertaining the topic.

“That’s a bit random,” Aeliana said, adjusting her grip on her staff as they continued walking. “But if you must know… yes, I do.” Her voice softened slightly at the admission, but she quickly straightened her posture, unwilling to let Garrik get too much satisfaction from prying.

Garrik raised an eyebrow, his smirk never fading. “Ah, so there is someone. Who’s the lucky fool?”

Aeliana shot him a halfhearted glare. “Not that it’s any of your business, but—” she hesitated, her thoughts drifting to Lucian, to everything that had happened between them, to the fragile state of their relationship. Her heart ached just thinking about it. “It’s… complicated.”

Kael groaned, rubbing his temples. “Understatement of the year,” he muttered. “Come on, let’s focus. We’ve got goblins to deal with, not romantic drama.”

Garrik chuckled. “Fair enough. But you know, princess, if it’s that complicated… maybe it’s not worth the headache.” His tone was light, but there was a knowing glint in his eyes.

Aeliana frowned but said nothing. If only it were that simple. She was lovesick and heartbroken at the same time.