Chapter 6: Moving in with Helen the receptionist
Hinata breezed to the quest board like a girl with no secrets, though her concealed statuses told a different story. The adventurers in the guild hall swirled around her in a frenzy of banter and hopeful chaos, where they swarmed like colorful locusts, driven by the promise of shiny prospects and early morning adrenaline. Looking at the available quests, Hinata decides to prioritize fast cash and snatches the rubble-clearing construction job.
[QUEST: Excavate rubble and assist in lot clearing]
Seeking assistance with clearing rubble from demolished lots. Physical strength is a must as you will be moving large stones, clumps of brick, wooden beams, and similar construction materials to a disposal wagon.
Reward: 5 silver per day plus a bonus for high performance;
Ranks: G-Rank, F-Rank, E-Rank;
Requirements: Minimum strength attribute of 35;
Although Hinata would have preferred a quest to hunt monsters, she lacked the necessary gear and time to do so. The acquisition of funds needed to take priority, so Hinata grumpily takes the rubble-clearing quest to Helen to register it on her adventurer card.
Amid the clatter, Helen, the guild's sharp-eyed receptionist, stared down at the quest form as if it might explode. She was concerned that Hinata would not meet the quest requirements, and if she did, she was concerned about how a child could have gained such high attributes.
"Umm, Hinata," Helen said nervously, "this quest requires a minimum of thirty-five attribute points in strength. To register it on your adventurer card, you must display your strength attribute, and it must be at thirty-five or higher."
"Sure," Hinata replied, adjusting her status with the nonchalance of a cat batting at a wayward piece of string.
[Hinata Hikari [Lv. 1] (Adventurer, Rank-G)]
Health: 100/100; Mana: 100/100; Stamina: 99/100;
Condition: Normal;
{C} Vitality: 100; Strength: 100; {C} Agility: 100; {C} Intellect: 100; {C} Wisdom: 100; {C} Charisma: 33; {C} Luck: 11;
Titles: Daughter of Akari Hikari, Daughter of Naomi Hikari, {C} Reincarnator, G-Rank Adventurer;
Role: Vanguard [Hybrid]
Unique Skills: {C} Gods’ Eye [Lv. 2], Item Box [Lv. 7];
Magic Skills: {C} Alchemy [Lv. 3], {C} Blue Flame [Lv. 3], {C} Flare Lance [Lv. 2], {C} Fire Arrow [Lv. MAX], {C} Explosion [Lv. 5], {C} Aqua Cannon [Lv. 2], {C} Water Wall [Lv. 6], {C} Freeze [Lv. 9], {C} Ice Arrow [Lv. MAX], {C} Wind Blade [Lv. 6], {C} Vortex Blast [Lv. 4], {C} Lightning Arrow [Lv. MAX], {C} Chain Lightning [Lv. 8], {C} Abyss Fall [Lv. 2], Earthen Wall [Lv. 9], Earthen Spears [Lv. 6], {C} Light Orb [Lv. MAX], {C} Laser [Lv. MAX], {C} Purification [Lv. MAX], {C} Judgement [Lv. 5, {C} Hide [Lv. MAX], {C} Shadow Needle [Lv. 8], {C} Phase Shift [Lv. 9], {C} Curse [Lv. 5], Area Heal [Lv. 2], {C} Area High Heal [Lv. 2], {C} Area Cure [Lv. 3], {C} Regeneration [Lv. 5], {C} Telekinesis [Lv. MAX], {C} Advanced Barrier [Lv. 2], Physical Strengthening [Lv. MAX], {C} Gravity Manipulation [Lv. 4];
Combat Skills: Advanced Swordsmanship [Lv. 3], Whips [Lv. 8], Daggers [Lv. 5], Duel Wielding [Lv. 4],Throwing [Lv.9]; {C} Stealth [Lv. 9]
Passive Skills: {C} Universal Language Comprehension [Lv. MAX], {C} Rapid Recovery [Lv. 7], {C} Magic Control [Lv. 7], {C} Magic Detection [Lv. 8], Pain Tolerance [Lv. 3], Etiquette [Lv. 5], Cooking [Lv. 4], Housekeeping [Lv. 8], Dancing [Lv. 5];
"Here you go," Hinata said, offering her card as if her strength attribute was a secret no longer worth keeping.
Helen squinted at the card, eyes narrowing to process the shock.
[Hinata Hikari [Lv. 1] (Adventurer, Rank-G)]
Health: 100/100; Mana: 100/100; Stamina: 100/100;
Strength: 100;
Condition: Normal;
Role: Vanguard [Hybrid]
Unique Skills: Item Box [Lv. 7];
Magic Skills: Earthen Wall [Lv. 9], Earthen Spears [Lv. 6], Area Heal [Lv. 2], Physical Strengthening [Lv. MAX];
Combat Skills: Advanced Swordsmanship [Lv. 3], Whips [Lv. 8], Daggers [Lv. 5], Duel Wielding [Lv. 4], Throwing [Lv.9];
Passive Skills: Pain Tolerance [Lv. 3];
Helen trembled in shock as she took in Hinata’s strength attribute through her terminal reader. The system registered the quest to Hinata’s adventurer card without issue.
"What the heck," Helen breathed, momentarily dropping her professional poise.
"Something wrong?" Hinata asked with a flicker of innocence that could have earned her an acting award.
"No, no," Helen replied, her voice bouncing like a rubber ball between incredulity and disbelief. "Just—umm, confirmed. The quest is registered to your card."
Hinata nodded, unfazed by the emotional turmoil she had inflicted upon Helen. The guild's sounds folded back in around them like a noisy quilt, but Helen's focus remained trapped on the numerical marvel she still stared at on the terminal.
“You realize what these high attributes mean, right?” Helen asked, her words riding a fine line between accusation and awe. "Why would you hide your attributes like this?"
Hinata shrugged, the motion both simple and evasive. "I did not want to draw too much attention. Sometimes, low numbers are easier to manage."
"Easier to manage? More like asking for trouble!" Helen exclaimed, adjusting her glasses as if they might be fogged with suspicion.
"I do not know what kind of trouble the numbers on my adventurer card can cause," Hinata replied, a knowing smile spreading across her lips, "but I will be sure to keep a close eye out."
"Lord Cedric," Helen said, as if resummoning a specter of ominousness. "No wonder he was so furious. Do you not know that nobles take a keen interest acquiring in individuals with high attributes like you? Most nobles even add them to their households.”
"I will remember that," Hinata said, too calmly for someone who had just been given a warning.
Helen leaned in, her voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. "Given his fury, I want to remind you that Lord Cedric controls this town! You must be careful, or you might find yourself trapped or imprisoned."
"That would be something," Hinata replied, folding her arms like someone weighing risks and rewards. “It is why I started to train my pain tolerance passive skill.”
Helen tapped the terminal screen, Hinata’s status still displayed, still not over the sight of it. "These numbers, Hinata—how do you even—?"
"It is just my hard work," Hinata said, as if 100 points in strength were the most mundane thing in the world.
"So, you are not running away from home? Your situation seems... peculiar," Helen pressed, clearly fishing for any bite of backstory. “You never did say where you were staying.”
"I guess you could say I have run away from home," Hinata answered, reeling the line back in without so much as a nibble. "As long as you are done registering the quest to me, I will get started on it."
The words stung with the abruptness of a slamming door, and for a second, Helen sat stunned as Hinata started on her getaway.
"Wait," she called after Hinata, half standing and waving an empty hand.
But Hinata was already slipping through the crowd, and Helen was left watching her go, feeling like an idiot holding a bag of dung while the prankster wandered off.
"I cannot believe this," Helen muttered to herself, staring again at the spot where Hinata had stood like a human mystery wrapped in intrigue. She was torn, caught between curiosity that pulled at her professional strings and a practical thread that told her to mind her own business.
Who was this girl? The talk of Lord Cedric should have left her shaken, but she had hardly blinked. And those numbers! Not just strength but mana, stamina, even her health—an open declaration of talent, like a flare in the night. It was a wonder that every guild in the country had not already besieged her with offers.
Then there was her name: Hinata Hikari. It had to be more than a coincidence, had to mean more than just a runaway adventurer. Akira and Naomi used to be talented and very active adventurers alongside Lady Zala before her marriage.
She picked up a pen, holding it above the register without touching paper. For a moment, she wondered if she should scribble a note to Guildmaster Sebastian, but then hesitated, indecision etching lines on her forehead.
"No," Helen said, almost aloud, firming her resolve as if she were talking to someone who might still be listening. "Let us see what she does next."
As the guild hall clattered and buzzed around her, Helen knew she would not have to wait long for an answer. She stood up and called out, her voice slicing through the noise, aimed with the precision of a trained assassin.
"Wait!" Helen called out, not used to being ignored. Hinata turned, the crowd swallowing her path like a hungry beast.
"You cannot just up and run away while someone is still speaking to you!" Helen insisted, determination lighting her eyes. She hurried from the counter, her polished appearance nearly wilting in the chaos, and caught up to Hinata. The guild hall swirled around them, an orchestra of competing voices, clinking mugs, and scribbling pens.
Hinata looked back at Helen, eyebrow arched like a question mark on her forehead. "Yes?"
Helen fixed her with a shrewd gaze, hands planted on her hips with the authority of a monarch in exile.
"You must have taken that job for the high pay, right? Let me guess," Helen continued, hardly waiting for Hinata's reply, "you plan to hide your money under a mattress while living at some overpriced inn."
"Not exactly," Hinata said, her voice a mix of curiosity and caution.
Helen waved away the words like pesky gnats. "You are too new to the guild to have figured out how much you need to pay to stay anywhere that Lord Cedric or other nobles cannot reach you."
"I am not too worried about him," Hinata said, though her thoughts tumbled with more complexity.
"That is the problem," Helen countered, eyes sparkling with conspiratorial triumph. "Since you are running away from him, staying with me is your best option. My house is out of his sight, and it will not cost you a silver coin."
The offer hung between them, a shiny lure waiting for Hinata to bite.
"Your house?" Hinata asked, disbelief wrapping her words like a winter coat.
"Yes," Helen said with an enthusiasm that bordered on the reckless. "In exchange, you will be responsible for cleaning up the place. You will also treat me to dinner every other day. Either by cooking or taking me out."
"That sounds like more trouble than it is worth," Hinata said, but there was a teasing note in her voice, one that Helen pounced on.
"What do you think? It should be cheaper than staying at an inn," Helen said, her persistence more formidable than any G-ranked adventurer.
Hinata took a moment, her mind weaving through the pros and cons with the efficiency of a well-trained spider. Helen seemed professional enough, and staying with her would be less risky than wandering into a trap set by the so-called Lord Cedric.
Helen watched, barely concealing a smile that threatened to overtake her entire face. "Well?"
Hinata's response was a simple smirk, the kind that spoke volumes. "Sure," she said, with the brevity of someone both intrigued and amused.
As Hinata turned to leave, the noise of the guild washed back over them. Helen's smile widened, a cat-that-caught-the-canary grin. She returned to the counter, her heels clicking on the floor like an anticipatory drumroll.
The day drifted on, filled with the usual hustle and endless stream of adventurers, but Helen's mind lingered on her encounter with Hinata. She barely registered the names she scribbled into the log, hardly saw the faces of those who approached. The curious girl entirely occupied her thoughts with the hidden status and enigmatic past.
Hinata Hikari. The name alone suggested connections that made Helen's fingers itch to write letters and start rumors. But she held back, savoring the knowledge like a secret treat, knowing that she had the upper hand.
"A genius move," Helen said under her breath, proud of the offer she had crafted. If Hinata were as skilled at housework as she would likely be at the construction site, her house would be spotless by the end of the week.
Helen surveyed the guild hall, its sounds and sights unchanging in their daily ritual, but today felt different. There was a thrill in the air, a sense of adventure more genuine than the quests pinned to the boards. And Helen, confident and calculating, was at the very center of it, imagining all the ways her new arrangement might unfold. Until her boss helped reality crash down on her daydreams.
"She may have preferred to clean the toilets and stay at a cheap inn over staying at your place," Sebastian muttered as he approached the counter, his voice carrying the weight of too many years and not enough patience. Helen snapped her attention back to the present, and the noise of the guild filled the air with its stubborn chaos.
"What are you saying about my home?" Helen rounded on the guildmaster with a glare that could pierce armor.
"It is unfit for human habitation," Sebastian replied, not missing a beat. The years had seasoned him with just the right amount of dry humor to handle Helen's sharpness.
"It is only a little dirty," Helen countered, her chin jutting out in defiance. "And besides, I have it all under control."
Sebastian leaned against the counter, letting the noise of adventurers battling for quests fill the moment with its relentless energy. "You have it under control like a dragon has its treasure hoard under control. I heard you were issued a warning by the city administration office for unsanitary conditions."
"That was entirely blown out of proportion," Helen insisted, crossing her arms as if to ward off further insults.
"Because your neighbors cannot stand the stench," Sebastian stated, delivering the line with the precision of a well-thrown spear.
Helen paled momentarily, a chink in her otherwise formidable armor. She glanced around, as if expecting judgmental glances to be hurled her way.
"Well," Helen said, regrouping with speed that any adventurer would admire, "now I have a live-in house cleaner, so I should be able to avoid getting fined if Hinata manages to tidy it up a bit."
"That is quite the gamble," Sebastian mused, stroking his beard with a thoughtful air. "The girl is talented, but I am not sure she will thank you for drafting her into an impossible quest."
Helen stood her ground, like a knight refusing to retreat. "Hinata is smart. She knows a good deal when she sees one. And you should have seen the look on her face when I told her she could stay with me."
Sebastian laughed, the sound a rare event that drew a few startled looks from the adventurers nearby.
"I can only imagine," Sebastian said, shaking his head.
"Really, you are too pessimistic, boss," Helen replied, warming to her theme with renewed confidence. "Hinata has potential. More than anyone I have seen in a long time."
“And ambition," Sebastian said, watching Helen closely, as if to gauge how far her optimism extended.
"True," Helen insisted, the word a flag planted firmly on the battlefield. "She is going to be the best housemate I have ever had."
"And the only one," Sebastian pointed out with a wry smile.
Helen watched as the guildmaster moved away, a man with both authority and insight, though sometimes too much of the latter for her taste. She refused to be daunted by his skepticism, even if some of his points were uncomfortably close to the truth.
Her determination remained as strong as ever, fortified by the possibilities that came with having Hinata on her side. Sebastian might doubt, but she knew this arrangement was nothing short of brilliant.
As the chaos of the guild hall surged around her, she felt a thrill of excitement, tinged with the slightest edge of nervousness. It was not often that she invited chaos into her home, but if anyone could tidy it up, it was Hinata.
She resumed her place at the counter, the pen in her hand flying across forms with renewed purpose. There was much to be done, and she would not let anything—certainly not a little mess—stand in her way.
***
Clamor and industry drowned the midmorning as Hinata picked her way through the construction site. Wooden beams loomed over the bare bones of a structure, while men and women with rolled-up sleeves bustled around her in industrious fury. She glided between them, seemingly immune to the commotion, hefting a wooden beam that appeared far too big for her small frame. She caught snippets of conversation, a constant din of gossip and incredulity.
Two construction workers leaned against a pile of timber, Brandon and Tom. Tom glanced around, then spoke quietly. "Have you seen the little girl yet?"
Brandon rubbed a sweaty brow with a grimy hand, smearing the sweat and dirty around.
"You mean the shrimp adventurer the boss hired?" Brandon asked. "Cannot believe he hired a useless G-Ranker."
Hinata gave a quiet chuckle. She had certainly left an impression. More heads turned as she strode by with a massive load of rubble, some gawking, others whispering behind calloused hands.
"Did you see her just now?" Tom exclaimed. "It is not possible. She has to be using magic."
Brandon shook his head, "No way. If she is that talented as a mage, the Adventurers’ Guild would have boosted her rank. I heard she is just some ten-year-old runt who lied about her skills."
They eyed her with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity, like she was some odd species that had wandered onto the site. The air buzzed with disbelief, mirroring the flurry of activity that surrounded her.
"Tom, Brandon," Brad shouted a warning from behind a wheelbarrow stacked high with stone. Tom raised his head, watching Hinata from a distance with a wary eye.
"Did you see that little girl yet?" Brad called over.
Brandon looked up from tying a ragged bandana around his forehead, his face twisting into a skeptical frown.
"The one they said is an adventurer?" Brandon shot back. "Why would the boss hire a G-Rank for a job like this? They are useless."
Hinata swung the beam around, her steps measured and unhurried, as though oblivious to their scrutiny. As soon as Brad spotted her, he made himself scarce.
Tom shrugged, tossing his shovel into the dirt with a dull thud. "Do not let her hear you saying that. I heard she was giving Brad a hard time."
Brandon snorted, folding his arms.
"That kid?" Brandon asked. "No way."
Tom leaned in conspiratorially. "She was in the office while the boss thought over her application. Brad figured the guild did not properly check her strength, so he got in her face, threw a punch."
He paused for dramatic effect, a grin twitching at the corners of his mouth.
"And then what?" Brandon demanded, leaning forward.
"The girl stopped his punch and forced him to kneel," Tom continued, almost gleeful. "With no trouble at all. Her strength has to be ten points over his."
Tom shook his head as if he could hardly believe it himself. "And Brad says he has a strength of 53."
Brandon gaped, his jaw going slack. "You are pulling my leg. She is not even old enough to be an adventurer. How can she be that strong?"
Tom smirked, crossing his arms. "She picked up that big stone block no one could move, too. One-handed."
Hinata heard them still chattering as she approached the disposal wagon, the beam now looking ridiculously small on her shoulder. She dropped it in with a soft thump, turning back to the chaotic expanse of the construction zone. The earth smelled rich and alive, mixing with the tang of sweat and timber. She cast a glance back at Tom and Brandon, who were still standing wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
More workers stopped to stare as she worked, their faces a collective portrait of disbelief. She paused a moment, taking in the scene, the unfinished framework of a building rising tall and skeletal around her. Though the murmurs and whispers trailed after her, she wore a small, knowing smile. She had expected no less. In a world where Citizen Cards displayed the core of one's worth, Hinata's sudden appearance as a mysterious wildcard had set their world alight with rumor.
She kept her thoughts inward as she moved through the site, barely ten years old in this new life yet carrying herself with the confidence of someone much older. The disbelief, the skepticism, the amazement—she had heard it all before. Her past as Amy had taught her how to weather underestimation and transform it into advantage.
And so, as the sounds of saws and hammers accompanied the curious gazes of the workers, Hinata continued to surprise them. The dirt and dust clung to her boots as she walked, but she paid no heed to the grimy cacophony of the construction site or the endless loop of astonished murmurs that followed in her wake.
Hinata turned heads once more as she hefted another beam toward the disposal wagon, murmurs and gossip trailing in her wake like the dust that clung to the air. This time she paused, studying the uneven ground, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"Hey, boss," she called to Simon, "do you want me to flatten this after I clear it?"
The foreman scratched his head, looking her over as though she were some kind of prodigy or prank.
"If you can do that, it would be great," Simon replied. "But you would need to be a very talented earth mage."
She grinned, already calculating the extra payment.
"Think I can do it with a controlled casting of my Earthen Wall spell," Hinata shouted back, moving the beam like it weighed nothing at all.
Simon wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.
"I will pay you a bonus for it," Simon promised, as workers around them exchanged dubious looks. "But are you sure your magic can manage that?"
He glanced at her questioningly as if expecting her to reveal some kind of hidden secrets.
Hinata nodded, a glint of determination in her eyes.
"I will try it out in a bit," Hinata replied. "Should make it easier to carry rubbish to the disposal wagon."
The noise of saws and hammers filled the air, but her words cut through with the sharpness of her quiet confidence. The foreman shrugged, a hopeful yet skeptical expression playing on his face.
She walked toward the chaotic expanse of the site, her mind whirring with possibilities and plans. Let them wonder, she thought, the smile never leaving her lips. They would not be questioning her skills for much longer. The ground stretched before her, a patchwork of dips and slopes begging to be tamed.
Carefully assessing the terrain, Hinata prepared to cast her magic. The raised dirt and mounds presented a challenge, but one she was eager to tackle. A cluster of workers eyed her warily as she stepped to the center, her focus intent on the task. She tuned out the murmurs, the buzzing whispers that insisted a little girl could not manage such a feat.
With a measured breath, she channeled her mana, her hands moving in practiced, graceful motions. The words of the spell formed in her mind, precise and clear, the energy gathering at her fingertips.
"Earthen Wall," Hinata cast, "wide and short version."
The magic rippled outward, aligning perfectly to the height of the street.
At first, nothing happened, and the workers exchanged knowing smirks. But then the ground shifted, rising and falling in an elegant wave. Dirt smoothed over itself like a living thing, the once chaotic surface now even and clean. Hinata watched with satisfaction as the raised ground and gashes leveled seamlessly.
Simon's mouth hung open, and the nearby laborers could only gawk as her spell continued to reshape the earth. She worked in neat five-meter by five-meter squares, each section aligning with the precision of an architect. The smoothness of the newly flattened ground was a testament to her skill.
The workers who had doubted her were now whispering for entirely different reasons.
"Did you see that?" one exclaimed. "Her magic is incredible!"
Another nodded, eyes wide with amazement. "I thought she was just bluffing."
The disbelief that had clung to them like shadows now turned to open admiration.
Hinata carried on, undeterred by their astonished faces. The uneven expanse of the site quickly transformed under her guidance, each spell cast with careful consideration. Rubbish and debris moved swiftly as she cleared more ground, the once-tangled mess now an orderly scene.
Simon ambled over, still scratching his head in wonder.
"Never seen anything like it," he admitted, a grin spreading across his face. "You sure you are only ten years old?"
Hinata gave him a knowing smile, wiping a smudge of dirt from her cheek.
"So," Hinata teased, "I take it I get that bonus payment?"
Simon laughed, a booming sound that echoed through the site.
“You sure do, kid," Simon said. "Thanks for the hard work."
He nodded appreciatively, knowing she had saved them days of labor.
As she continued, leveling and clearing with practiced efficiency, Hinata marveled at her new life. In this world of magic and adventure, she had traded an ordinary existence for something far more thrilling. The unexpected still lay ahead, but she embraced it with the same vigor that she approached her work.
The sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows over the construction site as Hinata finished the last of the rubble. Her small frame moved with an ease that defied expectation, her hands deftly orchestrating the final sweep of her spell. She gathered her thoughts, ready to head back to the adventurers' guild and confront a whole new set of challenges.
***
Hinata brushed the last of the dust from her sleeves as she entered the adventurers' guild, the air alive with chatter and clinking mugs. She looked across the room, searching for a familiar face. The receptionist, sharp-eyed and efficient, spotted her before anyone else.
"Oh, Hinata, welcome back!" Helen called out, her voice cutting through the noise. "How was the construction quest?"
Hinata weaved through the bustling hall, handing over the signed completion form with a practiced nonchalance.
"It was alright," Hinata replied.
Helen's eyes widened as she examined the paper, her disbelief clear.
"Woah," she said, shaking her head in amazement, "it says here that Simon approved a bonus payment? That guy is usually a total cheapskate."
Helen glanced up, curiosity dancing in her sharp green eyes. "What did you do to get him to loosen his purse strings? Did you tell him it was your birthday? Or how you need money to live after running away from home?"
Hinata shrugged, maintaining a casual demeanor as the guild's noise swirled around them.
"I just worked hard," Hinata said blandly. "If I did anything special, I guess it would be that I used my earth magic to flatten and fix the ground at the construction site by customizing my Earthen Wall spell."
She leaned on the counter, seemingly oblivious to the astonished faces of other adventurers who overheard.
Helen laughed, a teasing sound that contrasted with the professional efficiency of her demeanor.
"Yeah, that would do it," Helen stated, tapping her pen on the paper. "You probably saved him a lot of money. I think he usually hires a specialty mage to do that type of work."
Helen’s voice shifted to a more formal tone as she continued, "Anyways, the completion report indicates you get a reward of twenty-five silver coins. Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Hinata said, her tone still dry. She accepted the silver coins with a swift motion, tossing them into her item box with practiced ease. Around them, the guild hall remained a vibrant symphony of voices and movement, adventurers of all ranks engaged in their own business. The air was thick with excitement and ambition, a stark contrast to Hinata's understated presence.
Helen watched her with a mix of amusement and respect.
"You really are something," Helen said, her voice dropping to a more personal note. "I get off soon, so just wait in the lounge and we can head to my house together."
Her invitation hung in the air, promising a glimpse into a life that Hinata had not yet seen.
"Sure," Hinata replied, glancing toward the lounge. Her mind was already racing with possibilities, the uncertainty of this new world thrilling and daunting in equal measure. As she settled in to wait, the clang and chatter of the guild faded to a distant hum, leaving her alone with her thoughts and the weight of what lay ahead.
Half an hour slipped by, a blur of adventurers' comings and goings. Hinata leaned back, stretching her legs as she watched the endless stream of activity. This world was alive with potential, and every moment seemed to pulse with opportunity.
Helen appeared at last, her presence as efficient and commanding as ever.
"Okay, I am done," Helen said cheerfully, a playful grin lighting her face. "So, let us go home!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Hinata found herself returning the smile.
The two of them stepped out into the evening, the air cool against the warmth of the busy guild. As they walked side by side, Hinata's thoughts danced between anticipation and curiosity. Helen was a mystery she was eager to unravel, and the path ahead promised surprises she could not begin to predict.
And nothing could have predicted the disaster Hinata had walked to.
Hinata's heart sank as Helen's house loomed into view, a chilling monument to decay and neglect. The rancid smell of rotting food and stagnant water grew stronger with every step, assaulting her senses like a physical blow. No way, she thought. No way was she staying here. Helen's smile wavered, catching the dark and angry aura surrounding her guest.
"Umm, so, this is my place!" Helen announced nervously. "Thank you for agreeing to help clean it in return for staying with me!"
Hinata shivered in horror. She had not expected anything this bad.
As they approached, the house seemed to sag under the weight of its own filth. The windows were grimy, a murky soup of mold creeping along the frames. Piles of who-knows-what lurked in the corners of the yard, and the overall aura of neglect was palpable. Hinata could not believe anyone actually lived here. A part of her considered fleeing while she still had the chance.
Helen's attempt at cheerfulness did nothing to alleviate the oppressive squalor.
"I am very bad at housekeeping tasks," Helen said with an awkward giggle. "Teehee!"
Hinata's eyes narrowed, her expression one of grim determination mixed with disbelief.
"You are not cute," Hinata declared, cutting off any further attempts at levity.
Despite acting like a capable receptionist, Hinata thought, Helen was clearly an incapable adult. The disconnect between her professional persona and her actual living conditions was staggering. How could anyone with such attention to detail in her work life be so utterly hopeless at home? Hinata was baffled, but her resolve was clear.
"I will start cleaning immediately," Hinata said, her voice firm and unwavering. "But in exchange, you are going to buy me a bed, bedding, and dinner for tonight."
She fixed Helen with a look that brooked no argument, daring her to refuse.
Helen gulped, nodding frantically.
"Yes, madam!" she shrieked, spinning around and running off in terror. Hinata watched her go, shaking her head in exasperation. This was going to take some serious magic.
The foul smell clawed at her nostrils as she prepared to enter, but Hinata was nothing if not resourceful. She surrounded herself with a protective barrier, blocking out the worst of the stench and filth. With a deep breath, she crossed the threshold into the horror that Helen called home.
The inside was no better. Mountains of dirty dishes filled the sink, and the floor was a patchwork of sticky spills and unidentifiable stains. Dust clung to every surface, the kind of thick, unyielding layer that spoke of years of neglect. Hinata took it all in with a mix of disgust and determination.
"This is just an extreme form of maid training," Hinata muttered to herself, rolling up her sleeves and protecting herself with barrier magic as she got to work. She started with a purification spell, the magic sweeping through the room like an industrial-grade vacuum cleaner. The effect was immediate and satisfying, grime and filth vanishing in a blink.
Room by room, she cleansed the place, each spell precise and thorough. The air cleared, the rancid odors dissolving into nothingness as she pressed on. Her methodical approach was relentless, the once revolting environment quickly transformed into a pristine space.
When Helen returned, arms laden with bags and a slightly terrified expression, she stopped in her tracks. Her eyes were wide with amazement, her mouth opening and closing in disbelief.
"Wow," Helen finally managed to say. "It is so clean in here! How did you clean it up so quickly?"
Hinata was not about to let her off the hook that easily.
"Where is my bed?" Hinata demanded, folding her arms in mock sternness. Helen blinked, the shock of the transformation still fresh in her mind.
"Umm," Helen stammered, trying to collect her thoughts, "I got it! It will be delivered tomorrow! Just need to set it up after!"
Hinata irritably waved Helen inside. Helen rushed to comply, the speed of her movements a testament to her desire to stay on Hinata's good side.
With a slight smile playing at the corners of her lips, Hinata watched the whirlwind of activity that was Helen's attempt at setting up dinner. She had certainly not planned to spend her first day in this new life scrubbing someone else's house, but the results were worth it.
And maybe, just maybe, this chaotic existence with Helen would turn out to be exactly what she needed. Despite the initial horror, Hinata could already sense a bond forming between them, one built on unexpected challenges and the promise of something more.
Settling into the freshly cleaned space, she allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. This world might be full of surprises, but Hinata was ready to face them all. And Helen would sleep on the floor tonight, since she failed to bring the bed as requested.
