The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Liora leaned casually against the counter, his sharp grin wide enough to rival the dagger sheathed at his hip. His gaze flicked toward a group of adventurers sitting at a table nearby. They were a mixed lot—scarred veterans, hulking bruisers, and wiry rogues. Their mismatched armor clinked faintly as they shifted in their chairs, their eyes fixed on Kael.

"Hey, kid," Liora said, his tone dripping with amusement. "Looks like you've got a fan club."

Kael followed Liora's gaze, his stomach knotting uncomfortably as he realized the adventurers were staring at him with unmasked scrutiny. A burly man with a jagged scar running down his cheek glared openly, his one good eye narrowing like a wolf sizing up its prey. Beside him, a wiry rogue leaned back in his chair, a smirk curling his lips as he whispered something to his companion. The companion chuckled, the sound low and mocking, carrying just enough volume to make Kael's ears burn. Every whisper, every glance seemed amplified in the oppressive air of the guild hall.

Kael's grip tightened on the strap of his satchel, his palms growing damp as his mind raced. The rough leather bit into his fingers, but it was the only anchor he had against the growing tide of unease. He felt his boots rooted to the floor, as though the weight of their combined gazes pinned him in place like a butterfly on a display board. Each shift in their posture, each smirk, felt like a calculated move to unsettle him further. His breath came quicker, shallow and uneven, as a faint sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead.

The burly man pushed his chair back abruptly, the legs scraping against the wooden floor with a sound that seemed to cut through the din of the room. The adventurer rose to his full height, towering over his companions, his presence as imposing as the broadsword slung across his back. His gaze bore down on Kael with an intensity that made Kael's stomach churn. A flicker of movement drew Kael's attention to the rogue, who had now shifted his smirk into a full-blown grin, his amusement practically radiating across the room. Kael swallowed hard, his heart hammering against his ribcage as he fought the instinct to bolt back to the relative safety of the inn.

"What… what do they want?" Kael muttered, leaning slightly toward Liora.

Liora shrugged, his grin unfaltering. "Oh, you know. Probably wondering how a shiny, fresh-faced lad like you stumbled in here without wetting himself. Can't blame them, really."

Kael shot him a glare, though the heat in his face betrayed his rising embarrassment. "You're not helping."

"Wasn't trying to," Liora said with a wink.

Kael's breath quickened as the burly man with the scar stood, his chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor. He loomed over his companions, his height and bulk intimidating even from across the room. Kael's pulse thundered in his ears, and for a moment, he considered fleeing back to the relative safety of the inn.

Then he remembered Elder Valin's voice: "Courage isn't the absence of fear—it's acting despite it." Kael forced himself to exhale slowly, willing his racing thoughts to settle.

Yeah, that's right, he thought.

They're just curious. Perhaps some are threatening, but they won't do anything reckless here. Showing a hint of weakness would only give them an opening to exploit.

The realization steadied him. He straightened his back, letting the tension drain from his shoulders as his trembling hands began to still. Gripping the hilt of his sword with quiet determination, he met the burly man's good eye and held his gaze. Kael refused to look away, refused to be the first to falter. For a long, silent moment, the weight of their stares pressed down on him, but he stood firm, his resolve an invisible shield. The burly man's glare softened into a neutral acknowledgment, and he gave a curt nod before returning to his seat, breaking the spell of tension.

The tension stretched between them, a silent test of wills. The man's glare softened into something more neutral, and he gave a curt nod before returning to his seat. Kael released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Interesting," Liora murmured, his sharp eyes watching Kael closely. He leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms with a grin that suggested he'd just seen something worth noting. "You've got more steel in you than I thought, hero."

Kael resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead turned his attention to the large quest board dominating the far wall of the guild hall. It was an intricate mess of parchment, with notices pinned in chaotic clusters. Some were neatly aligned, while others overlapped haphazardly, their edges curling with age. A few sheets bore bold red stamps marking them as "High Priority," while others had hastily scrawled updates or scribbles in the margins.

The air smelled faintly of spilled ale and wood smoke, mingling with the metallic tang of weapons. Adventurers moved about the hall with an air of practiced confidence, their conversations a constant hum in the background. A grizzled bartender served drinks at one end of the room, while a rack of communal weapons and tools lined another wall. The floorboards creaked under the weight of armored boots and heavy footsteps.

Kael stepped closer to the board, his eyes immediately drawn to the chaotic display of parchment. Each notice was marked with a rank, the edges color-coded for quick identification. The top of the board showcased the high-rank quests, their bold ink exuding a sense of gravitas. One parchment detailed the hunt for a wyvern terrorizing a nearby village, its intricate illustration of the beast taking up half the page. The reward sum beneath it made Kael's head spin, an amount that could probably buy him a small estate. Another quest, equally daunting, offered an impressive bounty for escorting a noble through bandit-infested roads, emphasizing the requirement of seasoned adventurers with combat experience.

Kael's gaze trailed downward to the mid-rank section. The quests here were less ostentatious but still carried an air of danger. A job to guard a merchant caravan against potential raiders seemed straightforward at first glance, but the description hinted at the harsh desert terrain and previous attacks that had decimated lesser-guarded groups. Another notice caught his eye, its edges frayed: "Clear a Kobold Den." The reward was less extravagant, but the promise of tangible danger made it a quest well-suited for those climbing the ranks.

Finally, Kael's eyes settled on the F-Rank section, the corner of the board that seemed almost hidden in comparison. The tasks listed here were humbling in their simplicity, the parchment curling slightly at the edges from neglect. "Deliver a Package to Merchant Yarin," one read, promising only a handful of coppers in return. "Collect Medicinal Herbs from Greenwood Trail" detailed a short trek outside the city, emphasizing a safe route that even a novice wouldn't struggle with. The simplicity made him exhale a mix of relief and resignation.

Then his gaze landed on one that felt just manageable: "Assist in Cleaning a Merchant's Warehouse." The description was brief and practical—help an overworked merchant organize his goods, with no implied risk of danger. The reward was modest, barely enough to cover a meal, but it felt achievable for his current skill level. Kael carefully pulled the parchment from the board, the coarse texture of the paper grounding him in the moment as he considered his first step into this daunting world of adventuring.

He shook his head, forcing his gaze downward to the lower sections. The mid-rank quests were slightly less daunting—guarding merchant caravans, clearing out small dens of monsters—but still far beyond his capabilities. Finally, his eyes settled on the F-Rank section. The tasks listed there were humbling in their simplicity: gathering herbs, delivering packages, cleaning storage sheds.

Kael sighed, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment. He carefully read through the options, searching for something manageable. After a few moments, one notice caught his eye: "Assist in Cleaning a Merchant's Warehouse." The reward was modest, but it was something he could handle.

"This one," he said quietly, pulling the parchment from the board.

"A fine choice," Liora's voice chimed in from behind him. Kael turned to find the rogue leaning casually against the board, his grin as infuriatingly smug as ever. "Starting small, I see. Sensible. Boring, but sensible."

Kael frowned. "You're still following me?"

Liora shrugged. "Why not? Watching you stumble through this is the most fun I've had all week."

Kael rolled his eyes, holding up the quest parchment. "Are you—" He stopped mid-sentence as Liora produced a card from his pocket and flipped it toward him. The card gleamed faintly in the dim light, the bold "C" rank etched prominently on its surface.

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Kael's jaw dropped. "Y-you're a veteran!?"

"Guilty as charged," Liora said, slipping the card back into his cloak with a flourish. "What, did you think I was just some charming scoundrel tagging along for the fun of it?"

Kael stammered, "Why are you… why are you even here? With me?"

Liora's grin faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of something unreadable. "Let's just say I'm… interested." His tone turned momentarily serious, his sharp gaze lingering on Kael. Then he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Kael to hear: "Just like them…"@@novelbin@@

Kael furrowed his brow. "What?"

"Nothing," Liora said quickly, the grin snapping back into place. "Come on, hero. Time to gear up. Can't have you walking into a warehouse unarmed. You never know when a rogue barrel might attack."

Kael groaned but followed Liora as they made their way toward the weapons rack. His heart felt lighter despite himself. The parchment in his hand was a tangible start, and the rogue's annoying but oddly supportive presence made the overwhelming new world seem slightly less daunting.

As they approached the rack, Liora glanced back with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Let's get you ready. After all, even shed-cleaning can get messy."