Please sir… Can I has adventure?

It’s all fun and games… and cake, but cakes don’t last forever, and reality always comes knocking sooner or later.

In your case, reality bitch-slapped you in the form of three copper coins rolling out of your coin purse. You barely have enough money for a meal.

Now, despite raising you with love and compassion, your family also raised you as an adventurer. That means money was always tight and it was always earned. Of course, you were welcome to whatever food was left in your home’s larder, but the busy nature of your adventurer parents meant that the larder would more often be left unstocked than not.

Even when they were home, your family preferred to take their meals at the guild chow hall for the benefit of socializing with the other guild members, which meant paying for meals in coin.

Ever since you were a wee orc, you were thought to earn your own coin. Whether it be running around town doing chores for the townsfolk, or scavenging and gathering in the forest for items to trade at the marketplace. Of course, the most reliable way to make coin would be to accept a request at the guild hall.

Like most human adventurers, you started out with low level requests once you hit teenhood. Over time, you made friends and acquaintances and would form parties every now and then, depending on what skillset you have to offer others. Being in a party often qualifies you for better paying requests.

You have been a fixture in several parties over the past few years, but more recently, you’ve pledged yourself exclusively to a fixed party that was lead by the guildmaster Rex’s grandson, Aedan. You have embarked on and completed a total of three requests with Aedan’s party, however the last one was three weeks ago. The party had not decided on their next job since.

You stared at the three measly copper coins in your big blue-green palm and decided that you’re going to have to go take on a solo request rather than wait for the party to come around.

You carefully returned your coins into your pouch and went to gear up.

When you got to the guild hall, you spent your last remaining coin on a loaf of bread and a bowl of soup at the chow hall. Hardly enough for a big guy like you, but better than nothing. You told yourself that you could probably hunt for something later in the woods.

After your humble breakfast, you went to the guild admin hall to take a look at the job board.

To your surprise, you spotted Aedan and your party coming towards you from the direction of the reception counter. Aedan was clearly holding a stamped contract, which meant that the party had just accepted a quest!

Aedan’s eyes met yours and widened. The sight of you stopped him and the party in their tracks.

“Gus! Heyyyyyy…” Aedan said.

Aedan was a strapping young lad who is 19 years of age. He has short cropped dark mahogany colored hair, jade green eyes, and a winning smile that screams “Main character.”

“Are you guys going to work a request?” You asked, deciding to omit the “Without me…” part.

“Ummm, y-yeah. Sorry Gus, I just couldn’t get a hold of you,” Aedan said.

Aelys, Aedan’s twin sister rolled her eyes. She was a striking beauty who shared many of Aedan’s characteristics like her eyes and hair. Thankfully, she didn’t share his lack of tact.

“Didn’t you tell us Gus was busy?” Aelys asked.

“I did?” Aedan asked, he glanced at the rest of the party who were giving him knowing stares. “Oh y-yeah, I did, didn’t I?” Aedan quickly said, “And that’s because he totally was! R-right Gus?”

Aedan was giving you a look. You’ve come to know that look to usually mean, “play along.” However, you really can’t help but feel a little hurt right now. I mean, bruuuuhhhh…

Jill, the 18 year-old ranger who had partook of your cum cake was in the party as well. The other party members were Jack, who was Jill’s 20 year-old boyfriend and a rogue. Then there was Brutus, Jack’s buddy who was a greatsword wielding fighter, and the oldest in the party at 21. Lastly, there was 19 year old Rufus, younger brother of Brutus, who is a mage in training. Aedan and Aelys were both spellswords who were adept in swordsmanship and some spellcasting. Aeden had developed divine channeling abilities and seemed on track to be a paladin. Aelys preferred magic and could well become an arcane-knight one day.

While you were glancing through your party, you spotted an unfamiliar face. Standing there among your team was a trainee priestess with long, straight, gold hair and vivid blue eyes. You were actually surprised you didn’t notice such a beauty earlier.

“Ah, G-Gus, you know Michelle, right? From the chapel?” Aedan said.

Oh you’ve heard of Michelle alright. It was hard not to, given that Aedan won’t shut up about her for the past couple of months.

Apparently she was one of the new acolytes who had arrived from Divinica to serve at a local chapel. She looked pretty young, so you assumed she’s 18, as that was the age acolytes typically qualify for pilgrimage.

Priests and priestesses acolytes from established temples or churches would often go on a pilgrimage to faraway posts in order to broaden their horizons and deepen their faith. They would also regularly join adventuring parties during such pilgrimages to raise their own living funds and to gain experience.

Suddenly everything clicked. Your eyes quickly darted between Michelle and Aedan. It made sense now. While you were sort of a jack-of-all trades, your role in the party was often delegated to support and healing because the party did not have a dedicated priestess. But with you, apparently “busy,” the role had just conveniently opened up. And a responsible leader like Aedan just can’t leave such an important role in the team unfulfilled now, can he?

Aedan kept giving you the “play along” look, to the point it almost looked like he was trying to shit himself furrowing his brow.

You sighed. “Yeah, I had to help out my moms with… um, baking,” you said.

“Baking? Uhuh. Yeah right…” Aelys replied, smirking at you. “What are you doing here all by yourself then, Gus?”

“I um, finished baking…” You replied.

Aedan tossed you a grateful look and said, “Ahaha. Well, can’t be helped now, can it? Come on guys, we need to get going. We’ve got a long road ahead of us.”

“Why don’t we take Gus along anyways?” Rufus asked, giving you a wink, “Since he’s finished baking and all.”

“Ehhhhh?” Aedan said, “But we’ve already registered the request. The contract has been drawn and the division of reward, declared and signed.”

“If I may,” The priestess suddenly spoke up. She demurely moved to the front of the group and bowed politely towards you. “You may have half of my proceeds, Gus. I’m new to the party, so I don’t believe I deserve such a big share of the party’s rewards just yet. Perhaps on future requests, after I’ve proven myself on this one.”

“E-Ehhhhh?” Aeden went again, “Y-you don’t have to do that Michelle, I’ll give Gus my half.”

Michelle shook her head. “Nay, I cannot ask you to make such a sacrifice on my behalf, Sir Aedan.”

Goddamn. One could almost see Aedan grow a full head taller from how much his chest is puffing up from hearing the prefix “Sir” in front of his own name.

“W-well, if you insist, Michelle,” Aedan replied.

“I do, Sir Aedan.”

Aelys rolled her eyes at the two and turned back to you. “Well Gus, it looks like you’re coming with us!” She said.