Chapter 170 (1/2)

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A Star that s.h.i.+nes in the Night

When Hikaru and Paula returned to the lobby, all the adventurers turned their eyes on them. Some were surprised to see Hikaru unscathed, while some thought he surrendered already. Not one soul considered the possibility that he won.

「Hikaru, here.」

Lavia had finished filling out the party application form. Ignoring the adventurers eyes, Hikaru took the paper.

「Hikaru, that's for the party application, correct? Over here, please.」

Gloria was there, desperate to know what just happened. She had not witnessed the fight in the training grounds.

「In the booth? Isn't the guild busy in the morning? What about the counter?」

「Jill should be back soon. And the submaster is here. Look.」

The submaster came strolling from his office and into the counter to deal with the adventurers.

「Why am I doing this? Then again, we have rank A adventurers today…」he mumbled.

Gloria probably dragged him out here, Hikaru thought. After settling themselves down in the booth, Hikaru checked the application. It was a simple form; you only had to fill out the name and age of the party members, where they registered, and the name of the party.

「Lavia, am I reading this right? You wrote “Hikaru” as the party name?」Hikaru asked.

「It's your party, after all.」Lavia answered.

「That's just weird.」

「I think it's wonderful!」

「Keep quiet for a bit, Paula.」

They hadn't discussed what their name would be. “Hikaru”, however, was just downright terrible.

「Although rare, there are parties that use their leader's name as the name of the party.」Gloria cut in.「But most of those leaders are egoistic.」

The receptionist chuckled. Your wicked side is showing, Hikaru thought.

「What then?」

「Let's see…」

Hikaru wracked his brains. I use the name Silver Face when working behind the scenes, so I want something different. Then again, we'd also be doing things secretly all the same, so…

「New Moon.」Hikaru said.

「New moon? Like the lunar phase?」

「Yup. A night when there's no light from the moon.」

「In that case… How about New Moon Star?」

「Works for me. But why add the star, though?」

「There's no hope when there's only darkness. A star s.h.i.+nes even in the dark. Like how you are to me.」

Lavia could spout embarra.s.sing stuff in front of others without batting an eye.

「That's wonderful!」

Paula, who said yes to everything, was in favor as well. Hikaru felt awkward, but since Lavia insisted, he agreed to the name New Moon Star.

I might be too soft on her. Hikaru didn't mind it.

「All right, then. I'll register your party name.」Gloria said.

「Okay, cool. Bye, then.」Hikaru said as he got up his seat.

「Bye?」Gloria grabbed his arm. She wore a sweet smile, but she was forceful.

「Lavia, Paula. Can you go pick requests? It seems Gloria wants to talk to me.」

「Got it.」

「Okay.」

Having full trust on Hikaru, the girls let him deal with Gloria and made their way to the bulletin board.

「So, Hikaru. What were you doing with Sweet Pleasure?」

「You can ask Jill later. That'll save you some time.」

「Okay… So about Lavia…」

「She's the daughter of the Count.」

Gloria's eyes opened wide. She didn't expect Hikaru to readily tell the truth.

「I doubt anyone still cares, though.」Hikaru added.

「Did she, um… kill the Count?」she asked in a very low whisper.

「No.」

「Are you sure?」

「A hundred percent sure.」

「You have proof?」

「Yup. Lavia saw the killer herself.」