Clutching the glowing crystal fragment in her hand, Alina dashed through the nighttime darkness of Ifühl.

She just ran, without intention, not understanding what made her do so.

It was still early enough to about-turn, go back to the office and clear the overtime work she needed to do if she wanted to get home on time tomorrow. That should have been what mattered most to this receptionist. But her body just continued to run and stumble, refusing to stop.

What she did know was where she was going—the crystal gate in the guild headquarters. Her skill activated, she bound in great leaps and strides towards the HQ as fast she could. Leaving the main street, she leapt over the large iron gate and cut across the quiet yard.

In the darkness of the night, she was able to make out the faint light of the crystal gate. But just as she was about to take out the adventurer’s licence concealed in her pocket:

‘Wait!’

A sharp voice commanded her to stop. Alina obliged.

Finally, Alina came to her senses. Panting like a dog, she turned her gaze towards the approaching men.

‘Who goes there! The crystal gate is currently sealed.’

With the clanking of sheet metal on sheet metal, the men surrounded Alina. They wore matching armour emblazoned with the guild’s crest and carried matching longswords. They were probably the guards of the guild headquarters.

‘Wait, she’s just a receptionist?’

When they recognised Alina’s uniform, the guards lowered their swords, somewhat disappointed at the anticlimactic outcome.

‘What is your business here? This crystal gate only leads to the dungeons. People other than adventurers aren’t allowed to use it. If you want to teleport to a town or something, use the one in Ifühl.’

‘Hey!’

Alina panicked as the guards grabbed her by the arm and tried to force her out of the premises. She was about to use her skill and send them flying when she remembered that she was still wearing her uniform.

I messed up!

Alina’s face grew pale.

Because she rushed out without thinking, she hadn’t brought anything to disguise herself with. If only she had her cloak to cover her face…

What should I do? What should I do?

Alina’s state of fretfulness prevented her from forming a clear thought.

I must hurry. They are on the brink of death at this very moment. If I don’t go now, it’ll be too late.

However, the calmer side of her was quick to chastise herself for her recklessness.

If she were to force her way to the crystal gate and use it, it would reveal the fact that she had a license—that she was an adventurer. Not to mention that if she tried to take out her warhammer and knock out the guards, they would know she is the Executioner, a fact that she just barely managed to hide so far. The stable position of a receptionist that she had finally managed to achieve would come crashing down. All her hard work and effort would crumble in an instant.

The death of Shroud flashed through her head. At the same time, other, colder words passed her mind:

All adventurers die anyway.

They nonchalantly enter perilous dungeons for uncertain rewards, they predictably get attacked by monsters, and then they die. A life of risk they chose to lead.

Not so Alina. She became a receptionist to avoid that. Even if she has to work overtime, even if it’s tough sometimes, she never gave up her job. Because she wanted to avoid the unstable lifestyle of an adventurer.

So why should she give up the stability of a receptionist’s job to throw her life away for the sake of some adventurer?

“That’s the way of the Silver Blades.”

Jade’s words, said so matter-of-factly, still stuck in her mind. He would say that it was the Blades’ duty, the adventurer’s duty, to go into the dungeons and get results, even if it meant risking their lives.

What the hell. How stupid is that? What good could come of dying? Shroud tried to avoid danger and even he died. The kind of person who makes dangerous choices of their own free will won’t remain unscathed forever.

Sure enough, they’re on the verge of death right now. Serves them right. Bunch of idiots.

Let’s leave them alone.

‘Activate’

Alina muttered the words before she realised what she was doing.

‘Eh?’

‘Activate skill: “Dia’s Ruin!”’

Clutching the crystal shard, Alina spoke the words she didn’t want to say

A white magic circle appeared silently beneath her feet. A warhammer emerged from the white light, which seemed to pierce the dark of night like an arrow. Alina seized its hilt.

Ahh, I can’t go back now. I’m as much of an idiot as those guys.

‘What?!’

‘A skill?!’

Panicked, the guards stepped back, swords at the ready.

‘I thought she was a receptionist! No, before that. What the hell is that skill?!’

‘Wa—wa—wait! Wait a minute!’

One of the panic-stricken guards seemed to have noticed something and shouted over the others.

‘Th—that, that huge warhammer…’

The other guards caught on to what he was about to say as well, and one by one they were struck with awe.

‘Is she… the Executioner?!’

A guard pointed at Alina in stunned disbelief.

And who could blame him? The figure brandishing the warhammer before his eyes was neither a mysterious, handsome adventurer nor a stalwart female warrior.

She was just a receptionist.

‘Step aside.’

Alina told them in a low voice. Alina didn’t try to hide her face. On the contrary, she resolutely held her head up high.

“Shroud is not coming home.”

Those words remained in Alina’s heart like a stubborn stain. What happens when you brave risk? The truth had been beaten into the young, dreamy Alina.

That’s why Alina thought.

She no longer wanted to be an adventurer, to square off against monsters with fierce courage.

She didn’t want to live in a large mansion or anything. She wasn’t interested in becoming rich or marrying into wealth. Neither did she need a life full of ups and downs. She just wanted to live a reasonable life, enjoy her time reasonably and live peacefully every day.

Even if it meant having to watch someone die.

‘No longer.’

I’m sick of thinking that way.

They’re on the brink of death? They’re not coming home? Fuck off. I won’t allow it. I’ll drag those idiots out of the dungeon and bring them back by force if I have to.

Even if that meant braving the greatest risk.

‘If you don’t step aside, I’ll make you.’