Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers-Chapter 172: Rumia’s First Adventure

Back in the present, Shido and Rumia walked through the bustling streets of Re-Estize City, making their way toward the Adventurer's Guild.

It didn't take them long to reach their destination, as the inn they had checked into was conveniently located nearby. When Shido caught sight of the guild building, he immediately noticed the difference between this one and the branch in E-Rantel. The Re-Estize guild was noticeably larger and more refined in its architecture. While Shido didn't consider the E-Rantel branch to be lacking, it was clear that the capital's guild operated on an entirely different scale, something that didn't surprise him anymore.

The guild was bustling with activity. Adventurers, guild staff, merchants, and various other individuals flowed in and out of the building, making it one of the busiest establishments in the city.

Shido entered the guild alongside Rumia, intending to get her registered as an adventurer. The moment the two stepped inside, nearly every eye in the room turned toward them.

Shido could instantly feel the weight of dozens of stares, each one assessing them with a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny. He chose to ignore the attention and calmly led the way toward the receptionist.

However, it was different for Rumia. Although, her level was higher than most of the adventurer's inside. Despite her strength, far surpassing that of most adventurers present, she was clearly unsettled. Their gazes weren't just curious, they were intrusive, as if stripping her bare with their eyes. It made her stomach twist in discomfort.

Unconsciously, she stepped closer to Shido, clutching the hem of his coat as her fingers trembled slightly.

Shido had hoped to avoid drawing any attention so soon after arriving in the capital. But judging by the predatory expressions on some of the faces around them, it seemed that discretion would be a luxury. A flicker of irritation passed through his eyes. He didn't mind being underestimated, but seeing Rumia treated like a prize for the taking was another matter entirely.

Seeing this, Shido gently took hold of the trembling hand clutching the corner of his coat. His gaze then swept across the room, cold and emotionless.

The moment his eyes met those of the leering adventurers, a chill ran down their spines. It was as if a predator had just locked onto its prey. The smug expressions vanished from their faces, and they hastily turned their gazes elsewhere, trying to appear disinterested.

Though Shido bore only a Platinum-ranked badge, the aura he exuded told a different story. A dangerous pressure clung to the air around him, and those who had entertained wicked thoughts toward him and Rumia instinctively knew that they had messed with the wrong person.

Strangely, this oppressive pressure was only felt by those harboring ill intent and those higher ranking adventurers. The rest of the guild, the ordinary adventurers who were simply chatting, drinking, or reviewing quests, remained unaffected, blissfully unaware of the subtle tension crackling through the air.

Rumia suddenly felt warmth around her hand and looked down, only to see Shido holding it firmly. When she glanced up, she saw him smiling at her, gentle and reassuring. His grip tightened slightly, not painfully, but enough to let her know he was there. That small gesture, paired with his radiant and confident smile, washed away her anxiety in an instant. Unbeknownst to her, Shido had already silenced the entire guild hall with a single cold glance.

With the tension diffused, the two made their way to the receptionist without any further trouble. Shido accompanied Rumia as she began the registration process. Although it was her first time doing something unfamiliar yet thrilling, Rumia couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness fluttering in her chest.

The registration itself was simple and efficient. Within a few minutes, the receptionist handed Rumia a bronze plate, her adventurer's tag, marking her official entry into the guild as a Bronze-ranked adventurer.

"I'm... an adventurer now?" Rumia looked up at Shido, her voice filled with wonder and disbelief. She stared down at the bronze plate in her hands as if it were a precious treasure.

"Yeah," Shido said with a warm smile. "From now on, we're in the same party. We'll take on missions together. For now, let's check the mission board and find a suitable mission for your first quest."

"Alright!" Rumia nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

As the two of them made their way toward the mission board, a man dressed in black clothing and a green cloak silently rose from his seat in the corner of the guild. A long scar ran down the right side of his lips, twisting as he smirked menacingly. Without a word, he turned and walked away, vanishing into the crowd then revealing a dangerous smile.

Shido subtly glanced from the corner of his eye and caught sight of the man slipping away. The sinister smile on the man's face didn't escape him. Shido understood man was one of his targets to complete the quest. But rather than stop him, Shido allowed the man to leave. Internally, he grinned darkly. 'The snake took the bait.'

Rumia, still holding his hand, noticed the slight change in Shido's expression. Concern flickered across her face as she looked up at him.

"Is something wrong, Shido-san?" she asked softly.

Shido quickly masked his thoughts and shook his head, putting on a lighthearted smile. "No, no. I'm just happy I get to hold your hand like this."

"Shido-san~!" Rumia puffed her cheeks in slight annoyance, half-scolding him. Yet, despite her words, she didn't let go. Instead, her grip tightened, and a warm hope bloomed in her heart, that she could feel this kind of happiness again in the future.

...

A cold wind swept past Shido and Rumia as she carefully harvested an Ice Lotus, handling the delicate herb with great care.

Currently, the two of them were at the middle of the Azerlisia Mountains, fulfilling the quest Rumia had accepted. Though the mission was simply to collect herbs, the specific herb, Ice Lotus which only grew at the base of the Azerlisia range, a region far from the capital and teeming with frost beasts and dangerous monsters. Due to these hazards, the quest had been classified as a C-Class mission, typically only available to Gold-rank adventurers or higher.

Fortunately, since Rumia and Shido were in the same party, and Shido held a Platinum rank, the receptionist had allowed them to accept the quest without issue.

After returning to the inn where they had checked in, Shido and Rumia began preparing their belongings for the journey ahead. However, since they didn't have much to pack, they decided to set off immediately after storing their luggage in Shido's inventory.

Shido then pulled out a card from his inventory and activated it. Suddenly, he embraced Rumia, startling her slightly, and said, "Accompany on! Re-Blumrushur!" A golden light surrounded them both, and within seconds, they arrived at the outskirts of Re-Blumshur.

Shido gently released Rumia upon arrival and took a moment to survey their surroundings. Rumia on the other hand felt a little at lost when Shido let go of her, but she didn't say anything as she also felt curious about this place.

What Shido had just used was Accompany, a card from the game Greed Island in Hunter x Hunter, much like his Beautiful Skin Spa. He had purchased it at a shop for 2,000 SP, along with another ability that would come in handy for this quest.

After arriving, Shido and Rumia entered the city and checked into an inn, knowing that it might take some time before they returned to Re-Estize. Once settled, they immediately set out toward the foot of the Azerlisia Mountains in search of the Ice Lotus, the herb they needed to complete the quest.

"How do we find the herb, Shido-san?" Rumia asked, glancing around nervously. The area was vast, and the cold temperature made lingering too risky. They couldn't afford to waste time wandering aimlessly.

"Don't worry, I have a way to find it quickly," Shido said confidently. He extended his arms and chanted, "Search: Ice Lotus."

Shido activated the skill he had bought from the shop along with Accompany. It was a null magic ability from In Another World With My Smartphone that allowed the user to locate anything within a certain radius.

Not wanting to waste time, Shido had also purchased the advanced version of the skill for 20,000 SP. With this upgrade, he could search within a 1-kilometer radius, and just as he expected, the location of the Ice Lotus immediately appeared in his mind.

"I found it! Let's go!" Shido gripped Rumia's hand and swiftly pulled her toward the mountains.

"Eh, that fast?" Rumia exclaimed, surprised by how quickly he located the herb. Still, she didn't protest and followed closely, her hand comfortably nestled in his.

Along the way, several frost monsters and beasts ambushed them, but Shido effortlessly dispatched each one with a brandish of his sword. Though the sight was bloody, Rumia began to grow accustomed to it as Shido explained the harsh reality of this world, filled with chaos and wicked beings, so she had to steel her mind about what will happen in the future.

It didn't take long for them to find the Ice Lotus. To Rumia's surprise, there were three blooming together. She could have taken them all, but she carefully picked only one. A group of frost beasts lingered nearby, watching them warily. Though they didn't dare approach—intimidated by the danger radiating from Shido, they clearly seemed to be guarding the flowers.

Sensing this, Rumia chose to take just one Ice Lotus, leaving the other two untouched.

Shido noticed her restraint and couldn't help but smile. Her kindness was genuine, almost disarming. Gently, he reached out and patted her blonde hair, silently hoping she would never change. Unaware of his thoughts, Rumia's face lit up with a blissful smile as she felt his warm palm softly caress her head.

The sun was already setting as Shido and Rumia emerged from the Azerlisia Mountains. They decided to spend the night in Re-Blumrushur City before heading back to the capital. Shido booked a single room with two beds, feeling it was safer for the two of them to stay together.

Rumia didn't mind sharing a room, but as she lay on her bed, a shy thought crossed her mind, if possible, she wished to sleep in the same bed as Shido, holding him close. The idea made her cheeks flush a deep red, and a warm heat spread across her face. Embarrassed by her own bold imagination, she twisted and turned on her bed, eventually drifting off to sleep with a soft smile on her lips.

The next day, Shido and Rumia used another Accompany card to swiftly return to the capital. There, they submitted the Ice Lotus they had collected to the adventurer's guild.