“No way!” Casper dismissed Cyra’s completely correct guess. “What kind of an evil dastardly villain test his abilities in an area, where the only thing that would perish are low-level monsters and low-level adventurers? No such evil exists in this world!”

“Have you heard of baby-eating unicorns?” I ask Casper.

“…”

Casper stares at me silently, then laughs and pats me on the head while saying, “Aw, what a cute little jokester! Anyway, I have to go. I’ll be joining the hunt!” he says pointing at his golden medallion. “It’s not every day there’s a chance to slay a mythical creature. The one who scores the kill will be recorded in The Great Adventurer’s Book and will be the talk of the kingdom for the next month!”

How convenient! Instant fame and recognition? Say no more!

“Can I join the hunt?” I ask with the utmost excitement and try to look as adorable as possible. “Please~?”

“Erm, Cyra? Who is this girl?” Casper asks and points at me. “I don’t remember you saying you had a sister.”

“I don’t remember you asking,” Cyra crosses her arms and smiles.

Dang! I needed to ask the ‘Prize tab’ to also give me a hot, awesome sister like this one!

“She’s my adopted sister,” Cyra says.

“FOR REAL!?” Both Casper and I exclaim in unison. A few of the passersby glance in our direction.

Casper looks at me, his jaw still dropped. That’s when I realize that my jaw is even more dropped from utter shock. Wait, I shouldn’t be shocked!! Erm, think, loli, think!

“It was supposed to be a secret!” I pout at Cyra and make a pouty face.

“Sorry!” Cyra turns to me and bows ever-so-slightly with a wink and one hand for a gesture. It's more a parody than an actual apology. “But I also can’t have people thinking you’re my daughter or something.”

Then why not just say you just met me and we’re friends!? Not that I’m complaining!!!

“I see. Eh, look, kid,” Casper changes his tone and looks much more serious now, “This is a hunt for a beast so terrifying and powerful, it could probably erase a dozen adventurers before they even saw it coming!”

Oh, stop with the compliments!

“The Adventurer’s Guild was specific that only Silver-ranked Adventurers can even join the hunt. Though personally, I think only Gold and above should come. Silvers are unlikely to be anything more than cannon-fodder.”

“In this case, you probably mean fire-fodder,” Cyra corrects him.

“Yeah, that sounds about right!” Casper agrees instantly. “Horrible, flesh-melting fire! I wouldn’t want anything to happen to a cute girl like you. Neither would your… sister.”

“I can handle it!” I say with a smile and mimic a ‘we can do it pose’.

“Urgh,” Casper places the palm of his hand onto his face. “Even if I took this seriously, you would need to be a part of The Guild to be allowed to join the hunt.”

“No problem! Where do I sign up?”

“They don’t just accept every happy-go-lucky kid that wanders in! You need to clear at the very least a copper level dungeon. Alone! Then you get a medallion with your name as proof,” Casper points at the other side of his golden medallion. “Copper won’t do though, b—”

“Because I need at least a Silver rank to join the hunt, I get it, don’t worry!” I say confidently. “How much time do I have before you depart?”

“Bah! You won’t even reach the dungeon in ti—”

“How long?” I glare at Casper with as much intimidation a little girl can muster.

“Erm, a c-couple of hours, I suppose?” Casper says slightly nervously.

“And where could I find a dungeon that hands out silver medallions?”

“Ah, about ten miles that way,” Casper points with his finger in the general direction opposite of the Crystal Valley.

“Thank you!” I smile kindly and then grab Cyra’s hand and do what she's done to me all day yesterday. “Let’s go!”

“Wait, I have things to do!" Cyra exclaims but lets me drag her. "Why do you even need me?”

“Because I like your company!” I say and hurry to the edge of ‘The Town’.