The Guild Master’s office is located on the second floor of the Adventurers’ Guild.
I trudged down the stairs, my steps heavy and unsteady.
The longsword hanging at my side, which always felt heavy, now seemed even heavier.
Since I was only here for a meeting, I wasn’t wearing armor—just my usual clothes.
The first floor had several reception counters lined up.
Each counter had a queue, except for one, where a small sign reading, “Closed. Please use another counter,” was placed.
Behind that counter, a young cat-person woman in the Guild’s formal uniform sat neatly.
Her fur was a mix of reddish-brown, white, and black—calico-patterned.
Her name was Nyai, and she was the one responsible for our party.
Single. No boyfriend—or so I’d heard.
She was a year younger than me, seventeen.
Normal, who used to be the leader of our party and was also a warrior like me, often shared such things with me.
Was he interested in Nyai?
If so, he should just ask her out on a date instead of telling me about it.
He’s the leader of the “Synchrony Group,” a team the Guild has high hopes for. It would surely go well for him.
As for me?
Someone like me, a perennial F-rank, has no chance of even starting a conversation with her.
Sure, it would be amazing if someone as cute as Nyai were my girlfriend, but that’s impossible.
As I descended the stairs, my eyes met Nyai’s as she gazed straight at me.
She gestured for me to come over with a small wave of her hand.
It was Nyai who had come to my inn to deliver the message from the Guild Master summoning me.
Naturally, she must know what the Guild Master’s business is.
Even if she didn’t, as the Guild staff member responsible for the “Synchrony Group,” she’d be fully aware that I met the criteria for “encouraged withdrawal.”
She must have an idea.
When I approached the counter, Nyai removed the sign and cleared the space for me.
It was clear she had reserved the spot for me.
“I’m leaving the party,” I told Nyai with a weak smile.
I felt like I might cry if I didn’t smile.
“Are you sure?” Nyai asked firmly.
“It’s Guild policy, and the Guild Master already had a meeting with me, but no one in the ‘Synchrony Group’ thinks you’re a burden, Bash,” she said with a slightly angry expression.
“I’m sorry for adding to your workload,” I muttered.
“That’s exactly why,” she replied.
I forced another smile.
“What do you plan to do now?” Nyai’s expression shifted from anger to concern.
“I’ll think about whether to return to my hometown or set up somewhere else overnight,” I said.
“You could stay here,” she suggested.
“It would just be awkward if I ran into them,” I replied with a laugh.
“I need to sign the withdrawal notice,” I said, miming the act of writing in the air.
The withdrawal notice form was already prepared.
But Nyai didn’t hand it to me immediately.
“Are you really sure about this?” she asked again, her expression returning to anger.
“Yes,” I replied.
Nyai handed me the withdrawal form.
The recipient was addressed to both the Guild Master and the party leader.
The Guild name and the “Guild Master” section were already printed, so I just needed to fill in the party name, the leader’s name, my own name, and today’s date.
That was it.
With trembling hands, I filled out the form.
No approval was needed from the recipient. It was a notification—submitting it was all that was required to complete the process.
“Here you go,” I said, offering the form to Nyai.
But Nyai didn’t take it.
“Are you really, really sure?” she asked, looking angrier than before.
Even angry, I thought Nyai looked cute.
“Yes,” I said.
Since Nyai wouldn’t take the form, I left it on the counter and stepped back.
“Thank you for everything,” I said, bowing to Nyai.
I heard the sound of paper crumpling as Nyai snatched the form roughly from the counter.
When I raised my head, Nyai had already turned her back to me.
“Idiot,” she muttered.
That was the last thing she said.
I couldn’t even see her angry face anymore.
I left the Adventurers’ Guild.
Back in my room at the inn, I cried.
