"Hmm... Pebble rank?" Mixarnt asked, curious about what it meant. Arthur chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement at Mixarnt’s innocence. "That’s right, kid. You’re starting at the bottom, but don’t worry. With hard work and dedication, you can climb the ranks. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it in the end."

He leaned in, his tone turning serious. "The higher you go, the tougher the quests, the stronger the enemies, and the better the rewards. But remember, with higher rank comes great responsibility. Use your abilities wisely and never forget the oath you took when you became an adventurer."

Mixarnt listened carefully, his mind racing with excitement and a hint of nervousness. He knew he had a long journey ahead to prove himself worthy of the title of adventurer. 

"With this sword, I’ll slay a dragon!" Mixarnt declared, holding up his wooden sword and striking a nearby wall with a loud thud. The adventurers in the guild burst out laughing at his enthusiasm. Mika found it endearing, while Arthur laughed heartily. Mixarnt just grinned, imagining the wall as a dragon. 

Arthur, clearly entertained by Mixarnt’s enthusiasm, pounded a fist on the nearest table, his loud laughter adding to the commotion.

As the laughter faded, Arthur walked over to Mixarnt, his expression softening with a mix of fondness and advice. "Now, now, kid. Dragons aren’t something you can take down with just a swing of your sword, no matter how strong you think you are," he said, his tone gentle but firm.

"But I do like your spirit. You’ve got the heart of an adventurer, even if you’re still a bit rough around the edges. Just remember, every legendary hero started somewhere."

"Okay, Old Man Arthur," Mixarnt said with a thumbs-up. Mika giggled at the comment, since Arthur was only in his forties but was being called an old man.

"I told you to shave your beard and dye your hair brown instead of keeping it white," Mika teased with a smirk.

Arthur grumbled good-naturedly, running a hand over his scruffy beard. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Maybe I’ll dye my hair brown and shave this beard just to annoy you next time," he joked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Mika rolled her eyes playfully, her smirk turning into a grin. "You wouldn’t dare, OLD MAN Arthur. We already have enough trouble keeping track of your age as it is," she teased, her tone light and joking.

Mixarnt, still holding his wooden sword, watched their banter with wide-eyed curiosity. The friendly teasing and easy camaraderie between Arthur and Mika reminded him of the strong bonds within the adventurer community—a big change from the loneliness he had known during his solo travel in the grasslands.

"I think I’ll keep calling you Old Man, though," Mixarnt said as he picked up a slime quest and told Mika he wanted to take it. Mika agreed, as it was the most basic quest available. Looking around, Mixarnt spotted Elyssia, the beautiful ice mage he had met yesterday. She was sitting elegantly, drinking tea, while her three friends chatted about their next adventure.

Mixarnt walked up to her innocently and asked, "Hey, very beautiful lady with big breasts, can you tell me where the slimes are located???"

Elyssia’s eyes locked onto Mixarnt, her usual polite demeanor replaced by a sharp, icy glare. Her three companions, all experienced adventurers, stopped their conversation, intrigued by Mixarnt’s bold question.

"Excuse me?" Elyssia’s voice was sweet but carried a cold edge. "Did you really just speak to me like that?"

She set her tea down, her slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. "I’d suggest you avoid using such rude language, especially when talking to someone like me. It doesn’t make you look good." The other adventurers watched intently, their reactions mixed—some amused, others clearly disapproving. It was clear Elyssia’s reputation was well-known, and her patience for Mixarnt’s lack of manners was running thin.

"Oh... I guess you don’t know, huh? I asked you because I thought you looked knowledgeable," Mixarnt said. Elyssia’s party was stunned. Mixarnt completely ignored her earlier reprimand and instead interpreted her words as an excuse for not knowing the slimes’ location.

Embarrassed and blushing, Elyssia finally answered Mixarnt’s question.

Elyssia’s cheeks turned bright red as she realized Mixarnt had misunderstood her scolding as a challenge to his knowledge rather than a correction of his rude behavior. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "The slimes are in the Whispering Woods, not far from here," she said, her voice steady despite her embarrassment. "But be careful—they might be a challenge for someone with your... limited experience." Her companions exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of amusement and mild concern. They found Mixarnt’s boldness entertaining but also a bit troubling, given his lack of social awareness. Elyssia, meanwhile, seemed torn between her responsibility to give accurate information and her growing irritation with Mixarnt’s blunt manner.

"Oh, thanks, beautiful lady with a nice rack!" Mixarnt said with an innocent grin as he ran out of the guild.

"H-hey, wait... and... he’s gone." Arthur watched Mixarnt dash off, a mix of exasperation and affection on his face. "That kid’s got more energy than a pack of wild foxes," he remarked, shaking his head in amusement. "I’ve never seen anyone so carefree yet so determined to leave an impression—whether good or bad." Mika, who had been watching the scene with a bemused expression, let out a soft laugh. "He’s definitely... unique," she said, her tone carrying a hint of admiration. "I can’t deny there’s something charming about his innocence and eagerness to learn."

Arthur nodded in agreement, a twinkle in his eye. "Aye, he’s got potential, that one. He just needs to learn a thing or two about diplomacy and subtlety." He paused, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Maybe we should start him on some etiquette lessons, eh, Mika?" Arthur then turned to Elyssia and said with a laugh, "What about you, beautiful lady with a huge rack?" He clearly found it hilarious that Mixarnt had given the ice mage Elyssia, who was the same Sapphire rank as him, such a nickname.

Elyssia’s face turned bright red at Arthur’s teasing, her hands clenching into fists as she struggled to control her rising anger. The other adventurers burst into laughter at Arthur’s joke, the lighthearted mood returning as Elyssia’s usual composure fell apart.

"Funny, Arthur, really funny," she snapped, her icy magic flickering with barely contained frustration. "Maybe if you put half as much effort into adventuring as you do into teasing, your so-called 'legendary status' might actually mean something."

Elyssia stood up abruptly, leaving her tea behind, and stormed toward the exit without looking back. Her three companions quickly gathered their things, whispering and stifling giggles as they followed the annoyed ice mage, leaving Arthur and Mika laughing behind them.

Arthur wiped tears from his eyes, struggling to catch his breath between fits of laughter.