Kashu had barely left the restaurant when a force struck him from behind.
He halted and turned to see a white-haired boy clutching his forehead as he sat on the ground in disarray.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Once he recovered, the boy scrambled to his feet and repeatedly bowed to Kashu.
"I'm terribly sorry! I was distracted and didn't notice you!"
Kashu waved it off without concern. "Don't say that. I was walking too fast myself."
The boy's red eyes were filled with gratitude, and he bowed again.
"Thank you for your generosity!"
Kashu was not used to the boy's skittish attitude and raised a hand to scratch his head.
"Relax a little. I'm not a senior from your Familia. You don't need to be so respectful when talking to me."
As he spoke, he looked the boy over from head to toe.
Plain black clothes, a brown jacket, and an Adventurer's Guide issued by the Guild in his hand.
"Sure enough, you're a newcomer who just joined a Familia, right?"
"Yes! My name is Bell Cranel. I'm an adventurer who just joined the Hestia Familia. Please take care of me!"
Bell reflexively began bowing to Kashu again, looking timid as though he feared getting into trouble outside.
Kashu raised a hand to his forehead. "What do you mean, 'please take care of me'? I already said we're not in the same Familia. Save that for your seniors."
Bell gave an awkward, foolish laugh, seemingly realizing that he had been overly cautious. Yet honest as he was, he still hurried to explain.
"Well—actually, I'm the first member Lady Hestia took in. There aren't any seniors in the Familia."
Looking at the earnest boy before him, Kashu carefully recalled the Familia records he had read before. There really had been no