Catgirls And Dungeons-Chapter 170: The busy guild

The Adventurer’s Guild is really, really busy right now.

Guild staff dart through the crowded main hall, their arms laden with scrolls and clipboards, some others are stationed to guide adventurers. They are like working bees trying to maintain a fragile order in this chaotic place.

Meanwhile, adventurers are flooding every booth and corner, their voices a jumbled chorus of excitement.

Even outside, in the packed courtyard, other Guilds have set up makeshift stalls, their banners flapping in the morning breeze. Shouted offers and handwritten signs compete for attention.

"Top Guild in Mistvale Hiring! Join Northern Lights now! D-rank adventurers welcome!"

"Aquarious is hiring! Blacksmiths and professional weapon maintainers needed!"

"Hiring all D-rank and higher clerics and healers! Earn hundreds of crowns per hour!"

"We need more enchanters! Apply now!"

"Porters needed ASAP!"

Not only the big guilds are stirring—adventurers are forming their own parties, pulling friends and connections into tight-knit groups. I spot a trio of Furren warriors laughing as they scribble names onto a roster, and nearby, a mage in a starry cloak waving over a nervous-looking archer. The energy is electric, like a festival and a battlefield rolled into one. It’s noisy, cramped, and chaotic as heck—a literal sea of people, their voices crashing like waves.

"Woah, an S-rank dungeon is really stirring things up," I say to Eris, my eyes wide as I take in the chaos, my tail flicking with a mix of awe and nerves, caught between the thrill and the overwhelming bustle.

"Yup!" Eris chirps, holding my hand tightly as if she’s afraid I’ll be swept away if she lets go. "As you may already know, S-rank dungeons are dangerous," she adds, "but they promise wealth and glory! If you stumble across a ruin and snag a rare artifact in one of those places, you could make millions overnight! Probably change your life in a snap! I’ve known so many people who got rich doing that. The allure is irresistible..."

At her words, guilt gnaws at my chest. I bite my lip, my tail curling tightly around my leg as a pang of worry tugs at my chest.

"Y-you sure you don’t want to go?" I ask, my voice small, my claws digging into her sleeve. My heart races, and I look up at her, my ears drooping.

Basically, Eris is an A-rank adventurer. She could dive into that dungeon and search for treasures. If she stays back for me, she’s missing out on a huge opportunity

The thought makes my stomach twist, and I swallow hard, forcing the words out. "I-I can train on my own, you know... You don’t have to sacrifice all this for me..."

"Hey, what are you saying?" Eris laughs, her voice warm as she steps closer, her hand landing gently on my head. She ruffles my hair, her fingers brushing my ears. "You’re the most important person to me right now, my top priority," she says, her eyes softening, her grin giving way to a look so earnest it makes my breath catch. "No amount of wealth or power in this world could ever compare to you. No, absolutely not."

Hearing that...

Badump!

My heart races, throbbing with a frantic rhythm that echoes in my chest.

A wave of heat rushes to my face, my cheeks flushing so fiercely I’m sure I’m glowing redder than a fire spell.

I duck my head, my tail swishing wildly. "Eris..." I mumble, my voice barely a whisper, my other hand clutching the hem of my skirt. My chest feels like it’s about to burst, a swirling mix of embarrassment and warmth that makes my heart ache in the best way.

Honestly... How the heck does she just say stuff like that?!

"Alright, let’s go get your ID now," Eris says, her grin returning, bright and teasing as she gives my shoulder a playful nudge. "Karl’s waiting for us in the secret chamber."

"Nn!" I nod, squeezing her hand.

We push our way through the crowd, the press of bodies making me sweat. The air is hot and heavy, thick with the scent of sweat and polished steel, and I cling to Eris’s arm, dodging a burly swordsman and sidestepping a pile of gear. My heart pounds, not just from the effort but from Eris’s words still echoing in my mind.

After twenty minutes of weaving, sweating, and muttering apologies, we finally reach the Library corner, where a tall, slender Lizard Furren with long white hair is standing.

Upon seeing us, Karven recognizes us immediately, his slitted eyes narrowing with a knowing glint. "Please wait in the room," he whispers to us. "The Guildmaster is a bit busy right now, but he’ll see you in about an hour."

"Got it," Eris replies quickly.

And then, Karven sneaks us to the secret door just like last time. With a quiet click, he opens it, and we slip through, the noise of the Guild fading to a muffled hum as we head toward the secret chamber, the air growing cooler and quieter with every step.

—————————————

A long while later, I’m curled up in the secret chamber, the dim glow of a single lantern casting soft shadows across the stone walls. I’ve already taken a short nap, my fluffy catgirl ears twitching faintly as I drift in and out of sleep, my tail curled snugly around me. The air is cool and quiet, a stark contrast to the chaotic buzz of the Adventurer’s Guild outside.

Earlier, Karven said that his dad, the Guildmaster will deliver my Identification Card personally, mentioning he needed to discuss something with Eris.

So, we wait, the minutes stretching like a lazy afternoon.

I shift in my seat, my tail flicking lazily, and glance at Eris. She’s lounging against a bookshelf, her tail swaying as she flips through a dusty tome

I stifle a yawn.

Eventually, a soft creak breaks the silence as the heavy door swings open.

Guildmaster Karlogen steps in, his towering figure filling the doorway. The Winged Lizard Furren stands tall, his professional guild suit impeccably tailored, the fabric is black and decorated with golden threads. His leathery wings are folded neatly, and his presence carries an air of power and authority, like a storm held in check. But as the door clicks shut behind him...

The facade crumbles.

"PWUAHHH!" Karlogen breathes out quickly, stumbling to the side and slumping against the wall, his wings sagging. "Urrrghhh!" he groans, a long, tired sound. "That was crazy! Fuck this S-rank dungeon!"