Xia Lun slowly turned his head.
Standing behind him was a slender figure, young in age—about the same as Xia Lun—with deep red, unkempt hair that sprawled messily, clearly neglected. Though his face bore a sallow complexion, the underlying features were undeniably refined, with delicate and well-proportioned facial traits.
The stranger wore a set of somewhat tattered light armor, a dagger strapped to his waist, and carried no other equipment. Curiously, he also held an old, weathered harp in his hands.
Liyana’s eyes brightened slightly. Among all the applicants today, this one came closest to meeting her previously unreasonable demands.
But her gaze soon dimmed again. After all, the man looked downright destitute. A rogue who had fallen to such a state… Liyana doubted he had much skill to offer.
“You there…” Xia Lun hesitated, unsure how to address him.
“I’m male,” the man said firmly. “My name is Moke.”
Though his appearance leaned toward the feminine, his voice was robust and resonant—precisely why Xia Lun had hesitated earlier.
Liyana sighed regretfully.
Moke took a seat across from Xia Lun. While Xia Lun studied him, Moke likewise sized up the trio before him.
Xia Lun sat in the central position, clearly the leader. To his left was a woman whose face was hidden beneath the hood of her mage robes, and to his right, a carefree-looking elven archer.
They all seemed as young as he was.
“Grrr—”
Moke flushed with embarrassment as his stomach betrayed him with an untimely growl. He hadn’t eaten in two days.
Xia Lun immediately raised a hand and ordered a steak, bread, and a bowl of creamy hot soup.
“Sorry…” Moke lowered his head, his voice quieter now. “I’ve made a fool of myself.”
“There’s no shame in it. In fact, I find you quite admirable, Moke,” Xia Lun said earnestly. “You’re a rogue, yet even in your current state, you haven’t resorted to stealing from others… That tells me you’re a man of principle.”
Moke replied calmly, “A rogue should never take what doesn’t belong to them—except for treasures within dungeons and secret realms. That’s the most basic rule of our profession.”
Beside them, Liyana cleared her throat subtly, her earlier dismissiveness fading.
The food arrived swiftly, and Moke dug in without hesitation, devouring the meal ravenously. Liyana swallowed hard, her appetite inexplicably returning at the sight of Moke’s hearty eating, despite having already dined.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Moke finished quickly, wiped his mouth, and exhaled in relief.
Xia Lun leaned forward. “Now, let’s get down to business.”
Moke straightened in his seat, attentive.
Xia Lun: “Moke, you’re a rogue?”
Moke: “That’s right.”
Xia Lun: “What rank?”
Moke: “High-tier.”
Xia Lun glanced at Moke’s shabby attire. “Forgive my bluntness, but how does a high-tier rogue end up in such a state?”
Moke wasn’t surprised by the question. His eyes dimmed slightly, but he answered plainly, “I can’t find a party. Alone, I can’t handle the monsters in the dungeons.”
“A high-tier rogue can’t find teammates?” Liyana interjected, skepticism dripping from her voice.
Moke gave a bitter chuckle. “Every time I enter a dungeon, I somehow trigger a monster rampage. My teammates end up dead or severely injured. People say I’m cursed—a harbinger of calamity. No one wants to team up with me.”
Liyana and Xia Lun exchanged glances.
“That’s ridiculous. What kind of excuse is that?” Liyana said, astonished.
“But it’s the truth,” Moke sighed. “For some reason, I seem to attract monsters… even though I’m just an ordinary human.”
“That’s not a problem for us,” Aina spoke for the first time, her voice cool. “We’re strong.”
Aina wanted Moke to stay.
If what he said was true—if he really could draw monsters to them—then Xia Lun would have more opportunities to act. And that meant she could finally gauge his true strength.
Xia Lun’s earlier words had been gnawing at her.
He claimed he was absolutely certain he could take the Demon King down with him. She wanted to see whether this so-called hero had the power to back his words or if he was just full of hot air.
“Moke…” Xia Lun’s gaze shifted to the harp in Moke’s hands. “Mind explaining the harp?”
“Ah… this is a bit embarrassing, actually. Being a rogue is just my side job.” Moke straightened, cleared his throat, and plucked a graceful melody from the strings. With solemn pride, he declared, “My dream is to become a renowned bard.”
He braced himself for laughter, but none came.
Aina was indifferent, Xia Lun was serious, and Liyana… had zoned out.
“You… don’t mind?” Moke ventured.
“Every dream deserves respect,” Xia Lun nodded. “And if you’re joining us, all I care about is your skill as a rogue. What else you pursue is your own business.”
“I can detect and disarm most traps. I have a talent for it,” Moke assured.
“Good. Tomorrow, we’re heading into a dungeon. If you perform as expected, you’ll be our new teammate.”
“Really?” Moke’s eyes lit up. “I mean it—I might attract powerful monsters. Even so, you’d take me?”
“If it’s as you say, that’d be perfect,” Liyana grinned. “Because no matter what shows up, Xia Lun and Aina will wipe them out effortlessly. Looking forward to your performance, ‘monster magnet.’”
For weaker parties, Moke’s ability would indeed spell disaster.
But for a strong team, it could be exploited to their advantage.
Moke just hadn’t met the right group yet.
Xia Lun stood to leave but paused. “Oh, Moke… your music is beautiful. I believe you’ll make a great bard.”
But instead of brightening, Moke’s expression turned wistful.
“Thanks… Xia Lun. I’ll do my best.”
“What’s wrong?” Xia Lun frowned. “Your playing is wonderful. You should be more confident.”
“But bards don’t just play… they sing.” Moke ruffled his hair in frustration.
“And my singing is terrible.”