All of them were waiting before the Guild Master's office. Nikola had no idea what to do with the branch and iron bullion which the Leshy gave him.
For now, they were in his bottomless bag.
This was going to be their first completed quest. As per law, 50% of the loot went to the guild.
Not that they had a lot of loot. The goblins which had tried to ambush them probably had a hidden village somewhere and had not brought everything with them.
When the office door finally opened, they were greeted by the one-eyed guild master.
"Welcome!" The man said, as he waved them over. A young adventurer lady came out of the office, her head bowed. "Please don't tell me you made a detour?"
Jack took the lead. He didn't want his family to end up under the magnifying glass.
"We were ambushed by some goblins, but we took care of them," he said, as he sat opposite the guild master. "Sir, if there is an infestation of these creatures, then I suggest…!"
"Zip it," the old man said, as he looked at Jean next. "You're happy? Was it fun to kill?"
Jean wilted.
"And you," he looked at Dimitri next. "Why did you use an agro which you can use only once per month on goblins?"
That was also a valid question. Dimitri bowed his head as well.
"At least you," the man pointed at Nikola last. "Don't smell like a demon anymore. Ok, then, did you at least replant the forest?"
"Yes, I did," Nikola said, as he smiled. "There was a graveyard, which was disturbed by the demon I once served."
The old guild master nodded.
"You will all get extra training," he said, as he took a glass of water. "And pay 1,000 mana stones for bringing the demon into our realm. Be glad that I am not suing you!"
All four of them bowed their heads.
"Also," he said, as he pointed at a map of the town. "Someone from your world landed in the town's squire. I do hope that you can get him up on his feet. He is a bit… medium rare."
Nikola blinked. Had one of the policemen come for them?
"His name is Bleda," the guild master continued.
"Guild Master Arnold, sir!" Dimitri said, standing up. "He is a part of our family!"
Nikola nodded along. Bleda had not come through the portal as they had entered this world.
Had something happened to him?
"Well, you are all dismissed. Bleda is in the hospital," Guild Master Arnold said, as he waved them off.
Soon, they were walking as quickly as they could.
The hospital was an old building made of pristine white stone. The people of Oak's Rest often joked that it was the stairway to heaven.
Mostly because it was always understaffed.
The hospital had seen better days. Back when Oak's Rest had been a trading hub, healers from all over the world fought for the privilege to practice their craft behind those tall white walls.
But now, as the four entered the dimly lit room, they were conflicted.
"I wouldn't put a starving rat in here," Jack noted. "It's so bare. And… why aren't there any blankets on the bed?"
Nikola had no answer to that. He stepped to Bleda's bedside as if in a trance.
The Mongol cracked an eye open.
"The portal didn't want me. I had to force my way through," he bared his teeth. A droplet of blood fell past his lips.
"But you are here now," Dimitri said.
Nikola didn't know what to say. Bleda was no longer Tangra's champion. The portal had no problem with the rest of them.
Not even with little Timmy, who was a necromancer.
With grim realization, Nikola realized that Tangra had tried to kill Bleda.
The brunette laid a hand-over Bleda's. Keeping his silence but not wanting to cause harm by asking questions to which he already knew the answers.
"I'll heal you," Dimitri took out a mana crystal, crushing it in his hand. His hands began to glow a lovely golden light.
Bleda nodded. Dimitri hit him with the spell.
"You know," the Mongol said, as his skin was knitting itself together. "My former boss is foaming at the mouth."
Nikola nodded. Green eyes locked with dark ones. Nikola had no words to say to Bleda.
Could not bear the bitterness of what had happened.
"There is an Adventurer's Guild in here," Jack said, for he knew that Nikola would not find the words.
Guilt did that to a man.
"And if you join, you can be the fifth man in our party," Jack continued, as he sat by Bleda as well.
"And what is their stance on necromancy?" Bleda asked. Not expecting much but still being curious.
"I don't care whether they accept you or not," Nikola murmured. "We accept you, and if there is no place for you in the guild, then we will become freelancers!"
Bleda chuckled.
"You know, speak like that some more, and I might curse you with the title of best friend," the man winked at him.
"Curse me?" Nikola chuckled. "Don't you mean bless me?"
Bleda shook his head as carefully as he could. Nikola saw a wound on the man's neck. A burned mark which Dimitri's mana was knitting together.
"I am the type of friend who will come at 2 am to hide a corpse," Bleda said, as he patted Nikola on the head. "And I will expect the same!"
The wound on his neck finally healed, The man kicked his legs so, as if to test them.
Then, he took Nikola's hand in his.
The brunette was soon on his feet, knowing that this was a show of trust. He pulled the necromancer to his feet, smiling all the while.
But something irked him.
He sat on a wealth of food and mana stones. This was his first time visiting the hospital.
What sort of person was he, if he saw only the white walls, but not the poverty inside?
He had to do something.
He knew just the thing.