Better yet: This dude, Gideon, was a fortified-level bloke!

The elders saw him studying the man and looked proud. "So what do you think? He's one of our more powerful people here in the Lotus Town branch. His potential is B, you know, which is also quite rare!"

Elder Waeron bobbed his head. "He will not only protect you, but will also train you!"

His eyes twitched at the word 'train'. "Er… thank you?"

He appreciated it, but he already had Pang to nag him every day. Then again, this guy didn't seem like the one to nag.

He's the type to slice now, explain later.

The elders didn't seem to notice his awkwardness. They were still obviously pleased with themselves.

"Also, he's there to check the sustainability of the inn. We already paid a downpayment, we must make sure the resource is safe!"

This was to say he would not only protect, but also monitor, the inn, which Finn didn't really care about as long as they were not damaging anything.

"Yes, understood."

And, like this, Finn gained a fairly strong guard! A fortified level one!

Anyway, regardless of their intent, even if it was to monitor him, he really didn't have anything to lose. With the guy there, he didn't have to worry if he got too many toughened monsters or enemies again. Less worries for when the guests brought in fortified-level beasts as well.

He still remembered what happened before, and how Micc lost his leg…

Of course, he also felt that they were just being sincere in their protectiveness. Although it stemmed from the selfish wish to develop a new weapon, Finn had to admit he was a little touched.

It was just that this kind of investment came with expectations.

"Soon enough, you'll be able to take even more missions and become famous across the world!"

"We can maybe find a way to further develop the inn, assuming it is what we think it is!"

"Maybe we can find a way so Finn could start focusing on his own strength! Soon, the Aphelion months wouldn't be a problem anymore! At least in our area!"

There it is.

Finn sighed. Pretty sure there was something in the contract about this.

They looked like they were already bragging that the Class S adventurer began his journey in Lotus Town.

There wasn't even an S-class category, nor would there be, but they started making things up as if they'd eventually give him missions just for him.

Finn looked at the Elders. "Guildmaster and Elders… is it alright to take my time? I'm sure the threats can be handled for now. I lived my life controlled, and without freedom, I'd like to take things at my own pace," he finally said.

He didn't want to barrel through so many things. Other than his inn and his cooking, he just wanted to focus on his own strength and at his own time.

It was why he added a maximum mission quota, and he made sure that the daily cores he had to absorb as a requirement were easy for him. He would, occasionally, when he was inspired, do more, but his fire was always directed at something else:

Cooking, living a relaxed life, bonding with friends, and so on.

He did not want to carry such heavy burdens, and it was something he had to communicate early on.

Heroism? Martyrdom? Sacrifice? Selflessness?

Just hearing those words made his stomach tumble.

His parents were kind and saved many people. Where did that get them?

This made the elders look at each other, disappointed but also confused. Most men would be enthralled with this after all.

At the same time, it was also… interesting.

The thing was, someone uninterested in power tended to be the best leader.

Thinking of this, they calmed down.

They could see his body language was slowly becoming detached. They had been in this world for a long time, so they naturally knew a lot about social cues regardless of how high or low their EQs were.

Realizing that they were slowly pushing the young man away by being so pushy, they decided to rein themselves in and rein in their enthusiasm.

Not to mention the lad's high potential was too good to lose, that Inn of his—assuming it was as real as he said it was—was something humanity would find useful in and of itself.

"Well, that's fine…" the elders said, tone kind. "You're impressive as you are. Considering it has been less than a year since you started absorbing cores, it wouldn't take too long for you to catch up with your peers."

"Yes, and I haven't forgotten your health. It won't do anyone any good if you break from pushing yourself too much."

At first, caring words were exchanged, and he was polite. Then… it got weird.

"Are you married?" one of the elders asked out of nowhere, making the other elders look at him.

"...Not yet."

"My granddaughter is single—"

"Mine too—"

"Mine, also—"

"My...nephew's daughter as well!"

Finn's eyes twitched.

"I have a lover," Finn said, cutting them off immediately, and the old men's shoulders slumped immediately.

"Oh, I see…" But then, after a moment of disappointment, they got energized again.

"Does this mean we'll see a new generation?"

"What if he or she is S-class, too?!"

"Then we will see two S-classes during our lifetime!" another elder—the oldest one—said as if his remaining lifespan wasn't the shortest among them.

"Amazing!"

"..."

They whipped their heads and looked at Finn as if he were meant to give birth to powerhouses. Finn's eyes twitched so much. Would they force him to procreate or something?

"Who's your lover?" one asked, no doubt analyzing the chances of him siring good kids with her.

The thought of having children with Syl made him feel a lot of flutters, like his heart was soaked in honey.

"Well, technically we're not lovers yet," he said, clearing his throat in embarrassment. But then he remembered the kiss —which she initiated by the way—and his mood lifted up.

"But we will be, soon."

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