Alina Clover had always dreamed of an easy, stable job.
Growing up in the chaotic world of adventurers, she vowed never to risk her life chasing glory or treasure.Instead, she secured a comfortable position as a receptionist at the Adventurers’ Guild.Her days were supposed to be filled with routine tasks—registering quests, greeting adventurers, and ensuring the paperwork was in order.But things rarely go as planned in a world teeming with monsters and danger.
Despite her unassuming role, Alina harbored a secret.She wasn’t just a receptionist; she was a retired prodigy, once hailed as the "Blade of Eternal Twilight." With a talent for swordsmanship and devastating magical prowess, she had single-handedly taken down monsters that entire parties couldn’t handle.However, the endless demands of adventuring had burned her out.She longed for simplicity, even if it meant hiding her incredible skills.
Unfortunately, simplicity was elusive.The guild often found itself in crises—quests gone awry, adventurers in over their heads, or worse, bosses invading towns.Whenever chaos struck, Alina was forced to step in.She couldn’t bear to see innocent lives at risk, and frankly, the thought of staying late to fix paperwork for a disaster someone else caused was intolerable. "If I handle this now, I can clock out on time," she’d mutter, grabbing her sword from its hidden compartment under the counter.
Her colleagues were none the wiser.To them, Alina was just the calm, dependable receptionist who always seemed to know exactly what to do.Adventurers often returned to the guild raving about a mysterious figure who had turned the tide of their desperate battles.Meanwhile, Alina would sit at her desk, filing their reports with a wry smile.
One fateful day, the town faced its greatest threat yet—a colossal dragon that had emerged from the mountains.Adventurers scrambled to mount a defense, but panic spread as they realized they were hopelessly outmatched.While others quaked in fear, Alina calmly excused herself.Donning her old battle gear, she confronted the dragon alone.
The battle was fierce, but Alina fought with precision and unmatched skill.Her blade glowed with an eerie light, cleaving through the beast’s defenses.By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the dragon lay defeated.Alina returned to the guild just as the clock struck her shift’s end.
"What a day," she sighed, settling back at her desk.When adventurers burst in to celebrate the mysterious hero’s victory, Alina merely nodded, stamping their forms with practiced efficiency.For her, saving the world was secondary to ensuring her timecard was punched on time.
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