"An out-of-town assignment?"

"Yes. Every branch handles these. Even though our town’s remote, we’re a legitimate Adventurers Guild branch. When smaller guilds in neighboring towns face problems they can’t solve, we’re obligated to provide support."

Staring at the sea of assistance and maintenance requests, Mei Yige frowned.

*The dream was sweet, but reality was harsh.* She’d thought being a Magic Consultant meant lazing around the guild hall all day. Yet this tiny town brimmed with tasks. Eight urgent assignments awaited her on her very first day.

"No wonder the pay’s this high. Anyone else available?"

"Only you for now… my apologies! But the guild can provide a carriage!"

Ryan, the receptionist, hadn’t expected the "reliable Magic Consultant" their guildmaster had cheerfully secured days ago to be a certified top-tier mage.

*Supposedly lying low for a humble life experience.*

*Typical elites—bored with servants waiting on them hand and foot, craving rustic charm in backwater towns.*

*Wonder if imperial princesses ride golden broomsticks… though this mage’s broom looks utterly ordinary.*

【*Oh no, what am I even thinking? I should be worrying if she’s satisfied… She’s staring. Should I look up?

Ugh, someone break this silence…*】

Watching the rabbit-eared girl fidget, Mei Yige stroked her chin.

"Just me? Skip the carriage. Travel funds will do."

"Right away! I’ll prepare the guild’s finest—wait, what?" Ryan snapped her head up, bewildered. *Did I mishear that?*

"Travel allowance. I’ll go alone."

Mei Yige recognized that shock—another worker assuming she was some arrogant noble.

"Th-th-this won’t do!"

"Huh? Must I take a carriage…?"

"How could we let you travel alone?! And ‘just give me travel money’? Absolutely not! The finest carriage it is!"

Letting their esteemed Magic Consultant arrange her own transport for guild missions wasn’t just negligence—it’d disgrace the entire Adventurers Guild. The guildmaster had stressed this mage was painstakingly recruited (tricked) to be their figurehead (workhorse). She couldn’t let the mage think the guild was both stingy and arrogant on day one.

"But—"

"This is non-negotiable. Review these requests. I’ll summon the coachman immediately. How you travel later is your choice—but for the first assignment, leave it to us." Ryan slammed her palms on the desk, her blue-furred rabbit ears trembling with resolve as she faced the mage.

"Fine… your call." Mei Yige reluctantly tore her gaze from those twitching ears.

"Thank you! I’ll make sure you’re satisfied!"

"I’ll hold you to that."

Truthfully, Mei Yige hadn’t expected luxury from a remote guild serving ten thousand souls. Nor had she yielded to Ryan’s earnest intensity. She simply remembered her own first-day enthusiasm—before reality crushed it. *Let the little rabbit enjoy this moment. Hope those ears still stand tall in a few months.*

Tata Town, nestled south of the Empire’s Divide Mountains, boomed after the Demon King’s defeat and southern development policies. Once a mere transit hub, it became the regional administrative center—and thus, home to the Adventurers Guild’s local branch.

Higher status meant heavier duties.

Resources flowed down, and subordinate guilds came begging for scraps. That’s why Mei Yige’s schedule was packed before she even started.

"You tricked me." Mei Yige glared at the crystal ball, where the guildmaster dodged dungeon traps.

"You’ll get used to it~"

"You tricked me." Mei Yige refused further words for this shameless liar.

"It’s temporary! I’ll find you help soon!"

"You tricked me." Principles were principles. Even if the guildmaster was a pretty red-haired dragon girl, Mei Yige wouldn’t be bullied into becoming the guild’s workhorse.

"I’ll raise your base pay! Seventy gold coins a month!"

"Deal."

"Hey! *You* tricked me! Don’t hang up—"

The dragon’s curses cut off as Mei Yige stretched comfortably in the carriage.

*Dragon girls are so easy to fool. She thinks hiring me as Advisor is a bargain. With my credentials, I’d work for thirty silver coins. Fifty to seventy? This’ll be a breeze.*

"Miss, first assignment site approaching."

"Mm. Hans, how many villages and towns are nearby?" The cat-eared driver, young and skilled, earned the carriage its "luxury" label through sheer expertise. Mei Yige loved chatting with drivers—they always had useful gossip.

"Eight villages, two small towns, plus mines and orchards. Your assignments are in those two towns."

"Population?"

"Around a thousand each. River Opening Town by the mines, and Water Fungus Town for brewing. Ryan mentioned all settlements have defensive magic arrays needing maintenance. The old Magic Consultant retired, so it’s a full overhaul now… We’ve arrived. I’ll wait here."

The carriage halted. Dust swirled outside—clearly the mining town.

"Thanks." Mei Yige stepped down, eyeing the town’s stone marker.

*River Opening Town.*

Wait—River Opening *and* Water Fungus?

*Those town names… definitely a transmigrator’s handiwork.*