Another Path Taken [Rebirth, Regression, Isekai, System]

First Mission

Han was still absolutely shocked and heartbroken as the group left the Starvanguard branch. He clearly hadn't taken it well. Being branded a nepotist had crushed his valiant, kindhearted, and naive spirit. His poor heart couldn't take it. Erika only snorted when she saw how listless and dead he looked.

Alwyn glanced at the sullen Han and asked, "Are you hungry? We can get some food before heading back."

"Food?" Han perked up instantly. The thought of being labeled one of the bad guys was momentarily pushed aside.

"I'm not paying to feed this guy," Erika said flatly. The payment she got from the Starvanguard wasn't bad, but it certainly didn't meet her standards. She'd much rather spend her hard-earned money shopping for herself than feeding this black hole of a stomach.

"Master gave me some extra money to spend today," Alwyn said. Auren had handed it to him before they left, saying they could use it to buy a few things.

"Think of it as a celebration gift for Han joining us," Auren had said.

"Now that's what I like to hear!" Erika cheered, pumping her fist to the air. "Come on, I know the best spot!"

And according to her, the "best spot" was a very expensive-looking restaurant. Han had never been there before, but he could tell just from the atmosphere and decor that everything on the menu would cost a small fortune.

"Are you sure it's okay for us to eat here?" Han asked nervously as they followed the waitress inside. Looking around, he noticed all the other guests were dressed in fine clothes, while the three of them looked completely out of place. The only reason they'd even been let in was probably because Erika had flashed the waitress the wad of money Auren had given them.

"Why are you worried? It's not even our money," Erika said casually, sliding into the seat at the corner table the waitress had led them to.

"I know, but... isn't this kind of wrong? Are you sure Master won't be angry?" Han asked.

"Master's not the type to care about money," Alwyn replied as he opened the menu and began reading. In truth, Alwyn knew that Auren was never short on funds. Aside from his regular salary as a Master, he also received generous 'pocket money' from the Grandmaster. Honestly, even if they splurged and ordered everything on the menu, Auren wouldn't be the least bit upset.

Seeing how relaxed the two of them were, Han could only follow their lead. In the end, he really was hungry. He let the two of them handle the ordering, and soon, the food arrived.

The dishes were beautifully presented, and the meat melted in his mouth. Though his memory was a bit hazy, Han was sure he'd never eaten anything like this before. He tried to savor the moment, all the while silently apologizing to Auren for using his money on such a luxurious meal.

Seeing how happy Han looked while eating, Erika grinned. "See? Not so bad being a disciple of that no-good master now, is it? Now if only he'd actually get off his ass and do his job."

"Come to think of it," Han said between bites, "I'm really surprised you didn't join the Starvanguard the proper way, Alwyn." He glanced over at Alwyn, who was calmly eating with practiced movements that suggested he was used to fine dining, which was very unlike Han or Erika.

"Hey! Why am I not included in that?" Erika hissed.

"Hm... my situation was a bit special," Alwyn said, ignoring her. "I couldn't possibly enter the usual way, but I was lucky enough to meet Auren, who helped me get in."

"Well, I'm the same, got it?" Erika snapped. "I totally could've passed those stupid tests if I didn't think they were a complete waste of time."

"Sure..." Han said, though he wasn't fully convinced. Unlike Alwyn, who seemed to follow his own set of principles, Erika struck him as someone who preferred the easy path as long as it benefited her.