The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life-Chapter 16: A Lazy Evening

The deal was all set and done, and Maxwell’s shakily concocted plan had come to fruition.

The young water mage walked out of Gislow’s office with a bright smile on his lips, and his heart pulsed softly with satisfaction.

His new companion, the middle-aged mercenary, Vin, remained silent as he accompanied Maxwell back to the guild lobby. The man’s head was low, and his countenance was shaky.

Maxwell, noticing the man’s change in demeanor, offered no reaction. He only smiled in understanding.

This was the obvious effect of a new light in a man’s dark world. Vin would remain stunned for a while, quietly processing the weight of the new change that had occurred in his life.

Maxwell almost chuckled. He’d better process it quickly, because more of that light was coming Vin’s way. After all, there was no way a guild executive could be coreless.

The guild lobby was exactly as it was before they left for Gislow’s office — filled to the brim with countless armed mercenaries, the atmosphere radiated an oppressive heat, and the unpleasant odor made Maxwell scrunch his nose. But still, he knew that he had to get used to this. After all, he was going to be dealing in this unpleasant place for at least a few months.

Now, the only visible difference from earlier in the lobby was the way the mercenaries looked at Maxwell and Vin. Their gaze had lost all hostility, replaced by cautious wariness.

Where Max and Vin walked, the mercenaries glanced sparingly, whispering to themselves and gossiping inaudible words.

Their perception of Maxwell had improved drastically.

This made Maxwell chuckle and shake his head. No matter the world or the scale, it was always the same everywhere. The weak feared the strong, and the low cowered to the high.

Shaking off the unwanted thoughts that reminded him of the times before he became one of the guardians, Maxwell made his way back to the receptionist’s table, and he asked for his accommodation.

Vin, on the other hand, left Maxwell, returning home to his family. He was done for the day. And so was Maxwell.

While the receptionist escorted Maxwell to the ’mercenary accommodations,’ the young water mage couldn’t help but smile, remembering the gracious look on Vin’s face when he thanked him, bowed in gratitude, and said goodbye.

The young mortal would make a fine core swordsman.

Finally, Maxwell arrived at the mercenary accommodation, which was just two blocks away from the guild building in the street lines.

Having completed her guide, the receptionist made her way back to the guild building.

It was a finely crafted wooden house, a four-storey building. Wide and large, with a front lawn where lines of ’cloth hangers’ stretched. In the lawn, various wooden chairs rested here and there, where some rough-looking men in casual clothes sat, enjoying the evening breeze, while the others just gazed skyward at the golden, setting sun.

Maxwell stared at the building, smiled and thought:

’I’d love to buy a house,’ He tilted his head. ’No, I’ll definitely buy a house.’

With a hand on his waist, the young mage looked up to the setting sun, the evening breeze ruffling his blue hair, a tender smile on his lips. Like a sudden replay, visions of his experience washed through his mind.

He indeed had been through a lot just to be back here. To this time.

Maxwell Duvon Belognia raised a palm, and the wind blew against his open palm. It was refreshing. He clenched his fist, smiling widely as he uttered under the golden glow of the sunset:

"I’m back."

Some of the mercenaries seated on the lawn recognized Maxwell, and they gave him weird looks. Until one spoke up:

"Oi, Maxwell, lad!" The man’s voice was a bit cheery, "Finally back from today’s hunt, ei?"

Maxwell withdrew his fist, and his smile faded as he turned to the man.

A blond young man, lean and shirtless, wearing brown shorts. He sat on a wooden chair, staring at Maxwell with a smile on his lips. He chewed on the stem of a leaf.

Max blinked.

’Oh.’

He recognized him. A flatmate, one who occupied the room just next to Maxwell’s in the building, and one of the only few guys Maxwell actually spoke with at this time.

Now that he thought about it, the young Maxwell was a bit timid and shy, wasn’t he? He covered it with feigned aloofness. How hilarious.

Maxwell shrugged, making his way into the building.

"Yes, yes, Eithan." The water mage spoke. "And it went well."

Eithan nodded, then leaned back in his chair, relaxing.

"Malik cooked this afternoon. I preserved some food for ya in the kitchen since I didn’t go task hunting today. Don’t thank me, I’m a good guy, I know."

Maxwell chuckled.

"Thank you, Eithan."

"I said, don’t thank me. Go take it now that most of the guys aren’t back from their tasks, else someone might steal your foo– wait. Did you just smile, Max?"

Eithan turned toward Maxwell, mouth widening in surprise.

Maxwell waved a hand dismissively as he walked past Eithan and toward the front door.

"If the food is cold, you can heat it using the stove, noble boy!" Eithan yelled softly as Maxwell entered the building.

Max’s room was on the third floor. And judging by the—

Max ruffled his pockets, bringing out a key labelled ’45.’

—label on his key, Maxwell’s room was room No. 45. A relief, because he definitely didn’t remember his room number. In fact, he didn’t remember tiny details such as this. If it weren’t for the label, he would have had to search all the rooms until he found the door that his key could open.

He sighed.

On the bright side, it wasn’t like he was going to stay here for long.

After getting the S-rank golden license tomorrow, he would be given a new, personal accommodation, a house all to himself. It was one of the perks of being an S-rank mercenary.

Passing by various men and women in casual clothes seated in the living room and some walking by the halls, Maxwell finally arrived at his room.

He unlocked the door.

Walking into the mundane, wooden room, he breathed out a sigh of relief, shoulders slumping.

The bed that lay in the farthest corner of his room was his final destination, and he plopped there, staring up at the wooden ceiling for a while.

Then he noticed that the windows in his room were closed. What a burden. His mortal body called for rest after a day of exhaustion.

But now he would have to stand up from this weirdly comfortable position and open the window for proper ventilat–

Grrrr!!!

His stomach rumbled.

’Ah, the food in the kitchen.’

Maxwell sighed. Not only did he have to stand up and open the window. He also had to eat, probably take his bath too and change into fresh, casual clothes before he could rest.

But still, he smiled. When was the last time he had problems as little as this?

When was the last time he felt so overwhelmingly lazy?

Maxwell could not remember.