Jobless Reincarnation: The King with a Mental Problem

【Winter in Lenda】

"Adventurers, what a boring job," Wang Mimi said, opening her sleepy eyes and snuggling in bed. "Every day I go to the guild to get a quest, then travel for most of the day, kill a few monsters, and rush back to earn a little bit of money."

"Actually, we're doing pretty well now." Loki was also snuggled in bed, still a little sleepy. "Because more adventurers choose to rest in winter, we get so many hunting commissions. In other seasons, we mostly get gathering tasks that pay less and take more time."

"How do other adventurers spend the winter?"

"It's normal for a young master like you not to know," Luo Qixi sighed. "Winter is also known as the Winter Calamity, especially during heavy snow. Most adventurers rest during this time. Those who still go out on quests at this time are either powerful teams or newbies who would starve if they didn't do these quests. Quite a few newcomers survive a tough year, only to die in this season because they didn't save enough money for winter..."

"This is so cruel..." I buried my face in the pillow. "Adventurers who make a living by doing these kinds of quests should really just find a job..."

"Haha, I actually found a job when I was down on my luck. But if I could find a suitable job, those people you mentioned wouldn't be adventurers..." Luo Qixi said, rubbing the messy hair of the king who had just woken up.

I didn't move.

She didn't say anything.

The snow outside the window started falling again sometime ago.

The king and the witch were snuggled up in their hotel bed, battling against General Winter.

It would be too disappointing to go straight back to Buena Village after their seclusion by the sea, so the king and witch decided to become adventurers for a while and spend the winter in Lunda City, near the Red Dragon's Jaw.

"Getting up early in the dead of winter, running around for ages just to earn a pittance..." After stretching, he declared, "I hereby declare—from this day forward, the Shadow King enters hibernation mode. Unless there is a request worthy of my status, otherwise..."

Wang burrowed deeper into the covers, thinking, "No one can wake me up."

"That's good too. To be honest, I also want to sleep in a little longer every day."

"Then let's continue sleeping tonight..."

"Um......"

The witch hugged the king in her arms even tighter.

Her chin rested gently on the top of my head, her warm breath brushing against the crown of my head. The bed was warm inside, but cold outside. Her heartbeat, transmitted through the thin nightgown, was slow and steady, like some ancient lullaby.

I closed my eyes and listened to my heartbeat.

...Just lying here like this doesn't seem so bad.

I didn't get out of bed until I started to get hungry in the afternoon.

After eating something, the king and the witch wrapped themselves in thick coats and walked towards the Adventurers' Guild, their footsteps crunching through the snow.

There weren't many people on the cold street.

As soon as she stepped outside, the cold wind felt like knives piercing her collar, and Luo Qixi hunched her neck, burying her face almost entirely in her scarf.

"It's so cold... Trevor, quickly use your Wind King Barrier."

Wang used fire and wind magic to create a warm vortex around himself. Lokishi rubbed against him contentedly, then bent down and picked him up from the ground, holding him in her arms like a hot water bottle.

"Comfortable."

She squinted.

Although the nuclear explosion magic was sealed, the research by the sea was not without results; at least the control over the three types of magic—wind, fire, and earth—has been further improved.

"Should we research magic circles later? And invent small magic circles that can be stuck to clothes and continuously emit heat? I feel like we could make a fortune that way."

"Huh? Maybe there's a chance. I've heard of clothing-type magical accessories that can keep you warm, but those things are ridiculously expensive and only rich people can afford them."

"In that case, if it's developed, let Philip be in charge of its promotion and production. Maybe, besides the workers who have to run around in the winter, those nobles who value style over warmth will also like it."

"You really are a genius. It's true that the word 'poverty' will never be associated with you in this lifetime."

"That's right, I am a genius."

Pushing open the union's door, a wave of warmth mixed with the sounds of people rushed in.

The hall was unusually crowded, with several tables of adventurers drinking and boasting around the fireplace.

A few job postings were sparsely pasted on the notice board, most of them for odd jobs such as collecting herbs and driving away snow wolves.

"As expected, there aren't any good missions." I glanced around. "Let's find a place to take a bath first, then enjoy a massage."

"How long have you been here? How come you've become like those old men?"

There's nothing we can do; that's how the souls of reincarnated beings are.

Just as I was about to leave, the staff put up another slip of paper.

"Wait a minute." Luo Qixi stood in front of the notice board, staring at the newly posted notice.

The piece of paper was placed prominently on top of the main image, with a red line drawn around its border—a sign of a dangerous mission.

Wang was also drawn to the list and began to read it aloud.

"The Black Wyvern has been spotted alone near Green Village, a three-day journey north of Lunda City. It has attacked the village three times, causing multiple deaths. Reward for defeating it: 30 gold coins, and the guild will purchase the wyvern materials at the original price."

Luo Qixi frowned: "Flying dragons... are not monsters that can be dealt with easily. At least a Saint-level warrior is qualified to fight them, and the team should be at least A-level or higher. Otherwise, having more people will only increase casualties..."

"Is the witch planning to help?" I asked from the past. "The reward is generous, and you might even get to practice some new magic."

"It's not just about money." Loki turned to look at me, her expression serious. "Wyverns are no joke. Even though they're a lower-level dragon species, their ability to fly is already incredibly powerful. Their enormous size, hard scales, and wide-range breath attacks..." She paused. "I know you want to go, but it's still too dangerous."

"But you want to go too, witch sister, right?"

Luo Qixi pursed her lips.

She did not deny it.

The journey alone takes three days, and considering the time it takes for the news to be relayed and the commission to be made, perhaps even more people in that village have already died.

"I really want to help, after all, protecting ordinary people from monsters is the mission of an adventurer. But if you get into danger, I'd better not."

"Therefore, I will follow your decision." I stood with my hands behind my back, trying to make my back look as imposing as possible. "Both the witch's ice water blade and my dust crystal saw should have the attack power to kill a dragon instantly. Shouldn't we just annihilate that beast?"

Luo Qixi remained silent for a while.

She sighed, took the order form from the notice board, and went to the counter.

Luo Qixi was just a solo A-rank adventurer, but her title of Water King still allowed her to take on this commission on her own.

However, this mission also has a bounty aspect, so adventurers from other cities might also be going together.

"Let's get this straight, once we get there you must listen to me. If I say retreat, then retreat. No recklessness allowed."

"Yes, madam witch."

Wang rubbed his forehead with one hand. "Dragons, huh..." He then turned to face the gray sky outside the window. "The epic of the Shadow Lords can't just be boring chapters like 'killing a few snow wolves.' Slaying dragons and saving villages—that's the kind of story that deserves to be written into the book."

Behind her, the sound of Luo Qixi scratching the soles of her shoes with her toes could be clearly heard.

The young lady at the counter held up the stamp and laughed.

"Please, don't do such embarrassing things in public, okay?" Luo Qixi's voice was squeezed out through clenched teeth.

The snow had stopped when the king and the witch walked out of the guild gate.

The wind was still cold, but the king's heart was already filled with a fierce fighting spirit.