Adventurers Guild Adventurer's Guild - Receptionist Desk

Sandy Desert - #SD1 - D rank - Slay 15 Desert Lizardmen [ 110 G ]
Desert Village - #SC2- C-Ranked - Slay 10 Fast Desert Jackal- [150 G]
Desert Village - #GD1 - D-Ranked - Harvest Magic Flower [ 75 G | 1 x Bundle of Magic Flower ]
Desert Village - #GD2 - D-Ranked - Gather Large Dates [ 100 G | 1 x basket of Large Dates ]
Desert Village - #ED1 - D Rank – Guard Supply Route [ 150 G ]
Desert Village - #EC1 - C Rank – Look For Better Agriculture Area [ 200 G ]

Party.
@Clown333, @shad12ow, @Nurman, @Zek , @ExitedDeviljho

Receptionist,
@LittleFox21

Spoiler: Part I

Ton

It was the daily routines of the Flying City of Aeternus and the citizens, the main story of this one thread may wove the true fate of time could be found in the most unexpected places, involving people within the distance not so far from where we are.


The Adventurers Guild, inside the Tavern.


From the outside you would hear noises from the sunrise until it rose again, happenings of that occur inside the tavern. Clamoring and murmuring sound, rowdy bastards ask for death by their drunken manners as glasses and decanter of liquors here and there, and stories from parts of the continent, even the most remote and furthest place one could imagine.

There were many stories, so much to be heard, yet never too much. There are never any bad story, only bad interpretations and deliveries. The deeds of what they had achieved, and no less.

Nevertheless, their deeds, "small" deeds they say, are the things that run the whole story to the limit of unimaginable. Magnificent stories which ends up as a grandiose adventure, or simply just meticulously written report with no embellishment of a daily quests.

Much of the merry conversation usually fills the place. Truly, this is a place where anyone could fit in, precisely where they belong, becoming truly what they are.


And such of the stories will began just before our eyes.


Jumping happily through the tavern, a girl whose race evident to be among the fox kin, having a neck-length short white hair and bangs lined almost perfectly in front. Her tail, and much like her ears, were white as snow. She was wearing oriental clothes, specifically one of which a southern priestess would adorn. And, as for the why she was jumping around and making ruckus inside the tavern, was in front of her eyes.


It was Fry. Her companion.


After quite the arduous struggle to calm Fry down, she took an orb, which its color began to change to her hand palm. As she look at it with curiosity, all of the sudden, the orb melted in her hands and letting out all of its content. As the orb melted, memories which is the content of the orb returned to her. As the images returning to her, she could only dazed at the images she had seen, and needing a place to think.

She walks to the door and heading out. But, unfortunately, someone else had reached the door and opening it inside, knocking her back few steps. She made a surprised face upon glancing to the face of the one responsible, for it was a familiar face - a very familiar one, which had been planted deep inside her head.

"Ehh.. Are you alright?" he said.
​

He asked gently if she was alright for being knocked by him, but all did he get in return was her scorn-filled pout.

----------------

Crowen


​

After standing up and dusting off her clothes, the two of them somehow ended up sharing a single table. Though, however, she continued to glare intensely towards the man in front of her.

Of course by that kind of situation, he wondered if he had done something that had anger her.

---Why she is still angry at me I wonder? I already apologized though...

His appearance is mostly nothing like most people would imagine from an adventurer. Perhaps if we may categorized him, he will be on the group of "common people". Black hair, black iris, white skin with average build. A normal human.

He was wearing a typical cloth of a hunter, while his weapon was, of course, the bow rested at his back. It was jet-black in color with surprisingly no bowstring attached. The fact that he didn't bring a quiver with him was also strange. Except those, there was nothing more striking feature that could be mentioned from the young man. Except that, he was intensely being glared at by the fox kin girl who was sitting in front of him.

This situation has definitely became very awkward for him to approach her. While the most corners and despite tables inside this very tavern was full of conversations, this table is probably the most standing out from all of them. Two person with one sided interactions, with no sound nor anything except what we called an onomatopoeia of an intense stare.

The situation developed into a stage where it was very awkward for him to approach her. While most corners and tables inside this very tavern are full conversations, this table is probably the most silent.

Funnily though, that situation prolonged to ten minute extent.


-------------

"So that's what really happened?"
"Yes..."
"And you didn't know that it was me inside?"
"Yes, and I am very sorry for that..."
"You are reallyy hopeless you know..."
"......"

As the time went fly, naturally there will be an urge to break the awkwardness of the moment. And the conversation just went through between them. Like it or not, the two of them just can't hold it anymore. Fifteen minutes. That was their limit.

The time skip here maybe all of a sudden but, let us go back just half an hour ago.


It was when the two of them reached the most possible point of their limit. It was him who approach her at first.

"Uh... are we still continuing this?" he said in a small voice.

While he was still uncertain, he thought it was probably the best to sort out the problems as quickly as possible. Sadly but, the main reason is, because he couldn't bear it any longer. Both the silence, and awkwardness. No. The sharp ice-like cold stare. It stabs him and pierce him. So, why he couldn't bear it? It was obvious, right?


Few moments ago…….


“Shaa!!!!!”

But her replies is a high pitched screech. Reminding that of an animal’s when feel threatened, or sensing danger, and things it quite dislike.

As Ton screech, her golden slit iris became sharper. And her fur in her tail and her ears were standing.

“Hiii!!”

The young man of course was surprised by her action and shocked back.

---Sccarryy!!!!!

He thought.

And of course that was a mean to tell him to stand back. So he did.

“Don’t approach me!” she said curtly.

“Why?! Did I do something bad?!” of course he asked back.

---Do the accident earlier still made her angry?! I apologized though~

“Of course!! Don’t act like you don’t remember!!” she said furiously this time while she point her index finger to him.

---Eh? Did I do something lately? But if it was something that made her mad to this extent, it would be something really bad. Shit~ I couldn’t remember~

Of course it was something bad. If not, nobody need not to feel angry. Especially her. While he racked his brain to recall all events that had happened days, weeks, even months ago, she continued.

“It was hurt like hell! What did in the world….. you just put….. into your arrow?!!”

While she was talking, her demeanor changed, and her sound became softer. And as she didn’t realize, her tears had fallen from her eyes. Dripping through her cheeks and soft petite face, fell to the table.

And of course to that saying, he instantly realized. No. He couldn’t be sure as he himself was very surprise by what she said to him.

---DID I JUST SHOOT HER???!!?!! WHERE?!?! WHEN?!!! I DIDN’T REMEMBER I HAVE SHOOT HER THOUGH!!?

But thinking back, she clearly said “It was hurt”. She said “your arrows”. Only by those two words all could be clearly deducted. “It was”. The words indicating a past happening of course. “It” was indicating the happening it self while “was” meant the past itself. Then there were “your” meant as a pronominal personalia possessiva. Means a person who indicated had possessed or owned something as personal objects. Not need to explain the “arrows” word in details, it was a must equipment who bear the Archer-class job or profession. A deduction that was more simple and clearer couldn’t be made after this.

She was clearly indicating that he himself had did something to her.

In other words, he had shoot her in the past with his arrows. She couldn’t be lying. Of course no. Every frame of her expression with her words, are telling no lies. As he see her now, she was on the verge of crying, sobbing.

---Gulp.

As he swallow his own spit, once more he tried to remember every shot he takes this past few days. Passing weeks. And months.

---Calm yourself. Remember every shot…


As he tried, suddenly a revelation came to him.



---IS IT THAT TIME??!!!! THAT TIME?!!!!?!

The raid. Few times ago. Inside a forest. When he fights off the monsters.

“Ah…are you probably, the person that get swallowed inside the giant snake?” he slowly said to her.

"Of course that was ME!! Idiot!! See!! You remembered after all!! "

Hearing his words, her expression became more child-like than before. Just as she heard those words, more tears had dripping from her eyes. As she pretending to stay strong, she shouts back to his "silly" remark, while standing and pointed her finger again toward him. Blaming him for all the misfortune "accident" she experienced that day.

And after this, of course there is only one thing to do.

"I AM SORRYYYY!!!!!!!"

And that was to apologize.

Only in a brief moment, from sitting position, he was already pleading for forgiveness in the floor. Groveling in front of her with putting his head on the floor, and asking forgiveness as he could.

"AS IF I COULD FORGIVE YOU!!!! STUPID!!!" she shouts back.

As he shouts, she landed a stomp right in his skull. Pinning his head into the floor, just through the flooring and through the ground. So the return of a deed in the past, turning into a delayed karma.

"Why people nowadays are very violent and emotional? Poor guy~" one of the female adventurers said in slow voice.

Only if people can forgive

"Hmph!!"

So as she did, she left the table, pouting as she walked away.

Of course the whole Guild heard the ruckus the two of them made, but no one could do anything except staring and feel sympathy for the poor young man, who now lied with his head stuck at the flooring. His body was twitching for a few moment, but after that, his body wasn't moving at all.

Wrath of a lady isn't a something to be looked down. And the evidence now lied before their eyes. So it was better to not meddle between the two of them.

A girl in petite frame, with innocent look, just throw off her tantrum in front of them. And beneath her foot of "mercy", lied the poor victim.


"What did you louts look?!" she said curtly.

With her expression now, she threatened the entire guild who looked at her. Her sharp eyes glow menacing as they pierced the gaze of people who looked at her.

Well. That was the end of the story for now. Only, of course there were slight problems.

After a long time, the young man hasn't moved at all.

Not even twitching, even his breath became fainter and fainter. So as he was left as no one dared to meddle. Even after a long time, there is no one that had approached him due to their cowardice. Obviously, they feared her. And simply put, that kind of fear beat their sympathy to him.

It's just as simple as that. People won't do what they must, only do what they will. If there is no will, nothing will happen.

And so there he lied.

And among many of the adventurers who are currently inside the Tavern now, there were only one adventurer who had approached him, and said,

"Are you alright?"



-------------------

Shadow



The man who just entered the Tavern was the current Master of the Adventurer Guild. Looking at him, he was certainly the man who were adequate both in skill and insight to be a master of a guild. He himself was a craftsman, and alchemist at the same time. Never anyone thought that his uncanny skills in management and dealing with many people maybe one of the many factors why the Guild administrations and city governments ran without any adversary. He of course was a well-known figure in the public and as head of diplomacy within the interim of Aeternus City governments. Due to the fact that he was de facto and de jure Master of the Guild, basically he was the head representative of all adventurers and of course he represent the interests of the Guild while he was at the same time represents Aeternus aside the government officials. He is the bridge for the adventurers to the outside world.

And which is why the reason that he was often travels one place to another.

"Welcome back master!"
"Welcome back master!"

As he was entering the Tavern, the guild staffs greet him for returning from his trip this time. Bowed as per a sign of courtesy while the female staffs slightly raised their skirt toward him. They bowed as their naval blue dress allowed them. While it was elegant, the most of time it was expected to not attract unwanted, and possibly lustful gaze. Not only them, the mechanical spiders crawling from all of the corners and as if they wanted to greet their beloved and esteemed creator, they crawled, surrounding the vicinity around him. They happily crawled, dancing at his surroundings.

"Spare me from the boredom. How many times did I have to see this kind of scene every time?" he said.

Walking closer to their directions he sat and looking at the unconscious young man.


"Could just someone tell me what is truly happened?" so he said while turning his sight to the two of them.
"I just gave him what he deserved. That's all~" she shortly replied to him. It could be seen that she is still irritated by the things happened before.
"And how do that explain everything happened? And what about you?" he responded to her statement and turned to Sin.
"Even I didn't know the beforehand details. I was just a bystander. It's just seemed that Crowen had made her angry." she said in reply. She was staring directly to him with straight gaze. Eyes that were clear as azure sky. As expected from a knight. Chivalrous and gentle.

Yet as a bystander of course she wouldn't know much of the details. And that was the answer that she could give. She was looking at them. But of course didn't know for what and why the reason she was angry over him.

"Should I, elaborate it to you?"

Just in a sudden, a voice of a person said that to them. It was from the next table. The voice was soft yet stern. Alluring and firm. A kind of voice that you will not hear so often outside. His voice were faint as a lady should yet it was powerful. Not by the means that it was loud but it is like that it could move anything and inside the sounds itself, powers resides. Not only his voice, his appearance also said so. His hair were white short, braided in his side. His face is alluring. His eyes were amethyst. Woven black cloth were matched so well to his appearance. So he was saying to him.

"I will glad to hear that." he said to him.

Another sources of information might explain what was happening inside the Tavern. An additional point of view might not hurt his opinions toward what is just happening while he was away.

"I was sitting here as you see. Then both of them come. I may not prying to business of others but, apparently he was apologizing to her over an incident. And she stomped his head. Furthermore, he was laying still for half of an hour. For a human get unconscious for that long is not normal. Supposedly his head's inside experienced severe damage." he said after sipping his drink gracefully.

"Quite plausible." he told him. "So the damage rendered him unconscious." Shadow concluded.
"Hmm~ as expected from good for nothing~" the girl added.
"If the person himself heard that, it will be rude you know?" Sin said to her in response.

----Knowing the condition, it was normal. Of course this kind of thing was bound to happen don't they?

So as he thought. As the Master of the Adventurer Guild, it was expected to grasp all things within his reach. For example, the demography of the Guild members. Inside the long history of the Guild, adventurers came and go. Some of them still present to this day, some has left. Things changed. And so do people. People are not divided as a multiple strata of status only. But they're also divided in their own likenesses and by individuals. He knows this well. Each of individuals has such distinguished traits. Differences either it was small or big. Not mentioning indicators and parameters. There were value as an individual by influence, positions, and power. Often also wealth. Others were individual indicators like particular skills for specific occupation, intelligence, prowess, either in individual strength or one's expertise. For people tend to value themselves that way. Not only for reminder, but as an iron-clad rule of thumbs, the Flying City of Aeternus and the outside world is the place where this kind of conditions exist.

And as a concrete example, is the members of the Adventurer Guild.

Just looking at a glimpse, a simple conclusion could be derived.


They're individuals.


Never thought to the most of people that they, while living in their routine that they're individuals. Not meaning that they didn't recognize themselves as one single person with own will, but as a more fundamental approach that they were unique as individuals. Each of individuals has their own traits and value. Value as a resource to be explored upon and developed. And those unique individual features is the only thing that again, differ one from another.

As per why this was related, is shown by now.

---Individuals. As they're unique, they're different from each other. But all of them had their own strong and weak points.

Letting Sin and Ton in argument, Shadow and Charles knows this as both of them sees their surroundings.

Looking in their front, are Elves. At their side were Dwarves. In front of both of them were a Beastkin girl. Beastkin itself were divided into therianthrope and beastman. There were also Dragonkin, Fairies, Undead, Non-Living which included Mechanicals, not mentioning Entities which may have came adrift from another plane or higher dimensions or even another world. All of them differ from each other. And of course but not least, the most populous groups of individuals in this place, which may share the same trait of their own race, humans.

And why does this everyday thing that everybody should have known became so important?


Elves are race blessed with longevity of hundreds years of live, even thousands. Inside the stories, they are significantly praised as majestic. The beauty of the female elves like the star and the male rivalling heroes in many saga. Magic, archery, superior physique. But even so, most of the Elves tends to live in the forest, as they are beings who're closely intimate with the nature. It is also know that Elven arts is superbly intricate and exquisite. Not only fine arts but also music. Flute, lute, and harp also had an intertwining connections, deep within Elven culture. Those traits were never could be separated from them.

Dwarves in the other hand are short, wide in appearance. They are always linked to the typical of a drunkard. They love boozes and eat meat, they love hanging out in a tavern, and they are hot-blooded, which easily perceived or means their temper was short-fused. Never mind those, Dwarves in general is a natural enduring fighters. Their physical prowess often found not-natural like. Swinging heavy pickaxe inside a mine hole for hours. Raising their weapons and swinging them like stick inside a battle. Known also for their passion in eating, often said glutton. One dozens of dwarves could easily pillage a single household pantry and cellar overnight with leaving almost nothing the after night. Even so, deep inside, the Dwarves are craftsmen. They are longing for experience in their occupation, often they made excellent masterpieces of crafts. Jewel maker, tinker, craftsmen. Not only in crafts, Dwarves also known for their ingenious works in architectures. Dwarves are such races that were superior in their own way.

Beastkin are human in the likenesses of animals, or so one may say in a simple explanation. Often found that they are called Beast-person due to their humanness. For basically, they had advantages of their respective kin. Animal ears for superior hearing, agility which complementing their strong physique, more than Dwarves and Elves in comparison. Strong natural instinct, which is why they're often related in circumstances "to pick a lucky number". And since beastkin keeps their natural traits, it is also a common knowledge that beastkin, had slight preference in their diet. Meat over vegetables.

Dragonkin is known by having long ancestral line with dragons. Often called as dragon-born or dragonewt. Almost like, the first generation of dragonkin were dragons themselves who wanted to intermingle with other races. While in the first place, dragons are hailed as the symbol of majeste regalia, omnipotent power, ultimate strength, omniscient wisdom, and also both as the symbol of good and evil. Respectively, as their "descendants" hey had physical features in the likeness of a dragon. Physics and magic capabilities nonetheless, even their perceiving of senses is known above human, beastkin, dwarves and elves.

There were also Hobbits. Known for their light feet which is remarkably also means that they are at the one side are adventurous, while in the other side are satisfied with their own settled-down-merry-life. Ages recorded that Hobbits is a creature that share a common love for things that grows and good tilled earth. Inventing their own culture by between the worlds of big-folks like brewery and smoking aside their warm hearth and openness for guests and visitors. While in the other as well, they have ventured to many places. Seeing the wondrous nature, traversing the forests, deserts and mountains, roads of capitals and big cities from the borders and the smallest villages. It is such dangerous business to get out the door.

Undead and Demonkin in the other hand are also welcomed. Respectively they are weak to the daylight holy-element magic and weapons like silver. But as it was natural, they are almost immortal such as they are already surpassed death, and some are widely known having more specific traits like incorporeal body of ghosts and specter, and affinity of death-elements magic aside of other magic of lich and wraiths. There was also legendary beings like vampires, known for high regenerative ability, magic eyes, superior physical ability, and magical capability aside from blood-feeding.

Mechanics or artificially created life beings, currently present is the Arkley and its hatchlings Arklings, automata, and such. They were made by the likeness of their creators or at least by their ideals. Created to serve or fulfilling a certain roles or purpose. Cases where they attain self-recognition and even had their own will and expressions is not very rare.

And of course there were also beings of another plane or dimensions. Even from another world. Possibly with their own traits and differences from others. Also found that it was not a rare occasion that even gods, or even beings that may surpassed them may descended here. They may come by certain reasons. But unfortunately, that was something needed not to pry.

And last but not least. Humans.

Humans may be many. Some were strong. Some were very powerful. Some were standing out of their kin. Each with their own feet. Sages, kings, bards, craftsmen, knights, nobles, and even heroes from ancient times. Humans are living by their own. Tends to feel that they are superiors above all other races. Brimmed with pride. Filled inside with their confidence. And the fact is, they are the most dominant race above earth. But inside, humans are such frail beings. Deep within the history were the reality of human nature. They are beings that prioritized emotions before anything. Some said humans are the race which are failing, proven by the rise and fall of many kingdoms and nations from the dawn of time. Some even said that humans are fallen, deep within their desires and greed for power, wealth and their own ideals and egos. To the points of extremity, humans are the most insignificant beings for their own powerlessness, frailty, arrogance, dependencies, and seeking for the highest for their own worthlessness. A being that cannot accept the real truth and searching for a complicating answer and deceitful lies to run away from it. Their eyes only set upon glory, riches, and fame. What they wanted, anything, one way or another. Maybe which is why that humans were so many. Lots in common yet differ by each one of them. Which is why such erratic and long explanation was needed to make, even one, person to understand. The reasons is only one.

The answer lies within the question itself.

Why?

It was because of “why” itself.

Looking again at the unconscious Crowen, Shadow puts out some vials from his interspatial storage. There were vials of many kind of potions in his hand. And each one of them is a recovery potion. As he was a craftsman deep-inside, it was not rare that he made many things. Aside being a craftsman, he was also a man with many knowledge. Alchemy, herbs, plants, monsters, chemistry, he was a person who approached them in another ways. Researching things to find out many things that was veiled within the unknown.

And of course, why this kind of people can't possibly made potions for his own purpose?

"One sip of this should be enough" he said after picking a small vial of potion. Its colors were gruesome black and ominous in looking. And for some reason air bubbles that was supposed to be exist above the potion were found deep down at the bottom of the vial. Maybe if people were told that it was some randomly named powerful poison that may kill an entire city, it could be expected that people would believe that. So the looking of the potion itself, may deceive not only normal people but also people with evil intentions. And he puts the vial closer to his mouth in order to drink it to him.

"Stop. What're you trying to do?"

But he was stopped by Charles.

"What I am trying to do? Let him drink this of course." he casually replied.
"Are you going to kill him?" he responded with sarcastic voice.
"Hoo~ Are you wanted to say something?"
"Not really."

Hearing those words, of course he felt slight irritation.

Remembering the past which happened not so long ago, he didn't wanted to remember it.

---Such insult.

So he thinks. Very misleading, groundless and else. He wonder who is the first who spread the rumors.

"Look now." he said in serious tone. "This is a genuine potion. I will made him drink this. It will be fine~" he said to him. Charles could only avert his sight.

"Very well then." he said as he show a grin of a victor. His left hands swiftly opened the vial, and put whatever is inside to Crowen mouth.

So the things that lead to the present events.


--------

After a long time. Only then was the time when he finally could open his eyes.

"Master? Sin?"
"Finally. He's waking up. Crow? Are you alright?" so he said, asking to him.

As he was like suddenly awakened from a dream, he just feel that he couldn't remember anything.

"What I am doing here? Why am I on the floor?" he asked.
"Don't you remember anything?" Shadow said to his bewilderment.
"No." a short answer.
"Anything?" he said again.
"No."

Just right to his answer, Shadow put his palm to his face while he shook his head. Crowen looked to Sin and what he saw was Sin lets out a sigh. Charles only lets out a small grin to him while Ton has already back to her usual "activities". And furthermore, all other adventurers somehow had avoid direct contact with his eyes, as if they are diverting their own sight, they sighed.

He didn't know why they did that. For what reason, or something that he shouldn't have known?

"Oh yeah. By the way, could you tell me what are you doing here?"

Suddenly, amidst of the thinking, Shadow asked him as he was concerned. Not seen by his expressions, it was seen by the tone of his. But even he was asked in the likeness of that kind of manners, he himself aren't quite sure about what he was doing here and more importantly why.

"I don't know. But you're Master. Surely you could tell me why." he said while he faced Shadow. As he innocently responded to his implore, he could clearly heard the sounds of people sighing one after another. And there were others, giggling in a little and quiet voice.

"And yet suddenly you are here...." he said while making gestures with his other hand.

Shadow tried to make him remember by the gestures and hanging sentences, but it seems it wasn't enough. For in response, he said,

"---in the floor, with pain all over my body, and my skull and stomach hurts so badly." Just as if he didn't remember anything at all. But it was the truth that he couldn't remember anything.

Just with that sentence, the conversation was plunged into silence. Ending the silence, Crowen starts to stand up, saying,

"But since I am an adventurer, maybe I was here to do some quests. Am I right? By the way Master, are you interested? Making a party with me?"

“Uhh….Ok.”


It left him dumbstruck as he couldn't believe what had happened today.


To be true, the potion he held now in his hand was a consciousness recovery potion. How it works was to stimulate five senses and by the stimulation it gives, the potion will raises up the consciousness. Apparently, the potion also raises the sensitivity and senses at the same time.

He tried the potion in his experiment. But it is the first time he would try the potion to human.

"Says the man who made potions with amnesia after effect." Charles muttered.

There was of course an after effect when using potions. But the user usually don't realize it until a certain point. Potion were regularly used as a mean of recovery. But inside the natural process of recovery, when the effects of the potion kicks in, potions speeds up the process. Which is the way potions will gave rapid and instant healing effect. And it is well-known, a rule of thumb, that when something is rushed, things will happen.

After effects of memory alterations, even deletion is of course included. But of course, the effects were different on each person and the effect in summary was slight.

Which is truly difficult to explain. But as a craftsmen and researcher, he couldn't just help it. Yet as a person, he can't accept the insult.

"Says a man who drinks......... milk?" he returned the insult to him.

Looking at the glass which Charles used to drink, there was a slight trace of the drink. White trace of fat. Obvious to him that what he drinks was milk. It was his defeat. In a way, Shadow told him who was more knowledgeable and obviously know what to do.

"I understand. I am just warning you." he finally said after a long sigh.

Well. It could be said that there is reasons behind everything. He just didn't want that something beyond his reach happened. But something that will happened, in a way or another, will happened anyway.

"It seems that things that will happen will just happen anyway. Foolish thing to do." he said.
"Did you say something?" Shadow noticed.
"Not important." he replied.



-------------------------------------------


Never impressed on minds that how much people could, especially an influential people, just broaden their wings, as is wings is their influence and authority. Peoples, individuals, either as a part of a certain structure of a world of their own, or just a solitude existence with no attachments to the world, they somehow had their own influences toward others. Powers, as they came in form of wealth and authority, they also came by means of power. Which in powers itself, which power rest its head. Power is power.


Stark.

A play of word.


Just in the stark blue sky, a single airship flew in considerably low attitude. Low she flew, descending from the cloudless sky and justly set course to the southern desert. Just under the shade it made were the route across the desert.

Concerning the airship, maybe it was the one and only of its kind. To be precisely, even though there were many kinds of kinds of airships harboring in Aeternus, the airship which is flying now were really the only one in the world. Stern. Maybe that is the only word from few selection of words available at one's tongue to describe the airship itself. Frame which is outclassing all others, design and size of its own were superb in every aspects by the harnessed minds of its owner. Its design prioritized functionality, yet there were artistic beauty found in every nook and crevices, either inside or outside. Approximately three hundred feet of beauty, made of various materials whether it was woods, stones, and metals or another materials. As airships has many specifics of its uses and purposes, this airship were barred by none.

This ship was the private property of the Master of the Adventurer Guild, Shadow. And this Fire-crystal powered propeller airship is automatically operated by automata, golems and his mechanical spiders (Arklings). Aside for traveling, this ship's also the personal residence of his family, since his elven origin wife, Erdatiel and his retainer, the lamia Chalusi, and humanoid firebird Pyrhea lived there, no wonder he had put some "efforts" when into making this airship a residence for his family. This was his personal flying fortress.

Aside from the main compartment of the airship, the lower part which is resembling a full-rigged galleon but without masts and sails. As it was a ship, respectively the compartments were divided into few parts, as so for the interiors. The first, it was the main bridge or command center, so was the moniker the adventurers gave to refer this room.

Second, the cargo room, wide and implemented with environmental control equipment, not mentioning the spatial magic applied, reducing the storage volume in real appearance and weight.

Third, armament bridge. Weapons in starboard and portboard respectively, front cannons and back ward cannons. And the fourth, lounge, private chambers, and other parts as it was not needed to mention.

Even more, the airship, it bears the sigil of the Aeternus City in the starboard side, while in the port-board it bears the Adventurers Guild sigil. But after those explanations, more or less, it could be said that.....



….using this airship is definitely something beyond power abuse.


For this airship is basically the representative symbol of Aeternus and the Adventurer Guild. It represents the prowess of the Adventurer Guild, and by the way, also serve as diplomatic symbol of both. Equipped by the most advanced technology compared to all airships, not mentioning functionality as to serve travels purpose, this airship was made to give comfort and while at that, mobility and protection by all means. Left unsaid that this airship was obviously armed. If compared to an army, this airship was weaponized almost to the extent value of a strategic weapon. And as for the proof, it was practically not needed.

Just while ago, the long artillery armament had proven itself by massacred at least three packs of Desert Jackal, which targeting a person and his camels leagues ahead. By close range, the airship had rained all over the brigands, desert thieves, and stragglers, leaving them flushed out of their demise. And had detected the Desert Lizardmen from leagues away before decimating them with the long artillery salvo. The strategic command of this ship easily contained the information of the route it was taken, by mere observation of the accumulated data and real-time integration observation, the airship had taken control of everything within the desert. Climate, conjuncture, topography, everything. For the airship, and its owner, this was pretty much nothing.


If there is a word to make all this explanation clear, there was definitely none. But everyone who are currently present in this place had known.


That everything was pretty much over from the first time this ship leaving the harbor.



In the main bridge a man took up the voice control, saying these words to all passengers aboard.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard The Airship - Luftzeug Eins. I welcomed all of you here. And as a sign of hospitality, I myself will see that all the passengers are receiving the best service we could provide. Thank you"

So the intercom ended. The sound had been heard inside the airship, to their ears.



-----------------------



"Thank you for the help you have given to us"
"You welcome. Don't mind it at all." he replied. "We will accommodate every need of the merchants until we had reached the destination. And my attendants will see you off. Enjoy your stay."
"We're honored."

Standing in front of him was the representatives of the Merchant Association. Merchants from across the land, ethnics and demography. As he replied the gratitude, the merchants slowly resigned from his sight and went off to their own place. As they left, it could be heard that they are murmuring, talking to each other, that how magnificent the ship is, and how far the extent of the authority the Adventurer Guild and Aeternus had exactly, or so they had talked as they gratitude that they wouldn't be scorched by the blazing sun for weeks in the desert, neither targeted by human thieves and bandits, nor dangerous monsters alike.

"And by doing this, the influence of the Guild and the government of the Flying City of Aeternus will surely rise....." he mockingly said, copying one of the merchants who talked. "My arse~"

Letting a long sigh, he closed the notes on the desk. The notes contents were meticulous, which filled with many scribbles, but the pages opened is filled with strike-lines and crossings, overwritten by newer notes. It was seen that it was made within the day the notes were written. It could be seen by the depth of the color of the ink and the gauge of the papers. Seeing the notes made him sigh, but when he drowned again to his own mind, he couldn't help but smile.

"Hahaha~"

Well, it was pleasant to him that everything may happened just like his prediction. As he lets a smirk off his face, he laughed. Maniacally, happily, mockingly at the same time.

"I don't know that this kind thing could do this kind of purpose too~" he said to himself.

He took one of the papers nearby, so it was planned, so perfectly detailed. Cunningly planned he said to himself. Although aside from meticulous notes, the paper was also filled with some doodles of an airship with few cacti, the sun and canyon and sand dunes as a background. Below the airship was draw some kind of fumes, written, or drawn to be exactly, with onomatopoeia of explosions. Not mentioning, stick-mans. One group of it hailing few, or so it was drawn.
-------Doing quests with much pleasantries and efficiency while at that....

Written on the paper surface it was, as the main headline of the notes, it was everything that he had planned few hours ago back in the Tavern. With some right conversation, with some pleasant people, and additionally few decanter of wine and ales, somehow he had got this revelation down in his mind.

"But really, how could I come into writing this...." he said.

A very brilliant and cunning scheme, written in a piece of paper with doodles.

If there were two person, told to take a look on the paper, the arguments would be divided into two eventually.

Either the person who planned this thing is a genius, slothful person or a megalomania.


-----Using the airship.

Killing birds with a stone. Two, according to the old sayings, but if you just could grasp the meaning of the old proverb, it was meant that in a time, a person should or ought to do things in one go. Repressing the meaning of efficiency, saving efforts and time.

------Guarding the supply route with sky entourage.

Plummeting the monsters and desert bandits and stragglers from above like gods smiting heathens.

------Observing the most of the desert topography along the way.


But in the other way….


The usage of this airship indicates power abuse. Which the deviser of the scheme were complete ignorant to the matters of concern. Awed and intimidated everyone. Shown the extents of the power of the Adventurer Guild and the City Government alike. A show of power.

"Truly, a good day to relieve yourself from strenuous routines."

Crawling from the floor, a middle-sized Arklings approached him, while in its arms were silver platter, and above it, were decanters of highest quality of wine. A sip from the bouquet. Such pleasantries as the wine went through his throat.

While he glance at the other papers,

-----------
Sandy Desert - #SD1 - D rank - Slay 15 Desert Lizardmen [ 110 G ]
Desert Village - #SC2- C-Ranked - Slay 10 Fast Desert Jackal- [150 G]
Desert Village - #GD1 - D-Ranked - Harvest Magic Flower [ 75 G | 1 x Bundle of Magic Flower ]
Desert Village - #GD2 - D-Ranked - Gather Large Dates [ 100 G | 1 x basket of Large Dates ]
Desert Village - #ED1 - D Rank – Guard Supply Route [ 150 G ]
Desert Village - #EC1 - C Rank – Look For Better Agriculture Area [ 200 G ]

Party :.
Crowen Nacht, Shadow, Charles, Celobia Sin + Ton

Receptionist,
Dancchi
-----------



so it was inscribed. Ton name were added after, hence the informality in the paper.

He remembered the last moments in the Tavern as he looks on the piece of paper which he was holding now.


---------------


"Party? Me?"
"Yes. If I could just say this right, you just came back from official business. Having returned means you're free at the moment. And perhaps, wanted to relieve the .... stress....?"

“Uh…..Ok….”

Swallowed by the frank words, it was true that he was here to be relieved of his daily stress. A person of influence has their own different levels of troubles too. Same as the weeds may had problems for surviving, flowers had the same problem, and way more of their own problem. As it could be said, he was the most influential person in this city aside by the government officials. It was shaking him that his words were true, that he was so hard on himself lately. He needed some relieve. Period.

"Maybe you, wanted to make a party with me?" he said now to Sin.
"Huh? Me? Fine~ I'll join you."
"And you?" and now to Charles.
"Hmm~ So it is I too, thou asketh? It will be most interesting."

The two, same as he, now are taken aback by his words of invitation. She was sitting by the table, having pleasantries. Charles, almost by the same way, having his own pleasantries, drinking milk by a whim even though the person himself says doing it because he liked it. But the fact is fact. They're here, hence basically they're doing exactly nothing. Nothing. Loitering around. Double the period.

Not only that. Just a while ago, this young man had collapsed and gods knew what had happened to him. And just the seconds after, he was standing and asking people, inviting them to do quests together. And again, just after a while, both of them founding themselves agreeing to his invitation.

----I guess I should just say yes then.

He don't know exactly why. Or what is the reason for agreeing. But, his other side of feelings saying that he should come. One, as a form of responsibility. But again, aside from the guilt, maybe because he was asked, politely asked in addition, by him.

----Ahh....Because it has been a long time perhaps? Maybe I could enjoy myself a little~

It took not so long until the four of them to sit in a table and discussing the plans for their departure and the details of what and why and how the things would and could happened. Just leaving the fact that he was the master of the Adventurer Guild, somehow able to enjoy the conversation all along. So much for the brainstorming, after just fifteen minutes, the four had reached a consensus. Hence the request acceptance.

But why Ton name were added by the later, it was needing another explanation. After reaching consensus, short-long story, here is what happened.


She wasn't allowed to escape. By whom? The answer is his wrath and his authority. Those two of things were obviously more than enough. And so the things happened.

Aside from that, it was pleasant to him to found that this party quest should do many numbers for him. Looking at the more and more brighter side of doing this party quest. The thoughts itself already terrified him, as he himself was very much excited.

Returning to the table, he said,

"Since it's been a while for me.... why don't we go out in style?"

So it was his turn to make the three of them left dumbstruck now.


Leaving the room with the papers, he went to the deck.


-------------------------------------



“So that is your opinion?” The voice of the Guildmaster resounded at the edge of the deck.


“Yes, it is as I said. At that place, the water reservoir is bound to be useful for the surrounding area.” A slender finger pointed to the map on top of the railing. “There is also an oasis around there.”


“….And the reason you know is?”


At that sudden question, the elf averted her eyes from her husband. Seeing that, the man just waited for her answer.


“I…lost my way and…ended up there.”


“…Ah, I see,” said Shadow followed by a small chuckle, “then you were hunted by that worm, eh?”


“Yes…wait…You know? You already know?” As the desert elf glared at him, the man’s chuckle got even louder, earning him an even more intense glare from her.


“I have a hunch. This place is,” he pointed at a certain point in the map, “is where I found you. So by my logic and calculation, that is how the event unfolded.”


“….I get it…I get it…,” she shook her head and then continued, “goodness gracious, you and your logic. I should have known….But….I have to thank that giant desert worm though.”


“Ho? Why?”


“Because, if that monster didn’t chased me,” she lean closer to him and peck him on his cheek, “I wouldn’t be able to meet my wonderful husband.”


“…Not fair, Erd….Totally not fair.”


“Hahaha~ That’s the only thing I ca-Kyaa!!” Her words stopped as her waist suddenly being pulled up by her husband in one swift motion. She was about to say something but her lips have been sealed by him, making her unable to say anything.


The kiss didn’t last long since they know they are still on an errand. But it was still a precious moment that they are glad for. As the parted a bit, Shadow looked at her who was still trying to catch her breath due to the sudden movement he made.


“Well, I think that’s a draw, my dear Erdatiel.”


“Geez….this is not a game….,” she frowned for a second, but it was replaced by an impish smile of hers, “but I don’t mind playing this….”


“Later then, my dear. For now, we have a job. And-“


“Milord.”


A sudden voice made the two of them looked back. Then they noticed that the owner of that calm voice is their retainer lamia, Chalusi. Next to her is their ‘daughter’ Pyrhea, the humanoid firebird. As usual, she looked around with visible curiosity on her eyes. The reason is that it has been a while since she went to the desert.


“Chalusi…what’s the matter?”


“We have several suggestions from the merchant regarding possible area that you asked for.”


After she said that, she pushed Pyrhea to give Shadow a rolled paper. She tottered toward them and handed him the paper. He opened it and then scanned it in a few seconds before rolling it up again.


“Eh? Master, you’ve done reading them?”


“I have.”


“Wow! Master can read fast!” she clapped her hands several times as he looked at him with awe, “Pyrhea want to be able to do that too!”


“Oh you can do that easily,” said Shadow as he patted the girl’s fiery hair, “as long as you keep learning from Chalusi and Erdatiel.”


“Eh? But Sister Chalusi read so slow!”


“P-Pyrhea!? D-Don’t tell milord abwo-Ouch!”


“S-Sister Chalusi!” Pyrhea quickly ran toward the lamia as the lamia covered her mouth while hunching forward slightly. Looks of worry appeared on the firebird’s face as she got closer.


“Ow! I bwite my dhongue…”


“S-Slow down, Sister Chalusi. I won’t tell Master about the other thing too!”


“…Other thing.” Shadow raised one of his eyebrow as he heard that. The moment he did that, Chalusi covered Pyrhea’s mouth while trying her best to look calm. “Chalusi?”


“…Uhm….I was…..”


“Chalusi.”


“Y-Yes, Milord! I was unable to teach her about math! Please forgive me, Milord!”


“…Is that so?” He let out a sigh after that and then looked at Erdatiel who were giggling while covering her mouth with one hand. “Erd, can you also teach her?”


“It will be my pleasure, my dear,” she bowed a bit while wearing a smile, clearly amused at what happened.


“I guess that’s that for now. I will need to send out scout spider to check out various places.” After saying that, he gave a quick kiss to Erdatiel, earning him a slight ‘woah’ shout from Pyrhea who had her eyes covered after that by Chalusi. He then gave Pyrhea a pat on the head and Chalusi a pat on her shoulder before leaving. “I’ll be going now.”

So he left, heading inside the airship.


---------------------------


Sin

Inside the airship was a certain room. The room was particularly sized enough for a single assemblage, or even a conclave. The room was luxurious and elegant. Not only filled with adequate furniture like cabinets, elegant white vases also decorating the sides of the room. The walls are not only built with plastered Acacia woods, and more, decorated with intricate designs, and chandelier. The flooring is lacquered wood, covered with red carpet in the middle. And above it, several elegant couch, and a grand wooden table, with wooden chairs in the surrounding, was set, right in the middle of this very room.

Indeed.

This room is the lounge room.


As per the room given name, its function is either to socialize with others or simply for relaxation purposes. A banquet, meeting, conclave, or just a simple meetup. It was the purpose which the room was built.

In the table, it could be seen that there were four person. Aside them, several Arklings could be seen crawling around them. Bringing them everything they may need, from food and beverages from the cart near, or papers from one of the stacks on the table.

Aside from one person who is currently delve in laziness, the three of them was seen struggling with the papers. Looking on the contents, taking notes and cross-referencing with each other, that is what they're doing for the last few hours. They had taken two people working at the same time with rotational system, so that one could rest while the others could still working.

Currently, it was Sin now who currently have the break.

----Who in the world could imagine that fighting papers are worse than fighting monsters?

So he had thought while she asked the Arklings to make her a cup of tea.

At the orders, the Arklings carefully crushed the dried tea leaves, put them inside the clear glass teapot, added the hot water, let it seethe while they added herbs inside, while in the same time they were also preparing her tea cup. And lastly, they poured the tea, just adequately to Sin’s preference.

Sin raises the cup to her mouth while he lets the fragrance pleasant him.

"I really couldn't help but, don't you two think that master have gone too far abusing his authority?" asked Sin while he sipped his tea elegantly from the glazed porcelain teacup.

"Uhh... What's with the sudden question?"
"Are there anything you may concern?"

Crowen and Charles stopped from their paperwork as they heard that question.

"It was obviously about this airship. Are both of you are content with this?" he asked again.

As he was concerned, adventurers are people who had overcome the difficulties in front of them. It doesn't mean that what she had said was entirely right, but what they're doing right now are felt unacceptable to her. Too anticlimactic, too easy. It was not his right to say this, but he couldn't just accept this somehow.

Almost half of their quests are practically done, done in the instant moment this airship had descended, leaving the harbor.

The long ranging artillery shot, it was a weapon of strategic class which capable to provide the defensive advantage of a fortress, and worse, a mobile fortress. Still, it was without mentioning the accuracy and firepower.

---Yet this thing was used to obliterate mere D - ranked and C - ranked monsters along with some ruffians along the process.

The ship utilized as a strategic observatory could gather information just by passing away. The apparatus which had exist within the ship practically allowed the observation scale to grasp even the most detailed information. Not to mention the diplomatic value of this ship.

---And those stacks of papers, and its contents are only a part the whole record of the data which the airship had collected. The papers simply contain the data of the desert. The data we need.

Looking at the papers in front of him, it was inscribed the topography of the desert itself. Waterholes, the diversion of the desert monsters and its populations, routes, plants populated area and its details, also weather and climate details of the desert itself. The data was up to date, and the predictions resulted from the obtained data altogether also inscribed there.

---Hence, all the thing we need to do is corresponding the data together and making consensus.

Everything were just too easy as they’re almost done with them.

No need to venture the desert. No need to swing your weapons toward monsters.

Sin just can't accept all of this.


"Fufufu~" Sipping from his cup, Charles chuckled to her question. "Content or discontent are illogical. It is only you who couldn't accept that." he said.
"It's natural though." Sin said in response. Sighed afterwards.
"But why we must suffer when there is a better options?" like water currents in the river, he said to Sin. "The world aren't supposed to be walked in all hardships, not all like everyone has a knight inside of them."
"All men, not only knight have to get through hardships to live."
"I disagree with that." he sipped from the cup again. "Right names and titles might gave a person extravagance all his or her life. Powers, riches, they come follow." with the same expression as before, he gave his answer. "And it seems our friend here understand that. Don't you think?" just with the hint of a smile.
"So it seems." he smiled too. So they smile and looking at him.
"Uh... why you two are looking at me that way?" feeling left somehow by both of them, he couldn't help but wonder what in the world they are talking about.
"You're seriously saying that to us?"
"Fufufu~ A wonderful day to live." Charles sipped from the cup again, emptying it. So then they back at the paperwork. So much was their routine but, hearing the sound from the corridor behind, just behind the door, he said to himself. "And many more excitements to come."

Just behind them, they finally hear the sounds of footsteps. Faint at first but getting loud and louder as the source of the sound came closer. It was the sounds of thuds, made by boots stepping the floor, ringing, echoing through the corridors and the doors. And within it, a faint song could be heard also.

He lift her so high in the air ♫
He sniffed and roared and smelled her hair ♪
Neither kick nor wail the maid so fair ♫
But he licked the honey from her hair ♪

From there to here and here to there ♫
Black and brown and covered with hair ♪
He smelled that girl in the summer air ♫
The bear the bear and the maiden fair ♪

Opening the grand door, Shadow walked the lounge room to the table in the center. Always with his mischievous smile he approached, between him and the door Arklings, lots of them are still crawling at him as they wanted to sing songs with him.


"So. How is the paperwork? Do you lots found something? I saw many strokes and marks on the maps and founding myself not quite sure." he said nonchalantly.
"We are making progress here, as you see." Charles replied.

After a long and arduous fight against the papers, they prevailed. Saying that they did not break a sweat, or suffer at all, will be a blatant lie. They are visibly exhausted. Very exhausted. But tiredness is a laborer price for achievements, and costs to prevail against their own duty. But a bitter victory feels almost like a crushing defeat, both in their eyes and ears. Which is better to turn ignorance to this scenery. They who had been revealed to the truth repented. They who had known the truth from the start feels himself were above them. But alas, the feel of the triumph is only a speck which couldn't be compared by the overwhelming tiredness. Such as the truth.

But for them, ways of prevailing still exist in their pride, and respectively because they had known the truth first-hand.


It was then when they know the real hell.


--------------------------------------

Shadow

Faking his smile and disguising his tiredness he said, asked them nonchalantly "Enjoy the paperwork?". Saying these words to four of them in such manners like that made their eyes opened to a revelation. A cruel truth, they say. Seeing the papers, even just a single sheet almost near enough to disgust them now. Some had their hands tremble, others acted like it was nothing, but there were even someone who shed tears.

Seeing this tragic scenery, just only that, this man feels like he, himself, had prevailed against anything. One way or another, he had won.

"Paper..worksss..*sob.... no more..*sob...", someone cried.
"I've wondering, did all the staffs are obliged to do this all day? You are definitely a sadist! Torturer!" someone else wailed.
Smiling, he said to her "Say all you want~ I had you know before-hand that this is no easy. You know now." and he turned to the other "And you? Nothing to say?" he said.
"Such menial task is nothing. But, I feel more respect for the staff members now." he answered.
Pleased, he nodded, and asked, "Good. How about me then?"
"Not in the slightest." an instant reply.
"Whatever~" he said back to him. Now he turned to the last of them. "Are your hands alright?" he said with pitying look at him.

He had his hand inside of a bucket, bucket filled with ice. He looked at him then replied "Not so good." with a dead pan expression and wan face. Why his hands were there? He himself had to put his own hand there, for his hand was so stiff that it wouldn't let go of the quill. "I was surprised that you just skim that mountain of paper and done. As expected of Master." he said. Frank were his words, and just a slight but it was out of respect, and self humbling.

He himself had experienced it personally, not many people in the world could read, and way more couldn't write. He himself often wondered if this world really had little need for people who were actually well versed in literature. A slave for instance. He didn't mean to discriminate against them, but it was true. Reports have confirmed that slaves have more value as goods if they have skills or unique traits, mainly because it allows them to stand out amongst the other slaves. Things of value not only included racial traits, skills in fighting and stature, but also literacy skills as well.

But in fact, for slaves, not only just slaves, if you just randomly pick few person from a street and asked them whether they can read and write, only one among five, or even ten who could both read and write. So he thought.

"But you, you, have done good so far you know? In this world, not many people could read, not even mention writing." he praised him. Examining the papers that he had previously inspected, he felt a pang of guilt. True, he had just skimmed over it, but it doesn't mean that he had grasped all of its content. Even more, not after what he had done.

------------



One hour ago.

-----Shite.

"Is this all.... mine?" he said.
"Yes."
"All of them?"
"Yes."
"What about hers?" Shadow look at Ton who currently sleeping on Sin's lap.


For people seeing the scene, they may saw a girl, foxkin girl, sleeping peacefully with innocent smile over her face. Her skin were soft white, her hair were soft as it was fur, her appearance although child-like will undoubtedly followed by words like beautiful, and fair.

But to him, this scene only means one thing. Which now irritate him the most.

---This brat, this little devil, is skipping her work.

Her appearance maybe like that but in reality, some say, her personality is truly child-like and twisted. Known by most, her happy go personality and child-like personality is acceptable but, she knows no bounds. Twisted, as her temperance may change on her whim. Even one of the adventurers compare her personality like roulette dice, as you may not know what you might get. Pretty much after that, well, the person well-being is not heard again since. And respectively, her bad temperance is the thing that in the first place make this party quest happened, by making someone's head get through the floor. Not only that, problems in quests like usage of abusive language, ruckus inside the tavern by bringing back unwanted precarious items, reports after quest which oft mention her over boundary actions, which often ended with lots of explosions or arson, and this and that which seems to be inflicted by her mischievous act, either intentional or not. But looking at her again, she is indeed a child. Prideful, curious, haughty. So no one could blame her.

----As she was free willed, she cannot be held responsible, nor may reflect. If only....


At that time, again, one idea came at him, just like a revelation came down to a saint.


---If only we can make her repent.

It's not impossible and he know it. How and how effective his method can be. One mischievous act, and his problems too will gone away.


---Hard to do, but I could pull it off.


Looking at the mountains of papers at his side of table, he pick them one bundle and skimming through them. After he done, he nod a little. One more bundle and he done the same. Sometimes he hum. Nod again. Just like that. He feigned his action by doing just like that. And just like that, there was nothing left for him to read.

"Done." he said. Of course this one word shaken everyone present.
"Huh?"
"Master, are....you really?"
"Done. I'm done with these. Bring the next one~" so he said to Crowen and Sin, and give the instruction to the Arkleys present in this room.


More stacks of papers.


"You! Are you insane!?!" Charles shout.
"Bastard! You worked us to death!" added Sin.
"Master! Are you serious about that?!" Crowen too, with teary eyes, pleaded to him, asked if what he said is a joke.
"Funyaa~"
"We have looked through a week worth of reports! This is more than enough!" Charles added. His expression reflect anger, one could see veins popped from his skin and his usual calmness is pretty much gone.
"I'm dead serious. Looking for a better agricultural site, pinpointing the place and made recommendations and affirmations is not easy as it looks. We can't just decide a place is a good place to start cultivation because the place is near to water source and plants grows there. Even more, with a week worth data. We have to be certain. Plants didn't grow by a week. Plant grows by months, even years. Don't tell me you didn't know that?" he answered, and continued,

"People in the desert are in desperate hope to keep living. They relied on our assessments. They put their lives on stake by believing us, by believing adventurers. Haven't you thought why this kind of quests always get posted on request board? Could you imagine that adventurers half-assedly took this job and giving half-assed assessments? And I couldn't help but wonder, why all of you said that I was a cruel, merciless, and insane bastard like that? No offense but, everybody has been calling me Mad Scientist every now and then and I could say I am not in the slightest offended by your slanders. Don't think I wouldn't know what people said about me behind my back~" he said in calm manner and smile "And I lighten your work though. Or perhaps the three of you wanted to take over my work? I'll gladly---"
"NOOOOOO!!!!" the three shouts in unison. At that kind of threat, the three of them couldn't say anything. In fact, now they had to double their working speed. For they all know,


"He snapped. And he is now getting his revenge on us!"

So no one now dared to say any words concerning him. Except some profane words and solemn swears. As waves of papers coming on them, their exhausted expressions are changing to desperation.


"Oh, yeah. Additionally, will you wake her up later? She need to work too right? Just make her do her share if she had waken up, please?" he said in addition. While sipping wine from his glass. He skim through the coming papers as like it was nothing.


---------------------

Ton


Letting out a yawn, Ton finally woke up from her sleep. Her eyes were still blurred although each time she reopened her eyelids it gains its focus back. Her head is still heavy due to sleeping for hours. She lifted her head, and sit.

But there is something that bother her now, no, no bother, it's better to be said that now she feels curious.

"What is this?" she said as she was confused.

In front of her eyes, the world is almost like white and grey, with borders so near that it feels she could touch it. She touched it, and it feels solid, and real. She push it. And only later she found that those were towers of papers, which now had fallen and scattered across the table. In front of her were Sin and Charles, while at her left and right were Crowen and Shadow. All of them are still working on the papers.

"Ah Ton~ Finally you wake up." she said to her.
"Sin? Is it you?" she said to her, and it seems her drowsiness still cling on her, and her ears is still dropping. She looked at Sin, she found that she had released her gauntlet. She was a knight, yet her hand is white, soft as the like of a maiden. Those hands were nimble, working at the papers.
"You still working on the paper?" she asked.
"Yes. And since you are awake, could you work your share?" she replied gently. She was sweating a little but her smile still not fading from her face.
"My share?" she asked again. By the time she realize what she means, she feels an ominous feeling. Looking at her front, were papers. At her left and right side, were also papers, high as she could see, so much of it. And there is still more, placed on the floor beside the chair where she sits. She finally realized that she were surrounded by it.
"What is this?!"
"Oh finally you awake~"
"Shady Bear! You working too? I thought you skip your work!!"
"The only one who skipping work is you. I'm not sleeping at least, I'm dealing matters with the merchants, which means I only postponed it. Laziness is not really my character you see~"
"I sensed something different though?"
"Seriously? Haha~ Well. Enough. Since you're up, get to work please. Arklings! Bring left of her shares~" so he laughed at her words, and give instructions to the Arklings. Obeying, they made lines through the corridor, and after a while they returned, with more stack of papers. The papers on her table side already piling up like towers, and now, those numbers are increasing. And she certainly do not wish that.
"What's the meaning of this you Mad Scientist?! Why only my share is so much?!"
"So much as what? I shared our works evenly."
"Liar!" she fiercely spat at him.
"I am not." he denied.
"You have lied to me!" she shout.
"I have not."
"You have so."
"I have not."
"You have so."
"I have not."
"You have so."
"I have not. Look. Just deal with it."
"No way!"
"Listen lass. We're still halfway the trip. And while you work on those, you may eat and drink all you want----"
"No way~" she said selfishly. She covered her ears with both hands, pretending not hearing anything from him. And she still didn't realize that she is not the only one who could act like that.
With mischievous smile he asked her "I asked again, you still refuse to do so?" while he himself lean his back at the chair.
"Yes I refuse!" she replied.
"As Guildmaster of Aeternus City Adventurer Guild, I asked you once more---"
"No way~" she said, as selfish as before.
Looking at the scene Crowen couldn't help but to speak to her. He said, "Hey...I know this is not something for me to say but, please, could you just work?"
"I refuse! You stupid archer, why did I must did all these not important paperwork? And how come my share is almost tenfold of yours?!"
"Because he worked on it and without taking rest at all." Shadow replied to her question. It was the truth that Crowen working speed is the slowest from all of them, but he worked on it tirelessly, little by little while three have taking turn in an hour rotation. This also explain why his hands are trembling, and his complexion is almost pale. "Look at him." he said additionally.
"It's true." Sin also added.
"True. He has been doing this nonstop since you were fell asleep." added Charles while he take a sip from his cup, "And for your own well-fare, I suggest you to start your work now." he said after. He chuckled.
But even the most prudent didn't make her stop saying,

"No!"

And by so, her fate is sealed.

"Hou~ Very well then." Shadow raised from his chair, "Since I somewhat couldn't be very persuasive, I wonder what will you do if I give you choices? Says two. How?" he said in a laid back tone. But within his smile and words, others know that it was something not good.
"Choices?"
"Do or not doing. Simple enough right?"
"Of course I---"
"No, no, no~ Listen. This is a choice with little consequences~ Will you listen to the end?" he said to her. His tone, his expressions, made to provoke her. And still not realize what he had planned for herself, she only nodded to his request.
"Good. Now. Choice one, do the work. Easy. Do the works, I give you all the pleasantries, treats I could give. And the second choice~" he smiled wickedly "You could just guess the consequences." he said coldly.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Charles


"And if I may inquire, what is the consequences for choosing option number two?" interrupted Charles as he begins to know which way this conversation is going to. "It wouldn't be hurt to know, will it?" he said, asking him.
Shadow walked behind his seat. He said, "Since you too insist~" he exhaled his breath, and continued "The consequences will be some adequate penalties. Only that~" he explained while smiling to him.
----As I thought.

Charles had reached this conclusion from the beginning of the conversation, but he couldn't be sure of Shadow's intentions.

His moves were so unpredictable. Man of his caliber undoubtedly had enormous influence within the government and powerful, but not only that, for he was a true prodigy in moving people to follow his will. Sly, cunning, it was all the quality of a man of power, but a man of influence who could do that to his extent is undoubtedly a virtuoso of that area. But the thing he respected is his will and methods to attain anything he wanted by any means. Such as……

blackmail.


"I see. He tried to blackmail us." he said to himself, while Shadow continued his explanations.

"Penalties, which in order by the rules are reprimanded by the staff members of the guild" he continued, "You will have to answer to the staffs directly aside from re-education in remuneration and other menial things~ I wonder if Biel and Orphelia are present right now" he smirked, just as always.

Hearing those words from him, all of them couldn't help but stay in silence.

---And that's way too far.

Keeping the thoughts to himself, he suddenly recalled when the last time he had to answer personally to one of the staff members due to slight of his misconduct. He couldn't remember it clearly but he felt that it was somehow unpleasant. Looking at his side, he could also look that the others are somehow feeling the same thing. Their eyes were looking to a distant place, which clearly is not here. And they tremble, a little.

---We clearly couldn't get away from this huh?

Looking at Shadow who are now back sitting in his chair, he only could feel both slight respect and resentment toward him. And somehow, he knows that this debt would be paid. Full with interests.

---------------------------------------------------

Sin

---What?!

Hearing that, Sin was laid aback. Hearing that is enough to surprise him like this.

Remembering rumors inside the tavern, he had recalled that all of the adventurers questioned by the staff members concerning their misconduct would literally receive punishment in physics and mentally. Their expressions were like a dead man. White. Their souls were trembling, shaken. Imagining face to face with the staff members is the same as a preposition to serve one's head on a platter to the executioner. Everybody hoped that they could escape that as they go fooling around with their own quests. No questions needed for Shadow as he would not participate in the direct inquiry, but everyone desperately hope to escape the vice guild master's inquiry. While on the other hand, Biel's is... unquestionably is the same as asking to deny one's own existence, and if you had chosen between Hikari and Dancchi, they are slightly better than her for at least you may escape with both body and soul intact.

He could imagine the adventurers who had misconducts are lined up like prisoners. The guild master, the judge and the jury, Shadow, condemning them, sentenced them to die. The staffs are the smiling executioners, wearing a smile while showing the way to the great butchery. They extracted their souls inside the chambers. And there is nothing left except a nutshell, which is deprived of its insides.

Would she like it? Well. The answer is no.

She was certain that she wouldn't even like it, and yet she is likely would get summoned for an inquiry at this pace.

---No way~ Certainly no~

Same as Charles, Sin could only keep this matters to herself. If her thoughts are conveyed, even in the slightest, she knows that nothing will be left of them at the very next moment. But remembering the rumors, she remembered something.

"But wait...haven't Crowen been through the inquiry once?" Sin thought again. Looking at Crowen, it was sure that he will surely get through the inquiry in one piece.

An old proverb said, "----with great power comes responsibilities". Sin was certain that he heard it somewhere, but it was not important in the slightest. The rumors said once Crowen with his party members gets reprimanded by Danchi, for causing environmental damage. They blow up the desert, literally. But then, it was the first time he was reprimanded, so the consequences weren't so severe. But for seasoned adventurers like her, and especially Ton, it was different. They would likely to get a lot of reprimands.

From a point of view, it was natural for low ranked adventurers to respect and obeying adventurers with higher rank. It was obvious why, for they had deemed worth. They are seasoned adventurers, filled with experience, of battles, and knowledge of course. But that doesn't mean all of them are excelling in all those expertise. Some adventurers do currently lacking in experiences, skills, powers, and knowledge respectively. But that's why the Adventurer Guild existed in the first place. To compensate it all.

But sometimes, conditions like that also backfired and bring trouble. As for now....

"That's not fair!!" Ton shouted. Still, she was pouting as she couldn't accept the terms given to her. She herself was almost crying.
"It's rules!" Shadow countered solemnly, "All adventurers registered in the Adventurers Guild obliged to obey the rules. Well~ There were many rules to oblige but....simple enough to shorten. And I just only needed one word, and one word only. "Behave"."
"But truly do all adventurers could do that?" Charles inquired.
"No way~" Sin said lethargically. Sin also agreed that not all adventurers are able to comply with it. But somehow Sin also could feel that all of them had been sunk deep down, down, and their movements are restrained by strings pulled by him. He could only glare at him.

---Checkmate....


---------------------------

Crowen

---No. No way~ Even automata or mechanical with the most specific orders and the most sentient among them could do certain mistakes too~

That was his reply in his own thoughts by Charles question to Shadow.

Keeping his silence amidst the talk, Crowen decided to put his thoughts to the stack of papers in front of him instead of joining the fray. But even so, he just couldn't help it by hearing the conversations. Additionally when something concerning him is included. It made him wanted to do some retorts toward their remarks concerning him but still kept to himself. He just couldn't help but wonder why they made such remarks about him.

"Look at him. He read the documents carefully, silently, and he made no complaints" said Shadow while pointing at him. "His works is perfect, even I could make him do this work alone"

---Uh.........Not meaning to brag but, the truth is I couldn't read as well as all of you.

So he thought, and he meant it. The reason why he had been the slowest among them is due to his lack of knowledge concerning words and vocabulary. Additionally, he never accepted proper education, and he only could self-taught himself that's why. So he must take some time to understand those papers. Also, what concerns him was Shadow words earlier, that people's fate, their death and living are depended on their works. He knows people mainly did became a farmer, growing crops to feed themselves. And oft went to seek good soil to be tilled. Risking venturing to new lands to search lands. Risking their lives. He would like to help them by doing this but, he himself are not suited to this kind of work.

---Even though I know the words written but, I don't really know the meaning.

Looking at the papers, he saw many words. Naturally, there were also words that were unknown to him. "Fancy words" he called it. Used in not so many books, not the one where he could buy it cheap like his collection of worn-out books from your everyday bookstore. And certainly not the words used in folksong, poem, and books meant for common people.

"Pre-ci--Preci--pai?" he read the word to himself. He constructs the vowels and pronouncing, little by little. "Precipii...tation. Precipitation!" he finally grasps the words. But the meaning is all the same as a mystery to him. From the passage, he only could imagine that water, it has something to do with this "precipitation" and the heat, and they formed the rain clouds over the desert.

---Do precipitation means to boil the water? Water do make cloudy steam when boiled yeah but, do the principle is all the same I wonder? And it makes rain and storm and hail? What kind of sorcery is that? That's cool!

But the more he thought about these things the more he didn't understand so, he just left the thoughts as is. He meant not to meddle with them for the time. For now, all he could do is to compare the words and their usage in each passage until he could grasp the meaning of the word. And additionally, his skill in pen is also self-taught. Oft times he had almost misspelled the letters.

---I envy people who could read well. Nobles of course. They could read and write as well given.

So he thought again. But he also knows that there were people who could without being nobles. Merchants, people with specialized skills and professions. He remembered the first time he almost gets ripped off because he couldn't read the placards of the price list in the market, back in the days before he registered as an adventurer.

---I swear I will kill that man if I meet him ever again. Or I just could extort him...after cutting his fingers, limbs, and throwing his wee-wee to the dogs... hehehe~

He makes a twisted smile as he processed the last of his papers. Unknown to him, his expression were seen by the others and making them believe, that he too, will definitely do something no good, sooner or later. And so then, the airship had reached the Desert Village.
​

-------------------------------------------------

Albeit this kind of thing usually happens here, he couldn't just left things like "unconscious person" happened. The Tavern is a place for adventurers hanging out. The Tavern is a place for gathering. Commune. Talking with each other. Socialize. Or just relaxing after shit-loads of happenings and stressful routines. Which personally to him is a place where he could relax even just for a while. But of course things like this were bound to happen.​

It was just another peaceful days for the villagers, which at the time it was the time for their field works. Routines at the Desert Village are pretty much similar to many other villages’ whether it is a developed village or a pioneer village. Nothing’s different. The villagers’ routines also, could be slightly varied, or simplified to be exactly, as your everyday and usual economic activities such as producing goods, selling goods, and consuming goods. Money is involved and, yes, money found their way too, even in the desert by such activities. The main activity of the Desert Village revolves around agriculture. But to be noted, the yield and variety of agriculture are limited by default, the conditions of the desert itself. Crops to be sowed, crops to be watched, and crops to be harvested. But not only that, the Desert Village also lives by making processed goods, plants, and other materials which could only be found in the desert. Wondrous items of the desert that could only be found by the local. People pass by, people came, and they left. The sun set the sand and rocks ablaze, and the moon shone upon when the cold night comes. It was another sunny day in the desert with sunlight blazing all the day.

Across the desert, the cultivated field is located alongside the riverbanks, stretched as long as the rivers flow. Villagers, who practically owned those fields, could be seen either cultivating the crops or just keeping an eye on it. Under the shades of a tree, it also could be seen that people were sitting under it, retreating from the unbelievable heat.

"I'm beat~," said one man to the other man beside him. His eyes were weary and his clothes drenched in sweat.
"Water?" the other man said, offered him his jug of water. Just like him, he was drenched in sweat. But the only difference between he and him is that sweated much more than him.
"Oh yes, thank you." he replied, gladly accepting his offer, and grabbed the jug. Since the inside were four-five empty, he drank it all. He drank it to the last drop. "Oh~ I feel refreshed," he said in the end.
"Oi. Give it back to me. We could refill it later," he reminded him.
"Here." He said.
"Thank you," he said. "So, how many hours left we should be here?" he asked in return. "All day?"
"Just 'till evening. Someone will come by nightfall," he answered lethargically. "Why asking?"
"Just wondering. We're here and doing nothing. I’m just bored."
"Me too...." he said, just with more lifeless tone, and lack of enthusiasm.

The two of them had been guarding the fields since morning. It is common for the villagers to take turn in keeping an eye on the field. As the reason why, it wasn't worth telling presumably. Pests, crop thieves, and for watching the areas surrounding the villages. It is commonly known that the Desert Village is the center of the life in the Desert. Its agriculture, its nature, and its people are entwined by somewhat complicated take-and-give relationships. And all that they did was simply for the sake of the village. The cold night had been gentle on their sleep. But the sun is merciless. The sun roasted them for hours.

"By the way, it's too hot here. When is lunch? I'm starved~"
"Shut it, will you? You just ate a few hours ago."
"How many hours to lunch?" he asked with the same expression.
"Almost. You sure talk a lot today. But better talking to you than being all silent in this heat. Need water," he said while trying to stand. He grabbed the empty jug with intention to refill it.
"I swear this rock damn hot. Going to take more water?" he asked him.
"Not for your ass," he retorted. "Yep, I will be back soon---*smash Shit...."
"Hey! The f*ck you're doing with the---- what the...."

Looking at the sky, the two of them couldn't help but feel amazed by the scenery they saw now. Drifting, afloat in the blue sky, out of nowhere too, was a single enormous airship. Stern frame yet with a design which only could be described as beauty, as it was the very embodiment of majestic.

"We should inform the elders...."
"And the Village Chief too..."

And the two of them started to run. A fast as they could. And they ran frantically. As they feared something of bad omen would come. As they are witnessing something they wouldn't likely see for the second time in their lifetime.


------------------------------------------------------------------


An old man walks with a cane in one hand. His back is bent. Half-blind he was, but his ears are still sharp like his wits. He walks out from a house which is slightly bigger compared to the others which built from stone and plastered with mud and chalk. While the most of the building would have two floors, yet this house, in fact, had three. And in addition, there was a pen and a kiln built aside it with lines of trees surrounding.

"Any of you have seen my granddaughter?" he inquired to the passing villagers as walked to the direction of the kiln. They bowed to him.

"Village Head, we don't know where Luca is," they answered, "but since it's almost midday, won't she be delivering the lunch for the men in the out-most fields?" they added.

"Oh... Is it already noon?" he responded.

"Yes Chief. But we truly still haven't had a sight of her." they explained again.

"Very well then. Go on. Tell the others that I will be under the cliff for the time, in case someone looking for me. Will you be so kind to do that?" he begged.

"Of course, Chief." they replied, "And we would like to tell you, your son, he will be back by the morning from the town. The message came from one of his acquaintance."

"Thank you." he thanked them.

"You’re welcome Chief" they bowed and walked away.

Walking through the village, the old chief greeted every villagers he met on his road. He was a kind man, and wise and prudent advice came from his mouth. He cared for the others. Everyone he had known, even since their childhood, and often they come to him seeking counsel. And also many times, the village has been saved by his wise words. Even though he is already retired, he's still called as 'Chief' or 'Village Head' by other villagers. He won the whole village's heart due to respect, and love. But as he was already settled down, he wanted to take the leisure, the time to please himself. But again, unfortunately, the village simply didn't let him to.


Meanwhile in the village, everything going normally. Just like nothing ever happened in this place, the villagers just proceeding with their daily lives, now and always.

Today was an occasionally normal day, and the activities of the villagers continued all the same. Here and there, all over the village, people are doing their own business. Merchants. Villagers. Travelers. Adventurers. Men and women. Men of age and children alike.

"Fruits!! Grains! We sold it here!" shouted a farmer.

"Meat! Fish! Fresh and pristine!" shouted a butcher who also sells fish.

"Hey you! Give me 300 bushels of grain and oat each! How much?" said a fat merchant who rode a camel. His fat belly jiggles for each time the poor animal swayed.

"It's--------"

So the sounds of people shouting in the market district. The shouting came from people. Voices that make the village come alive. The district has always been so lively, and it will cease when the sun is down. As said before, villagers, travelers, adventurers, even merchants from foreign land often comes. And often goes as they get what they needed to procure. Even some may stay in their simple hospitality, for some loaf of bread, leavened or unleavened, mead, and meat, may keep their body warm from the cold night.


Life here is simply more than it described in reports and sayings of the people’s mouths.


The village, could be said, relied on agriculture of deserts. But, a wise man keeps his eyes opened at most of times. Only in those vast sand dunes lies treasures, only if you know where to look. And not only the desert, treasures also found among the people themselves.

The people of the desert are living in the harshest of the environment as they everyday beaten by the cold night and blazing sun. They survives and grows. Desert life is harsh, since safety is relative. They faced dangers like monsters, bandits and brigands alike who frequents them, although their attempt always ended with failure.

Sometimes, inside life, you found something more than just suffering, and that was joy and pleasure. They are the two sides of a coin, and always been flipped, all the time.

Villagers are prospering from the fields. Plants sprouting from the grounds, the cliffs, and alongside the river it grows. Horses and cows are limited but the counts are adequate to support the life of the villagers. Fishing is also plays a vital role in villagers life. That's what people may think concerning life in the desert.


But, again, all the life in the desert is not only limited to that.


Aside from the fields and plants like figs and dates, herbs and plants with healing properties also grows here, just sprouting from the ground or by the cliffs, even under the shade of trees and rocks. Poppy often grows with the desert grass and nightshade, known for their properties to cease pain, while nightshade usually used to soothe nerves. Herbs like desert lily and cacti flower, they are powerful remedies against fever. Hyssop could also found here. It was frequently used to attract bees in order to procure desert honey, which is aromatic and slightly more potent than its usual counterparts. Some of the desert grass known to have same properties as tobacco, which also could be sold as tobacco substitute for smoking. The elders in this village are known to enjoy the process of making their own blend, while the young people get drunk from mead and date liquor and children eating almonds and date fruits.

In the other hand, farming in the desert also has its own advantages. Despite the climate and topography, which is unsuited to herding animals like cows and sheep, farmers had the options to turn to animals like goats, donkeys, pigs, chickens, and camels alike. Grass are necessary for herding animals such as cows, but in a desert, grass is scarce and difficult to find. Ideally, the desert village was surrounded by cliffs and situated at the side of the river, and the oasis. Grass field could be found, but the numbers are not enough. Hence, the animal husbandry in the desert mainly consists of those animals, and not cattle and sheep. For livestock, animals like pig, goat and chicken are definitely the left choices, while donkeys and camels are suitable for hard labors and travels. Lamb chops and beef jerky are widely known as common dishes but there were also options like cheese, which is made with goat or donkey milk, and their meat, which also could be made into many kind of dishes. It is also known that their manure could be used as fertilizer which played vital role in increasing the yield of the crops.

Looking at the present condition of the village, the old chief couldn't help but feel glad and content. Looking behind when the village is not more than tens of houses, he wouldn't know that it will grow to something more. Now there are people. There is more life here.


Walking to one of the rocks, he sat, resting his legs and leaned his back.

"Grandpa~!"

Running from the other side of the oasis, was a girl. A lovely child, brown eyes and brown hair. She wore a single woven clothes which flutter as she runs and in her back, it could be seen that she was carrying a sack which was too big for her to carry. But since she could carry it, and still could run additionally while carrying it, maybe the content wasn’t too heavy for her to carry. Her name is Luca, she is his granddaughter.

"Granpa~ Granpa~ Granpa~," she said, over and over again. She said, spoiled over him like all child of her age should. After looking toward the billows of clouds in the sky and said yes, she finally quieted.

"You're too lively for the already senile me to handle. Good gracious you're so lively like your mother." he said gently, remembering how her mother did almost look the same like her. "What are you doing with that big bag?" he asked.

"Today is the Harvest Eve you know? Old man Jayne told me to bring more food than usual~," she said while turning around, raising the edge of her clothes over the air. Of course, he stopped her before it was going worse. A lovely sight is what he will get but, he wouldn't like the consequences.

Thinking again of his granddaughter words, if he thought about it again, it was a fool of him really. Being old is rough. It seems that he started to forget about things.

Concerning the Harvest Eve, it is a biannual event, and probably the biggest event the village ever had in a year, a celebration and gratitude to the gods for the bountiful harvest, safety of the village, and the well-being of the villagers.

Villagers and visitors are overjoyed by the coming of the events, which seems are becoming the main cause of the increase of the activity within the village, as it was more lively than the usual days. The main event is the evening when the sunset, when the gathering was held in the nearby open field. It is the time for joy and merry-making, where all could get drunk by mead, ale, and beer, and people singing, dancing, and laughing together. Food is obviously unquestioned. This is must be the reason why his good-now-old-friend Jayne went easy on food by now.

Luca, a lively and cheerful child she was, often helps to do some simple errands. And one of them was delivering the food for the poor bastards on duty today. For their reward, was a meal. Bread, white or brown, meat, bacon or ham or fish, and a jug of water, not wine.


It all made sense now, he thought.


"So, where are you going now?" he asked his cute granddaughter while patting her head. "Going to deliver the lunch?"

"Yes!" she answered, and nodded. "Not like the usual, there is wine! Cheese! Fruit and meat also, you know?" she said excitedly.

"They must be hungry," he said. "Looking at the size it's clearly more than usual". Haha~"

"Hey Granpa~" she called him again.

"What?"

"Granpa~ won't be father home for the gathering?" she asked.

"Seems he wouldn't be, unfortunately," he let a long sigh. "He is supposed to arrive this morning but one of the passersby told me that your father would likely be here by tomorrow morning. Now, here is what I need you to do. Go now, deliver that food and help your uncles to prepare the gathering. Now, go." he messed her hair and gave her a hug before sending her away. "And be back safely."

"Uh... granpa~"

"What again?" he asked, wondering what his granddaughter might says or asks again.

"It seems I don't need to deliver the food." she answered.

"No? Why?" he asked, surprised by his granddaughter words.

"The men who're on guard duty, they're coming here," she said to him.

Hearing the words, he couldn't believe it. But soon as he turns his back to the direction of his granddaughter gaze, he couldn't do that. He sees two men running, like a madman. They run as if hell is on their back and their expressions are like those who had seen and escaped death.


"Chief!! Chief!!" so they shout. Their voice could be heard from afar.

"What in the world is happening now?" he lets out a sigh. It was very befitting for a man of his age. And he felt troubles are rising. He just knows it from the guts.

"Could you tell me what is happening?" the village head said to them. He saw that they're exhausted. They had been running from the furthest fields. Sweat runs like river and seeping into their clothes and they could only take breath irregularly.


"Won't you drink some water?" his granddaughter added. She felt pity for the two villagers who drenched in sweat. It was indeed as she thought, that they're now in no shape to talk. And the village head feels that it is the best to let them rest for a while. And they leave them for few minutes.

And after that, they began to talk.


"Village Head, from the far distance we saw a single airship" one of the pair said while regulating his breath.

"An airship? Are you sure about what you saw?" he asked them once again.

"Yes. This one is bigger than any airships I have ever seen when I went to the cities, and sigils were emblazoned on both of their board side," he explained. He stopped for a while to breathe and continue, "We saw the airship's coming from south"


"South?" he repeated the words.

Why the sigils? Why south? He thought.


By his knowledge, it is not rare for travelers to come to their village to simply visit the village and stay beneath the roof for hospitality. Travelers, merchants, adventurers alike may come by any means, such as airship. Merchants and adventurers and travelers would likely own their own airship, as it was accounted for extravagant and luxury, if they could afford the price. Price which depends on the airship's builds. Everybody obviously knows that airships too could be used as means of travel. Seeing the grounds from above, and accompanied by the wind and fluttering clouds is just an enticing idea. But an airship with emblazoned sigils is entirely another matter.


The day before there was too, a report of an airship flying above the main road of the desert. And this airship was reported had single-handedly exterminated the monsters and brigands which usually may infests the desert main route. Which is coincidentally this airship too, had been seen had sigils emblazoned on it sides. Sigils are symbols. Sigils may represents powers. Sigils also may represents authority. Sigils couldn't be put on a personal property as sigils is almost the same as heraldry which represents nobility and lordship, which was forbidden to be used lightly.


"So, where is this airship now?" he asked with solemn tone. "We must come to see that our guests are properly attended." he continued.

"Less than a hundred leagues behind us," the man said. "The airship flew in low speed, as its taking its time."


There is still time then, he thought.


"And what about the sigils? How did they look?"


"It's a -------" he replied, explaining everything to the old ears.


It didn’t take long before the old Village Chief to understand the situation the whole village will likely get into.

"Very well then." he said. "And now we know what we all must do our duty. You two are free to go. But before that, tell the elders that we should prepare to welcome a very important guest. And we need to make haste! Tell one of my sons to "open the floorings and walls". He will know what to do." he concluded. "Go on~"


-----------------------------------------


The airship landed at the empty field outside the village. Slowing down its speed, the airship finally stopped. The sound of the propeller cease as the keel acme in touch with the ground. Winds softly blew the sands.

From the deck tapping sounds could be heard. It was hardened leathers that was tapping the ironwood deck. Each step forward with no creaking sound. Four were walking from the inside of the airship. A man black of hair, wearing black vest with straps, leather gloves in both of his hands, and black leather boots. Looking down, he smirked. Next to him, a man, white of hair, braided in both sides. His stature reflects beauty. He wore black garb which contrast to his hair. He too, smiled. Following them was two girl. One, a foxkin, a young girl who wore Eastern Shrine Maiden clothes with white lustrous hair. The other one, a dame, golden haired with gentle smile and fair stature. Four of them jumped from the high deck to the ground below.

"Finally we arrived~" Shadow said cheerfully. The rest of them were almost too weary to retort at his remark. "Don't you lots have something to say?"
"Thank you for the ride? Is that you wanted us to say?" Charles take the bait. "You know none of us will say it yet funnily you still asked." he said lightly. Charles know that Shadow will drag them in the conversation sooner or later. "So my answer is, no." he put in.
"I wonder have you ever learn to say gratitude? A bloody thank you should suffice though?" Shadow pointed out. "Some nice degree of gratitude and lip service sometimes could be a life saver."
"True. But the same thank you from me would likely to get you drenched in blood though." Charles replied. And Sin and Ton laughed at it.
"Whatever~" Shadow said as he lead the walk.

As they walked through the entrance of the village, the daily routine of the village could be seen. People altogether with their daily activities from dawn to dusk. Ton excused herself from the group, and Sin followed to keep both eyes on her. "Will you keep an eye on her?" Shadow said, but Sin replied that it clearly not enough to use one eye on her. So it's just the two of them now. Both of them walking side by side.

"It seems that everything just going as usual." Charles said out of blue. He was always been observant of his surroundings. His eyes sees all. Everything truly just like what he said, that everything here are just going as everything should.
"Quite true," Shadow observed. "But never this intense at the usual days" he muttered afterwards.
"Rejoice! Today must be the Harvest Eve~" he said in joy. "And I hope for no more trouble when you-know-who bumped with ser-or-someone-what-shit-his-or-her-name-from-no-one-who-cares." he sulked.
"Sin will watch her. And I see that the villagers are doing fine."
"Yes." he agreed. "And we're here to help them. Now, since it's just the two of us, won't you play a game? I'll ask a question, you answer it right, then your turn." he said casually.
"Very well. I accept your challenge." he said after a while. "Ask."
He give him his smile. "There were four people, us, walking in a village after go down from an airship. A big airship, which is necessarily majestic and not in any way could be ignored by eyes. Our objective is to find the most valuable person in this village, but how, without attracting unnecessary attractions?"

As this was a game, Shadow had known the answer from the start, but as it was a game, Charles couldn't help to see if he can outwit him, and to pass the time. Just a little game, he thought. It is true that they are already attracting attention. Eyes of the people staring at them from time to time.
But they need to proceed. This is where the challenge lies.

"Leadings?"
"None." he answered.
"None?"
"None. Not meaning to be unfair but either me or you have leadings by now." he muttered. "The village head is only a person in position. A villager. He could be anywhere."
Hearing that, Charles smirked. "A building or place, with government functional. Is any place like that exist?"
"None. That sort of buildings simply don't exist here. Even if building of that kind did exist, we will attract many attentions by just marching there. Therefore, if your answer is searching in those kind of buildings, you missed. What are you suggesting?"
"We just have to try the right place. Let's go for the tavern." he said. He smirked. Calm as always.
"Or, let's just the man explain." Shadow said in a sudden, stopped Charles to walk any further.

In front of them five men approached, and one spoke to him.

"Grandmaster Shadow of Aeternus City Adventurers Guild, and companions, the Village Head had been expecting for your coming. Please come with us." the man pleaded him.
"Missed~" he said as he turned his sight to Charles.

He whistled a tune as they walked.

-------------------------

Unlike the other houses they usually saw inside the village, this house had three floors. It was the only difference between this house and the other houses as some of them also had both pens and kiln. Entering the house, an old man had waited for them with sincere hospitality. This old man was the head of the village.

"Welcome to our village. Perhaps that is the only thing that I could say." he chuckled. "We're truly feel honored when hearing the Grandmaster of the Guild himself would visit our village." he said politely. "And surprised too."
"But I'm more surprised when hearing that you know about our arrival."
"We hear only some words. Oh! How rude of me not to offer some of refreshments!" he exclaimed. "Tea? Or something stronger perhaps?" he offered. It would be more not courteous to decline.
Shadow smiled. He was followed by Charles who sat at his side. "Just tea thank you very much." he said.

"And it's only 'Master'."
"Pardon?"
"The title for the Guildmaster of the Adventurers Guild is 'Master' if I may correct, as the title 'Grandmaster' refer to person in the highest position of an order or a---"
"Cult?" the village head cut his explanation.
"Precisely."
"My apologies then. We are only such small village. And we are pretty much know nothing about the customs for these things, except for offering some small hospitality."
"But by that, this village was renown across the region. Cheers~" Shadow and Charles raised his earthenware cup as the tea was served. And so the old man did too. They were about to take a sip when something caught their eyes.

It was the tea.

A smell which first seems not familiar. Differs from the usual light and pleasant tea fragrance, the smell were simply stronger for infused water. But, it was strange as the color of the water stays as it is, clear with almost no changes except some leaves and flowers floating inside the cup.

"Curious." Charles declared.
"Is that how do you find our refreshments is?" the village head smiled in glad. "Most of our visitors would say that this was just some boiled water with plants inside them." he continued. "Everybody would ask for cooled water or iced drinks instead of this." the old man said mockingly.
"Pity." Shadow concluded, as truly he felt that those people were true fool. Charles agreed with him. The old man too laughed, and the coughed and cleared his throat.
"My apology for saying this of a sudden, Master Shadow, maybe you didn't know but your reputation is clearly preceding you. Once again, I am very sorry to ask, but we would like to know the reason of your visit to our village." he said in polite manners. He waited for their answers as they takes a sip from the up.
"My visit," he said. "It's not for such matters for the time." he paused. "We are here to accept your requests." he told him as he glanced at Charles.
"Pardon?"

---------------------------

 

Spoiler: Part II

Sin

Meanwhile......


"Ton~ Wait~ Where are you going?" said Sin while following Ton footsteps. It was easy to get lost as the Desert Village have always been such place. Since the population of the village increased, many house has been built in short time. If not for the landmark of the nearby cliff, one's would lost in one of the alleys and the streets. "The others would be looking for us you know?"

"I don't care!" she answered curtly as she fasten her walking pace. Clearly her tone reflect anger.

"It couldn't be helped huh?" he sighed as he thought that he could understand what Ton may have felt. "But, I have promised that I would look after you. And I'm curious where you are heading."

"Where I'm going? I don't know~ *sniff *sniff" she said as she sniffed the air. "It's this way~" she pointed, joyfully. She was childish as always. "It's not like that I don't know where I'm going~" she stopped and sniffed again. "Someone told me that when you don't know where to go, always follows your nose~"

Nose, is it? Sin thought it was very like of her but who said that he didn't know.

As they walk, the air became filled with sweet scent. After turning from the alley, they walked down the main road. Many people walk there, and not only people, animals like camel, donkey, and horse too. They walked the main street for a while until Ton turned jauntily to the entrance door of a building. A big two-floored building with people frequently in and out of the entrance. The walls is still the same as the other buildings but only it was supported with many wooden beams. Hanging in the outside was a plank of wood, with a draw of cacti engraved.

"A pub?" Sin said as in monologue. Sin hoped that nothing will happen, at least for today, as she walked herself inside.

The place, it was like the Tavern if not for the different wall and the arid air. People sat at the tables, clamoring, bragging about one's each and another. Peoples, either villagers or visitors, merchants or adventurers sat too here. And Ton, sprightly approaching the main table and began to asking for a drink.

The bartender approached. "Oh, a new customer! Welcome~" he said, pleased, as he walks out from the storeroom while holding bottles of hard liquor. "Please sit. What can I help for two young lady from a long trip?" he smiled.

"I guess, something for both of us?" Sin told the middle-aged bartender, neither forgetting gentleness, nor courtesy.

"Sure~" he replied. He reached the cabinet behind, and placed two wooden glass in front of them. And not longer, it was already filled with gold colored beer. It was from the wheat, and cooled. "Here you go~"

"Thank you very much~" "Thank you very much" both of them said in unison. Although they said gratitude in unison, the afterwards was different for both of them. One said gracefully and polite, when the other said it in cheerful expression. One drinks slowly when another would gulp. A child and a dame. Sin would like to enjoy the drink, but it need only a while before Ton asked for seconds.
"More~ Seconds~" Ton shouted in joy. The golden beer flushed away her toil. And its tastes didn't betray her expectations.
"It seems that the little lady likes to drink." the middle aged bartender stated. Nothing would please him more seeing a contended customer. "Here you go again~" he said as he placed the wooden glass in front of Ton.
"Thank you~" she shouted lightheartedly.
"You’re welcome. Well. I need to bring the next barrel and flagons so hold on a second." he said as he turned his back and entered the store room.
"Say, you both are first time here?" asked the person next to them. He seemed have had his share since hours ago.
"Yes." Sin replied as Ton were occupied at the moment. "But I couldn't help but wonder why it looked very obvious. Does it?" she asked in return.
"Well. The owner eyes is sharp. That is first." he answered. "And second, memory." he said as he takes another drink. The others nodded eagerly as a sign of agreement.
"The hell you lots are talking to this lass?" the bartender retorted as he returned from the storeroom. "You better close your ears from shite they spew and shat young ladies." he warned both of them.
"We're just talking good here though!" the man shrugged. He chugged the glass. "She asked how we would know that she was first-comers." others said. "And we only said you had good eyes, pops~"
"Well....Sorry for that then." he apologized. He returned to the cabinets and clean the glasses.
"Haha~" Sin could only laughed it off. He felt pity for the owner. "It's just simple misunderstanding, right?"
"Misunderstanding~" Ton repeated.
"Yes I know~ my fault. Sorry for that lads." he apologized again to them.
They raised their glasses. "Apology accepted." and they drink.
"Well~ introducing them, they're villagers from around here. They usually stopped at noon for a drink. Now they're preparing for the Harvest Eve."
"Harvest Eve?" asked Ton. She didn't knew that there were this event.
"Oh. You don't know? It's tonight! You should stay for the night and join us at the Harvest Eve." said the owner passionately. The other customers also cheered at his remarks. It was sure that at least they are going to stay for the Harvest Eve. They too invited them, almost begged as they were drunk. Sin softly turn them down when Ton eagerly nodded and said that she wanted to come and stay for the Harvest Eve.

But we don't know if we're going to stay right? So she thought.
.
"So it is true that you had good eyes?" Sin inquired.
The bartender tilted his head. "Well~" he said at first. "It seems that I have sharp eyes for people. I could remember things too. People come and go. People from here, merchants, travelers, adventurers. The good, the bad." he explained. "But I never see you two." he concluded. "I could tell that by a glance."
"You must have pretty good memory there."
"I don't bother to remember people's face though~" Ton stated nonchalantly.
"People's faces." he said, then he paused. "And what they're talking." he approached them. "These days, there have been some strange rumors."
"Those were no rumors, old man." one of the customer butted in. A swordsman. A sell-sword or mercenary. He was a particularly a big hunk of muscles. He donned steel armor and a steel longsword sheathed at his side. He rose from his seat and sat at the front of the main table. "I've heard that this village ever needed help as the Harvest coming near. A helping hand is a must. Only, the real problem is monsters, bandits, and thieves." he pointed out.
"Yes. But you also know that that wasn't the scary part of the rumors." the owner reminded him. He turned to Sin and Ton. "It's about what had happened to them. They're gone. Without trace."
"Gone?"
"True. Nothing was heard from yesterday. At least, that was what the village head said. And it happened just a day before the Harvest Eve."
"Aren't they just running away?" he swordsman bragged. "I myself have scored at least a dozen of them. I bashed through them, swinging my sword, and they scattered. I'm sorry for the abusive language, my lady, but I personally think they're a spineless scum."
"A cunt~ A retarded one at that~" Ton asserted.
"My apologies for my partner----"
"It's fine~" the owner said.


---------------------------------------


(---A Sell-sword's Tell-tale---)


"Anything else to say, kid?" he turned again to the swordsman.

He took a chug before begin to talk. "I witnessed everything." he said solemnly. He gazed inside the wooden glass, but his eyes seeing something far. "It happened in the desert. Why, and how." he took a deep breath. "Sounds ridiculous but, all of them just....... exploded. To smithereens." he muttered. Sin had paid attention to this words since the words he uttered are no lies. And Ton may have been paying attention too since she didn't make a ruckus so far.

"Exploded?" the puzzled owner asked.

"Yeah. A week ago, I was a part of a caravan. I was hired as an personal escort of a certain rich merchant. He had five wagons and escorts. People like me. We took out a nest of monsters. Then insects. What they're after, is food. They tailed on us from a day before we reached the Glass Craters. They made a burrow near the cave. We take precautions. That's where we, the escorts, mercenary, adventurers, and sell-swords could shine. That's when it happens." he paused again for a drink. He pried open few nuts and dates for its seeds before crunching them all with his teeth. And he drink again. He looked at the three of them.

"You see the people there?" he suddenly pointed at the directions of peoples who sits near them. Some of them are villagers. Some of them are small time merchants. Some of them are fighters. And he stopped at them. At a glance they looked like full-pledged adventurers who had earned their stripes. But from the lack of the proper equipment, and their attitude, he could tell that they're still green. And statement like that indeed have brought shame on them. But as the man didn't care, he continued to talk. "We're just like them at that time." he said mockingly. In his words, there was a strong hate. "We're ambushed." he exhaled, and drank again.

"After two days straight of fighting monsters, we finally could took a rest. As the monsters attacks ceased, we could put the bonfire. We could get some decent sleep. We could eat. We bragged how many monsters we slay. I believe in my sword and skills but in the morning I couldn't believe my eyes." he paused again. "We thought ourselves is the best. And by tomorrow, we will get paid. So much for the merry thoughts." he rose and sat again in his seat.

"We were ambushed by a band of thieves by the next ." he solemnly said. "Seems that they have waited for us to fell into stupor. They must've came from the river, striking when we were not sober and having bad hangover and feeling safe. Fifteen men...strikes down ten escorts. I escaped with my back slashed and my left hand scratched by an arrow." he said while flashing his almost wounded left hand. "Our number reduced by half but we must stall for time to let the caravan pass. And we're dead serious to butcher those cravens. Only.... it seems that fate still held her smile upon us. We saw their bands regrouping, and by so, the odds of numbers condemned us. 5 to 1. There is no chance for a winning even if I cut half of them and each of the rest kills two. We know that at that time, that we might not seeing tomorrow." he stopped. He taken a deep breath, and calming his expressions. "And it's that time. When we thought to throw away our lives, miracle happened. Sudden flash of fire and explosions obliterate them in blink of an eye. Our fate completely changed by that instant moment. Could you explain that?" he asked in return. He knew that there was no answer for that. But he still asked all the same.

"A story is only a story. Cheers~" he said cheerfully as he lifted high his glass.

"Cheers!!!" all of the customers said in unison. Unbeknown to them, their talk had invited the whole pub. People are paying attention to the swordsman story as he was a good story-teller. But the camaraderie only last by that moment. They offer their condolences to the swordsman and his fallen companions. After that, all went back to normal. Only the conversation is left. The middle aged bartender, Sin, the swordsman himself and his new admirer Ton.

Things get escalated quickly didn't it? So Sin told herself.

"Uncle~ Uncle~ you must be good at your swords right~? Right~?" she asked with admiration to the swordsman. She was spirited up by the story before.
The swordsman said, "Well~" as he couldn't bear looking at her. "I wouldn't say I am the best, but I have my guts and my arms. I could carve a man easily for the right price. I'm not a fool to be fighting someone like you, little lady, or the lady beside you." he said politely, bowing to the both of them. A good fighter knows how not to pick a fight with someone he couldn't touch. A good man knows how to live a good life. Not wasting it by picking fight. "But please don't call me uncle. I'm not that old." he said with meek expression.
"Yes~" Ton replied, followed by an eager nod.
"Well~ It's good to be alive, no?" said the owner with a grin. "Death is so final, while life, is full of possibilities. Here~ It's on me." he said to all of them while he passed three more glass of ale to them. They thanked him of course; the swordsman, he is first, then Sin, and Ton.

"So, what do you think might have caused the explosions?" the bartender asked.
"Not sure. Maybe a mage, warlock or sorceress who wanted to vent their magic unto something, secret weapon developed by certain countries, or some random unfortunate encounters between bandits and someone they've pissed off perhaps?"
"You certainly had the imagination." told the owner. He tried at his best to not laugh.
"Maybe he's right pops~ We live in a shit world we called hell. Anything could happen~" one of the customers butted in. An eyepatch covered his left eye. He had a bow and a quiver of arrows. And a dagger. He joined the conversation.
"Neither he nor I are crazy pops. I know what I'm saying."
"And after that---"
"Here I am. Drinking for a flagon of golden beer and straw bed." he smiled. "That's my story. How about you both?" the swordsman turned to Ton and Sin.

"We are here to fulfill a request." answered Sin politely.
"Request? Oh, you both are adventurers." he responded in glad. The swordsman always respected adventurers for so much story he had heard. "You came from the Floating City?"
"Yes~" Ton answered eagerly.
"I'd bet there were tons of fighters there" the man coyly said. "I've seen some top-tiered adventurers doing things. And they're doing it flashily."
"Sometimes some of them hanged out at the pubs. I recalled some of them, tough guys, but they only said that they were just small timers. They made their patron here long and left. Leaving good tip." the owner remembered. Rowdy bunch they are, but lively and their pouch were full of coins. Until all spent here, he said to himself. "Are you gonna sign up?" he asked to the swordsman.
He shook his head. "Nah~ I'm quite contended with what I have."
"You may get good lives you know?" the archer said. "Imagine Aeternus! If your skills is as good as you say, you should became one. Even though the danger is great, they pay you decently."
"No. I'm good." he said. "Now. Let the ladies speak." Now he turned again to Sin and Ton. "Are you... helping for the Harvest Eve?" he asked.
"Yes~" Ton replied.
"I suppose?" Sin replied.
"Thought so. We people from the outside never bother with things unless there is some concern." the archer said, and drank from his glass. "Not meant to insult but people here are happy to welcome us. Arms to help them, arms to protect them. You all know the saying~"
"That maybe right." the swordsman said.
"True." added the pub owner.

At first Sin wasn't sure if the answer he gave to the man were true. But all of the facts and events are leading them to this place. The Harvest Eve is the event where the first harvest of the crops happened, celebration were held of course but, on the other hand, it means for cheap prices for the crops. Not only the crops, but almost everything. The desert grows and produce commodity which is rare and unable to be found in the other region. Travels expenses and customs also increase their value altogether. It would be a profit to sell the commodities to the other region at this time. This obviously will attract merchants and travelers. Reeks of wealth weighing over their thoughts. But the increase of travel, fluency of coins, and crops altogether attracts not only them.

Thieves, brigands, and monsters. Sin recalled those words..

And it was the moment where adventurers, mercenary, and sell-swords may come in, just as the swordsman said. It was them who had coming in.

"Give and take." Sin muttered, realized. No one realized that what she had said except Ton. She had to delved deep into her mind.
"Give and take?" Ton repeated, confused at what Sin uttered.
"More likely.... That's what people did all the time." the owner added as he heard that. "No pain, no gain."
"People won't move without interest. Motivation. Motive." the archer explained. "A reason."
"Like money?" Ton inquired again.
"Yes. That's included, but world is more than just money. There are those who seek power. Certain objects or abstract concept. Satisfaction." the owner said again. "I know a guy who had traded 5 gold coins for flowers which could glow at night. Worse, I have met some stupid helpless bunch who would risk their body and soul to become hermit. Said they would get power by meditating by years with neither eat nor drink." he muttered, and they all laughed. "Never heard of them anymore. And for unknown reason, the numbers of the elders in this village suddenly increased afterwards."
"As for me, I know a merchant who would trade a chest of gold for buying silk undies." the swordsman told his tale. They all laughed louder than when they laughed before. "Seriously. This merchant is a bit nitpicky that is why. He had ridiculous good eyes for things. But I didn't know that his likings were THAT weird."
"I just hope that our requestor is not a weird person. Haha~"
"My turn~ My turn~ I know a guy who had more than few nuts and screws loose in his head you see. But he is really good at making things. He could make things like robots to airship. He did well at alchemist too and then----" Ton began.

-------------------------------------


Still delving deep inside her own mind, Sin know that something here are wrong. He could grasp the silver strand among the straws but, how? The Harvest Eve, merchants, celebration, money, crops, and why their mission connected. It was all confusing until she recalled what Shadow had said before at the airship.

"It's a win-win situation."

What if from the start, Shadow had meant to take over the whole flow of events and controlling it? It's all connected somehow. Dealing with the most well-known merchants, the subjugation of monsters, road securing, his suggestion to use his airship as a mean of travel, meeting personally with the clients, picking quest with low rank deliberately (but the place is Desert Village), as if he really meant to---- no, she thought all of sudden. It could be a coincidence. But whether she could deny it or not, by the chain of events, it could be said that he already left deep impression to everything around him. The adventurers, the Aeternus City government, neighboring kingdoms and countries, regions, cities, towns, villages, even tribes, the name Floating City of Aeternus, and simultaneously the Adventurer Guild, and its influences were spread.

"Geez. I wouldn't know if he is really a genius or not~" she said in monologue.
"I think Master is a great person though. Although he is a bit odd by people's saying." suddenly someone said. It was Crowen, who had long sat beside her, unnoticed.
"Crowen? I thought you should be in the airship? Where have you been?" she said, hiding her surprised expression.

Uh... Since when he was here? she said to herself.

"It's a long story but, I'm running Master's errands. I'm not staying at the airship but, I went first in fact." he said.
"Errands?" she asked.
"Yup. It's---" just when he said it, the main door was flying in violently, crashed to the main table before it smashed the rack and stuck in the wooden barrels.


"....nothing."



Entering from the now opened entrance were thirty more men. All of them wearing veils, but of course they're not female as it wasn't the kind of veil that a woman would use. They were wearing the cloth as it was like a cover for their face, combined with the hood. The most of their attire were leather, such as leather mail but some are wearing chain-mails and even plated mail. They're welcomed to drink. But there is this problem. They were not here to only drink. They were armed. Swords, scimitars, daggers, and bows, either longbow, round-bow or crossbow.

Feeling the danger, some of the customers tried to face them. But it was too late.

"Stop! Nobody move please~" one of them said. He opened his veil, revealing his half scarred face. "If you did, the bartender over there, and you and you and you and you will die." he provoked them. "Starting with you."

Entering from the now opened entrance were thirty more men. Some of them were literally mountains. All of them wearing veils, but of course they're not female as it wasn't the kind of veil that a woman would use. They were wearing the cloth as it was like a cover for their face, combined with the hood. The most of their attire were leather, such as leather mail but some are wearing chain-mails and even plated mail. They're welcomed to drink. But there is this problem. They were not here to only drink. They were armed. Swords, scimitars, daggers, and bows, either longbow, round-bow or crossbow.

Feeling the danger, some of the customers tried to face them. But it was too late.

"Stop! Nobody move please~" one of them said. He opened his veil, revealing his half scarred face. "If you did, the bartender over there, and you and you and you and you will die." he provoked them. "Starting with you." and an arrow flew from one of the crossbows. It struck the left shoulder of one of the mercenaries. The arrow head almost ripped through his back. Blood dripped from the arrow, leaving a red puddle on the ground.
"You bastards!!!" their captain said as he rose from his seat. His subordinates followed him. But at that time, the others simply pointed their weapons at the other customers. The merchants, the villagers who are clearly non-combatant, just like that they render their moves.

The rest could only watch. The archer and the swordsman warned the other customers who had bring weapons to act reasonably and neither to provoke them further nor act rashly. The owner could only clench his fist, and grit his teeth.

"You shits! Cowards!! C****uckers!! Cun*!!!!" the captain violently shout. He cursed them with all his heart. He looked at his wounded subordinate who held his shoulder in pain. He was in great pain.
"What did you do to him!!?"
"We just did dip the arrows into something though?" the brigand said, not showing care in the slightest.
"Fu*k!" hearing the words, the captain ripped the armor straps, and ripped the cloth his subordinate wore. From the wounds, the surrounding tissue are swelling, and black substance are spreading beneath the skin surface. It was poison. Seeing the wound, he rose up again without saying anything. "HHAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The enraged captain drew the dagger from his back, and suddenly put himself to lunge. But unfortunately, his moves became predictable. It was what the brigand wanted from the start. A way to trap him, since he looked as the most capable fighter in the room. It was his aim from the start.
"Can't ya learn to control your emotions? This will hurt you know?" the brigand said in leisure, before he swiftly drew the knife and slashed the captain's arm, spilling the blood to the floor.
"GAAAH!!!" he screamed from the intense pain. As that simple, the captain had to bend his knee. His subordinates retrieved him. All of them were laughing at him. But his eyes showing restraint to not to do the same thing again, as the victims of their cruelty may increase.
"We warned you~" the brigand said to him, flashing the red-stained knife to his subordinates and all of the customers. It was enough to made fat merchants whimper in fear and villagers frightened. "We would do it again if anyone of you ever try---Hey! You! What are you doing!?" he shouts in a sudden.

Rising to his feet, Sin's finally couldn't bear to look at the atrocities they done. Boldly, without hesitation, Sin approached the wounded, kneeling, and began to invoke healing magic. One of the brigands tried to stop the holy knight but was stopped by the brigands who apparently one of the higher-ups.

"Your pain soon will cease." Sin said softly, gently to the man. His breath were short and his heartbeat was running rampant.

At the condition when his eyes had failed him, he recognized a glimpse of the scene before shutting his eyes. A gentle smile. He had whispered, "...an angel..." before he fall in slumber.

"You lots seems have to be careful of the Holy Knight~" the higher-up brigand said mockingly. "It appears that she could use magic." he told the lots as they began to approach Sin carefully. Sin rose, look up to the vile crowds with an angry frown, only to hear them cackle.

"It seems were having a feast tonight boys!" one of their members said wickedly. What is in their thought was nothing but lust, nothing but greed. A desire to ravish the beautiful body they look in front of them. Knowing that Sin could use magic, all of them know that the holy knight would end up as a slave, not like the other female they may caught. But before they could sold their prize, it wouldn't be bad to pass it to each men, to check the other quality of the good. They looked down upon Sin as they howl, mimicking the desert wolves, as animal they are. "Come with us, pretty, we don't want to hurt your pretty face~" one of the brigands said, while the rest became more wild.

But Sin retorted to them, "Then pay." as he launch himself to the direction of the thugs.

I dressed manly but how in the world I was seen as female?! He thought, as finally he can't hold the anger and exasperation. But of course it wasn't seen in his face.

Heavy stomps could be heard at the start, followed by sounds of draws weapons. Sin easily cut open the sides and backs of the first men, slain the man before he could scream. The second man stuttered, holding his weapon yet almost afraid to use it before he rushed himself and let his left chest stabbed by the longsword. Sin immediately draw the buried sword, swing it to clean the blood before beheading the third man who had shot the poisonous arrow. The fourth man rushed himself to the rescue, violently swinging his blade at Sin. But he had to lose his limbs, starting with his left leg, stabbed forcefully, and his sword hand, lost after parrying Sin's holy longsword. He in fact, wasn't a bad swordsman. He had the knack. But it was a fatal mistake for him, to parry a sword without preparing for the shock. He lost his life, after Sin buried his sword deep in the guts, after making counter riposte.

At the other hand, Crowen have dealt with the rest of the thug bowman while they was busy handling Sin. At least it will help her to not concentrate on the remaining hostage. Only heavens know what Ton was doing at the time for she had snuck behind the counter before the ruckus happened. It was very good of her not to meddle both of them thought, but in fact they would really appreciate any help they could get. Yet only, alas, from here, everything has to stop.

"You certainly have no honor...." Sin muttered.

The vice-leader of the thugs had grabbed the waitress from nearby table, and sticking his dirk to her nape. The waitress whimpered and wailed, and her voice were voice of fear. She whimpered in tears, "...please don't kill me..." as she begged to be left alive. But her plead fall on the wrong ears.

"Shut up! Worthless whore!! If you want to live do as I say and shut your trap!!" he shouted. "Hey Holy Knight bitch, I know that you and your kind think and act you hypocrites. To hell with you holy knights and your honor. You won't risk her life right?" he mocked. "How about a night? Are you going to let this poor woman soul meet your creator? I'm not playing." he provoked as the sneering and laugh became harder.

Although Sin is kindhearted, Sin isn't a fool. What he doesn't have in ranks he makes up in experience as he's one of the first generation adventurers along with Shadow, Biel, Hiki and Rea. Sin was no stranger to hell. Maintaining his composure Sin challenges the man, "Face me in one on one combat, I'd do as you say if you win, but if I win....." as he lifted his sword. The left words left almost unsaid. Crowen could heard the faint whisper. It was his limit.

Only, he was a fool to think that they will have honor, or will kept high regards toward it. The thugs laugh at him, "We still outnumber you and we have a hostage, what-". Sin cuts them off, "That I'll have to try harder to save everyone, and if I fail....... I'll bear another sin because my weakness." he proclaim solemnly.

"Fine~" the vice-leader of the brigands finally said. Hearing Sin's firm tone the thug vice-leader nodded to the nearby thug and throws the waitress. He approached Sin. "Sure I could spare my time to play along with your little game, as wenches aren't fun if they don't resist." he said, still mocking him.

Sin prepared his stance, holding the sword by his side with both hands. He nodded. It was the signal for the battle to start.

"Don't put me in the same shoes against those fools you killed, or you will regret it soon." the thug vice leader said as he waved the scimitar in the air. "DIE!!"

At the next moment, it was only the sounds of clashing weapons that could be heard. The clangor of the swords rang throughout the tavern common room. Two person went to dance, and the swing of the swords is their tune. Violent, and true. It was calling for blood and death.

At first it was the thug vice-leader who put himself to charge. Dashed and swiftly swing the scimitar from above. Sin, played into his initiative countered the first blow with a graceful parry to the side before pivoting on his feet, making counter riposte. He almost made the first blow if not only for the distance the thug vice-leader put after the parry. The slash only touched the rag like cape. "Young missy is sure fierce~" the thug vice-leader mocked again as he jumped back to the direction when he came. An opening.

Not saying a word, Sin storms forward with holding his sword at his side. His stance is orthodox and basic beaten, yet dazzling as there is not a movement wasted in each step. His sword at his right, inside, held with both hands. Feeling the closing danger, the vice-leader of the brigands swing his scimitar at Sin to put distance, breaking the flows of attack, held Sin back one step. He took the moment to his advantage by putting himself in firm footing. Soon, he came to Sin with storm of blows.

As the heavy scimitar may easily deal heavy slash, the curved shape of the blade made the parry more fluid. It was a bit difficult to properly to dodge and parry Sin's thrust which came seldom as he was more focused on defense. Putting more and more distance with defensive stance, putting the longsword in the front with intention to attack when the time is right. It was only because scimitar designed for close range fighting and more to cutting attacks. Normally, people would try ward off the slash came from scimitar but parrying is not his option as it could be dangerous if he parry the blows with the outer blade. But there is a way to put the weight to his favor. He changed the side that would be used to his blade inner side. And his hands were quick enough to do the trick.

"Kuh...!!!" Sin grunted. The heavy inner blade overpower the fluid parry easily, granting the thug vice-leader chance to stab him. Fortunately, Sin could avert the attack by catching the glimpse of the thug vice-leader ill intent. Sin barely evaded the blade tip by shifting his position.

This person is no pushover. He thought. Maybe as a brigand he was a vile and atrocious as man could be, yet his skills in combat are proven. He mastered the use of his weapons. Carelessness is forbidden. He though as he grip his longsword. He know that the thug vice-leader now may had the same thought as him. They're just finished tasting each other sword.

"You certainly packed with guts for your soft hands. If I were a noble, I would like to see you dance before fucking you bloody." he laughed.
"Talk all you want. Laugh all you want." Sin spat, not batting an eye.
"How cruel~ How cold~ Don't you think we need to put some show on this?" he jeered. "Dancing. I'm tired of dancing." Each and every his words are mockery.
"I concur." Sin answered. His eyes, and tone, cold as ice.


The vice-leader of the brigands now had taken the sheath of the scimitar from his waist. The sheath is hard leather, gilded with copper and iron. Now he wield both the sword and its sheath, hand by hand. But it wasn't enough, and Sin noticed it.

"[Lesser Strength]" he muttered, invoking the buff skill. Red gold glows was seen as it donned, clad the entire body in glittering light. The chant was followed by the strength building up. And after, more of those chants came out from his mouth. "[Agility Boost], [Evasion], [Keen Eyes], [Keen Edge]" One after another. And he stormed in.

Stomped the floor, he rushed to reengage Sin by blade. In addition to the buff from support skills, the thug vice-leader fighting stance also changed. Each time from the swing, Sin couldn't let go of his sight from the scabbard. Lucrative. He sometimes use the hard leather sheath to block Sin's movements or trying to pull his body to enter the range of the slash of the scimitar. The thug vice-leader also used it to his advantage by hitting Sin's limbs. He struck hard and swift as he was fierce. If not for the leggings and gauntlets, Sin's limbs will be swollen like the color of berries. And he was more fierce with the scimitar.

"What's up bitch? Can't keep up? Just drop on your knee and maybe I'll spare your life! Hahaha!!!!" he maniacally laughed, increasing the rhythm of the attack. "Say your prayers! Say to whatever god and tell him to save you!"

His attacks were restless. The dance repeats after the pattern he had set. He wanted to aggravate Sin, testing his patience, provoking him to throws away his tolerance. Looking at his face in anger, looking at the sorrowful face is what he wanted. Even so, no one have been bleed by this far. Sin may need to take things few steps ahead, but he only replied those blasphemy with silent stare.

"DIE!!" he thug vice-leader shouted. He furiously swing the scimitar in the air, but needless to say they didn't even scratch his armor. "Haaa!!!!" he shouted. The scimitar slashed from above, struck in the floor. Both of them jumped back afterwards.

"Do you know why I hate people like you?" he began, still swinging the scimitar. "Do you know what I feel when I encounter people like you?"
"Why?" Sin replied curtly. The scimitar was caught by the sword guard. The slash was blocked by Sin half-sword technique. The thug vice leader tried to overpower Sin's block by putting power in both hands, but Sin easily deflect the coming force by levering the sword, throws it to another direction. He also knew that what he may say is empty words.
"You people are like gnats." he proclaimed, looking at all people in the room. "Fat merchants sitting high above your cart and looking down upon us! Villagers who loved to wait our visit on the desert! But you and your people are the one I hate the most. Tirelessly talking about god, preaching people, act like two goodies! Think like anything could be solved by soft demeanor and peace! Also chanting prayers that until it can't get out of my head. It's just right for us to do what we like to you!"
"Did you have no knowledge of kindness? Love?" Sin said as their sword taste each other.
"I kill people for fun. I amuse myself with people I tortured. I whore my life for gold and glitter but I reap it from others. I raped women because it felt so good. Kindness? Love?! Those kind of delusions are only for you gnats!" he shouted. "God is dead! I killed many acolytes and priests and I loved how they squeal. We left them in the desert, naked, with the monsters. God was never been there to recue them, no matter how hard they pray."
"It is the salvation of soul that they seek, and you. It is not to late to repent. All people could be saved." Sin sternly said. But in his voice, it could be heard, that he said the words as he tried to understand. It is true that it is not to late. "People had to face adversaries. To kill. To lie. To swindle. To deceive. Sate their desire. But people have no right. You are bound with chains of hate, envy, and anger. You, and your men hurt people, steal from them, murder them as you want them to understand what you had felt. You are testing God. Yet still you could change. Repent from your sins. You are just blind of the way of salvation."
"Hi~ Hahahahaha!!!!!!!" he laughed in a sudden. "The hell are you yapping about? If you take me for men like that, you're mistaken, sow!"

With his left hand, he snapped his fingers. By the instant, more men entered the wide common room. Ten men and more. By the last of them, they also had brought in an elderly man clad in simple brown colored robe. It was likely and imaginable that the robe was befitting of the old man before the old man had know them. His appearance now is almost like a beggar, clad in ragged, tattered one woven robe with worn out rope as fastening. He holds a peculiar book, worn by heat and winds yet decorated as it was a precious book, its cover were hard leather, carve bordered, decorated with patterns of stars and a symbol, cross with circle with wings of angels spread. Although the book was damaged badly, the pattern emblazoned is almost identifiable. His eyes were almost lifeless, yet his mouth seemed to muttering words, of hope and of faith.

Two of the brigands who entered dragged the old man in front of their vice leader. "This will tell you that you wrong." he said. He smirked while swinging his scimitar in his hand. His expression was so distorted and dark. It was the time that Sin--no, everybody realized what he will do to the poor priest.

"You! What are you---!!!"

Some of the guests tried to stop them only by shouting. Some wailed in fear. Some rushed to his rescue. Sin, the mercenary, the archer, the swordsman tried as well. It is only a simple matter to stop them. The brigands only need to place some mountains between them. It was all too late, until the blade was buried through the chest, through the book the old man always faithfully read, through the cover and its pages and words. And until thick blood splattered, gushing out from the wound. And until the old man lifelessly tumbled on the floor. "That I was an evil man." he said, again, mockingly. And his man laughing, following him.

"....take that..." Sin muttered.
"What did you say princess knight?" one of the brigands said, approaching her. He reached out his hands. "No matter. Because you're coming with----Huh?" he confused. For that instant moment, he couldn't feel his hands anymore, wrist until his fingers. He tried to lift his arm, only to found his wrist had fall to the ground and his arm letting out blood. "MY HAND!!!!!"

The next thing he seen, is the ceiling and the floor, spinning wildly before it’s stopped. A sight of headless man holding his bleeding arms. Then all was going black.

"I said I take that back. I take my words back." Sin said darkly. His voice was as cold as ice.
"Kill her." the thug vice leader commanded indifferently. "Kill all of them. No one will notice us in the middle of the preparations for the Harvest Eve." And all the man done so. Forty men no less, approaching with weapons in hand. The vice-leader of the brigands gave special order to apprehend Sin. Five seasoned men, two of them muscled like an ox, only for her.

Sin holds the sword with his both hands. He hold it up straight, and he recited the words. "I am the servant of light. My body is sword, temple for the Most Highest. I am Thy shepherd, for Thee, My Lord, for Thee. May my feet swiftly carry Thy commands, and judgments by the sword. So that never shall the blood of the innocent be shed. Let all praise the Lord. Let Thy name be praised."

And so his sound was heard, whispering throughout the room, between the wood columns. He invoked the chants. "[Holy Enchant: Sword]"


Bluish light glows from within the sword. Pale almost as bright, clad in divine power. By the times the sword swing in the air, trances, shards of light are left before it ceased.

Not a word was needed to explain what happened next. It was an all-fight. Villagers and merchants alike are running from the brigands, cowering in the corner. Only some of them had the will to fight as the real fighter is the mercenaries, the archer, and the swordsman, with few addition. It was the adventurers. Just few men with Sin, Crowen, and Ton included. All of them had taken their arms.

"As if we let you!" one of the mercenaries said in spirit. It was unknown what had driven them. Either it was the chivalric example in front of their eyes, or the feel of justice in their heart. Or maybe it's just the fear. Nevertheless, although outnumbered, all of them had stood to fight. And it didn't took long to figure how the fight begun.

The brigands are approaching from the sides, and the initiative of making the first move was theirs. No need to explain that they're pushing their advantages by using the numbers. Flank from the sides, surrounding, so much of the strategy. They're cowards. The mercenaries and some of the low-ranked adventurers are more than happy to receive them. The first guy killed a brigand with clean stab of the sword. The second and third able to literally cut them open. The guy with knives poked the brigands, filling them with holes while the guys with an ax cuts them down before turning them into curd. They're not to be disturbed.

But still, they have the numbers.


The swordsman, the archer, me, Crowen thought. It was all depended on them.

"Fight me! Cowards!" the swordsman cried out. He slashed one of the brigands in the back. By the slash, he released one of the dead-lock fight. The mercenaries could outnumber the brigands manpower, and eventually slain them. While in the back, the archer and Crowen releasing shots of arrows. Of course the brigands are not happy with the results.

I wonder until when we could keep this game, he thought. He didn't like the game, but he didn't like one of the results as well, as one of it may ended with lots of heads chopped off from the body.

"Keep shooting!" the archer shouted as well. "We need to keep them from reaching our men back!" he yelled. He drawn his knife and buried it in the approaching brigand’s chest.

Truly, he wanted to help Sin who was standing alone in the center of the room. But as he too had his own battle, he only could pray for him. It was unknown to him that it was the same for him.

Please... stand up!

"What are you looking at bitch?" the brigand vice-leader sneered. He feels that he was ditched by Sin when he avert his eyes from him.
"Nothing." he said as he smiled. "Only looking how is my comrades in their own battle, that's all. It's a shame that I could only pray."
"Pray? You don't need to concern yourself with those maggots." he mocked as usual. "Your fight is with me. Your blue sword still couldn't help you yanno? This guys are diff--"
"[Skill : Divine Light]"

At that very moment, a single strand of light formed in the air. Only in an instant, that light came passing to the direction of the brigand vice leader, who dodged the light by reflect. It grazed his cheek. He could feel his blood and sweat dripping.

"Different?" Sin asked as he put down his sword. "Surely you jest. You said you would kill me, yet here I am, still standing in front of you." he spoke darkly.

-------------------------------------------------

All the owner could do was to stare at the battles in front of him in astonishment.

This battle in front of him was proceeding with extraordinary intensity. He knew it that it would be a merciless duel. He knew stories, he knew people, and this battle is real. Knight clad in armor, in single combat battling evil with all the strength in their bodies amidst the light reflecting off swords and the shadow of swinging blades.

If it was merely a clash between cold steel, what would be the mighty torrent of air that accompanied it ?

The foot that landed and merely made thumping sounds now crushed the ground. The wind that followed the swinging of weapons are violent.

He could no longer see the movements carried out at such high speeds. It was only feeling the after-shock of the conflict between the two, and frictions from the blades. The high pitch sounds shrieked few times, as often as they exchanged blows.

The wind was moaning.

A chaotic storm raged.

Just hand-to-hand combat between the two would be enough to ruin an entire street.

Was he experiencing the awe and wonder told only in stories?

At the same time, both of them was experiencing a similar wonder.

Slaughter was truly a piece of cake for the brigand vice-leader. It was getting on his nerves. On the other hand, Sin, as a knight that braved his life through countless battles, he fought with his enemies as smoothly as he would yield a knife and a fork.

In Sin comprehension a sword should be a weapon that is wielded with both hands. It is common knowledge. But blades always had more vague interpretation. Styles, appearances of weapons, that may differ by the call.

So he thought that for the brigand vice leader, using two blades is just a means to confuse the enemy. Or so he presumed.

Scimitars are commonly known as one hand weapon. Light, sharpened on one side, great for close combat and horse riding.

Yet —

Sin own attack was deflected for the fifth time. Even with the holy enchant, he had to step back to wait for a better opportunity.

“What’s wrong? Your attacks are not really working.”
“…”

He could not argue back to his taunts. Even after about twelve exchanges, he still had not managed to hit him even once.

Should an addition of weapon give so much power?

It was very plausible, he thought. Just after the man had thrown away the sheath, he drawn another blade. The blade was similar, in length, and shape. Not needed to say that the thug vice leader had imbued the second blade with the same enhancement like the first one.

The thug vice leader swung the scimitar, approached in a straight run. The attack covered a wide area, clearly left an opening. But if he had took the chance, Sin knew that the second swing would follow afterwards from unexpected angle.

Nevertheless the scimitar has its own limitations. Because of its length, a gap would inevitably show up between two attacks. During that time, the longsword may had find its way. But Sin's attack just then was broken by the dual scimitar immaculate defense. Both blades, simultaneously.

Simultaneously using two blades, yet making no feint moves.


"You haven't seen the best part yet!" he shouted in dark voice. "[Indomitability], [Greater Strength Boost], [Greater Ability Boost], [Acceleration], [Field Perception]" each time by chants said, powers are swelling within the body. It may couldn't be seen by many, but it was unmistakably that the thug vice leader body are full, brimming with powers from each fibers.

The only thing Sin could hear after was the sound of heavy thump.

He is coming!

First result of their blow are blowing wind throughout the room. The battle was very intense. More and more than before. Helped by his henchman, the thug vice-leader began to corners Sin. The blow from each scimitar almost like when it was held with two hands. Each fibers in his arm are screaming from the intense pain. He couldn't let go of him from his sight. He could barely keeping up with the rhythm, not mentioning evading the thug henchmen attacks. Even now, he could feel his blood dripping from his wounds.


He's way beyond foul, Sin thought.


But he couldn't let the words out from his mouth.

Enemies are surrounding him like crows over a pile of dead body.

Each blow of attacks comes with heavy toll.

Enemies are flocking his comrades; the swordsman, the archer, Crowen. Should he fall, what would happen to them? Should they die? Should their atrocities go unpunished? It was very bitter thought but, that may happens if he did.

What should he answer?

What could I do? he thought. As his sword is wavering. As his steps are unsure of where he should go. It was then that he could hear a voice from his heart.

"Time is up, bitch." he said as he approached, still with the scimitars in his hands. "Take her. Disarm her. Roughly if you have. Left her barely alive." he demanded his lackeys as he shown a distorted smile.

With swords in hands, three of the brigands came approach. Looking at Sin, one of them began to raise their sword high. They laughed. It was a single brute swing.

"[Protect Barrier : Sanctuary]"

Barely few inches from Sin, the attack was stopped and wildly deflected. The lackeys backed away before the phenomenon. Just from the thin air, were veil, invisible, some strength, unseen power ward their attacks away. They tried to comprehend what was going on but all they could see is naught but unseen veil which is blocking their way, which letting out sounds of shattered glass upon the swing of the swords.

"Vice Leader, this chick is dangerous! We shou'd----"
"[Renovatio], [Preafatis Kyrie Eleison]"

The words were not familiar in the brigands ears, as if it was commanding. And they feel fear.

They had seen light, glowing enveloped Sin's body, as the light was almost gentle like and full of mercy. The light mends the wounds, almost like it was never there. Cracks in the armor, ripped cloth, as if all were returned by the reversing time. Light that was so mesmerizing yet gentle, holy and sacred. It induces fear at the hearts of the brigands.

The sword which donned the holy light now emits flickering light, as before it was coated by gleaming light, now if was wreathed in gentle flames.

One of the brigands went into desperation, fail to comprehend the happenings tried to stop Sin. He had enhance the sword with spells, but he obviously failed. And also, one of the brigands, one of the biggest also had tried. He was succeeded to pry open the veil's protection.


But unfortunately he had to tumble. A sword had plunged into his heart.

"Repent your sins," Sin said. He pulled his sword, letting the blood spilled on the floor. He looked at the brigand vice leader, "Come." he said again.


Taunted, the thug vice leader said, "You'll be sorry.". He chanted again, "[Double Acceleration], [Iron Skin], [Full Throttle]" and rushed to attack.

"[Precatio Gloria], [Lux Aeterna]" Sin chanted. And by so, he stood to receive.

Unlike the battle before, the clash between the two somehow were clear to see for all eyes. It was as they had slowed down. The exchange between blows are happened as many times it was intended. It was intense, only somehow, all eyes in the room could grasp and foreseen the battle. The desperate thug vice leader battling a knight who holds honor.

"[Sonic Blow]"

The swing of the dual scimitar were swift. It cuts the air. Keeping the pressure of the attack, he made each cuts faster than the previous one. But those weren't enough, as his attacks aren't hitting its mark. Now, it was the opposite. For the hunters are now to be the hunted.

As the thug vice-leader attacks became weaker, it was only waiting for time for Sin to overpower him. Maintaining the pace of attacks are putting strains to the body. No, or maybe it wasn't the case at all. For it was only Sin who now is far way above him. The brigands vice leader are clearly not weak, only Sin who is far from his reach now. His attacks are certainly neither slowing nor weak, only Sin's faster and simply stronger. It was him who couldn't keep up with Sin.

He shouted, "Die!!" as he was desperate. "Don't mess with ME!!! Don't underestimate MEEE!!!!" he screamed in vain.

He was being played, he thought.


The scimitars is a perfect weapon for close combat. Shape and weight are his advantages yet he almost couldn't even properly wards Sin's attacks. His attacks are futile attempt once the blades are clashing. The power, the pressure.......all was too overwhelming. And the worst from all of them is the fear.

"Take that!!" the thug vice-leader screamed. It was the umpteenth time the scimitar had exchanged blows with Sin's longsword. It was both a full arc swing. And the blades are crashed with each other. Only the aftermath was clear.


It was his loss.


The power of the blow sent the thug vice leader back away. Losing his foothold, he rolled and crashed into one of the empty tables and lose hold of his weapons. It was clear and plainly obvious who loses, and who wins.

"Last words?" said Sin.
"Do you?" the man replied with a hint of smile.

Looking at the thug vice leader side, his lackeys had taken the waitress of the tavern. She was the owner's close relatives. The only one he had left.

"You!!!" the owner muttered in rage. Veins are popping in his skin surface. His bulky hands, his face, red by the blood.

"Damnation!" the swordsman cursed as he stopped. He plunged his sword on the floor.

By the shout of the owner, all of the fights inside the tavern stopped. While it was the thieves who had the moment of advantage, it was obviously the loss of everybody who resisted them, as they had almost prevailed against them.


She must've been taken captive while we're distracted, Sin thought.


Weapons are in each others throats before the brigands began to regroup at the center of the tavern, cunningly win the fight. As for Sin, it was only one swing further. All of them are filled with anger. Mingling with the menacing silence were the faint sound of grinding teeth, and grip on each weapons.

"Obediently throw your weapons! We'll take your gold, and food! Don't bother to walk. We'll take it by our self." the thug vice leader demanded.
"You! Throw away your weapons!" one of the thieves commanded.
"I refuse!" some refuted. "No way!" all of them said in unison. They simply didn't wanted to.
"You, archer! Drop your bow! I guarantee that she will have to pay for the consequences if you don't." the vice leader of the thug demanded to Crowen. "They follow you, and your friend lady here." he added.
"Never." Crowen boldly replied. His fingers are stiff, ready to release a volley of arrow-shots to his face.
Hearing the words, he turned to Sin, "He's really one of yours." he said. "Brave, restless, loyal." he remarked as he walked around Sin. "But I wonder.....IF one of his comrades who told him to do so." he grinned mockingly.

Clicking his tongue, Sin can't do anything but to comply. "Crowen, put down your bow." she said out loud.
"But---"
"It's fine." he said again. And Sin put his sword down, plunge it into the floor. "Just.... do.... as... they.... said."
"Fine." he said as he slowly put his bow down on the floor.

Crowen looked at Sin. He knows what would likely to happen if he didn't do as he says. They both know what will come.

"Very well." the man said. "But!" he suddenly said. "You forgot that as a bad man, I was a liar too. Kill the waiter----"

He did get to finish the sentence, as all of a sudden he was hit. He was hit by one of his men.


No, not by fists.

His entire body flew and he hit him, and both crashed in the ground very hard.


"Shi...iit." waking up, he lets out a moan of pain. Looking at the man who lied atop him he recognized him instantly as one of his lieutenants, who he had told before to take the girl as hostage before. "What happened?!"

Looking at the direction where there hostage was, there was a girl instead. A white haired fox-kin girl, clad in shrine maiden uniform. "Ehehehe~" she said. "Tehehe~"

And worse, she was drunk.

"YOU! You had another comrades!" the thug vice leader berated.

"Vice-leader! Save us! Save---AAARRGH!!!"

It was just that simple for the table to turned. If there is a fitting vocabulary for how the fight went, it was that she was literally untouchable.

"Shit! Shit!" the thug vice leader cursed. As their winning cards are taken, they began to take their weapons once again, and pointing it once more. "Wake up you shit!" he cursed again as he pushed the man who lied at his above. He didn't care anymore if he's even conscious or not even though he had look at starting to swollen purple.

He didn't know that he wasn't breathing anymore.

"It looks like that we have to do this all over again." the thug vice leader pointed out.
Only, his replies were simply a smile, followed by silly laugh, "Nyaa~ Ehehe~".

And aside them, could only bear to look, in awe.

"Uh... Crowen, may I ask?"
"If I could answer it. What?"
"From--No. Since when she....crept up there?" Sin asked him.
"From the bar counter. Since the time we went to fight. Dilly-dallying and drunk. And for better or worse, no one noticed." Crowen monotonously replied as he scratched his back of his head.

And of course you know it, Sin thought. Nobody will notice a merry looking and drunken child inside when there were fights. And it's already to late to be stopped, he added.

"Uh..... Could we do anything?" he shrugged.
"No." he curtly answered. "If you, can't, what will become of me? Well, if, unless, you can summon Biel or Master, or somebody from the top rosters, or anyone who can stop her before she turn this place into debris."

You'll die?

The answer was very obvious from the start.

"Do you have to answer my question that specifically?"
"Yes, if I still wanted to live." he said with a deadpan expression.
"If anything ever---"
"It will happened...... anyway." Crowen assured. "For the better or worse."

What the hell is for the better and worse? Sin thought again. Watching Ton "playing" with the rest of the thugs, he delved deep in his own thoughts. A sight where a child, almost innocently, kicking all of the men who chased after her somehow made him easier to think of what will happen next. But it was only for a short time, until he was taken aback by a shouting voice, and whatever comes after it.

"You bitch! Where did you keep her all the time?!" the thug vice leader ragingly shouted. His voices were followed by the swing of his scimitar, forcing Crowen and Sin to jumped back.
"Whoaa!!!" Crowen gasped.
"Uh...I forgot that he's still here." Sin shrugged again.
"Save your words! Tell me! You deliberately did this right!?! You keep her as your trump card!"
"I don't know what are you talking about!" Sin retorted. His answer is true, even if it's just only half of it.

And the man who maybe planned this is the man who are next to me, Sin thought. Even though he will denied it or didn't realize.

"Liar! Where is your HONOR!?" the thug vice leader once again raised his voice, brandishing his dual scimitar.
"A thief who taken hostage don't have right to speak of honor!" Sin said as he raised his sword.
"What a knight are you?! You used back handed way! Admit that you're a coward!" the man taunted.
"Cowardice is a step far from strategy, only one stone away from cool-headed made decisions."
"I hear stories day and night about knights in their armor, gallant, and brave. You only a cutthroat, same as I once was. You send your comrades stealthily behind the fights!" he provoked further.
"I am no cutthroat!! And even what did you say is true, it is not because I was a coward! It is because I believe them! Additionally, I'll make you pay for the food with my desserts."
"Oooh~ Can't wait~" he mocked again.

And by so, their weapons once again clashed.

It ended in a mighty blow. It generates wind, so strong to blow objects around them. It was then, a single great explosion erupted.

"Hey, old man~ Why don't you stop?" a childish voice said, among the dust, and blast sounds. The voice came from the thug vice leader back.

As he looks back, he seen Ton with weapons in hand. She blows out the smoke residues from the barrel. He couldn't hold out his anger anymore. "Sneaking from behind. You really don't have honor!"

"DIE!!! DIE!!! YOU AND YOUR HONORLESS ATTITUDE AND YOUR FRIENDS!!!!!" he screamed as he draws his dagger from his back. And he plunged forward.

At the blink of an eye, he past the distance of half of the main room, instantly reaching to where Ton stood.

"Ehhh.... I left 'Honour' in my storage space. These beauties are Taka's hand held proton cannon and Kroenen's semi-auto pistol." she said, brandishing her weapons. Stomping her feet on the floor in a sudden, Ton sighed, "A little mechanical spider conscience told me to never use Honour indoors, but if you insist..."

In a flash of light, 7 interconnected cannons which comparable to artillery cannon appeared in front of his face, it was pointing at Sin and the thugs. Ton gave a sombre salute and said, "They each have 3 volleys making a grand total of 21 shots~"

At Ton's words, the faces of the barkeep, guests, thugs, Crowen and Sin all went pale.

"Any last words~?"
"EVERYBODY!!!! RUUUUUNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

It was the last words they all heard.


--------

Charles

10 minutes prior...

The sight of the streets always so mundane for Charles, yet it is not if you look at places where and when the time is right. Stifling, complex, and somewhat normal by general looking. All people on the streets, they're definitely going somewhere, reaching their destination, and at somewhere their goings come to an end. And eventually for both of them.

"Where do we go now?" Charles asked in his usual manner. "You don't tell me that we are going to do some fetch-quest do you?"
"No." Shadow replied. "Not for now."
"Figured."
"It seems that you wanted to ask something?" Shadow asked, guessing.
"Questions of trivial matters." Charles said indifferently. "Looking people come and go, I assume we too, had our destinations."
"Quite true." he replied again. "We're picking them up."
"Kuku~" Charles chuckled. "I even wonder if they can stay out of trouble, even for one day."
"Don't say that, please." Shadow shrugged. "I'm not in for jinx, so don't."
Hearing the words, Charles couldn't help but smile. "It's all your fault. You simply bring this on yourself."
"I know. I know." Shadow sulked.
"Do you know where they go?" he asked again. "I fear, something will happened."
"I fear it was already happened."
"Ah...those bunch of mishaps. They did say they have more comrades." Charles said playfully. He remembered how their faces were when they met.

Inferior, and pitiful, he thought.

Passing through the streets and people, they walked. As they pass the streets, they were surrounded by an unpleasant company. Brigands. Thirty of them.

Only that, they have chosen the wrong mark.

"Yes. The Band of Red Hand. One of the notorious thief-bands who apparently has gained infamy across the desert. Didn't know much about them but, I could tell their visit will not simply over with two people dead in the streets. They always come to raid, kill, even when it's only when to replenish their supplies. Thirty people and they said that they have more comrades. It won't just end with this. I fear----"
"As in they are in peril?"
"They? THEM! Our number-one troublemaker met those aurochs! Imagine!!!"
"Isn't that the very reason you let Sin go with her? And Crowen additionally?"
"As if they can stop that already half-drunken mass destruction peripheral."
"Very well." Charles said in the end. But something in the street catching his eyes.

A man are desperately running from the direction they went to, as if he wanted to get away from something. A villager, if by the clothes.

"I wonder..."
"What?" Shadow stopped. "Don't stop now. We're already clo----"

In a sudden, there was an explosion, erupting from the building not far away.

"Oh no...."
"I think we're already too late."

And comes the second explosion, scattering half of the building away. Flying with the debris were the thugs, all wreathed in flame and charred. At where the former building should be, a girl lied on the ground. Her breath reeks of liquor, and mumblings. Behind her, two person stood. One, wore a shield. One, casting a gigantic transparent barrier with intense density. Behind them, the half of the building which still intact.

"Fu~"
"Ugh......"
"Kuku~ Hahahahahaha!!!!!"

Charles couldn't remember how long it was, and since when he could have a laugh like that.


------------

Shadow

Here in the desert, the story began all over again. Camels traversing the desert in caravan, amidst the wind and blowing sand. Travelers, clad in veil. For them, it was always a welcoming sight.

".....uhh....why it must be so hot?"

Sat atop the saddle Ton sulked, cursing the sun and the arid winds. Clouds covering the sky are a seldom scenery at the desert, and the sun let everything basked in its light.

"No matter how you put it it's TOOO HOOOT!!!!!!" she flared up in a sudden. Her tantrum almost made her thrown from the high saddle.
"Shut up!!!!!" Shadow, who sat behind her yelled, dropped a hand-chop on her head.
"IT HURTS~!!!" Ton wailed while holding her head in pain.
"We're just few miles away from the village!" he sulked, unveiled his face. "How much far?" he asked.
"Kufufu~" Charles giggled. "We almost reached our destination."
"Crowen said that the plantation is located in the base of the rock cliff ahead." Sin pointed at the rock cliff ahead in their sight. "He said that it's quite cool at the cliff base. We could rest for a while." Sin added. "But... I think we really need him to return now."
"After picking the magic flowers, met a Desert Scorpion en route....chasing a runaway camel...if he said we will met again there, so, we will."
"Hmm... I do feel sympathy for him." Charles said in slightly lowered tone.
"And you think whose fault that he have to do that?" Shadow muttered.
"I'm sooowwwyy....."
"Well....at least Arkley are telling me that he somehow was able to recapture the runaway camel. It was the right call to asked him to take one of the spiders with him in case that anything will happen." Shadow explained.
"But, you certainly don't think that "it" will occur just right after that didn't you?" Charles putted in.
"Hahaha~" Sin laughed.
"W....w-w-well~ I'm sure now he's waiting for us now." he said. "Ah. I could see him."

Just in the tenth mile distance Shadow could see Crowen had returned with two camels. He waved his hand in the air and calling for them. He waits for them under the shade of the cliff. Reaching his place, they finally met again.

"Good to see you, old chap~ I see that you are able to chase them." he called out to him.
"Master, it's difficult to chase these camels. Need time. But...somehow...I managed..." he replied, still catching his breath. "..to make them to willingly follow me."
"Nevertheless you made it." Charles remarked.
"By luck. I guess?"
"So hoooooot~"
Looking at still complaining Ton, Shadow said, "Well, all is fine after all~ At the worst, we have to compensate the lost camel we were lent. Apologizing." he smiled. "Done."
"Ehm....so losing a camel is fine?" Ton asked innocently. Hearing those words, Shadow couldn't help but feeling irritated.
"After what you did? Yes." Shadow answered curtly. He remember what he must did after the happenings before.
"Haha... that would be normal right? People apologizing after making mistakes is obvious." Sin added.

That must be power of influence, Sin thought. I wonder how come we were let go by the villagers? Literally blowing up half of a building on a quest cleaaarly...not something that adventurers would do, right?

Thinking inside, Sin couldn't help but thought personally that he was glad to be out of problem, as the worst has passed. Or so he thought.

"Well said. So let's finish the last quest." Shadow said with a hint of smile. "We're going to pick those dates."



Cultivating dates have been always one of the lifelines for people who lived in the desert. Desert palm grows near rocks and cliffs, letting their roots entwined deep into the rock bed near the water sources which lies deep within the ground. All of the parts of the tree could be used in many purpose, from leaves to its fruits. Dates always considered a very exotic food since it was practically unavailable outside desert regions, and the distribution to the other region always limited by quantity and priorities for staple food. Not only just fruits, but also products based from dates like drinks made from its sap aside many other products.

As per, it was not uncommon for villagers to own plantations outside the village. And it was obvious that helping hands is always welcomed. As it was only seen....as such a good business.


"This is life! Or what it should be as I imagined." he said leisurely.


Reaching for the glass on the top of the small table, he took a sip. Nothing is as good as a drink in a day to relieve all your concerns, he thought, before putting the glass back on the table top. "Don't mind me~ Take some of my spiders and just do your job~!!" he shouted. His voice were heard far.

The shade, and the cool winds from the nearby water hole. The spiders served him in needs. Finally, he puts his head to rest.

"Master. He must reaaaly enjoyed that, right?" Crowen said in a sudden, glanced at Shadow from the distance. "Drinking wine in the shade, leisurely sleeping while we must all gather the dates."
Letting a little laugh, Sin said, "Ahaha...I feel the same too you know, after all, this is unfair...." he sighed in the end.
"Believe me, Crowen. Someday, I too, wanted to repay this...." Charles muttered in dark tone.
"It's hot~" Ton still indifferently complained.

Leaving Shadow, their task now lies within range of their eyes. The dates. The vast plantations. The trees lies its fruits hanging high, calling for them.

"Somehow we have to take them all." Crowen explained.
"Eh..how are we going to pick them?" Sin asked. "Don't tell me that we have to pick them by hands, right?"
"The usual method, huh?" Charles said.
"Yup. Just climb the tree, pluck the fruits. Or just cut the branches." Crowen agreed. "'That's the usual method."
"Laaame~" Ton cut in. "We could just shake the whole tree, right? Sin could cut the trees with her sword technique, while Charles use magic~ And you could pick up the falling fruits."
"................."
"As if you could do anything useful with your useless bow-skills~" she continued.
"............................."
"And by the facts that you're not saying anything in return and lower your head down is because it's right~"
"......................................."
"Ehh....I think it will be enough don't you think?" Sin raised his voice.
"Stop it." Charles warned. Looking at the silent response, he couldn't imagine what Crowen would likely do.

Poor one, Charles thought. At this rate he's just going to broken.

But all of his concern was turned to naught just afterwards. From Crowen face, he could seen a hint of smile.

He smiled.

And anything what happened after wasn't betraying his expectations.

"Then...would you show us?" he said, demanding. "What will you do to pick the dates?" he challenged.
And Ton, without any suspicion, accepted. "Fine~!" she proclaimed. "I'll show you!"

Walking to the nearby tree, she stands under it. Looking at the top of the tree, she looks at the hanging branches filled with ripen dates.

"Haaa!!!"

And she kicked the trunk of the tree. The fruits fall, scattered on the ground as the tree shook. Only...it's not only the fruits which falling.

"Eh...."

The only voice heard afterwards was only a scream.

"Do you know why people are supposed to do the normal procedure of taking fruits from its tree?" Crowen began, as he looks on Ton from the distance. "That's why...."

"Whaaaaaaaa!!!!!"

Running around the plantation and letting out hysterical scream, Ton still couldn't shake off her pursuer. Her whole body is coated with sweet honey, and obviously, she couldn't stop running now.

"Juniper, Allum, Linseed, Gloden Saphire, Lily, Iris, Cotton, Wheat, Figs, Barley, every plant you can see here in the desert and this plantation is generally pollinated by bees. And usually they would just inhabit areas near water hole and concentrated with plants. It could be inside a stone, or branch of certain plant such as dates. Which to kick a tree here...."
"It would be very unwise to, even more without concern, and coincidentally..."
"The bees could use to build a hive...."
"Right."
"Whooaaaa~!!!! Help me!!!!"

One could see also that it wasn't only the bees who have put interests at her.

"And additionally, coincidentally too....it's the place where tree ants would likely to build their colony. Not only looking above, you have too look down where you put your feet. Who knows that she was stepping on a mound full of ants. Who knows that when she had kicked the tree she just shook off the ants, which now are sticking to her."

You did know though, both of them thought to themselves.

"And there's the bees too. They both definitely will stick to her to the very end....."
"Such of her fate. Hahaha!" Charled let out a laugh.
"Both of you, stop it already...." Sin reprimanded both of them. "If both of you could spend your time explaining and laughing just go and help her!!!"
""Sorry..."" they both apologized.
"Then, could one of you do something?"
"Depends." Charles said.
"Maybe not..." Crowen answered.
"Uh......Are you both seriously said that?" Sin asked with a forced smile. And both of them nodded. "Really~?"
"Do you really think I can?"
It was Crowen who could not bear the pressing. "Uh... there is a way." Crowen finally said while scratching his head. "Not sure if it will work though...." he said while he reached for his inventory box with desperate expression.

We believe that all what you said will somehow work though.

After a while, he finally done with his works.

"Done!" Crowen shout. "With this, the bees, the ants too can be repelled!!" he said as he began to move his hands.
"Whoa! Wait! Wait! Wait! What will you do with all this things?!" Sin stopped him.
"Sage herb, leaves from potato and tomato, and... what is this? Tobacco?" Charles asked in curious tone. "Hey, tell me. Is this leaves really tobacco? And what is this semitransparent rock?" Charles pointed out to the red-yellow crystal on the ground.
"Yeah, this is really tobacco. Apparently the aroma is too strong and it won't sold. And this rock... I don't know but I think people use this for.....fertilizer?" he said, but not sure. As he done, he moved his hands and started by putting all inside a simple incense burner. "Hopefully all of this will create a strong incense type insecticide."

I know this rock is useful as fertilizer but I've seen people tossing them at water and mixing it with cattle food too...not to mention that those glass artisans, and blacksmiths, he thought. But what he clearly know is that ants apparently didn't dare to step over, even touch the powdered dust from this rock.

By the time he was done with the firestone, it was soon after that white smoke came out of the holes.

"Now----"
"Just save her already....."

An instant response.

"Alright. This will help her for the time."

-------------------


After cleaning up the ants and honey from Ton's clothes and definitely a bath. And applying homemade anti-pain, anti-inflammation, anti-itch balm.....

After all happenings, all of them found themselves sat in discussion.

"---then, what should we do for now?" Crowen asked.
"Proceed, I suppose?." Charles said while taking a sip from his cup.
"I concur." Sin too, agreed.
"As if I know such things." Shadow replied. "But, yeah, we only could just proceed."
"Right..."

After the little incident with the bees and ants, Shadow found himself awoken from his nap. Short long story, the incident ends with few results. First report, Ton maybe unable to participate throughout the quest. She'll be out for the time to clean up the honey from the beehive, bathing, and treating the sting wounds. Poor her, he thought. He hoped that she had learnt her lessons. Mentioning, from his behind, he could heard whimpering from afar.

The bees and ants was immediately repelled by the thick-fog-repellent. The beehive was secured by Crowen at his disposal for personal interest, and the mounds destroyed, letting thousands of ants scattered away.

And for the repellent, he knows at instant that Crowen had used tobacco leaves for the components. It was no lie when he told that the tobacco gave awfully strong aroma, strong enough as in fact it won't sold at all. It was the strongest leaves he ever smoked. It left all of them after, coughing wildly.

But what in the world with that tobacco leaves?! The smoke was intense, ridiculously strong and stupidly thick!!

"Uh...one question for you, old chap~. Where did you get that kind of leaves?" he asked with strange tone.
"Even I didn't predict that what you make will be that powerful." Charles muttered. He was followed Sin who still couldn't let out the residue of the smoke from his lung.
"*cough-cough...I think I couldn't say anything....*cough-cough"
"I...uh...."
"From the market?" Shadow asked, looking at him.
"Yes." he nodded.
"For how much?" Shadow asked again.
"Unbelievable but....they give it to me. For free."

Uh...don't you know that, whoever they are, they are just handing you unbelievable......... merchandise?

"Yes. I know that they were unwanted merchandises, and not comparable to the real high-grade tobacco---"
"But releasing the smoke ten times stronger doesn't mean that it will multifold the quality. Not even double it, let alone ten." Shadow began to explain.
"More like a-tenth to me." Crowen said.
"You planned to use them as medicine, don't you? Or, poison?" he asked. "But, let that aside, we need to proceed with the quest." he rose from his seat. "Shall we now?"


It was the time for doing their job.

"The role of harvester will go to Crowen, and Sin." Shadow said in leisure. "The job of quality inspector will be left to Charles and Ton. After all, maybe it's you two who could do it. no---Crowen could do it as fine but, well~ it's all the same I guess. And since my spiders could do things like moving objects, I suppose, there won't be any problem at all."
"And...what about you, Master?" Crowen asked.
"I suppose you would be left in leisure." Charles said with sharp tongue.
"Eh... I'm not particularly know about fruits except plucking them from the trees, ya' know? Except...that tree is growing gears, nuts and bolts." Shadow evaded.
"Somehow that was unbelievable." Sin added.
"Liar." Ton raised her voice..
"Well~ In fact, Crowen is much more knowledgeable than me. He planted many plants and grew them up."
"Only a small sized plot, though."
"A whole forest behind your house doesn't count as small sized plot." Shadow rebutted. "Let that aside, Crowen, how do you usually pluck fruits from its tree? Or a plant, from ground?" he asked in return.
Thinking hard, Crowen answered as such, "Not to damage the plant itself, did it in most efficient way possible?"
"And?"
"Minding about quality? " he replied again. "If it was to be sold, sold the best as you can. If it was for yourself, all the same." he paused for a while. "Sorting them, appraise them one-by-one, carefully."
"That's your answer. The thing we adventurers lacked in general. We oft not concerning our self with the concern of the others. Or thinking the best ways to attain the best outcome." Shadow solemnly said as he looked into the sky. "We oft forgot to put our interest within our requestor. We're here, not only just to picking up some dates." he looked at them. "I'm here not only to make you all do your job properly, or to make you behave." he said as he glared at Ton for a while. "But also to teach you how to be adventurers. A proper one."
"Booo~ Boooo~" Ton jeered.
"Shut up!!!!" Shadow shouted as he once again smacked her directly on her head. "Especially YOU! Maybe you're one of the reason why people get the impression of adventurers, that adventurers are scary no-good-except-for-fighting bunch. I've summarized that your report are always ended with arsons, explosions, and collateral damages, for goodness!!!"

He must be under a lot of stress.


It was needless to say. After all Shadow, this man is the Master of the Adventurer Guild, and coincidentally the man who stood on the center of the ruckus which all of its members made. Hence, at now, it is not wise to antagonize him anymore.

Few moments later, all of had found themselves delved in their own given roles.

"Haaaa!!!!" Sin shouted as he jumped upward. Closing to the top of the tree, he swiftly unsheathe his sword in a single motion. The moment he had descended, the hung down branch slowly cut open, and fall to the ground. "Next!!"

The precision and swiftness of the cut is very notable. Anyone could saw as when he reached the highest point of the jump, he unsheathe his sword, and slash the hung down branch with the very little time he had. The branch itself was neatly cut in a swift single swing, and it fell gracefully without any resistance, perfectly marked for the prepared landing cushion on the base of the tree without damaging any other part of the tree, either it was the leaves or the fruit or the trunk of the tree. Additionally, Sin has been maintaining the pace since his first tree.

"Whoa~"

Crowen was astonished by the fact that he could pulled of the act. Jumping high in the air, cutting the branch in one swing before he was going down. He clearly couldn't do that.

But why the trees have to be so high!?

Clutching tight to the rope, Crowen was reaching for the knife on his waist. He needs to maintain the balance of his climb until he could reach the top of the tree. But at first, he must clear his path. For when he reached there, it was the time to begin. One tree to the another.

And all he need to do now ..... is to jump.

Now!!!

And after that, is to repeat the process.

"Whoaaaaa!!!!!"

And amid the process, a scream.

Looking down, it was Shadow, Charles and Ton. Their roles are to "process" the fruits. Simply put, their roles is to sorting them. First, is to check whether the fruit was damaged, rotten, still unripe, or riddled with disease. This role was handled by Ton and Charles as they're deemed fit for it. Charles always had the eyes for everything. And Ton, by nature, could tell whether the fruit is edible or not by simply looking and smelling the scent as she plucked the fruit from the branch.

And Shadow, managed the rest with his spiders.

Packing, moving the fruits, counting, the latter process of the harvesting process was handled easily. But he was also the first who had seen how the whole process would be. Assigning the roles, placing the members of the party according to their "abilities" in the perfect position, he made the efficiency of labor utilized to its fullest.

He was looking up to the trees.

"Jumping from tree to tree is dangerous you know? Don't you dare to slip off and fall." Shadow said.
"But knowing him, I assure you that he won't." Charles rebutted. "He won't."
"Nyaa~ Even if he falls, I bet he will still alive~" Ton raised her voice.
"Shut up and just concentrate on your work please." Shadow said to her. "It's almost over. They already picked half the tree from the designated lot. After this, we'll having lunch." he said as he spin the pen in his hand.

After all, this is the last one. Shadow thought. Still, I'm glad that they didn't just rush and go blowing the whole plantation. Although....we have already destroyed half of a building.....

He couldn't be sure. He even don't know what he feels now. But at least he knows that there is hope.

There was saving for these fools in front of his eyes.

And the time passed by.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Crowen

At the side shore of the oasis. It was the perfect place for holding a meal, even a feast.

A small bonfire.

It was all you needed to cook.

Crowen has been stirring the soup from minutes ago, and tasting it. To cook, he used a cauldron, hung above the fire and a wooden ladle. The bonfire was made by stones found nearby, fueled by dried leaves and firewood as much as needed.

"After this the Base leaves...." he said as he moved his hands.

The base of the soup is onion, sautéed with butter and added with starch little by little to prevents the onions burnt, then added with water gradually. Additionally, cream and cheese were added. Diced mushrooms too were added. Herbs and pepper and pinch of salt. The sizzling sound turn into bubbles and the scent turned rich. Pleasant.

"Now is the time to check the meat."

On the left side of the cauldron were pork sausages. The pork sausages were always the standard of a commoner's meal but, nevertheless the mixture of burning and sizzling sound were always familiar to hear upon. Simplest did the sausages are, the fire is the only thing needed for cooking it and the tastes are undoubted. The satirized fat melted as the heat from the fire seeping inside, stuffing and heavy on tongue. Along with the sausage was the courses of meat. And the one who watched over them.

"Uhh.. how's the meat?" Crowen asked. "You don't let them burnt, right?"
"They roasted well~ And the sausages tasted good~" Ton said as she stuffed her mouth with sausages.

Wholeheartedly, she had eaten them, savoring the taste. But she was ever watchful of them. She would never let them burnt after she had known the taste.

"I couldn't complain if you had eaten one or two but save for the others." Crowen said as he scratched his head. And saving the sausages afterwards from her.
"Yeeesh~"

It was the only answer he get from her.

Looking at the roasted meat, he knows that it was time to tilt the pan. The tender meat licked by the heat, licked by the fire, and its juice were dripping, fell into the pans surface. The surface of the meat grilled well, releasing the excess fat, as he could seen it turned brown, turning into juices. The meat itself were a single boneless slab. It wasn't richly marbled, either taken from the best breed. Only thoroughly seasoned and beaten until tender. Pepper, salt, and olive oil. Only three of it was already more than enough to brought out the flavor. It was almost ready to be served as is.

"Mmmm....I wonder if I should do it with sauce?"
"Done with the meat? I see that you've cook it medium rare." Shadow asked while preparing the table, letting it out from his inventorial space.

All couldn't help but ponder how did he could pull out the object from supposed to be a meter cubic space. But, as they remembered that the contraption was his personal property before he made it obligatory to all guild members, they realized that it was something within his power. Means, it was nothing to wonder about.

"I think so..." Crowen said, pondered. "Master, do you need the sauce? I think I could make something from the left juice. Mushroom, pars or base leaves, garlic and onion, added with pepper, salt, the leftover juice and........ flour?"
"Ummm......Alright. But do not take it too long. We're almost done here." Shadow replied as he spread the tablecloth and tablewares.
"Would anyone like baked bread with butter?"
"Give us everything you got, old chap~. Everything you had."
"I would like it toasted at one side." Sin requested gently.
"Bread is inseparable from meal. Same as milk for your day."
"Can't wait~ Meat! Meat! Meat! Meat!!"
"Just wait patiently." Shadow reminded.

Crowen knew who was that who rallied that food war cry.

On the table, the opening of the meal were already served. A small bowl of dates, breads, and water. The already served dishes were the soup, the roasted meat and sausages. The dates were the courtesy of the village head, while one of the breads were hailed from the local bakery. Hence, two type of bread was served. First, self made plain bread loaves from Crowen personal inventory and second, robust round bread, bought from the village. Crowen was happy to use both of them.

"Aside of toasting this bread, I could make it into something..." he wondered.

For the plain bread, as requested, he put butter only on one side and toasted it. He left the other side of the loaves as is before toasting it on pan. Simple and easy. Now he moved to the round bread. And he begin with cutting the bread open.

The main difference between the round bread and the plain bread is the way it was made. Shape aside, the round bread apparently used ingredients which seems differ from the plain bread. It was a mixture made from grain of wheat and oat left small trace of air. It was no wonder why the bread was so robust. It seems, it was better to toast the round bread on both sides.

"This bread will make your stomach stuffed. There was almost no yeast used in the dough..." he commented on the bread as he cut it into small pieces.
"Different place means different culture~" Shadow added. He accepted the toasted bread, putting them on the white porcelain plate.

The last dish is a scrambled egg.

For the scrambled egg, first, he only have to put the eggs into the pan. It was always a quick dish.

"First, egg into the pan. Second, butter." he said as put them in. Then, he stirred them.

The egg homogenously became one with the butter. The chunk of butter quickly melted as the heat seeping in. The egg white, the yolk, and the butter had turned into golden as he stirred the pan over and over. Taking the pan off the heat, he sprinkled salt and pepper, with addition, milk cream. He returned the pan again into the fire. After that, was chives. It was only the wait afterwards. He just stirred it all until it formed, leaving nothing at the pan base. He sprinkled the toasted round bread with little salt, and put a thin slice of meat before putting them atop the toasted round bread.

"Done." he said in satisfied tone. "Lunch, ready to be served."
Hearing that, Shadow said "Then, without further ado, let's dig in." as he placed himself on his seat. And so did all of them.

As Shadow sat on his chair, the spiders instantly following him. As if they are responding to his will, they began to serve him. They fold and bringing napkin for Shadow to use, preparing his tableware in perfect order. Until bringing his drink, and pouring it for him.

Shadow always relished to open with small fruits. Nuts, berries, or in this case, dates. He found himself fond of its sweet chewy taste. The dates was followed by side toasted bread which he used his hands to fold the bread before eating it. The sausages too, were acceptable to his palate. For the soup, he found the soup was richly flavored as the base of the ingredients was made with butter sautéed onion. The soup could pass his throat easily as the ingredients was cut into pieces. The soup warmed his insides.

Occasionally, Shadow would slowly sip his drink from his glass.

A compelling vintage. Ripe and brimming with stunning intensity. From the bottle, surely it was stored in a damp place to ensure the taste and quality of the wine. It was a must for meat, and cheese to be relished with comparable wine. The meat tenderness made it easier to cut, which Shadow preferably eat in slightly large cut. It was a perfect combination with the wine before he close his courses with the mildly flavored scrambled eggs and water.

"That was pleasant." Shadow said as he cleaned his mouth with the napkin, seeing the others .

From the first time he sat, Sin always followed the proper table manner. Folding his hands as if he was saying grace, releasing his gauntlet before holding the fork and knife in his hands. Taking not too much nor too less. His first opening is the side toasted bread. Using the butter knife, he spread the additional butter over the bread, still not too much nor too less.

Eating in the proper order will be a presentation of a good manner. But since it wasn't a formal course, an informal luncheon additionally, Sin didn't have to properly stick himself to the strict etiquette but only the table manner as how to sit properly, how to hold your utensils, to use the napkin, the amount of serving permitted in the plate and asking for second serving.

Sometimes, it was good to be not tied with etiquettes.

"Hmm~" he hummed as he moved his hands to the soup, taking a spoonful of it before putting into his mouth. The pleasant and rich fragrance pleased him as he took the second spoon.

After the soup, he put his choice into the scrambled eggs. Unlike Shadow who used his hands to eats the scrambled eggs, Sin chose to cut the bread into half, turning it into the size of a mouthful. He found that the eggs were creamy and seasoned to his liking, same as he found with the side toasted bread.

Same with the meat, Sin chose to cut it into a mouthful pieces before savoring its flavor which seems are dancing in his tongue. Tender, soft, and flavorful. The sauce are combining ideally with the meat. And the sausages familiar taste closing his meal.

Sin had splendidly presented a graceful table manner.

Looking at the other side of the table was Ton and Charles, eating in their own pace.

From the beginning, Ton was already helping herself with "securing" the sausages right from the fire before Crowen took them away from her reach. Her objections were futile in the face of the tender meat and its dripping juice. Her eyes and all of her senses were entirely fixed on them. Nothing else was needed to ameliorate the words to describe it.

At the first serving, Ton already shoving at least three portions of the meat, and at the interval within, lost-count of pork sausages. The amount of serving practically means nothing to her as long she could help herself. One by one, she shoved them all inside her mouth, stuffed, and crunched them altogether. In the process, she oft lets out delight moan with drool dripping from her lips.

"Uwaaa~ Deliiish~~!!" she let out her voice while stabbing her next meat with her fork. She teared it only with her teeth before devouring it. A spectacular view which could be seen as vulgar but at the same time, showing how she enjoyed eating it.

For that, Crowen was glad that he used all of his meat as cooking ingredients. He even wouldn't dare to guess what will happen if he had not cooked them all. Not when looking at Ton who had been gulping her saliva since he took out the meat.

At this very table, Ton was the very incarnation of gluttony. Looking at the speed of how fast the portions of meat and sausages disappearing from the plate, it wasn't, in fact, inaccurate at all.

On the other hand, Charles, are the practical opposite of Ton.

Looking at Charles, one would suspected whether the way of eating and table manners Charles presented were hailing from royalty. A contrast difference from Ton who ate like a glutton. Charles treated the food and eating wares within his hands delicately.

Different from the others, first, Charles went with the soup and the scrambled eggs. Charles chose to cut the toasted round bread with the knife, tasting the eggs at first with the fork before enjoying them with the bread. Charles also found a liking for the soup. The thick and creamy texture blended perfectly with the saltiness and warmth given. He too, carefully savoring the flavor, spoon by spoon. While in the other hand, his true satisfaction lies within the half toasted bread, which is apparently suited well with a glass of milk.

Crowen knew. And he didn't missed the sight when Charles showed his fondness of it.

After the bread, Charles lightly closed the afternoon meal with the meat and sausages. Patiently, Charles cut the meat and sausages into pieces and savoring it.

"Well done." Charles said with a mysterious smile.
Crowen replied, "Thank you very much." and he resumed back his own meal.
"It's nice, and decent, your cooking." Shadow added.


To be in truth, Shadow as a powerful person in physical and political are always could get his hands at everything he desired. As the Guildmaster of the Adventurer Guild, and center-role of the government of Aeternus and probably the man who had the most influence in the whole continent, leisure and luxury of facilities and everything was a given. Less was needed, even more for a simple meal.

Looking behind at the authority he had within his hands, his high position and influence, it was obvious from the start. With easy, he himself could procure high-class and luxurious dishes, even from the most peculiar and most rarest of ingredients in the world. Dining with high officials of the city government and other country delegations are sometimes too, part of his job. And Shadow too, had refined his own tastes.

Even from the time when they went inside of the airship, it was clear as water. Wine and spirits from the best available choices. Arbor wine befitting for nobles and members of royal family, liquor from across the continent made by various races like Dwarves, Elves and Dragon-kin, presented with another refreshments in the most elegant manner. Using glassware made by artisans and poured gently and carefully while all of them had enjoyed the various treats such as cakes which they could enjoy in one bite. Not only liquor, but also in everything.

Milk, procured from selected breed of cattle. Raised, feed, only to procure milk. Fruits and nuts, kept from the first harvest after been carefully selected. Honey and sugar, hailed from the most refined.

Such as his tastes. It was befitting him.

They all enjoying it as the time passes. Until they arrived at the Desert Village.

"I mean that everybody at least could cook for him or herself." Crowen stated. "I guess living alone do have their benefits after all."
"Yet, it is quite the surprise that you could make dishes to our liking."
"True. It's good."
"Because..... I learn." he said to them.
"Interesting. You learn, our liking?" Shadow asked. "How?" he asked as he put his hands together.

Drinking a glass of water, Crowen told him the answer.

"It's by the look, I guess? Master, you looked so civilized, and I think as person such as you would like to enjoy something with refined taste. Sin, looked like a knight. Appearance....let aside, she--*cough-cough!! he, would like to enjoy something decent. Sweets, refreshments, cakes, tea. Ton......you could look that she.....well. And Charles. He would like something which have been prepared at its best." he explained. "But, in the end, we all just wanted to eat something good. It's what did matters."
"Well said." Shadow chuckled. "Now, shall we, once again?"

Hearing the words, they knew that it was the time to return. For there was nothing left to do here.

Preparing the journey back was a bit problematic than they had thought. Because they have to spare some of the space for the dates. And they had to move slowly, along with the workers caravan from the plantations. They filled the crates with baskets of dates, and move along the sand hills.

In truth, Shadow had thought the idea to keep all the dates inside his inventory for the journey but, there was a reason.

"Dates were supposed to be exposed to arid climates. And after the day, the harsh cold air from the evening winds."

Crowen said that.

In other means, acts like immediately preserving them and isolating them from outside exposures would affect the quality of the harvest itself. The workers and themselves were not needed to do anything. Henceforth, it was wise to follow the procedure.

It was all for a good reason.

As he thought, he whistled a tone. He never thought that he too, will get something to learn, and remember.

As the sun went down, it was the cold.

The caravan had approached the outskirts of the village by the evening down. The long hours of riding came to end as they saw the village entrance. It was the end of the conversation which nothing more than an effort to pass the time.

A joke.

"And the man said, 'May I have your stool?'."

They all laughed except Ton who didn't understand the joke.

"Uh... stool?" Ton asked in curiosity. She didn't know the meaning of the words then. "Why the man is so funny when you said stool? He asked for a chair and you laughed? I don't understand!!"
Sin enlightened her, "'Stool', aside from 'a chair' has another meaning. It's a more polite or less derogatorical terms for 'shite', and 'shite' means--- "
"Shit." Shadow cut in.
"Oh!!! So basically the dwarves took the man's words that he's asking for poop!"
"A lady shouldn't be easily uses words like that in front of another people."
"But does that means you too, who stands in the top of Adventurers Guild, casually said those kind of words?" said Charles with his mischievous smile.
"Oh, come on~ Since when do I care?" he returned the words toward Charles. "But it is true that courtesy and being polite may save you from trouble in most unexpected times. If I am not mistaken, the dwarves were angered by the man's words. But I quite forgotten why."
"If I'm not wrong it was due to Dwarves reputations are legendary as miners and riches that came with their ancestral backgrounds. Dwarves are miners who lives under the halls of mountains. Often told that they're rich and wealthy, until people told that 'dwarves shits gold', which apparently, dwarves are pretty sensitive about it."
"Now I see."
"It is quite something to think about."
"Right...hahaha...."
"And believe me, you didn't want to know how the story really ends."

For as the story goes, the man could only ran to escape the angered dwarf store-owner. All the things came flung to his direction, from carving knife to mallet.

"I'm sorry!!!!!" the man shouted as he escaped the dwarf.
"Don't bother to come back you!! Ass!!!" he shouted back.

But unfortunately, when he turned his back, he bumped the small display table at his left. And bumped again at one of his works.

A figure of a gallant lord, sharpening a greatsword under a tree. Now, it was shattered to thousands of pieces.

"NOOOO!!!!!"
"What the hell is happening?" one of his neighbors asked as he heard the crashing sound.
"Shit...."

It was the only word he could let go from his mouth. It was just as he had literally shit himself.

"I don't know the details but... I know that you're going into a deep shit."
"Don't say that.....please."

It was the end of the story for the dwarf.


The caravan finally arrived at the village by the stable. There were few people who had waited for them. Only few, for the others are occupied by the preparations for the Harvest Eve.

"Come and join us for the night. After all the works of course." they said.

----------------------------

It was the night when the giant bonfire burns. The warmth spreading from the flame, the crackling sound of the firewood, people dancing and the flowing of the music. All villagers and outsiders are participating. People sings, people dance, and eat. It was merry. It was warming at heart.


Crowen, Sin and Ton are securing the place while Charles and Shadow are talking with the Village Chief. The people from the pub too are sitting in circle beside them. The mercenary company, the archer, the old man, the owner and his family, all of them are here.

"We will be pleased if you and all adventurers are willing to continue our relations from now on." the Village Chief said.
"Of course, as it will be the most convenient for our objective." Shadow replied.
"Then, we have an accord."
"A same thought to be exactly. And I think, I must return to my comrades over there. My apologies for the inconveniences we may caused during our stay."
"Ah, don't worry about it to much. It was the opposite. We can't thank you enough, and we are pleased that you enjoy our hospitality. Could you please stay with us for the night? Please?"
"Thank you very much for the offer. It was our plan but thank you again for the offer. Then, Village Chief, excuse me."

Giving a slight bow to the old man he left. Charles were following behind.

"Now what should we do?" Charles asked as they walked.
Shadow stopped for a while, looking at the distance, then turned back at him, "I guess, we could enjoy ourselves for the night." and he waled again, smiling.

Looking over the distance was the three of them waiting for the two. Surrounded by plates of food, by people, and the merriness of the occasion.

And so the tale begins. And so it ends.

*Ten-months, and we did it~

 

===========================================
Sandy Desert - #SD1 - D rank - Slay 15 Desert Lizardmen [ 110 G ]
Desert Village - #SC2- C-Ranked - Slay 10 Fast Desert Jackal- [150 G]
Desert Village - #GD1 - D-Ranked - Harvest Magic Flower [ 75 G | 1 x Bundle of Magic Flower ]
Desert Village - #GD2 - D-Ranked - Gather Large Dates [ 100 G | 1 x basket of Large Dates ]
Desert Village - #ED1 - D Rank – Guard Supply Route [ 150 G ]
Desert Village - #EC1 - C Rank – Look For Better Agriculture Area [ 200 G ]
===========================================
so long deri! i needed more than 3 hours to finish this report deriyo!?
anyway, all of you have succeeded nicely, deri. each of you will be rewarded 785G and miscellaneous goods mentioned deri...
except for Ton deri~
even if the villagers and boss don't have any problems with what you did, i still got triggered deriyo~?
so only 500G for Ton deri~
it's totally your fault that you were drunk and destroyed a perfectly nice, working place deri~
maybe i should put another punishment derika? like, no alcohol for you for 6 months, and then put you on probation for one year derikana...


ooc: the report was so long i couldn't send the whole of them >.>

 

Uh... So, may I ask that how did you assessed our acts and attitude during the quests? I'm glad, personally, to be able to finish this one~

Promotion~

 

"Onee-chan is too kind... Hikari would've fined Shadow heavily for power abuse and forcing adventurers to do staff work!" >.<

"Shadow also lazed around while they did hard work on the village, Hikari would even fail some quests on his side only! Hikari was really displeased at Shadow's behavior this time!

Ton-chan does need to control her drinking better though... Ton-chan is a good girl, but doing bad things while drunk is bad!" >.<

(( @Clown333 From my guesses while reading, I think you were the one that wrote most of it... Uhn... It's okay to do it, but be more careful when depicting characters personalities... I think Sin-chan and Ton-chan were quite out of their characters in many parts of the story... At least that's my take on it... Depends on the people in question to see how accurate it was.

Also, a personal suggestion... It's a suggestion because it's by no means necessary... But if you are writing from someone else's character PoV, try emulating their style maybe? Your writing has a very unique style and I could see it all over the place... It felt strange to see the PoV of other people on your style of writing... It's just a suggestion though, since it's quite the hard task... I think it could be fun though!

Also... Try to split up PoVs a bit more evenly... Shadow had way too much screentime at the start for example, Ton had too little from beginning till end, Charless as well, it's important to get a good balance on this.


Now, this is for the rest of you too, @shad12ow @Nurman @Zek @ExitedDeviljho

I'm not one to talk on this regard, but... Please use spoilers. I have a problem on my reports that I'm terrible at separating things, so I tend to put it in one large box and simply hope people deal with it... This is a bad example and you shouldn't follow it.

And well, your report was clearly separated into parts, you even put artificial separations by changing the PoV or by simply putting a lot of "------" to demark a transition... I could see that, and it could very well be a spoiler separating things instead.

I mean, honestly? I'm pretty sure all of you were in at least one quest in which you separated things in spoilers, I don't know why you decided to do it all in one go this time, it was really tiring to read through because I had no "checkpoints" to stop at. If I closed the tab because I went to sleep, I'd have a hard time finding where I left off... It was quite the hassle, please be more careful in a quest like this in the future... It has too many words to be read in one go.

Like... Youjo Senki chapters are probably 1/3 of this, or maybe even smaller... Actually I'm pretty sure they are smaller. And Youjo Senki can be bookmarked by anyone that has the novel in hand, so it's not that hard to stop midway... I'm pretty sure all of the recent stories (aside from mine!!! *cries* I need to fix this habit myself) that had a big amount of words were separated into spoilers... It helps quite a bit.



I guess that's all, it was honeslty a fun read, but really really tiring due to the sheer size, I'm not used to binge reading this kind of thing anymore...


Oh oh! And a really personal thing that itched me a bit! By no means it's a problem, but I feel I should comment on it...

HOW COME THE GUILD HAS MOUNTAINS OF PAPERWORK ACCUMULATED OVER THE COURSE OF A SINGLE WEEK!?!!?!?!??!?!?!?!?

What kind of crazy medieval setting is this to have paper being this cheap!?!?!?!!??!?!!? *flips many tables*

And who wrote all that in rhe first place!? I realize it's already super weird to have all adventurers to know how to read and write, but it ought to be rare enough to make it impossible to have this much paperwork!!!!!!!!!! >.<

Don't mind this last part much though, it's a well established joke that Shadow is a workaholic that is always full of paperwork with him... I just couldn't stop myself from ranting on it...

I hope you all had fun in it though! Congratulations on clearing a 10 months old quest! \(^^)/

Now to see if Shadow can clear the party quest with Forum-kun, Sio-chan and... I think with Mama as well? *giggles*
Good luck~

I made this here instead of tavern to have some more visibility btw.))

 

Thank you~

First. I'm really sorry if my depiction of Ton and Sin (@Nurman @ExitedDeviljho) is off from their real personality and....yes.... you guessed it. I write quite part of the story. Brainstorming a story with many people take time.

Second. Orz. I totally forgot that we could use many spoilers, please forgive me, again. Taking edits on 35000+ (close to 38000) words is a big task to do (*My browser oft hangs and my phone does too) I have nothing to say. I could do better management but, yes, this is my fault here as I'm the one who posted it in the final form.

Third. We know that the balance of the POV is the big problem here and.... Yep. And uh.....Master did work too. Back the scene, and way before this quest even started. He's the one who're dealing with the clients, gathering the data, talking with the Village Chief to ensure Adventurers Guild relations with the village. Go out in style is his style. Again, depicting characters is hard by one own perspective. And again, balancing the POV. I am very very sorry for this.

Last. For the trouble and the work amount everyone must excess. Sorry.

*You read Youjo Senki?

 

OOC:
wtf...
38k...

good job...

 

Clearly written on your report...

 

Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]
Great Plain|#SD5|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Kobold Leader [120 G]
Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]

@brasca123

Spoiler: Report

“This sounds like a good stress killer *un*”

Nodding my head as I stepped on the grasslands outside the village, I started my preparations for my quest.

I started by out of my Item Box the three puppets that I brought with me. They were all human sized, wooden model puppets. Aside from their size, the only other notable characteristic was their hands, that were made to simulate as near as possible a human’s hand.

That because they were made solely for me, for the sake of fighting.

Next I took out three wooden weapons. A sword and two spears. Even being wooden, they were well kept, so probably were quite effective for fighting while I don’t buy new weapons.

Lastly I take out my conducting baton. It was just like the ones used by conductors in the orchestras from the Capital. I remember going there with my father once or twice.

As I couldn’t go out of home as often, it left a strong impression on me. That’s probably why I use it as medium for my Command Magic.

Speaking of which, I should get started soon.

“Command Magic, Rise and Obey.”

The three puppets twitched for a moment and then got up, taking the wooden weapons with their hands and staying straight in front of me.

For now, they should be enough, but I want to try to buy, or even make, new ones as soon as is humanly possible.

Wandering through the plains accompanied by the three wooden puppets was quite the experience, although a bit embarrassing.

In any case, it took a while for me to find the creatures listed in the quest, but I finally came across a group of dog-like short humanoids fighting some pigs walking in two legs. Those must be the kobolds and the boar warriors, I guess?

Raising my conducting baton, I poured mana and holy power in the baton as I waved it.

“Augment Speed, Augment Force, Augment Resilience, Holy Arms.”

As I felt the energy slip out of my body in a quick pace, the three puppets were shrouded in light for a moment before it settled down as it found its way inside the puppets and their weapon.

The simple enhancement magics from the light magic and the basic holy enhancement may not be that good, but would be enough to support my puppets for now.

I started to play in my head a simple marching music as I waved the baton to direct them.

The puppets advanced without being noticed at first, since the monsters were busy dealing with each other, but as soon as they were spotted, the kobolds, that held the bigger group, immediately reacted and sent some to deal with them.

Of course, some seemingly unprepared kobolds weren’t enough to stop my puppets with the enhancements and they easily were trampled.

Though a problem laid in the fact that my puppets so easily broke into the enemy's lines, being surrounded. Hmmmm…. this demands a small change of plans.

Well, I can only remember three musics…. I blame my father for this… he could have taken me out of home more.

In any case, I had already changed my motion pattern with the conducting baton and tried to see if I could remember fully the music as it played out in my head.

It was a music brought by a summoned hero. Her talent was only of the music, so she was locked up by a noble that still exploited it for profits. Funny how much they treasure those summoned heroes. Ah, I got distracted for a moment….

As the music started to reach the end of the early part, the monsters were completely wiped out. I heaved a thankful sigh, since I almost didn’t remembered anything past this.

The puppets had some scratches in their bodies after the battle, but it wasn’t too worrying, so I dismissed it as I checked the body count.

Almost twenty regular kobolds, plus four that were a bit bigger than the others and seemed to be better armed. The boar warriors only amounted to six, though. I threw all of them in the item box for now and proceeded with my search.

Not long after the kobold group, we sighted a fairly large group of large green humanoids. Orcs? They seem to fit the description.

Hm… there’s some vegetation up ahead, so I think I’ll sneak to peek at them. What bad can happen.

Or so I thought, but there was another group eyeing the orcs. Five men, dressed roughly and armed poorly. At least was metal instead of wood as my puppets, though.

Bandits? Maybe? They want to attack the orcs, perhaps? Perfect!

Dispelling the command magic in my puppets, I stored them before sneaking behind the group of bandits.

Without ever bothering listening to their conversation to confirm my conjectures, I rose my baton and poured mana.

“Sweet dreams~ Sleep~”

Using the healing magic that’s usually applied at people with insomnia, I put the five bandits to sleep and waved my hand.

“Command Magic, Raise and Obey!”

A bigger amount of mana was drained from my body as I used command magic in the sleeping group. It was harder to use it on living beings, even harder to use on sentient beings, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. Sleeping persons were more easily manipulated, persons without mana too. And they happened to match both conditions.

“Now, please, you can go ahead.”

As the bodies rose up from the ground where they were hidden to observe, I searched for the perfect music as the sleeping bandits rushed clumsy to the orc group. Three leader-like orcs promptly noticed them and started issuing orders.

Meanwhile I was giggling with their strange way of running in contrast to the music playing out in my head.

Both of the groups clashed, and although there were more orcs than bandits, the five of them weren’t left behind.

In the midst of the battle, they woke up and broke free from the command magic, only to find themselves in the middle of a battle with the orcs.

They struggled even harder after waking up, but in the end, both sides were tired.

Taking out my puppets again, I used the rest of my mana to wipe the battlefield clean. After collecting the bodies and loot, I headed back to the Guild.

I hope I can find Caritas Big Sis there this time...

 

Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]
Great Plain|#SD5|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Kobold Leader [120 G]
Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
=============================================
"Welcome back eto..." *peeks at card* "Mani-chan!

Usng the puppets to defeat the enemies seems like a pretty nice strategy, specially controlling them as puppets! Nicely done!

Hikari hopes Mani-chan finds her big sis soon!" >.<

"The reward will be of 660G!

Take care Mani-chan! Good luck on future quests!" ^^)/

 

Great Plain|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]

Alone

@brasca123

Spoiler: Battlemaid And the Rabbit

A woman in her early teens wearing a maid uniform, white hair and stiches on her left eye to close it, is moving towards the Quest Board and Taking a long look at the available quests. After some time has passed and thinking has been done, she retrieves 5 papers and nods to herself.
" This Should be fine " she said to herself and made her way towards the same receptionist who accepted her registration.

" Hikari-sama, may i take this quests? " - Luna
" Hmm? Luna-chan~ no need to add -sama though. you want to do some quests? Let me see for a bit~ " - Hikari

The Maid, Luna. Complies and gave Hikari the papers for her to check and process it. After some time and few checks has passed, Hikari once again faced Luna and accepted the commision of the quests.

"Granted! Good luck in your first quests Luna-chan!" - Hikari
" Un " - Luna

Luna Nods and waves towards Hikari as she walked towards the door and exits the Guild.

...............

Few hours has passed and Luna somehow manages to get down to the ground without injuries. It couldn't be said the same for the Boar Warrioir who was used as a landing pad though. If you're asking how did she get down? Then the answer is Luna Jumped down from the floating island Aeternus itself. How did she survive the fall without disgracing herself via showing her underwear towards the Kobolds and Boar Warrior and other beings while falling? That is because she is a Maid. How did she manages to precisely land on the orc and killed it withoit injuring herself? Its because she is a Battlemaid. A lot of things will get in the way of her work as a maid but Luna is a very excellent Maid, and a Battlemaid to the boot.

" Hmm? Boar Warrior. 4 to go then. Hmmm??? " - Luna

After Luna confirmed the Boar Warrior is dead, she Just noticed that she is being surround by 15 Kobolds and another 2 Boar Warriors next to her. After some quick thinkings and a cup of tea out of nowhere, Luna Guessed that the Kobolds are Hunting for food and they managed to Surround a Pair of Boar Warriors just before she stomped one to death. Just then the Kobolds got agitated that someone is near their prey, they began to attack on close-quarters combat while the Boar Warriors is in clear state of fury with its eyes has been dyed in crimson red.

" Hmm. This should finish quite faster than i thought " - Luna

Luna Muttered and threw her Teacup with tea towards the Boar Warrior on the left, with a clear Hissing sound coming from the tea itself. The Boar Warrior Roared and Flails his Wooden Club made out of a Tree Branch and Hit the other Boar warrior, knocking it down and some Kobolds sending them flying and coughing blood which then threw the Kobold Pack to disaray. Not letting this chance go, Luna retrieves a Broom from her Pocket on her apron. It was her personal Item Bag for maid things like Tea set, broom, mop and another Maid Uniform. Why did she have an Item Bag despite being a Maid? Its because She's a maid.

Luna then remove the brush part of the broom and reveals a hidden Compartment, revealing a Spearhead. A customised Broom for Battlemaid-Use. Luna starts the Clean up by stabbing a Kobold who got close to her to the neck. Luna retracts her extended spear and a clear crunch was heared as a kobold got hit on its head, bleeding by getting hit by the pommel of the spear. She then slashes towards another Kobold or her right and slits its furry throat. She then jumps on her left while gracefully twist her body as if dancing. This happened a few more times and for a while till Luna and the Raged and Ragged Boar warrior is left. The Boar Warrior charged Luna while bledding all over but Luna just sidesteps towards the right and stabs her spear towards the left ear of the Boar Warrior, ending its Life.

" Umu. That was a good exercise "

Luna said as she retrieved a Tea set and sat down on the grass not far from the bloodied hill of corpse.

................

Luna was just enjoying the black tea she was drinking before she heard an annoying laughter 'Gigigigigigi!!'. Goblins she thought but still continued on drinking her tea as it is still tea time.

Until a foolish Goblin Swung its Crude Club towards Luna's head. Which made Luna drop her favorite teacup.

" Bastard!!! You Dare!! "

This made Luna real angry and grabbed the head of the foolish goblin ignoring the slight red trail of blood coming from her head. She maybe a Maid but she still can be wounded as she is not immortal maid. But that would be on the far future.

As Luna Grabbed the head of the foolish goblin, she squeezed it hard and the goblin died. The other goblin on top of the bloody hill which are busy eating and scavenging the dead didnt notice that a comrade of their's dead and flying towards another goblin, crashing and tumbling down, hitting its head on a rock and died. Luna walked with a scary grin while holding her spear and starts killing the scared goblins one by one.

........................

" Uuuu- embarrassing. "

Luna finally calmed down after rampaging and killing the goblin pack on the bloody hill. She was writhing out of embarrassment as she has shown her disgraceful self but she got over it quick and moved on to finish her quests. She readied herself once again and returns the broom back to her spear and walks away while looking for some slimes and rabbits, and killing them.

As she was Just about to kill her last slime for the day, she heard some hooves, as if charging and looked towards the source. 2 angry and raged Boar Warriors chasing a rabbit, which is hopping towards Luna.

" Hmm. Good rabbit. This are the last prey to be killed then the quest is done. Your fur better be fluffy as it will become my towel to clean this slime and blood off "

Luna once again removed the broom-cover of her spear and runs towards the boar warrior. Luna stabbed the Boar Warrior on the left while Kicking the one on the right on the eyes with her Hilled Shoes. Both Boars Died without even Imprinting Luna on their recognition.
" Kyuii kyuii!! " As the rabbit jumped up and down with tears on its eyes bjt Luna just gazed upon it and grab it on its nape. Luna just then cleans her hands and face with its fur and she was done.
" Kyu!! Kyu!!!! " This made the rabbit angry but didn't try to harm Luna as she could Kill the boar with ease.

" Now that's done. I better go back "

She looked at the rabbit once and retrieved a paper, and cleaned the rabbit. Luna put the rabbit on the pouch of her apron and walks towards Aeternus.

" Now then. I wonder if there is something nice to eat once we get back? "

Luna mutters to herself and the rabbit just stared at her, dumbfounded.

 

Great Plain|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]
=================================================
"Welcome back! Eto..." *peeks at her card* "Luna-chan!

Hikari is happy to see Luna-chan is alright! Hikari will see the report now!

... Eto... Hikari thinks that Luna-chan is pretty amazing from falling from this height and still being fine, and Hikari also thinks it's quite incredible to keep being graceful while getting rid of all those monsters, but...

Luna-chan didn't say anything about how she killed the slimes and the rabbits... Hikari can't consider them as done if Luna-chan doesn't tell Hikari about it... Sorry, Hikari will have to fail those 2.

The reward will be of 190G! Please take care and do better next time Luna-chan!" >.<

((Your report is lovely and super fun to read! I loved the explanations of "because she is a maid"! They were really funny and I had a wonderful time reading through it!

Don't just write off something like "and walks away while looking for some slimes and rabbits, and killing them." though, you don't need much to clear the quest, but at least say something about the deed itself! >.<

I hope you had fun writing it, because I certainly had lots of fun reading through it! Good luck on the next ones! ^^)/))

 

Umu. Killing those rabbits and slime are pretty gruesome and paperwork is really the work of maids. Its not because i hate writing how stabbing rabbits or how i hate writing essays. Not at all.

I see. I failed two of them. Well i get to keep the rabbit with me so its probably fine.

 

@NiQuinn
Desert Mine|#GD1|D-Ranked|Mine 12 Mithril Ore [60G | 1 x Mithril Ingot]
Desert Mine|#GC1|C-Ranked|Mine 12 Orichalcum Ore [200G | 1 x Orichalcum Ingot]
Sandy Desert|#GC2|C-Ranked|Gather 10 Young Desert Worm Hide [160 G | 2 x Pristine Desert Worm Hide]
Sandy Desert|#GC3|C-Ranked|Gather 10 Desert Dolphin Hide [200 G | 2 x Pristine Desert Dolphin Hide]
Sandy Desert|#SC1|C-Ranked|Slay 5 Desert Wyvern [150 G]
Ant Nest|#GD1|D-Ranked|Bring 3 Ant Corpses [110 G | 1 x Arachne Silk]
=======================================================================================
The man in black outfit looked at the adventurer after finished reading her report.
"I'm honestly impressed, Levana. You have done quite good job. The ore you collected are also very nicely done. Although not the best one I have seen, they are the next best thing. Well done indeed. As for the rest of the material, I have nothing to complain."
He snapped his finger once and then a small spider crept from under the counter while carrying a small satchel. The mechanical creature dropped the satchel onto the top of the counter, producing a slight clink and then quickly vanished under the counter again.
"This is your reward, 880 G. As for the rest of the item," Shadow pulled out a small paper and gave it to her, "you can pick them up on the quartermaster room since they are quite a lot. And with that, I bid you good bye. Take care now, Levana. We expect nothing but the best from you in the future."
OOC; Wow~! Nicely done there~ I Enjoy the story~ As one that has some of his lore in the desert, I need to learn more from you. Hahaha~!

 

[OOC] Whew thanks XD Do note that I know very little about the desert. It's always interesting to brainstorm about lore though

Edit: Also, the stuff I wrote were mostly from vague info I remember hearing or reading about somewhere

[IC] Levana bows and smiles at the Guildmaster. "Thank you, boss. Do tell me when the Shakujou can be made. I will need to be there for the smithing of the item."

 

Great Plain|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]

(Alone)

I came back to the guild to report my succeeded quests, far later than I though.
It's all because I didn't know how to come back...
I put the report on the table and say, not hiding my annoyance.

"Excuse-me, I came to report those damned quests."

...After this, I will work hard on my dimensional magic so I won't need to annoy myself by going up.

Spoiler: Report

"Too bright"

As I left the city, I saw those green and uselessly wide plains... from there, you can already see rabbits and slimes, how is that hard to kill them ? Well, slimes, I can understand, their physical resistance is seriously annoying except if you use poison since they like to absord everything they touch.
Without hesitation I began to run, mutating, my become became even paler than a corpse, if it wasn't daylight, people may believe than this frightening man which is me was a vampire, my sword slashed two rabbits which disappeared in mid-air, now stocked in my Item Box, with my free hand I caugh another rabbit by the neck and broke it... now there is a slime, at around five meters in front of me...

"Time to mutate the blood."

I muttered while feeling my inside hurting, becoming little by little acidic poisoned, my blood is surging from my throat... and I spit my blood on the smile, while staying mutated I'm observing the slime who absorbed this fake pure and white blood.
He is becoming slower, the mucus began to dissipate on the ground, and little by little, he is becomin smaller and weaker, dying.
After a few dozens of seconds, this slime was dead, just throwing up my blood killed it.
Great, I took his white core.
I didn't want to use it before because it was half-useless to me except to destroy poison with poison, but now... for example if I find the Orc's campement, sneak in and aromatize their foods... all of them may die easily.

Let's be realistic, contrary to the slimes, I don't think their body are less resistant toward poison than the slime, so I guess they won't die, homever they will be weaker which is already good, I just need ot use to cut some heads and it will be the end...

Alright, I will just go towards the Orc's Campement and take everything I can on the way, it should be the fastest way to succeed... If... I increase the intensity of Mutation, what will my body become next ? The poison may be even stronger... I should make my body stronger.
It's decided, let's keep using Mutation permanently, even while sleeping, until my body become enough resistant to it.

- - -

On the way, I killed around tens smiles, I tried throwing Mishap directly into their core, it worked, but I won't ever do it, I needed even more time to wash the sticky slime who was all over Mishap, and considering that it's an poisoned sword, just cutting my finger can be dangerous... even if my body is literally toxins right now.
Oh, and the rabbits were cute and easy to kill with the sword but now I can't eat them, at least, I kept their heads, I have around twenty or thirty... I should keep even more so I may be able to cheat on the quest... ha... hmm... sure why not ?
I will see later if I do this quest once again..



Oh, an Boar Warrior, it began running toward me, sidestepping, I avoided his charge and cut his side, he turned back and try to punch me, yawning to provoke this idiot, I kept avoiding, always sidestepping and cutting his side, waiting poison to make effect, so I can just plant Mishap in his heart... as long as they are alone this is alright.
One dead, zero injuries, perfect state.
I dismantled his body, boar meat can be delicious... If only I had sugar right now, Kynn took almost everything at the Tavern, his hide can be useful too... to make money of course.
…
Oh right, my sword is poisonous, I can't eat it...

Sneaking silently, I'm watching monsters who are sleeping around a fire, they are quite far from the Orc's Campement which I can now see from there, there's kobold and goblin... unfortunaly there's too much enemy, roughly fifteen goblins and thirty kobolds, even if they are injuried, alone I can't do it... so...
Let's just call 'reinforcements', running the fastest I can toward the Orcs, I'm still trying to hide... in the night, surprisingly, the orcs aren't as messy and disgusting as I though, they are even organized, impresive. A real campement, there's patrols, while some are sleeping, some are even playing... oh, forget what I said
Indeed, they really are disgusting, to be honest, their 'fun' isn't an activity that most people would like, including me.

"STTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOPPP !"

Kidnapping and raping probably, they are just like plunderers.
Alright, so are Orcs easy to provoke ?
Mercilessly, I sneaked into the campement, took a baby orc... and fled with it. Yes, I fled..

"GROOOOOOOO !"
"What's the matter piggies ? Did you forget anything ?"

Perfect, now that those twelve orcs are following me while I'm holding one of their childs, I'm running toward the kobolds goblins, accelerating, I decided to laugh loudly, attracting every monsters's attention. The kobolds and goblins woke up, they looked at me... and wanted to have some meat.

"Want some meat ?"

Cries of a baby orc can be heard, annoying.
I throw it toward the kobold who seems hungry... they took it, dismembered it and began to... ignoring me is exactly what I wanted, goblins and kobolds are now fighting for the fresh and tender meat, while some are approaching, caughing an arrow lauched at me, I sliced a kobold and a goblin, their green and disgusting blood is now flowing on the ground... when suddenly, ahah... orcs surrounded us.
Now now now...

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !"
"Yes yes I'm coming"

I ran toward an orc who has his arm high in the sky, ready to slash me... homever, I whispered a word with a satisfied smile.

"<Blink>"

And I disappeared and reappeared behind the orc, I cut his throat and used ran toward... nothingness, yes, I'm fleeing once again... so what ? I'm not some single-man army, I have not transcended phisics yet, so I can't be as fast as sound, quite sad, isn't it ?
Otherwise I would have killed them all without a trick. A shame I'm not some outrageous inhuman bastard...

"KROOOAAAAHHHH !"
"GUBUBBBBBBBBUUUU !"
"GRRRROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !"

Now I'm just watching still praticing, if only humans, elves, demi-humans and demons were this simple, the world wouldn't be chaotic, after one hours, it finally became calm, and there's only four orcs alive left, the rest are all dead, wow... Orc are surely far stronger than kobold and goblins, it was a 10 against 40 if I remember right...
Hmm... great, I'm approaching and the last orcs are watching me calmly.

"Not bad, well, now it's a one against four, you agree ?"
"RAAAA !"
"I will take this as a yes."

Fortunaly the Orc Lord was too lazy to move there otherwise, my plan will half-failed, only, there would be too much orcs so I would have to get hurt, something I don't want as long as I don't have medecine, unlucky as I am, I bet just a infection will kill me...
Ha ? Wait, I'm stupid.
I'm a poison now, so that should be good if I go berserk, no ? I mean, the poison would eliminate bacteries... if only Liya was there, I could fight without worries... oh well, he wouldn't follow me anyway, I guess he hated my guts because I was too ruthless.

"Hmm..."

Instead of avoiding his greatsword, I'm slashing mine which destroyed his, then with a dirty knife of a dead's goblins, I launched it at his eye... I should get a bow too... Behind me, an orc tried slice me, I jumped, avoiding it with my body in mid-air horizontally, from the corner of my view, I see a axe, ready to cut my unsighty body in two vertically, even blocking his friend's sword just to kill me... Good.

"<Blink>"

I teleported behind the axe wielder, beheading him... two left, let's just end it now.
Controling my magic, two Ice Spike made from the blood on the ground pierce the two orcs left, from the thigh to their neck, dying slowly, they are releasing their man-made weapons.. not all of them have shabby weapons... let's make the harvest.
Eleven Orcs's head... one ran away, meaningless, let's just take the necesseray object to complete the mission, I don't want to keep monster's head... I got two iron greatsword, three iron axes and ten shabby knifes...
All that's left to do is to kill four Boar Warrior and nine slimes.

Let's just sleep this night.

I'll just enter Verdant Forest, a tree is more comfortable than the ground, I climbed a random tree, made myself like home, and begins to sleep, wondering if I will ever come back to my former lands, one day...
The next day, nothing special happenned, I woke up and walked toward the city if I meet enough Boar Warrior and Slime, I'll go back to the Adventurer's Guild and buy... hot chocolate.

If only I kept a bit for myself when I was back home... it's missing me... what ? The people ? No I don't care about them, they hated me after all, even if I made their life prosperous, they don't care since my father was the Bloody Ruler, even if I'm the one who killed him, they won't give me any acknowledgement because I'm his son.
I'm just a Bloody Bastard, just like him to them.

While reminiscing the past, I saw six Boar Warriors pursueing injuried adventurers... let's just leave them alone... oh wait, I need Boar Warriors's head... let's just make some Ice Arrow and kill them from there...
One arrow reached the head of a Boar Warrior, then another one... a third... until they notice me, but the time they come here, they will be dead.
It was expectly easy, I collected their heads and then head towards the grateful adventurers... they bowed to me... ininteresting and

""Thank you Sir !""
"I saved your life, and I don't want to waste my time, so I will just ask for nine slimes'core."
"Uhm..."
"Or maybe you want me to drag you to the Orc's Campement so you can become their 'meat' ?"
"O-Of course not... take them sir !"
"Hmpf."

Bunch of bastards, you didn't want to give me acompensation for saving your life, so your life is as cheap as nine slime, so around 20 gold, I wonder why people hesitate to give something to their savior if they have it.
I sighed and went away from them, feeling intoxicated by them and my own body...

"...Damn stealer..."
"Shameless jerk"
"I will remember you."

I sighed once again, if I was really as heartless and bloody as people say, I would have gone back to them, stripepd them from their armors and weapons, dragged them and watched getting raped or cooked by goblins, then I will sell them...Somehow, I don't think it's that bad of a idea... If only there was plunderers around them, I would have given them some free slaves.
...
Homever, should I really try to cheat on the guild...?
No, let's just kill the last nine slimes just in case they discover that I stole them...
In the end, I wasted my killing the last slimes with Ice Spile or my own blood... they're easy to kill, but it's just... so bothering, the core is always so sticky... mud, dirt and rain are alright, but not mucus.
Annoyed, I'm going back to finally have some hot chocolate.

I look up and asked myself... forgetting something.

"How am I going up ?"

@brasca123

OOC : <Blink> : In fact, it's just teleportation, homever the limit is one meter.
Gains : Ten Shabby Knifes ; Two Damaged Iron Greatsword ; Three Axes ; ( And Nasty Rumors )

 

((Please wait a tad longer, I'm still finishing in catching up to alerts, I'll appraise this soonish! >.<))

((Please tag the person that granted your request.))

 

Delta Town|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 100 Rats [100 G]
Delta Town|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Sea snakes [120 G]
Delta Town|#GE3|E-Ranked|Fish 5 Speedy Tunas [80G | 1 x Speedy Tuna Fillet]

Sandy Desert|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 25 Desert Fox [50 G]
Sandy Desert|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 25 Desert Jackal [50 G]

Verdant Forest|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Forest Goblins [80 G]

Spoiler: Easy start!

Well , lets go - I said to myself and transformed into battle form. Lets do some cat business. At least my body is made
for the 1st quest."Slay 100 rats".My quest brought me bad to the catacombs.God knows how many
beggars and bandits died here.Bodies are good food for these creatures.I hope they at least
can be eaten.Well then lets do it.I closed my eyes and tried to focus. Cmon let my instincts
do the work.
I opened my eyes.
-"Hunters instinct".Well I cant call this skill.Its just a state where my animals side is waking up.
-"Night vision".Also part of my cat nature.
Well lets start. One , two , three , four .... twenty three.


*Squeak*.Shhhhhh , die quietly,little friend.Your friends does not need to know that I am here.
-Thats one. 99 to go. That will be a long day - I said to myself.
This is only a beggining. Rats are living in packs. This one who died right now, was only a scout.He is
responsible for the protection.
I need to find a place where they are eating.Young will be there. Does not matter who I kill , young or old
rat is still rat.
-I think I got it.
I jumped up.I need to look how many I kill in one swoop.
Guildmaster said no overkill , well it will be tough. There is four "feeding" places.They all connected,
it makes my quest easier. I looked at entrance to this hall,there was a torch. I smiled.In this
catacombs huge deposits of gases and if liquify it , maybe I can use it to create a fuel.I need a pressure
or cool it down and i dont have ways to do it. Only way is to ... well swallow it down and became a living flamethrower.
Geez, I hate doing it. Thanks to my mother for my iron stomach.


Its more complicated than I thought. At least I am not losing my consciousness and I need to look at the torch. If I lose
it , there wont be any fire and gas will be useless. All preparations done , I blocked exits , so the rats wont run.People
run back to the catacombs and saw a cat eating fried rats.

126 rats. A bit overkill. I hope Guildmaster wont mind it , i thought while running to the Forest. Even more I saved amount
of that gas inside me. I will use it later.

Well, goblins. Lets hunt for some goblins.I will return back to the town. Goblins like to eat, so spare rats will be used as
bait. Goblins are stronger, but they are not so smart as rats , at least animals know when to run. But what makes them similar is:
- I jumped from the tree and planted my teeth inside the neck of that goblin. He shouted , but I waited for it. I saw two running
to me.I used my claws to end misery of poor thing. Then I opened my mouth and ... wait! One is still alive. He fighting with
dagger, he is rogue. I meet them first time. Lets see what you can.

Goblin looked at me with rage.
-Wow!You actually looking in my eyes!
-Craaaa!!!
He jumped and attacked me with his weapon.At least you faster than others and then I felt a hit in my stomach.
What?He kicked me? Shit , I underestimated him. When I lifted my gaze , I saw that he is gone.
Still I injured him. I made a cut when he jumped.I can still feel the blood in the air.
-CRAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Well , I took my words. Goblin rogue is still goblin , why they need to shout when they attack? I killed him in the air,
well I made him asleep in the air , then I twisted his head backwards. I cut the four ears and took the bodies. They will
be tasty after I do some work to them. Lets find another squad. Goblin rogues are sure smarter than regular goblins, but
still they are just puppets of their own insticts.


I was hiding in the bush. 8 goblins , big party. I can fight them in my berserk form, but this will be traumatizing. I dont
want to sleep for two days in this forest unprotected. Lets split them up. Goblins have a keen sense of smell ,I looked at fried
rats. Time to use them - I said to myself.I prepared fire and put the rats near it.
Now I need to wait. I hope they will fight for food. They always fighting. I was in the bush for 40 minutes , when they came.
"Hunters instinct" on. I used rock to prepare my claws.Sharp enough , well to kill a goblin.Wait why they are not fighting?
They have a leader? That goblin in the middle.One tried to grab the food, he was hit by the chief. I smiled. They sent him on the
watch. He clearly was hit badly, I guess they have a hierarchy, weak ones get nothing. Leader ate first. I sneaked behind the one who were sent
on the watch and lets say muscles and vocal cords in his neck were ripped.There was not any sounds and he died fast. That makes 5.
Lets double the digits.
After the food some of them became lazy. Leader could not control them all. Sleeping ones were dead , also two of them I think were in
the mood to mate.So I killed them in the middle of their act , well that was not so pleasant to watch. I made it fast, maybe too fast.
One in the watch, two sleeping and two you know ; that makes 5 from the 8-man squad.Three goblins left , but they with leader , so it
makes this harder.I first time fighting with this kinda party , so lets make it slowly.

-Well at least he knows , that I am coming for him. He found some friend and what I thought will be three became 10 goblins. Fantastic. I
guess no other solution , I ate one of the goblins. I hope his meat will be enough to sustain my transformation.
-SKILL CRITICAL MASSS!!!!! I will enhance my arms and increased the muscular mass of my torso and my back. This will be enough to cut through
them.
-INSANITY 30% + Hunters instinct!!! My eyes became red , growl came from my mouth. World slowed down. I see my prey and target.
Well hunger!!! Goblin here I come.
I jumped second and two at the entrance to the cave were dead. I destroyed their necks with my grasp. 8 to go. When I will end there will
be 19 goblins.It was nest , I smelled the unpleasant smell. Three goblins were on that level. Also I found dump , i mean where they dumped the human
bodies.
In my quest was only ten goblins , but when I ate the brain one of the dead girls. Fear , such will to die , despair all this just came to me. I dont
remember what I have done , only thing I know there was a big fire in the forest. Still 10 goblin were killed by me and I got a new title:
-Razor sharp:You know where and how to cut.Injuries by your claw may bleed very long and very bad.

*Growl!!!* -I am sure hungry!
Lets go fishing! - I said to myself.
I looked at the water and just let my insticts play. I truly felt joy fishing normally like a cat. I have done it pretty fast too , 5 fishes in 40
minutes. I can catch more , but Guildmaster said no overkilling , so I will just slip away. Well I caught two more , but I ate them on my way to the
Sandy Desert.


I used my carapace in battle body to cover my eyes. Well thanks to bone armor I dont feel sun so badly. By the way I need to ask from Guildmaster where
near the Town I can found a place filled with a deathly miasma. My armor needs to became sturdier , of course i can bear a beating of foxes and
goblins but i will be squashed under the hit of ogre.I climbed the dune and watched this desert. Wind sand , no one and nothing. They will come out at night.
To hunt. All I need to do is wait. Lets wait.


Night.Two Foxes was running in the darkness, there was a pack of jackals running behind them.There was not a surprise when they found out they were
surrounded , but then:Something jumped out of the sand , little fox saw how the jackal were torn in half.That something just bit off big chunk of
jackals body. Remaining were looking at that beast with rage and fear.

-KHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
-Jackals attacked. They attacked together in one moment , but they just became a mess. That strange beast unleashed his claws and
cut all the attackers in air.
-It makes 15!!! Oh there is also a fox. Well ...
I killed all the jackals and saw a fox which they tried to kill. I prepared to kill her too but then I saw a fox cub. I just looked at them and walked
away with my prey.
I sent message to the mother fox: " Go away! I dont want to see you and your child!"They ran away and I one more time buried myself under the sand.
I looked at the moon above me and smiled : " God damn , now I want to eat that fox!" I closed my eyes and focused on the sounds of the dessert.
Whole night. Whole night I caught only foxes without cubs. 24 of them. I need 1 fox and 10 jackals. I was moving under the sand when I heard a cry.
Fox cub , which I met yesterday , she was surrounded once more. I increased my speed and jumped once more. Now I stood in front of that cub. Spikes on
my back were twitching , I jumped and sent them to the jackals. I twisted into the ball and slashed eyes of another two. Cub still with me, my tail
holding her right now. Gosh , next time I will eat more iron. What I also got in my stomach? I swallowed some rocks in the forest , i used them to make
a helmet to my head. I headbutt one of the jackals , I heard a snapping of bones. 8 out of 10 , i need two more. I ran back to the dead bodies and swallowed back
my spikes , they all running but I need two more. I got them.


I looked at the small cub in my tail.She or he was looking at the dead fox. Hey , dont cry!She died protecting you. I will find you another family and
I found it. I caught another female fox ; I inspired her with a thought that this small cub is hers. Of course I erased her memories too. Live a long life
child.I came back to the forest , I was resting on the giant tree thinking about snakes.Poison wont work if I swallow it,yes; but snakes bite and then
they inject poison.Well no time to think I found one.I jumped on its head. I hear its cracking.I got three with same strategy, jumping on their skulls. That makes four , lets kill last
one. I jumped but to my surprise snake evaded it and tried to bite my shoulder.There was sound of craking , well it was actually close. I used my claws to cut the head from the body.
I found something to eat in my way to the guild.

@shad12ow

 

Great Plain|#GE1|E-Ranked|Gather 10 Moonlight Flower & 10 Healing Plants [50G | 1 x Rejuvenation Potion]
Great Plain|#GE2|E-Ranked|Gather 3 Moonlight Water [50G | 1 x Bottled Purified Moonlight Water]

Spoiler: The Adventure~

[Day 1 Morning: I headed out of the city and took out my map, I was prepared. I rushed to the northern gate and left swiftly to the Great plains, though I think I heard a mature person mutter something to the tune of 'Darn eager Kids', But I think that was just my imagination~

[Day 1 Afternoon: I found the 10 healing plants~ It was right next to where a wild boar was feasting~ So I threw one of my Jerkies nearby and grabbed them while it was distracted~ ]

[Day 1 Night Time: I knew I was going to have an easier time finding plants and liquids named after the moon, If I search while the moon's up~ My robe got dirty though At least I was able to harvest the remaining 10 moonlight flowers when Mr.Piggy Showed up, leading me to them as I fed it my last Jerkey and used my special magic to create a peach, to which I fed to Mr.Piggy~

Sometime later, I found some water and drank out of it since it tasted refreshing! It turns out it was moonlight water though, Good thing I remembered to pour my waterskin out or else I'd be in a dilemma Ehehehehe~

I just need to remember to thank Piggy in the future~
How nice~
Hmm? was that boar really wild then?
and now I've returned to here!
Praise me @brasca123 !

@brasca123

 

Great Plain|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]
=======================================================
"Welcome back uhn..." *checks his hard* "Shi-shi-shi... Hikari still can't say it... Shinere-san?

Using the orcs to kill the goblins and kobolds was quite smart! Good job! Hikari is happy to know things went well!

It shouldn't be that hard to get back to the guild though?" *tilts head* "Shinere-san just needed to use one of the teleport gates, there is one in Delta Town, Desert Village and one the Frontier Village after all...

Ah, anyway, the reward! Since everythng was done nicely, Shinere-san will get 390G!

Take care now!!" ^^)/