Morning sunlight went through the window of the class, Instructor Darius checking his students, he sighed.
"Hugh.. some students are already absent even the academy just opened about three days. "
"Kazuto is one of them but he isn't that much because he can't use magic..."
"But why also Arisa?" he said.
In the forest behind the academy, Kazuto and Hanamori followed the way leading to their quest location. Hanamori asked Kazuto.
"Hey.. Hoshin.., You sure? The teacher will scold us if we absent without telling him."
"Don't worry Hanamori, it's just one day. And also some students were already absent before us." Kazuto replied.
"If you say so.." Hanamori sighed.
Kazuto turned his head to Hanamori to ask. "Hey Hanamori..., Do you take the map this morning? You didn't forget to take it right Hanamori?"
Hanamori sighed beside him. "Who do you think I am? I'm not a person that forget something important..."
He laughed nervously. "If you say so I'll take it..."
As they approached the forest, the sound of the goblins wasn't too far from them. Kazuto crouched behind a large tree, peeking out carefully.
"Yup. Goblins, they doesn't look like strong enough to beat us. Don't try to make a sound, Hanamori."
Hanamori crouched next to him, trying not to make a sound. "Focus, Hoshin. There are six of them."
Kazuto nodded seriously. "Alright. We have to discuss about the plan."
But then—Crack!
A loud snap went over the forest. Both froze. Kazuto slowly looked down. A stick — now it broke in half. And Hanamori's foot stepping on it.
Kazuto stared at her, deadpan. "Hanamori… did you just…"
Her eyes widened, face flushing red. "I–It was an accident! I didn't see it!"
The goblins turned toward their hiding spot, walking to the place where the sound come from.
Kazuto sighed. "Ahh… forget it... Now we have to prepare to fight."
Before Hanamori could respond, the goblins charged. Kazuto unsheathed his sword in a flash.
"Guess we're going to fight for real!" he shouted, dashing forward.
Hanamori backed up a little and raised her hand holding magic staff, chanting softly. "Firebolt!"
A small ball of flame shot past Kazuto, hitting one goblin in the face.
Kazuto grinned. "Nice shot!"
He held his blade tight, slashing through the nearest goblin, kicking another away. One charged from behind swang with axe — Kazuto dodged by going under its swing and countered with a quick slice to the stomach.
Three down.
Two more came rushing at him. Kazuto jumped back, threw his sword to the one behind them, and blocked both attacks from two goblins rushing to him at once. "Hugh.., you guys don't let me a break!"
He pushed them back, held his sword with different position, and stabbed one through its chests. And he pulled out his sword and ready to cut the last goblin in postion.
"This is the last one!"
When the last goblin fell, Kazuto tired and threw his sword on the ground stapping it in the ground. "Phew… That was a lot harder than I thought."
Hanamori smiled proudly also happily. "Yes, it really was, Kazuto!"
Then Kazuto started collecting the items and drops for proof.
"I'll collect the drops. You can take rest Hanamori."
Hanamori nodded.
"Haii.."
After collecting the drops, Kazuto and Hanamori were already to back to the guild. At first, they have to go back to the way where they came from. Kazuto said to Hanamori while checking the drops in his bag.
"Hey.. Hanamori, you have a map on you right? Take it out. We have to look again to make sure."
Hanamori searched her bag for a while. Then she frozed. Turning slowly to Kazuto. Her voice shaken.
"Umm.. Hey.. Hoshin..."
Kazuto looked at her normally.
"Huh.. What?"
But then he frozed too. Realizing what she was about to say.
"Don't tell me you—"
Hanamori forced to smile, holding her head.
"I totally forgot it at our room.. HEHE.."
Kazuto's smile faded away.
"Hugh.. just forget about it.. Let's think about how should we get back."
"I think I remember the way.. maybe this way?"
Hanamori walked to where she pointed. Kazuto has no choice but has to follow her.
After a few minutes, they felt a strong mana overflowing coming closer. Then they saw a silver wolf, a high rank beast, covered with silver armor, shaper claws than it's looks.
Kazuto's smile vanished. "It can't be... Why would such a high rank beast is appearing here..?"
"Looks like it doesn't see us." Hanamori said.
"Let's get out of here before it see us!" she added.
Then she turned back and trying to get out from thus situation. She stepped one behind. And then CRACK—!
Kazuto and Hanamori both frozed and looked down. A broken stick in half was under Hanamori's foot. Kazuto looked Hanamori in disappointed and sighed.
"Hugh... you never learn huh..."
The silver wolf heard the sound and sensed where they were. The silver wolf slowly walking toward to where the sound came from. Before Hanamori could react, she acciently made an eye contact with the siler wolf. She frozed. Her eyes widened. "H–Hoshin!"
Kazuto replied in shaken.
"What now.. Hanamori?"
"I.. I think I made an eye contact with the siler wolf...and.. I think it saw us..." she said in frighten.
"Huhh.. why didn't you say it earlier!!!" Kazuto replied.
"Hugh... let's run for now..." he added.
Kazuto and Hanamori started running from the beast. And the beast saw them running and it began chasing them too. Kazuto looked back at the beast while running.
"Damn.. This thing is fast as hell!!!"
But then Hanamori fall down to the ground. Kazuto stopped and went to Hanamori.
"Hey! Are you okay Hanamori?" he asked.
"Ouchh.. I think I acciently sprained my ankle while running.." she replied.
"Why is this happening now... Guess I have no choice!" Kazuto said.
"Don't mind me Hanamori.." he added.
"Huh?" Hanamori confused.
Suddenly, Kazuto lifted Hanamori and started carrying Hanamori in arms. Hanamori embrassed and shocked for a moment.
"Ho— Hoshin... What are you doing??!!" she asked while covering her face with hands, embrassed.
"This is the only way I found. There is no other way from escaping in this situation. I have no choice after all. I can't let you left here..." he replied, blushed a little, can't make eye contact with Hanamori.
He ran by carrying Hanamori in his arms. And then he saw the town, not too far from there. Then Kazuto peeked behind and the silver wolf was still chasing them. And he remembered something. He casted.
"Quick Charge!"
Kazuto's movement speed became more quicker than before. With that speed he escaped from the silver wolf's chasing. After a few second, he arrived back to the town. Looks like the silver wolf lost sight of them.
"Hugh.., that thing is terrifying!" he gritted his teeth.
He putted down Hanamori from his arms. Hanamori was still embrassing.
"Umm.. thanks for saving me Hoshin..." Hanamori thanked while blushing.
"Don't mention it..." he replied, also blushing.
"We can't let that silver wolf go. But we can't handle it either..." he said.
"Yeah... " she said.
Then an idea suddenly appeared in her mind.
"How about reporting this to the guild?" she suggested.
"Hmm.... you're right!" he accepted after thinking for a second.
Then they both ran to the guild and reported what happened earlier. They arrived in front of the guild, opened the door and entering the guild. Then the receptionist asked them.
"How can I help you today?"
"We found a silver wolf in the forest while doing our quest." Kazuto answered.
"Hmm.. That's unusual." the receptionist confused a bit.
"But it's okay..I will request this as a new quest in board. " the receptionist added.
"Thanks. By the way, we had done this quest." Kazuto said, pulling out the quest paper.
And then Kazuto took out the materials he collected and gave them to the receptionist.
"Please wait for a moment, I'll check the quest and materials." the receptionist replied.
The receptionist checked the materials and looked the quest's details if they are match or not.
"Congratulations on your first quest!" the receptionist said after checking the quest and materials.
Then the receptionist took out the money of bags from the drawer.
"Here is your awards!" he gave two bags of money to both of them.
Kazuto's eyes were filled with joy. Hanamori eye's were also filled with happniess, smiling. Kazuto found himself staring Hanamori. He quickly focused his mind and turned his face back.
"Ohh...my... she is cute!!!" his face red.
"Did you say something Hoshin?" she said as she approached Kazuto.
"Ah.. nothing.. I didn't say anything." he answered, blushing.
After that, Hanamori asked Kazuto.
"By the way, did you use something while running from the silver wolf? I heard something like 'Quick Charge' if I'm right!" she asked, confused.
"Yeah, I did!" Kazuto answered.
Hanamori amazed,confused, and also surprised.
"Didn't you say that you can't use magic because of no mana?"
Kazuto smirked, confidenced.
"Yeah, but... 'Quick Charge' doesn't depend on mana. It's depend on stamina." he said.
"I read it in the book from the previous day." he added.
"Woh... You're quite smart though even with no mana!" Hanamori replied.
He glanced at the sky through the window. "Heh… Not bad for an F-rank guy, huh?"
"See? Told ya I'd be fine."
Hanamori blinked, approached beside Kazuto.
"We completed our first quest without any problem." Hanamori said.
"This is the beginning of our adventure!"
She tilted her head, smiled, confused, laughing.
"You're a funny guy but can't say anything to you because you're the leader of this party!"
He laughed. "Yeah..., Eh? Wait— huh? I'm the leader?!"
After that, together, they left the guild, their next victories and something bigger and dangerous thing is waiting them from afar.