As they moved further away from the ruins, the scent of blood the team had left behind gave way to a light forest breeze.
Marten paused for a moment, then squared his broad shoulders and turned to his companions behind him.
"I know, all anyone wants is a soft bed," said Marten, a weary smile on his face.
"But we made it out of Zadil's damn dungeon alive. That deserves more than just rest—it deserves a big mug of something!!"
Noel nodded in agreement. "There's the Broken Helmet Inn nearby. Not a bad idea."Kael: "Be—"
Marten cut in before Kael could finish speaking and turned his eyes toward Kael
his voice was softer and more fatherly in tone
"You're coming too, Rosvil."
Sofia straightened her cloak and stepped forward.
"I wouldn't object if there's something sweet to go with the drink."
The inn had a smoky, dimly lit atmosphere, with rough wooden tables surrounding the areaMarten headed toward the quiet table in the far cornerThe innkeeper, an old, heavyset man, approached the table where the group was sitting.
Marten: "Bring us three large mugs of your best barley beer!"
Then he turned to Kael, a mischievous expression on his face.
"You're still too young for these strong drinks, Rosvil. But don't worry, this inn is also number one when it comes to sweet drinks." Turning to the innkeeper:
"Give my young friend some honeyed apple syrup. But make sure it's the finest quality!"
Marten: "What a day! I never thought we'd be able to take down Zadil, did you, Noel?"
Noel seemed lost in deep thought as he took a sip of her drink
"Noel?"
"Oh, were you talking to me? Sorry, Marten."
Marten: "Are you okay? Is your mind still on that dark elf, or—"
"What! No, nothing..."
Marten: "Come on, Noel, cheer up a bit."
Noel turned her eyes toward Kael
"Rosvil, I'm curious about your... connection with that silver-haired girl..."
Kael took a sip of honeyed apple cider from beneath his mask. The drink's sweetness and warmth had washed away his fatigue.
"I met her in the forest," said Kael. His voice was calm, but his eyes were lost in the distance.
Marten and Noel listened intently to Kael's story. Kael spoke of the time he spent in the forest, his training sessions with Ashaell, and their partings. His words deepened the warm atmosphere at the table.
Marten took a sip of his own beer and interjected:
"Wow! So you have a past too, Rosvil."
"We're just soldiers, Noel and I. We've been fighting together for years; our friendship goes way back. We met Sofia when we went to join the Adventurers' Guild."
Sofia blushed slightly and lowered her gaze to the empty mug in front of her, but there was a faint smile on her lips.
"And now you've joined us."
The group fell silent for a moment.When Marten noticed the silence, he stood up and raised his cup:
"Forget the old issues! We've just emerged from a dungeon today—we're a great team. Let's raise a toast to Sofia's ice magic, Noel's agility, my... strength, and of course, Rosvil's skills!"
When the group stepped outside the inn, the air had grown even colder. Sofia wrapped her cloak tightly around herself.
Marten: We need to report to Ivor. The mission we were given stated that the leader had to be captured alive, but...
Noel: It wasn't something we could control, Marten—you know that. Besides, we didn't kill Zadil. I don't think Ivor will press us too hard on this.
Marten: You're right, Noel. The safety of the captured prisoners is more important than Zadil's. I'm glad they were delivered safely to the kingdom.When they entered the guild hall, the noise inside fell silent for a moment. Those who recognized the group began whispering.
"Aren't those the Moon Turn team? They were sent on a slave-trading mission."
"Did they capture their leader, then?"
"Don't be ridiculous. That mission notice has been hanging on that board for years. No one even has the guts to go."
"They must have come back empty-handed. Don't exaggerate."
Ignoring the whispers around them, the team made their way toward the mission registration desk. Ivor, sitting behind the desk, narrowed his eyes when he saw them. He straightened up from behind the desk and leaned forward slightly.
"Ah, so you're back,"
When Ivor noticed the tension on the team's faces, he thought to himself: "I suppose they didn't complete the mission—no problem, nobody's managed to do it in years anyway."
"It's no problem if you didn't complete the mission, kids. Nobody's managed to finish that mission in years anyway. I'm just glad you made it back safe and sound."
Marten stepped forward. "Master Ivor, we need to discuss something private with you. If possible, somewhere out of sight."
Ivor was surprised by Marten's serious expression. He gestured with his hand toward one of the empty rooms in the back.
"Alright, come this way."
Once they entered the room, Marten closed the door behind them. He turned to Kael and nodded slightly. As Kael touched the dimensional ring on his finger, Zadil's body crashed noisily to the ground, onto the guild's floor.
The calm expression on Ivor's face vanished in an instant, and he took a step back.His eyes fixated on the details of the lifeless body.
"This... this has to be a joke,"
"The eye patch... the snake tattoo... Don't tell me this guy is Zadil?"
Marten immediately interrupted.
"Yes, Master Ivor, I know the mission called for capturing him alive—my apologies. Some unforeseen events occurred. A fifth party, beyond our control, had already killed Zadil. We believe it was someone known to the people Zadil had taken captive."
Ivor knelt down and examined the body closely.
"I can't believe it... For years, no one has even come close to this man. The fact that he's been killed is an event in itself."
Ivor couldn't hide his astonishment; the man he'd been chasing for years lay lifeless before him.
"By Ivor..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, it doesn't matter. Marten, you did your best. Whether Zadil is captured alive or dead is no longer an issue. By the way, are the captives okay?"
Marten replied, "The captives were handed over to the kingdom; we stayed with them until the knights arrived."Ivor's gaze was still fixed on the corpse on the floor.
"Good work, boys. Wait here while I prepare the reward for the mission. Please."
When Ivor left the room and closed the door, Marten checked the door latch and turned to his friends.Noel leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.
"Did you see that? The guy's face went as white as chalk. I told you, Master Ivor wouldn't stand a chance against us in this matter. We brought the man no one has been able to touch for years right here—he was completely speechless."
Sofia: "Still, we're lucky. The fifth witness... I didn't think Ivor would swallow it so easily. If he'd questioned him, we might've had to spill everything."
Marten shrugged. "He didn't even question the fifth witness. Seeing the corpse on the ground blew his mind. That was the best outcome for us."
Kael was waiting quietly in the corner. Interrupting:
"It worked out for us to pin Zadil's death on someone else, but..."
"Ivor won't suspect Ashaell, will he? We just said we saw a silhouette."
Noel shook her head. "Don't worry, Rosvil. As long as we don't name names, he'll just remain a 'fifth person.' What matters to Ivor is that Zadil is no longer a threat."
Marten: "Anyway, forget about all that. What matters is that we're all safe and sound here."
Noel sighed and interjected, "I hope what Ivor is about to bring is worth all the trouble we went through."
Ivor burst through the door with a loud bang. He was carrying four large leather pouches, their weight causing them to sag slightly. As he entered the room, he slammed the pouches down on the table. The dull clang of the gold inside echoed through the room.
Noel couldn't believe her eyes when she slightly opened the flap of one of the pouches
"M-Master Ivor..." Is this the reward money?
Ivor placed his hand on the bags and burst into laughter when he saw the group's reaction to the money bags.
"Ha ha, were you expecting a low payment for a C-level mission?"
The team looked at each other. Each bag contained 150,000 Aureons. Sofia was speechless with astonishment.Ivor continued his explanation:
"Zadil and his men have been the group that's caused us the most trouble—not just the kingdom, but us—for years. They weren't just criminals; they were a real headache. Naturally, the value of this mission has multiplied over the years. You've earned this money, kids; rest easy."
Kael had fixed his eyes on the money pouch. He hadn't expected this much.Marten slowly picked up a pouch, weighed it in his hand, and turned to Ivor.
"Master, won't such a large payment strain the guild's budget?"
Ivor leaned toward Marten. A mocking smile played on his face; he shook his head from side to side as if mocking the very question Marten had asked.
"Marten, what do you take this place for? We're talking about a guild affiliated with the Kingdom. Look, son, even if I gave each of you a million Aureons here, not even the dust in the guild's vault would stir."
"I've told you before: the guild always gives what's rightfully yours. Don't worry about the rest. If you blow through this money in a week, the guild's doors will still be open to you."
Sofia replied with a laugh at Ivor's casual attitude. "I don't think we're skilled enough to blow through 150,000 Aureon in a week, Master Ivor."Marten jumped in immediately:
"I think it's worth a try!"
A cheerful laugh rose from the group. Ivor, leaning on his desk, watched them with a smirk.When the team stepped out of the guild, a cool evening breeze greeted them, and their cheerful demeanor gave way to a calmer atmosphere. They had reached a crossroads. Marten paused and turned to his friends.
He approached Kael first and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Rosvil, really... Thank you for what you did today. Without you, we might not have succeeded in the mission."
Noel also stepped forward. she looked into Kael's eyes; there was a sincere look of regret on her face.
"Rosvil, I'm sorry for doubting you earlier. When things get complicated, I sometimes make mistakes, but today you proved me wrong. I'm sorry."
Sofia stood a little to the side, maintaining her usual reserved and shy demeanor. She tilted her head slightly forward and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"I-I... thank you, Rosvil."
Kael let his gaze wander over each of his friends in turn, then tilted his head slightly forward and spoke with a sincere tone.
"Meeting people like you has been very meaningful to me. I was used to fighting alone, but today, here by your side, I realized how different fighting feels."
"I'm the one who should thank you for your support. Next time, we'll be a better team—I'm sure of it."
Marten was pleased with Kael's clear response.
"You're right. We're a team now—don't ever forget that. Our door is always open to you."
Kael looked at them one last time, smiled, and raised his hand in farewell. He set off down his own path into the night.