Several days had passed since the incident at the capital.
The tension had not disappeared… but it had changed.
What was once hostility had become something else—an uneasy cooperation.
Outside the kingdom walls, under a wide and open sky, a small group moved across a grassy field dotted with shallow puddles and patches of uneven terrain.
A weak quest.
A simple one.
Slime extermination.
And yet…
"...They're struggling."
Kael stood at a distance, arms crossed, watching the battlefield unfold with a quiet, analytical gaze.
Beside him, lying lazily on the grass, was Fufuin in his smaller form, his four eyes half-lidded in complete disinterest.
In front of them—
Chaos.
Not the world-ending kind.
The embarrassing kind.
A slime lunged.
Seraphine cut it cleanly in half.
But—
Another one immediately struck from behind, splashing against her armor.
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Stay back. I don't need assistance."
Her voice was sharp, commanding—but it came at a cost.
Her pride isolated her.
And slowly…
She was being surrounded.
Not overwhelmed.
Just… inconvenienced.
Kael sighed quietly.
"To be fair," he muttered, "she's strong."
Fufuin snorted.
"Strength without cooperation is inefficient."
Kael smirked slightly.
"Sounds like you're judging."
"I am."
Meanwhile—
Lyra and Nyx moved together with far more coordination.
A rhythm.
Nyx cast a small flame spell—
Lyra followed with a light-based burst that disoriented the slime—
Nyx finished it.
Clean.
Effective.
But not perfect.
A slime slipped past their blind spot.
It lunged—
Lyra reacted just in time, stepping back, but her sleeve was caught—
Sticky residue clung to her arm.
"Ah—!"
Nyx turned immediately.
"Tch, your positioning was off."
Lyra pouted slightly.
"You moved too far forward."
Nyx smirked.
"And you reacted too slow."
Despite the bickering…
They worked well together.
Kael watched everything.
Every movement.
Every mistake.
Every habit.
"…They're not weak," he said quietly.
Fufuin tilted his head.
"But?"
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"They're not a team yet."
A pause.
Then—
A memory surfaced.
—
The Guild.
A few days earlier.
The noise had been overwhelming.
Voices, metal, footsteps, laughter, arguments—all blending into a constant hum of activity.
Adventurers filled every corner.
And at the center—
Confusion.
The receptionist stood frozen behind the counter, staring at the letter in her hands as if it might explode.
"A… royal order…?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Seraphine stood in front of her, arms crossed, expression completely serious.
"Process it."
That was all she said.
No explanation.
No hesitation.
The woman swallowed.
"T-This has never been done before…"
Nyx leaned slightly toward Kael.
"She's about to faint."
Lyra looked worried.
"Is this… normal?"
Kael scratched his cheek.
"…I don't think so."
Soon—
Preparations began.
A small ritual.
Each of them stepped forward, one by one.
A drop of blood.
A pulse of magic.
A reaction.
When it was Kael's turn, he felt it clearly—
Something connected.
Something… registered.
Then—
The cards appeared.
Floating.
Glowing faintly.
One by one, they were revealed.
Nyx looked at hers first.
"…Rank F."
She blinked.
"Excuse me?"
Lyra followed.
"…F as well…"
Her voice was small.
Fufuin peeked at Kael's card.
"…As expected."
Kael stared at his own.
Rank F.
He didn't react.
But Seraphine—
She let out a quiet breath through her nose.
Her card hovered beside her.
Rank D.
Of course.
She crossed her arms.
"Pathetic."
Nyx immediately snapped.
"Oh, excuse me, Your Majesty Rank-D."
The tension was instant.
Lyra tried to intervene.
"P-Please don't start fighting…"
Kael just watched.
Thinking.
Observing.
Learning.
—
"…Kael."
Fufuin's voice pulled him back to the present.
The battlefield.
The slimes.
The chaos.
Kael blinked once.
Then exhaled.
"…Yeah."
He looked forward again.
Seraphine was now completely surrounded.
Lyra and Nyx were stuck in a defensive loop.
Sticky residue everywhere.
Movement restricted.
Messy.
Kael rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Alright."
He raised his hand slightly.
"Fufuin."
The wolf's ears twitched.
"Go."
That was all.
In an instant—
The air shifted.
Fufuin disappeared.
No warning.
No buildup.
Just—
Gone.
Then—
Impact.
A single blur cut through the field.
Slimes exploded one after another.
No resistance.
No struggle.
Within seconds—
Silence returned.
Fufuin reappeared beside Kael as if nothing had happened.
Lyra, Nyx, and Seraphine stood frozen.
Covered.
Completely covered.
Slime residue clung to their clothes, their arms, their legs.
Sticky.
Shiny.
Unpleasant.
Nyx looked down.
"…I hate this."
Lyra gently tried to clean her sleeve.
"It won't come off…"
Seraphine stood still.
Her expression dark.
Very dark.
"…This is unacceptable."
Kael sighed.
"…Let's just go back."
No one argued.
—
The walk back to the kingdom was… quiet.
Mostly because no one wanted to touch anything.
Or anyone.
As they passed through the main gates, guards glanced at them—
Then quickly looked away.
Wise decision.
Soon—
They arrived at the Guild.
The noise returned instantly.
Loud.
Crowded.
Alive.
Adventurers filled every space, moving, talking, laughing.
It felt… real.
But something stood out.
Kael noticed it immediately.
A presence.
Not strong.
Not overwhelming.
But… out of place.
In the far corner—
A small figure sat alone.
Cloaked.
Still.
Watching.
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Report the mission," he said casually.
Lyra blinked.
"You're not coming?"
Nyx raised a brow.
"What are you up to?"
He waved it off.
"I'll be back."
Before they could question further—
He walked away.
Straight toward the corner.
Step by step.
The cloaked figure shifted slightly.
Nervous.
Kael stopped in front of him.
Silence.
Then—
"What are you doing here?"
His tone wasn't hostile.
But it wasn't friendly either.
"…And why do you look like trouble?"
The figure flinched slightly.
Then—
A voice.
Soft.
Light.
Almost… delicate.
"I'm not…"
A pause.
"I'm not dangerous."
Kael blinked.
That voice…
He lowered himself slightly, crouching to meet the figure at eye level.
"…Then what are you?"
A small breath.
"I'm… looking for help."
Kael tilted his head.
"With what?"
The figure hesitated.
"…A mission."
Something in that answer—
Felt familiar.
Felt important.
Kael smiled slightly.
"…Alright."
"I'll hear it."
The figure slowly reached up.
Pulled back the hood.
And revealed—
Silver hair.
Soft features.
Wolf ears.
And a face that looked almost too gentle for this world.
He smiled.
Innocent.
"My name is Rin."
Behind Kael—
Footsteps approached rapidly.
"What are you doing?!"
Nyx's voice.
Lyra right behind her.
They stopped.
Saw Rin.
Silence.
Then—
Nyx pointed.
"…Kael."
Lyra covered her mouth.
"…You cornered a girl?"
Kael's eye twitched.
"…It's not like that."
Rin blinked.
Then smiled awkwardly.
"I'm a man."
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Nyx froze.
Lyra froze.
Seraphine, who had just arrived—
Also froze.
"…What?"
Kael sighed.
"…Anyway."
He stood up.
"He needs help."
Rin nodded quickly.
"Yes! I was part of a group… we explored ruins far from the kingdom…"
His expression darkened slightly.
"But something happened. I had to run."
A pause.
"I don't know if they're alive."
The atmosphere shifted.
This wasn't a simple request anymore.
"…I want to go back."
He looked at them.
Hopeful.
Nervous.
"Will you help me?"
Nyx crossed her arms.
"…Finally something interesting."
Lyra nodded.
"Yes… we should."
Seraphine sighed.
"…As long as it's efficient."
Kael looked at Rin.
Then smiled.
"Yeah."
"We'll help you."
Rin's eyes lit up.
"Really?!"
Kael nodded.
"Just don't regret asking."
A small laugh escaped Rin.
"I won't."
Then he stepped back slightly.
"We'll need supplies."
Nyx smirked.
"Now you're talking."
And just like that—
A simple slime quest…
Turned into something far more dangerous.
And far more interesting.
The day passed faster than any of them expected.
What began as a simple agreement inside the Guild quickly turned into preparation.
Real preparation.
Not for slimes.
Not for small errands.
But for something unknown.
Something dangerous.
Something that had already swallowed an entire group whole.
—
The marketplace was alive that afternoon.
Voices overlapped, merchants shouted their prices, metal clanged against metal, and the smell of food mixed with leather and dust.
Each of them moved with purpose.
Kael kept things simple.
A light leather armor—flexible, practical, and just enough protection to not slow him down. He tested the straps, adjusted the fit, then nodded to himself.
"I don't need more than this."
Power wasn't his problem.
Control was.
Lyra and Nyx, on the other hand, focused on survival.
Potions.
Healing.
Recovery.
Emergency supplies.
Nyx carefully inspected each vial before placing it inside her pouch.
"If you die, it's your fault," she muttered.
Lyra sighed softly.
"You say that every time."
"And I'll keep saying it."
Meanwhile—
Seraphine stood in front of a weapons stall.
Silent.
Still.
The merchant swallowed nervously under her gaze.
She picked up a sword.
Balanced it.
Swung it once.
The air parted cleanly.
"…This one."
No hesitation.
No negotiation.
The merchant nodded rapidly.
"O-Of course!"
And just like that—
They were ready.
—
Morning came quietly.
Soft light spilled across the stone walls of the kingdom as the gates slowly opened.
Outside—
The road stretched endlessly into the horizon.
Kael stood at the front.
Lyra beside him.
Nyx slightly behind, adjusting her pouch.
Seraphine stood with arms crossed, already looking impatient.
Then—
Footsteps.
Light.
Approaching.
Rin.
He stopped in front of them, looking at each face one by one.
"…Are you all ready?"
Kael nodded.
"Yeah."
Then his expression shifted slightly.
"But before we go…"
His eyes met Rin's.
"I want details."
Rin hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Then—
"…Alright."
And they began to walk.
—
The road was long.
Long enough for silence to settle.
Long enough for thoughts to surface.
And long enough for the past to catch up.
Rin walked at the front.
His steps were lighter than the others.
Almost careful.
As if he already knew what waited ahead.
"When I first went there…" he began quietly, "I wasn't looking for trouble."
Nyx snorted.
"Everyone says that."
Rin smiled faintly.
"…I was looking for profit."
Honest.
Direct.
"In ancient ruins, there are always artifacts. Gold. Weapons. Things nobles would pay absurd amounts for."
Kael listened closely.
No interruptions.
Just focus.
"I had a group," Rin continued. "Experienced. Careful."
His voice lowered.
"But when we reached the inner chamber…"
His steps slowed slightly.
"There was a tomb."
The air around them seemed to grow heavier.
"A coffin."
Wrapped.
Sealed.
Old."
Lyra instinctively hugged her arms slightly.
"That already sounds like something we shouldn't touch…"
Rin laughed weakly.
"…We thought the same."
A pause.
"But greed is louder than caution."
His fingers curled slightly.
"I opened it."
Silence.
Then—
"It wasn't human."
Nyx's expression hardened.
"It wasn't alive."
Seraphine narrowed her eyes.
"It wasn't… natural."
Rin's voice trembled just slightly now.
"It was wrapped in bandages… but they moved."
His breathing grew a bit uneven.
"And flames…"
He swallowed.
"…Green flames."
Lyra's eyes widened.
Kael's gaze sharpened.
"I don't remember what happened after that," Rin admitted. "Not clearly."
His steps stopped for a moment.
"I just remember running."
A long silence followed.
No one mocked him.
No one questioned him.
Instead—
Lyra stepped closer.
"It's alright," she said gently.
Nyx sighed, but nodded.
"We'll deal with it."
Even Seraphine didn't interrupt.
Rin looked at them.
Surprised.
Then smiled.
"…Thank you."
After a moment, he tilted his head slightly.
"…You're Kael, right?"
Kael blinked.
"…Yeah?"
Rin's smile turned slightly playful.
"I've heard about you."
Nyx immediately grinned.
"Oh, this should be good."
Rin continued—
"A man who nearly destroyed the kingdom."
Silence.
Then—
Laughter.
Nyx laughed first.
Then Lyra tried to hold it in—but failed.
Even Seraphine exhaled sharply through her nose.
"…It wasn't like that," Kael muttered.
Nyx wiped a tear from her eye.
"'Not like that,' he says."
Lyra smiled warmly.
"It was… almost like that."
Kael sighed.
"…I didn't have much of a choice."
Rin looked at him.
Not with fear.
But with curiosity.
"…I see."
And that was enough.
—
Hours passed.
The sun climbed higher.
Then began to fall.
Fatigue settled into their steps.
Even Seraphine's pace slowed slightly.
Kael glanced ahead.
Then—
He saw it.
Water.
A lake.
Clear.
Still.
Reflecting the sky like a mirror.
He stopped.
"…Let's take a break."
Nyx didn't even hesitate.
"Yes."
Lyra nodded immediately.
"Please."
Seraphine crossed her arms.
"…We should keep moving."
Kael raised a brow.
"You're tired."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"…You are."
A pause.
Seraphine clicked her tongue.
"…Fine. Five minutes."
Nyx was already walking.
"Too late."
Then—
Running.
Kael followed.
Lyra laughed softly as she ran after them.
Leaving—
Rin and Seraphine behind.
Rin watched the three ahead.
Then glanced at Seraphine.
"…Are they always like that?"
Seraphine sighed.
"…Unfortunately."
A small pause.
Then Rin tilted his head slightly.
"…Are they a couple?"
Seraphine blinked.
Caught off guard.
"…What?"
Rin gestured forward.
"Them."
Kael.
Lyra.
Nyx.
Seraphine looked ahead.
Watched them.
Their movements.
Their closeness.
Their energy.
Then looked away.
"…I don't know."
Honest.
Simple.
"…Yet."
—
The lake was peaceful.
Water rippled gently under the sunlight.
Grass swayed softly in the breeze.
For the first time in a while—
There was no tension.
No danger.
No pressure.
Just—
Calm.
Kael stepped into the water first.
Cool.
Refreshing.
"…Yeah. Worth it."
Nyx followed.
Then Lyra.
Soft laughter echoed lightly.
Water splashed.
The tension melted away.
Even Seraphine eventually approached.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Still alert.
Still watching.
Always watching.
Rin stood at the edge.
Hesitating.
"…You're not coming?" Kael asked.
Rin shook his head quickly.
"I—I will…"
But he didn't move.
Instead—
He adjusted his clothes.
Pulled them tighter.
Covered himself more.
Careful.
Too careful.
Nyx noticed.
"…You're weird."
Rin smiled awkwardly.
"I get that a lot."
Eventually—
He stepped in.
Slow.
Cautious.
The water moved around him.
And for a moment—
Everything felt… normal.
Peaceful.
Even if just for a little while.
Rin looked around.
At all of them.
At the strange group he had somehow joined.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"…This is going to be a strange journey."
He paused.
Then added softly—
"…But I think it will be memorable."
The water reflected the sky.
And for a brief moment—
Before the ruins.
Before the danger.
Before what awaited them—
They were just people.
Resting.
Laughing.
Living.
And the story…
Was only just beginning.